Order Your Girl Scout Cookies TODAY

My girls would LOVE to have your order!! 

• This year, the price is $4.00 per box.
• Expected delivery is in February for initial orders.
• Cookie Flavors are the same choices as last year (detailed below).
• All cookies are Kosher.

****

Lemon Chalet Cremes

Vanilla sandwhich cookie w/ hint of cinnamon-ginger spice and a refreshing zesty lemon creme filling

* I am told these are Vegan!

Trefoils

Shortbread cookies

CLICK HERE to see serving suggestions

and recipes using this classic GS cookie!

Check out the recipe for the original Trefoils

Do-Si-Dos

Oatmeal cookies w/ creamy peanut butter filling

Have You Tried Do-Si-Do Chicken, or Peanut Butter Sandwich and Jelly Pie?  Click here to see these recipes and more!

Samoas

Vanilla Cookies, covered w/ caramel, rolled in toasted coconut and striped with a rich, chocolaty coating

For Recipe Ideas Like Samoan Cheesecake and More, Click Here!

 

Dulce de leche (New 2009)

Inspired by confections of Latin America, these are bite sized cookies rich with milk caramel chips

Thank U Berry Munch: (New 2010)

Real cranberries provide a delightful tartness in these hearty cookies sweetened with creamy white fudge chips.  Yumm!

*  I am told these are Vegan.

CLICK HERE to get the recipe for a SALAD with these cookies, or trail mix or other recipe ideas. 

Tagalongs

Tasty cookies topped with creamy peanut butter and covered with a chocolaty coating.  (Vicky's favorite)

Find Scrumptious Tagalong Recipes by clicking HERE!

Thin Mints 

Thin wafer, covered in a smooth chocolaty coating,
made w/ natural peppermint.  For Thin Mint Recipe Ideas, Click Here!

==================================================

SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS

HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS

You may also purchase cookies to be donated or contribute to the troop's GIFT OF CARING
- our troop will be sending the donated cookies to soliders in Afghanistan/Iraq (if possible).  Alternatively, the cookies will be donated to our local food bank - Interfaith Relief.  Please specify if you'd like to donate to one of these causes. 

===================================================

With your help, the Girl Scouts are building the leaders of tomorrow,

 changing the world for the better.... one cookie at a time. 

Learn more about the HISTORY OF GIRL SCOUT COOKIES by clicking HERE.

In Loudoun and Dulles, contact vchrisner@verizon.net
to find out how to place your order.

Outside Loudoun, visit http://www.girlscoutcookies.org/ to find a troop near you!
*  Dietary Information for Girl Scout Cookies can be found here: http://s3.amazonaws.com/www.littlebrownie.com/downloads/NLIs_All.pdf

Keller Williams Ranks #1 in Customer Satisfaction

Keller Williams Realty takes it again:  "Highest in Overall Satisfaction for Home Buyers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms"... THREE years in a row!

Thanks, JD Power and Associates!


Thinking of buying a home?  If you'd like the right balance of competency, professionalism, integrity and personalized service, Keller Williams has an associate in your area!

Moving to the Dulles area (Northern Virginia...Fairfax/Loudoun counties)?  I'd love to help!

Vicky Chrisner

703-669-3142

VChrisner@KW.com

Search for homes for free:

http://www.vickychrisner.com/

This Weekends Events!

And so it begins... Here in Loudoun, next week is Spring Break, which means no school. 

Many people will be on vacation, others will perhaps be on a "Staycation" looking for local stuff to get into.  Still others will have extended family or friends staying with them during the week..and perhaps trying to figure out what to do with them.  Then there are the poor shleps that will be breezing to work with barely a hint of rush hour next week. 

Which one is you?

If you're staying local, and especially if you'll have visitors, you'll want to check out the Events Page of the Leesburg VA Fanpage.  There are TONS of Leesburg/Loudoun events listed...and many will be ongoing through the upcoming week.

This weekend a few seasonal highlights are:

While the fan page mostly focuses on Leesburg and Loudoun events, who can ignore DC's famous Cherry Blossom Festival, less than an hour away?

The last weekend of the Big Apple Circus!

http://livinginloco.blogspot.com/2010/03/rainy-afternoon-dulles-town-center-mall.html

Instrument Petting Zoo by Loudoun Symphony @ Rust Library

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=109684822382077&index=1

Ida Lee's Easter Egg Hunt

Marshmallow Harvest and Egg Hunt (Great Country Farms)

as well as other local egg hunts, festivals, "open plays" at kids gyms, performances, Treasure Quest at Tally Ho, and a myriad of other great events. 

It's true, we do focus on the kid friendly and family oriented events (because children require constant entertainment), but trust me, DC's Wine Country offers plenty for adults. 

How about about antiquing, meandering and window shopping in our many downtown areas?  Check out are wonderful trails and parks where you can picnic, boat, fish, hike, and explore.  This weekend wraps up Virginia's first ever Wine Week (Click here for a coupon to our own Leesburg Vintner, and find out more), and there are many local restaurants, stores, and vineyards participating in the "Love By The Glass" promotion.

Whatever you're up to, there's something for everyone.  From now on, don't miss a thing!  Become a FAN today! www.facebook.com/leesburgva

There's Something - and Some WAY - to Celebrate EVERY Day Here in LoCo

On the Leesburg, VA Facebook fan page, we have listed more than 54 "Events" in and around Leesburg and Loudoun County.  Please become a fan and check out the "Events" tab.

For today, Friday, March 19th, here are a few highlights:

The Big Apple Circus (check for discount code before you buy tix)

Pictures with the Easter Bunny @ Dulles Town Center Mall

Red Cross Blood Drive in Leesburg

Brambleton Ribbon Run for Breast Cancer

The Fearsome Pirate Frank (performance) @ Dominion Academy

In addition to those, check to see what's going on at WolfTrap, Franklin Park, LoCo Parks and Rec, Parks and Rec of the Town of Leesburg, LoCo Libraries, and the calendar kept my MomsLikeMe in the Dulles area which lists 24 other events.... just today.

Become a fan of Leesburg,VA and you won't miss a thing!

Please: In order for us to track effectiveness of this site and events calendar (which takes a great deal of manual work), please RSVP or comment if you plan to attend or have attended any of these events.

Thanks!  And remember, there's something to celebrate EVERY DAY here in LoCo!

It's Circus Time!

It's circus time!  For several years running, Lerner Enterprises has hosted "The Big Apple Circus" on grounds adjacent to Lerner's Dulles Town Center in the Dulles area.  It used to come in the late summer/early fall, but we never saw it at all in 2009.  Many of us missed it terribly, and were thrilled to hear it would be appearing in the usual place in March.  They are performing in town through March 27th, and tickets are still available.

This year's show "Bello is Back!"  My family and I went, and felt it was the best show in several years.  (We do like Bello, but the kids are partial to Grandma Clown, who, we're happy to report, is still in the show, too.) This was perhaps our favorite performance EVER.

Many people don't realize that The Big Apple Circus" is a non-profit venture.  They have several outreach programs, including community programs to reach disabled children, children in the hospital, the elderly in nursing homes, and high risk kids.  Plus, they have a reputation for treating their circus animals very good, and retiring them when it's time... not giving them to a zoo or worse.

See more photos of their show n the Leesburg, VA Facebook Fan Page (Just Click Here)

Update: 3/18:  We can now offer you a DISCOUNT ON YOUR TIX, COURTESY OF THE LEESBURG, VA FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.   Follow this link for details: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?created&&suggest¬e_id=376551783333&id=302185423061#!/notes/leesburg-va/discount-to-big-apple-circus/376551783333

And, check out the web site for The Big Apple Circus (Click Here) for more information on their schedule, ticket prices, and about their community programs.  

Go ahead and buy your tickets now.  It's a great show and the proceeds are used for a very good cause.

* * * *

For more information about events in and around Leesburg or Loudoun County, stay tuned to http://www.livinginloco.blogspot.com/ and "Fan" the Leesburg, VA Facebook page!

A Treasured and Inexpensive Gift

Looking for a nice "Thank You" gift for business or professional contacts?  Perhaps during the holidays, you "forgot" to acknowledge your postal carrier, kids' teacher or babysitter, the lady that cleans your house.... Well, here's a great (and cheap) way to say THANK YOU.

Everyone LOVES Girl Scout Cookies.  They are a part of "Americana", and treasured tradition here in the US.  Ever wonder why?

You know the saying "Little girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice".  Well, the that's only the first ingredient in Girl Scout cookies.  Then, we add entrepenurialism, individualism, morals, values, character, sunshine, and love of the earth, humanity and animals.... and you get Girl Scouts.

Girl Scout cookies represent all of this -  they put all those great things in a box and add America's favorite flavors - Chocolate, peanut butter, mint, coconut....mmmmmm! 

I can't think of a better gift you can buy for $3.50.  So, look around you... who do you need to thank? Then, place your order!  Click Here to Find Out How

If you are using these gifts as client gifts for your business, they may be tax deductible - check with your tax advisor.

* * * * *

Following our series on GS Cookies, be sure to stay tuned for more information about LIVING IN LOUDOUN COUNTY.

For information on our local real estate market, please tap into the resources at http://www.therealestatewhisperer.blogspot.com/

To search for homes for sale, check out the HOME SEARCH option at http://www.vickychrisner.com/

If you time it right, your housewarming gift maybe Girl Scout Cookies

or perhaps a recipe made with Girl Scout Cookies!

Curious what the value of your home is?

Just click here for a free market snapshot.

The History of Girl Scout Cookies

As this is the final week we're taking orders on Girl Scout Cookies in Loudoun, this is likely to be my last post on this subject - at least until next year.  But, don't miss my prior posts with descriptions of GS cookies, and interesting recipes using GS cookies.  Remember, they are distributed but once a year, and they freeze well enough to have some for the whole year.... so order a lot!!

The History Of Girl Scout Cookies

Girl Scouts started selling cookies in the 1920s as fundraisers.  Just like today's typical bake sales the girls, moms and leaders would bake assorted cookies and goods and sell them to neighborsand friends.  In an early GS magazine, THIS SHORTBREAD COOKIE RECIPE (Click Here) was distributed to all girl scouts with the suggestion that they could be made for about 26 to 36 cents for six to seven dozen, and should be sold for 25 to 30 cents per dozen.

In 1933, The Greater Philadelphia Council was the first council to do mass marketing for cookie sales, selling them in the city's gas and electric company windows for a price of 23 cents for a box of 44 cookies or $1.24 for six boxes sold in the city's gas and electric company windows.  A year later, the same council became the first to sell commercially baked cookies.  In 1935, the Girl Scout Federation of Greater New York sold commercially produced shortbread cookies in the shape of a Trefoil, and for the first time used the words "Girl Scout Cookies" on the box. 

In 1936, the national organization got involved in the cookie sales, and by 1937 more than 125 GS councils reported being involved in cookie sales... and so began the official custom.  Although some councils used commercial bakeries, at that time, many girl scout cookies were still being baked by girl scouts.  In the 1940's, however, there was a terrible shortage of sugar, flour and butter... and in order to continue the custom of annual sales, the national Girl Scouts council licensed 29 bakers to produce cookies for sales.

By 1951, there were three types of official GS cookies - the shortbread cookie (Trefoil), a sandwich cookie and a chocolate mint cookie (Thin Mints).  Today, there are far more options available and new cookies are often added, with less popular cookies being deleted from sales.  There are 2 bakers that are licensed to sell GS cookies, and the contract is renewed each year after reviewing competing proposals.  Bakers must produce the 3 official GS cookies: Trefoils, Thin Mints and Do-Si-Dos (the peanut butter sandwich, which is sold under other names by different bakers), and can not offer more than 8 choices of cookies.

In Nothern Virginia, we are selling cookies baked by Little Brownie Bakers - and you can find the choices available by clicking HERE. 

Again, I remind you - this is the last week to pre-order your cookies for home delivery!  If you're in Loudoun or the Dulles Area, my girls would LOVE to have your order.  Please email me directly vchrisner@kw.com for more information on placing an order!

Recipe for the first Trefoil Cookies

Juliette Gordan Low established the Girl Scouts in 1912.  By 1917 cookie sales were being used as a fundraiser for troop activities. In July 1922, American Girl magazine, published by Girl Scout national headquarters, included the following recipe for shortbread cookies, suggesting to the girls that they could produce these cookies for 26 to 36 cents for 6 to 7 dozen cookies and to sell the cookies for 25 to 30 cents per dozen as a fundraising activity.  The recipe was supplied by Florence E Neil, a council director in Chicago.

The "First" Girl Scout Cookies: 

Trefoils

1c butter
1c sugar (plus additional for optional topping)
2   eggs
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 c flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder

Cream the butter and cup of sugar, add well-beaten eggs, then milk, vanilla, flour, salt and baking powder.  Refrigerate for at least an hour. Roll dough, cut into trefoil shapes, and spring suger on top if desired.  Bake in a quick oven (375 degrees) for approximately 8 to 10 minutes or until edges begin to brown.  Makes 6 to 7 dozen cookies.

I laugh when I read this, and wonder what a "quick" oven is - I am pretty sure it's not a microwave - it must be time for a call to my grandma. 

If you are "Jonsing" and need a quick GS cookie fix, this might do it, so try out the recipe.  But the true fix for craving GS cookies - especially our more modern Samoas, Thin Mints, and Tagalongs - is to order some of your very own through your local Girl Scouts. 

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW TO PLACE AN ORDER FOR GIRL SCOUT COOKIES! 

And, do it fast!  This is the last week we're taking orders.

Check out earlier posts in this blog, too, to find recipes using GS cookies - like Do-Si-Do chicken, Thank You Berry Munch Salad, and Peanut Butter and Jam Pie!

 

Frostival!

Okay, well, it is technically in Fairfax County, just barely over the county line from Loudoun, BUT.... we had a great time anyway!  And, there's one day left, so hurry on out to check out FROSTIVAL, the newest winter festival sponsored by Celebrate Fairfax and MomsLikeMe.com.

FROSTIVAL is a kids festival being held at the Dulles Exp Center (just of Rt 28 in Chantilly) - NOTE: ALL EVENTS ARE INSIDE; and this year it's  running January 1st through the 3rd. 

Included with the cost of admission are several carnival style amusement rides, various inflatables - like moon bounces and such, arts and crafts, and live entertainment.  There are a few craft stations where you may have to pay $1 for the supplies, but several are free.  There are also trade booths and many of the vendors have giveways, games and prizes.

We went today and had a very good time; and my children came home with several treasures.

Admission is $12 for children, $5 for adults.  Get more details here: www.Frostival.com and hurry, because, like Frosty the Snowman, Frostival is only here for a short time before it has to disappear.

Now a veteran, let me offer you one tip: 

The food is expensive and burnt and the line is soooooo long. 
Eat before you go.

 * * * * *

Stay tuned to LivingInLoCo.blogspot.com

for more information on our community events and news

of interest to families living in and around Loudoun County.

"LoCo" and the Dulles Area are great places to live!  Thinking of moving in or moving up?

Search for homes for sale, check out the HOME SEARCH option at

http://www.vickychrisner.com/

For information on our local real estate market, please tap into the resources at http://www.therealestatewhisperer.blogspot.com/

Curious what the value of your home is?

Just click here for a free market snapshot.

Thank U Berry Munch! (Salad with COOKIES!)

Our Newest Girl Scout Cookie, THANK U BERRY MUNCH, is scrumptious.  It is a light cookie, with cranberries. 

When I tasted it, I imagined a hot summer day that I'd been playing outside with the kids, getting parched and my blood sugar running low.... and being treated to this cookie!  It would be delightful to have coupled with some rasberry tea, lemonade or a mix of gingerale and cranberry juice (a favorite "spritzer" of mine)... ahhh.... simply refreshing. 

It bet it would also be fantastic with a hot fruit flavored tea and a touch of honey on a chilly spring or fall day.

With it being new this year, I've not had time to really experiment or day dream about experimenting with recipes with this cookie... but some bakers have.  They have some great ideas!!!  And, if we use them we can have cookies in our salad.  I love this diet plan!  It's one even I might be able to stick to in 2010.

Try out some....

Berry Munch Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

For the kiddos, maybe

Thank U Berry Munch Granola

Or maybe some

Thank U Berry Munch Bread Pudding

I also suspect you could crush it up and make it into a pie crust which would be wonderful with a cheesecake filling or vanilla pudding filling with cranberries mixed in.

These are really interesting recipes, admit it.  You know you need a box, even if it is just to try out these recipes.  So, just click here to find out how to order Girl Scout Cookies in Loudoun/Dulles or elsewhere!

And, stay tuned to http://www.livinginloco.blogspot.com/.  I have a few more recipes I will be posting soon!

Changing The World, One Cookie At A Time!

The Loudoun Chapters of the Girl Scouts are kicking off their cookie sale

December 18th (Friday). 

My girls would LOVE to have your order!!  They are $3.50 a box.

****

This year's choices are:

(ALL GS cookies are Kosher)

Lemon Chalet Cremes

Vanilla sandwhich cookie w/ hint of cinnamon-ginger spice and a refreshing zesty lemon creme filling
* I am told these are Vegan!

Trefoils

Shortbread cookies

CLICK HERE to see serving suggestions

and recipes using this classic GS cookie!
Check out the recipe for the original Trefoils

Do-Si-Dos

Oatmeal cookies w/ creamy peanut butter filling

Have You Tried Do-Si-Do Chicken, or Peanut Butter Sandwich & Jelly Pie?  Click here to see these recipes and more!

Samoas

Vanilla Cookies, covered w/ caramel, rolled in toasted coconut and striped with a rich, chocolaty coating

For Recipe Ideas Like Samoan Cheesecake and More, Click Here!

Dulce de leche (New 2009)

Inspired by confections of Latin America, these are bite sized cookies rich with milk caramel chips

Thank U Berry Munch: (New 2010)

Real cranberries provide a delightly tarness in these hearty cookies sweetened with creamy white fudge chips.  Yumm!

*  I am told these are Vegan.
CLICK HERE to get the recipe for a SALAD with these cookies, or trail mix or other recipe ideas. 

Tagalongs

Tasty cookies topped with creamy peanut butter and covered with a chocolaty coating.  (Vicky's favorite)

Find Scrumptious Tagalong Recipes by clicking HERE!

Thin Mints 

Thin wafer, covered in a smooth chocolaty coating,
made w/ natural peppermint.  For Thin Mint Recipe Ideas, Click Here!

==================================================

SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS

 & HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS

You may also purchase cookies to be donated or contribute to the troop's GIFT OF CARING
- our troop will be sending the donated cookies to Afghanistan/Iraq (if possible).  Alternatively, the cookies will be donated to our local food bank - Interfaith Relief.  Please specify if you'd like to donate to one of these causes. 

===================================================

With your help, the Girl Scouts are building the leaders of tomorrow,

 changing the world for the better.... one cookie at a time. 

Learn more about the HISTORY OF GIRL SCOUT COOKIES by clicking HERE.

In Loudoun and Dulles, contact vchrisner@verizon.net
to find out how to place your order.

Outside Loudoun, visit http://www.girlscoutcookies.org/ to find a troop near you!
*  Dietary Information for Girl Scout Cookies can be found here: http://s3.amazonaws.com/www.littlebrownie.com/downloads/NLIs_All.pdf

A Cheap Play Date At Sports Bounce

I am always on the lookout for new places to try and things to do with my kids.  With the economy being what it is, however, we have to watch our entertainment budget.... you may have noticed this theme with my earlier posts.
On Facebook, I've become a "fan" of "Moms Like Me - things to with your children in the greater Dulles area" (note the missing word "do" is not a typo here).  They give out lots of ideas, although not all are cheap options.  However, they pass on the deals when they're found, and you can, too. 

There, I learned about a special promotion at Sports Bounce of Loudoun.  You know the kind of place (like Pump It Up or Jumping Jacks), its an indoor, "inflatibles" playground, filled with moon-bouncy kinds of things.   They offer classes/playgroups, open play times, special events and host birthday and other parties.

Usually, these places are rather expensive.  But, this particular day they were offering a PJ Party midday for little ones for only $5; so I took my son.

It was a surprise.  I picked him up unexpectedly at preschool and we went. He had a blast!  There, you'll find moon bounces of different shapes and sizes, many with mazes and slides of different sizes.  They also had 2 playrooms that featured toys for playing ball, building, twirling, and all sorts of activities.  They truly had something for everyone.  My son loved it, and is begging to go back.

To learn more about Sports Bounce of Loudoun, click on this link to go to their site. 

To learn about other budget sensitive kids/family activities in and around Loudoun, stay tuned to this blog and check out our previous posts on these topics:

 - Where kids eat free in Loudoun

 - Go to the movies (for less)

 - Rust Nature Sanctuary

 - The Girl Scout Leader Experience

 - Shows at Ida Lee

Again, here at LivingInLoCo.blogspot.com we share with you highlights about the quality of living, based on my family's personal experience.  We hope you enjoy learning about the area.  If there are topics you'd like to see discussed or highlighted, please email me at vchrisner@kw.com.  I'd like to be your source of information for living in Loudoun! 

For real estate information, visit my real estate blog: http://www.therealestatewhisperer.blogspot.com/ or Search for Homes or Find the Value of your Home at http://www.vickychrisner.com/