The Music Loft in Herndon, VA has a great summer music lesson program including piano, guitar, drums, voice, strings, woodwind and brass lessons available - all at one location. 


Plus, they are giving away a SUMMER OF MUSIC LESSONS (8 weeks of 30 minute lessons- a $300 Value!)

Current students do not need to feel left out! If current students refer a student that stays for 3 months of lessons, they get a $100 VISA gift card, 5 months-$500 gift card, and 10 months-a $1000 gift card.  Pretty cool.  

Find out about The Music Loft's Top 5 Benefits of Studying Music below, and enter the giveaway for a SUMMER of MUSIC LESSONS!

Enter to win tickets Busch Gardens Williamsburg!

The Kid Trips contest will award one lucky winner a
family pack of four FUN CARDS to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. 

The contest runs from May 21, 2013 until May 28, 2013!


*FUN CARDS can used for unlimited access until September 2, 2013

I am going to be completely honest here.  Last summer for me was a WASHOUT!  I went to the pool every morning with my children, but too many of my afternoons were spent writing a certain book while they played at home.  This summer, I am committed to breaking the monotony and made a list of 100 Things to Do this Summer with Kids in Northern Virginia.

The list is very non-specific.  For example, "ride a train" could mean the Metro, Burke Lake Train, or even the mall train at Tyson's Corner.  I'm not sure if we're going to get to everything on this list, but I am challenging myself to complete at least 90. I hope you enjoy!  Please share, pin, and print it out the PDF.   

Our friends at the fabulous Washington FAMILY Magazine gave us a two night stay at the Gaylord National Harbor to give away to one lucky reader. The stay must occur before June 15, 2013 and includes accommodations, one morning of breakfast, champagne, and parking. 

Details below:

Encore Stage & Studio invites you to fall in love again with Sleeping Beauty, an amusing and playful presentation of the well-known fairytale. When Princess Briar Rose is born, the King and Queen throw a celebration to welcome their new daughter. The whole kingdom is invited, save for one truly wicked witch. In revenge, Evilina sends the young Princess an unforgettable birthday gift—a sleeping spell which can only be broken by true love’s kiss.

Check out this delightful "theatre for kids, by kids." We have been to several of their shows and always find them fun, professional, and entertaining.  Performance details are below: 

It will soon be summertime in the DC Metro area and we thought it might be fun to put together a great list of upcoming local events.  Our list will help you kick start summer beginning with Memorial Day Weekend and will take you through to Labor Day Weekend! 

We have TONS of family-friendly adventures packed into our Summer 2013 calendar and while we have given you an awesome starting point for warm weather outings, we still have LOADS more in our book Kid Trips Northern Virginia.  For an even more comprehensive list of seasonal events you can buy our book for your digital device or purchase the handy paperback version on Amazon and in select local stores. See our home page for buying options @ http://www.gokidtrips.com/.

Our incredible sponsors at Baby Blossom are helping us giveaway a Deluxe Thomas the Tank Engine Play Table by Tomy (retail value: $400).


Read about all the details and enter this giveaway below from May 10th-May 23rd, and be sure to visit Baby Blossom (in Reston and Fairfax) for all your baby and toddler needs!

The Reading Connection is hosting a FREE Community Reading Festival on Saturday, May 11th. 


The Reading Connection is a fantastic local non-profit that has been working in the community for over twenty years.  They provide volunteers to read aloud to area, at-risk children at shelters and community centers, provide children with free, new books to keep, run parent workshops, and train literacy family support workers.  


Find out more about this fun festival below: