Make Mom Feel Like a Queen with Medieval Times {Free Admission}

Disclaimer: I was provided tickets to the show so I can enjoy Mother's Day just like you! 

I've lived in or around Dallas for most of my life, but I have never been to Medieval Times. So, I'm super excited that they are making the decision to go easy for families by giving mom a free ticket just in time for Mother's Day! 

Now through May 11, Moms get free admission with a full-priced adult admission when you use the code MOMWEB! 

While I can't tell wait to share the experience with you, I know that the whole family will enjoy being taken back to a time of castles, jousting, and feasting on a four-course meal fit for royalty.

Medieval Times has nine locations in California, Florida, Illinois, Georgia, South Carolina, New Jersey, D.C. and Ontario. To find your closest location, visit the website.

Purchase your tickets by May 11: http://www.medievaltimes.com/purchasetickets.aspx

Sweet! Buy dozen Tiff's Treats for $4, Make a Dream Come True for Local Boy THIS SATURDAY

When two of my favorite organizations, A Wish with Wings and Tiff’s Treats have partnered together to grant the wish of nine-year-old Viggo, a survivor of Stage 4B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, to go to Disney World, I needed to do whatever I could to help!

Especially since A Wish with Wings made my son’s dream come true for our family to experience Disney World. 

Tiff’s Treats will hold a grand opening fundraiser at its newest location in DFW – its sixth in DFW and its first Las Colinas store — at 114 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 110, Irving, 75062 (intersection of 114 and O’Connor), on Saturday, April 26, 2014, from 9 a.m. to noon. The event will raise funds for A Wish with Wings, which grants wishes to special little Texans with uncertain futures due to medical conditions. These funds will grant the wish of nine-year-old Viggo from Fort Worth, who loves Legos, Minecraft and the Beatles, and whose wish is to travel to Disney World this summer with his family, where he can focus on being a kid, instead of on the treatments he has had to endure for Stage 4B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

On Saturday, April 26, celebrate the store’s opening and help raise funds for Viggo’s wish by purchasing up to six one-dozen boxes filled with one of Tiff’s Treats most irresistible flavors: chocolate chip, snickerdoodle or oatmeal raisin, for just $4 a box.  Proceeds up to $5,000 will be donated to A Wish with Wings. Sales at this event are cash only.  Viggo and his family will be there to share in the fun. It’s a flash grand opening event — and it’s all for a great cause!

Tiff’s Treats’ warm cookie concept normally requires a 30-minute notice for pick-up orders or one hour for delivery — however, for the grand opening fundraiser, no advance order is required, and customers can simply walk in to the new store and purchase hot cookies from 9 a.m. to noon.  This deal is valid only at the new Las Colinas Tiff’s Treats location.

As the delicious aroma of fresh-from-the-oven cookies and brownies fills the air at the new store, guests can enjoy festivities and chances to win prizes. Get there early: the first 10 people in line at the grand opening April 26 at 9 a.m. will win a $100 Tiff’s Treats gift card, while the next 10 will receive a $50 gift card, the next 10 will receive a $25 gift card and the next 10 will win a $10 gift card. Guests who purchase a box of cookies at the grand opening can also enter in a drawing to win free Tiff’s Treats cookies for a year! Anyone who brings a new, unwrapped toy to the event to be donated to a Wish with Wings will also receive a $5 Tiff’s Treats gift card.

The mission of a Wish with Wings is to grant magical wishes to little Texans with life-threatening conditions. First chartered in 1982, this Texas-based non-profit has granted more than 1,200 wishes to children all over the Lone Star State with uncertain futures due to medical conditions. For more information on a Wish with Wings, visit the organization’s website at www.awishwithwings.com or call 817-469-9474. If you know of a child who is in need of a wish, please visit www.awishwithwings.com to get more information.

Tiff’s Treats in Las Colinas opens for regular business on Sunday, April 27. The new Las Colinas location can be reached at (972) 889-7700 or online at www.cookiedelivery.com.

Have a sweet week! 

Easter Eats: Cheesy Corn Bake from 3 Stacks Smoke & Tap House {Recipe}

For our family, Easter lunch/dinner looks a lot like a lighter version of Thanksgiving: a big piece of meat with all the same kind of fixings like mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, we'll you get the picture.

So to change it up for this year, we opted for BBQ. Good ole barbecue. While Dallas-Fort Worth has tons of amazing places to enjoy BBQ cooking at its best, the hubs wants to make it himself. However, I'm in charge of the fixings. And it's just not BBQ if I can't get at least a few bites of this Cheesy Corn Bake from 3 Stacks Smoke House in Frisco. There's just something about this golden goodness that screams "I need to eat this NOW." 

Perhaps it's the cream corn. 
Perhaps it's the cornbread mix. 
Perhaps it's that one stick of butter and cheese. 
Whatever it is, it's good. 

And while Trace “The Rib Whisperer” Arnold of 3 Stacks Smoke & Tap House isn't giving out all his secrets for tasty BBQ, he did share this recipe and his tips to make it perfect. And now I'm sharing it with you! 

CHEESY CORN BAKE
Trace “The Rib Whisperer” Arnold of 3 Stacks Smoke & Tap House

Ingredients

1 can of undrained whole kernel corn

1 can of cream corn

8 oz. of sour cream

2 well beaten eggs

1 box of Jiffy cornbread mix

1 stick of melted butter (not too hot, avoid clarifying the butter)

1/2 cup finely diced fresh jalapeño peppers

Instructions

Place mixture in a well-oiled 9x13 pan and bake for 55-60 minutes at 350 degrees.

Variations

• Top with fresh grated cheddar or blended cheese.
• Substitute jalapeños for green chilies. Cayenne pepper is also a great substitution for heat.
• Add red bell pepper for a holiday flair.
• Add brown Panco bread crumbs and top for a crunchy texture.
• Light sour cream will reduce calories.
• Cream cheese can be substituted for sour for a richer blend.
• Fresh corn can be used in place of canned.
• Plain yellow cornbread mix can replace Jiffy if you want to eliminate the sweet flavor of the Jiffy.

After this, you might be making this Easter side at Memorial Day, July 4th and Thanksgiving, too! Plus if you get a chance to visit 3 Stacks, I highly suggest you also try the fried dill pickle cheese fries - they'll make every day better! 

Hoppy Easter! 

Beautify You at BEAUTY LIVE This Weekend at Galleria Dallas

Even if it doesn’t look like I wear it, I love makeup. 

I mean my favorite “holiday” after Christmas growing up was Clinique Bonus time. Now as an adult, I’m not just on the lookout for a new favorite lipgloss, but now I’m looking at wrinkle reducer, eye brightener, primer and all those other things that sound more like painting a house than applying makeup. So like any good student, I need to get some schooling from time to time. So a few weeks ago I went to Nordstrom’s Trend Show and this weekend I’m hitting up BEAUTY LIVE at Galleria Dallas, April 12 & 13!  

It’s all beauty, all the time with two days of nothing by sessions, freebies, demos and more. While the event is free, tickets are only $20 for each sessions for reserved seating and that includes a gift bag and a $20 gift card!

Expert Sessions throughout Beauty Live include:

SATURDAY, APRIL 13:
11am – Expert Beauty Panel featuring Courtney Kerr of Bravo’s Courtney Loves Dallas, Galleria Fashion Stylist Holly Quartaro and a panel of experts 

12pm – TONI&GUY Presents: Hair Meets Wardrobe 

1pm – Courtney’s Favorite Things
Courtney Kerr, star of Bravo TV’s Courtney Loves Dallas, talk show host of KTXD’s The Broadcast and fashion blogger, has hand-picked her all-time favorite beauty and skin care products and she is sharing the love! Join us to find out what’s in Courtney’s make up bag, and you could go home with one of the dozens of products she is giving away.

2pm – Macy’s Presents Spring 2014 ‘Must Haves’

3pm – BELK presents Spring Beauty Panel hosted by In Style Magazine.

4pm – Tata Harper, founder of Tata Harper Skincare Presented by Nordstrom Spa

5pm – Sephora Presents Re(Marc)able Beauty featuring Marc Jacobs’ newest beauty trends

6pm – MAC 

SUNDAY, APRIL 13: 

3pm – LUSH Fresh Handmade Beauty

4pm – Westin Galleria Dallas and The Second Floor Bistro-Bar Present SuperFoods

In addition to the expert sessions, Beauty Live showcases all the top trends in beauty with dozens of events and activities.  Tour the many how-to Beauty Stops stationed throughout Galleria Dallas for simple secrets and top techniques for a more gorgeous you. Guests will enjoy free hands-on makeover opportunities throughout the center.

And of course while you are there, go check out the new Belk...just know this is going to be a weekend you're gonna buy stuff. 

Have fun and I'll see you there! 

Win $500 Gift Card! Belk Opens its Texas Flagship Store at Galleria Dallas TODAY #BelkDallas

Last week Dallas was invited to celebrate a 126-year tradition that now makes its home in Dallas with the first Belk flagship location in Texas!  

The 180,000 sq. ft. store that once housed Saks Fifth Avenue, rolled out the red carpet with a pre-opening event gala full of giveaways, southern hospitality, tons of great fashion and even a celebrity-hosted runway show with Nashville star Hayden Panettiere. 



Benefiting Susan G. Komen, the night's activities began with a beautiful entrance that greeted guests as they rolled up to valet, showing that Belk was definitely prepared to make a impression. 

Considering I had been to a few Belk stores around DFW, I wasn't sure what to expect, but after mentally "pinning" about four handbags I was lusting over, including the Calvin Klein color block "Celene-like" bag one below, I figured I was in for a treat (and my wallet for a possible problem.) 

I found many of my favorite brands including Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Free People Nanette Lepore, Laura Mercier and many more with tons of options for all ages and styles. 

This Wednesday, April 9, 2014  marks the official grand opening of the new Belk at Galleria Dallas with lots fun including a gift card giveaway for the first 800 customers (and cards up to $500!)  



But if you can't make it to Belk on Wednesday, make plans to enjoy several of their grand opening events including Shoes & Champagne on April 10, April 12 & 13 at Beauty LIVE event and even a Girls' Night Out with Cynthia Rowley on April 17! 

I have a feeling that Belk will soon become your favorite go-to store for your modern southern style. (If you sign up on their website you also get a 20% discount!) 

Check out more style with Belk at @BelkDallasGalleria on Facebook, @Belk on Twitter and @MyBelk on Instagram and Pinterest! 

Final Four Fun for the Family in Dallas

Our family may be close to the action of the big game over at Jerry's World, but there's a lot more happening at Final Four than just a game that the whole family can get excited about. Here's a couple of big things you can do with the kids to celebrate (even if you can't afford the tickets to AT&T Stadium. 

Dribble
Sunday, April 6
11:30 - Dribble begin
FREE

Kids (18 and under) are invited to dribble through downtown Dallas from Dallas City Hall Plaza to Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on Sunday morning and will receive a free commemorative Final Four basketball, t-shirt, and an entry into Bracket Town!
To register: https://2014ncaamffd.theregistrationsystem.com/en/1824

Bracket Town
Friday Noon - 8pm/Saturday, 10am - 7pm/Sunday, Noon - 8pm/ Monday, Noon - 7pm
Kay Bailey Hutchinson Center - Halls A-D
Tickets: $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Free for kids 2 and under. 

The ultimate Final Four fun fest, KBHC turns into 350,000 sq ft of family-friendly activities. You'll have a chance to meet legendary coaches, former athletes and a free concert by Fifth Harmony. Get more info on the website.

AT&T Block Party, Coke Zero Countdown Concert and Capital One JamFest
All weekend
Free

A free concert with Tim McGraw and Bruce Springsteen doesn't need much explaining, but might be something fun to do if you have older kids. With so much going on I wouldn't suggest a stroller child, but this event might be fun as an experience with the big ones. Get the full line of these activities on the website. 

Put Some Color in Your Life with the COLOR FUN FEST 5K, April 19 in McKinney

I hate to run. 

A lot. 

But it sure does help to burn calories.

However, I still need something to get me excited enough to move my hiney. Thankfully, runs are getting creative so people like me that don’t like to run still want to get involved and enjoy the fun.

In the words of Julia Roberts: Well then color me happy!

The COLOR FUN FEST 5K comes to North Dallas/McKinney on April 19, 2014. Both a day and night  5k color run featuring finish-line festivals, the goal of the Color Run is to combine fun and fitness while helping local charities!

COLOR FUN FEST 5K is an EPIC color fun run that heightens positive emotions by combining a5k fun run with the energy of electronic dance music, all while coloring the crowd with thousands of pounds of vibrant colored powder. The event is family-friendly, and features a post-run celebration with DJ entertainment.

The charities the run benefits Free Arts for Abused Children, a nonprofit organization that gives children that have suffered adversity a chance to express themselves through art. Another nonprofit that benefits from this event is a new startup charity called Flight for Cystic Fibrosis that gives children with CF a chance to feel alive by experiencing the incredible feeling of skydiving through wind tunnels and jumps. The mission of this program is to show these kids how to overcome fears and feel hope, bonding families and encouraging healthy living, which is vitally necessary for a person with Cystic Fibrosis.

And this run is one the whole family can get involved in including kids/parents, couples, groups of friends, fitness gurus, dance enthusiasts, runners, joggers, walkers, bloggers, couch potatoes, the young, the old, and basically everyone and anyone that likes to have fun!

Would you like to have some color fun?

Win a pair of registrations for the Color Run ($35 per registration/ $70 total)

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Color Run Fest 5K North Dallas/McKinney

April 19, 2014

First wave of runners at 9 - 11 am, second wave at 9 - 11 pm

Myers Park and Event Center

7117 County Road 166

McKinney, TX 75071

Website

Calling All Budget Superheroes: Just Between Friends Dallas Starts Thursday in Mesquite

Disclaimer: I'm working with Just Between Friends Dallas in Mesquite to promote their upcoming sale, March 20-23. I'm a huge fan of cute yet inexpensive clothes for my kids and I know you probably are, too! #JBFDallas #Mesquite #Spon

Mama Challenge:

Dressing your babies in cute clothes that won't break your bank! 

We all gotta have 'em...Clothes. 

Actually we don't HAVE to have them, but it's kinda of an expectation. And for most moms, we like our kid's clothes to reflect our style and show off how adorable they are. And it doesn't hurt that they keep them warm or cool for the weather, too. 

But keeping up with kids' ever-changing growth spurts makes it really hard and expensive to keep those closets up-to-date. Or an older sister or a bestie whose kids are exactly one season in front of your kids and you get everything of her kids passed on each season. 

No such luck? Me neither. 

However, the next best thing is having Just Between Friends. Hence the name, the JBF franchise is one that I've relied on for both my kids to keep us stocked up on everything from clothes, shoes, toys and more. Last month I visited the JBF in Fort Worth, but I still was looking for more great finds for my kids and my friends' recent additions, so Dallas here we come. 

I hope you'll join me there as I scout out the Mesquite Rodeo Hall for the best finds for boys and girls, ages newborn - 5. And I'm even going to get a sneak peek so you can see what I'm finding so you too get hurry on over to load up for spring, summer and fall. 

One of my tips is that you should always look for 1-2 seasons at least to make sure you are getting the most out of your JBF experience. I have some dresses I bought for my daughter and while they don't fit today, at the prices I'm getting clothes at from JBF, it's worth it to hang in the closet for a few months! 

Hours:
Wednesday, March 19:
noon: 15 hour presale
1:00 pm: 10 hour presale
2:00 pm: 5 hour presale
3:00 pm: consignor presale (+1 guest)
5:00 pm: Prime Time Shopping Sale ($10 admission per person)
7:00 pm: First time parent & teacher presale
10:00 pm: CLOSE


Thursday, March 20:
10 am-6 pm: OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
$3 admission fee (Thursday only)

6:30 pm- 7:30 pm: Second Drop Off
(no clothing, shoes or car seats accepted at second drop off)

Friday, March 21:
10 am-6 pm: OPEN TO THE PUBLIC


Saturday, March 22:
10 am-6 pm: OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
6:30- 8:00 pm: 1/2 Price Presale (15 & 10 hour volunteers only)


Sunday, March 23:
noon-6pm: OPEN TO THE PUBLIC- HALF PRICE SALE

Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook tomorrow to see what I find! 

Just Between Friends Dallas 
March 20-23, 2014
Mesquite Rodeo Exhibit Hall
1700 Rodeo Drive, Mesquite, TX 75149
www.twitter.com/JBFDallas
www.facebook.com/JBFDallas
Website

Spring Greening: North Texas Irish Festival, Feb. 28 - Mar 2 {Giveaway}

The largest celebration of culture in Southwest goes to the dogs as its 32nd year showcases all things Irish, including dogs, dancing, dining and more in Dallas's Fair Park for the North Texas Irish Festival.

From "Erin Go Bragh!", a traditional Irish saying meaning "Ireland Forever," to "Erin Go Bark!", the theme of this year's festival, this phrase reflects one of its most-loved traditions as it celebrates the role of the “Celtic canines” in this beloved dog- and family-friendly festival.

A young visitor is taught the ancient sport of archery in the NTIF Celtic Village. Photo: Bud Mallar

Whether your dog is Irish, Celtic, or just a friendly mutt, he or she is welcome to accompany you and your family to enjoy the music, culture, fun and food. New for this year, the festival now has a bigger paw print – er, footprint – with the addition of a pet pavilion in the Grand Place, dedicated to dogs and other friendly pets -- lots to get your tail wagging. Attendees can search for a new pet in the largest gathering of animal rescue groups in North Texas. Last year alone, almost 100 animals found new homes through the festival.

Thank goodness dogs love music, because the heart of this festival, an all-volunteer effort produced by the Southwest Celtic Music Association (SCMA), is a celebration of music that will have you tapping your toes and paws. The North Texas Irish Festival features top Irish musicians, dancers and storytellers from around the world and a variety of cultural presentations on 13 stages at Fair Park. The festival also hosts activities for the kids, an Irish cooking stage, storytelling, arts/crafts and much more for the family.

The “First Texas ‘Ceili” (pronounced “kay-lee” and meaning “gathering” in Gaelic) was held in 1983 at a local Oak Lawn pub and has grown into the largest celebration of Irish culture in the Southwest as the 32nd Annual North Texas Irish Festival, presented by the Southwest Celtic Music Association, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing music and dance scholarships and supporting other major Celtic cultural events in DFW.

NORTH TEXAS IRISH FESTIVAL
Feb. 28 – Mar. 2, 2014
Gates open on Friday evening, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m.
Hours are 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday; 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 1; and 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 2.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.ntif.org.

• Admission is FREE on Friday from 6 to 7 p.m.; $10 after (50% off coupons online at www.ntif.org).
• Children 11 and under are FREE when accompanied by adult family member.
• Seniors over 65 or current military members (with valid military ID) receive $5 off all gate prices.
• Dogs are allowed in on a short leash with a $1 requested donation to animal rescue groups supported by the festival. Leprechauns (in full ceremonial dress and carrying pot of gold) are FREE.
• A one-day ticket is $20 on Saturday and $15 on Sunday at the gate, while a two-day ticket is $25 and a weekend pass is $30. Discount tickets for all three days will be available at area Tom Thumb stores in February.

Parking is available in and around Fair Park, or attendees can take the DART Green Line (take the Green Line and save some green!) to the front entrance of Fair Park and the North Texas Irish Festival. Detailed directions and parking tips are available at www.ntif.org. The public can call 972-943-4616 or visit www.ntif.org for more information or to volunteer to work at the festival.

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Healthy Winter Skin is In: Free Skin Check at DermOne DFW Now

Normally in Texas we break out the big winter coat 1-2 times a winter season. Sometimes I even look in my coat closet and wonder why we spend as much money on big coats so they can gather dust and take up room. 

This year has not be the case. And with all this covering up and dressing in layers, you tend not to worry about your skin except to get slather up on lotion as we feel our hands crack and peel until around March or April when the warm temps finally do show their face and you begin to show your skin. 

However, now is actually the right time to think about your skin and getting your hide checked for skin cancer. 

To celebrate the opening of five DermOne Dermatology Centers locations in Dallas/Fort Worth, DermOne is providing 500 free skin care checks ($80,000 value) to the community. 

To book a free exam, you can simply call one of the DermOne offices by Feb. 28 and mention "Healthy Skin DFW" to receive a free skin check. 

Skin cancer is a serious issue in North Texas. In fact:

• It’s the most common form of cancer in the U.S., with more than 3.5 million skin cancers diagnosed in more than two million people annually.
• There are more new cases of skin cancer than breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer – combined.
• When left unchecked, skin cancer can be deadly faster than any of us would like to think.

In around 20 minutes, you can take a big step at taking care of your body's biggest organ!

Other services at DermOne include: 

• General dermatology, including treatment of acne, eczema, warts, rashes, moles and much more;
• Skin cancer screenings and surgery;
• Laser technology, such as the Palomar Laser, an innovative fractional laser from the company that invented and patented micro-fractional laser technology, used to treat wrinkles, stretch marks, acne, surgical scars and other skin conditions;
• Cosmetic procedures, including BOTOX®, Juvéderm™ and Restylane® at many locations; and
• In-house pathology lab to ensure quick turn-around of biopsy removal of a sample of living tissue or cells for close examination by a pathologist for signs of disease and other test results.

ARLINGTON
715 North Fielder Road
Arlington, TX 76012
(888) 881-1626

GRAND PRAIRIE
4927 Lake Ridge Pkwy., Suite 170
Grand Prairie, TX 75052
(888) 881-1626

IRVING
2021 N. MacArthur Blvd. Suite 300
Irving, TX 75061

MESQUITE
2856 N. Galloway Ave.
Mesquite, TX 75150
972-289-2233

WAXAHACHIE
1505 West Jefferson St., Suite 170
Waxahachie, TX 75165
(888) 881-1626
972-254-3118

Dallas Gets a Little Sweeter with See's Candies at NorthPark

There's mothing more symbolic of Valentine's Day than a beautiful box of chocolates. 

However, no matter its presentation, it's what inside the box that counts. And there's definitely a difference in well-made morsels and those other kinds of sugar mess that you'll probably still eat, but wonder why you let yourself use up those extra Weight Watchers points later. Or even worse, the chocolate you know that's been there for a long while in that box before finding its way to you. 

And just in time for Valentine's Day, you have a new option in Dallas for chocolate. While the See's Candies isn't new since they've been making chocolate and other candy the same way since 1921, the store is at NorthPark Center is (it opened just around Christmas!)

Ironically, this candymaker purposely let's the chocolate age before selling it. It's part of its signature recipe. See's Candies is one of the few remaining candy makers that still ages their chocolate, a process that imparts a smooth, mellow flavor profile and elevates the taste of the chocolate overall. And while See's owned by one of America's most well-known tycoons Warren Buffett, there's been no new machines and new techniques for getting See's to the masses. He's left it just the way he found it. 

Recently, my son (the real chocolate expert) and I had a chance to visit the new store for a special media event. Designed to look like the crisp, clean black-and-white checkered motif inspired by Mary’s original kitchen, the shelves were stocked with candy of every flavor, size and occasion. Also like her kitchen the say, I was met instantly with a warm smile and asked to try a candy. While that tradition actually costs See's one million pounds of candy each year, but looks like Warren said it was worth the effort since 26 million pounds is what they sold in 2013. 

Hairnets are the newest trend. At least the night of the See's Candies event. Featured here is Cynthia from Oh, So Cynthia and Josh Hart from 102.1 The Edge. 

And while just trying See's was a new experience in itself, to really appreciate the art of creating a custom box of chocolate the See's way, we were challenged to a contest to see who could fill a box quicker among the guests. Hairnet, gloves and all. 

Does the image sound familiar? It should - apparently Lucy and Ethel did it on one of The Lucy Show episodes. And this contest was almost as funny. 

You can see my son joined me in the fun and he loved it. 

We'll I think it was all the chocolate he kept putting in his month that he really loved. 

And you will, too. Make sure to taste one while you're picking out your perfect Valentine's Day box. Or make it easy and one of the pre-made ones. 

Don't worry, Jackson says they are all good.