I find myself having a lot of conversations about food lately.  This isn’t entirely unusual, as it is one of my favorite subjects, but specifically I’ve been thinking about how confusing nutrition has become.  Between diets touting bullet-proof coffee, weight loss plans which sell processed foods, and confusing food packaging there are a lot of mixed messages when it comes to what’s best for our health.

Though I’ve always had an interest in nutrition I also have a a not so desirable habit of avoiding situations where I don’t know what to expect, so I’d never actually taken the time to visit a dietician.  Where does one find a dietician? How much does it cost? What can I expect at my visit? Curiosity got the best of me when I found out I could visit a nutritionist at MARTIN’S.

Here’s what I learned:

1. It’s not expensive. Turns out, you can see a registered dietician for almost free.  It may sound swanky to have a personal consultation with a nutritionist but really there’s no need for insurance, no need for tons of cash.  Visiting a nutritionist at MARTIN’S costs $20 for a one time consultation, but you receive a $20 gift card to MARTIN’S at your visit.  I don’t know many people who don’t need groceries, so this chalks up to a practically free visit in my book.

2. You can start with the basics. Labels confuse you? Serving sizes confusing? What’s good fat, bad fat and is there such a thing as in-between fat? You’re not alone if you’re confused by nutrition labels.  A MARTIN’S nutritionist has the advantage of being able to take you right out on the floor of the grocery store to talk labels and serving sizes of your favorite brands. No judgement coming from them, they’ll start wherever you are.

3. Good eaters can still learn something. Although I like to think I’ve got a better-than-average handle on nutrition, and I’m a pretty healthy eater, I still had holes in my diet (specifically calcium) that I didn’t think about until my nutritionist pointed them out to me.  I also learned that I should be incorporating a little more vitamin c to my morning breakfast as that helps me absorb the iron in the eggs.  I also realized I had slacked in reading nutrition labels, something I had done more diligently in the past. Even if you’re doing pretty well, a free(ish) visit with a professional might help you round out your diet a little better.

4. Good food is really pretty simple.  Somewhere down the line health seemed to get complicated. There are tons of fads out there and not just ones that raise eyebrows (like cricket flour for example).  It can feel very overwhelming.  A visit to a MARTIN’S Nutritionist won’t result in a new regimen of Cricket-Flour-Kale-Wheatgrass-Goji-Berry-Quinoa-Smoothies with a side of essential oils and gluten free, fermented sauerkraut… (sorry to disappoint). It’s not going to require you to spend a ton, or eat anything weird.  It’s good basic nutrition, small changes and healthier choices which can make a big impact on your health.

Here are a few tips for when you go:

1.  Come in with a goal.  Perhaps you hope to lose weight, have more energy, or just find out where you’re lacking and what you’re doing right. The personalized consultation is just that- personalized, a MARTIN’S nutritionist’s only agenda is to help you achieve your personal goals whatever those might be.

2. Track your eating the week before.  You don’t need to get too detailed, but keep an eye out for what you’ve been eating during the week, this will help your nutritionist get a better handle on where to start making better choices.  Same thing with any supplements you might be taking.

3. Write down a couple questions. Just like being at the doctor, you tend to forget your questions once you get there… then you find yourself during the week thinking “I should have asked about that” of course, you can schedule as many appointments as you’d like (and you’ll keep getting those gift cards) but you can make the most of your appointment if you don’t forget to ask about those specifics.

4. Don’t forget the children.  Sure, you might have a nice well rounded salad on the daily… But kids (and sometimes spouses) are notoriously picky eaters.  The MARTIN’S Nutritionists are armed with a few tricks of the trade to help you introduce new foods into their diet, they’ll help you find better alternatives to their pre-packaged favorites, tips on trying new things or meet with the kids for a kid-friendly lesson.

Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s some delicious lemon yogurt calling me…

Not ready to go it alone? Martin’s hosts classes for both kids and adults which you can learn about here.
Interested in making an appointment with a nutritionist at MARTIN’S?

Caroline Roessler, MS, RDN is in-store nutritionist for MARTIN’S in Midlothian VA call 804-794-7074 for an appointment.

Valerie Pulley, RDN is the in-store nutritionist at MARTIN’S in Short Pump on John Rolfe Parkway and Glen Allen. call 804-364-3644

Like this article? Check out these

Are Your Eating Habits a Mess? Here Are 14 Ways To Get On The Right Track

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Heart Health for the Whole Family

MARTIN’S is a sponsor of Richmondmom

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey have 3 different versions crisscrossing the country and the theme for Richmond this year is “Legends” and if you’re a super circus fan, you can also catch Circus Xtreme as they pass through Norfolk in April.

We made sure to get there about an hour early (highly recommended), since there is an exciting and free All-Access Pre-Show down on the arena floor, offering about 45 minutes to an hour of fun and interaction with circus performers: clowns, photo ops and even some animals. There were even several opportunities for kids to participate! Our daughter and son decided to observe but really got a kick out of watching the other kids “perform”.

They asked everyone to clear the floor shortly before 7pm and we made our way to our seats, which were already filled by a very cute family who promptly told us they knew they were in the wrong place. Long story short, we ended up swapping with them and moved up several rows, just three rows from the ring! The kids thought it was a very cool upgrade.

The show started in usual fashion with the Star Spangled Banner and a parade of animals and performers gearing up to excite and entertain. I’ve only been to a few circus’s as an adult, but the opening never fails to activate the kid in me.

Once the show gets started, it never lets up, at least until the intermission, but then they’re right back at it; performing and mesmerizing until the end.

This is your quintessential circus, the kind you think of when someone says the word: a sequined larger than life Ring Master, tons of clowns and their shenanigans, elephants, dancing dogs, lion tamers and acts of unimaginable human balance and strength.

Highlights for us were the Globe of Steel and the eight, full grown men and their – albeit less than fullsize – motorcycles, crammed into that cage and whirring around at crazy speeds without incident. I wonder how many emergency room visits are required to earn your spot on the team?

Another favorite and heavily featured is the China Acrobatic Troupe. Their incredible acrobatic feats are not to be missed and include the men’s hoop diving and pole jumping and the incredible young women performing a Diabolo “ballet” which will have you mesmerized. If you don’t know what a Diabolo is, you’ll just have to go to the circus and find out!

Of course, one of the kids’ favorites were the performing dogs, and our son’s favorite, performing pigs! For them, nothing beat the hilarity of a Chihuahua and Jack Russell dancing, jumping and fumbling around for laughs. The performance included some very talented poodles, goats, llamas, donkeys and even a couple of kangaroos.

I happen to like the big cats and, honestly, there were a couple of times when I thought the lion would come out on top after all. At one point the “lion tamer” was backed up against the cage by an aggressively advancing lion, and maybe it was staged, but it definitely got my heart thumping, umm and not at all rooting for the lion.

And despite all the controversy regarding the elephants and no matter where you stand on the issue, it is definitely an experience seeing them up close and personal. I for one am glad they will be phased out over the next couple of years and think it was a wise decision. Now perhaps they can concentrate on the conservation of Asian Elephants without the poor karma surrounding their use in shows.

There is so much more to the circus and so many other incredible acts, that you’re really just going to have to go check it out. Be warned though, the concessions are out in full force, both stationary and mobile, so either make sure you’re equipped to concede to your kids’ non-stop requests or lay down the law before arriving!

We thoroughly enjoyed our night out and recommend that you grab some tickets if it’s your kind of thing or if you’ve never been before. I’ll take any opportunity to feel like a kid again!

Like this article? You may also be interested in:

Ringling Bros. is Listening to Audiences and Phasing Out Elephants by 2018

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents LEGENDS

Read more Real Richmond Reviews

Tickets for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus were provided by Feld Entertainment in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are purely my own.

photo credit: Catherine Matheny Bell

Dominion GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden promises you a magical evening. Enjoy a festive atmosphere with holiday decorations, lights, bicycles and flowers all rolled into one. Archways, walkways, fountains and everything in between are aglow with shiny bicycle streamers, bicycle baskets, and bicycle wheels. Celebrating Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s 30^th anniversary, this year’s theme is: A Legacy in Lights: 120 years from Bicycle Club to Botanical Garden, a nod to the Lakeside Wheel Club, founded by Lewis Ginter in 1895.

Whether you have visited GardenFest in previous years – or are new to the festival of lights – you are in for a beautiful evening. The creatively decorated bicycles appeal to audiences of all ages. Bicycles of yesteryear and modern bicycles all have a home here, artfully displayed. Bicycles, tricycles, and penny-farthing bicycles. Some bicycles are bedecked prominently with lights, flowers, and other decorations and others almost seem camouflaged. My kids excitedly pointed out the bicycles and took photos of them. Each and every one.

photo credit: Patricia Cancro

So just what goes into making GardenFest a magical winter wonderland? Lights, volunteers, and months of preparation to plan and install lights. I asked my oldest how many lights he thought made up GardenFest. He thoughtfully suggested 500 million. (Yes, Virginia, it certainly seems that way). Actually, the answer is a half a million lights, an impressive number.

As a first time visitor of GardenFest, I expected it to be packed. Although there were plenty of folks enjoying the evening, the displays were spread out over the Garden’s expansive grounds, so it did not appear crowded.

Need to warm up while you are there? Take a break from the cold in the Conservatory where you can check out botanicals, model trains chugging past historic Richmond landmarks, and a larger-than-life Christmas tree. The Kelly Education Center also offers a warm respite, with a chance to enjoy Victorian decorations, dollhouses, and a gallery walk of photos documenting the Garden’s rich history. Other strategies to warm up include enjoying hot chocolate, and s’mores (for purchase).

GardenFest is appropriate for the entire family, but check out these tips for visiting GardenFest with children before you go. Check out this link for additional information about GardenFest, including nightly events as well as an Instagram contest.

Dominion GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden runs now through January 12, 2015 from 5-10pm.*

Tickets:
$12 adult
$11 seniors (age 55+)
$8 children (ages 3 – 12)
Free for children under age 3
$7 Garden members
$5 Child on Garden Membership (ages 3 – 18)
Tickets are also available by phone at 1-800-594-TIXX (8499) and online; please note there are convenience fees.
Online sales for General Admission
Online sales for Garden Members

*closed December 24 and December 25

I was provided free tickets to GardenFest in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

We piled up the kids in the car and headed out to Meadow Event Park for the Illuminate Light Show & Santa’s Village.  As sometimes happens, one of the 5 of us was in a spectacularly bad mood (it was one might call the big-kid version of a tantrum).  Great. We’re off to a fantastic start.  We are informed that said child absolutely does not want to go and does not want to be there and would rather be doing anything else in the world than being stuck in the car listening to Christmas music with his brothers. At some point there may have been some dramatic sobbing.

We ride up listening to the litany of complaints from the unnamed child and we can see the Christmas lights from the road. We point them out. Said child is unimpressed.  We roll slowly up to the front gate and are told to turn our headlights off and change to the designated radio station.

As we slowly roll down the path in the comfort of the car the lights are absolutely magical.  Both beautifully and humorously timed with the music, bright and cheerful displays blink, dance and dazzle on a long winding path. There is a notable silence from the grump in the back seat. Oohs and ahs from the rest of the car. The light show was much longer than expected which was nice, it wound around hills and under tunnels lit up with markers along the way. 

As we reached the end of the light show and got out of the car at Santa’s Village my formerly grumpy child, now slightly sheepish hugs me and says (no lie) “Mom, I’m really sorry I got so upset… I’m glad you brought us, that light show was really awesome”.  I am suddenly even more impressed with the light show than I was before. 

Santa’s village is small, Despite decorations, there was only so much to hide the bright lights of the indoor pavilion.  The Santa set up, however was quite pretty with professional photography available. Children can go on a monkey motion ride (essentially a bungee assisted trampoline jump $6 or included in a $10 wristband) and bounce on the moon bounce ($3 or included with wrist band) inside the pavilion. Say “moon bounce” and my boys are happy as can be, so we decided not to spend the money on the wrist band and paid $9 for all three to bounce until they dropped (hello early bedtime).

Outside we got red velvet funnel cake, hot cocoa and spiced cider all of which was delicious and we petted the horse for the wagon ride (but decided not to take a ride as it was a very, very cold night).

It’s safe to say Illuminate Light Show & Santa’s Village can put some holiday cheer into the grumpiest kid around… Truth is, it was dazzling, and a really fun family night out. We highly recommend it (and will be going next year).

Illuminate Light Show & Santa’s Village

Light Show Dates: November 14, 2014 – January 3, 2015
Santa’s Village Dates: November 14, 2014 – December 24, 2014
Event Times: Nightly 5:30pm – 10:00pm.  Open rain or shine, including all holidays.
Wine tastings: Nov. 20^th  and 27^th  and Dec. 4^th and 11^th

Ticket prices:
Cars (9 passengers or less) – $22 Monday-Thursday, $25 Friday-Sunday
Limos, Mini Buses (10-34 passengers) – $50 nightly
Full-Size Buses (35 or more passengers) – $75 nightly

Click here to visit their website.
Find Illuminate Light Show & Santa’s Village on Facebook.

Illuminate Light Show & Santa’s Village provided a ticket in exchange for this review.
All opinions (and grumpy children) are my own.

I was happy to see that Busch Gardens has partnered with Toys for Tots this year.  Guests are invited to bring an unwrapped toy to the park Nov. 21 through Dec. 14. All toy donations support the Hampton Roads Toys for Tots chapter.  Busch Gardens’ Welcome Center near the park’s front entrance will serve as the park’s official toy drop-off location. Busch Gardens will also donate $5,000 in toys to the Toys for Tots toy drive.

As you may know from our 2013 review, we REALLY love Christmas Town.   Check out that review to hear me gush about the Fireside Feast with Santa.  That is the real Santa, folks.  He tells the children a story by the big fireplace and Mrs. Claus brings out cookies for everyone after dinner.  And he actually spends time with each child.  It’s really amazing!   Fireside Feast tickets are 50% off black friday through cyber monday – get on that!  You won’t be disappointed!  This experience truly is priceless.

Here is a little clip of Santa’s story time:

Click here to view the embedded video.

This year we were also able to check out the Ice Palace: A Penguin Paradise and give the new Photokey a test run.  The kids loved the Ice Palace experience.  It was a quick trip through the exhibit, with penguins on loan from the Columbus Zoo.  But it started with an individual opportunity for each child to pet a penguin and have their photo taken.  It was really sweet.  One of the trained animal handlers sits holding the penguin in her lap, while the child sits next to her for the photo.  Everyone was quite happy with this experience, including Maggie – the penguin.  Of course, my son’s favorite part was “seeing the penguin poop on the floor.”

The new PhotoKey provides an easy option for capturing and sharing in-park photos.  There are 8 spots throughout the park where the photo team will snap a shot of your family and automatically add the image for your account.  It’s available via smartphone apps to share instantly and also in your online account.  You, of course, have the option to order anything from mugs to phone cases with the images as well.  (gifts for grandparents?) But you can download the images for free, once you purchase a membership, which is only $10 during the Black Friday Sale.  I’m pretty sure our Christmas card picture is coming from our Busch Gardens visit and all the images in this post came from our PhotoKey.  Totally worth $10…not sure I’d pay the full $60 for it though.

Scrooge No More! ™, presented at the park’s Globe Theatre, is Busch Gardens’ newest live musical production. We didn’t have enough time to see the show, but I’ve heard great reviews and hope to catch it next time.  We were just having SO much fun in the rest of the twinkling park.  It really is so beautiful.

If you miss the Black Friday Sale, the regular $32 Christmas Town Fun Card that offers unlimited admission for the 2014 Christmas season. Active annual pass members can purchase a Christmas Town pass for $25 and receive unlimited admission to Christmas Town for the 2014 season along with regular pass member benefits like free parking and discounts on park purchases. Visit www.bgwpass.com for complete details.

Busch Gardens opens at 2 p.m. on regularly scheduled Christmas Town operating days. Visit christmastown.com for complete Christmas Town details, including ticket information and operating schedule. Guests can sign up for Busch Gardens’ email updates for the latest information about upcoming Christmas Town special offers, tickets and other exclusive holiday deals. 

As a Busch Gardens Thrill Seeker, I received free passes to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% true and all mine.

Here’s the part where I meant to take pictures… but I was caught up on the action for the rest.

I was lucky to get a chance to take my 8 year old son and his friend to see Marvel Universe LIVE! Thursday night.   If there’s anything more fun than seeing an action-packed stunt show with your all your favorite characters, it’s watching kids, watch an action-packed stunt show with all their favorite characters.

The story itself is the stuff of comic books: teams of heroes go on a quest to retrieve pieces of a shattered cosmic cube, fighting villains and making wise cracks along the way.

What’s good? For starters, the action sequences are, for the most part, very well done; a mix of wire work, pyrotechnics, professional wrestling moves and stunt bikes keep the pace going at a good clip. There are some filler scenes of story during set changes, but those were kept to a minimum.The costumes were also top notch; padded muscles and spandex for days.

The voice cast was an added bonus; there’s a good chance your child will recognize their favorite heroes if they watch any of the Marvel-branded cartoons. The dialogue was on the simple, slightly cheesy side, and the physical acting would be familiar to anyone who’s seen an episode of the Power Rangers, but it’s all in good fun.

Some favorite moments included Spiderman swinging from his webbing high above the action.  A dirt bike show-down between the Red Skull and Captain America and of course the crowed went wild after the spectacular fight scenes, the last of which involved a full-sized Incredible Hulk! Appealing a little bit more to the Marvel Cartoon viewer than fans of the Marvel movie franchise, Marvel Universe LIVE! A blast for the kids and entertaining for adults, this was a night that delivered on all the pow-bang-zoom it promised.

Marvel Universe LIVE! Runs for seven performances at the Richmond Coliseum October 30 to November 2, 2014 before moving on to Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.

Tickets for Marvel Universe LIVE! are available at the Ford Box Office at the Richmond Coliseum, online at Ticketmaster. com, area Ticketmaster outlets or Charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000. For a complete list of tour dates, visit the Marvel Universe LIVE! website

In exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion on Richmondmom, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Marvel Universe LIVE!  All opinions are my own.

Samuel Elton (Wilbur) and Ellie Wilson (Fern Arable). Photo by Jay Paul

There are few people who aren’t familiar with the beautiful and bittersweet story of Charlotte’s Web.  Virginia Rep brings the cherished novel to life with exactly the right mix of love, nostalgia and honesty that makes you want to pick up the book and read it again.

(from left to right) Isabella Cipollina (Narrator), Laney Yoo (Narrator), Lucas Hall (Lurvy), Adalaide O’Connor (Narrator). Photo by Jay Paul

The story is narrated by Isabella Cipollina, Adalaide O’Connor, and, alternating nights, Evelyn Drumeer and Laney Yoo who balance their whistful story telling with presence and charm.  In addition to supporting the story through narration, the young women sing time-honored songs such as You Are My Sunshine and Keep on the Sunny Side, beautifully anchored by the voice and music from Lucas Hall on the guitar.

The characters of the story itself also shine.  Audra Honaker’s Charlotte is absolutely enchanting as she gracefully navigates her large web.  Over the course of 90 minutes, Honaker has a seamless transition from energetic and friendly with an almost stone cold honestly to a tired, wise and loveable heroine.  Samuel Elton plays the endearing and radiant pig, capturing the heart of Fern, Charlotte and the audience as well.  Ellie Wilson is a strong Fern and a delight to watch.

Other notable performances include Jessi Johnson and Paul Major as the uppity Goose and the Gander (respectively). Lucas Hall as the loveable Lurvy, Donathan Arnold as Avery, the hilarious and adorable Lamb played by Hanna Piper and Evan Nasteff as a sly Templeton.

Audra Honaker (Charlotte). Photo by Jay Paul

Costumes by Sarah Grady were subtle and lovely with special attention to fabrics and textures to enhance each animal’s unique personality and traits; wool sweaters for the rigid sheep, coats for the proper goose and gander, leather and jeans for the rebel rat and soft overalls and converse sneakers for the childlike pig.

Both my 8 year old son and I enjoyed the show immensely, and both of us were quite tearful at the end.  Please note that this production deals with the same themes in regards to life and death in the same direct and honest manner as the book which may need to be considered when bringing sensitive children.

Charlotte’s Web is an excellent production for those who loved the book and a wonderful introduction for those who have yet to experience it.

Charlotte’s Web

October 10 – November 9, 2014

Wednesdays – Sundays
At Willow Lawn
1601 Willow Lawn Drive
(804) 282-2620
$18

Click here for tickets

So, I was thrilled when I received the invitation to the media event for Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.  And, as usual, Busch Gardens did not disappoint.  The park was transformed into a semi-spooky fall wonderland by day and an all out terror fest by sundown.

Igor’s Fright Feast
2 out of 5 stars

We started the day at Igor’s Fright Feast, which I would deem dinner theater.    The decor was amazing with the utmost attention paid to every detail.  Quite impressive.  And that remained true throughout every inch of the park.   The show itself was very well done, although not my particular taste and I would not recommend it for young children.  Musical and comedic in style; but ripe with innuendo and scantily clad women.   I was disappointed with the food at the feast; mostly because the food options at Busch Gardens are typically quite good and hence the expectations are always high.  I would choose to eat elsewhere in the park and I’ll give you a few other choices below.

My son with our Go, Dog. Go! poster signed by the Blue Dog and Yellow Dog

I remember reading the book Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman when I was little.  We still have that copy 36 years later, and it was one of the first books my 6-year-old daughter could read all by herself.  That’s why we were so excited to go see the production of  Go, Dog. Go! at the Virginia Children’s Theater this weekend at Willow Lawn!

The show is absolutely charming.  A cast of colorful dog characters bring the story to life through humor, songs and really fun props.  In the opening scene, the black and white dog (who acts as a narrator throughout) had the kids laughing so hard, as he had to figure out why music played every time he took a step or sat down.  He introduces the red dog, blue dog, yellow dog and green dog, whom we follow throughout the show as they play on trees, work with tools, row in the water, go to sleep, drive their cars and have a party!

My son (age 4) laughed almost the entire time.  He says his favorite part was “When the dogs were working and they couldn’t work because the jackhammer was going crazy!”  My favorite part of the book, and the play as well, was the girl dog who is always asking if the other dog likes her hat.  Get ready for the big number in the play when he finally says yes!

If you go, get there a little early and plan to stay a little afterwards.  They have tables set up where kids and their parents can make party hats – for the Dog Party of course!  Afterwards, the kids can go meet their favorite dog and get an autograph.

This was our first visit to the Children’s Theater but I’m sure we’ll be back.  Charlotte’s Web and Good Night Moon will be playing in the fall.

Get tickets to Go, Dog. Go!
July 11 – August 3, 2014
The Children’s Theatre of Virginia at Willow Lawn
Purchase online or call call (804) 282-2620
75 minutes (including a 10 minute intermission)
Suggested for ages 3 to 8.

Ok, when I first heard about the Ventev Powerdash, I thought here’s another less than necessary gimmicky accessory that’ll end up in the box of unused gadgets.

nTelos was kind enough to send us a sample Powerdash to put to the test and after a month, we still love it. It’s been dubbed Mighty Mouse and has “saved the day” on so many occasions we’ve almost lost count. Here are a couple of those saves….

Enjoying a bit o’ chocolate cake at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Save #1
Took the kids to Busch Gardens and used it to charge the phone on the way there. After hours of pictures, tweets, FB posts and instagrams, we had a dead phone. Luckily the Powerdash isn’t just a charger but also a back up battery which holds enough juice to provide a half charge for most smartphones or an additional 3 hrs talk time. Thanks to the back up charge, we were able to snap one of our fave pics of the trip.

Save #2
We lost power during a pretty hefty thunderstorm the night before leaving on an 800 mile road trip. In order to keep our schedule, we needed to be out the door by 4:30am.  A phone with less than 10% power doesn’t make a reliable alarm and wasn’t going to cut it, so we plugged it into the Powerdash, taking advantage of the back up battery power.  Voila!  Alarm went off without a hitch and we hit the road right on time.

Save #3
The kids were getting pretty restless (read cranky) – after having been in the car for 6 hours – and wanted to watch a movie on the iPad. Unfortunately, there is no DC outlet close enough to allow the iPad to be charged and watched at the same time. We simply plugged it directly into the Powerdash using the back up battery and had happy campers and peace & quiet for a whole hour and a half.

And that’s just during the first week! The Ventev Powerdash is small enough to carry in your pocket, is well built, has a light to let you know how much battery power you have and has a great hand feel and finish. If you want the best of both worlds – charger and back up battery – you simply can’t go wrong with the Powerdash.

This is one gadget that will definitely avoid the “box” of no return.

If you’d like a chance to WIN one of your own click here to enter.

Last day to enter: July 9, 2014
Only one entry per person, multiple entries will be discarded.