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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Save Calories and Money with Houlihan's Low-Calorie Cali-Cali Menu {Giveaway}

Disclaimer: Compensation was provided by Houlihan's via MomTrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Houlihan's or MomTrends. 

When comes to dining out, I'm the kinda girl that wants to try everything. For me food is an experience so anytime I find a place that allows me to try a few different things without blowing my calorie count for a month or costing me my paycheck, I'm a fan.  And if you have scallops on your menu, well then you already just made my short list! 

A recent trip to Houlihan's not only hit all my requirements for good food and good experience, but when I stumbled upon "I <3 Mondays" special, it was a little like the lottery. After a bad case of the Mondays, I began to smile with the idea of a choice of soup AND a dessert for only $3 with the purchase of my entree. However, the smile wasn't stopping there. 

While I was treating myself to a Monday night dining out experience, I still wanted to try to eat healthy, especially if I was going to have dessert, too! Sliding into the rich wood seats and dark interiors, the weight of the day continued to lift, especially when my waitress greeted me. With Houlihan's new lighter "Going Back to Cali-Cali" menu options (with items less than 590 calories), I had several delicious options including a very apropos X-Rated Moscato Martini with Skyy Infusions Moscato Grape Vodka, premium X-Rated Fusion Liqueur infused with organic blood orange juice, house sour and fresh cranberry juice and at 140 calories I was doing a little dance.

Now on to the rest of the meal. Considering I wasn't the only one dining, I opted for something that we couldn't resist with the Chicken and Avocado Eggrolls (a Houlihan's staff favorite!) Served with sour cream and salsa, they were the perfect bite we needed to keep us steady for our next courses: salads, entrees and a dessert.

Round 2:

Sampling from the salad menu, I couldn't resist the idea of goat cheese, so I selected the White Tuscan Bean Salad.

And who can go wrong with tortilla soup? Houlihan's definitely doesn't with a homemade tortilla recipe full of flavor and fixins.

Next course:

Still looking to be reasonable for a Monday meal, we ordered the Lemon & Herb Grilled Chicken (550 calories) with Tuscan white beans, organic kale-spinach-chard blend, roasted artichokes, tomatoes, herbed broth. It was perfectly tender, flavorful, colorful and packed with all kinds of good stuff. The combination of spinach with the artichokes was just the right pairing for the grilled chicken.

And for our other entree? It was hard to pass up the Georges Bank Scallops, but a long-time hankering for Ahi Tuna was in order with napa cabbage, iceburg and spinach with cashews, banana chips, carrots, scallions, cilantro, crispy wontons, banana-ginger vinaigrette. This was a whole new twist on ahi tuna salad with the unique contrast of tender fish, the sweetness of bananas and the crunch of crispy wontons, carrots and dried banana chips. 

And finally:

There was dessert. 

As part of the lighter fare menu, the Key Lime Mousse layered with crystallized graham cracker crust and whipped cream made that smile of mine even bigger! The key lime flavor was sweet, but not too much to enjoy until the last drop. 

And we may have enjoyed a fried donuts with apple cobbler dip, too! (It was only $3, right?) And with the nutritional facts online you can always check on what you're eating!

WIN
Make sure you come in for the limited time lower calorie fare menu. While you're there, you'll see there's several more reasons you'll be coming back to Houlihan's. And this $50 gift card will give you your first experience on me! 

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About Houlihans
Established in 1972, Houlihan's is a progressive concept that bridges the gap between fine dining and what people have come to expect from casual dining, priding itself on style and quality. Houlihan's offers guests a design-forward atmosphere featuring a curated indie music soundtrack, an eclectic menu designed for modern lifestyles, and an energetic scene. Houlihan's crafts dishes made from scratch with assertive flavors and offers creative, diverse cocktails and wine selections, with many of its locations garnering 'best happy hour' awards from local media outlets. Currently, 83 Houlihan's restaurants operate throughout the country, 52 of which are franchised. Houlihan's is owned by Houlihan's Restaurants, Inc. of Leawood, Kansas, which developed and owns several restaurant concepts comprising of approximately 100 locations coast-to-coast, including Devon Seafood Grill and J. Gilbert's Wood-Fired Steaks. For more information, please visit www.houlihans.com or find Houlihan's on Facebook at www.facebook.com/houlihans.

7 Places to Go with the Kids Before Jan. 6

* In some cases, I was provided complimentary admission to enjoy some of these attractions with my family for purposes of this review.* 

Oh, Christmas. 

It's been fun. And short. And Mother Nature's little ice fit didn't help us any either. This was a quick holiday season. As quick as a clean baby's diaper, it's time to clean up and get ready for the next year; making it impossible to try to get out there and enjoy all the fun that DFW had to offer. 

And unfortunately, while the gifts area already opened and the new toys have made their home on the living room floor, most parents still have another week to keep the kids happy while they are at home from winter break. 

Lucky us, right? 

While I enjoy seeing their little faces and not rushing to get in the drop-off lane at school, I will admit trying to continue with all the excitement and energy of the holiday hoopla is hard. That's why it's good to schedule a few outings to keep the kiddos happy and mom to keep her sanity. So here are a few events in the Dallas-Fort Worth-area that still have a little holiday cheer that are worth fitting in before the school bell rings for the 2014.

Just make sure to check each website for schedules and pricing before heading out! 

1. Six Flags Over Texas Holiday in the Park
There's nothing like sipping hot chocolate in your official Six Flags refillable mug in front of the campfire before you get on the Shockwave to get turned upside down. While the teens may find that fun, you can find plenty of other fun activities for the little ones like The Frosty the Snowhill (with real snow sledding) or Looney Tunes Land. 

While many of the big holiday activities end Dec. 31 with the big finale, you can still plan to take the fam for a fun time sans water rides until Jan. 5. Just make sure to check the hours and the temperature.  While we bundled up, the kids in layers, mittens and hats, the kids were popsicles in a matter of a few hours so we had to go home. And when you are talking more than $50 a person for admission, you want to make sure you get your fun out of it! 

WEBSITE

2. Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway 
We had a chance to enjoy this light display earlier this holiday and the kids really enjoyed it. While the lights were a nice way to get into the holiday mood while listening to Christmas music, the fun really kicked in after seeing the lights and getting to play in the snow. For my littlest it was her first time to feel snow so she loved walking around, putting it in her hands and throwing that first snow ball. For my five-year-old, he couldn't get enough of the snowtubing! 

WEBSITE

3. DALLAS CITYSCAPE at Galleria Dallas 
Looking to show the kids some Dallas landmarks without getting stuck in Dallas traffic? Then let them LEGO at DALLAS CITYSCAPE! The kids can take a look at some of the best Dallas landmarks scaled to size in the building block attraction that raises money ($5 for ages 2 and older) for the East Dallas Community Schools. While they are there they can also create their own creations at the building block station, which is a great incentive to get the kids to be good while you make a gift return! 

WEBSITE

5. The Trains at NorthPark 
For more than 25 years, The Trains at NorthPark have delighted kids and parents alike with more than 1,600 feet of track while taking a trip across the U.S. to see some of the best of America's landmarks. Make sure to find all the buttons that allow you to create your own bit of magic as parts will move, figurines dance and more. While the White House is impressive, of course the best is the ode to the Texas State Fair and Big Tex. 



WEBSITE

6. ICE! at the Gaylord Texan
While we didn't have a chance to make it to this one this year, we heard we missed some great fun and are already planning our Santa Staycation for 2014. You can still come out and see the Nutcracker-themed ICE exhibit as well as get another opportunity to do a little indoor snowtubing (it's still very cold, so don't think you are getting away that easy!) If you've never been to ICE, I'd suggest you take a look at my tips for the best ICE experience!

WEBSITE

7.  Snowland! at Great Wolf Lodge
Grapevine is known as the "Christmas Capital of the World," so if you are looking for something different than the Gaylord, consider going across the street at Great Wolf Lodge. Besides the fact that you have a HEATED. WATER. PARK. that will keep the kids happy for hours, they have water-less games like MagiQuest and the new ShadowQuest interactive live action adventure game to keep them (and you) on your toes for hours!  

Chicken nuggets and pizza not up your alley for a vacation meal? Don't worry, the LODGE Wood-Fired Grill gives you upscale options that are convenient for the whole family. From steaks, mini-desserts and signature sangria (my favorite), you too can feel you are having a break and not just escorting the kids on their vacation.  

Plus right now you can get 20% off your stay until Jan. 5, so you still have a whole week to enjoy the fun or make a weekend of it even after school starts! 

WEBSITE

Now off to get that tree finally back into it's box - we'll maybe later...

10 Tips to Enjoy DFW's Prairie Lights - NOW EXTENDED until Jan. 5, 2014

Disclaimer:  This is a sponsored post.

Like a bad family Christmas movie, DFW's most recent uninvited guest, ICEmaggedon, put a big kibosh on several holiday events, especially the light displays across the metroplex. Thankfully, many of these organizations, like Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie, have decided to keep their gates open a little longer this season to allow guests the opportunity to appreciate these annual holiday experiences that are sure to put you in the Christmas spirit OR light up your 2014 in a whole new way! 

Long one of my favorite of displays in DFW, Prairie Lights Powered by Gexa Energy in Grand Prairie is well worth the time and money! There is such much even beyond two miles of lit paths and four million lights, it's a whole night of fun for the kid in all of us. The experience includes not only the drive-through display, but a Holiday Village with free rides, delicious holiday fare, a marketplace and of course, Santa. There's even a special Holiday Magic theatrical show and a Walk-Through Forest (for an added cost), so you can keep the spirit of Christmas going all night long!

To ensure the best experience, there's only two things you really need to remember: 

Allow Yourself Enough Time to Enjoy the Fun and 
Prepare Accordingly.

While you shouldn't feel overwhelmed that you have to do anything at all, these are hopefully a few helpful tips to make you have the best experience ever at the Prairie Lights. 

10 Tips to Enjoy DFW's Prairie Lights

1. Pick your day mindfully. The weekends are always full, so if possible, pick a Monday - Wednesday to attend (especially if you have kids), so you can keep the car moving in a comfortable pace.

2. Don't plan to wait until one hour before it closes down to roll in the gate. We had only planned to drive through with the kids, but couldn't help ourselves from stopping at the out-of-the-car experiences like the Carousel and the huge corn dogs (so good!) AND Since we didn't pace ourselves, we didn't get to see the best part of the event, the world's longest tunnel of lights - because they did turn them off! It was our fault for waiting, so I'd suggest giving yourself at least 2 hours (maybe 3 on the weekend) to leisure enjoy the display, events and activities without missing anything!

3. Bring a blanket (or three). You will want to roll down the window and it gets cold even with the heater.

4. Sip and savor Christmas. Prepare a thermos of hot chocolate or roll up to the nearby Starbucks for hot chocolate (it makes everything better, I promise.)

5. Plan for the Potty. On the same note, you don't want to have a potty break in the middle of the drive-through portion (you can't get out of the car to stop once you are in line, so make sure that hot chocolate is a small one or you can hold it until you get to the Holiday Village!)

6. Make sure to grab those coats, scarves and mittens even if you don't think you want to do the other events. You might change your mind and you don't want to endure those winter winds without a little bundling capabilities (especially for the kids!)

7. Bring some extra dinero. With all the opportunities to enjoy the lights at the Holiday Village, funnel cakes and Santa pictures, you don't want to come empty-ended and not able to participate. Even the biggest Grinchs want to get out of the car and get on the rides! 

8. Turn on the holiday music, even if you hate holiday music. It's just part of the fun! And remember, this year's holiday station is no longer KVIL, but now sister station, KLUV at 98.7 or turn on the Pandora!

9. Turn off your lights! The best way to enjoy the light display is to not have your view ruined by bright headlights in your face, so make sure to turn those off and just enjoy driving with the brake on without road rage.

10. Enjoy the time in the car. While normally I am not a fan of being stuck at less than 10 miles an our on a one-lane road, you can really do some great catch up time with the kids or your friend by just enjoying your time together without distractions! While I took some photos to share with you, it's just best to let yourself be in the moment and enjoy the Prairie Lights!

Prairie Lights Powered by Gexa Energy 
Now until Jan. 5, 2014: Sunday – Thursday: 6 – 9 p.m./Friday – Saturday: 6 – 10 p.m.
Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve: 6 – 10 p.m.
Lynn Creek Park on Joe Pool Lake
5610 Lake Ridge Parkway
Grand Prairie, TX 75052

Admission for cars is $20 Monday-Thursday (non-holidays) and $30 Friday-Sunday and holidays. Tickets for Holiday Magic Live! are $5 for adults and $3 for children. For the Holiday Magic Lights Walk-Through Forest, adult tickets are $3 and $2 for  children. Save on combo tickets for both – $7 for adults, $4 for children. Carnival rides are free. There is a small charge for pictures made with Santa. VISA and MasterCard are accepted at the admission gate and in Holiday Village.

For more info on hours, admission prices and directions, please visit Prairie Lights on www.facebook.com/PrairieLights, http://twitter.com/PrairieLights, call 972-237-GLOW (4569) or go to www.prairielights.org. 

It's Never Too Late to Enjoy the Holidays!

Make it a Moment to Remember with Mimi's NEW Menu

Disclaimer: I was invited as a special guest to enjoy new menu items at Mimi's Cafe. And enjoy them, yes, I did. Read on to find out what I liked most! (All the words here are completely my own!) 

Do you remember your first brunch? 

I was in college I had my first "real brunch" upon a friend's invitation. Beginning sometime after normal lunch was supposed to happen, we enjoyed 2+ hours of mimosas, muffins and omelets at Mimi's Cafe. The friend's treat soon became a weekend ritual, as it was a great time to catch up with each other while we devoured all the cinnamon muffins we could handle - sometimes in our slacks and many times in last-night's blue jeans and a pony tail. Either way, our Mimi's moments became my benchmark for what brunching was meant to be - friends, fabulous food and fun. 

Fast forward ten years: things, of course, have changed.  While weekend to-dos have transitioned from brunches to babies, I still remember the fun, comfort and joy I had at Mimi's. While I hadn't been to Mimi's in a long time, I was excited a few weeks ago when I received an invitation to re-experience Mimi's.  I could only hope it would take me back to what I remembered before life was as complex as a decade of being an "adult" could be. 

Just like my life had changed, I learned Mimi's had also changed over the last decade. As with any great restaurant, it had transitioned with the times and with it, so had the experience (and not necessarily for the better). So when its new owner, Le Duff America, Inc. purchased the french casual concept this year, they felt it was time to get back to the basics of what Mimi's Cafe had been for me and many other fans years ago - an inviting, classic French bistro.  

And after months of work, dedication and tracking down many of the recipes to hard copies in the back of the file cabinet, the whole team including the very charming executive chef Executive Chef Katie Sutton (a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and previous Executive Chef at Hess Collection Winery in Napa), was ready to dust them off. 

Like a good champagne, I was anxious to uncork this baby. Let the trip down memory lane commence! 

First of all, the roasted tomato basil is exactly what you want on a cold day - or any day where you feel like you need a pick-me-up, this rich bisque will do the trick (and the bacon doesn't hurt either.) I enjoyed other classic French dishes like Mimi’s Signature Bouillabaisse, Grilled Salmon Salade Niçoise, Coq au Vin and Spinach Crepe. But the Le Burger de Madame, crowned with a fried egg, was magnifique. 

I'll be honest, I don't remember the menu tasting as good in the past as it did that night - especially this baked brie with tart apples and apricot chutney (gush). 

Perhaps it was the company I was keeping (as they were all friends). 

Perhaps it was the staff that seemed like they had been my friends my whole life with their pure passion and generosity. 

Or perhaps it was surpassing my month's quota of heavy cream in one sitting that made it just seem so buttery rich and perfect. 

Either way, I was not only taken back to those fun days of college, but actually advanced to a new experience that still could include mimosas. However, it also reminded me that life can take you many places but at Mimi's, you'll always have a little bit of Paris you can revisit again and again. And even if for no other reason than for those chocolate croissants. 

Just in time for the holidays: 

No time for a Mimi's moment of your own? Then bring it home with you. Or better yet, let Mimi's create a memorable holiday experience at home with their Holiday Feast To-Go that can feed all your holiday guests - for both brunch and dinner! 

Or are you looking for a personalized gift to give, but think gift cards don't show your thoughtfulness? Mimi's Cafe has gotten really creative with gift cards you can personalize for the holidays with voice messages and photos to really give it that personal touch!

For the nearest Mimi's Cafe to you, visit their online locator.

Bon Appetit! 

Now What? Unique Family Fun Activities for After-Thanksgiving Dinner in DFW

After you've hit Pumpkin Pie coma, dad has OD'd game and the kids have caught cabin fever, it's time to get out of the house for a little post-Turkey Day time. 

Here are a few unique ideas for family fun in Dallas that doesn't take too much time or planning to get the holiday happiness flowing! 

Get to the Ice to Meet Missile Toes, the back-flipping, pyrotechnic ice-skating Santa at Galleria Dallas

Burn off those mashed potatoes by taking to the ice at the Galleria Dallas Ice Rink from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Galleria! And if you try real hard, you probably can even get a little shopping checked off your list, too! If you just can’t get out of the house on Thanksgiving then venture out on Friday at noon when Galleria Dallas debuts the first Macy’s Grand Tree Lighting Celebration of the season. World Champion and Olympic skater Kurt Browning joins cute local skaters and the legendary pyrotechnic Missile Toes countdown to the tree lighting on the ice for a 20-minute holiday extravaganza around the 95-foot-tall Christmas tree. Best of all this show is free!

Galleria Dallas has several holiday experiences for you to enjoy, so visit the full schedule at galleriadallas.com. (Disclaimer: #Client)

See the World’s Longest Light Tunnel at the Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie

We are super excited to load up the car, grab our hot chocolate and turn on Michael Buble for Christmas memories you’ll enjoy for years to come.  Read more about the Prairie Lights here…

Go Nuts at the Gaylord Texan ICE display of The Nutcracker

Our family loves the Gaylord Texan at the holidays because it’s like going to a little bit of Disney – but I can be home in just 20 minutes!  Last year we really enjoyed our experience (if you’ve never been to ICE check out my 7 tips to the Perfect Ice Experience here), but we are really excited to check out the new theme, The Nutcracker! Of course, little man is all about the tubing action and some mama fun making a gingerbread house with Gingy! 

Even if you aren’t a guest, you can enjoy the ICE exhibit! Hours vary for this experience, so make sure you check out the website for the specific schedule and price.

Nothing Says the Holidays than Snow with the Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway

Texas Motor Speedway doesn’t do anything small and that definitely describes their holiday event, the Gift of Lights. The Snow Village at TMS features a tubing hill, snow ball gallery, and a snow play area – and finish the fun by making s’mores! Read more about the Gift of Lights…

And don’t forget to SAVE THE DATE for these upcoming holiday events later in December!

Holly Jolly Holidays Start Dec. 11 at the Grapevine LEGO MINILAND

Search for Santa in a scavenger hunt through MINILAND. You’re bound to find an old St. Nick, as there are 11 LEGO Santa’s hidden throughout the 1.5 million LEGO bricks in MINILAND. (Dec.  11 - 25)

Write and mail your letter to Santa while enjoying complimentary milk and cookies in the Café. (Wednesday, Dec.  11 and 18 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Milk and cookies served on Dec. 25 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.)

Build a LEGO ornament to hang on the LEGOLAND Discovery Center tree (with a minimum $1 donation to Merlin’s Magic Wand.) Plus, meet Bertie the mascot! (Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14, 15, 21 and 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

Admission is $19 for adults, $15 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for kids 2 and under. Also note, special holiday hours: Christmas Eve 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Christmas noon to 6 p.m., New Years Eve 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and New Year’s Day 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To purchase special discounted tickets visit www.LEGOLANDDiscoveryCenter.com/dallasfw.

Scuba Diving Santa takes the plunge at Sea Life Aquarium

While you are at MINILAND at Grapevine Mills, walk across the hall to the Sea Life Aquarium! This Santa doesn’t have fire coming out of his skates, but he does have an oxygen tank on his back. The Scuba Diving Santa takes the plunge to entertain you amongst the fish and sharks in SEA LIFE Aquarium Grapevine’s 145,000-gallon tank.  Scheduled dives occur at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec.  11 and 18 and Saturday, Dec. 14 and 21.

The kids will also be able write and mail a letter to Santa.  Letters can be written from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11 and 18 and Saturday, Dec. 14 and 21.

Admission is $19 for adults, $15 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for kids 2 and under.  To purchase special discounted tickets visit www.visitsealife.com/grapevine.  Please note the special holiday hours: Holiday Hours: Christmas Eve 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Christmas noon to 6 p.m., New Years Eve 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and New Years Day 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Gobble, Gobble!

Holiday Rundown: See the Lights at Grand Prairie's Prairie Lights Powered by Gexa Energy {Giveaway}

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post for the Prairie Lights. I go every year, but this year they thought I could share my experience why I return year after year!

Holiday already? 

Actually, I've been working on it for about two months and now it is time! We are kicking off this holiday with your run down of all the best holiday events you should visit here in DFW! 

First one up: Grand Prairie's Prairie Lights Powered by Gexa Energy

With four million lights and two miles of lights and ending in the world’s longest light tunnel, the Prairie Lights Powered by Gexa Energy in Grand Prairie is not just a holiday light display, but a holiday light experience.  For the second year, Gexa Energy is the title sponsor and is powering the spectacular drive-through display and Holiday Village attractions.  

The 2013 drive includes hundreds of new displays. Stop half way and visit the Holiday Village for food, gifts, carnival rides, and Santa – at Prairie Lights through Monday, December 23 – and two Holiday Magic attractions: Holiday Magic Live! at the Light Show Theater and Lighted Walk-Through Forest.  Also, visitors will be able to visit the Gexa Energy display at Holiday Village for an opportunity to take a free photo commemorating their experience.

Admission includes entry into the exhibit which features hundreds of all-new displays, but a stop into Holiday Village with cocoa, cider and funnel cakes for purchase, and a visit with Santa. For a little extra moolah (like $7 for adults and $4 for kids), check out the Light Show 4D Theatre and the Lighted Walk-Through Forest for the ultimate holiday evening.  

It’s a big exhibit, so get ready for a big time at Prairie Lights.

Graphic from PrairieLights Facebook

Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie

Thursday, Nov. 28 through Tuesday, Dec. 31

Thanksgiving Night through New Year’s Eve

Sunday – Thursday: 6 – 9 p.m.

Friday – Saturday: 6 – 10 p.m.

Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve: 6 – 10 p.m.

Lynn Creek Park
5610 Lake Ridge Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX 7505

Cars: Mon. - Thurs: $20, Sat & Sun: $30 (other vehicle sizes more)

Holiday Magic Live!: $5 for adults and $3 for children.  

Holiday Magic Lights Walk-Through Forest: $3 adults and $2 children. 

Save on combo tickets for both – $7 for adults, $4 for children. 

There is a small charge for pictures made with Santa.

Carnival rides are free.  

Website

And follow all the fun on social networks: 

http://www.facebook.com/PrairieLights

http://instagram.com/prairielights

https://twitter.com/PrairieLights

AND BEST OF ALL, YOU CAN WIN TICKETS TO SEE PRAIRIE LIGHTS!

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Follow the Yellow Brick Road to a Special The Wizard of Oz Anniversary, Sept. 14

If I could name off my top five movies of all time, The Wizard of Oz has made the list since I was a kid. Now I get the chance to share in a little fun with my munchkins with a special event this Saturday at North East Mall. 

The Simon Kidgits Club at North East Mall invites you to click your heels to celebrate at the free The Wizard of Oz's 75th Anniversary event this Saturday, Sept. 14 from 1 – 3 p.m. in Center Court. Families can participate in a variety of The Wizard of Oz inspired activities to revel in the charming tradition of the yellow brick road including craft-making, coloring activities, cut-out character photo opportunities and exclusive movie-focused giveaways. Children will also receive a map which leads to various stations that feature viewings of The Wizard of Oz film clips. 

The event surrounds the anniversary of the beloved film with Warner Bros. relaunch of The Wizard of Oz 3D Sept. 20 in IMAX® 3D format and an exclusive one-week engagement in IMAX® theatres across North America.

North East Mall

The Wizard of Oz Anniversary Event

Sept. 14, 1- 3 p.m. 

Free

Click Your Heels (or your flip flops) for Fun, 

7 Easy Tips for Being Green and Get Rewarded For It with Recyclebank

Wow Wednesdays:

With 100+ temperatures well underway for DFW over the next couple of days, it’s hard even to think about being green when all you wanna do is run you’re air-conditioner at about 60 degrees. However, a new company called Recyclebank wants to rewards DFW residents for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from restaurants, products and more. In just three minutes, I was signed up and had my first reward, so it is actually "easy to be green" no matter what Kermit the Frog said. 

To help you get started thinking green to save green, Recyclebank  has gathered up some easy tips to help lower your carbon footprint while you have fun in the sun. With these small adjustments, everyone can help to bring about big change—while still enjoying the rest of summer.

1.  Grasscycle with the clippings your mower leaves behind. 
No need to bag up the grass clippings next time you mow the lawn! Instead, just let them lie and you’ll be reducing the amount of plastic and waste that gets sent to the dump while giving the lawn some of the nutrients it needs.

2.  After you rehydrate, make sure you recycle. 
Sometimes summer’s scorchers catch you by surprise. If you need to quench your thirst but forgot a reusable bottle at home, make sure that you purchase a drink that comes in a plastic or aluminum bottle that you can recycle when you’re done.

3. Celebrate summer more sustainably.
Whether you’re grilling in your backyard or tailgating before fireworks, make sure you have a separate bag to collect recyclable glass bottles and aluminum cans. Compostable serve ware can help make your cookouts more eco-friendly, too.

4. Don’t crank the AC in an empty house. 
You can easily conserve a surprising amount of energy when you adjust the air conditioner and water heater thermostats before leaving for a nice, relaxing vacation.

5. Get paperless tickets when you travel. 
Public transportation is already an eco-friendly alternative to traveling by car. Consider booking with electronic tickets when traveling by plane, train or bus and you’ll save some paper, too!

6. Recycle backseat masterpieces made from scrap paper. 
On long drives, keep the kids entertained with lap boards and a handful of scrap paper. They can draw, color or play games like tic-tac-toe on the road and you can still recycle those sheets when they’re done!

7. DIY sandcastles: creative, recyclable, and fun! 
Consider using aluminum soup cans and recyclable plastics on a trip to the beach. They’re great for offering a nice variety of sizes and shapes and, after a quick rinse, they’re totally recyclable, too!

To find out more ways to green your summer, visit https://www.recyclebank.com/green-15.