Share the Love on Valentine’s Day

Between you and me, sometimes I long for the days of yore. The days when I sat at my desk eating a vanilla-iced cupcake topped with Red Hots. The days when my friends and I plucked as many heart-shaped sugar cookies from a tray as we wanted. The days when classmates tucked Valentine’s Day cards in my shoebox, the shoebox I had carefully decorated with construction paper. Those were the days, don’t you agree?

But today: Today could also be the day. Because today, I have something to share with you. It is FREE. In this economy, you probably like free as much as I do. It is design-y. Which is better than those Hello Kitty and Dora the Explorer-themed V-Day cards at the store. And it is homemade. And I think we can all agree that homemade is best, be it food or crafts. (Except maybe that chocolate souffle. If your skills are anything like mine when it comes to souffle, we should just leave that to the professionals.)

Now, I may be biased because my husband, Roger, created the “soulmate” stop motion animation with me in mind. But I’m not selfish! I’m happy to share these sweet love notes with you, and for you to share them with those YOU love. Because that’s what Valentine’s Day is for: to give sweet nothings with the ones you love. So Happy Valentine’s Day to you – won’t you be mine?

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Jessica has been married to her best friend, Roger, for almost six years. She blogs about their life together at Chirky.com.

Bloggers’ Night Out: It’s Tea Time!

If you’ve got the evening of Thursday, January 21st open — and I hope that you do — plan on hanging out with other social media lovers at a networking event in Dallas. We’re heading to Village Tea Company (located at Preston/Forest), who is hosting us with a light dinner, a variety of gourmet teas, goodie bags, and a guaranteed great time!

We’d love to meet you there, but space is limited. If you plan on attending, RSVP to jes@blogher.com so we can get you on the list today!

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Jes is a new mom to four-month-old Rayah, who prefers sleeping in the evenings over drinking tea. But she’ll be happy to show you pictures of her adorable daughter if you ask. And maybe even if you don’t ask. Beware.

Reindeer Food

Sprinkle on the lawn at night

The moon will make it sparkle bright

Santa’s reindeer fly and roam

This will guide them to your home.

Last year one of Ryan’s friends sent home reindeer food as a gift to classmates.  I thought it was a really creative and fun gift.

The reindeer food was packaged in little baggies tied with ribbon.  Each bag had this little poem, and a mixture of raw rolled oats and glitter.

When Christmas eve arrived we chose what we thought to be the best place to land reindeer in our yard.  It turned out to be below the boys’ bedroom window.  The boys vowed to stay up all night and watch for Santa’s landing…

WHO THREW THE ANVIL?

I have noticed that every once in awhile I have “yelled” something unusual at my kids.

And by “yelling” I mean a hasty order with a slightly raised voice out of pure exasperation.

I first documented this phenomenon almost two years ago with the following phrase.

“Take the baby’s shoes out of the fridge!”–Holly, November 21, 2007

Yep, that is pretty unexpected, but I think I have topped that with this:

“Who threw the anvil?”–Holly, November 2, 2008

I might even dare to say that no one in the history of the world (outside of maybe an ACME cartoon character) has ever said those words.

Why does Holly own an anvil?

I don’t own an anvil. It is Ryan’s anvil.

Why does Holly’s oldest son own an anvil at the ripe age of 7?

He got it for Christmas a few Christmases ago.

Oh. What?

Yep, when Ryan was 5 he got an anvil for Christmas. He opened the gift and said, “Oh good! Just what I wanted!”

It was true. The anvil topped Ryan’s Christmas list that year. He was really into breaking rocks into smaller pieces with a hammer. He was sure that if he broke enough stones he would find a diamond.

When you use a hammer on stones, it is best to have an anvil. His anvil arrived from grandparents who also included protective eye wear. Overall it was his favorite gift.

So back to the anvil flying through the air…

Me: Who threw the anvil?

Ryan: Uhhhh…it was an ACCIDENT!

No one accidentally throws an anvil.

I did.

How?

I was holding it above my head and my arms got tired.

Alright. I think there is a new house rule that anvils stay on the ground.

It just occurred to me that strange phrases yelled at my kids often result in even more absurd rules…

Lobster Bisque and a Cherry Slurpee

Have you ever stopped on the road for lunch or dinner and gotten gas?

Gasoline, that is.

If not, you’ve been missing a real treat in Watauga. Inside the Conoco gas station accolades from food critics and newspapers line the walls of Chef Point Cafe and even Guy Fieri from Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives has been there.

I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical when my good friend and fellow foodie, Pam, suggested we meet for lunch at a gas station. In Watauga. As she told me about some of the entrees, my curiosity was peaked. Was it really possible to get Cioppino Soup or Lamb Chops with a brown mint sauce while just outside beyond the door the gas pumps were cranking out premium unleaded? I had to find out.

I had heard of Watauga, but I had to get out the Mapsco to find it.  (Answer: State Road 377, a little South of Keller.)  As I crossed the Tarrant County line, I wondered what I would find.  Would this be some kitschy thematic diner in the back of a gas station, or would I arrive to find the eatery in the same strip mall as a filling station, not really sharing the same space?

Let me fill you in folks.  This is the real deal.  There, on the north side of Watauga Boulevard, is a large red and white Conoco sign.  As I pulled into the establishment at 12:15, cars and trucks were busy filling their tanks with gas.  The front lot was jammed but behind the building I found a few spaces.

When you open the double doors you’ll notice a regular gas stations convenience store on the right.  Beyond the rows of candies, gums, and assorted beef jerkies is the refrigerated section with waters, and sodas, and just past that, the slurpee machine.  But the scene is quite unexpected if instead, you look left.  A dry erase board lists the specials of the day with entrees as varied as Oxtail over Dirty Rice to Chicken and Waffles.  Small red tables cluster together, as sights and yummy smells from the open kitchen permeate the dining area.

I have to say, I am a sucker for daily specials at any restaurant.  I always imagine the chef at the farmer’s market that morning finding something unexpected and planning a dish around it for the daily special.  Sometimes, I’ll even give the waiter my two or three top choices, and tell him to let the chef pick my dinner.  So although it may sound pedestrian, I chose the Chicken Pot Pie.  For starters, I couldn’t finish it, it was so huge.  The flaky pastry that smothered the top of the bowl, and hung down the sides was scrumptious.  I thought I tasted a bit of tarragon in the creamy sauce, but the chef swears it was simply French Basil and Parsley.  No matter, it was delicious.

My lunch companions had the Butternut Squash Curried Pasta and Scallops (also a special) and the Crabmeat Stuffed Pork Chop in an Asiago sauce over Angel Hair. Both were fabulous!  For dessert we split the highly anticipated Bread Pudding in Hot Cognac Sauce, and I must be honest, we were all a little disappointed.  It was rich and creamy, but nothing unusual.

Aside from the inspired dishes of this restaurant, the ambiance is a kick!  The table next to us held 3 workers from a local factory who were munching on burgers as big as your head, a monte cristo sandwich and fries.  The diners behind us were dressed to impress and were noshing on Lobster Bisque and what looked to be the Hawaiian Salmon special.  All the while very serious chefs moved about in a kitchen that was less than 5 feet away from us, creating plate after plate piled high with mouth watering dishes.  Michael Buble played softly in the background as I noticed a monster truck with king cab and duelies peel out of the parking lot.  I really felt like I was in a scene from David Lynch’s Twin Peaks.

Nevertheless, next time you find yourself hungry in Tarrant County, stop by the Chef Point Café in Watauga.  Fill your gullet or fill your gas tank, and before you leave, grab a slurpee for the road.

Grapevine, Texas… It’s the Little Things.

It’s easy to get excited about Grapevine, Texas. Of course for those of us from the great city of Flower Mound, the best part is that it is right next door.

There are some big things to get excited about…there’s the Gaylord Texan and the Great Wolf Lodge, each of which can and have necessitated entire posts to themselves. Not to mention, my wife and I were married at Delaney Vineyards, that fact alone makes the entire city a national treasure. Or at least, infamous.

My wife loves the boutique scene on Main Street in Grapevine, tons of quaint little shops and restaurants to enjoy on a leisurely shopping day. Of which we have SO many. Please attempt to wade through my sarcasm.

My daughter, on the other hand, was invited to a birthday party this year at Let’s Pretend. She got to dress like a princess, eat cupcakes and drink tea, and I’m fairly certain she now thinks this city is better than wherever Mickey Mouse was born. Or Hanna Montana. Whatever.

But for my son and I, the appeal of Grapevine lies in the details…and there are many. To drive too quickly by, or even through Grapevine, you would miss most of the history and accents of this quaint place. The streets are loaded with stories of what and who created it, and plaques and statues dot the landscape awaiting anyone with the time for a treasure hunt.

So, as my 2 year old son would say, if he could, start your adventure with a stop at Kountry Donuts. In fact, start EVERY adventure with a stop at Kountry Donuts. Got a dentist appointment? Make sure you leave time for one of the two drive thrus. Got a morning to fill? Fill it with a Bavarian Creme, and go inside. This deep-fried Mecca may not look like much from the outside, but inside, they are making dreams come to life.

And then, start walking. Share your donuts with the gentleman on the bench.

Think about the folks who found this area,

And those who made it what it is today.

I promise you, you will find something in this place that speaks to you.

Jay Lessons is a novice ‘burb daddy, a husband-in-training, and a sarcastic elitist. You can find more of his reflective rants at HalftimeLessons.com.

Corny Dogs and Pig Races: The State Fair is back in Town

Let’s be honest.  If there’s one thing that we Texans love most about our state, it’s autumn.  The kids are back in school and nighttime temperatures dip into the 70’s.  We begin to forgive and forget the oppressive heat our great state has just dragged us through.  It’s like what they say about childbirth.  Once that beautiful baby is in your arms, you forget all the pain.  October in Texas, is the beautiful baby.

With limitless sunny days and humidity a forgotten foe, our spirits lift as we once again, step outside to explore the world beyond air conditioning.  Sure, we still throw on shorts and tees, but we dare to toss a cardigan or a sweatshirt in our truck.  Texans are usually hospitable folks, but when the temperatures get cooler, they’re downright genial. My husband thinks I’m crazy, but I swear that drivers are friendlier on the fall roads.  I see less “speed-up-to-cut-in-front-of-you-moves” followed by pantomime cursing and more “go-on-ahead-of-me-nods” with acknowleding wave-backs.  Aint life great?

Armed with the knowledge that you’re less likely to be a victim of road rage in the fall, I’ve got a suggestion for you.  Load up the troops and head on down to the Great State Fair of Texas!

Now I personally know some of you who think the place is filthy, the people are trashy, and the food is unhealthy.  You’re right on all three counts!  It’s a fair, for goodness sake!  There aren’t supposed to be white table cloths, everyone looks like trash by the end of the day covered with a thin layer of Texas dust, and no one ever promised that a helping of fried butter (you read correctly) or fried coca-cola (yummy, I swear) was going to be good for you.  But I beg you to think less of how much antibacterial hand wash you’ll need, and more about the great memories you could create with your family.

I grew up in Indiana, and every year my mom and dad and I went to the State Fair.  Sure, it’s not as big as the Texas State Fair, but there’s just as much fun to be had.  We always went to the different barns to check the prize-winning animals.  The world’s largest hog was a big draw, the sheep smelled horrible, and the different horses were beautiful.  My dad and I rode a few of the rides, while my mom watched from the sidelines.  The tractor pull was always fun to see, as well as the exhibits in the different halls sprinkled throughout the fairgrounds.  Junk food was devoured.  Lemon shake-ups, elephant ears, and sweet roasted corn on the cob were favorites, but we never once left the fairgrounds without an Italian sausage sandwich or two.   These are great childhood memories for me, and I’m sure if you take your kids down to Fairpark in October, you can create some fun yearly traditions and fond memories as well.

Head to the fair in the late afternoon or evening if possible.  The crowds are lighter, and much of the good entertainment gets started when the sun goes down.  No matter the age of your kids, don’t miss the Pig Races.  Even college aged big kids find it hard to be cool when the dressed up oinkers hit the track.  Same goes for the stunt dog show and herding demonstration, those dogs know how to work a crowd.  From here, make your way over to the rides.  I’ve learned from experience that an empty stomach makes for a more pleasant ride.  Be sure to hit the Texas Star Ferris Wheel, which is so big it can be seen miles away; it’s a beautiful ride at night.  Everyone enjoys the Starlight Parade which begins at 7:15 nightly and is kicked off with the ever impressive U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps.    Colorful floats wind through the fair with costumed characters and moving lights.

Next, I’d go for some good food, and I’ll throw in a tip for free.  Never buy two of anything!  There is so much food to sample at the fair; the idea is to taste a variety, not to get filled up on one thing.  It’s almost sacrilegious to leave the State Fair of Texas, without eating a Fletcher’s Corny Dog, so be sure to hit this famous booth.  This year’s winning fried entries promise to be yummy, so I’ll be trying both the Fried Butter and the Fried Peaches and Cream.

My hubby will want to check out the Classic Corral’s selection of vintage autos.  Each night a different local group displays their beauties, and owners chat with car enthusiasts.  Boys of all ages, including some husbands, will want to stop by East Park Plaza to hop in a simulator and play the video racing game Forza.  This highly anticipated game won’t be released until November, but Texas fairgoers can take their turn in October.

There’s so much to see and do, and a whole month to accomplish it. Take time in October to enjoy the cooler days, spend time with your family, and relish the slower pace of a fair.  Build some memories with your kids and remember another reason why you love this state.  Be sure to tell Big Tex I said, “Howdy!”

North Texas State Fair & Rodeo…Worth A Short Trip!

Every year, Reese & I make a visit to the North Texas State Fair & Rodeo in Denton.  There are a few reasons we return every year.  One, it’s in Denton.  Denton is smaller and closer to my house than driving all the way to Dallas.  Two, the North Texas State Fair is much smaller & more manageable…I have always wanted to try the “real” Texas State Fair, but it’s just so BIG and intimidating to me.

We have gone for the past three years & will return again next week for our annual fill of carnival rides, corny dogs, & singing the National Anthem!

Some great hints:

• Go on a weeknight.  They open at 6pm (see the website link to verify time) and there is parking right across the street for $5 cash.  We arrive about 6:00 every time, park the car, and take a walk across the street, directly to the entry booth.  Easy peasy!

• Buy an all-you-can-ride midway wristband.  Tickets are $20 for 24 tickets, or $1 per ticket (CASH only).  Each ride costs at least 3 tickets (gah!) and the ferriss wheel cost 5 tickets!  That means taking my boy on just the ferris wheel set us back $10.  Ouch…double ouch!  Every year, I buy a $20 sheet of tickets and they are gone in no time.  This year, we are spending the extra bucks for wristbands ($30 each) for unlimited rides.  The way I see it, we can ride and ride and ride, and the more we ride the better value our wristbands become!  Heck, three spins on the Ferris Wheel with my boy & they’ve paid for themselves!

• Bring CASH.  Some of the food vendors accept credit cards, but the carnival midway is strictly cash, and if I recall correctly, the admission ticket booth also only accepts cash.  You can also purchase your admisssion tickets online for a discount.

• There are LOTS of free things to see & do!  The petting zoo in the kids’ area is free ($1 for a feed cup), and there are lots of activities in the Kiddie Area that don’t cost anything.  They have live music, and of course the rodeo.  If you get there close to opening, you can also see the livestock show inside the barns.  There is also a great exhibit hall with vendors, more food, and the Creative Arts contest.  Reese entered a piece of art this year, & I entered a paper-coil bowl I created as well!

We have always gone on a weeknight, so I don’t know if a weekend evening would have more college kids or not.  But every time we’ve gone, it has been a low-key crowd with friendly people and great fun!

So, below, is the post I wrote after our fun at the fair last year.  Hope to see you there…we’ll be going on Tuesday night!

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Reese & I had our annual date to the North Texas State Fair & Rodeo:

Heather writes at Reese’s View Of The World.

For Those Left Behind at School Time

In all the hustle of getting two boys prepared for going to school, I have not forgotten the voice of my three year old.  OK, to be honest, his voice is loud and not easily forgotten. He has voiced his dread.  He is dreading his brothers going back to school.  He is dreading being the ONLY one stuck home with mom.  As the third child he has no concept of doing anything alone.  I am excited because I have some day trips planned over the next few months which will convince him that he is the LUCKY one.

There are so many fun things to do in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and here are a few of my favorites to visit with toddlers and preschoolers:

1.  Dallas Arboretum – This will probably be one of our first outings because throughout the month of August admission is just $1 during the Arboretum’s Dollar Day promotion.  The Dallas Arboretum continues to host an amazing exhibit of 14 Storybook Playhouses through the month of December.

There is plenty of shade throughout the gardens and little ones might want to wear their swim trunks because the frog fountain is too enticing to pass by.

2.  Forrest Park Miniature Railroad – This short train ride has been a favorite of my boys for years.  It is located just outside the Fort Worth Zoo parking entrance and winds for 45 minutes through Forrest Park and across the Trinity River.  It makes one stop for popcorn and time to stretch little legs.  The ride length is perfect for toddlers.

3.  Museum of Nature & Science in Fair Park – The hands-on learning experiences at the Children’s Museum at MNS is so fun for the kids they don’t even notice the learning part.  There are dinosaurs, bubbles, a water table, dress-up, a “working” farm, ant tunnels, hot air balloons, and so much more.  It really is easy to spend the entire day.

4.  River Legacy Science Center and Park in Arlington – This is one of those places I am so glad that we found.  It is an incredible, FREE place to take kids.  It has a museum that has all sort of information about rivers and the animals that call rivers home.  The trails that around the center are short, well-kept and kid-friendly.  There is a HUGE park next door to the RLSC.

5.  Texas Native Forest Boardwalk at The Fort Worth Botanical Gardens – I know that this doesn’t SOUND kid-friendly, but it is.  The boardwalk is a raised trail through the Texas forest.  Along the trail are learning stations that range in subject from bird calls to whether trees poop.  See, I told you it was kid-friendly.  It has amazing stroller-ability and is completely shaded.  If you cross the little road and follow the path to a stone gazebo, you will come to a fountain that is as close to kid heaven as we have found in the metroplex…

Do you think I will convince him that it isn’t so bad to be the one left behind?

FREE! Open Gym at WinKids in Highland Village

Come out to play at WinKids in Highland Village on August 13th from 12:30 – 3:00 pm.  Recommended ages for this event are 12 months to 12 years.

Supervised activities for children include: open gym play, open swimming and gymnastics and various group activities such as games, trampolines, music, a children’s movie theater and more!

To attend the event, you must be a member of Playin’ Around Town and you must register in advance for this event.

Parents, at the event you will be able to see the new Chevrolet Equinox and Camaro (just like in Transformers)!

This particular event is hosted by Playin’ Around Town, and will be sponsored by both WinKids and Chevrolet.  Come out all day and participate in the hourly drawings for door prizes from the sponsors.

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