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Have A Valentine’s Night of Romance Any Night At Willows Lodge

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As a busy mom of two young kids, it’s easy to forget that I was a wife first.  There was a time once when my husband and I spent our free time (what’s that?!) doing things that actually appealed to our interests, rather than those that would keep our kids interested.  Now, it takes more work and concerted effort on our part to make time to feed our marriage.  When friends of ours offered to let our kids sleepover with theirs, they suggested something brilliant: why not make an event of the kid-free night and have a one-night getaway at a hotel? Of course! Why had this never occurred to me before?! 

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Enter The Willows Lodge in the wine country of Woodinville, Washington, the most unpretentious quality hotel I’ve ever stayed at.  Our stay felt like comfortable luxury – enough luxury it be a break from normal life but enough comfort to feel like we could still be ourselves.  After being greeted with a complimentary glass of wine, we were invited to dine at any of the three renowned on-site restaurants before retiring to our room.  Was is just me or did this place feel more like a resort than a hotel?!IMG_3904IMG_3892

The room was stunning, with a rustic, log cabin feel but all the amenities of a nice hotel room.  From the two-person soaking tub….

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to the balcony over-looking the gardens to the luxurious bed, it was perfect for a romantic evening. 

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Add to that the The Willows’ signature Do Not Disturb package (a bubble bath for two complete with rose petals, candlelight, and chocolate desserts, prepared for you while you’re at dinner), and I almost forgot about the kids for the night!  IMG_2840

If you, too, need a night away from the kids to rejuvenate your marriage, you won’t be disappointed at The Willows Lodge.  They are even a popular venue for weddings, hosting about 100 every year in their beautiful gardens, so whether renewing your vows or getting away for the night, this could be your place.

Day Out With Thomas Comes to Washington

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Last year we went to A Day Out With Thomas and he’s going to be here again next week. I hope you have your tickets and if you don’t you’re going to want to go on-line and and snag them up before they’re gone. Well take a look at the Day Out with Thomas Schedule and choose an event that you and your family might be interested in attending. 

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This year the theme is mystery on the rails. Mystery on the Rails Tour 2012

Help our favorite No. 1 engine find the clues and solve the mystery! Thomas the Tank Engine™ is pulling into many stations this summer for Day Out With Thomas™: Mystery On The Rails Tour 2012, presented by HIT Entertainment, a worldwide leader in children’s entertainment, and sponsored by MEGA Brands, a leading toy company.  This fun-filled event offers little engineers and their families the opportunity to take a ride with a 15-ton replica of Thomas the Tank Engine, star of the popular Thomas & Friends™ series.  Children will take a ride along with their favorite engine friend on his latest adventure and participate in Thomas-themed activities.  The tour, now in its 17th year, will make stops in more than 45 US cities and is expected to welcome more than one million passengers in 2012.

Here are the locations left:

Delaware River RR Excursions Phillipsburg, NJ Jul. 6-8 & 13-15
Conway Scenic Railroad N Conway, NH Jul. 6-8 & 13-15
Northwest Railway Museum Snoqualmie, WA Jul. 13-15 & 20-22

Take a look at all the fun we had last year.

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Elgin County Railway Museum St Thomas, ON Jul. 13-15 & 20-22
North Shore Scenic Railroad Duluth, MN Jul. 27-29 & Aug. 3-5
Roaring Camp Railroads Felton, CA Jul. 27-29 & Aug. 3-5
Boothbay Railway Village Boothbay, ME Aug. 3-5 & 10-12
IL Railway Museum Union, IL Aug. 17-19 & 25-26
Crossroads V & Huckleberry RR Flint, MI Aug. 17-19 & 24-26
Newport Dinner Train Newport, RI Aug. 30-Sep. 2
Tennessee Central Railway Nashville, TN Sep. 1-2 & 8-9
Lebanon Mason Monroe RR Lebanon, OH Sep. 7-9 & 14-16
Colorado Railroad Museum Golden, CO Sep. 8-9, 15-16 & 22-23
Strasburg Rail Road Strasburg, PA Sep. 15-23
Boone & Scenic Valley RR Boone, IA Sep. 15-16 & 21-23
North Carolina Trans Museum Spencer, NC Sep. 21-23 & Sep. 28-30
Oklahoma Railway Museum Oklahoma City, OK Sep. 28-30 & Oct. 5-7
Austin Steam Train Burnet, TX Sep. 29-30
Edaville USA Carver, MA Oct. 5-8 & 13-14
Texas State Railroad Rusk, TX Oct. 6-7 & 13-14
Sam Shortline Cordele, GA Oct. 20-21 & 27-28
Orange Empire Railway Perris, CA Nov.10-12 & 17-18
Strasburg Rail Road Strasburg, PA Nov. 16-18

DOWT 2012

We received tickets again this year, something came up in my schedule and we had to give them to a friend.

Only Holiday Tree Lighting on The Eastside is at The Bravern

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The Bravern, one of the Pacific Northwest’s most stylish shopping experiences, is also home to one of the Eastside’s most family-friendly holiday celebrations, with shops, gift ideas and events to suit every person in the family. On Nov. 19 The Bravern will kick off the holiday season with the Eastside’s only Christmas tree lighting as part of the “Enchanted Holidays at The Bravern” holiday celebration. The tree-lighting event will be hosted by KIRO 7’s Jenni Hogan and includes festivities for the entire family including a visit from Santa Claus escorted by the Sea Gals in a horse-drawn carriage. The Bravern  is located at the intersection of NE 8th Street and 110th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA 98004. I really wanted to attend this event but we have another event planned for this weekend. My husband and I are still deciding on which event we are actually going to go to. Wow, who knew having kids would fill up our schedules so quickly.

 

thebravernAbout “Enchanted Holidays at The Bravern”

“Enchanted Holidays at The Bravern” is the 2010 holiday celebration hosted by The Bravern, offering the Pacific Northwest’s most stylish and comfortable shopping experience. In addition to the tree-lighting event, “Enchanted Holidays at The Bravern” includes a variety of events to help celebrate the holidays including:

· Cool Winter Nights: Every Thursday in December from 5:30-7:30 p.m., enjoy live music, drinks and appetizers from Wild Ginger off of the 110th arrival court. All ticket proceeds benefit Childhaven.

· Spectacular Light Show: Every day at 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., guests will enjoy a unique light show displayed in the NE 8th arrival court.

· Photos with & Letters to Santa: Santa will be available to listen to children’s wishes and pose for holiday photos every Friday, Saturday and Sunday between November 26 and December 19, and every day from December 20-23. Kids are also invited to write their letters to Santa at Silberman Brown Stationers and drop them off with Santa or in his special mailbox. All letters will be mailed to the parents. Times vary; please visit http://www.thebravern.com/holiday for the schedule.

· Cookie Decorating: Bring the kids to enjoy an hour of delicious holiday cookie decorating every Wednesday from 12-1 p.m. at Sur La Table, immediately following Little Bookworms, The Bravern’s weekly story hour.

· Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus: On Dec. 4 and Dec. 11 from 9-11 a.m., join two of the holidays’ favorite icons, Santa and Mrs. Claus at Neiman Marcus, for a delightful full-plate breakfast featuring a special surprise for young guests.

For more information on these events call (425) 456-8780 or visit the website at http://www.thebravern.com/holiday. You can also find The Shops at The Bravern on Facebook and Twitter.

Savvy Savings State to State

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Savvy Savings and Scholarship are ways to save in different states. When you make a purchase from one of these links you will be able to donate 5% of the purchase to a pre-school of your choice. If you do not choose a pre-school then 5% of the proceeds will be donated to the charity of my choice. This is a great way to support a local pre-school and save money on events to participate in with your own children.

 

San Francisco Bay Area:
$47 for: Family membership to the Oakland Zoo
($95 value)

Have a zoo-per day with the bears, elephants, lions and more.

 

Atlanta:
$25 for: Art classes and workshops at The Little House of Art
($50 value)

Get your up-and coming-artist started on the road to creativity.

Charlotte:
$10 for: Three dance and fitness drop-in classes at Funkytown Parties
($20 value)

Get movin’ and groovin’ at the coolest party spot in town

Dallas Fort Worth:
$22 for: Family 4-pack of admission tickets to Dinosaur World
($45 value)

Travel back in time to when dinosaurs roam the earth

Houston:
$25 for: Pop-In Playtime Bounce Card (10 visits) to Pump It Up
($50 value)

Head to the Inflatable Party Zone and get ready to bounce the house!

Minneapolis:
$26.5 for: An ‘I Get Around’ journal kit and Open Studio 2 Experience at Kiddywampus
($53 value)

Inspiring little ones to create and explore

New York:
$42 for: Pioneer Membership to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum
($85 value)

With all-new exhibits and programs, little ones will be seeing the world with fresh eyes

Philadelphia:
$10 for: Paint your own pottery at The Mud Room
($20 value)

Mud, masterpieces, and memories!

San Francisco Bay Area:
$50 for: Family and Caregiver Membership to Aquarium of the Bay
($100 value)

Go beneath the waves of the San Francisco Bay and discover an underwater world.

Seattle:
$25 for: Eco-friendly toys and crafts at Planet Happy Kids
($50 value)

Making kids happy while keeping the planet happy

We’re going to Giant Magnet This Weekend #Seattle

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GiantMagnetWe were graciously invited to attend Giant Magnet’s opening night in Seattle on Tuesday, but my kids are such good little sleepers and they go to bed at 7 so we were unable to attend. We are however, planning on going there this weekend with my husband.

Global Attractions Playing Locally is coming to Seattle Center May 11-15.  The festival offers a lineup of extraordinary performances from all around the world including theatre, puppetry, circus arts, music, and dance that are sure to entertain and astonish audiences.  The performances are appropriate for people of all ages and backgrounds and provide an opportunity to see the world from the comfort of your own city.  Join us weekdays and on Saturday May 15, Family Day, for activities at the Discovery Centers. All activities are FREE and include kite-making, interactive games, hula hooping, origami, and more.  Tickets and information at www.GiantMagnet.org.

I’m so excited to take my kids. The majority of the event is free, with tons of activities that will be perfect for my two toddlers. We might experience stories and folk tales from the home lands of our artists, supplied by Seattle Public Library. Or draw, write a poem or tell us about your experience at the festival on our new environmentally friendly reusable Giant Magnet Banner with Red Tricycle. I also love the idea of building a kite with my kids courtesy of The Drachen Foundation.

We have tickets to attend one of the performances, and I think we’ll go see the Gansango World Tour. Seattle based choreographer Etienne Cakpo welcomes Gansango, vibrant Senegalese dancers and musicians. Rhythmic drumming, dancing and chanting in unison creates a sense of the dancers moving together as one.

About Giant Magnet:

Giant Magnet is a celebration of world cultures through the performing arts. Its mission is to provide cultural experiences, education and exchange for the children and families of the Pacific Northwest region.

We received free tickets that we are going to use this weekend.

Helping a friend get a job….with social media

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A local bank is using social media to decide who to hire for their social media department They are calling it verity mom. I had no idea there was such a thing or that banks hired people like this. I guess I need to realize that what I do does affect people. Blogging, tweeting, facebook, myspace, e-mail, forums, it’s all making an impact on what we buy, wear and read.

Without reading blogs

I wouldn’t even know that there was a Nestle Family Event going on.

I wouldn’t know that Disney World Has a Mom’s Panel

I wouldn’t know that you can make money by sitting at home writing about what you love

I wouldn’t know that companies care.

 

Help My Friend get a job.

She needs votes:

To Vote for her:
http://www.veritymom.com/

Her bid for the job:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcmWTcTAKqg
A fun kid adventure:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTu_jAR2KN8
What mom’s want in a bank:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JkLlkNE58A
Her blog:
www.lemonademom.com
Thanks again.