Reston Mom

Hollin farm and pumpkin patch

A fall family tradition for the past 3 years has been to visit Hollin Farm in Delaplane to cut our own pumpkins.  It is beautiful out there at the foothills - especially during this time of year when all the leaves are changing.  We like the pumpkin patch - which features a variety of cut-your-own pumpkins and gourds and it is fun to cut the kids loose to find their perfect pumpkin.  There is really nothing super fancy about this place, but that is what we love.  There is a corn maze and fresh farm apples for sale - and just a whole lot of fresh air and room to run around and pumpkins! A drive west always makes me feel refreshed.

vacation pics

 

We took a week in Virginia Beach back in June, but I didn't manage to get any pics up earlier b/c they have all been on Matt's phone. We had a great time though.  This was the first year that the girls finally decided they LOVE the beach.  We couldn't keep them out of the water and sand.  VA beach is a great place for a family vacation, we're grateful to have family that lives there so we can visit year round.

         
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

National Zoo

I never would have thought we'd end up living in Northern Virginia.  But, I do love living close to D.C. since it offers so many great things to do.  We make a trip to the National Zoo at least once a summer.  Monday could not have been MORE PERFECT!  The weather was slightly cool and not humid at all.  The animals were out and we had a great time. 

             
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

mommy/daughter date to Williamsburg

Last Sunday I took Hope on a special overnight trip - just me and her and my mom - to visit colonial Williamsburg.  It was Hope's first stay in a hotel (the pool was a hit) and a great chance for us to get some one on one time together.  

Hope had been wanting to see colonial Williamsburg anyway as she had done some learning about it in school this year and particularly because her American Girl Doll, Felicity, hails from that time and place.  

It was a really fun time, I think we all enjoyed ourselves and the weather was perfect!  Now, I am loving Hope's excitement as she continues to read Felicity's stories and recognizes things like "Duke of Gloucester Street" and the "shell paths" and the "Magazine."  It has been fun to see history come alive for her.

Plus, it was fun to just let her be herself without being pulled in different directions by the needs of siblings.  I allowed her to choose where she wanted to eat for dinner and breakfast and to choose her meal from the adult rather than the kid's menu (which is par for the course with a child who would rather have steak or soup or salad than mac' n cheese or chicken nuggets).  She was queen for a short while, staying up past bedtime to swim in the pool, choosing treats, and directing the flow of our visit. 

I gave her the camera and let her take whatever pictures she wanted - but strangely, we came home with few pictures of our trip.  We were all just too wrapped up in the moment to stop for many photo ops.  

On our way there:

Photos from our walk down Duke of Gloucester street:

    
  

 
  

a day downtown

Yesterday was a gorgeous day to head downtown.  So we packed a picnic and hit the National Smithsonian museum of American History and museum of Natural History.  It was so much fun to spend the day with the family and we couldn't have had better weather for walking around.  Matt and I keep hoping for a day to get away just the two of us to do some more exploring of museums and things down there.  When we take the girls, we almost always end up at the Natural History museum, but I really can't blame them.

    

Back to Delaplane for pumpkins!

When it comes to choosing pumpkins - nothing beats plain and simple and out west in the rolling foothills. So, we headed back to Hollins Farm to picnic and choose our own pumpkins and gourds right out of the field on the slope.  There are also goats and pigs and a huge corn maze to check out - and there were a few ADORABLE puppies for sale that we were able to pet - sob, sob that we couldn't take one home! They also have a variety of organic greens and other produce that you can pyo. 

I love that place because it is out in the country and there isn't a lot of fuss n' muss about it.  It just feels so good to be out there!  And since the weather was actually in the 50's - our day certainly did feel like fall. We had to stop at Salamander Market in Middleburg for some hot drinks on our journey home. And we got an adventure and all of our interesting pumpkins and gourds for the same price as two decent sized pumpkins at the grocery store.

recent trip to The Grange

There's a playground in Great Falls called the Grange that we really like.  It's on a wooded lot on a hill and has a feel about it that takes me back to my own playground days - having a real merry-go-round helps that a bit too.  We spent all Monday morning there together as a family.  It was a gorgeous day and I had so much fun chasing and climbing and playing with the girls!

 
  

Burke Lake Park

My daughters earned a free round of miniature golf through the summer reading program at the library, so on Monday we headed over to Burke Lake Park.  I don't know why we hadn't ever ventured over there before, it is really pretty good. 

There is an area where a nice mini golf course, an ice cream parlor, a playground, a carousel, and the boarding station for the miniature train are all clustered together - it's like a little kid's fantasy. The only disappointment is the playground has no swings (I know that's a deal breaker for some kids). I noticed there is a picnic pavilion available to rent for birthday parties well placed in the midst of it all too.  Perhaps we'll get back there to explore a bit more at some point - we didn't go down to the lake and we did promise the girls a next time when they could ride the carousel since we took the train ride this time. 

But, what I'd really like to do is get together some adult friends and head over to play frisbee golf as they have a disc course! 

Amtrak's National Train Day

If your kids love trains, then this is for you!  If they don't love trains, they might after this:

Amtrak will be celebrating America’s love for rail travel at the 2^nd Annual National Train Day event in DC on tomorrow, May 9 from 10 am to 3 pm (EST). This is a great event for the whole family and the best part is that it’s free!

This year, American Idol Judge, Randy Jackson will be at Union Station to help celebrate 140 years of train travel throughout the country!  Other festivities will also include Radio Disney, magicians, face painters, train exhibits and more! 

The Georgia 300, President Obama’s historic inaugural private train car will also be at Union Station for all to see! The Dover Harbor will be on display as well.

(Also, earn quadruple Amtrak Guest Rewards points for any trip taken on National Train Day, Saturday, May 9, 2009.)

Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee day

Tomorrow is iced coffee day at Dunkin' Donuts - which means iced coffee for $.50 - now that's something I'm down with.  Although, I know better than to walk in there because I totally lack self-control when it comes to donuts.

Here's something else - for every iced coffee you buy, 10% will go to support Home for our Troops. Awesome! - and yet, come on....what is that like $.05?  Better than nothing, but a little cheapy don't you think?  We can do better than that can't we?  I know it adds up and we've got a company talking profit margin here - I totally support the effort, don't get me wrong.  At least they are getting the word out about a great organization.  Who wants breakfast tomorrow?

cupcakes actually

I just found a great new place to fulfill my cupcake cravings and I doubt I'll be tempted to go anywhere else again.  

Cupcakes Actually just opened in Fairfax Corner, so upon a recent visit we decided to take the girls in and give it a taste test.  

We weren't disappointed!

The cupcakes are delish! Especially the icing - and I'm a little bit difficult to please when it comes to cake frostings.  We only bought two - one for each of the girls, but after snagging a little taste I'm dying to go back and have one (or more) all to myself.  There are a couple of signature flavors in particular that have caught my eye - "actually dipped caramel" (vanilla cake topped with buttercream and dipped in caramel) or "actually dipped chocolate" (devil's food cake topped with buttercream and dipped in chocolate fudge) were two of the unique flavors I noticed among a luscious champagne cupcake, key lime, mocha, mint chocolate and more...(menu here).

There is also a different gluten-free flavor available each week.  And, I must say that not only do they taste good, but they are really pretty as well.  You can also purchase specially decorated cupcakes for a special event.  

I'll definitely be visiting again soon!

Santini's NY Deli

So, even though I thought I was going to take a break from blogging this weekend, something did come up that I felt was worthy of a post.

The owners of Santini's  bought my family dinner last night, and I'd like to say thank you.

After commenting in a previous post that we liked the place and hadn't tried the NY style pizza yet but were planning to, Matt Lesando (one of the owners) offered to buy us that pizza.  They were kind enough to pay for our entire meal.

It was a bit of a special night to begin with, so the meal really added to that.  We had intentionally gone out especially to commemorate our last "family date" as a foursome.  Because of Santini's generosity we were able to put the money for dinner towards some other fun things.

Needless to say, we did try the pizza (a nice pepperoni) and Matt and I ate the WHOLE thing, just the two of us.  I had previously thought that this place was a chain, but I should have known better judging by the higher quality of cleanliness, service, and food.  Actually there are three restaurants in this area all family-owned by a father and two sons.  

Our family enjoys it, even the girls love it.  I'm anxious to try out some of the other things on the menu even though we've already found a few favorites, so I'm sure we'll be back again.  If you haven't checked them out yet, you should.  A perfect stop for lunch or anytime - I think I'd even go by myself just to grab a cold beverage, a fat sandwich, and a game on the big screen.

sickee

Yesterday afternoon, the girls pretty clearly set the tone for our family.

I figured we were all just a little tuckered out until...Maddie started complaining that her ear hurt.

She'd had a low fever and a cough for a couple of days too.  Here she is - see the tired, droopy eyes? Pitiful. But what gets me every time is those perfect pouty lips!

I took her into [email protected] - a place I'm so grateful for, since they are open after hours and a co-pay is much better than the bill from the ER.  Sure enough, she's got an ear infection.  

Well, I guess illness had to catch up to us at some point.  I was hoping we'd make it through the winter and especially the next couple of weeks.  I'm terribly grateful though, because on the whole, since birth the girls have been sick very little.  

3 more reasons to visit Reston Town Center

I can't wait!  Yum.  Yum.  and Yum.  

http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/news/2009/feb/13/three-new-restaurants-planned-reston-town-center/

Free Chick-Fil-A tonight only!

For all the locals:  I was told that the Chick-Fil-A on Rte 7 in Sterling will have free kids meals from 6-8 tonight (Thursday) and a drawing for a little bike for all children who are wearing their pajamas.  So, if you don't know what you are doing for dinner, here is one option!

Around town

I was sad to see that Cradle n' Crayon (cute, upscale baby boutique) in the Reston Town Center location is closed.

I tried to email Stella, the owner, but couldn't get through to her.  

The store just sort of disappeared, no sales or anything...just one day a vacant space.  So, I'm hoping that she is just changing locations or consolidating into one at Ashburn.  I'll let you know if I find out.

I was happy to see that there is a cupcake store coming soon to Fairfax Corner.  A while ago I did a post on CakeLove which has a location at Tyson's Corner Mall - but, while I still really appreciate the company, I have to admit I've decided I'm not much of a fan of the product.  The last time I was there the cupcake was really, really dry and the icing (though I do relish a good buttercream) was like eating the stick of butter itself.  Too bad...maybe I'll be won over by this new store.

Lastly, my family and I have recently made two trips to Santini's New York Style Deli (which is over by Home Depot in the space which I think used to be a BBQ joint) and are finding that we like it.  I can't quite put my finger on why exactly.  It's pretty spacious and clean, the food is good (we haven't tried the NY style pizza yet, it's on our list!), the people are nice, and there are big screen tv's if you are into sports.  It is a chain, but it's just kind of a nice hang out place with a NY theme. 

Christmas Eve Party

I just wanted to post an invitation to you all in case you haven't solidified any plans for Christmas Eve as of yet.  We're throwing a party at PotBelly restaurant in the Reston Town Center at 5 pm.  It will be a casual affair with some activities for the kids, maybe some caroling, and the food is on us!  It will be an easy way to save yourself from a mess in the kitchen and to gather some Christmas cheer.  The town center is gorgeous right now with all it's lights and so festive with ice- skating and the like, that it's the perfect location! Bring anyone you like and come say hi, grab some munchies, stay for as little or as long as you like and have a great time!

The event is sponsored by my church, RCC, (you didn't think I could afford all those sandwiches and milkshakes did you? :) which meets in the movie theaters right there in the town center - so you can read more about it at www.potbellychristmas.com.  But don't worry, there won't be any solicitation...just a bunch of locals and friends gathering at the town center.  Hope to see you there!

town festivity

I love to find the most festive places in town at Christmas - ours of course is the Reston Town Center. We've driven through at night a couple of times already just to see the lights - which are new and more numerous than ever this year! Today we decided to go for a few minutes to see the annual gingerbread village display in the Hyatt's lobby and watch the ice skaters and the horse-drawn carriage.  It was very cold...but very festive with tiny snowflakes floating down from the sky.  I never get tired of the decorations and looking at the displays in the store windows.  

Where do you go for some town festivity? Is there a special place you traditionally visit?

Kids Meal Deals

 
A friend sent me this great link to a site that will find all of the deals that local restaurants offer for kids on any given day of the week.  Just type in your zip code and how many miles you are willing to travel and Voila! 

Birthday festivities

I really enjoyed my day this year.  There were lots of fun things for me to get excited about.  Matt surprised me early with a pair of diamond earrings (oh how I love things that sparkle!). My day started with great big "happy birthday mommy!" wishes from my girls and Starbucks brought to me by my hubby.  Then we all set off together for my doc appt. - short these days because things are going really well, but we got to hear the baby's chugging little heart again which was sweet and special.  Then we all headed to Cox Farms for the day - my family knows how much I adore Fall and jump at the chance to enjoy any and all autumn activity.  And finally, my husband lined up a baby sitter and took me out for a nice dinner.  With all the sentiments from friends and family included, it was a very nice birthday.  And...I'm excited to be 30 - I think it's the best age and I'm loving it!
Here are some pictures from Cox Farm:
 

The best pumpkin pickin'

There are lots of REALLY great places to go around here for fall festivity...but we decided to skip the rigmarole and frills this time to go find someplace where we could cut the pumpkins from the vines ourselves.  We found a really great place - Hollin farms in Delaplane.  Matt and I could just feel our blood pressure dropping as we drove out into the rolling country along rte 50 amidst the colorful foliage.  There is nothing fancy about this place, which made it just about perfect.  Just one huge pumpkin patch to wade through to find the perfect pumpkins, a fantastically huge corn maze, and pigs to feed the corn to.  There was raspberries and tomatoes for the pickin' too and some already picked apples that were so huge and gorgeous the girls begged us to buy them one for a snack.  The patch is on a sloping hill and even from within the corn maze you can catch tantalizing glimpses of the mountains covered in color and spotted with farm buildings.  Other than those simple pleasures, there isn't anything there but a lot of space, a lot of fresh air, and a lot of peace.  In my book, it was perfect.

 

weekend re-cap

It was a full weekend.  First, the GWAC Youth Arts Festival on Saturday - which was fantastic!  Hope did such a great job and loved getting her certificate and gift bag.  I'll have to post pics on that later, since I don't have them with me right now.  Then, after a great service at church on Sunday, we headed to VA Beach for Matt's dad's birthday.  Matt spent Monday helping his dad work on their home renovations...so the girls and I took a day out to ourselves.  The morning was beautiful and cool.  We headed to the ocean front to see the sand sculptures from the Neptune Festival - always amazing! And then spent some time playing on one of the in-sand playgrounds.  I can't tell you how nice it is to be on the beach in the fall - breathing in the air off the ocean, enjoying the breeze, toes tucked in cool sand, listening to the waves, and watching the kids play "pirates" on a playground right there in the midst of it all.  It was fun to get away for a moment.

moms start local theater company

Just wanted to let my local readers know about a fun opportunity!  Two fellow Reston moms have started a local theater company called The Hub Theater.   Here is what Helen writes about the company:
"The Hub Theatre endeavors to produce work that highlights our common humanity. To create a theatrical experience that is at once challenging and inclusive; to be the physical center of a dynamic circle of story, art and community, a place where we all gather to experience and inform that transcendent exchange so unique to live theatre."

You can still catch a performance of their current family show "Trunks."

"TRUNKS is the story of Bruno and Buffo (who are brothers) and their vaudeville show that goes to pieces when the beautiful Bella shows up. Full of prat falls, high jinks, and an all out water fight, the kids will laugh themselves silly."

Performances are at Lake Anne Plaza this Friday/Saturday (8pm) and Sunday (7pm) August 8-10. The cost is free, although a $10 donation is appreciated.

Also, let me point you to their website (which is still a bit under construction)  so that you can keep an eye out for future performances - 'cause you'll definitely want to keep them on your radar.

Hooray for Robeks!

I am so excited that we just got a Robeks at Reston Town Center (it's located in front of Le Madeleine).  It's about time we got a fantastic smoothie joint in here!  They've got a great variety of healthy smoothies (with or without supplements) and more....including fresh juice blends like orange/carrot/ginger and apple/beet/carrot and also a yummy menu of sandwiches and salads and frozen yogurt with fruit.  I'm totally going to hit this place up for breakfast soon...a smoothie or some juice and a power muffin for me please!

Vacation destination

Maybe it's too late to plan your summer vacation...but maybe not.   Allow me to tote the attractions of Williamsburg, VA - a destination I love!  Here's what you'll find:

• history: in Colonial Williamsburg, you can walk back in time and visit small shops and taverns where people donned in period clothing will assist you in spoiling your children with toys from another era, candies, tin flutes, and more.  There is a TON of room to run and play down the wide dirt footpath through town.  Fall and Christmas are special times to see bonfires, elegant decorations, and festivities.  The whole family might love a ride on one of the horse-drawn carriages, and you can complete your visit with some great classy shopping in the adjacent Merchant's Square. If you are really into history, you can visit near by Jamestown or Yorktown.
• amusement parks: BUSCH GARDENS! need I say more?  The most beautiful amusement park you'll probably ever visit with a "Land of Dragons" just for the little ones, plus more child-sized rides dispersed throughout as well as lots of fun shows and animals.  Great roller coasters and more for the teen/adult family members too.  WATER COUNTRY U.S.A. - a fantastic water park for the whole family just a hop, skip, and jump away from Busch Gardens. 
• resorts: The Great Wolf Lodge: a year-round indoor resort with great lodging and 67,000 square-foot indoor entertainment area, featuring a grand scale waterpark; arcade with ticket redemption; children's craft and activity room; Aveda® Concept Spa; fitness room; two northwoods-themed restaurants; confectionery café; state-of-the-art meeting space; spacious outdoor pool; gift emporium and a performing Great Clock Tower.  The lodge rooms themselves have some really neat amenities for kids.
• shopping: Prime  Outlet Malls, Williamsburg Outlet Mall,  Merchant's  Square, the Pottery, and more.....
• college: William and Mary where you can take in some sports or hang out at the local coffee shop and pizza joints
  
• and of course, you'll find plenty of restaurants, golf, shopping, and other stuff around town
  

Festival Fun

I'm home for a rest after spending a hot morning at the Reston Festival (which continues until 10 tonight and all day tomorrow).  I finally made it over to the children's area this year and was pleasantly surprised (though we did go early before the crowd was too large).  My kids enjoyed the crafts but also the kiddie play area which included some really creative ideas.  My favorite would be easy to repeat at home - they provided golf tees and small wooden mallets and blocks of styrofoam packing...Voila! Let the kids hammer to their heart's content! Also a big hit - the two trains that are running rides through town center.  We're letting kids paint with spray bottles of non-toxic, washable paint at our booth.  I'll be headed back tonight and again tomorrow, see you

ASK RESTONMOM - 7/12/08

Dear Restonmom,
"I am new mother in Reston and I am looking for a gym that my baby can learn to crawl and play with other children his age. The Little Gym in Sterling has the idea but they only offer classes on Tuesday at 2. We are working parents so we need a gym with a little more flexibility. Any ideas? Thanks for your help." Suzanne

Dear Suzanne,
  Ashburn and Fairfax Corner also have Little Gym's. I don't know whether they offer classes at other times, but if that is what you are looking for, it might be worth checking into.  Also, Reston and Herndon community centers often offer baby classes which range to include simple playgroup gatherings to music and movement classes to baby gym settings and more, plus this would be a great opportunity to meet other moms in the area with children similar in age to your own.  Also, you may want to check out the At-Play Cafe.  Kids 18 months and under are free and the schedule is really flexible as you can go whenever you like during open hours.  They have an additional gym studio where they hold classes and parties, but if it is not in use while you are there, it is also open for kids to play in.  Leesburg and Chantilly also have a My Gym.  And Ashburn has a J.W. Tumbles which offers some great Tumbles Tykes classes.  Soon there will be another J.W. Tumbles in Herndon as well.  I hope that gets you started and that you find something that is perfect and lots of fun for your family.
    -Restonmom

cakelove

Okay...I never really have been a big cake fan.  But, I think that may have just changed.  I'm sorry to leave  those of you who don't live in the D.C. metro area drooling...but that's just one more reason for you to come visit (or order some other goodies from this company online)  See, there are a few stores hiding around here by the name of cakelove, started by Warren Brown whom you might recognize as the host of Sugar Rush on The Food Network. - and one just opened up near us in the Tyson's Corner mall.  If you are going to buy a cake, forget about buying one anywhere else.  This is cake for real - all-natural cakes and pastries, nothing but butter (no vegetable shortening or oils), handmade the old-fashioned way each day from scratch (gluten free and vegan varieties available too)....yuh-uh-um! Now, I'm afraid that those of you who are able to go get some, are going to miss out...so just to make sure that you don't forget, I'll tempt you with a few descriptions:

• Neil's Hat Trick: white and dark chocolate cakes sandwich vanilla buttercream and fresh raspberries under a glaze of rich chocolate ganache
• Pumpkin Head: pumpkin butter cake slathered with cream cheese icing and dusted with cinnamon
• Heavenly Hazy: A delightfully light layer of hazelnut cake rests between chocolate or coffee buttercream, hazelnut meringues, and your choice of chocolate or vanilla butter cake
• but if these are a bit too over the top for you....there are other great more traditional options too! and, um, cheesecake too! oh man!  Still not a cake fan? check out the other baked goods...drool.

Let me just say one more thing: CUPCAKES! don't leave the mall without one!

return from vacation

So we're back...and like any vacation there were definitely unplanned challenges and great need for flexibility - but it was definitely worth it all!  We had a great time, tons of family bonding, and are returning refreshed and full of fun memories.  Some highlights:

• a walk by the ocean - love that ocean air! but my children would rather search for seashells in the tourist shops than on the beach, what's with that?
• 3 days of Busch Gardens "The World's Most Beautiful Theme Park" - my fave!
• My 4 yr. old rode The Big Bad Wolf roller coaster with no coaxing and loved it! (she rode everything she could and the only time she cried was when she wasn't tall enough - so brave!)
• 10 laps around Hubba Hubba Highway (lazy river) at Water Country USA
• lots of yummy eats!
• seeing my new little nephew (born on the 14th) for the first time...ahhh newbies!
• hanging out with good friends we don't see often and their little girl who is two weeks older than Maddie
• absolutely perfect temperatures - gorgeous days!
• tons of time together and the kids couldn't have behaved any better! amazing!

Can't wait for vacation!

I'm soooooo excited!  This summer will mark the first time our family has been able to take a true vacation together! My hubby has taken a full week off from work and bought us week-long passes to Busch Gardens Va. and Water Country USA.  The girls have never been to any amusement parks before, and Busch is my fave!  We'll be staying at a house in Va Beach all by ourselves - which may seem an odd location for visiting parks in Williamsburg, but it puts us close to the beach and Matt's sister who is due this week with her first baby!  It also puts us close to both Matt's parents and my own, which means we might get some free babysitting too.  But honestly, I'm most excited about just spending the week with my husband and girls all together.  June 15 begins our get-away, we've never done this before so I'll let you know how it goes. I'm sure there will be plenty of chaos when schedules go awry and we vacay with two young kids. Any tips for us?

Celebrate Mama!

On Sat. June, 7th there will be a "Celebrate Mama!" celebration held in D.C.    It's basically a big carnival of expo booths that brings together local products, services, and organizations that cater to mamas.   Each location has entertainment, crafts, raffles, and on-site services sprinkled in throughout the event.  Goodie bags will be given out to the first 250 families.  If you can't make it to this one, there will also be a celebration held in Vienna this fall - and if you want to participate as a vendor or just get your info. in their gift packets, here is the information.  Otherwise, check the website for more information about locations near you and ways that Celebrate Mama! can help market your business. 

little singers and dancers

Spent a couple of hours today at the playgrounds over at Bready Park in Herndon (good uncrowded playgrounds, if you've never visited.)  The girls were enthralled with watching people play tennis on the nearby courts and clapping for them.  But, they spent at least 30 minutes straight simply dancing and singing on the sidewalk.  No kidding.  30 minutes dancing and singing, happy and free.  I couldn't help but be slightly envious and totally entertained.  I also found myself wondering - do all little girls do this?  'Cause mine are always singing and dancing - all around the house, in the car, outside, everywhere! 

Speaking Engagement

  I've been asked to serve as guest speaker for RCC at the movie theaters in Reston Town Center and I'd love to have you there.  So please come join me Sunday at 10 am when I'll be sharing some insights about parenting and motherhood.  It's going to be a great time and I'm looking forward to it and to hopefully sharing that time with you. 

Iceberry

At the risk of you thinking my family are ice-cream junkies due to several recent posts - I thought I'd post on Iceberry.  If you haven't found it in the Reston Town Center yet, you've just got to walk down a little farther past Starbucks.  It's a rip-off of Pinkberry, a very swanky, trendy, modern hot spot started in Beverly Hills and now located throughout CA and NY (Paris Hilton's fave).  Rip-off or not, it's still got what makes Pinkberry hot.   Fat-free, low-sugar, all-natural real frozen yogurt.  The soft-serve frozen treat still retains some of the slightly tart flavor characteristic of yogurt and all the benefits associated with eating it.  There are only two flavors in the store - vanilla and honeydew (sometimes green tea), but a medium comes loaded with up to three toppings, including my picks: gorgeous strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries and other fresh fruits and nuts (such as sliced almonds)....or you can go the candy route with gummy bears, oreo cookies, m&m's and more.  It isn't cheap, but it's a great dessert with some real healthful benefits.  It's worth checking out. There are also smoothies and organic coffee.  And, if you don't live in Reston, there are copies creeping up everywhere - so keep an eye out!

Reston Farmer's Market

Lake Anne has long been host to a summer farmer's market in Reston, but tonight my family stumbled upon a great surprise - Reston Town Center now hosts a farmer's market every Thursday.  Located in the grassy plaza in front of G.R.A.C.E., it was great to see so many people milling about, taking in the local produce and other goods, and just hanging out with the green grass and the sun.  I'm such a sucker for farmer's markets - glad to see another one so close and in such a fun location!

Milwaukee Frozen Custard

With hot weather straight ahead, you've got to know where the best ice cream joints are! My family and I finally made it over to Milwaukee on Elden St. in Herndon for a first visit to try out the famous frozen custard.  The place was great with plenty of seating and a little train that runs on a track overhead (a hit with the kids, of course)...and the custard is thick and smooth and creamy and rich.  It operates a little like a Dairy Queen - van/choc flavors (plus flavor of the day) and a ton of great toppings which can be served up sundae style or blizzard-style (they call it a concrete).  What makes custard stand out among ice cream and frozen yogurt is it's richness in flavor and super smooth texture - yum!  Also the fact that it has to contain at least 10% butterfat to qualify as "custard."  That, and the addition of egg yolk (watch out for this place if you have allergies).  However, they do offer a sugar-free, low net-carb version of vanilla. They've also got milkshakes and malts and other great stuff. And amazingly, pickles.  Ice cream and pickles - only a pregnant woman would dream of it!  There are six locations around the area including Chantilly, Ashburn and Leesburg.

Free Cone Day

Don't forget! - tommorrow is free cone day at Ben and Jerry's.

Great day for Great Falls

Spent a great day at Great Falls National Park listening to the rush of the water, breathing deeply, and being awed by pink, white, blue, and purple flowers blanketing the fields and springing out from every nook, cranny, and crevice of the rocky terrain.  The girls enjoyed the hiking over rocks, following the trail searching for the next best rock or view, watching the falls, and scoping out nature through their magnifying glasses.  I enjoyed just being in a natural space for a change.  I grew up playing in reeds, beaches, and woods...I don't have any memories of playgrounds at all really.  It was good to get my girls off the pavement and planned play areas and into nature. 

At Play Cafe

At Play Cafe at Hunter's Woods Shopping Center in Reston is now finally open! Check it out here.

Community Spelling Bee

Here's a great opportunity!   SCORE! (located in the Northpoint Village Center) is hosting a community-wide spelling bee.  The spelling bee is completely free of charge and open to kids from K-10th grades.  The winners have the chance to WIN UP TO $1500 in college savings bonds! Here's what you need to know:

When:
Saturday, March 29th
11-2:00 pm

Where:
Mott Community Center
12111 Braddock Rd
Fairfax, VA 20124

To Register:
registration is free
call (703) 464-9300 or visit SCORE! at 1424 North Point Village Center before March 29th.

If you are unfamiliar with SCORE! Educational Centers you may find it a great resource.  Their mission is to deliver academic progress in a fun learning environment to inspire kids grades Pre-K through 10th to love learning.

 

Easter at the Theater

Easter is one of my favorite holidays! I hope that all of your celebrations are special and memorable. If you don't have plans yet or are looking for somewhere to celebrate, you are invited to join me at 10 am for a fantastic and unique church service in the theater at Reston Town Center.  I guarantee you won't be bored and you'll spend the hour surrounded by the friendliest people you've ever met!

pediatrics @ nite

Yesterday, Maddie had a mysterious headache which made me a little nervous.  But, by the time I felt like we really should see somebody just to check it out, our pediatrician's office had already closed.  We ended up taking her over to [email protected] which is located at the Dulles Town Center Mall.  The doctor was very kind and helpful.  It turns out that Maddie is just fine. But, if you are a local parent, [email protected] is a good option to keep in mind if you need to see someone after hours, on weekends, or holidays.

Ask RESTONMOM - 3/8/08

Dear Restonmom,
"I am going to be staying at a hotel in Reston with my two girls, aged 7 and 8, at the end of March. The hotel does not have an indoor pool. What activities are there in the Reston area for a 1st and 2nd grader (apart from Reston Zoo), and where is an indoor swimming pool that would be open to non-Reston residents? thanks for the help!" Patti

Dear Patti,
Welcome to Reston.  I hope that you and your daughters will have an enjoyable stay.  Assuming that the weather is nice, you might like to visit Frying Pan Farm Park - a local working kid-friendly farm with lots of animals (new babies this month too!), a playground, a farm market, and lots of room for picnics. The website doesn't do it any justice, it's definitely a favorite around here! There are several great playgrounds in the area too and tons more to do besides. I've compiled a resource of activities in the area in the For Your Interest section in the right hand column of this page - click on "places to go" and "hands on fun" and you'll find a pretty comprehensive list of all kinds of things.  As far as an indoor pool - I know that the Reston Community Center and the Reston YMCA both have indoor pools - however, I am unsure of their policies regarding visitors. 

Readers, please feel free to comment and offer your suggestions to our friend Patti.  Thankyou!

Oh what a lovely day!

We were so grateful for the gorgeous weather today (perfect timing for my husband's day off) and celebrated it by packing up a picnic lunch and spending the afternoon at Clemyjontri Park (which if you are in the area and you haven't been there - you must go!).  It revived us so much and totally revved up our spring fever so that we decided to cap off this lovely day with a cook-out featuring hamburgers on the grill, fresh green beans, caprice salad, and strawberries.  These are the best kinds of days.

We've got the scoop....

Ben and Jerry's 30th annual free cone day! Tuesday April 29th, 12pm-8pm. Free small cones from Ben and Jerry stores nationwide in the flavor of your choice (want to try a new 2008 flavor?) - how can you pass that up? Last year it was a freezing, blustery day here but we still went and got cones and the girls had fun with a little family outing, a sweet treat, and a person dressed up like a giant cow :) The only question for us this time is whether we'll be visiting the one at Reston Town Center or at Fairfax Corner.  Here's a hint - go at an odd time of day, like not around mealtimes when it will be pretty crowded. By the way, B&J have a great website with lots of fun stuff including games, crafts, and holiday activities.

Spy Museum

I love living near D.C. because of all the fun things it has to offer - here is one I really want to go check out, the International Spy Museum.  I have heard really great things about this - even from kids! and I'm psyched to go see it because I love museums and this looks like a really fun and interesting one.  Kids 12 and older will enjoy it the most, but be aware that there is an admission fee (it is a self-sustaining museum) which is a little pricey at $18 per adult and $15 per child.  However, kids 5 and under are free.  I'm not sure that my little girls will be quite captured by this yet, so maybe my husband and I will have to make a date of it. 

a little R&R at a nearby B&B

I apologize for the short lag in posts, but it was for good reason.  My amazing husband whisked me away overnight to a location listed among the luxury hotels of the world.  Goodstone Inn and Estate, located nearby in Middleburg, was utterly beautiful! My husband and I have gradually become big fans of Bed & Breakfast inns, and of all that we have visited this is definitely at the top of my list.  Though it was just an overnight excursion, I can't tell you how relaxing it is to be surrounded by huge sprawling rolling pastures, spotted with little rock outcrops and historic stone walls, not to mention the room amenities. The estate features a farmstead and several adorable houses plus much more (gorgeous main carriage house, pool, horseback riding, etc...) with 18th century feel and tons of luxury! We were totally spoiled by our stay and then followed it up with a leisurely afternoon strolling through quaint Middleburg exploring the antiques and other cute shops.  I definitely recommend this B&B as an amazing destination for anyone who needs a little getaway (and chances are, you do!)
(here's some fun pictures - my english muffins topped with tender spinach, tomato, perfectly poached eggs and hollandaise sauce, yum! and my husband playing on the hill that led to our little house.  But, you'll have to visit the website to see just how gorgeous this place is!)

J.W. Tumbles

I just found out (via my friend Linda) that a J.W. Tumbles children's gym is coming to Herndon! It will be located in shopping center by the new Harris Teeter - which nicely places it just next to a Panera and a Starbucks.  I also discovered that there is already one located in Ashburn as well.  It is fun to see that there will be a few more options for indoor play!

At Play Cafe

Saw a banner over a storefront at the Hunter's Woods Shopping Center - "At Play Cafe - coming soon."
I'm so excited to have this coming within walking distance of my house - I know what we'll be doing on Saturday mornings.  See you there!

grocery store for fun not food

Hope had her second ballet class today - and loved it, no surprise.  In the meantime, Maddie and I had an hour to spend together just killing time.  I took a book for us to look at and when we were finished, I decided to walk next door to the grocery store.  Usually shopping with the girls is a whirlwind kind of experience.  So, I took Maddie to the produce section for no other reason than to browse, to take the time to let her feel the differences between a bumpy round orange, a smooth oblong mango, and fuzzy kiwi....to look at all the different colors, and to smell the pineapples and also the roses from the nearby floral dept.  It was really nice to just not care about a grocery list or if the kids were getting cranky and spend some one on one time experiencing things with my two year old.  Grocery stores are great opportunities for fun with young ones - you can scavenger hunt for shapes, colors, letters, textures, sounds, and temperatures!  You can make up games out of your usual shopping trips, or it's a good idea just to visit the store with no intentions of buying anything and when there's plenty of time to let it be a fun and relaxing experience for you and your children.  Here are some more game ideas for the grocery store from Wondertime magazine and PBS.