Hasta La Vista, Lola

Today is a super exciting day…

Misa Ramirez’s new book, Hasta La Vista Lola is being released today!

Misa has been a Burb Mom contributor over the last year and the first author I ever interviewed.  She survived both and wrote a fabulous new book too!

I loved her last book and can’t wait to dive into Lola’s new adventures in this one.

Misa will be appearing for books signings during the next few months all over the metroplex.  Here are some details on an event in Denton:

It is on Friday, February 19th at Barnes & Noble from 6:00 to 7:30.  Please watch for other signings and be sure to pick up the book!

Doing a Drive-By for Red Chicken

I did a drive-by the other day.  No, not part of a gang initiation, but an attempt to take a picture while driving (I don’t recommend this)…with my I-phone (not as high quality as my Minolta, but I had to make do)…while on the opposite side of the freeway from what I was photographing (clearly, I have no aspirations to become a photographer).

Why did I do this?

Because if you live in the vicinity of Denton (or Lewisville) and you haven’t ventured into La Azteca market, I wanted to show you exactly what you’re missing.

This is the shot I got while driving West on i-35.  I was too lazy to drive all the way around and get a better shot.

So, what’s so great about La Azteca?

This:

That’s right, the BEST Red Chicken (that’s what WE call it; they call it fajita chicken) EVER.

You get it in the butcher’s section of La Azteca (in the back of the Denton store).  Pick up a pack of fresh, warm tortillas while you’re there.  They’re in coolers right in front of the meat market.

Then, to prepare, simply grill on an indoor grill pan (in the winter) or outside on your bbq (in the summer), or, if you don’t have a grill pan, just sprinkle some olive oil in a frying pan, sear the outsides, and then continue to cook.

I’m telling you, it is the absolute best chicken around (the secret is the paprika–LOADS of it, but there’s other stuff, too).  I wouldn’t steer you wrong.  So zip by La Azteca Market some day soon and pick up some Red Chicken.  You won’t regret it!

Let’s Go Wassailing

Last night we bundled up the kids and went to the 21st annual Denton Holiday Lighting Festival.

I normally don’t do cold, but I decided to suck it up, bundle up and check it out.

First I had to load up all of the coats, scarves, hats, and gloves that we would need to stay warm.  This is what my front seat looked like when we headed out:

Hubs works one block off of the square in Denton so we met him there to put all of our coats and gear on and headed out to sample wassail.  We stopped at a store and tried their wassail and treats:

Our next stop was the reigning champs of Wassailfest:

After sampling several different wassail which actually tasted pretty much the same we thought it would be fun to take a carriage ride:

The big moment- lighting the Christmas tree and then the surrounding trees.  It was beautiful!

Next we decided to let the kids do some of the kids activities that were there.  This was a great event for kids they had all kinds of things they could do- here’s what we did:

My kids were fascinated by the live nativity scene.

Hubs decided to warm up with some fresh tamales:

Next we really needed to warm up so we went to the Hydrant Cafe:

Baby #1 is obviously way too cool to sit with his family:

They actually have a hydrant mascot which Baby #2 really wanted to pose with:

We went home shortly after our pit stop and it was all worth it because 2 out of 3 kids was asleep by the time we reached home:

We may be adding Denton Holiday Lighting Festival to our list of Christmas traditions.

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!

---

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

Heather writes at Reese’s View Of The World.

Wafflepalooza

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!

More yummy recipes can be found by visiting Rachel at A Southern Fairy Tale where she hosts Mouthwatering Monday .

When Holly isn’t trying to pass off breakfast food as dinner to her family, she is at June Cleaver Nirvana.

Dallas Zoo

Last Friday we had good intentions.  A friend and I agreed to meet at the Science Museum with our collective 5 boys for a morning of fun.

I was 1/2 the way to Dallas when my husband called and said, “Where is this museum?”

“Fair Park.”

“You CAN’T GO THERE TODAY!  It is the Cotton Bowl!”

About that time my friend called to report her husband had just called her with the same information and she was already in a traffic jam on I-30.

We had 5 anxious boys, 1 grandma and 2 very uninformed mommies!

We made a snap decision to go to the Dallas Zoo instead.  The weather was great and we already had sandwiches packed…

The boys were excited to get out of the car and run around.  The zoo was a perfect place for expending child energy.

There is an area where you can buy either worms or birdseed sticks to feed the birds for $1.  All our boys chose the birdseed sticks.  The birds were still on their “winter schedule” so eating wasn’t a high priority, but we had some fun encounters.  Several of the birds kept trying to climb into my purse or up my mom’s coat sleeves.  They were not shy and the kids loved it.

Next time I will encourage buying the worms.  Some of the birds only eat worms and they seem to be a less popular purchase among the zoo visitors.  You don’t actually touch the worms, the birds will eat them out of a small cup that is provided.

The zoo has a huge play area.  It has equipment for kids of all ages.  This spider web was my 5 y/o’s favorite:

There is also slides and tunnels and large eggs to climb into…just a bunch of fun stuff.  Surrounding the play area are several smaller learning centers and the Nature Exchange Center.

All the boys thought this was great.  You can bring in up to 5 items (you collected at home) and trade them for other nature treasures.  There is a point system assigned so it is like a nature store.  There are many things to see and touch even if you (like us) don’t have anything to trade.

This Nature Exchange Center is one of the main reasons we will be returning to the zoo this year–and next time we will be prepared with treasures to trade.

The underground learning area is really unique.  It is dark (and quiet) and has all sorts of animals that live underground.

There is also a tunnel to crawl through to fully experience underground living.

There are also lots of animals at the zoo…

Overall it was a great experience.  We were glad we had missed the craziness at Fair Park and gone to the Dallas Zoo.  It took us about 45 minutes (without traffic) to get there from Flower Mound.  We spent 4 hours, but could have easily spent another hour or two if everyone had the energy!

If you have written about your experience at the Dallas Zoo, please mention the link in the comments.

When Holly isn’t planning trips in the middle of major events, she can be found at June Cleaver Nirvana where being a mommy and blogging is not in the middle of traffic.

Small Fry…Big Deals!

Small Fry Children’s Clothing in Denton, Texas is such a great place to find unique clothing and accessories for your little one. With brand names such as Baby Nay, Baby Lulu, Biscotti-Kate Mack, Le Top, (the list goes on and on), you are sure to find something adorable that you can’t live without.
Considering the ups and downs of our economy over the last several decades, Small Fry has really stood the test of time. They will soon celebrate their 40th year in business under the watchful eye of the original owner, Nancy Cole. She must be doing something right because customers keep coming back again and again. The customer service is superb and you feel like you are part of the family when you enter the small little store located at the corner of Sunset and Anna Street in Denton (just off University Drive).

I always turn to Small Fry when looking for a special outfit for my baby girl, and also back when my son was little. I must say that little girl clothing is definitely the focus here. You’ll find that in the section containing newborn to 12 month size all of the clothing is pretty equally divided between boy and girl, but once you get into the big room the focus is all girly girl…lots of dresses, bows, headbands, tights, bloomers, hats…you name it!

What is really incredible is that my mom used to shop at Small Fry for my clothing back when I was a little girl. I still remember our special trips there for new “school clothes”.

And while it feels great to support such a wonderful, long standing local business, it feels even better to get a great deal. Small Fry’s regular prices are better than anything I’ve found online. To give an example, I found a Baby Biscotti Christening gown for my daughter at Small Fry with a regular retail price of $86.00. The best deal I could find online for the same dress was $100.00 + shipping.

Baby Biscotti White Christening Gown modeled by my baby girl, Summer – (This gown is sold out)

You’ll also find incredible sales throughout the year, and end of season markdowns that you can’t resist.
Head on over to Small Fry Children’s Clothing, and tell Shelby and Nancy hello for me.

Lee Ann is a Design Partner for Javis Davis Custom Bedding.  When not hanging out at burbmom she writes about nursery design, baby products, adorable clothes, safe and environmentally friendly toys and even some photography tips at Meet Me in the Baby’s Room.

Summer Activities for Kids in Denton County

Burbmom.net has been scouring the Dallas-Fort-Worth Metroplex to find summer activities for children.  Luckily there are TONS of options for summer family fun in DFW.  Here is what we have found for the areas in and around Denton County.  The list is long, but I am sure I missed some of the great things that Denton County has to offer.  If you know of anything I missed, please add it to the comments below or email me the information at holly@burbmom.net and I will continue to update!

*drum roll*

Let’s bring on the summer fun:

Abrakadoodle - Remarkable Art Education – classes and camps – Multiple locations in/close to Denton County including Coppell, Flower Mound, and Lewisville

Argyle Young Writers - Various camps from June 27 to August 14 covering topics:  Villainous Viewpoints, Fairy Tale Plots, and Mythologies – grades 3 through 7 – instructor is author Misa Ramirez

Adventure Kids Playcare – Weekly themed summer camps at all locations – June 8 to August 17 – ages 2 1/2 and up – Monday through Friday 10-2 – drop-in care also available

Actors Conservatory Theatre – productions and ACT Summer Camps – grades 1 through 6 – weekly camps include “Who’s behind the Mask?”, “Party with a Puppet”, “Theatre of Trash” and “Whose Line is it? It’s Mine!” – Summer production of THE KING AND I July 10-19 with auditions on May 23, 2009

Applewood Learning Center – themed summer camps and programs that include story time, games, learning activities, crafts and snacks – ages: infants up to age 10 – morning, afternoon, all day and extended day sessions available

Art House – classes and camps – ages 6 and up – camps include: The Land Before Time, Walk like an Egyptian, Back to the Future, Summer of Love, Oil Painting-Impressionist Landscape, Fly Me to Florence 1455, Passport to Paris 1888, Cartooning-American vs. Japan, Fashion Design-Design and Sew American Girl Clothes, Fashion Design-American Designers, and more – weekly half day camps

Austin Ranch – trail rides – Tuesday through Sunday 10 am to 6 pm – starting at $30 – located near Grapevine Mills Mall – call 817-410-6860 for information

Boomer’s Summer Camp by Boomerangs Party and Play - 3 days a week 9 to 2 pm – ages 5 to 10 – featuring Mad Science – activities include: Unlimited Jump, Mad Science Projects, Arts & Crafts, Magicians, Puppeteers, Police Officers, Fire Department and many more – Multiple in/near Denton County locations including Flower Mound, Plano and Hurst locations

CAC – Flower Mound – aquatic program – ages 6 months through adult – multi-level swimming classes, WSI, Lifeguard, Jr. Lifeguard, Aquatic Boot Camp, Kid’s Night Out, Scuba, Dive-in Movies

CAC – Flower Mound – childcare classes - ages 11 through adult – American Red Cross Kid Care Babysitting Class, VBAC, Baby Care Basics, Lamaze Childbirth Education

CAC – Flower Mound – Martial Arts Programs - ages 3 to adult – Lil’ Red Tiger Pre-School, Red Tiger Karate for Juniors, Red Tiger Karate for Adults

CAC – Flower Mound – Music and Art Classes – ages newborn through adult – Kindermusik, Young Rembrandts, Basic Guitar, Ballet/Tap

Castle Montessori Schools - ages 18 months to 9 years – “Magical School Bus” summer adventures – field trips to: The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, The Children’s Theater, Elm Fork Nature Preserve and many more

CAC – Flower Mound – Summer Camps - ages 4 to 13 (check sessions) – Summer Adventure Camp, Garden Art Camp, Summer Day Camp with field trips, Rocket Science Camp including Early Learning, Simple Machines, Science & Technology and Beginning Robotics

Children’s Courtyard – summer care and camps – ages 0 through school age – themed activities, events and field trips: Storybook Summer for preschoolers, Rock ‘n Roll Summer for School age children – multiple locations throughout the metroplex including Lewisville and Flower Mound

Color Me Mine – Summer camps and classes – ages 6 and up – each camp is 9 to 4 with provided snack – camps from June through August – themes include: Fun in the Sun, Birthday Plate, Name Plaque, BFF Plate, Texas, Nature, Christmas in July, Movie Day, Princess for a Week, Bible, Alien and Space and Back to School – Flower Mound location

Coppell Montessori Academy – Summer activities – Daily Dose of Montessori, Calisthenics, Water Mania, Art Studio, Greenhouse, Music, Train Ride, Spanish Classes, Tea Time, Wild About Books, Board Game Mania, Puzzle Mania, Magic Shows and Story Telling

Cornerstone Learning Centers – Ultimate Summer Adventure Camp and Vacation Bible Week – care and curriculum for ages 6 weeks to third grade

Dance Reflections – classes and camps – ages 3 to adult – Ballet, Creative Movement, Tap and Ballet w/ Intro to Jazz, Mini Hip Hop, Beginner/Intermediate/Just for Teens Hip Hop, and other teen-only classes

Discover & Share – camps for grades K-5th – Discover: Green thumb gardening, music melodies and art application; Learn: Spanish, Chinese; Share: Interactive Story Time, Dance/Movement and Cooking – Choose your own adventure day camp – call 972-304-1818

Excite Gym – classes and summer day camps – ages 2 and up – Flower Mound and Highland Village locations – flexible times – themed camps include: splash days, Wall-E Week, Olympics Days, Trampoline Camp, Sweet Treats Days, Sweet and Sassy Days or Sports Week, Kung Fu Days, Small Fry Camp, gymnastics and dance camps

Explorations Preparatory School – Summer Science Camps – grades 1 through 5 – Weekly themed camps that include: Solar Science, Diggin’ Dirt, Oozing and Glowing Worlds, Go Green, Getting Physical, World of Ponds – morning, afternoon or both – June 15 to July 30

Faith Lutheran Day School – Let’s Get Buggy summer camp – ages 3 through 2nd grade – June 22 to 26

Flower Mound Library Book Bingo! – ages teen through adults – Choose from a wide variety of listed books and cross off squares as you read them – prizes!

Flower Mound Library Story Time - continues through the summer with programs for ages 0 through family – check out schedule for details

Flower Mound Library Summer Reading Program – pick up a reading log beginning June 4 and keep track of your reading time. Receive rewards for every 7 days that you read at least 20 minutes a day!

Flower Mound Library Theater on Thursdays - afternoon events for readers – ages 4 (FIRM) and up – shows are at 2 pm and 3:15 pm – tickets are required for admission – FREE – tickets are first come/first serve starting at 9 am the day of the show – there will be activities in the library for kids under 4 to do with their parents during the show

Flower Mound Library Wild About Wednesdays – Wednesday night at 7 pm family story time – check the schedule for age recommendations and program announcements

FM Boys and Girls Soccer Camp – grades 1 to 8 – located at Flower Mound High School – three weekly morning camps – for information email doyled@lisd.net or jacobsonl@lisd.net

FMHS Drill Team Rosettes Mini Dance Camp – K through 8th grade – June 15 through June 19th – Contact Michelle Adams for more information: (972) 724-7808

FM Jaguars Baseball Camp – ages 6 to 14 – weekly camps for different age groups – June 15 to 19

Footlights Dance Studio – summer classes and camps – Flower Mound location

Lewisville YMCA – Camp Yipiyuk & Camp Tikihama – weekly themed day camps – ages 4 to 16 – games, swimming, crafts, indoor and outdoor activities, archery, bb guns, field trips and competitions – June 8 through August 17 – contact Greater Lewisville Family YMCA at 972-539-9622

Flower Mound Taekwondo - classes – ages 4 to adult – Flower Mound location

Hilton DFW Lakes Summer Camps - ages 5-18 – Tennis and weekly themed camps: extreme sports, splash, western, creature feature – swimming, horseback riding, karate, arts and crafts, team building, sports and general recreation games – for registration and information call 817-410-6828 or email Jonathan Shaw at jonathan.shaw@hilton.com

Kidz Art - summer art classes – ages 6 through 12- located in Highland Village – Certified Art Instructor/Small Classes – Contact Cindy Hodge: 972-317-2080 or 214-636-5833

Kindermusik - summer classes – ages newborn to 7 – Flower Mound and Bartonville locations – classes include: busy days, Marvelous Me, Let’s Play, Jazz Kitchen and Giggles

Lewisville Parks and Recreation Summer Tennis – day camps – Jr. Beginner Tennis & Swim Camp, Advanced Beginner/Intermediate Tennis Camp, Advanced Beginner/Intermediate Tennis & Swim Camp, Pee Wee Tennis Camp, Adult Beginner & Advanced Beginner Tennis Clinics

Lewisville YMCA - Summer Aquatics & Sports – swimming lessons, teams and Lifeguard Classes – ages 6 months through adult – baseball, basketball, soccer, flag football, mini-multi sports, lacrosse, FIT girls, volleyball, small fry and buddy sports – ages 3 through 8th grade – Contact Greater Lewisville Family YMCA at 972-539-9622

Liberty Christian School – Summertime at Liberty – ages 4 to 13 – June 8 through July 31st – full-scale summer program:  preschool and lower school camps available – sports, physical fitness, computer, arts and crafts, and other activities to fit the emotional, physical, spiritual and mental needs of your child – Argyle location

LISD – Science Camps – ages 5 to 12 (depending on session) – Weekly themed camps morning or afternoon sessions – Themes include: Rocket Ride to Space, Earth, bubbles, Super Sleuth, Oceans Away 1 and 2, Metamorphosis, Going Buggy, Fun Fossils, Science in the Forest, Robot Mania and Welcome to the Garden

LISD – Music Camps – ages 4 to 12 – Weekly themed camps morning or afternoon sessions – Dough-Re-Mi and Boomwackers

LISD – Drama Camps - ages 6 to 14 – Weekly themed camps – Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Blame it on the Wolf, Kids Komedy Show and Merely Monologues

LISD – Art Camps – ages 5 to 13 – Weekly themed camps – Adventures in Art, Masters Pastel Art Workshop, Drawing and Reading with Eric Carle, Discover Polymer Clay, Austrailian Summer Art Workshop, Mastering Multimedia Workshop, Junior Monster Cartoon Workshop, Cub Scouts Art Badge, Junior Girl Scouts Art Badge

LISD – Lego Camps - ages 5 to 14 – Weekly sessions – Lego Mania, Lego Logo, Lego Science Explorers, Lego Robotics

LISD – Game Camps – ages 5-16 – Game Builder video Game Creation Camp, USA Chess Camp, TGA Golf Camp

LISD – Cooking Camp – ages 4-7 – Camp Kids Cook – morning or afternoon sessions

LISD – Photography Camp – ages 6 to 8 – Fred’s Photo Camp

LISD – School help – Kindergarten Prep, Reading and Writing Skills, Me, My Friends, Munchie Math Time and Read NOW!

LISD – Charm School – ages 4 to 11 – Twi-lite Retreats, Charming Children, Model Bootcamp, Manners Bootcamp

LISD – Fashion Camps – ages 5 and up – Model Makeover, Summer Camp with Barbie, Fashion Designer

Mad Science – hands-on Science Summer Camps – ages 3 to 12 – weekly themed camps: Earth, Bubbles, Super Sleuth, Rocket Ride to Space, Robot Mania – 12 locations in Denton, Collin and Dallas Counties

Marcus Marauder Tennis Camp - ages 6 to 17 – 1/2 day camps with coaches from Marcus – for more information call Coach Langdon at 817-481-2726

Marcus Marquettes Summer Dance Camp – hosted by Alice Dack – grades 1 through 8 – check out website for details and dates

Reading Friends – Summer Enrichment Day Camps – ages 2 through 8 – Lewisville location – camps include: developmental camp, primary and preK camp, Elementary Camp, with weekly themes such as Bugs, Fun with Bubbles, Let’s Cook, Summer is here, Under the Sea, Flowers and Feathers, Bats, Recycling, On the Farm and many more

Soccer Camps by Bobby Moffat – Denton County locations in Lewisville and The Colony for boys and girls 4-16 years old.

Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch -exotic animal care, outdoor survival, games, art projects, restraint and handling, first aid, conservation and more.  Summer Safari (June 8-12 with optional overnight on the 11th) for ages 8-10 and Wild Encounters (June 15-19 with optional overnight on the 18th) for ages 11-13.

Skyhawks Camps - Sports day camps – ages 3 to 15 – basketball, flag football, baseball, mini hawk, beginning golf, volleyball – Flower Mound location: Community Activity Center (CAC)

SoccerTots – summer classes – ages 18 months to 10 years – Child Physical Development Program – Over 80 fun games and activities – 19 indoor facilities

Spanish Schoolhouse – multiple locations in/near Denton County including the NEW Flower Mound location – summer Spanish immersion summer camps – ages 3 to 10 – art, music, games, science, cooking all in Spanish

Studio B Performing Arts Center - classes, workshops, performance opportunities and camps – ages 4 and up – located in Highland Village – Upcoming shows: Alice in Wonderland, Pirates!, Sweeney Todd, The Wizard of Oz, High School Musical 2 – Summer camps: E-I-E-I-Opps!, Sweeney Todd, 101 Dalmations, Pirates!

The Peanut Gallery – summer camps – infants through school age – Programs include:  Baby Signs, Zoo-phonics, Math their Way, Fun with Fitness, Gymnastics, Kindergarten Club, Computers, Spanish, and music

Turning Pointe Dance Studio – classes and camps – located across from Lantana in Bartonville Town Center – ages 3 to 12 – themed camps: Disney, Pop Star, Music Video, Create your own, Hip Hop, Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Modern

WinKids – summer classes and camps – themed camps, martial arts, swimming, dance, gymnastics, sports and music

Young Rembrandts - summer classes and workshops – ages 3 1/2 to 13 – classes: preschool drawing, elementary drawing, cartooning – workshops: Art and Reading with Eric Carle, Australian Summer Art, Junior Under the Sea, Masters Pastel – Lewisville and Flower Mound locations

Websites for Moms in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

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?

BurbMom.net

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.

Around Town Kids

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.

Daily Candy Kids – Dallas

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.

Dallas Child

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.

DFW Area Moms

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.

Dallas – Moms Like Me

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.

Fort Worth Mommies

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”.

Family eGuide

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!

Go City Kids – Dallas

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.

In The Loop Kids

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.

Lila Guide

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.

Metroplex Baby

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.

Metroplex 4 Children

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.

Mom 2 Mom – DFW

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.

Moms MeetUp

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?

Moms Outloud

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.

North Texas Kids

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.

Parent Zone – Dallas

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.

Southlake Moms

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…

The Parent Hive

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.

Art Lab at Irving Arts Center

A few Sundays ago, the Irving Arts Center hosted an Art Lab for children & young adults.

Jessie & I took Reese to see what exactly an “Art Lab” was, and what a neat surprise!

The Arts Center had a large room set aside for the children, & our guide gave us a short introduction to the artist on display in the Museum, Arie Van Selm.

He uses stencils to create his very large paintings, so our guide showed us how to use the stencils & sponges to create our own works of art. Van Selm uses lots of head, bird, & “blob” shaped stencils, and so did we!

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Jessie’s Favorite Painting

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Reese’s Favorite Painting

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My Favorite Painting

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Heather writes of daily life with a homeschooler at Reese’s View of the World.

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