Taste Addison features for 2013 includes fun activities like the Log Roll. (Photo courtesy of Addison Flickr.)

Main Street Days, Grapevine

Savor the flavor of fun at Grapevine’s 29 ^th Annual Main Street Days. Festival guests will enjoy three fun-filled, family -friendly days featuring a variety of activities, live entertainment, food, beverages and more for all ages. Delight in the varieties of premium Texas and International wines, craft beers and festival foods. Taste a slice of delicious pizza or enjoy a whole pie from one of Grapevine’s pizza purveyors along the Pizza Piazza. Hear live music on five stages throughout the three day festival. Cheer the masters of the grill at the Grillin’ Competition at the Town Square Gazebo. Watch your kids experience the thrilling KidCave, brand new kid-friendly entertainment zone, featuring LEGOLAND® Discovery Center’s Junior Builder Competition and the SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium touch pool. Take a turn at the games and on the carnival rides along the Carnival Midway. All this fun and more await you at the 29^th Annual Main Street Days Grapevine!

29^th Annual Main Street Days
Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.Sunday, May 19, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday, May 17 at 10:00 a.m. – free until 5 p.m. After 5 p.m. on Friday, adults are $7 and children 6 – 12 and seniors are $5. Weekend passes are $15. Souvenir weekend passes are $20.
Free shuttles run continuously from designated parking lots.
Website

Taste Addison, Addison

Taste Addison offers a tasty weekend blend of food, music and family fun. This three-day festival, May 17 – 19, 2013, features more than 70 Addison restaurants serving generous samplings of their menus at reduced prices, national breakout musical entertainment.  This year’s event features a Texas Country night on Friday with headlining acts like Reckless Kelly and Turnpike Troubadours. Saturday will cap off a full day of musical entertainment with favorites Sister Hazel and Blue October.  In addition we will have celebrity chef demonstrations, carnival rides, midway games, award-winning children’s entertainment, and more.

21st Annual Taste Addison
Friday, May 17, 2013 :  6 p.m. – Midnight – $15*, Saturday, May 18, 2013:  Noon – Midnight – $5 before 5pm; $15 after 5pm*, Sunday, May 19, 2013: Noon – 5 p.m. –  $5**Ages 4 and older.Buy one ticket, get one 25% off anytime tickets sold at DFW area Albertsons stores.
Addison Circle Park
FREE parking at the corner of Dallas Parkway and Arapaho Road.  Handicap parking is available at the DART Transit Center.
Website

Wildflower Festival, Richardson

Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival is the City of Richardson’s award-winning, multi-day festival featuring live music, arts and crafts, children’s activities, interactive exhibits, strolling buskers and more.  Highlights include local, regional and national headliner entertainment:

• Robert Earl Keen
• The Toadies
• Grand Funk Railroad
• Uncle Kracker
• Reverend Horton Heat
• Cowboy Mouth
• Slaid Cleaves
• Eleven Hundred Springs
• Rocket Man – The best of Elton John
• Eliza Gilkyson
• Terri Hendrix with Lloyd Maines
• Le Freak

Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival
Friday, May 17, 6 PM – Midnight, Saturday, May 18, 11 AM – Midnight; Sunday, May 19, 12:30 PM – 8 PM
Galatyn Park Urban Center, Richardson, Texas
Three-Day Pass – $30, Single-Day Adult – $20, Kid’s Pass (age 5-12) – $3’ Sunday kids 12 and under get in free with a paid adult.
Website

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(Graphic courtesy of simon.com)

All events will focus on rewarding moms.
 
North East Mall, Hurst
Moms will have the opportunity to enjoy hair, makeup and skincare consultations, massages, food and beverage tastings, product demonstrations, a DJ, door prizes, fashion tips, swag bags and more all in Center Court from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Firewheel Town Center, Richardson
A special party will take place from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. with swag bags for the first 100 attendees, a DJ, food samples, beauty demonstrations, door prizes and more at Coneflower Drive near AMC.

Irving Mall, Irving

Moms will be entertained with product sampling and demonstrations including hair demos and a lipstick bar as well as over 15 prize giveaways, a DJ and a caricaturist. From 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. attendees will also enjoy freeze modeling highlighting clothing and accessories from Macy’s, Burlington Coat Factory, Image and Sears. The first 50 women at the event in Center Court will receive a swag bag filled with retailer goodies and specials.

This year, as an extra bonus, one lucky mom and her friend will be treated to a trip to Chicago to see Bon Jovi’s “Because We Can” tour at historic Soldier Field on Friday, July 12.

Originally organized by Maria Bailey, CEO of BSM Media, author and Mom Talk Radio host, National Mom’s Nite Out unites social media groups, companies, local playgroups, mom bloggers and networks in giving moms a well-deserved night off.

NATIONAL MOMS NITE OUT
May 9
North East Mall
Firewheel Town Center
Irving Mall
www.simon.com

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It’s a great time to let the kids “go wild” and be the first to see the new Play Place at Galleria Dallas.

Kids Can Go Wild at Galleria Dallas, April 27 (graphic courtesy of Galleria Dallas/)

“Kids Gone Wild” at Galleria Dallas Play Place Grand Re‐Opening
April 27, 2013, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Galleria Dallas
Level 3, Near Saks Fifth Avenue
13350 Dallas Parkway/I‐635 at North Dallas Tollway
Dallas, Texas 75240

All activities are free and open to the public. Self‐parking also complimentary. Valet available.

Disclaimer: I am compensated for promoting events on the behalf of Galleria Dallas. 

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Looking for More Family Fun from me on Today’s Mama? 

Choo-Choo! Promo Code for A Day Out with Thomas in Grapevine
Enjoy Super Soups with Empty Bowls 2013
Enchanted Fairies Calendar 2014 Personal Fairy Photo Sessions
Get Your Boarding Pass Now for the “Titanic” in Fort Worth

The post Kids Can Go Wild for Free at Galleria Dallas PlayPlace Grand Re-opening, April 27 appeared first on DFW Mama.

Kids Valentine’s Cookie Decorating Class

Calling all kiddos!  Be creative and decorate your own Valentine’s cookies on February 9 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. with the help of Executive Chef Nick Amoriello.  $15 per child.  Fee includes hot chocolate and apple cider as well as a dozen of your decorated sugar cookies to take home and enjoy.  Please call 214-219-8282 to reserve your spot today.

Valentine’s Day Dinner

Celebrate Valentines Day with a special romantic four course pre-fixed menu with choices from Executive Chef Nick Amoriello.  Presented in addition to the regular All Day Dining menu, the Valentines Day menu is priced at $55 per person and $75 per person with wine pairings.  The Front Room is sharing the love with their guests this Valentines Day with a complimentary glass of champagne.  Reservations are recommended.  Make a night of it and book a room at The Lumen, a Kimpton Hotel with rates starting at $149 by asking for the LOVE rate.

Valentine’s Day Menu

The Kiss

Oysters on the Half Shell with Rosewater and Champagne Mignonette

Oysters on the Half Shell with Pomegranate Horseradish Mignonette

Foreplay

Roasted Chioga Beet, Honey preserved Figs, Sherry Walnut Vinaigrette, with Fennel and Lavender Goat Cheese

White Asparagus Salad, with Black Truffles, Citrus Cured Salmon, Blood Orange and Sabayon

Hot and Heavy

Red Snapper, with Caviar Vinaigrette, Scarlet Carrots, Vanilla Parsnip Puree, and Watercress

Filet of Beef, Seared Foie Gras, Blue Cheese Potato Gratin, Baby Leeks, and Port Shallot Demi Glace

Lust

An assortment of Valentine’s Day Chocolates and Confections

Chocolate Mousse Cake with Gold Leaf and Raspberry Sauce

White Chocolate Covered Strawberry Nougat

Mint Infused Rose’ and Black Currant Gelee

Chocolate Covered Flavored Marshmallows

Cutest Couple Facebook Contest

If you and your significant other would make even Saint Valentine blush, then be sure to submit a photo of the two of you for a chance to win “dinner for two” at The Front Room.  Whether it’s you and Fido, the kids, or that special someone – any couple is welcome!  Simply just post your picture on our Facebook wall starting Feb. 1 through Feb. 12 by 5 p.m. and be sure to also tag The Front Room.  A winner will be announced on Feb. 14.  You can find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TheFrontRoomDallas.

The Front Room, a Kimpton Restaurant, is located in Kimpton’s The Lumen Hotel at 6101 Hillcrest Avenue, Dallas, Texas.  For reservations please call 214-219-8282 or visit www.TheFrontRoomDallas.com.

The Front Room on Facebook

For more posts written by me, visit my personal blog, I Believe In Love. For more Valentine’s Day posts, visit…

Mailboxes For Valentines Day

Valentines Day Card Ideas And FREE Printables

Valentines For Teachers–Fun Ideas to Make at Home!

The post Valentine’s Day Activities for Adults and Kids at The Front Room appeared first on DFW Mama.

Vintage Chick

The Grapevine Convention Center will transform into a step back in time the weekend of October 26 and 27th. The Dallas Vintage Clothing & Jewelry Show brings together the best of vintage fashion and jewelry for those who adore vintage.

The word “vintage”, when used with clothing and jewelry, means dating back to between the 1920′s and 1960′s. The best of these decade’s fashion designs will be for sale at this show.

You may wonder why the vintage look is in style now. Take a look at supermodels and celebrities who dress vintage, such as: Kate Moss, Dita von Teese, Renee Zellweger, Julia Roberts and Chloe Sevigny. These stars have made headlines with their vintage fashion flair.

A second reason is for resourcefulness. The idea of reusing second-hand clothes and jewelry can help with our goal of recycling instead of throwing away perfectly useful items.

True vintage items are made from sustainable materials that don’t show wear and tear like some of our newer clothing items do. The jewelry may be considered “costume” to some, but the pure vintage look offers much to be admired.

Vintage vendors travel in to display their wares at this marvelous show: Erik Yang of “Lush Life Antiques”, Janet Waldrop with “Skip 2 My Lou”, “A Collective Nest” from Norman, OK., “Lady Di Antiques” from China Grove, NC, ”Pure Vintage Chicago” from Chicago, IL and of course my local favorite “Vintage Martini” from Carrollton. I have attached a previous article below showing a few of the Vintage Martini’s fine items.

Free admission to this event is given to those who wear their vintage fashion from head to toe! If you lack the proper coiffure to finish your vintage look, local celebrity hair stylist Lynne Evans of Vintage Flair will offer her vintage hair fashions to patrons of the show.

The Grapevine Convention Center is located at 1209 South Main Street. Hours for this show are Friday, October 26, 3 p.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturday, October 27, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Complete details are available on their website.

If you’re considering going vintage for Halloween, you won’t want to miss this show!

http://dallas.todaysmama.com/2012/02/vintage-martini-vintage-clothes/

Dallas Vintage

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We started off our vacation by getting a room at the Caribbean Resort.  The awesome thing about this resort is that it has pirate themed rooms and a pirate themed pool.  The room we stayed in was awesome.  The beds mimiced pirate ships, the carpet was made to look like wooden planks, and the tables and dressers were made out of barrels.  We really got the pirate feel.  To top it all off, because we were staying in a pirate room, the resort gave the boys pirate swords.  That was loads of fun until the first kid started crying.  Then we were done with that.

Pirate beds

Arrrg!

After a few days of Disney fun, we sent the boys to the Pirate League.  This is an amazing thing for little boys, and even girls, to participate in if you are all princessed out.  The members of the Pirate League will take your little one and give them their own special pirate name, dress them up like pirates, and then do their face paint to make them look like anyone from Jake (from Jake and the Neverland Pirates) to Captain Jack Sparrow.  The cast members do such a great job making everyone’s makeup look life-like.  After the makeup is done, they are sent over for a lesson on sword fighting, then they are taken into a secret room where they receive treasure and get a few pictures taken.  This is the second year that we have done the Pirate League.  The look on the faces of my kids is enough to make me want to do it every year.  It’s not terribly expensive, and the kids have so much fun doing it.

To make him really look like Jake, they gave him a Jake wig

It's Blackbeard

Since the boys were all decked out in pirate garb, we took advantage of the Pirate and Pals Firework Voyage.  This was our first time for this, and we will do it again year after year.  It was so much fun!  At the start of the night, we met at one of the ballrooms at the Contemporary Resort.  At that time we were told what boat we would be on.  There was the Captain Hook boat and the Mr. Smee boat.  We got Mr. Smee .  This part doesn’t matter.  The characters do not ride on the boat with you.  After about 15 minutes of playing and snacking in the ballroom, Captain Hook and Mr. Smee come out to visit with the kids and take pictures.  They hang around for a while, until it is time to board the boats.

Captain Hook and Mr. Smee

Once on our boat, we sang songs and watched the electric water parade go by.  Very up close and personal.  Then we rode over to get close to the Magic Kingdom where we watched the Wishes fireworks.  Beautiful!  So much better than standing shoulder to shoulder with strangers trying to watch it at the park.

On the way back to shore, our pirate guide played Disney movie trivia with everyone.  We won a pirate flag and a new sword because we are masters at Disney movie trivia (not to brag).  Then we sang Happy Birthday to everyone celebrating birthdays.  The guide told some jokes, and pretty much just tried to pass the time on the way back.  Once docked, who just happened to be waiting for us?  Peter Pan!  We got off the boat and Peter Pan talked to the kids, played, and took pictures.  What an amazing end to a great day.

The boys with Peter Pan (Landoon took off his wig, so he looks silly with the thick, painted on eye brows)

Our pirate filled week was more than I expected or could even ask for.  The sparkle and the smiles were beaming from both my kids.  I would totally do it all over again.  Well done Disney.  Well done.

If you are planning a Disney trip, please read more of my Disney blogs:

Dining at Disney World

Disney World Can Be Affordable

Disney One More Day

Mommy and Daddy Getaway

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Museum Exhibits are so much fun!

Why is a membership a good idea for your family?

Now that the kids are out of school for the summer, are you finding it difficult to come up with activities for them that don’t break the budget?  Think about a Membership for a more affordable out and about experience! We started getting family memberships after realizing that it paid for itself in just two visits in some cases!

Here is a breakdown, using the Museum of Nature and Science in Fair Park:

Regular general admission to the museum for two adults and three children is $41.

A family membership costs $90 a year,  and includes general admission for my family of 5, plus discounted tickets to the Special Exhibits,  the IMAX theater and the planetarium. We also get invited to special member-only events.  Basically, if we go three times, the membership has saved us money. But since we don’t have to pay each time, this is a great place to go even if we only have a little bit of time (just to check out the current Magic School Bus exhibit, maybe?) or if we want to attend something special, like the planetarium presentations that they did for the Venus Transit last week.  Bargain!

Up close and personal with the animals at the Zoo

What sealed the decision to join for my family though, was the ASTC Passport Participants–free admission to 260 other museums all over the country and even internationally!! We had planned to visit a museum while on vacation, and it was going to cost $65 for just four of us. But with our membership, it was completely free!!

Membership to the Museum will transfer to the new Perot Museum when it opens in January 2013, read about it here.

Other places in the DFW area that offer memberships include The Dallas Zoo, The Fort Worth Zoo, Frontiers of Flight Museum, and The Dallas World Aquarium, just to name a few. Make sure that you read the fine print, because not all memberships are the same and many places offer different levels. Pick the ones that work the best for your family!

Previous Posts:

Planet Shark Exhibit

Zoo Babies 2011

Summer Activities at the Dallas Zoo

The post Museum Membership Savings appeared first on DFW Mama.

However, this year’s annual Gaylord adventure has another adventure for us – we’ve added another member in the Reo fold, my now nine-month old daughter. While last year she did enjoy the new waterpark in utero (actually two weeks before she was born), this year I pondered whether we would take the plunge for a family vacation or wait until the kids are a little older…Then I opened up the Gaylord website and came across a BIG MONSTER of a reason to return….

Shrek and his friends have left the forest and are spending the summer at the Gaylord Texan with Summer Fun with Shrek & Friends. Select weekends from May 25 through September 2, families can dive into everything DreamWorks with activities like breakfast with Shrek, Cookie Castle Decorating with Fiona and even a scavenger hunt with Puss and Boots. While the “How to Train to Your Dragon” Camp sounds like it could be fun, I’m still researching if this additional package is the right fit for us (and if we can fit it in the schedule with so much to do.)

Shrek and his friends have left the forest and are spending the summer at the Gaylord Texan with Summer Fun with Shrek & Friends. (Photo from www.GaylordTexan.com.)

For our family, who one day will make the trek to the Magic Kingdom, we consider this a “trial run” for our four-year old and a moment to see how our little girl (or more so, me) can handle two kids and all the fun (I hope) something like this can bring. Best of all, since we are only 15 minutes from home, if things go bad, we can always go home, right?

A real kid at heart, I think I’m using the kids as an excuse to enjoy the Gaylord Texan once again. And now with the waterpark that is just the right size for us, a movie in the pool, and free fireworks show on Fridays…it hits all this mom’s buttons. Now if I could just finally make it to the Relache Spa then it would be perfect. However, room service and two tired children sleeping sounds like a close second.

Act fast though as reservations for all the activities in the Shrek package are limited (and so are the weekends in your summer.)

Package Includes:

• Room accommodations at Gaylord Texan Resort
• DreamWorks Welcome Amenity at check-in
• Priority reservation one morning for ShrekFeast interactive character meal included, at a 30% savings exclusively for package guests; including gratuity
• Splash ‘N’ Screen Movie
• Character Parade
• Front of line access at the DreamWorks Character Meet and Greets
• Puss In Boots Quest for the Magic Beans Scavenger Hunt
• Souvenir Family Photo
• Special Wake-Up Calls by DreamWorks Characters
• Guaranteed admission for package guests who purchase Princess Fiona’s Cookie Castles and Dragon Training Camp
• Plus, guests on Friday nights can enjoy a FREE Fireworks Show over Lake Grapevine! (Weather permitting)

For the most updated information about the Gaylord Texan and this package, visit their website at: http://www.gaylordtexan.com.

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Starting mid-June, Wake Up with Wiley and Friends Character Breakfast is a fun way to start the day at Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine. (Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge.)

Entertaining a toddler can be taxing, tiring and terrific – all at the same time. And after speaking with a great Great Wolf ambassador, I learned there’s a lot to do and see at Great Wolf at all times of the day – without changing my kids’ schedule and is perfect just for them.

• Depending on what time of day you arrive, you’ll be able to start things immediately with the main attraction – the water park. It had tons of things for all of us to do together and only a few of the larger slides were not an option (and to be honest, they didn’t even notice!) It wasn’t like there was a little pool and then some splash toys, there were lots of fun things for them to enjoy.
• A daily Wolf Walk (typically at 9am) and Clock Tower Show (typically at 10am, 8pm and 9pm) that’s created just for youngsters.
• Catch some fun at the Cub Club that has some great interactive activities throughout the day.
• Scooops (yes with three  letter ‘o’ s) Kids Spa was absolutely precious with it’s ice cream manicures and decor.
• The best way to end the day is with Story Time. Pull out the PJs and enjoy winding down the evening in the lobby at 7 & 8 PM.
• Now while I was really looking forward to MagiQuest, I was advised that while there are many ways to enjoy the magic wand throughout the park, this activity was best suited for kids at the reading age OR a parent who really wants to be an interactive partner rather than an observer. (For that recommendation I was truly thankful to have something else to look forward to when he does get older.)
• And “move over, Mickey” because beginning mid-June, toddlers will get the chance to start the day the right way at Great Wolf with Wiley and Friends. The character breakfast dining experience will be offered to guests as well as the public with a breakfast buffet, character appearances and photog opportunities galore.

Now while I only spent a few hours at the park, I decided that among our many staycations planned for the summer, I definitely could move Great Wolf to the “we can do this now” list. And just in case you’ve been considering if Great Wolf is on your family’s must-do list this summer, they are offering many special deals including – 15% off any suite style when you book Sunday-Thursday, June 4-July 26. Just enter promo code: SUMMERSAVE. This offer is only bookable until June 29.

Now maybe I can actually take my kids to a trip at Great Wolf and try these all out! Hope you can too.

The post What’s Great at Great Wolf Lodge (for Toddlers) appeared first on DFW Mama.

2012 Annual DFW Dragon Boat, Kite and Lantern Festival–May 20th at Lake Carolyn in Irving. The festival features colorful kite flying and exciting dragon boat races, cultural performances, a lantern festival, plus traditional Asian food, arts and crafts and educational activities. Free to the public to attend.

Welcome to Main Street Days –May 18-20th in Grapevine. Taste the international wines, craft beers and pizza pies. Dine at the Pizza Piazza, dance to non-stop entertainment, seek out your favorite festival food and shop the day away. Free admission on Friday, adults $7, children 6-12 $5, under 6 free.

Taste of Addison–May 18-20th. Enjoy a tasty  weekend of food, music and fun with over 60 Addison restaurants serving samples from their menu at reduced prices, live musical performances, carnival rides & games and children’s area.

Wildflower Festival –May 18-20th in Richardson. A multi-day eclectic arts and music festival featuring three main outdoor stages, a Singer/Songwriter stage, the Wild! Marketplace, the Taste of Texas Food Garden, the family friendly Kidz Korner, and a whole lot more!

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