5 дек. 2016 г.

Плюсы США. Что мне нравится в Америке.

5 июл. 2016 г.

We love Mini Boden. Kate&Vika try on dresses from the summer collection 2016.

I found a brand Mini Boden quite accidentally. Whether advertising has prompted me to go to the website of the British company, or one of her friends, I do not remember exactly. But I remember only one thing that I immediately fell in love with this brand of clothing.

Brand sewing stunning outfits for children up to 12 years. They are great. Particularly clothing for girls. There is no banal pink, there are no cells and strips, or the terrible flowers, as in Hannah Anderson. There is a great application of fabrics, selection of colors and natural fabrics.
The brand also sews clothes for men and women, adolescents, but it is not impressive, but the kids clothes ...

Look at this applique fabric on these colors, this look just great.
In these shoes, my daughter just fell in love at first sight. Mini Boden makes shoes of any model is only from leather. Basically it is to dress shoes, boots for autumn weather, but there is even a winter boots for walking on snow.
Every detail thought through of any suit. Now you can pick up a full set of the site, including the top, bottom and shoes.
We especially like Mini Boden's dresses. In America, not many firms sew beautiful dresses for girls made from natural fabrics. Dresses are not popular in the country, children are not in them every day. But my daughters love dresses, just like their mother.
We love Mini Boden and we recommend their products everybody! You can order their product online from website  http://www.bodenusa.com/en-us/mini-boden-clothing.html
especially now, when sales time is coming. But sometimes they have discount on all products 20% off, which you can find online https://www.retailmenot.com/view/bodenusa.com. You can return some product which is not fit well during three month without any questions. What is great!
Mini Boden also has a big sale twice a year. It's July and January when you can buy something 50% off regular price.


14 февр. 2016 г.

День Святого Валентина для детей в США. Valentine's Day for kids in the US.

День Святого Валентина является еще одним поводом, чтобы взрослые во все мире тратили свои денюжки. Торговые центры изобилуют розовыми и красными сердцами, предложениями купить ювелирные изделия, шоколад, пижамы красного цвета для своих любимых. Вокруг пестрят тысячи предложений о покупках. ТЦ не могут справится с количеством приезжающих, паркинги переполнены, за легендарным "Starbucks" стоит километровая очередь, как в мавзолей. И по какому поводу? 
Согласно Золотой легенде, в далекие и тёмные времена, властный и жестокий римский император Клавдий II пришёл к мысли, что одинокий мужчина, не обременённый женой и семьёй, лучше будет сражаться на поле битвы во славу кесаря, и запретил мужчинам жениться, а женщинам и девушкам — выходить замуж за любимых мужчин. А святой Валентин был обычным полевым врачом и священником, который сочувствовал несчастным влюблённым и тайком от всех, под покровом ночи освящал брак любящих мужчин и женщин. Вскоре деятельность святого Валентина стала известна властям, и его посадили в темницу, приговорив к смертной казни. В заключении святой Валентин познакомился с прекрасной дочерью надзирателя — Юлией. Влюблённый священник перед смертью написал любимой девушке признание в любви — валентинку, где рассказал о своей любви, и подписал его «Твой Валентин». Прочитано оно было уже после того, как его казнили, а сама казнь произошла 14 февраля 269 года. Через двести лет Валентина провозгласили Святым, покровителем всех влюбленных. Всемирный праздник признаний в любви теперь отмечается повсеместно. А в память о письме, написанном Валентином своей возлюбленной, 14 февраля влюбленные дарят друг другу поздравительные открытки — валентинки.
Поэтому, отмечающие этот праздник, дарят любимым и дорогим людям цветы, конфеты, игрушки, воздушные шарики и особые открытки (часто в форме сердечка), со стихами, любовными признаниями или пожеланиями любви — валентинки.
А как отмечают этот праздник дети в США
Дети обожают этот праздник, так как одной из обязательных традиций в этот праздник являются конфеты (карамель, шоколад, леденцы) в форме сердечек. Детскую часть дома традиционно наряжают декорациями красно-белого цвета http://www.potterybarnkids.com/shop/vday/?cm_type=gnav
Сотни безделушек для детей и родителей предлагают магазины, предлагающие атрибутику для праздников. В один из таких, мы зашли с Викторией, чтобы купить Валентинки для вечеринки в детском саду.
Празднование этого светского праздника проходит в США как в детских садах, так и в школах. Ему не придают политического значения, тем более религиозного, этот день является поводом для того, чтобы выразить свою любовь к близким людям  и подарить мелкие подарочки-сувениры.
В детском саду традиционным началом праздника считается завтрак. Виктории преподнесли розового цвета молоко и розовый пряник. Затем прочитали очередную историю из книжки, во время которой каждый ребенок мог разложить свои Валентинки в подарочные пакетики своих сверстников. В конце небольшого праздника детям дали возможность потанцевать.  
Подарком для родителей стала возможность сделать общую фотографию всех детей в группе.
У Екатерина вечеринка прошла более шумно и сумбурно. Несмотря на помощь родителей, учительница не справлялась с чувствами детей, переполняющие их. Никто из детей не помнил, что он находится в школе, а не на детской площадке. Все орали, визжали и без перерыва болтали между собой. 
Особенно активно проявили себя дети из пятого класса.
После школы праздник продолжился дома, где дети показали свои подарки и Валентинки. Не обошлось и без сюрприза, приготовленного для них родителями.
Катя и Вика были в восторге от этого праздника! 
День святого Валентина, несмотря на свою неофициальность, является одним из любимейших праздников не только у взрослых, но и у детей, прежде всего, именно потому, что в современном мире слишком мало говорят о любви. Но один день в году говорят только о ней, и это прекрасно.Поздравляем Всех с получением своей Валентинки! Пусть каждый день для каждого будет наполнен любовью!



Подробнее:http://www.wild-mistress.ru/wm/wm.nsf/publicall/2008-01-15-635544.html








14 янв. 2016 г.

How we celebrate Christmas in the USA. Colonial Williamsburg, The Revolutionary city, VA.

Where: Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA.
When: The Revolutionary City is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year. .
Admission: starting from 41$/ person (the admission varies during the year), children up 6 are free, parking is free.

This was our first visit to The Revolutionary City and despite the fact that we were born in another country, we almost loved it. Unfortunately, we only had a one day pass which is not enough to see everything. We decided to purchase a discounted Christmas Bounce Ticket assuming some nights would be busier than others as Christmas Day approached and because we have small children which sometimes limits how long we can stay.
This package include:
- Three (3) consecutive days’ admission for Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens Christmas Town;
- Valid November 27, 2015 through January 3, 2016. Park open from 2 p.m.;
- Complimentary shuttle service around the Historic Area;
- Free parking included at Busch Gardens Williamsburg;
- Interpreter-led tours of Colonial Williamsburg’s Governor’s Palace and the Capitol Building;
- Admission to the two Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg.
We wanted to see Bush Gardens too, so it was great deal for us. If you have two kids before 6 years (like we are), you have to by just two tickets for 59$ each. We saved 118$ (Bush Gardens 35*4 for admissions+14$ for parking; 41$*2 for Williamsburg).
Tickets can be purchased online and redeemed only at the Colonial Williamsburg Regional Visitor Center, which is where your Williamsburg experience begins.

I don't know how many people are normally there during December, but this weekend (december 12-13) 
the weather was in the 70's so there were lots of people enjoying learning about the start to U.S. nation. Colonial Williamsburg is a fantastic place for families, couples, friends, or just a solo venture. It has something to appeal to everyone! The staff are all knowledgeable and dedicated to their jobs and you can tell they sincerely love it there as well.
As Russian, we did not know that much about early American history; our time at Colonial Williamsburg surely filled many of the gaps in our knowledge and experience. The many enthusiastic, knowledgeable and very friendly costumed interpreters bring the site to life. 
Without exception all were eager to explain what they were doing and how it related to colonial life. As the site is open year round, the interpreters can make Williamsburg a life time career and many, indeed, have done just that. 
Colonial Williamsburg is a very unique city. What makes this city so unique is that it has been restored as nearly as possible to its 18th century appearance. It is truly remarkable. Everywhere you walk you see people in period clothes and carrying period accessories. It is so fun.  Each day they have a paper that tells the town what day it is and what historical events happened that day in the 18th century. 
The “townspeople” then act out that day as if it were actually the 18th century. These costumed interpreters act as tradespeople, housewives, slaves, freeman, government officials, and soldiers.

There is so much to see and do that you could spend a week there and not be bored. But just in case, they have more than 20 guided and self-guided tours offered daily. You can even enter the homes of Williamsburg’s 18th-century residents, get a firsthand perspective from a curator, or see the city by carriage (15$/person/15 min ride). Here are some of the more popular tours: Orientation Walk – This 30 minute walk gives you a glimpse at a town on the edge of Revolution and war and learn of the many ways to engage with your fellow citizens—their interpreters. Discover how you would have traveled to the capital city–and why you might have come. What would you wear? What world, colonial, and local events are the talk about town? How 
should you greet the residents and what courtesies should you show them?
Tour the Revolutionary City - you explore the government buildings, shops, homes, gardens, and taverns of Williamsburg. Encounter townspeople on their own soil as they live through a time of change and uncertainty. Buzzing with political discussion and dispute, the city comes alive. Enter the residents’ homes or learn about their workplaces; see where they sleep, where they eat, and where they socialize.
Carriage rides. If you are tired of all the walking, you can see the city sights by horse-drawn carriage. Surround yourself with the sights and sounds of this unique city, far removed from the bustle of modern-day streets. Looks like fun.

Here You mostly (only?) get to see how people lived back then. How the court was conducted, how the jail looked like, how the governors of that era lived. 

James Graig Jeweller's silversmiths have been hard at work hammering, sculpting, and plying brass, pewter, and sterling silver to give you fashionable one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry.
In the Printing Office you can see how was first printed Thomas Jefferson's "Ideas on American Freedom" on Clementina Rind's hand-pulled press. In The Revolutionary City today, the Printing Office, Post Office, and Bookbindery are located in one area where press trades are interpreted and authentic reproduction items from Parks' reconstructed shop are offered for sale.
There are many different historical buildings in the Colonial area. Note that different buildings are open for tours on different days. Some of the best are the palace, the Randolph house, Basset Hall, the Church, and the Capital. Guides are dressed in period costumes and are very knowledgable.The associated art museums have terrific collections (although the display on the mental hospital may be a bit too intense for some) - especially good displays on antique furniture. Note that you can actually walk through the historical area without buying a ticket, but cannot tour any buildings or attend events requiring a ticket. You can, however, go into the buildings with shops and buy merchandise. 
The Capitol at Williamsburg, Virginia housed the House of Burgesses of the Colony of Virginia from 1705, when the capital was relocated there from Jamestown, until 1779, when the capital was relocated to Richmond. Two capitol buildings served the colony on the same site: the first from 1705 until its destruction by fire in 1747; the second from 1753 to 1779.
The earlier capitol was reconstructed in the early 1930s as part of the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg.
Every day, visitors of all ages tour the Capitol to learn about government in colonial Virginia and the colony's contribution to the American Revolution. Evening programs feature both the political events that occurred in the building during the 18th century and the social events held there. Once a year, a naturalization ceremony is held at the Capitol, during which a new group of immigrants becomes Americans, continuing a process begun in the building nearly 300 years earlier.

The Governor’s Palace was built in 1705 and became the home for Alexander Spotswood, Hugh Drysdale, William Gooch, Robert Dinwiddie, Francis Fauquier, Norborne Berkeley, Baron de Botetourt, John Murray, fourth Earl of Dunmore, Patrick Henry,Thomas Jefferson. Each governor made improvements and repairs, but after Gooch left in 1749, the colony's Council concluded the building was in "ruinous condition" and ordered renovations. General Charles Lee of the Continental army made the Palace his headquarters until it became a hospital. Furniture were later sold at public auction.
Then Virginia's government ordered the structure renovated for Governor Patrick Henry. The government, however, moved the next year to Richmond, and nothing came of the plans. The Palace served again as a hospital in the fall of 1781, this time for American soldiers wounded in the Battle of Yorktown. On December 22, 1781, a fire that may have begun in the basement destroyed the building. 
 The artifacts, Jefferson's drawings, General Assembly records, and a copperplate engraving discovered in England's Bodleian Library in 1929 were employed in faithful reconstruction of the original buildings. They opened as an exhibition on April 23, 1934.

Colonial Williamsburg is a wonderful site to visit. The admission price includes admission to many of the buildings, but for free you can Andre all day among the historical buildings, some original and some reconstructed or significantly restored. One of the nice things about this historic destination is that you can stroll the streets without purchasing a ticket. Nice Visitors Center, helpful and well organized; Excellent shuttle service and everyone was friendly. If you ever can, or have the chance, don't pass it up. Parking is free and available at the Visitor Center (take a shuttle from there) or in the parking lots and garage in the adjacent downtown area. 

 You can walk around the area and go into all the shops and restaurants at no cost (well, other than the cost of food/stuff), but to go into the homes and see folks at work in their shops, you do have to pay admission. On top of that, there are many things that required additional tickets. I'd gladly have paid twice the cost of admission to instead have a good in depth tour of the town.

Still, you should visit. Especially with children as there are plenty of activities for them to participate in - you can even rent costumes there and be part of the history!
BUT,
First
, Take your lunch with you. There was a 1+ hour wait at the restaurants for lunch. The food is excessively pricey ($30+ for an entrée, $10+ for appetizers like soup) and the kids menu does not include standard fare such as pizza or nuggets and fries. We finally grabbed sandwiches at the Bakery behind Raleigh's Tavern - the only place that seemed to have anything that you could grab-and-go......but the only sandwiches left were PB&J, and ham sandwiches....they were out of turkey, the veggies, wraps, etc. They did have a huge selection of cookies (chocolate-chip, gingerbread, brownies, ........) if that is what you want to eat for lunch.

Second, The Governor's Palace (not really a palace but the "common people" called it that sarcastically) that is not an original building BUT has been painstakingly reconstructed on the original foundation using the original plans.

Thirdly, It isn't for little kids; wasn't meant to be and shouldn't be. From the Museum, to the walking tours, to the Palace, Capitol, and Court House the presentations are based on some knowledge of history. Kids might enjoy seeing the horses and the people in interesting 18th century costumes.



Fourthly, Weekends can be very crowded, especially with special events (like the Grand Illumination), and parking can then be difficult. Perhaps the biggest disappointment is finding out that ticketed events (like the holiday high teas) listed in the daily schedule had actually been sold out weeks in advance (so why were they still in the schedule ???).

Fifthly, Merchandise in the stores is rather overpriced (shop elsewhere in Williamsburg).

Sixthly, The various horse carriages also leave a lot of horse poop on the streets, so be especially careful walking around after dark or with kids.

Seventh, Williamsburg is not for anyone with mobility issues. Even given the bus shuttle, with 8 stops around the edges of the "Revolutionary City," you can expect to walk several blocks to some of the sites that each stop is meant to access. Most buildings are not accessible by wheelchair, and flights of stairs are a feature of almost every venue.

Eight, everything seems to be about selling you stuff -- craft shops are no longer about learning how they did stuff back then - now it is about how can we sell you something - the bakery no longer shows you how they bake stuff, it's a food shop -- the apothecary is closed, it is now a soda pop shop -- every other building is a store that sells stuff.

Ninth, We were a bit disappointed at the number of the sites which were not open on the day we visited or only open for a short time on the day given we had visited at the weekend.

We didn't get to see everything it will definitely be worth a trip to come back since this is a type of trip that one can expect to learn something at each subsequent visit. We would certainly visit again and would not hesitate to recommend Colonial Williamsburg to anyone of any age - especially for U.S. citizens interested in history.