9 Places to Cut Your Own Tree in DC

by Meghan Yudes MeyersNovember 4, 2022

Check out these farms where you can cut your own tree in DC and prep for the holidays

Looking to spread a little holiday cheer early this year? Put up your Christmas tree ASAP—it’s proven to make the season that much merrier! Your family will love the experience of cutting down your own tree to take home and decorate. Also, lots of these farms offer food options or even hot chocolate. Find the best farm to cut your own tree in DC and make a day of it.

Maryland Christmas Tree Farms

Showvaker’s Quality Evergreens

Get a jump start on the Christmas season; Showvaker's opens their doors the week before Thanksgiving so you can prop up a tree before you cut the turkey. This farm is anticipating a record number of visitors, so they suggest visiting on a week day for the best service. Want to take a picture here? Just make sure your professional photographer makes an appointment before you head to this Christmas tree farm. Bonus: Pets on a leash are welcome to join you in your quest for the perfect pic (and tree!).

Opening Day: Sun., Nov. 20

2020 Garrett Rd.
Manchester, MD
Online: qualityevergreens.net

Otterdale View Christmas Tree Farm

There is no price haggling at Otterdales; all Christmas trees are just $75! You won't find pre-cut trees here, but cutting down your own spruce or fir tree is half the fun. Little ones will enjoy the train that makes its way around the store while you shop. You can also pick up red tarps before you head out to the field to help drag you tree back to your car.

4364 Middleburg Rd.
Union Bridge, MD
Online: otterdaleview.com

Friendship Trees

There’s a reason why families come back year after year to Friendship Trees. Their cooperative staff makes this the perfect place to cut your own Fir, Pine, and Spruce Christmas trees. Not feeling up to chopping down your own tree? This farm also has North Carolina Fraser firs ready to go. Check their website for an update on when they open in November.

6950 Old Solomons Island Rd.
Friendship, MD
Online: friendshiptrees.com

Clemsonville Christmas Tree Farm

If you hate spending lots of money on your tree, head to Clemsonville! They sell all their trees for $35! They’re also home to the “Everlasting” Christmas Tree made out of limestone rock and measuring over 50 feet, as well as America’s largest real Christmas wreath! You won’t want to miss all their wonderful things with your family.

10120 Clemsonville Rd.
Union Bridge, MD
Online: clemsonville.com

Wolfe's Pine Valley Farm

Want the tree up and decorated before Turkey Day? Pine Valley Farms is ready for you! This family owned and operated farm has been around since 1977 and truly is a homegrown operation.

Opening Day: Sat., Nov. 19

1150 Fannie Dorsey Rd.
Sykesville, MD
Online: wolfespinevalleyfarms.com

Virginia Christmas Tree Farms

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Moose Apple Christmas Tree Farm

For a day in the country, head to Moose Apple, located in the charming Shenandoah Valley (it’s just one hour west of DC). They have a variety of tree types to choose from as well as an assortment of wreaths made on the farm. The scenery is delightful and you can dream of living in the log home with wrap-around-porch and barn. Pre-tagging ends on Nov. 13.

Opening Day: Fri., Nov. 25 (regular cutting season)

2425 Wickliffe Rd.
Berryville, VA
Online: mooseapplechristmastreefarm.com

Hartland Farm

Hartland Farm offers is a no frills operation! They make fresh wreaths at the farm both decorated and bare. Bonus: They have complimentary hot chocolate on weekends. Check back for their opening date.

3205 Hartland Ln.
Markham, VA
Online: hartlandfarmandorchard.com

Clouses' Pine Hill Farm

Forty years ago, Ron and Roberta Clouse allowed some high schoolers to plant pine trees on their property for a school project. All these years later, that assignment has affectionately become the Clouse family’s Pine Hill Farm. Visit their peaceful home and choose the perfect tree for your family.

Opening Day: Fri., Nov. 25

2696 Greenspring Rd.
Winchester, VA
Online: clousespinehillfarm.com

Snickers Gap Christmas Tree Farm

With thousands of trees to choose from—including Douglas firs and Norway spruces—you'll have to just go with your gut at this farm. The farm doles out maps, saws, and rope to pull the tree back to the barn. And they graciously shake and tightly bale trees for you. Their suggestion: Bring bungee cord to secure the tree to your car. But before hitting the road with your prize, swing by the snack shack for hot dogs and complimentary cups of hot apple cider.

Opening Day: Fri., Nov. 25

34350 Williams Gap Rd.
Round Hill, VA
Online: snickersgaptrees.com

10 Super Comic Creation Apps for Kids

by Abigail MatsumotoJune 29, 2022

From Wonder Woman to Spider-Man, comic books are having a serious moment. If you’ve got a budding comic lover in your family, now they can make comics of their own right on their phone or tablet. We found 10 apps that are easy to use, interactive and perfect for personalizing your family photos or giving school projects a fun twist. Keep reading to get the scoop on the best comic book apps for kids.

Comic Strip

Turn your family photos into a fun comic strip with this easy-to-use app. There are filters to give your photos that classic comic book look, and you can add text bubbles and stickers to your creation. With a 4.5 rating on the App Store and over 1,500 reviews, this app is a winner.

Available for iPhone and iPad via App Store, free

Comic Life 3

Comic Life 3 allows you to create a full comic using its full-page templates and panel layouts. This powerful app works especially well on an iPad with a large screen; it allows you to edit all sorts of small details and add special effects. You can use photos from your library or access web photos via its Flickr integration.

Available for iPhone and iPad via App Store, $4.99

Comic Caption Meme Maker Lite

This comic book app is a little more simple, but still just as fun (and easy!) to use. The user interface takes you through each step to make professional-style comics in minutes. The fonts and word balloons were carefully chosen to look like real comic books, and there are over 1,000 decorative stickers to choose from.

Available for iPhone and iPad via App Store, free (regular version available for $3.99)

ComicBook!

This app has all the bells and whistles when it comes to creating your own personalized comic. Choose your panel layout, use your own photos, and add as many captions and dialogue stickers as your story needs. When you're through, there's an option to share via social media too.

Available for iPhone and iPad via iTunes, $2.99

Strip Designer

Both kids and adults will get a kick out of this comic book app. It's simple enough that you'll get the gist in minutes and in addition to using photos, the kids can use their own drawings, too.

Available for iPhone and iPad via iTunes, $2.99.

Superhero Comic Book Maker

We love the special interactive perks of this comic book app from Duck Duck Moose. Once kids choose the scenes and characters they want, they can record their story, moving the characters as they talk. The app records the movement and kid voiceover so you not only get a personalized comic book—it's read by the author, too!

Available for iPhone via iTunes, free.

Comic Strip

For the kid who just can't get enough of telling stories, this app has extra customizable speech balloons—and for the parent who's got Android devices, it's just right for your gear. There are all kinds of special effects, filters and panel choices too.

Available for Android via Google Play, Free

Make Beliefs Comix

Formerly available as a separate app, now you can access this comic creation program right from your web browser on your phone, tablet or computer. For all those multilingual kiddos out there, we like that this website supports the creation of comics in 13 different languages. It's also free, and simple enough for even younger users. Just pick the number of frames you want to use, choose characters and add text into speech bubbles.

Available at makebeliefscomix.com, free.

Halftone 2

This app is particularly great if your family pet is just begging to be put in a comic. In a nutshell, it lets you upload photos or drawings and then add captions, sound effects, speech bubbles and other artistic effects. It's an easy way to give your family photos a digital storytelling twist.

Available for iPhone and iPad via iTunes, $2.99.

We’ve Got the Scoop on America’s Favorite Ice Cream Flavors

by Sarah ShebekJuly 14, 2021

Nothing sounds better in the summer than a cold scoop (or two, or three) of ice cream! With National Ice Cream Day coming up on July 18, Instacart decided to research the most popular flavors in the nation. Although vanilla is a perennial favorite, Americans had quite the range of flavor preferences!

Using purchase data, Instacart determined a top flavor for each state. The results? Moose Tracks, which features fudge, peanut butter cups and vanilla ice cream, took home the most popular flavor, coming out on top in 12 states. In a tight race for second place, Rocky Road, Green Tea, Coffee and Birthday Cake finished in a four-way tie.

The four corners of the country all had their distinctive loyalties. In the Pacific Northwest, Green Tea reigned supreme. In the Southwest, Rocky Road was the overwhelming favorite. In the Northeast, Coffee dominated and in the Southeast, Rum Raisin was the winner.

The Midwest overwhelmingly preferred Moose Tracks and a few states had unique favorites. Delaware preferred Cherry, Pennsylvania screamed for Mint Chip and New Mexico bought pints on pints of Chocolate Chocolate Chip.

No matter what flavor you prefer, you’re in good company. The average American consumes more than 22 pounds of ice cream and frozen desserts each year and July 18 is the perfect excuse for a chilly treat! If you want to try your hand making it at home to celebrate the upcoming holiday, we’re here to help.

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Ross Sokolovski/Unsplash

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Recall Alert: RH Children’s Bath Wraps Due to Flammability Issues

by Erica LoopApril 7, 2021

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recently announced a recall of RH Animal, Heathered Plush and Luxe Sherpa Bath Wraps. The bath wraps were recalled for failure to meet flammability standards for children’s sleepwear.

The three types of children’s bath products are hood wraps with attached belts and patch pockets. All styles of the wraps have the product’s size and either “RH BABY&CHILD” or “baby & child RESTORATION HARDWARE” printed on the neck label.

While there are currently no injuries reported, the wraps could pose a burn risk in the event of a fire. The Animal style wraps ($35) include a bunny (ivory or petal colors), cat, dog, dragon, elephant, lion, monkey, moose or unicorn in sizes 2-3 years, 3-4 years and 4-5 years.

The recently recalled Heathered Plush Bath Wraps ($32) come in blue, gray, lilac, and pink and sizes 18-24 months, 2-3 years, 3-4 years, 4-5 years, 6-7 years and 8-10 years.

The Luxe Sherpa ($39) style also comes in the same sizes as the Heathered Plush. This product was sold in charcoal, gray, ivory, lilac, navy, and pink colors.

If you have the recalled bath wraps, stop using them immediately. Contact RH for a full refund or credit.

Consumers with questions can call RH toll-free at 833-917-3405 from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. PT Monday through Friday and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT Saturday and Sunday. You can also email the company at recall@rh.com or visit the RH website here.

—Erica Loop

Photos courtesy of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

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“Space Jam: A New Legacy” Toy Line Is a Nostalgic Slam Dunk

by Erica LoopMarch 25, 2021

Warner Bros. Pictures’ Space Jam: A New Legacy hits theaters this summer—but fans won’t have to wait to get in on the Looney Tunes fun. Moose Toys recently announced the launch of a new line of Space Jam products.

The toys will feature fave characters, such as Bugs Bunny, Lola Bunny, Marvin the Martian and Tazmanian Devil, along with figurines featuring their human co-star, LeBron James.

Ronnie Frankowski, chief marketing officer, Moose Toys shared in a press release, “To put our excitement about this partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products into basketball terms, it’s like shooting a nothing-but-net-three-point-buzzer-beater to win the game.”

Frankowski added, “Working closely with Warner Bros., every attention to detail was paid to make sure our toys bring that big screen action into the hands of the fans. Our toys deliver awesome replicas of the stars of the movie, along with fresh new ways to play. We cannot wait for fans to bring their favorite characters home.”

The new line of Space Jam: A New Legacy toys includes figures, plushes, collectibles, play sets and more. Score one (or all) of the toys in retailers across the nation, starting Apr. 18, 2021.

—Erica Loop

Photos courtesy of Moose Toys

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Stylish Holiday Outfits They’ll Want to Wear All Year Long

by Erin LemNovember 20, 2020

Flying cross-country to Grandma’s house this year may not be in the cards, but don’t let that stop you from dressing your best and getting into the holiday spirit. Carter’s is helping make that happen, no matter how or where you choose to celebrate this year. Whether you’re hosting an outdoor social distance dinner, throwing a daytime party with your pod or meeting up virtually with 30 of your favorite family members, here are 18 Carter’s holiday outfits from baby boy dress up sets to big kid girl dresses.

Check out these farms where you can cut your own tree in DC and prep for the holidays

Maryland Christmas Tree Farms

Showvaker’s Quality Evergreens

Otterdale View Christmas Tree Farm

Friendship Trees

Clemsonville Christmas Tree Farm

Wolfe's Pine Valley Farm

Virginia Christmas Tree Farms

Moose Apple Christmas Tree Farm

Hartland Farm

Clouses' Pine Hill Farm

Snickers Gap Christmas Tree Farm

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Holiday Outfits for Baby Boy: Premie to 24 Months

3-Piece Dress Me Up Set

Hooded Sherpa Jacket

Merry And Bright Christmas Bodysuit

Holiday Outfits for Baby Girl: Premie to 24 Months

Floral Corduroy Dress

2-Piece Christmas Reindeer Bodysuit Pant Set

Buffalo Check Sateen Dress

Holiday Outfits for Toddler Boy: 2T-5T

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Holiday Outfits for Toddler Girl: 2T-5T

2-Piece Heart Fleece Top & Legging Set

Floral Woven Sateen Dress

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Holiday Outfits for Big Kid Boy: 4-14

Moose Layered-Look Tee

Corduroy Pants

Half-Zip Fleece Pullover

Holiday Outfits for Big Kid Girl: 4-14

Plaid Shirt Dress

2-Piece Polka Dot Top & Legging Set

Buffalo Check Twill Dress

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