vintage 1980's Disney on Ice poster
I used to see the television promotions for Disney On Ice when I was a little kid back in the early eighties. I thought the show looked so beautiful as I watched the commercials. But although my parents were great about taking us kids to lots of shows and amusements, we never got around to seeing those Disney characters on ice skates live and in person.
So while I claim that I now attend Disney on Ice to entertain and delight my own children, often the kid in our family who is most excited is me. But as I have written about previously, my son Charlie and daughter Eve thoroughly enjoy the Disney on Ice shows, and they are happy to introduce little sister Alice to this favorite family outing, too.
Disney On Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic is here in Washington, D.C. at the Verizon Center February 15-20, and in Baltimore at the 1st Mariner Arena February 8-12. The show features a retrospective of kids’ favorite Disney characters over the past century, beginning with ol’ Steamboat Willie himself and all the way up to the gang from Toy Story. Eve is especially looking forward to her favorite girl warrior Mulan. And my cheesy heart is ready to see the figure skating art is choreographed to old school Disney songs I adore like “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.”
Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets via charge, by phone at 800-551-SEAT, via www.ticketmaster.com and at the Verizon Center and 1st Mariner Arena box offices.
Use code BLOG12 for tickets for just $15!
Show Times:
Baltimore – 1st Mariner Arena
· Wednesday, February 8th @ 7:30 p.m. – Buy One Ticket, Get One Free!
· Thursday, February 9th @ 7:30 p.m.
· Friday, February 10th @ 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
· Saturday, February 11th @ 11:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
· Sunday, February 12th @ 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.
DC – Verizon Center
· Wednesday, February 15th @ 7:30 p.m.- Buy One Ticket, Get One Free!
· Thursday, February 16th @ 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
· Friday, February 17th @ 7:30 p.m.
· Saturday, February 18th @ 11:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
· Sunday, February 19th @ 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
· Monday, February 20th @ 12:30 p.m. (President’s Day)
GIVEAWAY: Feld Entertainment has offered one lucky reader family of A Parent in Silver Spring 4 tickets to opening night at the Verizon Center, Wednesday February 15 at 7:30 p.m.
To enter to win, leave a comment below with the house of mouse character you or your kid would most like to see do a double axel. I’ll draw the winners on Wednesday February 8 at midnight.
To be entered to win:
- Leave a comment below with the house of mouse character you or your kid would most like to see do a double axel.
- Be available to see the Disney on Ice show at the Verizon Center on Wednesday 2/15 at 7:30 p.m.
For additional entries:
Good luck everyone!
Full disclosure: Tickets for my family and for the winning family have been generously comped by Feld Entertainment.
Just as two of you readers will win myTouch smartphones today on A Parent in Silver Spring, five bloggers won at the T-Mobile blogging event! Pictured L-R: Maria of Mummys Busy World, Tonia of The Chatty Momma, Thien-Kim of I’m Not the Nanny, Amy of Teach Mama and Leticia of Tech Savvy Mama.
Please tell me that YOU too are in the midst of mad holiday shopping.
If you were one of those awesome types who had this all done last month, the cards addressed, the names drawn in your family gift exchange, the packages wrapped and sent and perfectly selected for each loved one’s personality and needs…well, I salute you. (And I will try not to hate.)
But if you are anything like me and the mad mad mad mad crazy year I am having, RIGHT NOW is when I am finally getting my Christmas and Hanukkah gift act together. This morning was spent selecting items for family members and busting out the credit card for lots of online shopping.
Smart phones and tablets are two gifts which are especially needed by loved ones — much more necessary and coveted and up for daily use than another cashmere sweater — but those seem to be the hardest to purchase for another. Seriously, what will make someone happier than a brand new fabulous phone? Or a sweet Samsung Galaxy Tab that your gift recipient can begin surfing the web with right on Christmas morning?
Thankfully, T-Mobile has made the process of selecting and purchasing personal technology devices like smartphones such as the myTouch and the myTouchQ and tablets for our spouses, parents and kids easy and affordable!
I was excited to connect with T-Mobile, not only for the giveaway of the myTouch phones here on A Parent in Silver Spring, but also at a special blogging expert holiday shopping event. At the event, local bloggers and I learned from T-Mobile the following useful tips for selecting a smartphone or tablet as a gift (two items that I know my own mom, on her old flip phone and ancient desktop computer, can really use!)
The fabulous #TMobileHolidays #DC blogger event at the Tysons Corner T-Mobile store.
- It *IS* possible to purchase a smartphone for someone who will pay for service on their own account. You simply purchase the device at the no-annual contract price and pair it with a Monthly4G prepaid service so the recipient can start using the phone right away and decide whether or not they want to sign up for a contract term later. T-Mobile offers a variety of Monthy4G no annual contract and Pay by the Day plans.
- You can purchase a smartphone and service for the recipient on your existing account just by adding a line or upgrading a line. T-Mobile offers a Value family plan with unlimited talk, unlimited text and unlimited data with 2 GB of high-speed data for only $49.99 per line for two lines.
- You can give a smartphone as a gift to someone on your family plan as an upgrade and activate service after the phone has been unwrapped to maintain the surprise!
- Your gift recipient can return and exchange their technology gift. Upon activation of a new account, T-Mobile contract/upgrade customers have a 14-day trial period (30 days in California) during which they can cancel service without paying an early termination fee. For phones purchased from T-Mobile at full price without a contract or service, customers may return the device within 30 days. In both contract and non-contract scenarios, the following restocking fees apply: $25 for phone-first devices and laptop sticks, $50 for smartphones and $75 for tablets and netbooks.
I hope these tips are helpful to those of you, who like me, are frantically shopping for our people from our computers right now.
And I hope these two randomly-selected myTouch winners, drawn from all of the comments, Tweets, Facebook Likes and Shares on last week’s post, are filled with holiday spirit at their good luck:
- Lolli of Better in Bulk won the myTouch with her comment regarding plans and gifts!
- Cristie Ritz-King of The Right Hand Mom won the myTouchQ with her Tweet entry!
Thank you everyone who entered! I hope you enjoy the holiday gift giveaways and may you all have very successful (and easy) gift procurements in the next crazy weeks.
Fabulous blogs in attendance at the #TMobileHolidays #DC event and GREAT reads!
I’m Not the Nanny
C.Mom
Just Be Enough
A Little Nosh
Caffeine and a Prayer
Tech Savvy Mama
Teach Mama
Dial M for Minky
Mummys Busy World
A Spiced Life
All Things Nanny
Real Housewives of NOVA
The Chatty Momma
703 Mommy and Me
Mommyhood’s Diary
Prince William County Moms
The Coffee Kings
Disclosure: I am compensated by T-Mobile for my participation in this campaign. Facebook is in no way affiliated with this promotion.
December 2, 2011 | in:
giveaways,
shopping
American Express Members Rewards rocks! I spent $250, and then got to pick up another $290 in Christmas gifts from Members Rewards points!
If you have an American Express card, you get to shop twice and receive double gifts. The first ones come when you make purchases. The second wave hits when you redeem Member Rewards points for more gifts.
Check out my own personal shopping example. Here’s how I spent $250 on family members on my gift list.
- I picked up some super soft and stylish sweatshirts for my dad and step-mom at Urban Outfitters for $115. (My dad is always rocking a suit so he can use casual clothes.)
- I chose a slew of imaginative games, art supplies and pretend play food for my preschooler nieces and nephews (SEVEN awesome, original gifts that I am really proud of) at Cattiwampus for $75. I was also proud to support Cattiwampus, a locally-owned online children’s shop, on Small Business Saturday.
THEN with the 40,000 Member Rewards points I earned shopping, I picked up THESE additional gifts…free! No charge! As thanks for doing my regular old Christmas shopping!
- I am getting a Thule Gateway 3 Bike Rack for my husband Chris, since he loves family bike rides but now all of our bikes can no longer fit in the car. I am redeeming 23,800 American Express Rewards points to acquire this (MSRP $160) bike rack.
- I checked with my sister Sarah and she informed me that my brother-in-law Fred could really use a lightweight jacket, so Uncle Freddy will be receiving The North Face Apex Bionic jacket (MSRP $130).
American Express Members Rewards rocks!! I spent $250, and then got to pick up another $290 in Christmas gifts!
American Express also rocks in that they are giving one of YOU lucky people $250 to spend on the holidays with an American Express gift card.
From all entries via post comment, Twitter and Facebook, the lucky, randomly drawn winner is…
Elaine from Connor and Helen Grow Up! Elaine, your gift card will be sent to you from the lovely folks at American Express. Thanks for reading!
Disclosure: This is a compensated review post and giveaway, thanks to American Express. All opinions expressed are my own. Facebook is in no way connected with this giveaway. All entries were numbered and Random.org‘s numbering system was used to draw the winner. Amazon affiliate links are used for my purchases.
November 30, 2011 | in:
giveaways,
holiday fun
This week on A Parent in Silver Spring you can win a T-Mobile myTouch or a T-Mobile myTouch Q. Both are valued, when purchased separately, at $279.
How is that for a cool holiday present for your loved one (or yourself)?
Both myTouch and myTouch Q are so easy to set up and use, this is the perfect time to make the move to a smartphone. So which one’s right for you? Simple. If you prefer the ease of a slide-out keyboard in addition to a touch screen, you’ll want the myTouch Q. More comfortable with a touch screen? Then the myTouch is perfect for you.
If you have not yet made the move to a smartphone, the myTouch phones are designed to get you up and running fast. Just turn on your myTouch and a guided setup will walk you through everything you need to know in six easy steps.
The phones also include a high quality digital camera (no need to lug both a camera AND a phone in your purse), maps and directions, great apps, and easy texting capabilities. There’s even a Genius button which allows your phone to follow voice commands to make calls, send texts and search the Web for you.
TO WIN EITHER the T-Mobile myTouch or the T-Mobile myTouch Q
- Leave a comment in below stating your biggest question when it comes to buying a wireless product
as a gift.
You may get additional entries in the “hat” if you
On Monday December 12 I will announce the winners in a new post and also share shopping tips for the holiday season, specifically surrounding wireless and mobile broadband as gifts. I will be visiting one of the DC-area’s largest T-Mobile stores in Tyson’s Corner to learn more about how to give high tech gifts and will share the wealth with you…literally!
Disclosure: I am compensated by T-Mobile for my participation in this campaign. Facebook is in no way affiliated with this promotion.
This Saturday December 3rd Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer are the Institute of Musical Traditions’ Family AWESOME Concert Experience monthly concert at the Takoma Park Community Center. There are two showings, one at 1pm and another at 3pm. Tickets are $10 advance, $12 door.
Cathy and Marcy are trailblazers in children’s and family music. They play dozens of instruments from banjos to mandolins to rockin’ electric guitar, steel drum and ukulele. They sing, yodel, chicken cluck in harmony, twirl a mean lariat rope, scat sing and inspire effortless participation from every audience. Most importantly, they love what they do and have been rewarded for their excellence with 2 GRAMMY® Awards, 11 consecutive GRAMMY® nominations and literally hundreds of awards from The Parents’ Choice Foundation, American Library Association, John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Washington Area Music Association and on, and on….
For Saturday’s concert, Cathy and Marcy will be joined by local parent Joe Uehlein and his daughter Anna Grace, pictured here! The Uehlein/Windham family is also kindly donating two tickets to lucky readers!
This series on the first Saturday of the month features some of the best family musicians performing today, in an environment that lets parents and kids enjoy the show together (no toddler’s mosh pit!). Children one year old and up need to have a ticket. Infants under one year do not need tickets. Please be sure your child is able to sit through a hour-long concert without being disruptive.
Buy tickets here.
To win two free tickets to the 3pm Saturday show, please leave a comment below! I’ll draw the lucky winner in 24 hours = at noon on Thursday, December 1.
Many thanks to the Uehlein/Windham family for the tickets for A Parent in Silver Spring readers. No compensation was received for this post.
Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets via charge, by phone at 800-551-SEAT, via www.ticketmaster.com and at the Verizon Center and 1st Mariner Arena box offices.
