Miracle
September 2, 2010 by Texasholly
Filed under From the Editors
I am married to one of those people that buy any new product in the grocery store. He plots to order anything shown on an infomercial.
Plots?
Ya. I would have to admit to being a little unsupportive in this area of matrimony.
We had the baconwave.
We had that instant counter top meat defroster.
We had several varieties of chopping devices.
HAD being the key word.
I don’t want to reinforce my skepticism, but not all those things are still with us…
Broken.
Ineffective.
Lost (on purpose?).
I take just about any product claim with a supersized grain of salt.
Early in the summer a friend made wildly unbelievable claims about her water bottle – it keeps things COLD all day! When I saw the thermos at the store and saw the price tag, I just slowly backed away.
There is NO WAY a bottle to carry water is worth in excess of $15.
Another friend bought one….peer pressure of the mommy variety set in.
I bought four – one for each boy and one for myself:
So I did a test - I filled it with ice water at around 7:00 am. I then took it on a day trip where we were outside for 5 hours in 95+ degree temperatures and then left it in the car for awhile. I drank all the water. When I reached for it at 6 pm to clean out the container, it clinked.
Clinked from the ice cubes that were still intact inside.
Are you kidding me? Ice cubes intact after 11 hours?
I now use these thermoses to send fruit smoothies for school lunches with my boys. They report that they can even wait until AFTER school to drink the smoothies and they are still cold and yummy.
I am a believer…sign me up for a testimonial in the infomercial.
Enter to WIN $$ for DFW Deals through Juice in the City
August 30, 2010 by Texasholly
Filed under cheap, free & easy, feature, mom
A group of moms in Collin County that love to find great deals for their families have come together over the summer to launch Juice in the City in Collin County.
It launched August 16th and every day there is a new deal for burb moms. You won’t have to drive very far because their deals are focused on moms who live in Plano, Frisco, Allen, McKinney and the surrounding burbs.
And there is more…
Burb Mom is giving away THREE $30 credits to Juice in the City to be used toward the deal of your choice!
And over there your money goes a looooooong way.
To enter:
- Sign up for the Juice in the City daily DEAL email and leave us a comment below that you did. (Note: if you land on the Dallas-Fort Worth page, click on the “Other Cities” tab and go to the Collin County page to sign up).
Want additional entries? (please leave a comment below for EACH entry you completed)
- Post a link to this contest on your Facebook page.
- Send an email to 3 of your DFW friends with a link to this contest (1 entry for each 3 friends emailed).
So, what kind of deals is Juice in the City bringing?
Today’s deal (Friday 8/27):
$75 (70% off ) for a high end professional photo session with Simple Desires Photography.
Let’s face it, getting a five year old to sit still for a photograph is one the hardest challenges out there. So if you’re looking to get some great photos taken of your little ones while they’re still so young and innocent (most of the time), we highly suggest you find a photographer who isn’t into making kids sit like statues! This is why Steve of Simple Desire Photography is superb: he’ll climb all over slides, benches and obstacle courses, allowing your kids to be their energetic selves (even in 90+ degree heat!) and by doing so he gets the essence of his subjects. Why pay for stiff portraits that will always remind you of how stressful that photo session was when you can purchase candid, natural pics you’ll more than happily turn into a shrine on your walls – photos that evoke pleasant memories and show you who your kids REALLY are! And the best thing about this deal is that you will get a CD of your session. Simple Desire Photography services anywhere in the DFW area.
Good luck!
The winners will be notified by email. The contest will end midnight NEXT Friday, September 3. All prizes provided by Juice in the City – Collin County.
A Quick Trip to the Grocery Store
August 1, 2010 by Texasholly
Filed under feature, mom, reality check, stories
My grocery list:
Oh, are you going to the store?
Can you pick up a few things?
Let me just add a few details to my list for you.
Hmmmm…let me be a little bit more specific.
Wait.
I thought of a few more things.
It is kinda confusing.
Let me have that list!
Maybe I should just go myself…
Wafflepalooza
July 26, 2010 by Texasholly
Filed under eat, family, feature
I don’t cook much.
OK, I really don’t cook at all.
BUT I can make a mean waffle. Waffles at our house are a major food group. They take special priority and can occasionally be found at the dinner table.
*gasp!*
It isn’t all bad. The boys enjoy applesauce or a fruit topping on the first one and then the syrup comes out for all to enjoy. They really are good.
A few Christmases ago a family member gave us the fancy barnyard waffle maker. I figure that protein is implied when the kids are eating cows and chickens. The gift is well used. It probably is used more than my oven.
The waffle recipe I use is originally from the Oster Belgian Waffle maker I received for my wedding 17 years ago. I have tried a lot of other recipes, but this is by far my favorite:
LIGHT ‘N CRISP WAFFLES
2 egg yolks
2 cups milk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup oil
2 egg whites, stiffly beaten
Preheat the waffle maker. I separate the eggs placing the whites into a small mixing bowl and the yolks into a large mixing bowl. I add all the other ingredients to the large mixing bowl. I pull out my hand mixer and first whip up the eggs until fluffy. Then mix the other ingredients with the hand mixer until they are combined. I then fold in the egg whites with a spatula.
That is it! Pour the batter into the waffle maker…
Mmmmmm.
Dinner? is served.*
*also works well for breakfast!
When Holly isn’t trying to pass off breakfast food as dinner to her family, she is at June Cleaver Nirvana.
Roanoke Community Pool
July 21, 2010 by Texasholly
Filed under To Do in DFW, feature
A true DFW suburban find are the many community pools that are scattered around the metroplex. These pools are perfect for families with young children who aren’t ready to brave the larger waterparks for summer entertainment.
One of my favorites is the Roanoke Community Pool. It is situated next to the Roanoke library, community center, ball fields and one of the nicest play areas around. The pool and splash area are smaller than some, but it is usually not crowded and…
YOU CAN SEE YOUR CHILD FROM ALMOST ANY POINT.
It was the first pool I felt comfortable taking all three of my boys without additional help. The pool, slide and beach area are heavily life-guarded. The deepest area in the pool is around 4 feet, but there is a large beach entry area for non-swimmers.
There is a larger waterslide for kids that can swim and the little boat pictured above has a small slide for the toddler/pre-school age child. Surrounding the pool are shades covering lounge chairs, picnic tables and gathering areas.
There is a snack bar that serves hot dogs, pizza and a variety of snacks for an extremely reasonable prices.
Oh!
The extremely reasonable pricing starts at the door. Entrance to the Roanoke Community Pool is free for children 8 and under. 8 through adult pay $2 if a Roanoke resident or $6 if not. Yes, a trip for me and my three boys is a grand total of $6.
The picnic area can be used for parties. I have hosted Reid’s birthday party there for the last two years. I call ahead with a head count, leave a list of attendees at the door and pay $2 per party participant. This year I had a local pizza place deliver right to the pool – CHEAP, EASY & FUN.
This is Rhett’s favorite area. He just likes to chill out while sitting on a dinosaur.
The Roanoke Community Pool is open 11 am to 7 pm Tuesday through Friday, Saturday 10 to 7 and Sunday 1 to 7. The pool is closed on Mondays.
5 TV Shows You Will Find on My TiVo
July 19, 2010 by Texasholly
Filed under From the Editors
- The Closer – This is hands down my favorite show. It has intelligent people acting intelligently. It also has a strong quirky factor which I can appreciate.
- Project Runway – This is reality TV at its best. A simple challenge, process, drama and conclusion all within an hour. Since the finished product is on display for all to see, it is fun to judge at home and see if the real judges agree.
- Top Chef – I am amazed how addicting this show is even though I can’t taste the food. I can’t cook, but I have a huge appreciation for those who can.
- Psych – I recently started watching this show and I find myself giggling through the whole episode. It is kitschy, silly and over-the-top.
- Glee – I might just break into a musical number thinking about how much fun it is to watch this show.
What is on YOUR TiVo?
Win a VTech VReader – but hurry!
July 14, 2010 by Texasholly
Filed under From the Editors
I am really excited that for the next 24 hours I am hosting a giveaway on June Cleaver Nirvana for a VTech Animated VReader.
It is super easy to enter.
Just click here and check it out…good luck!
Go!
Really!
if you give a kid a cookie
July 7, 2010 by Texasholly
Filed under From the Editors
Before I had children, I loved the Laura Numeroff books.
***
If You Give a Moose a Muffin
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
If You Give a Pig a Pancake
***
Now they just hit too close to home to be funny.
My children are the Moose, the Mouse and the Pig.
Click here to read the rest of the story over at June Cleaver Nirvana.
P.S. That picture is taken at the BRAND NEW SUPER COOL COMPLETELY GREAT Westchester Park in Flower Mound.
Just a few Random Thoughts in Summer
July 1, 2010 by Texasholly
Filed under From the Editors
Well…it is probably more than a few.
If few is actually three or more.
Although, the more should cover it.
Summer has been busy. More busy than the school year. Is that possible?
It is probably because I have a tendency to NOT schedule stuff. It seems so permanent when I enter it on my calendar…so anti-spontaneous. This sans schedule tendency is NOT conducive to taking care of multiple children. Probably wouldn’t even work if I only had one.
Rare is the activity/camp/VBS/etc. which accommodates ALL three of my kids. Which means they are split up. Which means there are more moving parts. More moving parts means that there is an increased chance of breakage and loss, i.e. Holly driving all over town in a silver minivan with a big BurbMom.net sticker on the side.
I know my life is glamorous.
This week my older two were in golf camp and my youngest was subjected to the mind numbing boredom that is mommy’s attention at home. It actually turned out good because he is a helper. We sorted through all the toys.
All the toys.
I repeat.
All the toys.
This is not a simple task. No toy in my entire house was hanging out with their like kind.
Bin after basket after drawer after shelf went a little like this…
One lego.
One book.
One tinker toy.
A beanie baby.
Two more legos.
A Happy Meal toy missing a wheel.
A Hot Wheel.
A Lincoln Log.
A Magnet.
and so on…and on…and on…
What has resulted after three days of intensive organizational therapy is a garage full of “baby” toys and two trash cans full of things that were broken, lost and generally not in any shape to give away. Please do not speak of these two trash cans with my children. They need not know they exist.
Which reminds me to give out this general warning…
DO NOT GO SEE TOY STORY THREE IF YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR TOY OVERHAUL.
If you do, like I did, then you will feel BAD and SAD for all those toys that you are casting off. Toys have feelings too?
I did find it a little ironic that one of the toys that has been left out of play and put in the donation bin was Buzz Lightyear. Maybe it is because we didn’t have Woody.
Anyway, the toys are now sorted and everything has a place.
Whew.
Summer time is work. I need a vacation from summer.
Websites for Moms in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
June 30, 2010 by Texasholly
Filed under cheap, free & easy, feature, mommy tech 101
One of the things I LOVE about being a mom in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is that there are tons of things happening. There are places to go and people to see. This is not limited to in real life (IRL) experiences . There is an ever-growing list of online resources for moms in North Texas. These are websites tailored for what moms want and need here in DFW.
Of course…
*drum roll*
*rim shot*
*deep announcer voice*
We will begin with BURB MOM!
really, what did ya expect?
What is inside: Burb Mom is a website that has new daily content for moms in the Dallas-Fort Worth ‘burbs. It is like that that girlfriend that everyone needs that knows stuff – you know the friend you call when you need an electrician, a hair dresser, or a night out. She may not know the answer to your question, but she will definitely have a contact name for you. She is also the kind of friend that totally understands being hung up in the middle of a conversation because a child in the background yelled, “Mom, I just pooped!”
Stuff I like: Beyond the daily informational stories about mommy stuff in DFW, there is silliness. Funny stories about moms and families that happened right here in North Texas. Burb Mom is a great way to connect with your Dallas-Fort Worth ‘burb on a mom’s schedule…2 minutes here, 7 minutes there…even at 1 am.
What is inside: Around Town Kids is a website with a calendar of activities for kids in Plano, Frisco, McKinney and Allen. There is also information about each city, resources for parents, coupons and a directory.
What I like: The calendar at Around Town Kids is super easy to use. Each city has it’s own calendar so the information isn’t overwhelming.
What is inside: Daily Candy Kids – Dallas is part of the Daily Candy family of websites/e-newsletters for 5 major world cities. The Daily Candy Kids – Dallas is updated weekly with something unique for kids.
What I like: I love Daily Candy and receive all the daily email articles for Dallas. The look of the website is great and there is always something funky and off the beaten track featured. It isn’t really for kids…it is for the moms.
What is inside: Dallas Child is a part of the family of websites that include Fort Worth Child, North Texas Child and DFW Everything Family. Each website features the latest Child magazine plus website-only stories.
What I like: I love the look of the Dallas Child website. I also like that the stories are written by experts right here in Dallas-Fort Worth.
What is inside: DFW Area Moms is a forum-based website. Members sign up to participate in discussions of just about anything related to mom, family, work and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Regular membership is free, but members may upgrade for $20 a year after a trial period.
What I like: I am a member of DFW Area Moms under the name Texasholly. I like that it is an active forum with quite a few members participating on a daily basis.
What is inside: Moms Like Me is a discussion site for moms. I first heard about it when vacationing in Colorado where they were doing a lot of TV and newspaper advertising. There have over 100 local sites within the US and one of them is here in DFW.
What I like: I am a member of Moms Like Me under the name Texasholly. I like how easy it is to navigate the site and find what discussions interest me.
What is inside: The Fort Worth Mommies website is part of the Mommies Network of 95 websites nationwide. The site has news and mom-related stories on the front page and a discussion community where members can participate.
What I like: I am a member of Fort Worth Mommies under the name Texasholly. The website is a non-profit organization “dedicated to helping parents find support and friendship in their local community”.
What is inside: Family eGuide is an extremely comprehensive calendar of family events for the North side of the DFW metroplex. At the website you can sign up for a weekly e-newsletter which is an organized overview of what is happening close to home.
What I like: I love the Family eGuide. So much so that we are coordinating some future content exchange with Family eGuide in the near future! YEAH. If you are not on their email list…go now and sign up!
What is inside: Go City Kids is part of Nickelodeon’s Parents Connect Network of almost 50 local websites. The website has information about local activities, events and a directory of services. There is also a parent discussion forum.
What I like: I am a member of the Parents Connect network under the name Texasholly. Besides the discussion groups, there is a lot of local information on this site about things happening in the metroplex.
What is inside: In the Loop has been in the loop via email for over a year. July 2009 they launched their first website. The website provides general information about all things Dallas Mommy plus upcoming events.
What I like: My favorite part of the newly constructed site was the series of recipes for kids by local chefs.
What is inside: The Lila Guide is part of The Bump network of 25+ local websites for parents across the country. There are local reviews, events, groups and online message board for parents.
What I like: I am a member of this message board under the name Texasholly. I like the modern, yet retro look of the website.
Mamasource – various DFW groups
What is inside: Mamasource is the ultimate mother forum. Moms sign up at the main website, enter their zip code and each morning they receive an email of 8 selected requests from the last 24 hours. Requests are questions from local moms. All you have to do is click on whatever request you want to answer and you are transported to the website where you can add your 2 cents. Mamasource is also behind the new website Mamapedia which will be compiling popular questions and answers into an encyclopedia-like format.
What I like: Mamasource is simple. I have been a member for over 2 years – under the name Holly H. in Flower Mound. It is so simple that I was interacting online with other local moms regularly on mamasource long before I started blogging. I have answered almost 200 questions. I love that there is tons of local interaction. It is part information and part soap opera.
What is inside: Metroplex Baby & Kids is a website for “MetroMoms”. It has a calendar, list of events, area directory, and a social network where moms can connect with each other and post to forums.
What I like: I am a “Metromom” under the name Texasholly. The network has current and frequent postings. I like that on member home pages they can display RSS feeds – this is one of the few local online networks that allow this.
What is inside: The Metroplex 4 Children website is a part of the Kirace.com family of websites. They have locations in several Texas and Wyoming cities.
Modern Babies and Children – DFW
What is inside: Modern Babies and Children is the website for the complimentary local magazine by the same name. Dallas-Fort Worth is one of 6 locations that currently has Modern Babies and Children websites/magazines. The magazine is published three times a year and can be read online. There are also resources, an event calendar and articles to read.
What I like: I like that the resource directory is broken down by child age and that grandparents are one of the targeted audiences of this site.
What is inside: Mom 2 Mom – DFW is a Fort Worth Star Telegram website for moms in the metroplex. There is new daily content from 11 featured bloggers that rotate days. Members of the Mom 2 Mom online network can also post blogs which can be featured as well.
What I like: I have been a member of Mom 2 Mom for almost 6 months. They have made some changes lately that make it much easier to navigate the network and post things easily. I am Texasholly there and write under the “June Cleaver Nirvana” blog. I really like that they allow full blog posts with links which is why I contribute to this site occasionally. I also appreciate that there is new content daily that is not dependent on a parent forum.
Moms Blog – Dallas Morning News
What is inside: Dallas Moms Blog is a feature of the Dallas Morning News website. It is updated on a daily basis and has information about Dallas specific to moms.
What I like: There are interesting and informative pieces about family life in Dallas written by local reporters.
What is inside: MeetUp is a website that connects online groups to in real life groups. You enter your location and a type of groups for which you are searching and a list appears in order of how close the group is to you. The screenshot above is Mom MeetUps near Flower Mound.
What I like: I love finding out how far away something is from me. I also am impressed with the variety of groups that are available. There is everything from exercise, playgroups, supper clubs, scrapbooking, etc….kickball for moms, anyone?
What is inside: Moms Outloud is a website and online network for moms in North Texas. Moms become members and create a profile that allows them to add reviews, post to forums and share information. Moms Outloud also has an extensive calendar of events for families in DFW that is featured monthly in North Texas Kids magazine.
What I like: I was one of Moms Outloud’s first members (under the name Texasholly). The site offers a lot of good information including area business reviews that isn’t available anywhere else. The calendar is very comprehensive. Moms Outloud often features DFW moms and their inspirational stories. Rebekah, the founder of Moms Outloud also writes at My Kind of Mom.
What is inside: North Texas Kids is the website for the North Texas Kids magazine. You can read the magazine online or view their calendar of things to do in North Texas. They also list summer camps in DFW. North Texas Kids also hosts periodic events for moms in the area.
What I like: You can sign up for a monthly newsletter which will give you the inside scoop for upcoming events and contests.
What is inside: Parent Zone is one of almost 75 local websites in cities across the United States. Dallas is one of their newest. Each site has a local tour guide who oversees the members who are invited to add listings and events. There is a calendar of event where all the added events are listed.
What I like: Parent Zone is easy to navigate and join. It appears to be a relatively new site (still listed as beta), yet has some information which is unique to its site. I am a member under the name Texasholly.
What is inside: Southlake Moms is an online forum for moms in the town of Southlake. Members post and answer questions related to family life in Southlake. There is a directory, calendar and classified area.
What I like: The website has a nice look. I am a member under the name Texasholly. I hope they don’t mind too much that I live 10 minutes out of Southlake…
What is inside: The Parent Hive is a website and online network for DFW parents. There are articles, events, a calendar, online groups and forums. The site is very new and still listed in beta form.
What I like: I am signed up as a member under the name Texasholly. I like that there are rewards for interaction in the social network that can be redeemed for prizes.
WHEW!
I think that is all of ‘em. If you know of a website specifically for moms in the DFW metroplex, please mention it in the comments below. I will check it out and add it.
