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You can get the best of Out by Ten (and much, much more!) on Out by Ten's Facebook page "Family Friendly Prince George's."

I'm now a full-time work-outside-the-home mom and while we're still going on TONS of family adventures, making time for the adventures (verses making time for writing about them!) has taken priority in my life right now.

But have no fear! Our new Facebook page is a great resource for all the wonderful family-friendly stuff happening in Prince George's County and the greater Metro DC area. Be sure to check out the Out by Ten archives on the right for lots of great activities!

Head over and give me a like and I'll see you on your wall soon!


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Dreaming of Christmas on the Potomac

On Saturday we got a little reprieve from the heat with temps in the 70s but I still shook my head at the women I saw wearing jeans and sweaters. What? Did they think it was winter?

But then I stepped into my own winter wonderland at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at National Harbor when I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview of Christmas on the Potomac 2012!

Just a small part of the Winter Wonderland the folks at Gaylord created for us!

We're longtime fans of Christmas on the Potomac. Three years ago, we visited for the indoor snowfall, light display and train. Last year, I took Lucas on a special daytime "date" to meet and greet the DreamWorks' characters and do a scavenger hunt.

But this year I definitely want to do it up big and go to ICE! Shrek the Halls. I've heard so many reports from friends about how awesome it is and this year they're doing it even bigger and even better. This year's theme Shrek the Halls (who doesn't love that adorable ogre?) will be constructed of 2 MILLION pounds of ice.



Not to mention, beyond ICE! they're bringing back all the incredible Christmas decor, train, gingerbread decorating, fountain show, indoor snow (for real! It's magical!!) and more.

And as easy as it is for us to get to National Harbor, I'll tell you what I'm really dreaming about: enjoying the hotel package as a special get-away for the four of us. (Yeah, I'll keep on dreaming that dream....who knows, maybe it will come true someday!!!!)

I know it's hard to start thinking about Christmas when you've just started your back to school shopping, but for you planners or bargain-hunters, there's a great deal going on right now. Tickets for ICE! are already on sale and there are great early bird specials going on. Won't it be nice, come December, to have one thing checked off your list already?

And the awesome thing for us locals is that we can so easily visit during a non-peak date -- missing out on the massive crowds and getting an awesome discount!

Okay, now I'm off to keep on dreaming about all that ice...maybe it will cool me down today!


Disclaimer: I was invited to a special sneak-preview of Christmas on the Potomac and enjoyed a winter wonderland and yummy treats plus two gingerbread-making kids for my kids. However, I was not required to blog about it and was not compensated in any way. All opinions are my own.

 

Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!

Friday, July 20, 2012

How to Train Your Dragon

As you know, my family and I were offered free tickets to attend the How to Train Your Dragon LIVE! Spectacular at the Verizon Center last night. Unfortunately, due to a family emergency, my boys are out of town so we couldn't go. (Trust me, I was SO tempted to go alone but I would have felt terrible enjoying the show without Lucas and Nathaniel.) Instead I sat at home reading all the amazing tweets from my friends who were there.

My discount code (MOM) still works so if you're on the fence you can still buy tickets!

Here are what a few of my other blogger friends have to say about the incredible show:

Thien-Kim at I'm Not the Nanny says you'll love it even if you haven't seen the movie. (KIM! It's a fantastic movie -- rent it today!!)

Robin at The Not-Ever-Still Life enjoyed it because she's a "visual cataloger."

If you go, let me know. I'd love to hear about your experience!


Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!