Giveaway: 4 Tickets to Marvel Universe Live!

It's Giveaway Time!

Last week I mentioned that Marvel Universe Live! is coming to our area. I am excited to share that Feld Entertainment has offered a 4 ticket giveaway for one of my readers to see the show on Thursday, December 10th at 7:30 p.m. at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore!

What a fun early Christmas gift for your little super heroes! 

**Please note the date, time and location of this show to make sure you are available before entering! No exchanges allowed. Open to residents of the USA, age 18 and older. Feld Entertainment is responsible for giveaway prize.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Blessings and love. xo 

Disclaimer: I am a Feld Entertainment Ambassador. I was not compensated for this post. 

Marvel Universe Live!

Marvel Universe Live! Arrives in Baltimore Dec. 10 - 13 

Local premiere features your favorite Marvel characters at Royal Farms Arena

After much anticipation, Marvel Universe LIVE!, featuring the most Marvel characters ever assembled in one production, will be flying into Baltimore with performances at Royal Farms Arena starting December 10.

Marvel Universe LIVE! is an action-packed, live entertainment experience for the entire family. Children and adults alike will enjoy watching their favorite Marvel Super Heroes including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, Wolverine and many more during a comic extravaganza that brings both heroes and villains to life. Audiences will enjoy special effects, stunts and a never before seen story in this family-friendly, live action adventure. Join Marvel fans of all ages for this once-in-a-lifetime, monumental performance. The fate of the universe depends on it!

Marvel Universe LIVE! is the newest and largest show ever produced by Feld Entertainment. See Marvel Universe Live! December 10-13 at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore.

Please note that this will be the only performances of Marvel Universe Live! in the D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia area.Tickets for Marvel Universe LIVE! start at $20 and are on sale now at www.marveluniverselive.com, Ticketmaster.com and at the Royal Farms Arena box office.

 BALTIMORE, MD

Royal Farms Arena | December 10-13

Show times:

·      Thursday, December 10 at 7:30 PM *opening night 50% off

·      Friday, December 11 at 7:30 PM

·      Saturday, December 12 at 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM

·      Sunday, December 13 at 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM

Ticket Information: All seats are reserved. Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 800-745-3000, via www.ticketmaster.com, and at the Royal Farms Arena box offices.

All Ticket prices start at $20.00. Ticket pricing is subject to change based on market demand.

Stay current on the latest from Marvel Universe LIVE! through social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube .

About Feld Entertainment


Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment's productions have appeared in more than 70 countries on six continents and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^®, Monster Jam^®, Monster Energy Supercross, Nuclear Cowboyz^®, AMSOIL Arenacross, Marvel Universe LIVE!, Disney On Ice and Disney Live! More information about Feld Entertainment is available online at www.feldentertainment.com. More information on Marvel Universe LIVE!available at www.marveluniverselive.com.

About Marvel Entertainment, LLC


Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information, visit www.marvel.com.

Disclaimer: I am a Feld Enterainment Ambassador. I was not compensated for this post. 

Art At The Mill 2015

It's time for Art At The Mill at the historic Burwell-Morgan Mill (c. 1782) in Millwood, Virginia! This is truly a Clarke County treasure and one of my favourite events to attend. Walking into the old mill is a stunning experience that elicits the senses. The still-working mill is a pleasure in and of itself, and then add in all the wonderful pieces of art, and it is a sight to behold. During the show, you can view more than 1,000 pieces of artwork created by over 300 artists from our surrounding area and more than a dozen other states. You may even get to chat with one or two of the artists, whom I have always found to be so personable and willing to answer any of my questions. One year my little girls even enjoyed a simple art lesson given by one of the local artists. It was a special touch added to an already enjoyable experience.

Art At The Mill is a lovely day excursion. Shop at the art show, browse through the gourmet food shop, The Locke Store, maybe even pick up a few things for a casual picnic on the beautiful grounds of the mill. The surrounding horse farms also make for a relaxing drive in the country. The Shenandoah River is close by, as well, and you can get a peek at the delightful and unique Virginia Bluebells along the river banks.

These photos are all from last year's Art At The Mill event. I cannot wait to get there this year to see what all the talented artists have been up to in the last twelve months! I hope to see you there.

Join the Clarke County Historical Association for the 2015 edition of Art At The Mill:

Art At The Mill will be open April 25th-May 10th, 2015 during the following hours:  

Monday-Thursday 10-5

Friday and Saturday 10-6

Sunday from 11-5

Adults $5

Seniors $3

Kids 12 and under are free

Blessings and love. xo

Disney On Ice Presents Frozen

(Photo credit: Feld Entertainment)

All three of my girls (ages 18, 9 and 8) and I attended the opening night of Disney On Ice presents Frozen last night at the Patriot Center! We had never been to a Disney On Ice production and weren't sure exactly what to expect, other than the obvious skating. Mickey Mouse and his best girl Minnie came out to host the show, along with several Disney princesses and their beaus. We were also treated to several other very familiar faces from Toy Story, Finding Nemo and The Lion King! And then came the main event.

We had hoped that the actors would be lip-syncing the songs and dialogue from the movie, and that's exactly what happened. We are HUGE fans of the movie, so we were happy to see that the production followed the movie, with only a few exceptions. The On Ice version is condensed a little, but overall, it was the same beautiful story of love winning in the end. And this story truly is magical on ice. 

The audience ooh-ed and ah-ed over the costumes, the skating (Kristoff had some especially impressive skills), the lights and special effects and sang along with the beloved songs. "In Summer", Olaf's song, is my personal favourite, but we also thoroughly enjoyed "Do You Want To Build A Snowman", "For The First Time In Forever" and, of course, "Let It Go". And it snowed in the Patriot Center! 

Here are some of our favourite scenes:

If my girls had been younger, there were two scenes that may have been a little frightening to them . . . the wolves and the snow monster. But because my girls are older, they thought these parts were pretty cool. The snow monster, especially, was quite impressive, growing larger and larger before our eyes!

The only negative aspect for us had nothing to do with the show itself. It was the traffic getting onto the George Mason University campus. What a nightmare! And although we left early to try to avoid the congestion, it wasn't early enough. We sat for so long on Braddock Road that we finally took a left at the light on Ox Road and then a right on Mason Pond. Thank goodness we did. We were literally running from the parking lot into the arena, but we were in our seats just before the show started. My oldest daughter noticed people still coming in at 7:40 p.m. Such a shame for them to have missed almost the entire first half. So for anyone going to the Patriot Center, arrive early!!! There are plenty of food vendors and trinkets to look at or purchase while you wait for the show to begin.

I asked my girls to share their favourite part of the night:
18 year old - "My favourite parts were the special effects, like when Anna was frozen and when Olaf had his own personal flurry. I also loved Elsa and Anna's last dance."
9 year old - "I cannot choose just one thing. I liked every little bit of it! I especially liked the snow monster."
8 year old - "I liked Olaf, and I liked Elsa's and Anna's last dance!"

Disney On Ice presents Frozen will be at the Patriot Center through Monday, October 27. More shows have been added, due to high demand! Then the show moves on to the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore.  

For showtimes or to buy your tickets, go to Disney On Ice. 

Disclaimer: I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion on this website, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-show events.  Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.

Disney On Ice presents FROZEN - Ticket Giveaway

Local friends, I have some exciting news to share with you today! Did you see my post announcing the upcoming Disney On Ice presents FROZEN shows coming to DC and Baltimore? If not, go HERE for all the details. 

And now on to my fun announcement! 

I have four tickets to giveaway, compliments of Feld Entertainment.

Photo credit: Feld Entertainment

If you would like an opportunity to win four tickets to experience a real-live version of Arendelle and the Disney On Ice presents Frozen show on Friday, October 24th at 3:30p.m. at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia, just follow these instructions. 

1. Leave a comment telling me your favourite Frozen character or song.

2. Be sure to leave your email address, so that I have a way to contact you if you are the winner.

This giveaway will end October 7, 2014 at 11:59p.m. Must be 18 years or older to enter. Only open to those in my local area who will be available to attend the specific show mentioned above. Giveaway tickets provided by Feld Entertainment.

This giveaway is now closed!

And the winner, chosen by random.org, is #10: 

******Tonya D******

Congratulations, Tonya. Check your email in just a few minutes. And thank you to everyone who entered! The tickets for Disney On Ice presents Frozen are going fast, but good news, I just checked and tickets are still available. Go to ticketmaster.com to buy your tickets today!

Blessings and love. xo

Disney On Ice presents FROZEN!

Enter a fantastical winter wonderland beyond all imagination at Disney On Ice presents Frozen! The heartwarming, Academy Award-winning tale you love is now LIVE and skating into your town. You’ll be magically whisked away into the wintry world of Arendelle, where you will be dazzled by amazing special effects and astonishing skating. Sing and dance along to your favorite songs, including “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” and “Let It Go.” Join royal sisters Elsa and Anna, the hilarious snowman Olaf, huntsman Kristoff, his loyal reindeer Sven and the mystical trolls as they journey to discover that true love is ultimately the most magical power of all!

Produced by Feld Entertainment, Disney On Ice presents Frozen! will also feature guest appearances by the beloved Disney Princesses as well as characters from The Lion King, Toy Story and Finding Nemo. Disney On Ice presents Frozen! will be at the Patriot Center from October 22-27.

PATRIOT CENTER

Wednesday, October 22 – Monday, October 27, 2014

Show Times:

·      Wednesday. October 22 | 7:00 p.m.

·      Thursday. October 23 | 7:00 p.m.

·      Friday. October 24 | 10:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

·      Saturday. October 25 | 10:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m.

·      Sunday. October 26 | 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m.; 6:30 p.m.

·      Monday. October 27 | 7:00 p.m.

Patriot Center Weekday Ticket Prices: $20, $35, $55 VIP, $85 Front Row

Patriot Center Weekend Ticket Prices: $25, $40, $70 VIP, $85 Front Row

Venue/Ticket Information: Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets via charge, by phone at 800-745 -3000; via www.ticketmaster.com; and at the Patriot Center box office.

The show will also be at the Baltimore Arena from October 20-November 2.

To discover more about Disney On Ice, go to www.disneyonice.com, or visit them on Facebook and YouTube.

You can download the Frozen Free Fall game on iTunes.

Disclaimer: I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-show events. Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.

Smithfield Farm Bed and Breakfast

Bob and I had the brief opportunity to get away a few days ago, and I wanted to share our delightful destination with you. This beautiful and historic inn is located in the Shenandoah Valley near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Clarke County, Virginia. Smithfield Farm is on the verge of celebrating her 200th birthday (in 2016)! How amazing is that?! 

We found out about the inn on tripadvisor.com and were impressed with the copious amount of raving reviews, as well as the close proximity to our house. We love a getaway that is hours away from home, but this time we did not have much margin in our schedule. This location was perfect for us. It's far enough in the country that we sort of forgot we had not even left our county to get there.

We chose to stay in the Summer Kitchen Cottage (pictured below). It is a two-story building with two sitting areas, two fireplaces, a full kitchen, a bedroom with a queen-size bed and a washroom with a jacuzzi tub. The stairs are quite narrow, so if you have a concern about stairs, you would probably want to choose to stay in the main building. You can see those choices here.

We were the only guests that night (probably due to it being a Sunday), so we had free roam of the gardens and grounds. We enjoyed the beautiful blooms growing in the front and back sections of the inn, the goldfish pond, the bean bag toss game (otherwise known as "Corn Hole") and the coffee and snacks that were always available.

There was a creek running through the property and it just happened to have two chairs stationed right beside it. We took a leisurely stroll down the driveway and then sat in those chairs by the creek for a nice, long chat. There is just something about listening to running water, smelling it, watching it that is so very relaxing. There was a wonderful breeze flowing through the trees. Multiple butterflies fluttered about, and we spotted a pair American Goldfinches, which are some of my favourites. Ahhhhh.

Since we had read some reviews before we arrived, we had pretty high expectations of breakfast Monday morning. Our expectations were met and exceeded! Oh my, you guys, it was amazing. We were delighted to meet Betsy, the innkeeper and our hostess for breakfast. The farm has been in her family for seven generations, and we enjoyed learning more about her family and the farming they have done over the years. You can check out more about their products at Smith Meadows. They have a store located beside the B & B or you can check out their famers' market locations.

So, as you may be able to guess by now, we highly recommend Smithfield Farm Bed and Breakfast! If you are coming to Northern Virginia and need a place to stay, this is a wonderful choice. Or if you live in this area and just want a short get-away or are looking for a place to host a reception or party, Smithfield Farm would be a great setting for whatever you may be celebrating. We hope to go back again.

Blessings and love. xo

Disclaimer: I did not receive any compensation for this post. I just want my readers to know about places I have enjoyed and recommend, in case they are interested.

Relay Foods

(Photo cred: Relay Foods)

Virginia Friends, this one's for you! Allow me introduce you to Relay Foods. 

What is Relay Foods, you may ask? Relay is the online grocery store where you’ll find the things you need from the best local stores, restaurants, and farms right in your own neighborhood. They’ve partnered with folks you may already know to provide all your grocery shopping needs—from basics, to specialty foods, to local produce, to… you name it! Instead of driving all over town - or multiple towns - order online and pick it up from a central location, or even better, have it delivered to your door. Fresh produce, eggs, milk, nuts, honey, bulk items, meats, salsas, yogurt, snacks and more!

I picked up my very first Relay Foods order yesterday and am so pleased with the surprises that came in my box! I wasn't sure what produce may be growing yet, since it's been a cool spring here in Northern Virginia and all that I had seen at our local farmers' market over the weekend was asparagus and lettuce. Maya went with me for the pick up and we were both delighted to find two bags of spring mix lettuce, strawberries, radishes - red and white, kale, asparagus, tomatoes and cilantro in our box! 

I had a lovely chat with Julie, the staff member on truck duty today. She informed me that Relay pays farmers 70 cents on the dollar (which, in case you are not aware, is about 60-70 times more than a regular grocery store pays). That is impressive. I love supporting local farmers.

Does anyone else get excited about the colours and smells of fresh produce? It's all so gorgeous and the strawberries, especially, smelled heavenly. I'm so glad my kids eat veggies. They were just as excited as I was to see what came in our box.

I went straight home and made a salad with homemade dressing for supper. Delicious!

If you are interested in this wonderful company, I want to highly recommend them to you.  Go here to place your first order and receive $30 off when you spend $50 or more. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your kindness!