This Friday begins a tasty weekend of fun, food, music, and even more food! In its 20th year, Taste Addison is May 18-20 at Addison Circle Park. While the first word, “food,” can give you an idea of what you can do there, especially with more than 60 restaurants with hundreds of different things to eat. Whether you are looking for something fun like a corndog or more gourmet like a Strawberry Nutella Crepe (must try!), you can find it at Taste Addison. 

Go, Dog. Go. – Saturday & Sunday performances

P.D. Eastman’s classic children’s book comes to life on stage in an exploration of movement, color and space. The dogs delve into life with gusto, creating a visual spectacle for the audience to feast upon. They snorkel. They howl at the moon. They ride a ferris wheel. They sing and dance and climb trees. This is a rollicking free-for-all of chicanine-ery. A big and little musical world of doggy fun. Like a pop-up book that comes to life – and never stops.

Taste Addison is a great way to entertain the whole family. Just make sure you bring cash to feed everyone’s tastes!

Event Details

Taste Addison

May 18-20, 2012

Addison Circle Park

Tickets: $5-$15.$10 “Anytime” tickets are available at any DFW Albertsons stores.  Children 3 and under free. 

Taste Addison website

 

A couple of years ago, my husband Charles and I were sitting around the house  trying to think of something unique we could do that weekend with our son, Jack (who was about eighteen months old and very much into trains).  Charles, who worked in Uptown at the time, suggested the M-Line Trolley – he saw it  roll by his office every day – yet, we had never been for a ride.

It was summertime, which meant it was hot out (wait, this is Texas…that meant it was REALLY HOT OUT), and the idea of sitting in a little trolley car with a toddler didn’t appeal to me…but, for lack of anything better going on at the time, I agreed to give it a try.

My first surprise was that the trolleys are FREE to ride.  My second surprise was that the trolley cars are all AIR CONDITIONED!  Woohoo!  And it turned out my fears about a cranky toddler were unwarranted – Jack was perched on his knees, his nose pressed to the window, oohing and aahing at the cars on the road and the big work trucks we passed as the trolley ambled past more than one construction site (and what kid isn’t fascinated by a construction site with cement trucks and cranes and all of that fun stuff?).

We recently returned to the M-Line trolley for another successful adventure.  Jack is a bit older – his attention span is longer and he’s interested in every. single. aspect. of trolley riding.  We were unable to answer many of his questions (“How does it go?” “Who made it?” “What building is that?” etc. etc.) but the friendly trolley-driver was a wealth of information.

There is lots to see on the M-Line Trolley!

There is a stop right out front of the Starbucks on McKinney (and what fun is a trolley ride without a little caffeine?).  This is where we started our ride, although you could jump on at any of the many trolley stops.  From here, the ride takes you through Uptown (and there’s so much more to see than you realize when you’re driving through), across Woodall Rogers and into downtown – which is where the ride ends (but if you don’t want to get off, stay put – you just turn your seats around – literally – and the trolley heads back the way it came!).

We got off at the last stop and walked around downtown.  The Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center (which has many exhibits outside – the perfect place for a restless toddler to get some exercise while you admire the art) are an easy walk away (bring your stroller or baby carrier if you have a little one!).  And of course, you’re in downtown Dallas – so you have lots of places to choose from should you decide to get some lunch.  The last time we went, we ended up just walking around and enjoying the sights a big city has to offer (mainly, skyscrapers and construction – sure favorites with our three-year-old!).

When you’re done seeing the sights, hop on the trolley and head back to Uptown (if you haven’t already eaten, and have a pizza-loving child with you, may I recommend Grimaldi’s – yummy!).

Before you go, be sure to check out the map (so you’ll know where to get on and off) and the schedule (so you can be sure to plan your trip for a time when the trolley is running).  If you’re like me, and kind of freak about the unknown, you can even learn about *how* to ride the trolley here (mostly, how to signal when you want to stop and helpful little tidbits like that – but I didn’t read the Trolley Riding Instructions prior to our trips and we managed just fine).

Oh!  And don’t forget your camera…kids and trolleys make for some great photo ops!

While visiting the  Trinity River Audubon Center website and looking at the pictures of the majestic oasis of fields and flowers, it was hard for me to comprehend that this type of nature wonderland existed so close to the big city of Dallas. After spending a Saturday there with my two youngest kids, I questioned myself what took me so long to go?

If you are a nature lover, want to get your kids out of the city for a bit, or just need a quiet place for “Me Time,” this is your answer. The area includes bottom-land hardwood forest, wetlands, river, and prairie habitats. You can choose from a variety of trails and experience many different kinds of nature along the way.

As fun as it is for my kids to expend their energy outside in our neighborhood, either by riding bikes, scooters or playing ball, I encourage you as a parent to take them out and experience nature. It brings a type of engaging slow-down that keeps your child’s mind alert while he experiences new things, but also serves as a force of physical stimulation as he walks and climbs to explore new and great discoveries.

The center offers many different programs suitable for all ages. The workshop that I’ll be signing us up for is the “Discover Together Workshop.” You get to choose the date for a two hour workshop of your choice. Choose from Hiking, Beginning Bird Watching, Nature Journaling, Survival Skills & Building an A-frame Shelter and Camping Basics 8 “Leave No Trace.”

The Trinity River Audubon Center is heralded as the first LEED-certified Dallas Park and Recreation Department project. An interesting fact: this project was built on top of 1.5 million tons of illegally dumped construction debris. The waste was consolidated to form rolling hills and tall prairie grass and hardwood trees were planted. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a certification program formed to accelerate the development practices of green building and design.

The Overlook

Making a Caterpillar Friend

When my oldest son was  2, we took him to the Crocs Outlet store in Allen to pick out a pair of shoes.  He wasn’t all that interested until he ran across a pair of green rain boots.  These boots were 3 sizes too big and came up past his knees, but he did not care.  He wanted them.  We tried to talk him into another color that they had closer to his size, but he would not budge.  He wanted the green boots.

These boots were Buzz Lightyear boots.  He could jump higher, run longer, and fly in these magical boots.  He wore them everywhere.  He wore them with jeans, with shorts, when it was 28 degrees, and when it was 108 degrees.  It did not matter, for these boots were magical.  Every time he put them on his feet, he became Buzz Lightyear, and there was no stopping him.

Time passed, and he outgrew these green boots.  He moved on to Cowboy boots because that’s what big boys wear, so the green boots were put away.

My youngest son, who just happens to be 2, found these boots.  The magic must have never left them.  He put them on his feet, 3 sizes too big and up to his knees, and he could run faster, jump higher, and fly in them just as his brother had done.  These are no longer Buzz Lightyear boots, these are now Iron Man boots, and occasionally Dinosaur boots, or Hulk Smash boots.

He wears them everywhere, with everything.  We have bought him expensive tennis shoes, and character shoes that he picked out on his own, but all he wants to wear are the green boots.

We get compliments on the boots everyday.  As silly as he looks, it makes me happy that his imagination is going crazy.  It’s my proof that he is still a little boy, and hasn’t quite grown up yet.

Green Boots!

Be sure to scroll all the way down to enter to win two tickets to Legoland Discovery Center!

We recently visited Legoland Discovery Center in Dallas for the first time. It’s like heaven for Lego loving kids (which my son most definitely is). The highlights of our Legoland adventure…

Learning how bricks are made by the very animated Professor Brick A Brack. 

The children’s play area. Note to parents: be sure to bring socks if you want your kids to enjoy this feature. Mine spent the most amount of time here.

4D movies! We got wet watching Bob the Builder!

A mini Dallas / Ft. Worth made entirely out of Lego bricks. Stay there long enough and you can see it by day and by night.

Saving the princess on the Castle ride!

Legoland Discovery Center has a new ride opening this summer! Check out the details of their new LEGO City: Forest Ranger Pursuit, the first new interactive ride since opening in April 2011!

Children will be able to take part in their own driving adventure as they are let loose upon forest pathways in their own off-road LEGO vehicles to chase robbers who have escaped with gold bars from the City. There will be nine different scenes in which kids free drive around a purpose built LEGO course. Don’t worry if you don’t have a drivers license, you can pick up your very own LEGO License after your adventure! Age and height restrictions apply. This exciting new attraction will be located in a newly constructed space near the LEGOLAND Discovery Café. It is set to open June 1st and annual pass holders will have the opportunity to ride it before anyone else. Details here. There is no additional fee to participate in the driving experience. Entry is included in the overall price of admission.

May 18-20: Main Street Days in Grapevine!

Visit the Legoland Discovery Center tent at Main Street Days in Grapevine May 18-20th to play with LEGO bricks and meet their staff!  If you think you’re a talented LEGO builder, enter the Junior Model Builder contest, where the Grand Prize includes the title of “Junior Master Model Builder!” Click here for more details and to sign up!

Special Price on Annual Passes!

Throughout the month of May, Legoland Discovery Center is offering annual passes for $45 for new buyers and $40 for renewals. (Prices are per person.)

FREE Legoland City Poster!

There’s a special offer going on right now at Legoland. Visit City.LEGO.com and click on Code Breaker. Crack the code by entering LDC1. Click on the bars of gold to see which one is a FREE Lego city poster! Print the coupon and bring it to Legoland Discovery Center to receive a FREE poster with admission.

Want a chance to visit Legoland Discovery Center? Check out how to win 2 tickets to Legoland Discovery Center Dallas!

1st Entry:  Answer this question…

What is your child’s all-time favorite LEGO set?

2nd Entry: Tweet and / or post on Facebook the following…

Enter to #win 2 tickets to @LDCdfw to check out their new summer ride! @TodaysMama http://bit.ly/KmJ7rl

Giveaway is for two tickets to Legoland Discovery Center and is open to U.S. addresses only. Giveaway ends May 21st at 12pm CST when random number generator will choose one winner. Tickets are valid for one time use before July 12, 2012 at the Legoland Discovery Center DFW location ONLY. Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry and be sure I have a way to contact you.

For more posts written by me, visit my personal blog, I Believe In Love.

Legoland Discovery Center on Twitter

Legoland Discovery Center on Facebook

Legoland Discovery Center on the web

It’s time moms take our Mother’s Day into our own hands.  How about we do something we might actually enjoy like getting out of the house doing something fun AND delicious. This weekend, May 12 & 13, just in time for Mother’s Day, DFW has several food adventures along with some much needed free time. Just like every day, consider it Mother’s Day multi-tasking. (If you are the super mom, maybe you can make all three!)

TX Food Truck Festival

May 11 & 12, 2012

Valley View Mall Parking Lot

$5 admission; food purchased are separate and range accordingly so bring cash.

The top food trucks from all over the great state of Texas will be here in Dallas for the biggest food truck festival Texas has ever seen (thus far that is), the TX Food Truck Festival, May 11 & 12. There will be entertainment, bands, arts and craft vendors, bounce houses, free parking, food galore and loads of fun! It’s all for a great cause – proceeds will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, North Texas Chapter. So bring the family, bring your friends and you better bring your appetite! The truck I’ll be riding up to first? Layla, Rockstar Bakeshop – DFW’s Gourmet Whoopie Pie Destination!

The truck I’ll be riding up to first at the TX Food Truck Festival? Layla, Rockstar Bakeshop - DFW's Gourmet Whoopie Pie Destination.Photo courtesy of http://rockstarbakeshop.com/.

Taste n Tour

May 12, 2012

Four homes in Arlington, tour begins at park-and-ride lot at 1000 W. Lamar Blvd.

$50 includes tour, food, and transportation provided by bus company Dan Dippert

A new event presented by Partners of the Arlington Life Shelter (PALS), the Taste n Tour happens in Arlington on May 12. Attendees will travel by bus to four luxury homes each hosting wine and foods from Arlington’s best restaurants including Olenjack’s Grille, Piranha Killer Sushi, Cacharel, Piccolo Mondo, Social Bakehouse, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Gene Allen’s and La Madeleine French restaurant. I can’t think of anything better than to look at beautiful homes while stuffing your face with great food. (This screams girlfriend or mom/daughter alert, so it’s perfect for Mother’s Day.)

The North Texas Beer Festival

May 12, 2012

Irving Convention Center

$20-$125 depending on seminars you want to attend. $30 will get you in the door for most of the event and sampling if you buy it online or $40 at the door.

This event might be a great opportunity for mom and dad to get out together or bring your adult kiddos along for beer sampling and beer education. Paired with seminars including homebrewing and foods that taste even better with the liquid libation, several well-known and not-so-well-known beers are the feature. However, I’ll admit, Whiskey Cake’s demonstration might actually have been drooling more than the thought of the beer.

No matter how you choose to spend your Mother’s Day, here are three ways to toast to you MOM!

Celebrating spectacular visual, performing, cultural and culinary arts over Memorial Day weekend, CityArts Festival presented by Big City Crushed Concrete will return to historic Fair Park May 25 – May 27. Free and open to the public, the three-day event will feature a multitude of festivities for families and art aficionados alike to enjoy against the backdrop of beautiful Fair Park, a national landmark featuring the world’s largest collection of 1930s art deco exposition buildings.

What

Friends of Fair Park and Big City Crushed Concrete present the ninth annual CITYARTS FESTIVAL, Dallas’ premier weekend arts celebration at historic Fair Park returns Memorial Day weekend!

Free festival to feature ARTFEST juried art show, culinary showcase, outdoor films Friday and Saturday night, children’s area, reduced admission to museums, entertainment on multiple stages, art classes, “dancing water” shows, ArtCars and more.

Where

Fair Park

1300 Robert B. Cullum Blvd., Dallas, TX 75210

When

Friday, May 25 – Sunday, May 27, 2012

Friday               6 – 10 p.m.

Saturday           11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Sunday             11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Cost

Admission is free. The City of Dallas charges $10 to park within the gates of Fair Park, or ride DART’s Green Line Rail to the Fair Park or MLK stations. CityArts Festival will run from 6 -10 p.m. Friday (May 25); 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Saturday (May 26); and 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday (May 27). Outdoor activities will take place along the Leonhardt Lagoon, Cotton Bowl Plaza, Promenade, and First and Grand avenues.

ARTFEST, the long-held outdoor juried art show coordinated by The 500, Inc., will showcase fine art and original pieces by renowned Texas and national artists, all while raising funds for cultural arts organizations in the Dallas area. Other weekend highlights will include a culinary showcase; two outdoor film screenings; a children’s area; reduced admission to Fair Park’s museums at select times; entertainment on multiple stages; art classes; antique cars and ArtCars by “cartists” from across the nation; unique gifts, clothing, collectibles and more at the CityArts Marketplace; Bellagio-style “dancing water” shows choreographed to music at the Esplanade Fountain; and more.

Back by popular demand, the Dallas Film Society will host two FREE outdoor film nights at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday on the lawn next to the WRR 101.1 building. Fair Park’s museums will offer reduced admission at select times including the African American Museum, Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park, Dallas Historical Society/Hall of State, Museum of Nature & Science, Texas Museum of Automotive History, and Texas Discovery Gardens. Go to cityartsfestival.com for museum schedules and pricing to be announced.

Spotlighting some of the area’s most famed chefs, the culinary showcase will be the hot spot for foodies and wine enthusiasts complete with cooking demos, samplings, wine pairings, mixing sessions, and wine, craft beer and spirit tastings for of-age guests. Note: Guests must be 21 with valid ID to enter culinary showcase.

The children’s area sponsored by Prudential will feature local prominent arts organizations and nonprofits offering arts and crafts, hands-on activities and family-fun entertainment. Musical entertainment, dance and other performing arts shows will be held throughout the festival on multiple stages, including the main stage sponsored by MetroPCS. At the Magnolia Art Lounge, the Creative Arts Center of Dallas, Artcycletx and other groups will offer art classes appropriate for adults and older children (ages 12+) with hands-on fun including recycled craft projects and other take-home creations. Please note: Space is limited.

For more information, please call 214-421-9600 or go to cityartsfestival.com. For real-time updates, LIKE CityArts Festival on Facebook and follow @CityArtsDallas on Twitter.

For more posts written by me, visit my personal blog, I Believe In Love.

Mother’s Day will be here before you know it, but you don’t have to wait for Mother’s Day to enjoy some “mom time” – the 3rd National Mom’s Nite Out is right around the corner!

Mom’s Nite Out is an evening dedicated to celebrating motherhood.  Most events are hosted at a mall, and you can expect makeovers, discounts, prizes, and a peaceful evening with other moms (well, maybe not entirely peaceful if you attend the event at Firewheel Town Center in Garland…due to hubby’s schedule, I’ll likely be bringing my kids, but I’ll do my best to keep them under control!).

Simon Malls will be hosting this event, which occurs on May 10th from 5:00-8:00 PM, in over 100 locations nationwide.

Enjoy your nite out…you deserve it!

The French Bakery

As parents, we are all looking for the most exciting and memorable spot to host our child’s next birthday party. I have found that spot for you, ZippiDiDa! That’s right! ”ZippiDiDa“!

When you first walk in to ZippiDiDa you know that something is different. Each area is artfully constructed to depict different places around the world. Your child and their best friends will take a trip around the world to help celebrate their birthday.

Start off their birthday journey by decorating their own cupcakes in a French Bakery. Next travel to New York to create your very own piece of art. Asia is the next stop where a face painter or balloon artist will make the party extra special. The last stop is in Hollywood where the stage and lights are set to celebrate your child’s special day and make them the star you know they are. Family and friends can sing Happy Birthday and the karaoke machine is available.

Additional add-ons are offered to their birthday packages, such as creating chocolate covered pretzels and marshmallows in the French Bakery. In New York, your budding fashion designer can play dress-up by “re-designing” their clothes. A hair stylist, nail-technician or Zumba or Yoga instructor can also be added to your fantastic party.

Food can be added on such as a hot dog or popcorn machine. Fruits and veggie trays are available for the healthy minded. Discounts are given for certain size parties given on Monday through Fridays.

Mommy Drop Off Time is also available! Your child will be enchanted with the first step they take into ZippiDiDa. This store is located inside the Stonebriar Center Mall at 2601 Preston Rd., Suite 1252 in Frisco.

On a side note, the front of store, which is called “Choco-coco”, sells the best in children’s apparel that you will not find anywhere else. These brand name collections come directly from Spain, Italy and France.

This past Sunday my family and I decided to take advantage of the nice weather and spent the day at Six Flags.  If anything, I love just walking around and getting in some cardio as I people watch.  Normally when we go, the lines are unbelievably long, so we are pretty picky about what rides we want to go on.  Sunday, however, there were very few people at Six Flags, which called for short or no lines and we were able to ride everything the kids were tall enough for.  As we got off one of the up in the air, spinning rides I came to the conclusion that I was too old to be spun around at a low rate of speed.  My stomach agreed with me.

Because of this thought, I decided I am getting too old.  He are a few other things that have helped me reach the conclusion that I am no longer young and hip.

1.  Being placed in a small metal air plane and spun around as it moves up and down in the air makes me sick to my stomach.  At the same time, any object that spins around without going up in the air, is enough to make my stomach do tricks.  Just looking at a picture of those darn tea cups makes me want to vomit.

2.  Wine is my drink of choice if out and getting my drink on.   Forget the hard liquor.  I’ll leave that for the college crew who don’t care how ungraceful they look.

3.  Walking by Abercrombie and Fitch gives me a headache.  What the heck is that smell anyway?

4.  Music, these days….The radio in my car tends to stay on Radio Disney or XM 90′s on 9.  Most of the other stuff is just noise, and playing it 15 times in an hour isn’t going to make me change my mind about liking it.

5.  If I am not in bed by 9:00, I’m no good the next day.  Sometimes even 9:00 is pushing a bit on the late side.  My husband and I like to plan movie nights where we put the kids to bed and pick a movie to watch.  Within 10 minutes of the movie starting, he’s snoring on the couch and I’ve already started my shower and bedtime routine.

This is a list of only a few things.  It can go on and on, I’m sure.  I working my way up that ‘ol hill.  Before I know it, I’ll have black balloons and streamers on my birthday, and I’ll be shopping for hair color to cover my grey (which I do not have yet, knock on wood).

How I feel at 32