Community Blog

Those words are music to my ears.

Everyone can appreciate getting more for less, all you have to do is find the deal! Well let me tell you, I’ve found one worth sharing! I only have one question for you… Do you Groupon?

If not, then now is the time to start. If so, listen up! A few days ago Groupon was offering a $12 Fandango movie ticket for only $4. What a steal right? Well you can STILL get the deal if you act now! Simply log in (or sign up) to your Groupon account and select this link —-> FANDANGO DEAL. Now you are just a click away from getting your movie ticket at an all-time-low price!

But that’s not all. Make your movie experience that much more AMAZING by taking advantage of the Regal Entertainment Group’s FREE POPCORN offer! Just visit and “like” their official Facebook page and print off the free popcorn coupon.  Now look at yourself… you just scored movie and a snack for $4 and a few clicks of your mouse. Your friends will all be jealous!

Now there’s only two more things to do. Pick your movie and enjoy a cheaper than cheap weekend movie experience!

There are some desserts that just scream spring and summer.

Others you wouldn’t be caught dead eating any other time but the fall.

Then there are the warm winter-worthy treats that are a perfect way to beat the chill!

This recipe is great for all four seasons and, trust me, you’ll be craving it all year around! We all know Martha Stewart is the queen of crafts and treats so it’s no surprise this recipe came from her. It’s extremely simple to make and even easier to eat! There’s only one catch. Once you have one… you’ll want to finish the whole plate!  Chocolate-Coconut Bars!  Here’s what you need:

• 3 cups finely ground cookies (12 ounces)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup pecan pieces (optional)
• 1 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
• 3/4 cup sticks unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

And here’s what you do!

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and sprinkle a 10″x15″ rimmed baking sheet with water. Lay parchment paper on baking sheet and get ready to mix!
2. Combine cookie crumbs, sugar and butter in a large bowl until combined. Press mix evenly around baking sheet to create a crust.  Bake until firm for about 10 minutes (be sure to rotate sheet half way through) and let cool.
3. Once cooled, sprinkle pecans and chocolate evenly over the crust. Pour condensed milk over the top, covering completely, and sprinkle with coconut.
4. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until coconut is toasted. Let cool completely before cutting into individual pieces.
5. ENJOY.

These treats will quickly become a family favorite. And you can even play with the ingredients by using butterscotch instead of chocolate or peanuts instead of pecans! Just don’t forget about my warning. Once you taste this ooey gooey goodness, you’ll have to quarantine yourself away from the rest!

Image by ginnerobot via Flickr

With schools starting left and right I thought it would be fitting to give all LakeRidge parents a heads up on things that your kids teachers probably wish you knew. You’d be surprised at the disconnect between a teacher and their students’ parents but I’m here to squash any uncertainty and set the record strait.

• First thing’s first… DON’T BE A STRANGER. Talk to your child’s teacher early on. Try to meet with them before back to school night, and don’t let it be a one time encounter. Understanding one another is almost as important as understanding your child!
• Remember… LEARNING DOESN’T STOP WITH THE RING OF A BELL. Teachers love it when parents get their children to show them what they learned in school that day. It not only allows you to know what they’ve been up to but helps your child remember things and be more likely to retain the information.
• This is a tough one parents… STAY INVOLVED (Even if you don’t know the material). I’ve never been good at math, but being supportive and available to my child doesn’t require a degree. Teachers don’t expect you to remember everything you learned through those many years of school, but they love knowing a child is motivated and encouraged.
• A key factor… ORGANIZATION IS VITAL. When a teacher sends home a form to be signed or a letter that needs reading, help them out and keep things organized. There’s nothing worse than a teacher assuming a child didn’t give their parents a form when it was really the parents who misplaced it.
• It’s okay… LET YOUR CHILD MAKE MISTAKES. Teachers don’t expect work to be perfect every time. Kids are allowed to make mistakes, and if anything, they learn better from the ones they do make.

There are plenty more where these came from but I will let YahooShine take care of the rest.

Above all things, communicate with your child’s teacher. If you don’t feel the need to read through the list here, ask the teacher directly what they expect. Of both you and your child.

With summer winding down and fall setting in, I am already reminiscing about my travels over the past three months.  Summer time for me, and I’m sure many of you can agree with me, is my optimal travel time. We went to so many great places this summer and now that I’ve got my feet firmly planted back at home, I’m starting to miss all the excitement.  Now what I need is a quick and simple way to look back over the trip and remember all the great times my family had.

Photo albums are normally a fail-safe idea, but with the amount of pictures that I take I would go broke before I had all of them printed. Plus they get so big and bulky, who has room in their home for a different album per vacation? I’m making a change. I’m going to document my vacations with individual shadow boxes. They are inexpensive, easy to make, and won’t take up tons of shelf space. In fact, given the right type of shadow box, you could be creating shelf space. Follow these easy steps and in NO TIME you will have a great reminder of your travels.

• Pick up a pre-made shadow box at a local craft store. They are fairly inexpensive depending on the size. Or if you are feeling especially crafty you can make your own!
• Gather some of your favorite memories from your vacation. Make sure they will fit in the box. (ex. plane tickets, photos, souvenirs) You can also purchase fun scrapbooking stickers or figurines that represent your trip, like a miniature Eiffel tower for Paris.
• Organize your keepsakes in the box! Add color and embellishments to your heart’s desire.

You will need some kind of adhesive (glue or double sided tape).  I even like using rope to hang some of the items. It adds dimension and makes things that much more interesting.  Hang your boxes around the house or establish a “travel corner” somewhere special and watch as the wall fills with memories. It’s a great way to keep things fresh in your memory without stuffing photo albums.  Try it out for yourself and let us know how it went. As for me, I’m off to the craft store! Time to start on my own shadow boxes!

It’s Friday ladies and gentlemen, and you know what that means. NEW MOVIE RELEASES.

There are a few movies opening today but the one I am most excited for is Scott Pilgrim v. The World.  Picture this: You have just met the guy/girl of your dreams and you’ve started to fall head over heels. Little do you know, your new relationship comes with a few requirements… seven to be exact. In order to pursue this once-in-a-lifetime relationship, you first have to defeat your love interest’s SEVEN evil exes. Talk about a bump in the road! Well, that’s what is in the works for Scott Pilgrim, played by funny-guy Michael Cera.

It looks hysterical so if you have the chance to see it this weekend, I highly recommend it. Once you check it out, comment back with your thoughts! Is it worth seeing in theaters or should we all wait for it to come to Netflix?

Check out Regal Virginia Center 20 for showtimes!

In the mood for some top-self theater? The Barksdale Theater at Hanover Tavern is proud to present On Golden Pond, written by Ernest Thompson.

The play centers around Norman and Ethyl Thayer, an elderly couple who find comfort in spending their summers at a their cottage on Golden Pond.  Normally filled with quiet days and calm nights, this summer turns out slightly different when they are visited by their daughter, her new fiance and his son. The daughter, Chelsea, and fiance leave for a trip to Europe, leaving the young boy to form what becomes a close and loving bond with Ethyl and Norman. The play not only looks at the dynamics of cross-generational interactions but also touches on the dynamics of father-daughter relationships and the struggles of a long marriage. The 1981 film adaptation of the 1979 stage production featured Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda.

On Golden Pond will be playing through August 29 at the Barksdale Theater at Hanover Tavern. Buy your tickets online or by calling (804) 282-2620. Shows are already selling out so be sure you get your tickets now! Don’t miss this touching portrayal of family, love and finding your way home.

Ever since I was little I have loved attending sporting events. And not just any one sport, I love them all!  When we were kids we used to dream of what we would be when we grew up and I always wanted to be a sports star. I think I just wanted my own trading card, but that’s beside the point!

So, now I ask you. If you could be a professional at any sport, what sport would you choose?

We’ve created a new poll with some great options to choose from. If you don’t see your choice, comment back on this post with your pick! Batter up!

If you haven’t been to an Innsbrook After Hours concert yet this summer then the time has come to schedule a visit! There are so many great performers headed that way in the upcoming weeks, one of which I am overly excited about.

The one and only Heart will be performing at Innsbrook After Hours on Wednesday, August 11, 2010. You may know Heart best for their break out in the early 1970’s or even their come back in the mid 80’s.  Their most popular hits include Crazy On You, Magic Man and Barracuda. As with many rock bands, members came and went but the firm foundation of sisters Anne and Nancy Wilson have managed to keep the band and the music alive after all these years. They are set to release a brand new album, Red Velvet Car, on the 31st if this month, their first in over three years.

The gates open at 6:00 and Heart will take the stage at 8:00 pm after a special guest headliner. Tickets are on sale (Gold Circle no longer available) so get them while they are hot!

Don’t forget everyone, the pool party is THIS Saturday!

We start at 11:00 am with food, music, giveaways, water slides and SO MUCH MORE!

We hope to see you all there and look forward to a day filled with fun and sun!

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