Las Vegas UK Mums

Happy Birthday, Sir Henry Royce!

2010-03-27T10:10:00.000-07:00

Today is the birthday of Sir Henry Royce, car designer and manufacturer who co-founded, with C.S.Rolls the Rolls-Royce motor company. Henry was born in 1863 in Alwalton, Huntingdonshire where his family ran a flour mill. In 1884 Henry began an electric fittings company, and began making cars in 1901. In 1904 Henry began his partnership with Charles Rolls, and the first Rolls-Royce was made.

Celebrate Henry's birthday today with some car-themed crafts! Older children can make cereal box cars or model cars. Younger kids can do some colouring pages
or make a car puppet.

Image credit: (AutoBlog)

Las Vegas UK Mums March Family Outing - Spring Brit Picnic

2010-03-23T09:49:00.000-07:00

Spring is here, let's get together for a Brit Spring Picnic! Sunday, March 28th will be 77* in lovely Las Vegas, so find the footie, bring some boiled eggs and parcels, get the kiddies in the car and you're off!

Events are open to members and potentital members of LVUK Mums. For event location or additional information, contact me at the address on the right side of the screen.

Image credit: (The Guardian)

English Football League Formed 1888

2010-03-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

England has a long history with football. Kings from Edward II, Edward III, Henry IV, Edward IV, Henry VII and Henry VIII passed proclamations banning football, as it was believed that young men should spend their time preparing for battle rather than playing games. Over time, as football continued to grow in popularity, teams became more and more professional. The first of these, the English Football League, was formed by Aston Villa's director William McGregor today in 1888. The season started a few months later with 12 clubs - six from Lancashire (Preston North End, Accrington, Blackburn Rovers, Burnley, Bolton Wanderers and Everton) and six from the Midlands (Aston Villa, Derby County, Notts County, Stoke, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers). The first winner of the league title was Preston. Some of the beginning rules were the same as today, each team played the other in two matches, one at home and one away.

Celebrate football in your house today - you can enjoy the great Spring weather we are having and kick around the ball. If you feel like staying inside, try a few crafts such as this football pillow, Franky Football buddy, or a frisbee football. Bigger kids can do a football crossword puzzle or word search. Finish it off with some football cookies!

Image credit: (Spartacus Educational)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

Nearly 12% of Americans report being of Irish descent, but all Americans will be celebrating today! St Patrick's Day is arguably the most-celebrated tradition from across the pond in the United States. St Patrick was a Roman Britain who was kidnapped by Irish raiders and transported to Ireland as a slave. After his escape, he became a priest and was determined to convert the Irish to Christianity. The symbolic 3-leaved clover was believed to have been used by St Patrick to teach the Irish about the Holy Trinity.

Celebrate St Patrick's Day today by making a paper plate shamrock, pot of gold or handprint rainbow. Older children can practice some Irish slang or do a word search. Finish the day by making some Irish soda bread, corned beef and cabbage and oatmeal cookies!

Image credit: (Sarah Snodgrass)

Happy Mothering Sunday!

2010-03-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

The tradition of Mothering Sunday is believed to have begun in the 16th century, when people would visit their mother church, which meant that most mothers would see their children on this day. Historians also believe that servants were given the day off, so that they could visit with their mothers. As Europe became more secularized, the holiday became more associated with appreciating mothers than visiting the Mother Church. Children would pick wild flowers along the way to give them to the church or their mothers.

Many traditional cakes are eaten for Mothering Sunday. Modern celebrations include the Simnel cake or Mothering Sunday Buns with raisins and butter icing. I can't find a recipe for these, so if you have one, please post in comments below! In Northern England and Scotland, carlings are eaten.

Make mum feel special today with a coffee filter paper bouquet or younger children can make a handprint heart. A personally decorated card and breakfast in bed will make her feel special too!

Image credit: (BTInternet)

Planet Uranus Discovered: 1781

2010-03-13T08:45:00.000-08:00

While standing in his backyard in Bath, German born Frederick William Herschel discovered an object in the sky which he believed at first was a star or a comet. As Herschel continued to observe and make calculations, he determined the object had a circular orbit and called his discovery the 'Georgian Star', after King George III. Eventually the planet was known as Uranus. In 1782, he was appointed as the King's Astronomer and moved to Datchet. In addition to his work as an astronomer, Herschel was a musician and composer.

Celebrate the heavens today by making an origami star or do some space coloring. Older children can make a solar system hanging mobile and read some facts about all of the planets.

Image credit: (Bryn Mawr)

Penny Loaf Day

2010-03-11T07:45:00.000-08:00

Today is Penny Loaf Day. This holiday originated in the 17th century in Newark, Nottingham, when a man named Hercules Clay dreamt for three nights in a row that his house would burn down. He moved his family out on March 11th and shortly thereafter, his house was burned down during the English Civil War. To give thanks for his unbelievable luck, he created a fund of £100 to buy Penny Loaves of bread, boots and shoes for the poor each year on the 11th of March. To get the bread, the poor had to listen to a sermon first. Although the funds are gone to give bread today, the sermon is still delivered in Newark.

To celebrate, watch a video on making bread and then try some of these family-friendly bread recipes . In the spirit of the day, make an extra loaf of bread and donate it to a local shelter. Older children can make bread dough beads and talk about how grains keep us healthy, while younger children can play with bread themed items in a sensory table or tub, such as oats, corn, barley, measuring cups, funnels and spoons or play Bread Basket Upset.

Image Credit: (Moonimama's Memoirs)

Happy Birthday, Kenneth Grahame!

2010-03-08T18:02:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday, Kenneth Grahame! Grahame is the Scottish author of the much loved children's book The Wind in the Willows. The story of Mole, the Water Rat, Badger and Mr. Toad is believed to have originated in bedtime stories that Grahame told his son. The story tells of the adventures of the wandering friends with underlying references to kindness, patience, hard work and loyalty. Although hard to believe, the book was panned by adults and children alike when published. Luckily, Grahame sent a copy of the book to US president Teddy Roosevelt, who loved it. Sales increased soon after!

Go to the library or you can read the story online. Older kids can do a worksheet or make some wildlife crafts and younger ones can make a toad mask or do some coloring to celebrate Grahame's birthday today!

Image credit: (Telegraph)

LVUK Mums is on Facebook!

2010-03-06T10:06:00.000-08:00

LVUK Mums is on Facebook! Become a fan to learn about UK traditions in the USA, join in the discussion boards, and provide reviews of Las Vegas UK businesses and events!

Was Shakespeare a Catholic? The Historical Sources Revisited

2010-03-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

Join Thomas McCoog, Archivist, British Province of the Society of Jesus in London as he presents his lecture "Was Shakespeare a Catholic? The Historical Sources Revisted" at UNLV. McCoog presents evidence in this free lecture.

One of the most controversial areas of recent Shakespeare scholarship concerns his religion: was he a Catholic? Shakespeare lived during an age, the end of the sixteenth century, when to be a Catholic involved persecution, fines, imprisonment, and sometimes execution. His possible Catholicism has been advanced as one of the principal reasons that we know so little about his personal life. There is considerable evidence of the activities of the Jesuits around Stratford-upon-Avon and also of other Catholic influences upon his life, but does the evidence warrant a claim that Shakespeare was a Catholic?

The lecture is co-sponsored by the UNLV Department of English. The event is Wednesday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m in the Marjorie Barrick Museum Auditorium on the campus of UNLV.

Image Credit: (Occidental College)

Happy St. Piran's Day!

2010-03-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

Happy St. Piran's Day, the National Day of Cornwall! St. Piran's Day has been observed since the late 19th/early 20th century as a way for people to celebrate Cornwall, similar to other national celebrations. Saint Piran is the patron saint of tin-miners and was a 6th century abbot and said, believed to be of Irish descent. He is credited with re-discovering tin-smelting when his tin rose out of his black hearthstone and settled on the surface in the form of a white cross, creating the image used today in St. Piran's Flag. The Cornish celebrate the day by marching across the Penhale sand dunes to St. Piran's cross, carrying daffodils to be placed at the cross.

Many Cornish immigrants came to the United States looking for mining work in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some of these settled areas still celebrate St. Piran's Day, such as in Southwest Wisconsin and Grass Valley, California.

The Cornish also settled in Nevada, not surprising due to our mining industries. To celebrate St. Piran's Day in Las Vegas, big kids can try speaking Cornish, completing a mining word search or make a castle. Younger kids can listen to Jack and the Beanstalk, which is set in Cornwall, or try their hand at colouring pages. Make some Cornish pasties or crab soup, and have some puddings or pastries for desert.

Image credits: (BBC, Wikipedia)

Celebrating St. David's Day!

2010-03-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

The Welsh have honored March 1st as St. David's Day since the 18th century. Dewi Sant, St. David, was a Celtic monk who helped spread Christianity in Wales in the 6th century.

Traditionally, school children performed concerts or eisteddfadau, reciting poems and singing. Some schools are open for a half day only to extend the celebrations. Daffodil and leek emblems are typically worn to honor St. David. Daffodils commonly bloom in March, and leeks are the personal symbol of St. David. Additionally, in the Welsh language the words are similar: Cenin (leek) and Cenin Bedr (daffodil, literally "Peter's leek"). In the South of Wales, young men wear leeks while young girls wear daffodils, but in North Wales the daffodil is the most popular. The Welsh traditional costume consists of a long wool skirt, white blouse, woolen shawl and Welsh black felt hat.

To celebrate St. David's Day in Las Vegas, pick up some dadffodils. Big kids can make traditional costume craft or a clay dadffodil magnet , while younger children can do some coloring pages. Finish off the celebration with some traditional Welsh dishes such as welsh rarebit, welsh cakes or Bara Brith, or visit Whole Foods to pick up ingredients for a goat cheese and leek quiche.

Image credits: (Clare Matson, Richard)

A Night at the Dogs: UK Theatre in Las Vegas

2010-02-26T08:48:00.000-08:00

Join the British National Theatres of America as they present A NIGHT AT THE DOGS by Matt Charman

'This year’s Verity Bargate Award came up with a gifted winner in Matt Charman’s keen, quick A Night at the Dogs' The Observer, UK

A NIGHT AT THE DOGS, Matt Charman’s award winning first play, will make its U.S. debut at the Backstage Theatre on the 2nd March, 2010, directed by Jo Cattell. The cast will include Sam Welbourne, John Brady, Martin Andrew, Miles Coleman and Andrew Sefia

Carl has put together a dog-racing syndicate, a ‘leg each’, with his fellow car mechanics. Excitement infuses the characters as they all await for their newly purchased dog, which they hope will fulfill their dreams, bringing them respect and wealth. Danny, Carl’s younger brother, isn’t convinced and has chosen to not be a part of it all, even though Carl is determined to convince him. Anticipation builds as the group readies themselves for the arrival of Rick with the dog, however it is short lived with the appearance of “Punchy Paul”, their brutish manager and unexpected fifth member of the syndicate. The mood quickly changes as it becomes apparent Paul has other concerns and is determined to make someone, anyone, pay for the apparent rape of his child.

A NIGHT AT THE DOGS is an intense black comedy, with sharp dialogue that keeps the temperature rising throughout. Fast paced, funny, yet brutally dark, A Night at the Dogs by 25 year old Matt Charman was chosen from over 700 submissions in Soho Theatre’s nationwide hunt for the best new play by a first-time playwright, the UK Verity Bargate Award 2004.

Performances: 2, 3, 9 & 10th March 2010 at 7.30pm at the Backstage Theatre, CSN (Cheyenne Campus) Las Vegas. Tickets will be available to purchase at http://www.bntofa.org/ and at the door. Ticket price: $12.00

For Further Information contact Jo Cattell at T: 702-497-0159 or jo@bntofa.org

Happy Birthday Lord Baden-Powell!

2010-02-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

February 22, 1857 is the birthday of Lord Robert Baden-Powell, lieutenant general in the British Army and founder of the Scout movement. Baden-Powell served in both India and Africa from 1876 to 1910, and wrote several books on military reconnaissance. Upon his return to England, Baden-Powell discovered these books were being read by boys and youth organizations. Based upon those earlier books, he wrote Scouting for Boys in 1908, a guidebook for exploring the wilderness.

The book is described as including "practical instructions on how to light fires, build a boat, or stalk animals (or men), it includes sections on chivalry, self-discipline, self-improvement, and citizenship. Indeed, the book brims with Baden-Powell's philosophy of life, one that replaces self with service, puts country before the individual, and duty above all".

Baden-Powell tested the ideas put forth in the book in August of 1907 at Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, with a group of boys. The boys participated in camping, nature observation, woodcrafts, chivalry, life saving skills and patriotism. The Brownsea Island adventure is viewed as the origins of the scouting movement. The Girl Guides (or Scouts) began a few years later in 1910.

Locally, we have the Girl Scouts of the Frontier Council and the Las Vegas Area Boy Scouts. You don't have to be in the scouts to celebrate today - there is lots of wilderness in Southern Nevada to explore! Practice tracking animals in the backyard (even if it is the family dog!) and identify plants, animals and birds in your neighborhood. Older children can learn to make fires and build an emergency shelter.

Image credits (ScoutBase UK, Scouts)

February Sunday Lunch

2010-02-21T07:49:00.000-08:00

It is time for our monthly Brit family Sunday Lunch! We will be meeting on Sunday, February 28th - the whole family is welcome. For location and additional information, visit our group page. If you are not a member and would like to join, please send an email to the address on the right hand side of the page. Looking forward to seeing everyone and meeting some new families!

Savings on Boots products at Target

2010-02-12T16:37:00.000-08:00

It is not too difficult to find certain British products in the United States. You can find Boots products in the Las Vegas area at CVS and Target. If you are a member of the Boots Club, you can get a coupon for $1 off any Boots product at Target. The coupon is good until 31 March, 2010. Click here to sign up for the Boots club.

Image credit: (Boots)

USA Sevens Rugby Event in Las Vegas

2010-02-06T20:11:00.001-08:00

The USA Sevens Rugby event is quickly approaching, and the Las Vegas Brit community is getting excited! The USA Sevens Tournament will be held at the Univeristy of Nevada, Las Vegas' Sam Boyd Stadium next weekend, on February 13 and 14th, 2010. USA, New Zealand, France, Australia, England, South Africa, Wales, Scotland, Samoa, Fiji, Argentina, Japan, Canada, Chile, Kenya, and Guyana will all have teams in the event. Keep up with all of the event details at the USA Sevens Twitter page.

Celebrate the tournament early with UKLV at their Official UKLV Rugby 7s Kickoff Party on Wednesday, February 10th. The first 800 tickets are free.

January Family Outing

2010-01-19T06:08:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy few weeks, and I apologize for not posting much!

Please join us this Sunday, January 24th for our monthly Family Outing. Bring the entire family and meet for some food and conversation. For location and additional information, visit our group page. If you are not a member and would like to join, please send an email to the address on the right hand side of the page. Looking forward to seeing everyone and meeting some new families!

Peter Rabbit Returning to BBC

2009-12-27T07:59:00.000-08:00

An old favorite is returning to television - the BBC has announced that Peter Rabbit and friends will be making an appearance in 2011 in 52 new episodes. The new episodes will take on a PC edge - Peter will no longer be running from a rake-toting Farmer McGregor, nor will Peter's father be baked in a pie. The new series will have more action and more color, as designers say they are attempting to keep up with today's kids. British broadcasters report they are spending more on pre-school shows, such as Beatrix Potter, but less on children’s programming in general.

I am happy to hear that Peter is coming back, but hope that the remake is not too different from the classic! We will have to wait and see. If you don't have the books, you can visit Kids' Corner to view and listen to the stories online, or visit the official Peter Rabbit site, which has lots of information on Beatrix Potter and games for the kids. Leave a comment below and share your favorite Peter Rabbit tale. I always liked Miss Moppet!

Thanks Kidoinfo for the pic.

Happy Boxing Day!

2009-12-26T12:56:00.001-08:00

It's Boxing Day and we are heading off with the LVUK Mums Group for a celebration! Will be sure to update later with some pics.

Boxing Day is not celebrated much in the United States, although some Americans near the US/Canadian border celebrate. Boxing Day is a great time to spend with family that couldn't make it together on Christmas and recuperate from the big festivities from the day before. Historically, on Boxing Day the servants would have the day off and UK families would eat cold cuts or leftovers and play board games or cards.

How are other expats celebrating Boxing Day? Leave a comment below!

My apologies for not posting much lately, the entire house has been sick with the stomach flu and we are just now getting back to normal. Hope that everyone enjoyed Christmas and is counting down to New Year's! Don't forget to submit your posts for the LVUK Mums 2010 New Years Baby Tour!

Thanks AmoeBlog for the Boxing Day pic.

The LVUK Mums 2010 UK New Years Baby Tour!

2009-12-17T06:58:00.000-08:00

You've got your resolutions planned and the champagne bought. But it's not New Years without the New Years Baby! The custom of using a baby as a symbol of the start of the New Year began in Greece around 600 BC by parading a baby in a basket to honor Dionysus, the God of Wine.

Not to be outdone, join LVUK Mums in the 2010 UK New Years Baby Tour! You know your baby is the best looking on the block, so show off your New Years Baby (or big kid!) and link to your post below. Don't have kids? How about a vintage picture of yourself in UK gear? Add the badge to your blog and make sure your post includes a photo of your baby dressed in their best Union Jack/England/Scotland/Ireland/Wales wear and a bit about what your plans are for 2010. The tour will run from December 17-January 31st. If you don't have a blog and would like to submit a photo, email it to the email address listed on the right hand side of the page.

Pencil it In: December 21-27

2009-12-17T06:38:00.000-08:00

Here are upcoming events for the week of December 21 - 27:

Not exactly a UK event, but a great place to go with the family. The Nevada Ballet Theatre presents The Nutcracker at Paris Hotel and Casino. The show runs December 18-24th.
Happy Christmas to everyone on the 25th!
LVUK Mums is hosting a Boxing Day Celebration for UK expats and their families on Saturday, December 26th. For more information or to join the group, visit our webpage.

Remembering the Boston Tea Party

2009-12-16T14:05:00.001-08:00

On December 16, 1773, colonists in Boston boarded ships carrying taxed tea from the UK and threw it overboard in an act of revenge against the British Government. The Boston Tea Party was a central event in the American Revolution, as the crisis grew and the Revolutionary War began near Boston in 1775.

How can you celebrate the Boston Tea Party with your children? Older kids can make boats , do a history activity or put on a play. Younger children can make a simple boat or color some activity pages. Post a link in the comments below to show off your artwork!

Thanks to Wikipedia for the picture!

British Airways Strike

2009-12-16T10:00:00.001-08:00

My mother-in-law called the other day and told me that she is getting worried over the British Airways strike that is brewing. She and my father-in-law are scheduled to arrive in Las Vegas in just a few days, but if British Airways employees get their way, that may not happen.

Over 12,000 cabin crew have planned a strike to occur between December 22nd and January 2nd, the peak of the holiday travel season. The strike is related to staffing and budgets, as British Airways reported a record £401m loss in the 12m prior to March 2009. A hearing occurred today in London as the airline attempts to bar the crew from participating in the strike. The hearing is scheduled to continue until Thursday to arrange a deal between the two parties.

Are your holiday plans going to be disturbed if British Airways does go on strike?

Thanks to the Guardian UK for the photo!

Pencial It In: December 14-20th

2009-12-10T10:07:00.000-08:00

Here are upcoming events for the week of December 14 - 20:

Looking for a date night? UKLV is hosting a Crimbo party on Thursday, December 17th at 7p Aurora at the Luxor.

Las Vegas Attempts to Beat the Santa Record

2009-12-07T08:22:00.000-08:00

This weekend, Las Vegas hosted the 5th Annual Great Santa Run. The run is a charity event hosted by Opportunity Village, a nonprofit organization that serves people with intellectual disabilities. In addition to being a great fundraiser for the organization, the run also attempts to break the world record for the most Santas in one place.

The current record is held by Derry City, Northern Ireland, for having 12, 965 Santas in one place. Derry City's event also raised over £100,000 for local charities. The previous record holder, and apparently still a competitor, is Liverpool. Las Vegas will be completing the counts in the next few days, so we will see what the outcome was! Always funny to see hundreds of Santas together - we went for bagels on Saturday morning and saw lots of Santas there.

Does your local area host any Guinness World Record breaking events?

UPDATE: Las Vegas has completed counts and had 8, 868 Santas, so it looks like Derry City still holds the record!

Thanks to Guinness World Records for the photo!

Thanks Smitten by Britain!

2009-12-06T21:57:00.000-08:00

Thanks to fellow UK blogger Smitten by Britain, I won a copy of the BBC: Yellowstone DVD! The documentary provides an inside look at one of the most famous National Parks in the world. It is a great win, as my husband and I really into hiking and camping, but since the kids, have not gotten out as much. Hopefully the DVD will encourage us to get out and explore!

I was the lucky winner by signing up for Smitten by Britain's feed. Sign up for the LVUK Mums feed here or if you prefer, you can sign up by entering your email address in the box on the right hand side of the blog.

The Clothesline Controversy

2009-12-05T13:56:00.000-08:00

A garden shop in the UK got a little more publicity for its advertisement than they were expecting, when feminists spoke out against Hillier's call for the clothesline as the perfect gift for wives this Christmas. I first heard this story on our local Las Vegas news - and the funniest thing to me was not that people were taken aback that a clothesline would be a good gift - but the news anchor's utter disbelief that people still used clotheslines to dry their clothes.

My husband and I were just discussing this a few weeks ago. To many Las Vegans, using a clothesline to dry your clothes seems outdated. As a child growing up in the Midwest, I have clear memories of my grandmother's clothesline and helping to hang the washing in the backyard to dry. But in Las Vegas, it seems that no one uses a clothesline - maybe because of the awful winds and dust that we get here? My husband's family and other people we know in the UK still use them. Nothing beats the fresh air to dry your clothes, not to mention the money and energy savings. I am not sure if this is a Las Vegas thing - or if many areas in America now do not use clotheslines.

One funny clothesline story to close. When we were in Newcastle for our honeymoon a few years ago, we left a bag of washing with his mom since we had been in London for a few days. When we came over later that day, my black negligee that I had bought special for our honeymoon was hanging on the clothesline for all to see. Welcome to my new family!

Expats, share your comments - do you use a clothesline or is it outdated in your area?

Thanks LA Times for the clothesline picture!

Pencil It In: December 7 - 13

2009-12-04T19:26:00.000-08:00

Here are upcoming events for the week of December 7 - 13:

The LVUK Mums Group is having a playdate on Wednesday, December 9th. Mums get together for a cuppa, and we will do a Crimbo craft for the kiddies. For more information or to join the group, visit our webpage.

Happy St. Andrew's Day!

2009-11-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

Although all of the current members of the LVUK Mums Group are English, not Scots, we wanted to recognize St. Andrew's Day today! (Edited to change Brits t0 English - sorry for typo - and thanks to Anon for commenting!)Anywhere from 20 - 25 million Americans have Scottish heritage - I've got Wilson and Campbell blood in the lineage myself. So what is St. Andrew's Day all about?

St. Andrews Day is named for the patron Saint of Scotland. Andrew, the brother of Peter the Apostle, was also a disciple of John the Baptist. Tradition says that girls wishing to marry would pray to St. Andrew at midnight on November 29th - luckily for us we are a long way from this happening in our house. Instead, I will try my hand at preparing some traditional Scottish dishes, and the kids will do some St. Andrews day themed art.

How are you celebrating St. Andrews day?

Thanks to FreeFoto.com for the picture!

Pencil It In: November 30 - December 6

2009-11-29T12:51:00.000-08:00

Here are upcoming events for the week of November 30 - December 6th:

The Clark County Library will be showing Once at 7p on Tuesday, December 1st. A modern day musical set on the streets of Dublin. Featuring Glen Hansard and his Irish band The Frames, the film tells the story of a street musician and a Czech immigrant during an eventful week as they write, rehearse and record songs that reveal their unique love story. (2007, 86 min.)

London & Las Vegas Both on Worst Places to Live...For Disaster Movies

2009-11-23T10:01:00.000-08:00

Lock up the kids and the pets! Some bad news for London and Las Vegas - at least for those who live there in the movies. With the recent release of 2012, Yahoo! Movies has put together a list of world cities that have faced the most movie disasters. Tokyo takes the top spot - all those Godzilla movies sealed the deal - while London comes in at number 7 and Las Vegas at number 8. Londoners can run from dragons (Reign of Fire), zombies (28 Days Later) and nuclear disasters (The Day the Earth Caught Fire), while Las Vegans just have to fend off zombies (Resident Evil: Extinction).

The list is far from comprehensive - how could they leave off Shaun of the Dead? What are your favorite disaster or horror films set in the UK or Las Vegas?

Supernanny Jo Coming to Las Vegas!

2009-11-20T08:15:00.000-08:00

I received an email a few days ago from a casting director to let us know that the Supernanny, Jo Frost, is coming to Las Vegas and looking for some families that want her help! Read below for the press release.

Los Angeles, CA – The casting team of ABC’s popular parenting series SUPERNANNY is currently casting for season six. The casting team will be sending producers all around Nevada to find the next SUPERNANNY family.

This season producers are searching for families with unique interests; parents who have ordinary and extraordinary circumstances; teen moms; parents with mean girls or bullying boys; culturally diverse parents; and blended families where both sides are seeking help. Producers want families from every type of background who are ready for the opportunity of a lifetime—a visit from America’s number one nanny, Jo Frost!

Jo Frost’s expert behavioral techniques and caring ease with children make SUPERNANNY a hit with the audience every week. Her book, “ASK SUPERNANNY” is an international best seller and follows up her first book “SUPERNANNY: HOW TO GET THE BEST FROM YOUR KIDS,” which spent several months on the New York Times best seller list.

Interested moms and dads in need of help with their out of control kids may apply from anywhere via www.supernanny.com. Parents can also call 877/NANNY TIME (1-877-626-6984) for more information or e-mail Supernanny@ShedMediaUS.com.

Pencil it In: November 23 - 29th

2009-11-19T11:32:00.000-08:00

Here are this week's upcoming UK events:

Be sure to catch the British National Theatre of America's panto, Snow White. The final show dates are November 24 and 25th.
The Clark County Library will be showing In Bruges at 7p on Tuesday, November 24th. Irish hit men Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson take a forced vacation in the Belgian town of Bruges when their employer orders them to lay low after a botched job. The jittery Farrell can't enjoy the medieval village's unusual sights until a movie shoot and a pretty girl take his mind off his problems--maybe too much. Ralph Fiennes, Clemence Poesy co-star in writer/director Martin McDonagh's brash comedy-drama. Presented in conjunction with Nevadans Organized to Better Address Diversity (N.O.T.B.A.D).
Join UKLV for their Monte Carlo or Bust event in celebration of the launch of their new website. The event is at the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino on Sunday, November 29th, with the first 600 tickets free and just $15 after that.

Kiddie DVD's at the Library

2009-11-13T14:23:00.000-08:00

We were talking with the grandparents in England about Crimbo presents for the kids this year. The children are really starting to get into videos, so we suggested getting a few DVD's for them so they can watch some UK kiddies shows. Unfortunately, in the USA we use Region 1 DVD's and in the UK they use Region 2 DVD's, and it may have been difficult for the grandparents to find Region 1 DVD's in the UK.

We make regular visits to the library, so today I decided to look around and see what children's videos I could find. Here are a few of the videos I was able to find:

We can even request videos from other locations, so if our local branch does not have the video we want, we can request it be sent from another location. And it is free! We can watch the videos a few times and then take them back when we are done.

Expats - have you tried the library to find UK videos and books for the kids?

Thanks to Kipper Online for the picture!

Pencil it In: November 16th - 22nd

2009-11-12T22:42:00.000-08:00

Here are this week's upcoming UK events:

Join the British National Theatre of America for opening night of Snow White on November 16th! Additional show dates are Nov 17, 24, and 25th.
The Charleston Heights Art Center (800 S. Brush Street, LV, NV) presents Scottish Country Dancing on November 20th. $5 per person, ages 13 and up welcome. Wear comfortable shoes! For more info call 229-6383

New Feature: Pencil it In

2009-11-12T11:22:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce a new feature to the Las Vegas UK Mums blog - Pencil it In - a place for you to learn about family friendly UK events happening in the Las Vegas area on a weekly basis. The posts will run every Thursday and will cover Monday through Sunday of the following week. Events will range from films to sporting events and everything in between. If you have an event that you would like to have listed, please email me at the address listed on the right.

Remembrance Day: November Mums Playdate

2009-11-12T08:02:00.000-08:00

We had a great time today at the mum's playdate. To commemorate Remembrance Day, we made a poppy craft.

We got a coffee while we "helped" the kids with their crafts - a little young for glue sticks yet since everyone was under 2. The kids had fun running around together and it was nice to catch up with the mums. Looking forward to next month! If you made any Remembrance Day crafts with the kids, post a link below!

Expat Christmas Crackers

2009-11-09T13:41:00.000-08:00

It's almost time for Christmas crackers. I started thinking about it the other day when I visited a craft store to purchase a Guy and saw that they had up to 40% off of their Christmas items. I asked the girl working up front if they had any Christmas crackers, and she had no idea what I was talking about. Many Americans are not familiar with Christmas crackers. They do sell them in local shops - in Las Vegas you can buy them at Cost Plus World Market, Williams Sonoma and Tuesday Morning, in addition to online retailers from both the US and UK. Many of us will undoubtedly have UK visitors during the Christmas holidays and can get the real thing stowed in a suitcase from England.

The more adventurous expats will be making their own crackers. I would love to do this for 2009, but I think the kids are too young and I know they would not understand or appreciate it now. I can just imagine it would be all of us in the room for a total of 15 seconds, before they lose interest and wander off and I am lost in a pile of empty toilet rolls, wrapping paper and trinkets. I think the making your own route is quite noble though - if for nothing else than getting a better prize than a plastic ring and a bad joke. So, I am looking for comments from other expats - where will you get crackers this year (buy, brought over, or homemade)? If you are making your own, what are you putting inside?

Thanks to BBC for the picture.

Panto in Las Vegas - BNTA Presents Snow White

2009-11-07T07:36:00.000-08:00

A local Brit who organizes the British National Theater of America (BNTA) has invited the Las Vegas community to share in the panto tradition with a production of Snow White. So what is panto? It is a style of British musical comedy theater in which traditional children's stories are turned on their heads with music hall, modern references and audience participation to create a fun atmosphere for the whole family. Panto has strong influence from Commedia dell’arte often performed around Christmas and it originated in the UK sometime in the late 18th Century.

BNTA's current show is not the typical Snow White... The fair lass finds herself stuck in Las Vegas, stage manager to her evil & famous step-mother, Posh Nosh. Jealous of her stepdaughter's beauty & talent, the Posh Nosh hires a mafia hit man to rid herself of fair Snow White. The hit man, unable to bring himself to do the deed, leaves Snow White in the 14 jazz hands of 7 dwarfs. However, it is only a matter of time until the evil Posh Nosh finds out that Snow White lives. Determined to do the job properly herself, Posh Nosh poisons Snow White so that she may claim that she is the “Fairest of them All” once again....This Las Vegas reworking of the traditional story continues BNTA's goal of making British Panto a Las Vegas tradition. Snow White runs November 17, 18, 24 and 25th at 7p. Support local Brits in the community by attending - tickets are from $10-15 and can be purchased on the BNTA site.

Do your kids have the acting bug? BNTA also offers a 16 week session for 9-12 year olds to learn theater, dance and acrobatics while working with local professionals, culminating in participation in an upcoming production. For more information, contact jo@bntofa.org .

British National Theatre of America (BNTA) was formed in April 2008 by Rob Winch, Rich Perkin and Jo Cattell who met whilst working together on Cirque du Soleil’s The Beatle’s LOVE. It is a non profit theatre company based in Las Vegas that exists to engage, entertain and inspire the community through traditional and contemporary theatre from diverse international origins.

Won't make it to the show this time? Visit Robinsons Put on a Panto (http://bit.ly/PutOnAPanto) and let the kids do their own panto for you! Thanks to Carrots in Mum's Hair for the site!

UK Boys and Girls Clothes for Sale

2009-11-06T13:14:00.000-08:00

We are going through the closets and getting rid of some clothes that no longer fit. If you are interested in purchasing some gently used boy and girl clothes from the UK and Spain, contact me! Sizes range from newborn to 12-18 months and include brands such as Marks & Spencer, George, Next baby and Zara.

You can view boy clothes here:

Make a Smilebox slideshow

You can view girl clothes here:

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Check back frequently as I will be updating with more clothes as I come across them. If the picture is still listed, it is still available! Contact me at the email address on the right with any questions or to see better pictures.

Pictures from Guy Fawkes 2009

2009-11-06T08:06:00.000-08:00

We had our mini celebration last night. The kids did some coloring on their Bonfire Night pictures:

Since the kids are so young, we didn't make a guy, but bought one at a craft store. Here is the condemned:

We had great weather here in Las Vegas last night, so after Guy met his fate, my husband and I sat outside and enjoyed the fire and a few spirits while the kids were dreaming of fireworks in their beds.

Remember, Remember, the 5th of November

2009-11-05T08:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Guy Fawkes Day! In November of 1605, a Catholic plot to blow up Parliament and King James I was thwarted. The group, including Guy Fawkes, stored gunpowder in a cellar under Parliament but was unsuccessful in their attempt after the plot was discovered. In the UK, it is traditional to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day with bonfires, burning an effigy of Guy and fireworks, and this well known verse:

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
The gunpowder treason and plot,
I know of no reason
Why the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes Day is not celebrated much in the United States, although there are several celebrations on the East Coast or New England parts of the country. Calif Lorna celebrated in Southern California and It's All About Me (Karen) celebrated in Florida, check out their posts. So what about Las Vegas? Instead of a bonfire, we will try a mini one in our backyard firepit tonight with the kids. Don't forget to discuss safety tips for fires and fireworks! The kiddies can try their hands at some Bonfire Night crafts like making their own guy out of a paper bag and doll clothes. Smaller ones can try their hands at some coloring pages. Traditional foods for Bonfire Night include fire cooked foods such as foil wrapped potatoes, sausages and soup. Finish it off with a treacle toffee, and you have a great night!

How are other expats celebrating Guy Fawkes Day?

Thanks to the Sacramento Bee for the photo!

Irish Accent Number One!

2009-11-04T08:11:00.000-08:00

According to 5,000 women who participated in a global survey about accents, the Irish accent comes out on top! Women rated accents according to their sexiness, and the United Kingdom does very well, scoring 4 of the top 10 slots. Here is the breakdown of the Top Ten:

World's Sexiest Accents

1. Irish

2. Italian

3. Scottish

4. French

5. Australian

6. English

7. Swedish

8. Spanish

9. Welsh

10. American

Three fifths of survey respondents admitted that they had been seduced by someone because of their accent. My husband and I laugh about this, he says I fell in love with him because of his Geordie rogue, and I say he loved my American twang!

Do you agree with the results - which UK accent is the top?

Welcome, British Airways!

2009-11-02T07:05:00.000-08:00

As of October 26th, British Airways is now flying direct from London to Las Vegas! We already have family who are taking advantage of the new route and great pricing and will be visiting in the next few months. Having choices is always better, and now visitors from the UK can choose from Virgin Atlantic, British Midlands or British Airways when planning their flights. Does anyone else have visitors taking advantage of the new flights?

Thanks LVRJ for the photo!

November Mums Playdate Scheduled

2009-11-01T12:23:00.000-08:00

We have scheduled the November Mums outing for Weds, November 11th. If you would like more information, or to join us, visit our group page!

Ocotber is over!

2009-11-01T12:19:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that October is gone. We cancelled the October Mums meetup due to sick kids and dr's appts - typical for this time of year! The October Sunday Lunch was great, just two families made it, but we had a great time running around with the kids and enjoyed all the food.

We are in the middle of a transition. The group has been hosted on the Meetup website, but as of November 9th, will no longer be accessible there. We have moved the group to the Big Tent website. Everything will be the same, but Big Tent does not charge groups a monthly fee to use their site the way that Meetup does, so this will work better for our needs.

So, if you are interested in joining the site, send an email to lasvegasukmums on yahoo and we look forward to hearing from you!

October Sunday Lunch Scheduled

2009-10-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

We have scheduled the October Sunday Lunch for Sunday, October 25th. If you would like to join us, please visit our group page for additional information.

October Mums Playdate scheduled

2009-10-02T13:39:00.001-07:00

We have scheduled the October Mums Playdate for Wednesday, October 21st. For more information on the location and additional details, visit our group's page.

Welcome to our newest member!

2009-10-02T13:37:00.000-07:00

We have our 8th member now! She is American and her husband is from England. They are expecting their first baby in a few months. Welcome to the group!

September Family Meetup was a Success!

2009-10-01T13:22:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at the September meetup! Three families made it, along with 5 members of another Brit group in town. It was nice to socialise with such a big group. The kids had a great time running around like wild together.

September Family Sunday Lunch Scheduled

2009-09-18T12:34:00.000-07:00

Our September Family Sunday Lunch will be this Sunday, September 20th. Bring the kiddies and the hubbys and lets get together! For location and additional information, visit our group page. Looking forward to seeing everyone and hopefully meeting some new families!

Sorry for being gone!

2009-09-18T12:10:00.000-07:00

Life has been busy - my apologies for not keeping up with posting! I promise to be better. : )

The group has been growing, we have had some great playdates and our first Sunday family outing was a success - looking forward to future events!

US and British Husbands the Most Likely to Help Around the House

2009-08-05T09:17:00.000-07:00

Well, some good news! Recent news reports that a survey by Dr. Almudena Sevilla-Sanz of Oxford found that men in Norway, Sweden, Great Britian, the United States and Northen Ireland are the most likely to do household chores. The author contributes this to the fact that these countries are the most egalitarian, meaning it is more of a social norm for men to contribute to what was traditionally known as "women's work". Rounding out the bottom half were the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, Austria and Australia taking last place.

Luckily for me, my husband is very helpful with both the children and the house. In our house, we have an unspoken agreement. He does the laundry, which I don't like doing, and I do the cooking. He cleans up the dishes, and I do the kids' baths. He walks the dog and I vaccum. It works well for us. Where does your husband fall on the list?

You Like Tomato, and I Like Tomahto

2009-08-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

I have always been a big fan of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. In fact, the first dance at our wedding was to Cole Porter's Night and Day, which I fell in love with in the Astaire/Rogers The Gay Divorcee. One song in particular takes on a different meaning to me now - Let's Call the Whole Thing Off : You like potato, and I like potahto - You like tomato and I like tomahto....

My husband and I don't even notice our pronunciation differences most of the time. If he is feeling particularly cheeky, he will call me out on a few favorites, tomato and basil, banana, etc. But now that we have young children who are growing up here in America and spending most of their time with me during the day, it seems unquestionable that they will end up with American accents. My husband will do his best to infuse their vocabularies with Geordie though - making sure they know how to say alreet, canny, the crack, etc., leaving their teachers and other children in complete confusion.

It is inevitable for children's accents to resemble what they hear around them. If they are born in the US and hear American English on the television, radio and at home from one parent or a nanny, they are likely to pick it up, and vice versa for UK English. Expat mum/moms: what are your children like? Do they sound more like you, or have they picked up the local accent? Share your comments below!

Astaire picture copyright Boston University.

August Family Sunday Lunch Scheduled 08/23

2009-07-30T09:29:00.000-07:00

This group will have at least two monthly meetups scheduled - one for mums and the kiddies, and one for the whole family! The August family meetup has been scheduled for Sunday, August 23. For more information on the meetup, visit the group and become a member!

Welcome New Members!

2009-07-29T12:19:00.000-07:00

We have three new members of the LVUK Mums group! The first mum is from Wicklow County in Ireland and she has a 3 year old daughter, our second mum is from Belfast and she has a 14m old son and our third mum is from London and has a 5 year old son.

Welcome mums and can't wait to see you at the first playdate!

Traditional Food Favorites: Yorkshire Pudding

2009-07-28T07:16:00.000-07:00

I am American, and prior to meeting my husband, I had never eaten yorkshire pudding. I tried it at a few local pubs, but still was not won over. After our wedding, we visited my husband's hometown of Newcastle and I met a lot of his family. I was told that as a proper British wife, I had to know how to make yorkshire pudding. I brushed it off, but now that we have children, I do want to make them traditional English food. Growing up here, they will be overloaded with typical American food, but we want to make sure they love their sausage rolls and chip butties too!

Do your children eat mostly UK or American dishes?

Celebrity Las Vegas Mums

2009-07-26T19:37:00.000-07:00

Nearly 700,000 Britons live in the United States. It should come as no surprise that many choose to live in Las Vegas, including celebrities. Las Vegas recently lost a popular UK mum - back to Los Angeles - Mel B! Melanie Brown lived in Las Vegas for a few months this year while she was working on PEEPSHOW - which has now been taken over by the Girls Next Door's Holly Madison. Melanie is from Leeds and has two daughters.

Can you think of any other celebrity Las Vegas UK mums? Share your comments below!

First playdate scheduled: Aug 12th, 2009

2009-07-25T22:45:00.000-07:00

The first meetup playdate for the Las Vegas UK Mums group has been scheduled for Aug 12, 2009. Join the group to learn the location and other details.

Welcome to Las Vegas UK Mums!

2009-07-25T19:14:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Las Vegas UK Mums! This is the blog of the Las Vegas UK Mums Meetup Group in Las Vegas, NV. The LVUKMG was started to allow UK expats living in the Las Vegas area to meet other UK families for socialising, playdates, friendship and sharing traditions with other UK families. If you live in the Las Vegas area and would like to join, please visit our Meetup site.

Thanks to BigFoto.com for the profile pictures!