3/9/15: Performing in the School Talent Show

I am so proud of Lauren, she did the school Talent Show this year!  Lauren is an awesome performer and has wonderful talent in baton twirling and dance however never wanted to do the school talent show.  She performs in recitals, shows, and competitions but was nervous to perform in front of her peers solo.  I can totally understand as I remember how I felt performing my solo in shows at school.  I am so happy this year that she decided to do it.  She did a baton twirling and knife (don't worry it is not sharp) twirling routine to the song Conga.  I did my first Talent Show at school to the same song twirling the same knife.  She was one of the Winners!!!!

Here are the other Kindergarten through second grade performers.  They all have so much courage to get up and perform and all as soloists.

Here is Luaren doing her routine.  She was fantastic!  I think it also helped that her 2nd grade teacher was the Emcee for the show and she wanted to show her the cool things she does with her baton.  In fact when she was Star of the Week she said she wants to grow up and be a professional baton twirler!

I guess I should have aimed the camera higher, her baton is up in the air.

Here you can see it in mid toss.

She had no drops!!!

Smiling for the judges.

Another one mid toss.

Her finger twirls.

Her split was really good too.

Horizontal toss.

Ever time she performs my nerves kick in for her remembering my fear when performing.  I think my hands were shaking.

Now with her knife twirling.

She did awsome as it is pretty heavy.

AWESOME JOB!

Here is some video of the performance.

Here she is with some of the performers after they were done.

She sure does have talent!

I love this picture with her friends.

Great job Lauren, I hope she performs every year!

3/8/15: Dance Ovations Dance Competition

Yesterday we had Lauren's second dance competition, Dance Ovations.  The theme of the competition is "Forever Friends" and I love the message they had to all competitors.  It had a family feel to it even though it was a competition.  Our dance school did amazingly well with highest average points for the studio and "Spectrum of Excellence award to our awesome teachers and dancers!  Here is our Junior Jazz routine to Doctor Doctor that Lauren dances in which got a High Gold and was invited to compete in Nationals!!! 

The group did so awesome performing.

The kids were so funny before messing around and having fun.

Love this.

Lauren was having a great day.  The whole day is an experience for the dancers.  They get to hang out with their friends and have a great time.

Here is their Bellhop Boogie Tap group.  They also took High Gold, plus they got an overall points award and a special award called "Radio City in the House".

They also had an inspirational performance and gave a special award and all the dancers and audience gave a standing ovation.

Lauren was excited she got to pick up our award for Doctor Doctor.

Here is her Bellhop Boogie group accepting their special award.  The judge went on to talk about their great use of song, props and lovely dancing.

With an awesome kick line at the end of their routine it wasn't surprising they got the "Rockettes in the House" award.

They brought up their teacher also when they got the overall high score award.

Here is Lauren with the award for Doctor Doctor.

Not only did her individual performances receive all those awards but our dance school took home the award for the school with the highest points overall.  What an amazing day for all the dancers and teachers!!!

A huge thanks to all the teachers at Ellens School of Dance!!!!  What an amazing first competition season for Lauren!

3/5/15: Women in the Woods in Mystic CT

Last summer we went to Mystic, CT and visited the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center.  It was a lovely place to visit and Mystic, CT is a wonderful place to visit.  The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center has now teamed up with Inn at Mystic to offer an exciting experience for women this spring called ‘Women in the Woods’.

Planned for May 1-3, 2015, Women in the Woods offers women a chance for a weekend getaway to relax, learn new skills, make new friends, eat great food, sample wonderful Connecticut wine, and immerse themselves in the beauty of the natural world in eastern Connecticut, all while being a stone's throw away from historic downtown Mystic's dining, shopping, and tourism attractions.  

What Mom doesn't need a little mini-vacation every once in a while?  What a great Mother's Day gift this would be for Mom or Grandma.

The weekend includes a meet-and-greet with the Nature Center's resident animals, birding, orienteering skills, foraging wild edibles for afternoon tea, brushing up on campfire cooking skills, getting in touch with Nature's Musethrough an arts and journaling program, and learning the constellations with Nature Center educators on both of their Pequotsepos and Coogan Farm properties.

The Meadow Loops is so beautiful.  You can read my full review here.

Stay in a beautiful single or double room at the picturesque and historic Inn at Mystic, which is within walking distance of the Nature Center. Arrive Friday night and enjoy coffee and dessert while meeting Mr. Bill, the Nature Center's ambassador, a beautiful great horned owl. 

Have continental breakfast Saturday and Sunday mornings, and a picnic lunch on Saturday at Coogan Farm.  Saturday night's cocktail hour includes a wine tasting compliments of Stonington Vineyards, followed by dinner at the Inn's five-star restaurant, Harbour House, with gorgeous sunset views of the Mystic River.  We ate at the Harbour House and the food was amazing.  You can read my review here.

Enjoy a nightcap as you stargaze in the Inn's beautiful meadow during the Astronomy program.  How cool is that?  Finish the weekend Sunday morning with a closing activity and a chance to meet more of the Nature Center's resident birds of prey, snakes, turtles, frogs and more.  

Cost for this amazing experience, which includes two breakfasts, one picnic lunch, one wine tasting, dinner, a full weekend of programs and a room, is $360 per person/double occupancy; and $500 per person/single occupancy.  

To register: http://bit.ly/CTWITW15  For more information, visit http://dpnc.org/women-in-the-woods or call Molly Check, education director, Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, at 860-536-1216, ext. 18. 

Download the full program schedule: Women in the Woods.

Disclosure:  I received admission in exchange for promotion.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

3/4/15: Big Apple Circus Boston Discount Code and Giveaway

CONTEST CLOSED: CONGRATULATION NICOLE FOR WINNING!
Every year we go to see the Big Apple Circus and the whole family loves it.  You get to be so close to the action and it is a fantastic show with awesome performers.  I am giving you the chance to win 4 tickets to their new show Metamorphosis in Boston at City Hall Plaza on March 28th at 4:30 pm.  The show runs from Tuesday, March 24th through Sunday, May 10th.  Read on for a discount code on tickets and for a chance to win!

More information about the show:
Hurry, hurry! — Fly away to the magical ring, to the circus — to the Big Apple Circus! — where an All-New Show — METAMORPHOSIS — with astonishing acts and startling transformations will transport you to a realm of enchantment under the Big Top! For its 37th Season, Big Apple Circus soars on wings of artifice and illusion, to a dreamscape domain where no one sits more than 50 feet from the ring, and nothing is impossible! Big Apple Circus presents METAMORPHOSIS in its annual Boston engagement at City Hall Plaza.

To save 20% per order for select performances, use the code APPLE* when buying tickets online at http://www.bigapplecircus.org/ by phone at 888-541-3750, and at the box office. 
*Limited availability. Offer good on select seats and shows. Other conditions apply. Children under 3 are free on the lap of a paid adult, one child per lap.

 Appearing before your very eyes: The thrilling flyers of the trapeze, swooping and swirling through circus skies! The razzle-dazzle of the rolla-bolla, an act that teeters right on the edge of equilibrium! The dynamo of the diabolo, the whirling double–tops of the Big Top! An aerial space-age acrobatic adventure — an ascent to amazement! The risky rhythms of the Risley team, twisting and turning, topsy-turvy! The cadenzas of camels and horses, and the exuberance of playful pooches, out to dazzle with delight!

 The cunning conjurers of the quick-change act, defying belief and inspiring awe! The incredible flexible limbs of the contortionist in an act that will literally bend your imagination! And Francesco the Clown, captivating the crowd with his musical merriment and gentle humor.

Under the direction of maestro Rob Slowik, the renowned Big Apple Circus Band provides as always the live and glorious tunes of the sawdust spectacular. And finally, their irrepressible, magnificent Ringmaster, the illustrious and incomparable John Kennedy Kane will summon the spirits of the circus universe to immerse you in the wonder, the joy and the astounding magic of METAMORPHOSIS!

Performances of METAMORPHOSIS begin Tuesday, March 24 and run for 71 shows through Sunday, May 10, under the Big Top at 1 City Hall Plaza (Government Center), Boston, MA 02201, the fourth stop on the Big Apple Circus tour, following its world premiere engagement in the Washington, DC, metro area and annual seasons at Lincoln Center, NYC, and in Bridgewater, NJ. Tickets for METAMORPHOSIS start at $20 and are available at www.bigapplecircus.org or by calling (888) 541-3750.  Premium seating at $100 is available for all Saturday, Sunday, Patriots’ Week, and Good Friday shows.

NEW THIS SEASON! Wednesday Family shows at 11 AM and 6:30 PM: BOGO – Buy One ticket, Get One free for a special 75-minute version of METAMORPHOSIS (no intermission).  

The Circus Box Office, located in front of the Big Top, opens Monday, March 23; there is no service charge for tickets purchased at the box office.  Hours of operation: Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday through Monday from 10 AM to 6 PM.

The show runs for 2 hours, including a 15 minute intermission. For more ticket information, group sales, inquiries about wheelchair–accessible seating or for additional information please call the Ticket Info Line at (800) 922-3772.  Big Apple Circus For 37 years Big Apple Circus, New York’s original one-ring circus, has been delighting audiences of all ages under its Big Top by presenting the finest in live family entertainment featuring world-class circus artistry. 
Enter below to win 4 tickets to the show!

Disclosure:  I received 4 tickets for my family to attend the Big Apple Circus and 4 tickets to giveaway.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

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