Head to the kid-tastic St. John the Evangelist Christmas Bazaar in Silver Spring this weekend!

Did I mention it’s totally free? And that Reptiles Alive will be there on Saturday at 11am? And the incredible local musician Sasha Bondarev  will be performing with singers from his CD Sand Castle at 1pm on Saturday, as well as 11:30am on Sunday? And amongst these super shows, you and your kids can

• Shop for cool, artisan gifts featuring oodles of fabulous vendors
• Grab a yummy, reasonably-priced, kid-friendly lunch
• The kids can play games in the game room and make crafts
• Face painting!
• Peruse the on-site antique shop, The Treasure Trove
• Shop for books at rock bottom prices in the Book Shop

The Bazaar also has an Adult’s Only Night on Friday night November 12 from 6pm-9pm. There they’ll have delicious Italian food from Vicino Restaurante Italiano in Silver Spring available at discounted prices for dinner purchase, wine and beer and kid-free shopping.

The St. John’s Christmas Bazaar is where I get tons of my holiday shopping done for beautiful gifts that don’t cost me a bundle. It’s frugal-finds heaven! There are loads of vendors selling handmade handbags, hair bows, kids’ gifts, jewelry, candles, infused olive oils, stitchery, creative Christmas decorations priced waaaaay less than Smith and Hawken, and more. Other favorite areas of the bazaar are the Treasure Trove – antiques goods for thrift store prices – and the used book sale is chock full of finds for your family library.

And I always come hungry all days, because there’s breakfast, lunch, drinks, baked goods and treats! Hope to see you there!

St. John’s Christmas Bazaar
Friday November 11, Saturday November 12 and Sunday November 13
Adult Night Friday 6-9pm
Family Fun on Saturday 9am-4:30pm and Sunday 9am-2pm
10201 Woodland Avenue (in the School Auditorium)
Located right behind St. John the Evangelist Church
at 10103 Georgia Avenue at the intersection of August Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20902 blocks from the Forest Glen Metro

Charlie having a blast at the Bazaar

The Hyman S. and Freda Bernstein Jewish Literary Festival is featuring the Sugarman Family Children’s Book Award-winning author Vicki Weber on Sunday October 30 at 10am at the Jewish Community Center in Washington, DC at 1529 16th Street NW. Admission has been discounted  to just $8 and includes a copy of the book! The event is geared towards children ages 3-7 and their parents.

Vicki Weber
It’s Too Crowded in Here!
Sunday, October 30 | 10:00 am | $10/$8 Discounted per family, includes a copy of the book

Buy Tickets

Join us for a morning of crafts, folktales and fun! Sugarman Family Award winner It’s Too Crowded in Here! is a collection of Jewish folktales and midrashic stories, enlivened by colorful illustrations. Great to read aloud or act out, the stories also provide a rich yet light-hearted resource for exploring key values such as self respect, compassion, appreciation, tolerance, and thankfulness. Best for ages 3-7.

The Sugarman Family Children’s Book Award recognizes the best recent contribution to Jewish children’s literature. The award was established in 1994 by Joan Sugarman, of blessed memory, to help thank, encourage and inspire writers and illustrators of Jewish children’s books.

Full literary festival line-up 

This week, October 16-22, is Make Your Mark Week and this Saturday October 22nd is Make a Difference Day. These celebrations are part of a national movement to inspire and mobilize youth to use their energy, ingenuity and compassion to “make their mark on the world” through hands-on service.

During the week, young people will focus on issues that matter most to them by doing small acts or service projects that add up to make a big difference. And the Points of Light Foundation has made it so easy for us to find a small community service project with our kids  – they have developed Daytabank, this handy-dandy service project finder! Go here, enter your zip and find the project that works best for your family!

I entered my zip and found for this weekend a Habitat for Humanity family build, the 2011 DC Walk Now for Autism Speaks on Saturday, and a free family fun festival on Saturday — the Family Literacy Festival in DC where storybook characters read to kids, lead them in games and help them with crafts to encourage reading.

My children and I will enjoy one of these super events this weekend, and I am visiting Make Your Mark Week on Facebook to pledge our action and join the movement.  We will also be using Daytabank to find future weekend service projects. I hope you will do the same and can use this great resource to find ways to help the community with your children.

The Make Your Mark campaign is founded by generationOn, the youth activation division of Points of Light Institute, the largest volunteer network in the nation which includes more than 70,000 corporate, faith and nonprofit organizations answering the call to serve and creating meaningful change in their communities. Annually, the network delivers approximately 30 million hours of volunteer service valued at about $600 million. generationOn and partner Hasbro believe in the role community service plays in helping young people enhance their education and contribute to society. 

Pregnancy is exciting, adoption is amazing and the arrival of our babies is the most fascinating experience of our lives — definitely cause for an all-out celebration.

That is why this month’s Baby Bash and Bling Expo & Show on Saturday October 22nd is a must-attend event for those of you rocking a baby bump, decorating a nursery or dreaming of your blessed arrival.

The Baby Bash and Bling Expo & Show is an interactive lifestyle expo celebrating all things for expectant moms. This first-class event will help you discover new and interesting parenting tools, essential health and safety products, pregnancy and baby fashion trends, nutrition tips, and baby furnishings. There will also be an incredible “Bump the Runway” maternity fashion show, showcasing the latest in styles to showcase your belly bump and maintain your pre-pregnancy style.

And the organizers know moms-to-be well: there will be loads of great food and even “Bumptini” mocktails. There will be delicious hors d’ oeuvres, “Pregginista Punch,” a “Pickles & Ice Cream” station and a healthy snack bar.

Oh, and you will also receive your official first baby presents, for attendees receive a deluxe swag bag chock full of fabulous maternity and baby goodies.

What a fabulous way to spend a day, it is like a big group baby shower! If you have a baby on the way, you cannot miss this.

When: Saturday, October, 22, 2011 from 1p.m. to 4p.m. 

Where: The Crowne Plaza Hotel, 8777 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Tickets are available now at special early bird prices of$45 for one or $75 for two.  And for just ten dollars more, you can “bump” your ticket up to a VIP ticket at $55 and you will receive a luxe swag bag and access to the VIP lounge where you will receive a mini-makeover, hand massage and an express manicure. Nice!

To purchase tickets online visit http://babybashandblingtickets.eventbrite.com.

For more information on this great event, visit www.babybashandbling.com

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, all opinions expressed are my own.