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! 

Secrets to Saving Big Money on Kids' Clothes in DFW {Giveaway}

Note: This is a sponsored post. I was compensated for this post in return for my honest opinion. All opinions are 100% my own.

I love to dress up my kids. Before my daughter was born, I bought her a Burberry onesie from Neimans...and I don't even have any Burberry! While it was wonderful to get her something nice to celebrate her coming into this world - I knew there was no one that I was going to be able to keep up dressing either of my children in brand name clothing without winning the lottery OR finding a better solution that didn't involve refinancing my house. 

Thankfully my mama taught me the value of consignment and my friends have taught me where to find the best deals! Just Between Friends is the largest children's and maternity consignment sales event in Texas with 75,000 square feet of gently used children's and maternity items for purchase at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.

See all those clothes in the photos above? 

Those were all treasures from my consignment finds!

If you've been, I'm sure you know the benefit of attending the spring and fall sales to stock up on your kids' wardrobes. If you haven't had a chance, then I'm giving you the best reason to go with a chance to win a $15 gift card certificate! However, if it is your first time, I want to share some of the best tips for the best experience at JBF from some of my favorite bloggers who know all the ins and ours of consignment! 

5 Ways to Get the Best Deals at JBF from Terrell Family Fun

10 Tips for Shopping at Consignment Sales from Real Life Notes

So now that you are ready to save money, now here's your mama challenge: how much merchandise can you purchase with a $15 gift card? Enter my giveaway now and get your chance to see how far $15 can go!

Just Between Friends Forth Worth 
3/1/14 - 3/8/14 (CLOSED 3/3 thru 3/5)
Fort Worth Memorial Center
JBFwebsite

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WIN a Stocking Full of Fort Worth's Camp Bowie Christmas Goodies! {Giveaway}

If you live in Dallas/Fort Worth, Mother Nature has not been nice to our outdoor holiday events! Thankfully, Fort Worth's 4th Annual Camp Bowie Christmas, Dec. 14 is still set to happen this weekend. 

If you haven't made it out to this event, this is definitely one to check out - especially since it's fun and free. And Santa's there...with a reinsteer. (Yep, I said reinSTEER!) But that's not all, folks. Just take a look at all the fun you'll have in my last post (and to get a look at what happens when BEVO and RUDOLPH have an offspring...) 

To up the ante, several of the fine folks in the Camp Bowie District have put together a wonderful gift package here on mamachallenge.com for one lucky winner to entice you to come and get your photo with the REINSTEER with a stocking full of fantastic gifts from the following retailers:

• Hair products from Halo Salon & Color Lab
• Class pass from Young Chefs Academy Fort Worth
• Gift certificate from Gordon Boswell Flowers
• Boot camp certificate from Camp Gladiator
• Gift card from McAlister's Deli - Ft. Worth

And one of you fine folks can win it! 

Just let me know "How you'll be spending your holidays this weekend?"

We'll announce the winner on Friday, Dec. 13. 

[Since this giveaway is for Fort Worth-based businesses, I'm gonna limit our winners to only DFW folks (why else would you wanna win if you can't redeem your gifts!) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I love getting to feel like Santa! 

So have you been a good kid this year? Enter and see who ends up with the stocking full of goodies. 

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!

Kick it Up with Santa and his Reinsteer at the 4th Annual Camp Bowie Christmas, Dec. 14

Cowtown becomes the North Pole for one day only on Saturday, Dec. 14 for the Camp Bowie Christmas! The whole family will enjoy a jolly-good time from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. with free, fun activities just for the holidays - especially when Santa and his Reinsteer make a special stop just for the event! 

Santa and his "Reinsteer" come to Camp Bowie Christmas on Dec. 14

Activities Include: 

• Letters to Santa
• Carnival games
• Pony rides
• Face painting
• Holiday music
• Balloon artist
• Cake walk

The public is encouraged to bring a new toy donation for Toys for Tots to help spread holiday cheer. 

4th Annual Camp Bowie Christmas
Dec. 14, 2013, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. 
6323 block of Camp Bowie Blvd. 
Fort Worth, Texas 
Free

See you there!

Make Dreams (and Wishes) Come True on North Texas Giving Day, Sept.19

Wow Mom Wednesday: 

Imagine your first family vacation started with a stretch limo and first-class seating for a four-year old and two-year old.

Imagine staying a resort that serves ice cream to kids 24/7, hosts Christmas and Halloween weekly and a sweet fuzzy 8-foot bunny comes and tucks in your child before they go to sleep.

Imagine your child having a life-threatening illness and for one week everything from breakfast to baths was done in efforts to make them feel like they were the most important thing in the world and everything you could anticipate was already taken care of on your behalf. 

Imagine all that and more...cost-free.

We’ll that was my four-year-old’s first family vacation and his wish granted by Tarrant County-based A Wish with Wings, a non-profit organization that grants wishes to Texas children who have life threatening illnesses.

Remembering the trip, I’m still almost without words on how I can express my ultimate gratitude for making this wish possible for him as well as our entire family!



And even more astounding is that my son is more than one of the 120,000 kids that have experienced the incredible experience of Give Kids the World Village, a 70-acre, non-profit storybook resort in Florida that treats the families of children with life-threatening diseases on a cost-free dream vacation. 

The trip was full of firsts: a first limo, a first plane ride, a first family vacation and a first (and) only Wish Trip.

While my husband and I braced ourselves for taking two kids on a plane ready with snacks, activities and electronics, we were met at the airport with smiles and assistance – making the trip pretty dreamy for us.



Upon arrival at Give the Kids the World Village, we were in every kids’ dream world with ice-cream served all day, a life-sized Candyland game to play, horse riding, fishing and even a waterpark right outside our door to the two-bedroom villa we were provided during our stay. While we could have been pretty supremely happy just staying on the premises, there was a little boy’s wish of meeting Mickey Mouse to make come true. 

The next morning we charted our first of three journeys to Disney World. It was only fitting we would visit the Magic Kingdom and its new Fantasyland, the newest, largest expansion to the park and made with little ones in mind first. We just weren’t sure exactly how much in mind they had for “wish kids” like Jackson.

Upon arrival, THANKFULLY we were provided a double stroller to be able to roll through with two kids at 90-degrees plus temperatures. And just like they promise, once we approached Cinderella’s Castle, just like a storybook, Mickey and the entire cast began singing as soon as we approached and instantly my kids were chanting, “Dreams Come True” with beautiful smiles upon their faces and twinkles in their eyes. I couldn’t help but begin to tear up and let the magic take over all of us.

However, the magic we would encounter had only begun. Each and every ride we came to was met with a “Hi Jackson” and a better-than-fast-pass leap to the front of the line. Yep, for three days the longest we stood in a line was around 10 minutes and it was Memorial Day Weekend!

While going to Disney World was Jackson’s first wish, his second wish was to go to the beach and build a sand castle. Being so close the coast, my husband and I worked to make this off-the-charts experience even better. So we purchased every sand castle toy we could at Walmart, packed the car with sunscreen and towels and made our way to Cocoa Beach to bask in the sun and see our little ones experience the ocean. It was simply perfect.

I could continue you to share our magical week including a round of Dino-golf, the five times we road the Jurassic Park ride at Universal Studios in the rain or how we enjoyed eating with the Princesses at Askersus Hall and Jackson being kissed by each of them (he still blushes talking about that moment, too!)

However, it was the opportunity to give me and my husband the strength and the occasion to finally tell Jackson about his heart condition, what happened to him when he was born and why he has a large scar across his chest. All of a sudden, in this one moment, we felt telling him here, with all these other children at Give the Kids the World, he wouldn’t feel like he was different because he had a problem, but he was different because he is amazing.

I can never begin to repay A Wish with Wings, Give Kids the World, any of the companies that donate thier time and money, or any of the countless volunteers that help keep this cause alive. However, this Thursday, September 19, WE CAN HELP by contributing to North Texas Giving Day. On this very special day, your donation (of at least $25) to A Wish with Wings will be amplified, giving an even bigger opportunity for even more wishes to be granted.

Together, let’s make sure that even more " Dreams Come True"  for children with life-threatening illness in North Texas.

Get Ahead of the Class for Back-to-School with $15 Giftcard from Just Between Friends Fort Worth!

To-do Thursdays: 

Disclaimer: I was provided a gift card in exchange for writing this post. But my stories, my photos and my love of saving is all my own. 

I. cannot. believe. I. have. a. kindergardener. 

(Give me a minute, a need to take a breather.) 

That means it's the start of 12 more years for him of back-to-school preparations - supplies, clothes, backpacks and getting back to a routine (that's a lot to digest and even more to have to spend.) And of course, I've got a 2 year old little girl to go right behind him very soon!

Can you figure out which of these Ralph Lauren Polo items were consignment sale finds?
(All of them but the two on the left!) 

Thankfully, my mama taught me the value of a dollar, so since day one, I've been a huge fan of consignment sales to keep my kiddos dressed nice on our budget. I've even been told my daughter has the cutest clothes and most the time they are outfits I have purchased from a seasonal consignment sale. With just $100 I can get my kids suited up for a whole season plus a little more. And considering we like brand names, it's a great way to stock up without paying full price! 

While there are all kinds of consigment sales in Dallas-Fort Worth, the one that started it all was Just Between Friends and the one in Fort Worth is huge. They've things you wouldn't even think you need, but the price is so good you buy it anyway. The upcoming JBF Fort Worth sale is August 31 - September 7, but goodness knows I need a reminder...

Lucky for both of us, my friend/optimizer/tightwad Jill over at Real Life Notes has answered both our prayers with a handy calendar to keep us in line on DFW consigment sales this fall. (Isn't she organized?)

Since JBF is all about saving you money, they are making this year even sweeter by offering you a chance to win a $15 giftcard! That means you probably are getting $50-$60 worth of clothes for free just by entering.) 

So let's get back-to-school this year with money already in our pocket! 

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Toast to Summer with Free Car Show for Dad, Acting Camp for Kids and White Wine for Moms

To-Do Thursdays:

I can't believe the summer is already in gear and it's just June 6. Half our summer is scheduled and I'm still writing March on my documents! 

So rather than resist the change, embrace it with a little bit of something that everyone will love this season starting off with Dad!

Remember Father's Day is near, so send him (or join him) on Saturday, June 8 for the Glory Days Classic Car Show in Fort Worth on Camp Bowie.

While school is out, the kids must play (and give mom a break!) So consider some a unique  day camp like this one for your budding actor or actresses in Addison. (Watch out Selena Gomez!) 

Mommy needs a little time to celebrate the summer too, so round up the girls or make a date for the Summer White Wine Festival at FnG Eats in Keller. Chef Bob Stephenson, whom I have the pleasure of working to promote his creative cuisine is offering a big deal for only $40 to sample six wines and several noshes sure to tickle your taste buds!) 

Salud to Summer!

Get Back to the Good Days with Fort Worth's New Coyote Drive-in

To-Do Thursdays:

When I was growing up in Graham (about 90 minutes west of Fort Worth), we always had a drive-in. In fact since 1955, most the time in Graham, there has always been the Graham Drive-in to look forward to on summer nights. You went with your family, you went with your friends and later, most of us probably had a date night under the stars, watching films like Grease, Indiana Jones and many others that I can't seem to remember now in much older years, but meant a lot to me at the time. 

The Graham Drive-in has been showing movies since 1955. (Photo courtesy of Facebook.)

It wasn't until I "moved to the big city" that I realized that a drive-in was a pretty unique attraction. Especially since many of the ones in other cities and towns across Texas were drying up and turning into nothing but a pasture of old memories and old technology from a time of yesterday when people didn't have smartphones to stay close to watch their favorite films at leisure. Nowadays at a flick of switch we can watch what we want, when we want and how we want. Technology is great, but all this social media has instead made us anti-social.  You just don't make time hanging with your friends, watching a film, munching on popcorn and just enjoying the art of doing nothing. 

Thankfully, I'm not alone in this nostalgic feeling for getting back to the good 'ole days. A collaboration of the Tarrant Regional Water District, Trinity River Vision Authority, the City of Fort Worth and many others folks, the Coyote Drive-in is now open along the Trinity River near the Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth. This three-screen wonder with outdoor, covered patio areas and a great menu, adds to the additional community vibe the city has been trying to build along this area. 

The brand new Coyote Drive-in in Fort Worth is definitely an upgrade, but still takes you back to the same old drive-in movie experience of yesteryear. (Photo courtesy of Facebook.)

For more about the Coyote Drive-in read the 

rest of my story on Star-Telegram Mom2MomDFW. 

To-Do Thursdays: Mayfest, Derby Days, Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day and Kenny Chesney

To-Do Thursdays:

If you haven't felt the lovely brisk air outside yet, make sure you don't forget your jacket - you're gonna need it, especially with all the great events happening this weekend! 

Here's my picks:

May 2 - 5: Starting today make Mayfest in Fort Worth part of your list this weekend (goes to support several great causes like the Junior League of Fort Worth!) 

May 4: Do it Derby Style for the Kentucky Derby at Lone Star Park (don't forget your hat!) 

May 4: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo on a grand scale with Cinco de Mayo in the City!

And remember, Mother's Day is NEXT WEEKEND, so that means buy your gifts, send your cards and make those reservations, so you don't forget! 

If mom is a big Kenny Chesney fan, Eric Church or Eli Young Band (like me!) then you should enter this contest on Not-So-Average Mama to win tickets to his May 11 concert at Cowboys Stadium! (She'll love you for that!)