Movie Review: Smurfs

La-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la.

And so goes the lovely tune the Smurfs sing in this movie, and their eponymous television series.  The movie is very similar to the song, very friendly and pleasant in nature, but less fun the longer it goes on.

So, here's the skinny. When I saw the trailer for the Smurfs, I thought to myself, "this movie looks awful." I had low expectations going in. My expectations were exceeded slightly, but not much. The movie is what it professes to be in its commercials. If you liked what you saw there, you'll probably like the movie. If you didn't like what you saw, you probably won't like the movie.

It essentially follows the smurfs as they're sucked from smurf village through a vortex that spits them out in New York City. Gargamel (Hank Azaria), the evil wizard who wants to suck magical smurf essence from the blue creatures, follows them.

Of course, the smurfs run into ad exec Patrick (Neil Patrick Harris) and his beloved, pregnant wife, Grace (Jayma Mays). The couple ends up helping the smurfs avoid Gargamel and return through the vortex to Smurf village. Along the way, Patrick, under the tutelage of Papa Smurf, discovers what being a father truly means. Heartwarming -- or at least it's meant to be.

The movie has some funny moments, and isn't downright awful, as I was concerned it would be. Overall it's a film you take your kids to because they want to see it, not because you're gonna love it. The good news is it's not such an awful film to ride along for (and as parents, we all know there are some truly awful films we sit through for the sake of our children).

As a side note, my children loved one running joke throughout the movie. Similar to the way miners used canaries to test the air, Gargamel keeps throwing his cat, Azrael, into potentially perilous situations (Gargamel throws the cat through the vortex first), then calling out, "Azrael, are you dead?" When the cat responded, Gargamel would go himself . Now that they've seen this, my children keep asking, "Are you dead?" and laughing hysterically. I tell them this is not funny, yet they disagree.

-Hyattsville Mom

Happy Weekend! (Early)

Shark image courtesy of Discovery Communications.

It's Thursday, but there's lots going on this weekend, so I'm cutting out early this week! Today is the weekend blog posting, and tomorrow, so you won't go through withdrawals, I've scheduled a review of the Smurfs to post.

Just want to highlight some of the fun things going on this weekend.  First and foremost: SHARKS!  Shark Week on the Discovery Channel kicks off on Sunday, and there are several events happening to honor the shark.

Shark Party. This fun party on Friday (July 29) night is FREE, starts at 8:30, will include give-aways, and features a free screening of the new show, Great White Invasion. Here's the description Discovery Channel gives of the event: "Discovery will be giving away FREE items throughout the night including Shark Week hats, shirts and DVDs, and vitaminwater will be giving away free drinks. Come early and visit some of the downtown Silver Spring businesses that are getting in the spirit with shark-themed food and drink specials. Beware: the Shark Week mascot is expected to circle the area during the screening to take pictures with kids! Make sure to bring your lawn chairs and get ready for a fin-filled night!" The event is at Veterans Plaza at the Silver Spring Civic Building (address: 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring). For those who want to follow Shark Week on the go, there's even a Shark Week app for the iPhone at http://www.sharkweek.com/.

Shark Fun Frenzy at the National Aquarium in DC. In honor of shark week, the museum will have a bunch of family-friendly, informative shark activities. We've gone in years past and the kids have always had a blast. More details are here: http://www.nationalaquarium.org/calendar_july.html#Event1513. 

On the non-shark front, there's the Circus Camp Show. Friday (July 29) at 1 p.m. at the Greenbelt Community Center gym, the Circus Camp will be performing. The show is free and open to the public and showcases what kids have learned in the camp. There's juggling, unicycle riding, tightrope walking, etc. If you're considering sending your kids to the camp, it a good chance to see how it goes. Or, if you're just looking for a fun way to spend the afternoon, it's a good activity.

The city of Hyattsville will be having a free movie in the park on Friday night (July 29) at 7:30 p.m. at Magruder Park, 40th Ave. and Hamilton St.  They'll be showing the Muppet Movie. More details are here: http://www.hyattsville.org/.

Also, if you're a Greek, you might be aware the fraternity Omega Psi Phi is having a big centennial celebration in town this weekend. My uncle and brother (both Qs) are coming to town for the event (one reason I'm cutting out early this weekend). Be sure to check the calendar for other fun events this weekend.

Hope you have fun and find a way to beat the heat.

-Hyattsville Mom

Summer Fare

When it's so hot out like it's been recently, I don't cook. It just heats up the house too much to be turning on the oven to make food. So, I do a lot of yogurt and sandwiches and salads and, pretty much, cold fare.

I thought I'd share two fun recipes that don't require turning on a stove and make delicious meals. One I learned about recently. The other I've made year end and out, and it's quite delicious. Hope you enjoy!

Spicy Salmon Salad
(I picked up this recipe at Trader Joe's the other day, and it's simple and delicious!)

- 12 oz Salmon, cooked, broken apart
- 1 to 2 tablespoons of Wasabi mayonnaise (sold at Trader Joes)
- 1/4 of a red pepper, diced

Simply mix the three ingredients and serve. The mayo is pretty spicy.  Start with one tablespoon of the mayo and taste your dish. Only add a second tablespoon if you don't mind the extra heat.

Tasty Chicken Salad
- 12 oz cooked chicken, broken into pieces (can pull from chicken or buy in a can)
- 12 grapes, halved
- 2 table spoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/4  of a small red onion, diced
-1/4 of a red pepper, diced

Again, simply mix all the ingredients and serve cold. This is great in a pita with some chips.

If you're looking for other summer recipes, check out this cook book put out by the state. It includes recipes from Maryland chefs, including Rasheed Abdurrahman, chef at Hyattsville's Wild Onion.
http://www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/cookbook11.pdf.

-Hyattsville Mom

Summer Movies

Summer is always a great time for movies. But, with tickets costing $8 or $9, just for matinees, it can get expensive to take the entire family to the movies. So, it's always fun to take a look at some of the cheaper ways to see movies. Here are two of my favorites:

Summer  Movie Series:
Haven't seen a lot of movies in the past year? Catch up during the summer! Lots of places offer free or reduced price older (as in, came out within the previous year and are now on DVD) movies. The city of Hyattsville is offering free movies in the park this summer. Also, National Harbor has a free evening movie series (however, be wary of the "free" part because parking is very expensive, and they don't have weekend discounted parking or cheaper street parking available). Regal Cinemas is offering older films for a $1 per person this summer through it's Summer Movie Express program. Screen on the Green, DC's outdoor free movie series on the National Mall, also returned this summer.

Discount Days:
Lots of movie theaters have days that are discounted. For example, Greenbelt's Academy 8 Theater offers $5 Tuesdays, where every film is just $5 all day long. This is great, and I try to catch new films at the Greenbelt theater, so I can see them cheaper. If you've got friends or relatives in Fairfax County that you'd like to visit, check out the University Mall Theatres. They offer $2 Tuesdays, where every movie is just $2 on Tuesdays. This theater has movies that are in the end of their first run (for example, right now it has Thor, the Hangover II, Rio and Judy Moody). This theater only works if you're already going to be in Fairfax County. Otherwise, the cost of gas to get out there mitigates any savings--at least if you live on the Maryland side.

What are your favorite ways to see movies on the cheap?

-Hyattsville Mom

Smurftastic!

I must say, my kids are really looking forward to the new Smurfs movie, which comes out this Friday (July 29), nationwide.

Those Smurfs marketing folks sure know how to appeal to the kids on that one.  The ads are everywhere and the other day, when we were at Montgomery Mall, the Build-a-Bear store was giving away free Smurfs paper hats (in a bid to get you to buy a Smurfs stuffed animal).

What's funny is I remember loving the Smurfs as a kid. But, I watched an episode on Youtube recently and was struck by how dark the series seems to me as an adult (what's up with Gargamel, the evil sorcerer, casting wicked spells in front of a blazing demon-fire at night?).  As a kid, it didn't seem dark to me at all. And the current film trailers don't seem particularly dark, either. So, it'll be interesting to see how the kids react to the movie.

If you love the Smurfs and think your kids will, too, FYI that Mocha Moms, a nonprofit Moms group, is offering a group sales pricing to see the film on Saturday, July 30.  The discounted pricing is open to nonmembers, as well as members, and includes a Smurfs Academy prior to the movie.  This hour-long academy will "be an interactive experience that teaches children everything they need to know to become a Smurf and promote the positive character values portrayed in the film including teamwork, cooperation, problem solving, creativity and individuality." During the academy, children will learn how to draw a Smurf and how to sing the Smurf Song, and get an activity book and face painting. For more information on the group event, visit this site: http://mochasmeetsmurfs.eventbrite.com.

-Hyattsville Mom

All that AND a bag of ice cream!

Well, you've heard the expression, "It was all that AND a bag of chips." Well, today, I give you all that (as in the UPDATED CALENDAR!) AND a bag of ice cream! 


Actually, I'm not literally giving you a bag of ice cream.  That's very bad--giving people ice cream. It's sort of like how you shouldn't give people fish. I wouldn't want you to have ice cream for just one day! So, instead, I'll teach you how to make ice cream, so you can have it whenever you want.


But, first the calendar. There are lots of fun events,  including Mars Day at the Air & Space Museum in D.C. today. So, please peruse what's there and find something fun to do in the coming days.


Now, onto ice cream.  Since it's so hot outside, it's a great time for ice cream. I have a little recipe that you can use to make ice cream with your kids. The wonderful thing is it doesn't require an ice cream churn, it gives the kids a chance to run around a little, and it only makes about a scoop full for each kid (so no gluttony issues).


Hyattsville Mom's Heatwave Ice Cream Fun Recipe


Ingredients:
-2 ounces Milk, cream, or half-and-half (whatever floats your boat or whatever's in the fridge; cream makes creamier ice cream than milk; milk makes icier ice cream than cream.)
-1 tsp Sugar
-Vanilla extract, fruits or chocolate syrup


You will need:
-Salt
-Ice
-Quart ziptop bag
-Gallon ziptop bag
-Old newspaper or cheap rolled paper




What to do:
(1) Give each person who wants ice cream a quart and gallon ziptop bag.
(2) Open the quart bag
(3) Add 2 ounces of milk, cream or half-and-half
(4) Add 1 tsp sugar
(5) Add a dash of vanilla extract or a 1/2 teaspoon of chocolate syrup, or a spoonful of the fruit you desire (this step is basically the flavor of your ice cream; if you want strawberry ice cream, cut up a strawberry and add it now; chocolate, use the chocolate syrup; vanilla, use the vanilla)
(6) Seal the bag and shake it up so everything gets mixed.
(7) Open the gallon bag and put in enough ice to fill it halfway
(8) Place SEALED quart ziptop bag inside gallon bag of ice (center it so ice surrounds quart bag)
(9) Sprinkle 5 ounces of salt on top of ice.
(10) Seal the gallon bag tight so ice and quart bag are sealed in, but not extra air.
(11) Wrap gallon ziptop bag in newsprint or plain roll paper, give it to your kids and tell them to roll it around and shake it for five minutes.
(12) After five minutes, unwrap, unzip, pull out the the quart bag and pour your scoop of ice cream into a bowl.
(13) Eat, and enjoy. You've worked hard to make it!




Have a great weekend.


-Hyattsville Mom

Keeping Cool

Well, we are officially in a heat wave that's expected to last until early next week. So, today I thought I'd post about places to keep cool.

If there are any places you love to go to keep cool that aren't on the list, send me an e-mail and I'll update the post.

-Hyattsville Mom


Malls/Stores
Mall at Prince George's. It's cool and shady and indoors. You can walk around the mall with the kids. Not a bad place to hang out. Mall at Prince George's, 3500 East West Highway, Hyattsville, MD 20782-1916, (301) 853-6054, http://mallatprincegeorges.com.

IKEA College Park. This is a great place to hang around or, even get a break from the kids. IKEA offers up to 1 hour of free care in supervised play in its first-floor Smaland. Parents get a buzzer when they leave, and store workers will buzz if there is a problem, or when your child's time is up. If your child is not the right size for the play area, there are several play areas throughout the showroom, where children can be entertained. Food at Ikea is pretty cheap, too. Kids meals are $2.50, including a drink. Ikea College Park, 10100 Baltimore Ave., College Park, MD 20740, (301) 345-6552, http://www.ikea.com/us/en/store/college_park.

Wegmans. In the air-conditioned eatery, there is free wi-fi. Also, they have a small children's area that includes a TV and a trainset. I don't let my kids watch much TV at home, so sometimes they beg to go to Wegmans so they can see TV.  This is a great place to just sit for a minute. Wegmans Woodmore Town Centre,  9001 McHugh Drive, Lanham, MD, (240) 487-5445.

Wheaton Mall. This is a little bit of a hike, but the mall has a kids play area filled with soft plastic things kids can climb on, little slides, and the like. Of course, just walking around the mall is great, too. Wheaton Mall, 11160 Veirs Mill Road,  Wheaton MD 20902-1094, (301) 942-3200, http://www.westfield.com/wheaton.

Free Fountains
University Town Center. This development has a fountain that children can frolic and play in for free. There are nearby shops and restaurants to play at when you're finished. Please be aware, the fountain is not always active, so do call ahead. University Town Centre, 3325 Toledo Road, Hyattsville, MD, (301) 277-0925, http://www.universitytowncenter.net.

Downtown Silver Spring. There is a fountain here that allows children to run in and frolic as well. It tends to run more often, but again, call ahead to make sure it's running if your goal is to take the kids and cool off. There are lots of shops and restaurants nearby, too (including a Cake Love, which often has a $2 special on cupcakes). Downtown Silver Spring, 908 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301-587-0867, http://www.downtownsilverspring.com.

Public Pools (list is from Parks & Rec. website: http://www.pgparks.com/Things_To_Do/Sports/Aquatics/Summer_Pool_Openings.htm)

Outdoor:

Allentown Splash, Tennis, and Fitness Park, 7210 Allentown Road, Fort Washington, MD 20744. This facility features an outdoor splash pool, wading pool, diving well, picnic area and volleyball court, as well as an indoor aquatic complex.
Glenn Dale Splash Park, 11901 Glenn Dale Blvd. (Rt. 193), Glenn Dale, MD 20769. The seasonal, outdoor family splash park offers play areas for pre-schoolers, water spray features, and a lily pad crossing adjacent to Glenn Dale Community Center.
Lane Manor Splash Park, 7601 West Park Drive, Hyattsville, MD 20783. Located in Lane Manor Park, this outdoor facility offers a 25-meter pool with lily pads, mushroom waterfall, water slides, and a wading pool.
Ellen Linson Swimming Pool, 5211 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740. This facility offers a 50-meter pool, water slide, and funbrella picnic areas.
North Barnaby Splash Park,  5000 Wheeler Rd, Oxon Hill, MD 20745. This newly renovated 25-meter, outdoor pool includes a lily pad crossing, tipping-buckets waterfall, aqua climbing wall and wading pool.
Hamilton Splash Park, 3901 Hamilton St., Hyattsville, MD 20781. This outdoor pool features a completely new pool configuration and decking, new slide, spray features, and lily pad crossings, along with an aqua climbing wall.
J. Franklyn Bourne Memorial Pool, 6500 Calmos Street, Seat Pleasant, MD 20743. This newly renovated 50-meter, outdoor swimming pool includes the addition of new Funbrealla picnic areas and a pool deck, baby pool, and locker room facilities.


Indoor: 
Allentown Fitness & Splash Park, 7210 Allentown Road, Fort Washington, MD 20744, 301-449-5566. Call for fees. http://www.pgparks.com/Things_To_Do/Sports/Aquatics/Allentown_Splash__Tennis_and_Fitness_Park.htm.
Fairland Sports and Aquatics Complex, 13820 and 13950 Old Gunpowder Road, Laurel, MD 20707.   Resident fees are $5* for adults, $4* for children.  http://www.pgparks.com/Things_To_Do/Sports/Fairland_Sports_and_Aquatics_Complex.htm.
Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex, 8001 Sheriff Rd. in Landover, 301-583-2400. Resident fees are $5* for adults, $4* for children. http://www.pgsportsandlearn.com/aquatic_fees.html.
Rollingcrest-Chillum Splash Pool, 6122 Sargent Road, Chillum, MD 20782, 301-853-9115. Call for fees. http://www.pgparks.com/Things_To_Do/Sports/Aquatics/Rollingcrest-Chillum_Splash_Pool.htm.

(*Add $1 for people who are not PG or Montgomery County residents)

Don't Forget

Please don't forget to follow us on Twitter @Hyattsvillemom or Facebook.  The blog is static, so you won't get any fun and exciting info I learn during the day, such as the deal for the free Dominos pizza I posted yesterday.

Alright, that's it for today. Will write a longer post tomorrow.

-Hyattsville Mom

Lesson Learned!

As a parent, you try to teach your kids certain lessons about life and hope they sink in. When the lesson sinks in, it's wonderful. When it doesn't, you're not happy, but, if it's important, you head at it another way. There are also times when they misunderstand what you say and get the totally wrong message, which means you have to correct, dismiss the bad notion and try again at the original point. And, finally, there are times when your kids totally get the lesson, but not in the way you expected. This is such an example:

The other evening, my 4-year-old daughter ran ahead of me to her bedroom, saying, "Let me open the door for you and turn on the lights." Then, she proceeded to do just that.

I said, "How nice of you, sweetheart."

She responded. "Yes, Mommy, I have to help you because you're soooooo old. It's important to help old people."

I am 35, in case you're wondering. 

Well, I guess that lesson's learned.

-Your Soooooo Old Hyattsville Mom

Busboys and Poets - A new hangout spot in Hyattsville

There's a new spot opening in Hyattsville today: Busboys and Poets.


Now, I admit, I was not familiar with this chain until recently. About a month ago, my friend Cathy mentioned that she was so excited a Busboy and Poets was opening up. And I was like, "What is it?" 


Apparently, it's a chic spot for those who want to eat, work (free wi-fi) or hang out. There's food, open mic nights, and lots of atmosphere, so I'm told.  What people love about the place seems hard to put into words, but every person I've spoken to is familiar with the place has done nothing but break into an ear-to-ear grin when they start talking about it.


The Busboys and Poets is opening in the new complex where the Elevation Burger, Yogi Castle, and Chipotle Grill are (across the street). It's right next to a Yes Organic Market, which is slated to open later this year. The address is: 5331 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, MD.


The opening of the restaurant, by the way, is supposed to signify success for this area. A Washington City Paper article noted that where Busboys & Poets have arrived, the surrounding area has gone onto thrive economically for businesses. So, let's hope this place works its charms here.


Normally, I try to write about places that are kid friendly. I don't know if this place is, but even if it isn't, the unbridled enthusiasm you get from people who know of the place is reason enough to check it out.  The Busboys and Poets is slated to open today at 4 p.m.  


I actually have a lot to do this afternoon (and HATE opening day crowds), so I won't be checking out the grand opening. But I will definitely slip in this week.


Now, dear readership, are you Busboys & Poets virgins or total drop-dead-in-love fans (there doesn't seem to be an in-between)? Do you plan to check it out today, or wait?

-Hyattsville Mom

Winnie the Pooh - Oh, bother!

Movie Review
The best thing I can say about the new Winnie the Pooh movie, out today in the U.S., is that it's really short. Running time is a mere 69 minutes.

In interest of full disclosure, I have never been the biggest fan of the animated Pooh (though A.A. Milne's Pooh books are charming).  This movie features all the classic characters: Christopher Robin, Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, Piglet, Owl, Kanga and Roo.  In the film, Eeyore loses his tail, Pooh is desperate for honey and then Christopher Robin disappears. And despite all this activity, the movie comes up short. It feels underwhelming, and certainly not worth plopping down $7 a head (matinee) or more to see in theaters.

The Good
(1)There were a couple of times in the film where I laughed out loud. These were amusing, charming moments. For example, most of the characters had fallen into the hole and were trying to persuade piglet to run through the dark scary forest to get help. Then owl flew out of the hole, gave a pep talk, and then flew back down to lament with the others about being stranded. This struck me as hysterical at the time. But, moments like this could be counted on one hand (using fewer than half the fingers on that hand).

(2) My 7-year-old son said he liked the film, which is good, because he can be a bit persnickety at times.

(3) The animation was lovely and creative. They interspersed the type written pages of the book with the film. So, at one point, Pooh walks over the words the narrator is reading. I liked this touch.

The Bad
(1) Despite being really short, it felt incredibly long. I wondered, gee, how much longer can they drag this thing out?

(2) It had moments that I was concerned might be scary for younger children. There's some confusion about a note Christopher Robin leaves. He ends it with "Back Soon."  Upon reading the note, Owl believes Christopher Robin has been kidnapped by the BackSoon monster. While Disney was certainly not trying to make this scene scary, I felt the monster, along with the music, could be perceived by some kids as scary.  Parents have to judge for themselves. Others said they didn't feel the monster was particularly scary.

(3) My 4-year-old daughter didn't like it, which is not good, because she's usually fairly easy to please. Though, this may have been related to the Backsoon monster, as she will say she didn't like a movie if there was something that scared/upset her in it. For example, she didn't like UP (in that movie, the most likable character portrayed up to that point dies about 6 minutes into the film; later a pack of wild, voracious dogs chase the main characters).

That's all for today. Hope you have a great weekend. And don't forget to check our calendar listing if you're looking for something to do this weekend.

-Hyattsville Mom

A Gas Pig?

Sometimes my children say things that make me laugh hysterically.

I have no idea where they get their notions from, and this example is no different. It was so hot the other day, my 4-year-old daughter told me, "I'm sweating like a gas pig!"

"A what?" I asked.

"A gas pig," she responded, as if I should know what exactly what this is.

"What is a gas pig?"

A roll of the eyes. "You know, Mom."

Really honey, I don't, I think. But, I don't say anything. I just wait for her to continue.

"It's a pig that pumps gas for your car."

Oh, that I should have known. Because, you know, there are so many full service stations around Maryland that hire pigs to pump gas in this 90+ degree weather. Of course, I just say, "Oh."

No idea where that came from. Hope you all have a good day.

-Hyattsville Mom

A fun Puppet Show

Yesterday, I took the kids to see a puppet show at the Laurel Library. The production was The Three Billy Goats Gruff by  Dragon Wings Marionettes company. 


Overall, the show was cute and fun. It's an adaptation of the classic story designed to be a little less scary for kids. Instead of a mean troll who wanted to eat goats, the troll was a fun loving ogre who loved to wrestle, and was a vegetarian. The confusion about the goat eating arises because the troll doesn't know what a goat is. Seeing a sign about goats near a field of radishes, the troll mistakenly assumes that this delicious new root vegetable he's been eating is called a "goat."


It's definitely worth seeing if you've got the time. The puppet show will be performed at the New Carrollton library, 7414 Riverdale Road, New Carrollton, MD 20784, (301) 459-6900, July 28 at 2 p.m.  The show is FREE, and runs about 45 minutes.


-Hyattsville Mom

Inspiration

My family and I went to Elevation Burger the other day, parking in the back. The burger place is part of the new downtown Hyattsville development so there are several empty locations and even some construction still going on. 

As we headed to the burger joint, we looked through the window of an empty business location - Suite 107. And what was inside was amazing. In fact, it's inspiring. Amid a space with a roof and a floor of small white rocks, is a plant that's at least six feet tall! Yes, a six foot tall plant inside a building where it doesn't get sunlight from directly above (there's a roof, remember?) It gets only sunlight from the windows. And I don't know how it gets water, because it's inside a building (maybe there's a leaky roof, or maybe the water table is high enough, when it rains, it soaks up up up into the rock bed, nourishing the plant).

Strangely, the bottom leaves are brown and withered looking. But the top of the plant is lush and green, with broad leaves that cling to the window where the sunlight is coming in.

It's an anathema, yet so inspiring because it reminds us that life blooms in the most unlikely places It reminds us that things survive despite the odds against them (the gravel covering up it's sunlight, the roof, the lack of water falling on it when it rains). It's wonderful to see something, not just do it, when the odds are so thoroughly stacked against it. I mean, this plant is six feet tall. I'm not six feet tall and I get water and sunlight everyday (without obstruction).

Whenever, I feel like the odds are against me in the future, I'll just think of that little --well, actually, I guess, big-- plant and how it managed to grow and get so big, despite the odds.

Here are some photos from my camera phone. I hope you can make out the plant with the glare. I probably should have stood next to it, so you can see how big it is, but believe me, it's taller than me. Or go take a look yourself (5501 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, MD).  There's an Elevation Burger, Yogi Castle and Chipotle Mexican Grill, if you're hungry after your trek. There's also a day spa, there.

 These are the seeds sprouting at the top of the plant.

This is a view from the other glass door of the building. It's sprouting right out of the gravel.

Here is  a picture of it through the glass, but there's a lot of glare and reflection. It's very tall.

-Hyattsville Mom

Free Slurpee!

It's 7-11-11, so of course the convenience store chain 7-Eleven has to celebrate!

They're offering a free Slurpee to anyone who comes in today. According to a Huffington Post article, the chain expects to give away 5 million Slurpees today. So, get out there and make sure it achieves its goal!

Here's the information on 7-Eleven's Slurpee.com site: http://slurpee.com/Events/

It's going to be a scorcher today, so enjoy cooling off with a Slurpee.

-Hyattsville Mom

****Also, in case you missed my late post last night, there is a free camp at Landover Hills Baptist Church starting today. It runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Details are on the church's website and in my Sunday night post.

Free Camp

FYI, there's a free camp (religious-based) at Landover Hills Baptist Church, starting tomorrow, July 11.

Sorry about the short notice, but I just found out about it. As I was doing some night time tidying, I came across a flyer my husband said someone dropped off today.

The camp is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 11-13. It doesn't give an age range for the kids. The website describing the camp is here: http://www.lhbcmd.org/2011DayCamp.

Below, I've pasted a photo of the flyer. If interested, contact the church.

-Hyattsville Mom

Nail Stickers -- Cool

I took my daughter to a "Princess Tea Party" event recently. The party basically included having cookies, little cakes and lemonade or iced tea, and doing three activities: making a picture frame, playing dress up and nail painting.

For those of you who don't know, my daughter, Ella, is 4. My husband and I have agreed that there is no nail painting for her until she is older. So, I told her when I saw the nail-painting station that she couldn't do it. And because we've talked to her about the nail painting issue before, she accepted it pretty easily.

However, when we went to sit down away from the station, the lady who organized the event asked what was wrong. I said, "She's too young for nail polish." The organizer looked at us a moment, then cautiously at me. "What about stickers? We have nail stickers."

Oh Yeah! We were so on top of that! I had never really seen these before, so it was pretty cool. They're intended to go on top of painted nails to give the a little extra flourish. And generally, people paint over them with a coat of clear polish to ensure the stickers stay in place.  However, it was really great for Ella,  as she loved them dearly and was so glad to be able to participate. I'm also glad I know about nail stickers. It's fun and decorative, but less difficult than nail polish.

The nail stickers

What cool new item for your kids have you learned about lately?

-Hyattsville Mom

Cool Cake

After I mentioned to a friend that my daughter wanted to make a cake for America's birthday, she sent a cool link to this cake picture and recipe. A little late for the Fourth, but there's still Flag Day!

http://secretlifeofachefswife.com/anthologie/desserts/the-coolest-fourth-of-july-cake-ive-ever-seen

Happy baking, if you so choose!

-Hyattsville Mom

Happy 4th

Happy Birthday, America!

It's a wonderful day for a birthday, and barbecue.  When my husband told my daughter it was America's birthday, she asked if we could bake a cake and buy presents!

I think we'll definitely bake a cake, and the best present we can give America is to uphold her ideals and beliefs and keep our country great.

I hope everyone out there has a happy fourth of July!

-Hyattsville Mom

Parking, Ugh!

Yesterday, I posted about seeing Reptile World at the library. What I didn't mention was the horrible parking situation when I attended.

I arrived at the Hyattsville library branch early because I've been there before (since they opened the theaters and the shops) and have had a hard time parking. I guess, people are parking at the library and walking to the shops or movie theater, even though there is a parking garage nearby that gives you 2 hours of free parking.

So, rather than park at the library and worry about someone trying so squeeze into a space next to me or block me in, I actually parked at the garage and walked a block back to the library. It's ashamed that people are using the library parking and not going to the library. 

Though, the good news is, as long as you're going for less than two hours, you can get the joy of shaded parking (at least it's a joy in the summer) for the library.

-Hyattsville Mom