Congratulations to all the nominees!!
It was so amazing to read about all these wonderful mamas.  We’re sending our best wishes to all of you on your pregnancies and new addition!

Thanks again to the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU for sponsoring this contest.

And here’s the part you’re waiting for. The 2015 Dream Baby Shower winner is…

Mandy Clarke

Mandy and her got married in Sept 2013. Soon after she found out she was pregnant then she miscarried right before Thanksgiving.  In the June 2014 she was so happy to be pregnant again. She had some issue and went to the ER and was told there were 2 babies. She followed up a week later with her doctor only to find out she had again miscarried. She and her husband along with friends and family were devastated. She had worked with kids all her adult life and is an assistant director of a daycare. She was very depressed and started attending church.  She embraced God and left it up to him if she and her husband would be able to have a child of their own.  In the meantime, she has stepped up to helping out with her nephew will his father is not in the picture. Mandy and her husband announced in Sept 2015 they were expecting in March 2016 and she was 14wks. Now she is 22 weeks and expecting a boy and everything is ok. She is the most deserving person I know. She has been through so much.

I would love to have a dream baby shower! My husband and I have been trying to conceive for about 2 years! We have had many heart breaks over the past two years with 2 miscarriage, with the last pregnancy being twins.This June we found out we were expecting once again. My husband and I have prayed for this moment for years. While being pregnant should be a joyful occasion, this pregnancy has been rather scary. Even though all doctors appointments have gone right and the baby is doing well it’s still scary knowing something could go wrong at any time as with the last pregnancy.Trying to think positive and having a loving supporting family and friends has helped us get through these rough times. Please consider my husband and myself for the dream baby shower.

Congratulations Mandy, we will be in touch soon regarding your prizes.

Thanks to the amazing local business who’ve donated to make such a wonderful prize package!

1Z2Z3Z
$50 gift certificate towards baby & toddler fashion, room decor, toys, and books at 1Z2Z3Z

Aunt McRae’s
Everyone could use a little help. Aunt McRae will be providing one hour of new family support.

bbgb books 
Start your child’s library with a collection of books and gift certificate to bbgb books

Dream Dinners
A $200 gift certificate to pack your freezer full of a month of dinners.

Fit4Mom
Get fit with your baby with a month of stroller strides classes

Franklin Goose
Win a Babymoov Traveller Changing Bag in black
(Perfect to pack up as your hospital bag!)

Hayes and Fisk
a $500 gift certificate towards beautiful portraits from Hayes & Fisk photography.

Hip to be Round
Get yourself a baby shower outfit with a $250 gift card

Romp n’ Roll
Bond with your baby in a fun way with one month of classes at Romp n’ Roll

Science Museum of Virginia
Get out an explore with a supernova family membership to the Science Museum of Virginia

Virginia Rep

Save on a date night with tickets to a show at Virginia Rep

The post 2015 Dream Baby Shower Winner is… appeared first on RichmondMom.com.

Looking for fun Easter events for the whole family? We’ve rounded up a bunch of great things to do Easter weekend in Richmond, VA.

Easter Egg Hunts & Events

Easter Jump and Egg Hunt
April 3, 2015
3:00 – 5:00 pm
Pump it up Hanover

Monkey Joe’s  Egg Hunt
April 3, 2015
5:30-8:30
Midlothian Turnpike

Dominion Family Easter at Maymont
April 4, 2015
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Maymont

Easter Egg Hunt at Strange’s
April 4, 2014
10:00 am
Strange’s

2nd Annual Dover Hall Easter Egg Hunt
April 4, 2015
12-3:00 pm
Dover Hall

Shirley Plantation Easter Egg Hunt
April 4, 2015
1:00 – 3:00pm
Shirley Plantation

Annual Hayride and Easter Egg Hunt
April 4, 2015
3-6yrs olds will begin at 11am. 7-10yr olds will begin at 1:30pm!
Advance registration required.
Boulevard Flower Gardens

Easter Weekend with Peter Rabbit
April 4 & 5, 2015
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

Easter On Parade
Sunday April 5, 2015
1-5 p.m.
Monument Avenue

Bunny Photos

Easter Weekend with Peter Rabbit
April 4 & 5, 2015
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

Chesterfield Towne Center Mall 
March 19th – April 4th
Have your photo taken with the Easter Bunny at the set located in front of HomeGoods and receive a free gift!

Regency Square Mall
March 21 – April 4, 2015
Easter Bunny is located in Center Court

Short Pump Mall
March 14 – April 4, 2015
Visit with the Easter Bunny in his Victorian Garden Setting in the Food Court! Each child that visits with the Easter Bunny will receive a free gift!

Don’t miss out on great events!
Get the mid-week update from Richmondmom by signing up for our newsletter. You’ll get an up-to-date look at kid and family friendly events and activities in the Richmond, Virginia area as well as great stories, school and playgroup information, dinner ideas, shopping, volunteering and a whole lot more. Sign up for our newsletter here and find us on Facebook.

The post 2015 Easter Events in Richmond, VA appeared first on RichmondMom.com.

Photo from the Center for Elephant Conservation website

Elephants have long been the signature act at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

But something isn’t sitting right with audiences about these sensitive, intelligent and majestic creatures performing tricks for… well, peanuts. The public has cried out over the use of bullhooks, which Richmond has considered banning.

We’ve heard it here at Richmondmom each time the circus comes into town, and Ringling Bros. is hearing it too.  Feld announced on March 5th (right before Legends comes to Richmond) that by 2018, the 12 elephants still used in the circus will retire and join over 40 elephants at the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant for Conservation® in Florida.  Ringling shows will still feature dogs, horses, camels, tigers and lions.

From the March 5 press release:
“This is the most significant change we have made since we founded the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation in 1995. When we did so, we knew we would play a critical role in saving the endangered Asian elephant for future generations, given how few Asian elephants are left in the wild,” said Kenneth Feld, Chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment. “Since then, we have had 26 elephant births. No other institution has done or is doing more to save this species from extinction, and that is something of which I and my family are extremely proud. This decision was not easy, but it is in the best interest of our company, our elephants and our customers,” he added.

The CEC is located on 200 acres of wilderness in central Florida, between Tampa and Orlando. Learn more about the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation here.

What do you think? Has the use of elephants prevented you from taking your family to the circus?
Will consider the circus after the elephants have been retired?

The post Ringling Bros. is Listening to Audiences and Phasing Out Elephants by 2018 appeared first on RichmondMom.com.

Be on the lookout! We’re getting ready to launch the Real Cute Easter Contest.

Richmondmom is paring up with the incredible photographer at Butler Photographic Artistry for some absolutely stunning easter portraits this year.

Forget the Easter Bunny (he’s scary anyway) and get your picture taken with live animals at a stunning local studio for heirloom quality photos. And of course, you’re photos will be entered into the Real Cute Easter Contest where you can win a bunch of fabulous prizes.

Read more about Butler Photographic Artistry here and keep your eyes on Richmondmom for the details!

A very special thank you to the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU for sponsoring our contest.

The post Real Cute Easter Contest is Coming! appeared first on RichmondMom.com.

Snow is fun but even the best snow bunnies like to come inside.
Here are some easy stamps you can make with your kids where it’s nice and warm (with a mug of hot cocoa).  No need for a run to the store, these are items you may have around the house.

Toilet paper rolls

 Easy Fireworks Painting
Danya Banya

Fringe some left over toilet paper rolls to create cool fireworks.

Toilet Paper Roll Stamps
Mama Papa Bubba

These simple stamps are easy as pie, and you can get more than one stamp out of each roll too.

Toilet Paper Roller
Who’s Who and Who’s New

Use foam stickers or try string, bubble wrap or textured fabric.

Corks and bottle tops

Wine Cork Stamps
Design Mom

Go ahead and open another bottle… for the sake of the children.

Sponge Painting
Boy Mama Teacher Mama

Use bottle caps to keep hands clean(er)

Bottle Top Stamps
Paging Fun Moms

These use foam stickers and bottle tops to make a bunch of cute stamps.

Cherry Blossom Art
Alpha Mom

Or, just use the whole bottle.

Food

Apple and Celery Stamps
A Beautiful Mess

So cute you might use them for yourself (check out the gorgeous celery stamped scarf!)

Okra Stamps
This is Love Forever

I used to love celery stalk stamps, but okra may be the most adorable stamp I’ve ever seen.

Potato Stamps
Homemade Serenity

The potato stamp is a classic, but the way she cuts the pattern out of this potato stamp is brilliant.

Junk Around the House

Pipe Cleaner Snowflake Stamps
Sugar Aunts

Perfect when you’re stuck inside on a snow day.

Spool Stamps
Richmondmom

We made these DIY stamps last year and found they are perfect for little toddler hands.

Get creative with stuff around the house
Play Based Learning

Got some old junk? Gather up buttons, foam, toothpicks, wire, string… whatever you got an have a cool stamp competition.  You might come up with some really creative patterns!

Have fun stamping and show us what you made!

Like this post? Please share it using one of our handy-dandy share buttons on the side of your desktop or the top of the post.
Find more fantastic craft ideas on our Pinterest board.

The post 13 Creative Stamps Made With Stuff From Around The House appeared first on RichmondMom.com.

Busch Gardens has lots of KIDsiderate rides shows and tours.
Kids can hang out with their favorite pals at Sesame Street® Forest of Fun™ or explore the Land of the Dragons® and discover a magical play land at Busch Gardens®.  You’ll want to cool off over at Water Country USA®.  Both parents and kids will love interactive splash zones like H2O UFO® and Cow-A-Bunga®.

Last year Christa brought her preschoolers to the park read her review of Busch Gardens here.

The 2-Park Preschool Pass offers unlimited admission to both Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA for children ages 3 – 5, through Sept. 7, 2015.

Hurry, passes must be registered and redeemed by May 31, 2015. Learn more and register for your pass here.

The post Preschool Pass is Back at Busch Gardens appeared first on RichmondMom.com.

If you loved watching So You Think You Can Dance Season 11 then you’re not going to want to miss seeing the top ten finalists perform live at Richmond CenterStage on December 3, 2014.

Use code SYTYCD when you purchase your tickets online (through this link) by phone or in person for the December 3rd performance.

So You Think You Can Dance, the 11-time Primetime Emmy® Award-winning show that sparked America’s fascination with dance, is set to captivate audiences again this fall. Celebrating its momentous 11th season, the tour lineup includes the following Top 10 finalists: Bridget Whitman, Casey Askew, Emilio Dosal, Jacque LeWarne, Jessica Richens, Ricky Ubeda, Rudy Abreu, Tanisha Belnap, Valerie Rockey and Zack Everhart.

Fall’s hottest ticket will feature this season’s most popular routines, as well as original pieces created specifically for the nationwide tour. 19 Entertainment and dick clark productions will present audiences around the country with the opportunity to experience the action brought into their living rooms each week on the beloved summer series, with a variety of sizzling, one-of-a-kind dance routines they have come to expect from their favorite dancers.

Tickets available at Richmond CenterStage Box Office,
online here and Charge-By-Phone at 800-514-ETIX (3849).

The post BOGO Tickets for So You Think You Can Dance On Tour appeared first on RichmondMom.com.

If you just sang along then you really can’t miss live shows with Sid The Science Kid at CMoR Central and CMoR Chesterfield.

Kids will be able to get hands-on with science after a live 10-minute singalong performance with Sid the Science Kid.  Kids will be able to help Sid find his magnifying glass, use the power of observation and play a guessing game. and of course you’ll sing some of Sid’s favorite songs like Sid The Science Kid Theme, I Magnify, I’m Looking for My Friends, and Wheels.

Throughout the day CMoR’s Educators will lead interactive hands-on science lessons including baking soda volcanoes, My 5 Senses, Gloop, and more.

Sid the Science Kid LIVE
Shows and science lessons are FREE with museum admission.
No advance purchase required.

Saturday, November 15, 2014
CMoR Chesterfield

Sunday, November 16, 2014
CMoR Central

The post Sid the Science Kid at CMoR appeared first on RichmondMom.com.

Yep.

Here’s your daily sentimental ad from Dove, but it’s not for women this time.

It’s for dads.

Grab a tissue, have a look.

Happy Father’s Day.

(ps. If you can’t see the video below on your mobile device, the link is here.)

The post Father’s Day Commercial That Made Us Cry appeared first on RichmondMom.com.

How to Train Your Dragon 2

The thrilling second chapter of the epic “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy brings back the fantastical world of Hiccup and Toothless five years later. While Astrid, Snoutlout and the rest of the gang are challenging each other to dragon races (the island’s new favorite contact sport), the now inseparable pair journey through the skies, charting unmapped territories and exploring new worlds. When one of their adventures leads to the discovery of a secret ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace.

Release Date: Opens in Theaters Friday, June 13, 2014

Rating: PG: Parental Guidance Suggested

Event Info:
June 10, 2014 at 7:00PM

Midlothian, VA
Regal Commonwealth
5001 Commonwealth Center Parkway, Midlothian, VA 23112

The post See HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 for FREE June 10!! appeared first on RichmondMom.com.