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What a year it has been for Certifikid!  As we get ready for 2011, I wanted to reminisce about some of my favorite and most unforgettable Certifikid moments of 2010.

Filed under Just For Fun

For many years, I had heard others rave about MusiKids, but I wasn't sure what could make a music place so special. When we first started and I walked in the door, I was expecting all of these bells and whistles. However, there were none and the class was in a simple room.

Filed under About Our Deals - What We Say

Have you ever had a shopping experience that left you on a high all day? Today was one of those for me. I decided to buy the Wiggle Room Certifikid deal today (you'd be surprised how many Certifikid deals I buy!) and go check the store out after many of you emailed me expressing excitement about the deal. I was also curious to see their new digs since they had just moved locations. To sum it up: It was total LOVE at first sight!

Filed under About Our Deals - What We Say

So Brian and I took our first "vacation" in a very long time to Playa del Carmen for a family wedding. I was extremely apprehensive to leave the kids as well as my other baby - Certifikid. For the first time in my life, I did not really WANT to go on a vacation as shocking as it sounds. It's all just so stressful to worry about preparing to leave the kids and to make sure I had my bases covered with Certifikid while in Mexico. Plus, when it comes down to it, I actually treasure every minute I'm with my kids and the time I'm working on Certifikid and I hate to give up that time.

Filed under Just For Fun

Like many of you, I jumped on the Certifikid deal for the new My Gym Bethesda location. What is better than a close, CLEAN, new gym where the kids can run around in the bad weather. Here are the reasons why I am so happy with this score of a deal:

Filed under About Our Deals - What We Say

Greetings Certifikid Members!  Welcome to the new Certifikid blog - part of our exciting website revamp.  As many of you know, what preceded Certifikid was a daily blog that I wrote for a loyal following for several years on deals and finds in the Greater Washington area.  Between launching Certifikid and chasing my 1 and 3 year old kids, I simply didn't have the time to keep blogging.  Though I have been missing it terribly and now that Certifikid has been running strong, I wanted to bring this passion and excitement back while personalizing the Certifikid experience even more.  This blog will give you an insider's look at the Certifikid team, our deals, our businesses, our subscribers, and what's happening locally. I am jumping at the bit to start blogging and sharing and it starts now!

I want to start by thanking you - the thousands and thousands of parents and families that have been loyal followers and members - and the scores of businesses who took a leap of faith with us and have featured fantastic deals on our site for the benefit of our members.  It is you who have made Certifikid a success and drive us to reach further. 

I have to thank my amazing family for all their support and efforts, from my husband (and partner in this endeavor) who surprisingly believed in this dream and got behind it from day one (making us one of, if not the first, family focused daily deal site) (trust me - I've had about 100 business ideas he did not get behind!), to my father who works tirelessly as our CFO, to my mom who works the school circuit, to my sister who Facebooks about my deals to the world, to my brother-in-law who helps with the tech stuff, and to my mother-in-law who is our deal editor.  I also want to send a shout out to our outstanding and growing group of Certifikid team members (from those who focus on deals to legal to PR to social media to IT) and partners who believed in us and whose ongoing contributions have been invaluable - you know who you are! 

We have had a blast exploring and featuring all that local families want and need in the Greater Washington area and I can't wait to share even more ideas and insights through this blog.  So please follow us through the Certifikid blog as we head past the beltway to Baltimore and beyond! 

All the best,

Jamie

p.s. And you'll be happy to know that I promised my husband I would use spell check on my blog entries!