Starting solids is a fun rite of passage for both parents and babies… but those little packages can feel really wasteful not to mention it gets expensive quick!

Relay Foods, Chop Suey Books, Franklin Goose and Hip to be Round are hosting a free baby food demo at the Hip to be Round store in Carytown.

You’ll learn how to make your own baby food, hear tips, watch the process and taste the final product.
In addition to learning a thing or two you’ll  have a chance to meet other moms, win door prizes and get a discount on nursing apparel.

DIY Baby Food Demo
Thursday, March 26, 2015
6:30pm
Hip to be Round in Carytown
3124 W. Cary Street
Richmond, va 23221
No RSVP necessary.

Hip to be Round is a sponsor of Richmondmom

Go on a swashbuckling adventure at Virginia Rep this weekend!

Win a 4 pack of tickets to see Treasure Island at the Children’s Theatre at Willow Lawn.
Winner will be contacted via email and can redeem their tickets for any one of the following nights:
Fri 3/13/15 7:00PM
Sat 3/14/15 10:30AM
Sat 3/14/15 2:00PM
Sun 3/15/15 2:00PM

The show is about 1 hour long and suitable for children ages 6 and up.

Learn more about the show here

Enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
  Treasure Island opens Friday, March 13 at the Children’s Theatre at Willow Lawn, 1601 Willow Lawn Drive, Richmond, Va. The show runs March 13 –  April 19 2015. Learn more here.    

Virginia Rep is a sponsor of Richmondmom

1. This year Pi Day falls on 3/14/15. Only once in a lifetime, the full date is also the four numbers after the decimal  3.1415  (Though you can celebrate Pi at 9:26 twice.)

2. Pi Day is also Albert Einstein’s birthday.

3.  π  is the sixteenth letter in the Greek Alphabet and P is the sixteenth letter in the English alphabet.
Alright.
Now for the yummy part.

14 Pies!

Coconut Cream Pies in Jars
Crazy for Crust

A pie you can take with you to work!

Mini Lemon Hand Pies
Lemons for Lulu

No fork needed for these lemon pies… and they’re mini, which means you can have three, right?

No Bake Nutella Cheesecake
Dessert Now, Dinner Later

Is cheesecake technically a pie?

Samoas Cookie Pie
Averie Cooks

It’s like one giant Girl Scout cookie… only without anything missing in the middle.

Key Lime Pie
Gimme Some Oven

This sweet and tart key lime pie will make you dream of summer weather. Plus it’s easy as… well, pie.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
Herriot Grace

First of all this pie looks amazing.
Secondly, this daughter’s blog is adorable and it may cause you to want to runaway to a cabin in Victoria, BC.

Easy Blueberry Pie
She Wears Many Hats

Salted Honey Pie
Kinfolk
The fact that this exists and I haven’t tasted it is a minor travesty.

S’mores Pie
Just a Taste
A campfire favorite in pie form.

Giant Oatmeal Cream Pie
Sally’s Baking Addiction

Move over Little Debbie, we’re going to need some room for this super-sized cream pie!

Don’t forget dinner! Savory pies can be pretty delicious too!

Beef and Guinness Pie
Leite’s Culinaria
A perfect blend of  Pi Day and St. Patty’s Day.
You don’t have to be a big beer drinker to enjoy this savory pie.

One Pot Taco Cornbread Pie
Nest of Posies

You can’t argue with dinner in 30… especially not a crowd pleaser like this one.

Macaroni Pie with Bacon Lattice
Buzzfeed
Step by step instructions for your next heart attack.

Spring Vegetable Pot Pie
Feasting at Home
These vegan pot pies are a nice alternative to bacon mac & cheese.

Tomato Pie
Tastes Better from Scratch
Save this recipe for when tomatoes are in peak season and serve it up for lunch!

Happy Pi Day!

Like these recipes? Check out these:

One Pot Dinners Kids Can Make

Warm Fast Breakfasts to Get the School Day Started

See more here.

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March means spring!
Spring means outside!
Outside means FESTIVALS!

It’s time to get outside and breathe some fresh (not frozen) air.

Fill your calendar with these awesome outdoor activities:

March 6, 2015

Squirrels First Friday Fan Fest & Ticketpalooza
5:30PM-8:00PM
The Diamond
In homage to the Squirrels 2015 Free Shirt Fridays, the first 100 fans who purchase tickets during the First Friday Fan Fest & Ticketpalooza on March 6^th will receive a free T-shirt. Happy hour drink specials will be available from 5:30PM-7:30PM just as they will be all season long during Free Shirt Friday games. Fans can also enjoy live music, concession items and a sneak peak at the new upgrades taking place at The Diamond. FREE to attend.

March 14, 2015

Shamrock the Block
11:00 am- 5pm
1301 North Boulevard, Richmond , VA 23230

Shamrock The Block is free to attend, with great food, live music all day and plenty o’ green beverages for you to enjoy safely, so bring a designated driver. Special kids area with face-painting, bounces, games and more. Come early though, as some lines can get long. FREE.

St. Paddy’s Day Palooza  ***THIS EVENT HAS BEEN MOVED TO SUNDAY MARCH 15***
11:00am-5:00pm
Innsbrook Pavilion 4901 Lake Brook Dr.

Last year over 10,000 people attended the family-friendly St. Paddy’s Day Palooza a benefit for St. Baldrick’s Innsbrook is gearing up to help you shake off the winter doldrums and enjoy everything Irish! Families can enjoy live music, Irish dancing, bands, food, inflatable: slide, moon bounce, and obstacle course, ice cream, face painting, a petting zoo, pony rides and a hot air balloon.  Free to attend.

Shockoe Festival
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
17th Street, Richmond, Virginia 23220

Live music, Irish dancing, beer, Irish coffee and food. More information to come.

March 15, 2015

St. Paddy’s Day Palooza 
11:00am-5:00pm
Innsbrook Pavilion 4901 Lake Brook Dr.

Last year over 10,000 people attended the family-friendly St. Paddy’s Day Palooza a benefit for St. Baldrick’s Innsbrook is gearing up to help you shake off the winter doldrums and enjoy everything Irish! Families can enjoy live music, Irish dancing, bands, food, inflatable: slide, moon bounce, and obstacle course, ice cream, face painting, a petting zoo, pony rides and a hot air balloon.  Free to attend.

March 21 & 22, 2015

Church Hill Irish Festival
March 21 10:00 am – 7:00 pm.
March 22 the HillTopper 5K race will begin at 8:00 am. The festival closes at 6:00 pm

In addition to great entertainment, there will be plenty of family fun, including children’s games, a large children’s play area, face painting and Irish-themed crafts. Over thirty Irish vendors will be in attendance. Food and refreshments will also be available. Enjoy wonderful “Irish Lasagna” prepared by the Ladies of St. Patrick’s, “Fish and Chips” and other favorites provided by Rare Olde Times Irish Pub, and many more.
A $5.00 donation will be collected at the gate, proceeds benefit neighborhood causes as well as St. Baldrick’s Society and the historic preservation of St. Patrick’s Church.

March 27-29, 2015

Virginia Horse Festival 
March 27: 1-9 p.m.
March 28: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
March 29: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A three day festival perfect for horse owners, riders and enthusiasts. Food vendors, storytelling, horse shows and more.  Find out more about this family friendly event here.

 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, camp informations, volunteering and a whole lot more. Sign up for our newsletter here and find us on Facebook.

EXTENDED: Register and book your FREE photo session before March 22nd!

Spring time is here!! It’s time to shake off those February blues and put on your spring time shoes!

We’re super excited about this contest because not only do you get a FREE hour long spring time session with Butler Photographic Artistry at their absolutely gorgeous studio with cute and cuddly live animals, BUT you also have the opportunity to win our prize package sure to make your spring pretty amazing for the whole family!

A special thanks to the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU for sponsoring our contest this year!

How to Enter (please read carefully, you must complete each step to be entered into the contest.):

1. Register your child(ren) March 1 through March 22nd, 2015.  If you have more than three children you may fill out a second registration.  Register here.

2. To help you schedule your portrait session, Butler Photographic Artistry will reach out to you after you submit your nomination and schedule your FREE appointment between March 1 – April 4, 2015.
Your photo session will take place at the beautiful Butler Photographic Artistry Studio and photos will be available for purchase*. (Hurry! Sessions are limited.) If you would like to call and schedule your appointment you may do that as well:804-744-4700

Butler Photographic Artistry will provide Richmondmom.com with a photo of your child for our website and voting page after you have your photos taken.

3. Voting will begin April 8 – 25.  Spread the word friends, parents, grandparents and get them to vote in the contest.

4. Winner will be determined by most unique votes and announced in our newsletter and on Richmondmom April 29, 2015.  Our grand prize winner will receive our prize package.

*Although it’d be a shame to miss out on the opportunity for a free session and beautiful photos, there is no purchase necessary to enter or win.

 

Age categories for the contest are:

• 0-2 years
• 3-5 years
• 6-8 years
• 9-11 years

Check out our fun family prize package below:

A Portrait Wall Panel valued at $1249 from Butler Photographic Artistry

Summer Membership to Midlothian Athletic Club

Supernova Year Membership to the Science Museum of Virginia 

4 Garden Passes to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

4 Tickets to Arena Racing USA

One month of free classes at Romp n’ Roll

 

 

There are two chances to take your family to the circus for FREE!

Behold the living legends! Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® brings the unbelievable to Children Of All Ages in an all-new show − Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents LEGENDSSM the 144th edition of the Greatest Show On Earth . Experience unimaginable family fun, as amazing performers from around the globe perform awe-inspiring feats of daring, spectacles of strength and thrills of wonder to summon the mythical and the mysterious: a Unicorn, a Pegasus and a Woolly Mammoth! Join us for an unforgettable family night of legendary proportions! Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents LEGENDS! Believe in the Unbelievable.

Read more about the circus here and enter to win a family 4 pack!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey: Legends

Richmond Coliseum
Richmond, VA
March 11 – 15, 2015
Purchase Tickets here.
Feld Entertainment

JUST IN: Big News from Ringling Bros. Read it here. 

(Two winners will be randomly selected from the form below)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tickets provided by Feld Entertainment

 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey: Legends comes to the Richmond Coliseum March 11 – 15, 2015! Purchase Tickets here.

Keep your eyes peeled for a special giveaway from Richmondmom!

What animal can see in the dark six times better than a human can?

A. Tiger
B. Mole
C. Horse

Which circus animal is not a vegetarian?

A. Tiger
B. Elephant
C. Camel

What animal has its own unique stripe pattern similar to that of a human fingerprint?

A. Tiger
B. Zebra
C. Cow

What is “pachyderm” another name for?

A. Chimp
B. Elephant
C. Goat

A camel’s hump doesn’t really store water. What’s it made of?

A. Fat
B. Muscle
C. Hair

How long do Ringling Bros. Elephants live?

A. 10-20 years
B. 30-40 years
C. 60-70 years

How many sets of teeth will an elephant have in its life?

A. 6
B. 1
C. 10

Bengal tigers come from what country?

A. India
B. United States
C. Spain

So, you did well on the multiple choice questions?
Do you know this circus trivia?

Over the years, which animal has been the most popular with Ringling Bros. audiences?

Which U.S. President gave America his horse as a circus attraction?

The most famous circus animal of all time arrived in New York City on Easter Sunday of 1882. Can you name him?

Who was the greatest living animal trainer of all time?

What year was the first animal menagerie in the United States established?

What are the names of the first two baby elephants born at the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation?

What is an elephant’s favorite food?

Ready for your answers? Get them here: pop quiz answer sheet.

Ladies and Gentleman,
The Greatest Show on Earth comes to the Richmond Coliseum with an all new show sure to amaze!

Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Presents LEGENDS. Experience unimaginable family fun, as amazing performers from around the globe perform awe-inspiring feats of daring, spectacles of strength and thrills of wonder to summon the mythical and mysterious creatures of the past: a Unicorn, a Pegasus and a Woolly Mammoth! Join us for an unforgettable family night of legendary proportions! Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Presents LEGENDS!

Be thrilled by The Riders of the Wind, Cossack trick-riders who thunder into the arena on the backs of thoroughbred horses stealing your breath with their daring stunts. The Solar Hawks, a dream team of acrobats come together to amaze audiences by attempting three consecutive triple somersaults on a one-of-a-kind double-wide trapeze specifically designed for The Greatest Show On Earth®. Audiences will also witness Alexander Lacey and his legendary bond with his lion, majestic leopard and tigers during one of the most captivating acts. They all come together with more thrilling acts, and of course Ringling Bros.’ legendary Asian elephants, in this spectacular production that you can only see this year!

Free to all ticketholders, the All Access Pre-show starts an hour before the show. Come down to the arena floor and meet the performers of The Greatest Show On Earth, get autographs, take photos and enter to win a one-of-a-kind pachyderm painting.

Enter to win a family 4 pack here.  A review to come. 

Download a coloring page for the kids here.

Here’s our review from the show last year and a sneak peak of the show below:

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey: Legends

Richmond Coliseum
Richmond, VA
March 11 – 15, 2015
Purchase Tickets here.
Feld Entertainment

Kids 14 and under get special perks with the Richmond Flying Squirrels FREE Kids Club. They’ll get a membership card, a special newsletter, invites to FREE Squirrel Tails Parties, special giveaways just for kids and a free ticket to all of our Sunday home games!

Follow this link to sign up your son or daughter today so they don’t miss out on all the FUNN.

There’s still time to sign up for The Flying Squirrels Dance Team!

The program fee includes three on-field performance game dates, two rehearsal dates, The Flying Squirrels Dance Team T-shirt, two Terrace level tickets to each game date for the performer & discounted ticket prices for family and friends, and professional instruction with choreographed dance routines.  Learn more and sign up here.

We can’t wait for the season to start! Find more information here!