Jammin' at Bluegrass Heritage Festival, March 7 & 8 in Arlington {Giveaway}

This last weekend might have kicked off the spring festival season in North Texas, but Mother Nature only gave us half the weekend before she sent us back in doors to retreat from freezing temps AGAIN. However, the show must go on and so will festivals here in DFW. One of the fun ones that will happen (since it takes place indoors) is the Bluegrass Heritage Festival, March 7 & 8. A family-friendly festival for bluegrass fans, this event features some of the best names in bluegrass for a two-day weekend that's a must-do for those who enjoy listening, jamming, and foot-tapping to the melodious magic that bluegrass brings.




Featuring Blue Highway, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, The Special Consensus, Honi Deaton & Dream, The Purple Hulls, East Mountain, The Herrins, Bluefield Express, and more.

The music will begin at 6 pm on Friday and will continue all day Saturday. Enjoy two days of bluegrass fun with great music, workshops, and jamming under the oak trees! All workshops are included in your festival ticket - no extra charge for workshops!

NOW YOU CAN WIN 2 TICKETS TO THE BLUEGRASS HERITAGE FESTIVAL! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLUEGRASS HERITAGE FESTIVAL

Friday & Saturday March 7-8 2014

South Oaks Baptist Church

5925 U. S. Highway 287, Arlington, Texas 76017
(214) 918-0010
$20-50
http://www.bluegrassheritage.org

Mother-Daughter Day at Daired's Spa & Salon

Try-it Tuesday: 

Disclaimer: I was provided complimentary services for the purposes of this review, however, all the comments described here are all my own.

This week's Try-it Tuesday isn't anything fitness this time, but I can promise the stylist that the fingers that had to do my hair got a real workout.

When you Google "Texas Big Hair," it's my headshot that comes up...we'll maybe not on the front page, but believe me I have a big ole head of crazy hair. It's coarse, curly and long - and when I blowdry it, I resemble something off a Tina Turner video. Needless to say, after 30 something years, finding someone to cut my hair isn't always easy. 

Then I had my beautiful baby girl. While she looks a lot like her mama (God, bless her), she has her own big crazy hair to handle, although it's actually very little like mine. She has the brown curls, but the similarities stop there. She has soft, fine hair with a daddy-gave-me-this hairline I have yet to figure out how to style. So most the time her hair is a little bit of a crazy mess and it's definitely needed some trimming or something or someone to give me a little guidance on what to do with it. 

So with an upcoming appearance on TV and limited time to fit just one more thing in, I called Daired's Salon and Spa Pangea in Arlington. I was actually very surprised they actually accepted kids into a salon like Daired's...especially when you look at their services lists for salon, spa, cafe and boutique. But they gladly scheduled us both. 

Sweet goodness, we'll see how it goes. 

In my past life, I was privy to get the opportunity to enjoy some of the best spas in Vegas. And while Dallas is full of day spas, very few of them even begin to equal up the experience you get in LV. However, entering Daried's you definitely get a "posh spa" feeling - without the snob appeal. It's interiors are beautiful, colorful and keep your eye wondering while you wait for your turn to hit the chair. I love the fountains both indoors and out. 

I had been prepared to have Taylor's cut and then mine so I could assist with a two-year's hair cut. Much to my surprise we had separate stylists and my little girl immediately aged 10 years as she was brought to the chair, put on a smock and began her first big-girl hair cut. Her stylist was awesome and dealt with all the stress from both mom and baby girl perfectly. Taylor actually wanted to go with her instead of mam. Unfortunately, I was getting my hair done, so the pictures aren't so great, but you can see her sitting just like a little princess. I could already tell this would be the first of many experiences with us two gals. 

My stylist, George, had asked what I wanted to do with my hair, so of course, I responded with what any normal girl would say, "Make me look like Eva Mendes so Ryan Gosling will fall in love with me." While he couldn't take off the weight around my mid-section, he did take off the weight on my hair and gave it some life. I had bounce and style. And while I don't look like Eva Mendes, I do resemble one of her commercials with all the hair-flipping I've been doing lately. So I guess that counts. 

While I wouldn't never want to call Daired's a family salon and spa, there are definitely opportunities when you can bring in your kiddo for a hair cut or a special day and expect both of you to enjoy it. I had planned to keep her under control so I had reinforcements like goldfish crackers, juice and toys to keep her happy - at least until I snagged her a fresh chocolate chip cookie from the in-house cafe!  

Now don't think I'm about to start having baby girl for massages or facials any time soon, but it was nice to think that if the occasion presented itself, I have a place to bring her. Until then, mama will continue to check out the services like massages, nails or facials, until its her time to drive herself on over and make her own appointments (which could be anytime with this girl.) 

Daired's Salon & Spa Pangea
2400 West Interstate 20
Arlington, Texas 76017
(817) 465-9797 or metro (817) 467-9991
Website

The Best Places to Find + Post Garage Sales

To-Do Thursdays:

Last weekend the rain convinced me to face up to a task that had been looming for a long, long time. 

I finally had to clean out my kids' rooms. 

My youngest was getting ready for potting training so she was ready to move up to a big-girl bed and the oldest recently announced to me that it was time to move out the Thomas the Tank Engine and bring out the Legos. (There were tears when he told me.) 

But to be honest, there was a lot more to do than that. I needed to pull out those old toys, clothes, shoes and whatever else that we had finally outgrown and send them to storage. You see I hadn't gotten rid of anything from either of kids since they were born. (Shame, right?) 

So before people started to make a call to the show Hoarders, I moved out the old stuff and put them in storage with all the other stuff we were holding on to. Except this time, I couldn't close the door. And there wasn't enough Rubbermaid to organize all this craziness. I needed to make like a cheerleader and purge (just kidding.) 

And since all the junk was a big eye sore each time I walked by, I needed to rid my house of the crap quickly (especially before I began to think about keeping that "one" outfit that would without a doubt turn into 20.) 

Considering there was that much stuff, everything pointed to the idea that I needed to host a garage sale. But since I don't go to garage sales and the only one I ever had made like $20, I went on a mad search for how the age of technology had changed garage sales. 

Seven online sites you can find (and post) a garage sale in your area:

1. Craigslist.org
2. Yardsalesearch.com
3. Gsalr.com (this one even has a cool app that maps your garage sales!)
4. Yardsales.net
5. Atgaragesale.com
6. Online Private Facebook groups (you may have to research these, but they are controlled groups on Facebook that keep the "Craiglist experience" more local.)
7. And don't forget to look at your local newspaper. (Many of them offer really cheap online ads for garage sale listings that can be both print and online!) 

Good to Know: 
I also needed to add that BEFORE having a garage sale, make sure you check your city's rules on hosting a garage sale. Some request a permit, some don't and there may be other rules for signage, ordinances, etc. For instance in Arlington, Texas, we have all kinds of rules on garage sales like where we can post a sign and that you can only host a sale no more than twice a year. 

AND of course, if you are looking for GIRLS & BOYS BABY/KIDS CLOTHES,FURNITURE AND TOYS for ages 0-4, then come on out to see me on Saturday! 

Organize the Chaos

Spring brings out the organizing bug in me. However, if you asked my husband and he would say I’m a freak about it all the time, but truly my intentions are good. I just want to run a well-oiled machine/household. Over the last few days I had begun my list of things I needed to purchase to be more organized when I was received a special invitation to get a sneak peak at the NEW Container Store in Arlington. I really couldn’t get more excited except that profits from sales during Grand Opening Weekend would benefit the local Junior League of Arlington, so it was a done deal that I was going to RSVP to this event. Oh what I didn’t know I was getting myself into.

During our tour of the new store during the blogger preview, I figured I could just bring in my list and mentally start shopping for those few things I needed. However, our hostess with the mostess pointed out a few things that honestly I didn’t know existed (like a special hook for basketballs, footballs, etc.). Needless to say my list was getting longer as I walked through the store. I couldn’t believe what all I ended up with in my basket and when I got home with my new goodies (both from my purchases and a nice bag of samples from Container Store), I was practically giddy.

So here’s your disclaimer now: If you want to see some great products that you didn’t know existed, but will never remember how you lived without them, then read on. If you aren’t excited by making life easier and better, then you’re probably not on the right blog…
Here’s a look at some of the coolest things in the world I got at the Container Store Opening Weekend in Arlington. While I didn’t buy everything in the list, I will tell you that if you need a day to just put all your stress behind you then spend a day at the Container Store. With the exception of the mass numbers of people in attendance for the grand opening weekend, I found the whole experience rather therapeutic. Just remember, CONTAIN YOURSELF! (For those of you who aren’t loyal shoppers, that’s actually their tagline!)

Packing Thing – Ball Holder Thingy – Real Name: Eagle Creek® Pack-It® Folder

Source: containerstore.com via Autumn on Pinterest

Cable Holders – Real Name: CableDrop™ Cord Clips

Source: containerstore.com via Autumn on Pinterest

Grid It – Real Name: GridIt!

Source: containerstore.com via Autumn on Pinterest

Boot Holders - Real Name: Boot Shapers

Source: containerstore.com via Autumn on Pinterest