Confessions of a Scary Mommy: An Honest and Irreverent Look at Motherhood: The Good, The Bad, and the Scary  is the best book you will read this year. And us DC-area parents can see author and insanely popular Scary Mommy blogger Jill Smokler read her best-selling book in person this week!

April 16th at 7:00 PM • BARNES & NOBLE • 4801 Bethesda Avenue • Bethesda, MD

April 18th at 7:30 PM Scary Mommy Night Out!• JCC OF WASHINGTON • 6125 Montrose Road • Rockville, MD • Register for the event

 You really need your own personally autographed and enscribed copy of this scary good read. Pick up one at the readings,  or win one of two copies on my new non-local blog A Parent in America!

And don’t forget to enter to win a laptop computer before the giveaway on A Parent in America closes this week!

The book contains short essays of motherhood full of humor and reality by my friend Jill Smokler of the insanely popular blog Scary Mommy. Whether she is admitting that she wants to “kick your ass hard” in the birthday party wars or considers the community pool “hell on earth”, Jill is a mom to whom all of us can relate and adore. She is hilarious and refreshingly honest about what really is going through mothers’ heads and lives while parenting young children.

But as they said on Reading Rainbow, “you don’t have to take my word for it”:

“Get ready to ditch those Prada shoes (and anything else nice you own) and face reality–you haven’t had a brutal boss until you’ve had a baby. Confessions of a Scary Mommyis hilariously, outrageously truthful about the hardest job I know. Put this book at the top of your diaper bag!” —Lauren Weisberger, New York Times bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada

“Hilarious, brutal honesty about parenting.” — New York Times bestselling author Michael Ian Black

“Any mother who doesn’t stifle a million knowing laughs while reading Confessions of a Scary Mommy needs to make sure her funny bone wasn’t accidentally sucked into the diaper genie.” —Julie Klam, New York Times bestselling author of You Had Me at Woof

The book’s chapters all begin with the most outrageous anonymous confessions from the confessional and message boards populated by Scary Mommy’s followers: real parents like us.

Get more Scary Mommy daily at Jill Smokler’s award-winning blog, Scary Mommy.

Win a copy of Confessions of a Scary Mommy: An Honest and Irreverent Look at Motherhood: The Good, The Bad, and the Scary on A Parent in America.

Buy the book – hard copy or Kindle.

And I’ll see you at the Scary Mommy book signing events!

Disclosure: Amazon affiliate links are used.

Throughout April 2012 are two fabulous Washington DC film festivals with animated international offerings for kids. Filmfest DC: The Washington, DC International Film Festival has a film for kids with two April weekend showings, and Kids World Cinema 2012 showcases animation for kids from around the world at various screenings at throughout DC April 20-28.

FilmFestDC

Eleanor’s Secret – from France, shown in English

A family-friendly offering at Filmfest DC: The Washington, DC International Film Festival

Saturday April 14 2:30 PM  Goethe-Institut Washington 812 7th St., NW (Gallery Place/Chinatown) $5.00   Buy Tickets

Saturday April 21 2:30 PM Goethe-Institut Washington 812 7th St., NW (Gallery Place/Chinatown) $5.00   Buy Tickets

“Academy-Award–nominated director Dominique Monféry celebrates the joy of reading in his sumptuously animated movie about a magic library where all the characters from classic children’s books come alive.  With the help of Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and others, [protagonist child] Nat…learns to read an ancient spell to keep the characters alive for future generations of children. Eleanor’s Secret will win the hearts children and adults alike.” —Seattle International Film Festival

See the trailer for Eleanor’s Secret

If these films are too international and art house-y for your tastes, A Parent in Silver Spring also gives out free passes to mainstream films from Pixar, Disney and more!

All film pass giveaways are handled on the A Parent in Silver Spring Facebook page, so Like the page here and receive posts about free film screenings throughout the DC area!

Kids World Cinema Festival 2012

International animated short film festival for children hosted by Alliance Française de Washington

Friday, April 20 at 6 PM Alliance Francaise, 2142 Wyoming Avenue, NW Free with registration  by calling 202-234-7911 or registering online

This showcase of international children’s films, which is now in its fourth year, invites Washingtonians to compare the ways in which different cultures approach this compact, yet powerful genre, as well as introduce young audiences to the discovery of foreign cinema. On April 20, the Alliance Française and the Embassy of Senegal present the following film collection tailored to children aged 6-8:

• Frère Benoit (Brother Benoit) (8 min, no dialogue) – Brother Benoit is in charge of the cleaning service in an abbey.
• Train-Train Medina (7 min, no dialogue) — People start stealing sand from the beach to build their houses with and things start to get messy in the Medina. Living in common disrespect for nature and for each other brings about a time of misery.
• Gom (7 min, French with English subtitles) — An awkward rubber boy is unexpectedly enlisted to replace a circus performer’s assistant.
• Le Têtu fainéant (The Lazy Jackal) (4min, English ) — The dog-like Jackal does not want to go to school with the other animals on the savannah.
• Rumeurs (Rumors) (7min 30sec, no dialogue) — In the silenceof the jungle, an unusual noise scares the animals, causing them to feed off each other’s panic.
• OZO  (7min 30sec) — A monkey named Ozo chases the bird that stole his egg.

Animation for Children from Japan and Mexico Organized by the Mexican Cultural Institute and the Japan Information and Cultural Center

Saturday Apr. 21  at 2pm at the Mexican Cultural Institute, 2829 16th Street NW, Free, register by e-mailing RSVP@instituteofmexicodc.org

Various films in Japanese with English subtitles, Spanish with English subtitles, no dialogue or dubbing in English.  Full line-up.

Animation for Children from Korea and Spain Organized by the Korean Cultural Center and the Embassy of Spain

Sunday April 22 at 2:00pm, Spain and Korea at the Korean Cultural Center, 2370 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 2370 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Free, online registration required.

As part of Kids World Cinema 2012, the Korean Cultural Center is teaming up with the Embassy of Spain to present a collection of short Korean and Spanish films just for kids, followed by a group discussion and cultural activities. Children will learn about Korean and Spanish culture in a fun setting, and see how even though kids in other countries may not speak the same language, they are not so different. Children and parents of all backgrounds are welcome to participate. Intended for children age 6-10, but slightly younger or older children are also welcome.

In order to attend, a parent/guardian must RSVP for each child or group of children by completing this online registration form. One parent/guardian can RSVP for up to 4 children. Adults may accompany children during the event (a separate adult space will be available), or drop children off by 2pm and pick them up by 3:30pm. Children under age 6 cannot be dropped off and must be supervised by an attending adult. Adults who attend must be accompanied by at least one child.

Dining in DC has a great round-up of restaurants in DC, MD and VA offering Passover Seder menus.

Chabad.org has an international seder directory.

Mass Times.org is a great source to find a Catholic Easter Mass near you.

Episcopal Church.org can help you find an Episcopal congregation in your area.

Find-A-Church can help you locate a United Methodist Church.

Communal Passover Seder at Chabad of Silver Spring
Friday, April 6, First Seder Night: services, 7:25 p.m., seder meal 7:45 p.m.
Join Chabad of Silver Spring for an enchanting Passover Seder commemorating the exodus. Discover the eternal meaning of the Haggadah, and enjoy a community Seder complete with hand-baked Matzah, Wine, and a wonderful dinner spiced with unique traditional customs.
Reservations: Adults $36, Child 12 & under $20.

Community Passover Seder at Chadad Shul of Potomac
Friday April 6, 8:15 p.m.
Join a warm inclusive Passover seder. Readings in English and Hebrew. Insightful and contemporary commentary throughout. Great food!
Register online: $45 adults, $18 children under 12.

Annual Takoma Park Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday April 7 at 11 a.m. sharp
The Recreation Department will be hosting its annual Easter Egg hunt on Saturday at Lee Jordan Field (behind Takoma Park Middle School). The hunt will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. and is for girls and boys ages 2 – 8. This event is one you won’t want to miss, so get your baskets ready. For additional information please contact Lew McAllister at (301)891-7284 or LewM@takomagov.org.
FREE.

Easter Eggstravaganzas on Capitol Hill and in Ballston
Saturday April 7, 2012
Ballston: 10:30 a.m. at Quincy Park, 1201 North Quincy Street, Arlington, Virginia 22201 (map)
Capitol Hill: 1 – 3 p.m. at Lincoln Park, East Capitol St Between 11th & 13th, Washington, DC 20003 (map)

• Easter Egg Hunts
• Life-size Easter Bunny
• Refreshments
• Face Painting
• Games
• Prizes
• Bike Raffles

Free, no ticket or registration necessary for either event!

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the Hard Rock Cafe Washington, DC
Saturday, April 7, 9:00am – 10:30am
Have breakfast with the Easter Bunny! Kids can go on an egg hunt and have their faces painted, while the whole family enjoys a breakfast buffet.
Tickets: Adults $14.95, Kids $10.95, Children 2 and under free. To reserve your spot, e-mail Jordan_Rosenblatt@hardrock.com or call 202-628-6583.

Breakfast with the Bunny at Rockville’s Thomas Farm Community Center
Saturday, Apr. 7, 10 a.m. – Noon
Activities will include D’s Magic show, spring crafts and games, an opportunity to meet, greet and pose with the Bunny and an egg hunt. A light continental breakfast will be served. Bring your camera. Fee applies to each person attending the event. Pre-registration is required.
Tickets: $10 for City Residents and $12 for non-residents. Register with the City of Rockville for course #38073

Community Second Night Seder at the Washington, DC Jewish Community Center
Saturday April 7, 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
An intergenerational celebration of Passover seder led by Eytan Graubart in the traditional style with lots of singing and participation.  The seder will be catered by Shaul’s Kosher Catering (check out the menu, it’s incredible!) starting with the ritual foods, seder plates and wine at your table and moving to family style service for the seder meal maintaining the traditional style of Passover. With the environment and green in mind, please bring your favorite reusable kiddish cup, wine or water glass to help reduce paper waste.
Tickets: $54, I have a call in to see if there is a children’s rate…will update when I hear back.

Bunnyland at Butler’s Orchard 
April 5 – 7, 9, 14 & 15 (closed Easter Sunday). Open 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. all days.
Egg hunt (they provide the basket), hayrides, photo with Country Bunny, giant slides, hay romp, bounce house/jumping castle, pedal tractors, and bunnies, lambs and chicks. Face painting and pony rides will cost you a few bucks over the cost of admission. My kids’ favorite feature however is the rubber ducky derby: you pump water like Little House on the Prairie and race rubber ducks. Somehow every time we hit Butler’s we spend eons with those ducks.
PLEASE NOTE: Bunnyland Festival is weather dependent. Please call 301-972-3299 before coming out. Weather updates will also be posted on the Butler’s Orchard homepage.
Tickets available on-site: $8.50/child, $6.50/adult.

Spring and Easter Celebration Festival at Ticonderoga Farms
Now – April 15, 2012, Daily 10:00am—5:00pm. 26469 Ticonderoga Rd. Chantilly, Virginia (703) 327-4424. Join the Easter Bunny for some festive fun with egg hunts for candy and toy-filled eggs (golden goose eggs get you an extra prize!) on Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m each day.  Kids and adults can get on the slides, take a hayride, visit farm animals and roast marshmallows.  Bring your camera for photo ops with the Easter Bunny.  Remember to bring your own basket or bag for collecting eggs.  Baskets will be available for purchase.
Tickets available on-site: Weekdays $7.95, Holidays & Weekends $11.95      

I believe the biggest pitfall of parent volunteering for schools or clubs is the reading of lengthy reply-all e-mails. I have lost days off my life slogging through those massive missives and the replies from fellow parents. And even after reading through, signing up for duties and saving them to a personal calendar, those beasts rear their ugly heads when a child gets sick and a parent needs to swap or change.

Once in a while an industrious parent will recommend an online organizational website to keep track of who is bringing the snack/paper plates/manning the playground for lunch duty/etc. But often those sites require a long signup registration process, they send oddles of spam to your in box and some require payment from your group or by individuals. Who needs that? Even a group’s use of a Google calendar requires all members of the group to acquire a Gmail account, and many people are very happy with their Verizon/Cox/Yahoo! addies and do not want another one thankyouverymuch.

But I have found some exceptional websites that I am loving in my “real life” as a mom involved in volunteering in my children’s school and activities. All four sites are free, do not require registration and offer helpful tools that I believe increase volunteer participation and decrease time spent reading reply-alls!

Take Them a Meal - This online sign up sheet does not require registration and allows a group of people to easily choose days to bring a meal to a family with a new baby, illness or in need of assistance. The program will remind you of your assigned day and makes it easy to include directions, food allergy info, meal choices and more. They also have a sister site, Perfect Potluck, which does exactly what you would think.

SignUpGenius – Another great group sign up site. I was introduced to this by our church’s Children’s Liturgy/Sunday school co-op coordinator (Hi Shannon!). It makes group coordination very easy, and again, the registration process is simple and they do not spam. I am now using this for lots of group volunteer efforts and most participants are loving it.

PTO Today - This site is full of free tools and templates to assist parent-teach associations and parent volunteer groups. I am a fan of the Parent Express E-mail tool, and I believe that the Auction Procedures and Forms share site will be very helpful to our school’s auction gala committee.

Volunteer Spot’s Room Mom Spot - I love the letter templates available here for everything from encouraging fellow parents to chip in for a teacher gift to end of year thank you letters. (Because when you have over-extended yourself and signed up to be a room parent or parent volunteer, every single minute saved is worth every bit of lack of personalization, in my humble opinion.)  Volunteer Spot’s main site also has great ideas, such as games for Field Day and you can use Volunteer Spot as your hub for all online organizing for your school or org (that however requires all participants to register online.)

Do you have a favorite website that has helped you in your organizational endeavors? Please share it with us in the comments!

UPDATED: The Wednesday December 21 event location and time changed!

Check out these three local Hands-On Hanukkah events in our area. All of these events are totally free and look like a great ways to celebrate the Festival of Lights.

The events will include activities like origami dreidel-making, Hanukkah story time, and calendar decorating featuring Elmo, Ernie, and other Muppet friends from Shalom Sesame!  There will also be free raffles for families to win lots of exciting prizes. The goal of these events, part of a nation-wide campaign by The Jewish Outreach Institute, is for families to learn more about Hanukkah traditions and celebrate this beautiful winter holiday.

Sunday December 11 at Tyson’s

Hands-On Hanukkah (Free Family Event)

Sunday, December 11^th 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Barnes & Noble at Tyson’s Corner Mall, McLean, VA

Hosted by the JCC of Northern Virginia

Sunday December 18 at The Shops at Wisconsin Place in Chevy Chase

Hands-On Hanukkah (Free Family Event)

Sunday, December 18^th 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

The Shops at Wisconsin Place in Chevy Chase, MD.

Hosted by B’Nai Tzedek

Wednesday December 21 at The Shops at Wisconsin Place in Chevy Chase

Wednesday, December 21^st from 1PM to 4PM

The Shops at Wisconsin Place in Chevy Chase, MD.

Hosted by the Washington Hebrew Congregation