Win Tickets to Day Out with Thomas: The Thrill of the Ride Tour 2014 {Giveaway}

Disclaimer: I was provided tickets to giveaway for you to The Grapevine Vintage Railroad for Day Out with Thomas™: The Thrill of the Ride Tour 2014.

READ MORE ABOUT Day Out with Thomas™: The Thrill of the Ride Tour 2014 on Mom2MomDFW!

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To-Do: Holiday Hurry with Ice, Trains and Christmas Cards

To-Do Thursdays:

The countdown is on! A week from today we’ve got Thankgiving and then the most crazy of Holiday events, Black Friday.

7 days to THANKSGIVING

40 days to CHRISTMAS

47 days to NEW YEAR'S DAY

Now that the initial shock of holiday has passed, I’m ready to take on Christmas shopping like a champ and begin to get the family in the mood. The Christmas decorations are at least out of the closet; I just need to find time to put them up (but I get an star for my efforts!) However, now that I’m hearing “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” in my head (and the grocery store), I’ve got holiday fun on my brain, too. So here’s what’s on the holiday schedule so far:

Get decorating…Deck the Walls Martha-style with Free Holiday Home Depot Workshop, Nov. 15

“O Christmas Card, O Christmas Cards”…The Cool Way to Do Christmas Cards - Part 2 {GIVEAWAY ALERT} (I’m making it so easy this year with a special giveaway only until 11/18!)

However, next week is where the calendar is packed full of holiday cheer:

Trains, Trains and Trains…All Aboard for Holiday Train Fun in Tarrant County

Get Kickin’…Rockin’ the Holidays with the Rockettes Tour — Dallas Nov. 23 – Dec. 8

It’s how Dallas does Holiday…Free Holiday Fun Has Already Begun at Galleria Dallas

And there’s lots more where that came from! Just wait until next week and I provide an insider’s look at the Gaylord Texan’s ICE!

Until then, Happy Decorating!

To-Do: Here's the first of your Holiday Helpin'!

To-Do Thursdays:

This has been a power-packed week of events with my birthday, Halloween and a pending holiday. The smiles on my kiddos' faces and a late bedtime verifies that 2012 was a good Halloween, so like any good mom I'll share a few shots from the best of the evening. 

However, it's all about looking forward, so I'm putting my star on a few events this weekend to officially celebrate the next two months of HOLIDAY! Can you believe we are already in the home stretch? 

21 days to THANKSGIVING

53 days to CHRISTMAS

60 days to NEW YEAR'S DAY

Now that I've officially scared you (and me), no need to worry! Mamachallenge.com is going to help you get that gold star for HOLIDAY 2012. Whether you're looking for gifts, recipes or things to do, we'll bring 'em to you. So just stay tuned to here AND do subscribe to 100 Days to Holidays newsletter from Parents. It's always one of my must-dos and it's a great way to get ideas for the holidays that make you look like a Martha Stewart without the jailtime. 

While we have time for holiday planning, we don't have a lot of time for planning this weekend. So here's the scoop for Nov. 1-4:

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram (arredmon) for photos of my look at Napa Valley

Get a leg on shopping with a Rundown on Holiday Markets (This weekend is the Junior League of Arlington's Holiday Magic!)

Do something with the leftover Halloween candy with a little help from Steve Noviello!

To-Do: Arlington's After Dark in the Park, Oct. 5-7

To-Do Thursdays

As a proud resident of Arlington, I love when I can attend and recommend worth-while events in my own backyard. After Dark in the Park, Oct. 5 – 7 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. is one of them. Designed to create awareness of the River Legacy Living Science Center environmental-education programs, After Dark in the Park is an annual family-friendly fall festival that includes fun family programming from ages 2 – 10 years old. 

It comes at a perfect time of the year when you start burning those pumpkin candles and thinking about the holidays. My favorite part is that the event is just the ideal size to enjoy with a young child without feeling overwhelmed or like you’re missing something. And since entrance includes a hayride shuttle from River Legacy Parks to event entrance, that’s almost worth the experience all together.

Here's an old shot of  my then 2 yr. old enjoying the simple fun of leaves at After Dark in the Park. 

The annual festival features family fun like:

·         karaoke

·         storytelling under the stars

·         animal encounters

·         pumpkin patch

·         bounce houses

·         crafts and games

·         concessions featuring fall foods like hot chocolate and cider

·         NEW for 2012: Bass Pro Camping Demo & Contests & Drawings for GREAT Prizes!

After Dark in the Park

River Legacy Living Science Center

Oct. 5 – 7, 2012 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

$7 for kids ages 3 and up. Children 2 and under free. (Star-Telegram Press Pass customers get half off on Sunday, Oct. 7 when they flash their pass.)

www.riverlegacy.org

Special notes:

No pets allowed.

Bring extra cash for tickets and some activities.

Want another mom’s view on After Dark in the Park? My friend Shannon of milkandcuddles.com and her daughter attended last year and she shared her experience on She is Dallas.

Last-Minute Daddy's Day Ideas + Giveaway!

Like Mother's Day this year, this Father's Day couldn't have come at a worse time. Really. Heavy planning is already underway for the four-year old's birthday bonanza (much more to come), family begins arriving Friday and then it's the big day. Since I'd already used the Pinterest Father's Day candy card idea for his birthday last month, I was going to have to expand my horizons. Luckily a few good emails came across that not only saved me some time, money and even made me look like a superstar.
 

FOODIE DAD: 
"Peanut-butter-and-chocolate-everything bouquet" from Edible Arrangements 
Actually called the Peanut Butter Chocolate Daisy®, this little-bit-of-heaven made everyone in the family happy - including Dad.  With a little bit of everything, this yummy treat featured fresh banana slices hand dipped in peanut butter and rich chocolate, crisp Granny Smith apple wedges, some dipped in smooth peanut butter and some in rich chocolate, grapes, juicy pineapple stars, fresh strawberries and chocolate dipped strawberries and retails for around $49 for the regular size. (If you've never had chocolate-covered bananas from Edible Arrangements, you don't know what you're missing.)

While one of my go-to baby arrival gifts, normally, I wouldn't think of dad + Edible Arrangements.  However, after digging online I found out there's a whole sports collection, perfect for those sports fans with a hankering for chocolate (and in our case PB, too!) And right now there's even a special on their NASCAR collection for 15% off, but only until the end of the month (or supplies last). Best of all, starting June 14 they are mobile, so you can make your delivery from your mobile phone! (While this may not be the ideal way to get my family to eat their fruit, it did make me feel better than a plate of chocolate chip cookies.) 


See below for a special giveaway from Edible Arrangements! 


TECHNO DAD:
Label Interactive's Game Table FREE App 
Probably already one of your favorite apps on your Iphone, Game Table is excited to announce that this Father's Day they will debut their free #1 ITunes downloadable app Game Table Free now for Ipad. If FREE didn't grab you, then the fact that for every 10,000 downloads, Label Interactive will donate $1,000 to the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, up to $10,000 should. Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation provides college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in combat or accident. So give dad a few hours to himself to play  the app in peace and quiet. That means this little gift doesn't cost you anything but a smile and few clicks on the Apple. 

ADVENTURE DAD: 
Flight Lessons by Let'sGoFlying.com
While time is not on our side for royal treatment this weekend, I'd still like to give Dad something special to remember. Since my hubby is a big historical nut, I've found all kinds of interactive battle experiences he could do...out of state. However, I know there has to be something he could do close to home and for only a few hours at a time...and there is! The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association's Let'sGoFlying.com  is an online resource for learning how to fly and a database of flight schools. Best of all, they offer really affordable introductory flights for only $99. So Dad get's the equivalent of what it costs for me to get a massage and turns into Tom Cruise for an afternoon...Seems like a win-win for all of us (as long as I can find the flight suit and the Ray-Bans.) 

Hopefully this gives you a few ideas for Dad's Day without banging your head or breaking the bank. And to all you Dads out there, especially mine - HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! 


And to make it even sweeter, we have a great giveaway from EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS ($69 value)!

a Rafflecopter giveawayDisclaimer: I was provided an Edible Arrangement for purposes of this review, however, all the views included here are my own.