Get Out with Girlfriends: Fort Worth’s Brownstone

With two kids, a full-time job and a husband in college, free time with my girlfriends is not something I enjoy very often. That’s why it’s important occasionally to make lunch dates (and even little movie dates) with my girlfriends during “working hours.” While normally not near long enough, an hour here and there is good enough to remember that there’s something else besides diapers, dinner and kiddo dilemmas. So the other day when I have a chance to eat at one of my bucket-list restaurants for lunch, the Brownstone in Fort Worth, I was ecstatic.

Nested in Fort Worth’s upscale West 7^thdistrict, the Brownstone is an open-space concept designed for everyone including the white-collar worker to a gals’ night out. My friend and I fell somewhere in between with only an hour for lunch, we quickly tried perused the menu. That was the hard choice to make since it was full of many great appetizers, salads and desserts. And with diver scallops, creamy mac n cheese and crawfish, the choice for lunch was going to be a hard one…except when we came across the Executive Menu option. Designed with the lunch hour in mind, it promises a delicious lunch featuring comfort classics like meatloaf and shrimp n grits in addition to the soup, salad and sandwich combos you expect. And best of all, they’ll get your meal and your included drink to you in 30 minutes or less for only $10.

While the Pimento Grilled Cheese, Tomato Bisque and Greens combo made my taste buds happy, it was The Stone Select that made intrigued me, so my girlfriend order the grilled cheese and I ordered the “little bit of everything.” While we waited for our meal, I broke down ordered the Brownstone white sangria, ensemble white wine. Full of summer berries, a light fruity flavor, and just a little tad of bubbly, I could see why this house favorite could be one of mine as well.

Only a few sips down, our meal arrived right on time. Indecisive as I am with food, The Stone Select was an ideal option. The perfectly portioned dish featured Brownstone’s Buffalo Blue Cheese Hummus, Asian Chicken Salad with almond, bacon, spinach, and artichoke dip, salad, crudités and other dippables. I  was was happy to dive in and share all my tasty choices with my girlfriend who also was returning the favor with her grilled cheese/soup combo. Although I don’t know the calorie count, it was a good, shareable meal. The Asian salad spotlighted a tangy and sweet dressing, almonds and bite-size pieces of chicken. The dips were great to share with my friend and the veggies on my plate made me feel better when I indulged with my sangria. My experience ended on a high note when the check came…less than $20 for a meal, apps and a drink and in less than an hour.

In addition to its Executive Lunch, I’d recommend Thursdays for Girls Night at the Brownstone. With $1 bubbly and free appetizers for tables of four or more, it’s sure to become the go-to destination for girls 21-41, looking for a great place to catch up with the girls. And July 18 from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. , the Brownstone becomes the headquarters for our Mom2Mom readers for our Moms Meet & Tweet. Part of a night of West 7^th’s Ladies Night Out, not only will you drink bubbly at $1 a pop, get a personal chef demo of crab cakes from the Brownstone’s Christian Lehrmann and tons and tons of prizes, discounts, giveaways and more.

So bring your girlfriends and start your night off with us on July 18 at the Brownstone for a night of fun!

Brownstone

840 Currie Street

Fort Worth, TX

817-332-1555

http://www.brownstonefw.com

The Grandma Kit: Everything Caregivers Need When Parents Go on Vacation

After two decades of waiting, I’m only a week out from embarking on my dream vacation to Italy. Two glorious weeks in Rome, Sorrrento, Florence, Pisa and Venice with my husband – and totally kid free. While that sounds pretty amazing, I know that two weeks is going to be HARD without my kiddos. Luckily both my amazing mother and my selfless mother-in-law are sharing the load of taking care of the kids while we’re away at their homes. And for that to be successful for everyone, it takes planning and paperwork to make sure the children and our moms are properly prepared with every detail from what foods the kids eat – to  the pediatrician’s number in case an emergency happens (oh, please I hope that doesn’t happen...)

Each of the grandmas got a special kit with everything I could think of that they needed in addition to clothes, toys, games and of course,  bottles and formula. With a little help of Google, I found many free downloadables that I could use to fill out and print. 

The grandma kit included:

Temporary Guardianship:           

Allows my parents and my husband’s parents to have temporary guardianship of my kids in our absence. (There’s both a start and an end time on this.)

Medical Power of Attorney:      

This form allows the listed person to order medical services if necessary. For instance, if you child broke their arm, this would be the form needed to ensure grandma could take him to the emergency room and take care of any needed medical services in your absence.

                                                               

Medical Information:   

Provides basics like social security numbers, insurance info, allergies, prescriptions, and medical phone numbers like their pediatrician.

Kids Info Sheet:                               

Gives the basics on your kiddo like favorite foods, routines, etc.

Copy of Itinerary:           

While I’m providing a link to a helpful template, I just use my own Excel worksheet. This is just a spreadsheet covering my daily activities which is useful if they needed to reach us or explain to the kids what we are doing.

Email & Skype Info:       

Since we were traveling overseas, using our phones was not in the plan. So through the magic of Ipad, we had planned to Skype our families periodically to see them and to checkin. This way we didn’t have to pay for any international fees. Another useful tip we’d learn is that if Skype wasn’t working out for us, you can always buy a Pay and Go Mobile Phone for $30 and use that in place of our mobile phones without incurring roaming charges on our normal phone rates.

The Simple Joys of Grandparenting:      

This was a last-minute find and was the icing on the cake for my “grandma kit.” Grandmas never run out of hugs or cookies – but now there’s no way they’ll even run out of stories, nursery rhymes, games, crafts and even recipe ideas! The Simple Joys of Grandparenting by Abigail R. Gehring created a great collection of a little bit of everything that makes grandmas great like mac n cheese, homemade hot chocolate with marshmallows, sock puppets and even tea parties!

               

Growing up, trips to my grandma meant the world to me (and still do), so just reading this book gave me the warm and fuzzies just remembering the fun I used to have. Beautifully illustrated, it’s a perfect gift for new grandparents as well as like this when you might be traveling or they have the kids for an extended period of time.

While I have no tip or downloadable about how not to feel guilty or keep from missing your kiddos while you are away, hopefully this kit can make the experience a little more bearable for everyone!


Disclaimer: I received a copy of The Simple Joys of Grandparenting for purposes of this review, however, the views expressed here are all my own.

SOS: Save Our Skin with New Rubdown on Sunscreen

In Texas when you expect to reach 100 degree temps for most of the summer, you shouldknow the importance of sunscreen. Now that I’m not as young as I used to be (and as dumb either when I baked in the sun using Crisco oil as sunscreen), I really appreciate the concept that “be nice to your skin and it will be nice to you.” Worst of all with the new ranking of #9 Worst City for Skin in the U.S. by Daily Glow online and two kids with almost translucent skin, sunscreen is a must.

However, while buying my new sunscreen supply for this year, I started hearing new standards for sunscreen …and there were several new guidelines to understand.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Thankfully trusty MyFoxDFW reporter “Save Me Steve” Noviello channeled my questions and put together a great segment that helped me try to breakdown what I should and not be looking for on my sunscreen.

WHAT I FOUND

Now a little more educated on what to look for in my sunscreen, I came across two new products from Banana Boat that caught my eye – one for being natural and the other for not making me feel gross as soon as I put it on.

Banana Boat® Natural Reflect™ sunscreen lotion– An all-natural sun protection line that deflects UVA and UVB rays without the use of harsh chemical sunscreens, new Banana Boat® Natural Reflect™ products are water resistant, oxybenzone- and paraben-free and are 100 % naturally-sourced mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide. Banana Boat® Natural Reflect™ sunscreen lotions are available for adults in SPF 50+, and in Tear-Free, Sting-Free SPF 50+ lotions for kids and babies.

Banana Boat® Sport Performance® Cool Zone™ Continuous Spray Sunscreen – Available in SPF 30 and 50+, Banana Boat® Sport Performance® Cool Zone™ Continuous Spray Sunscreen provides active UVA and UVB protection that instantly cools skin on contact, for a clean, refreshing feeling. The line also includes the Banana Boat® Cool Zone™ After Sun Aloe Gel to provide cooling burn relief to refresh skin after a day in the sun.

WHAT TO DO

Every morning along with breakfast, dressing and teeth brushing, I have to coat my kiddo in sunscreen for the day. While he needs several coats of sunscreen before the end of the day, this is all I can do since the school cannot apply sunscreen. 

Really???

Since the FDA classified sunscreen as at an over-the-counter medicine, most schools don’t allow them – including my son’s school.

So I was SUPER excited when I discovered my favorite sunscreen multitasking serum from Supergoop!has initiated a campaign called Project Backpack to help get kids protected from the sun. Project Backpack™ serves as a vehicle to influence change in local and state policies, allowing the use of sunscreen on school campuses, while simultaneously providing sunscreen to schools across the United States.

Bet you haven’t ever thought about your sunscreen that much?!? Just make sure now with all this info, read the labels, throw out the old stuff, know what you’re getting and how often to reapply!

Happy Summer Adventures in the Sun!


Disclaimer: I was provided Banana Boat Sunscreen products for purposes of this review. However, all views expressed are all my own.

How We Survived Our Angry Birds Birthday Party!

My now four-year old was very specific after his Thomas the Tank Engine 3^rd Birthday party (complete with a full-size train), that he now wanted an Angry Birds Birthday Party. Not really much of a fan of the online craze, the search was on to figure out what an “Angry Birds Birthday” was going to be.

Thank goodness, of course, for Pinterest and many other much-more creative momsthat had already “been there, done that” and the posted it online for the rest of us. While I wish I could take credit a lot of the great ideas included here, I was able to pull the best of the best Angry Birds Birthday ideas all into one, and with the help of some very creative and very generous family members, it all came together beautifully.

Disclaimer: I was provided samples of Red Jacket Juice and Sunridge Farms for purposes of a review. However, all the opinions expressed here are my own.

Celebrate Summer Some Way with Ice Cream Sodas!

Today was the FIRST DAY of SUMMER. Can you believe it? And best of all, did you know today was also Ice Cream Soda Day? And there’s nothing more summer than the thought of popsicles, ice cream and even better, an ice cream soda to begin the summer the right way.

Since I’m a huge fan of anything with a little fizz and bubbles – like ginger ale, San Pellegrigio and champagne, it’s no doubt that when I ran across zero calorie Sparkling Ice, I was more than just a little excited. It was like my need to drink more water, not gain weight and not taste like artificial sweeteners all came together into one. Remember back in the day when they had Clearly Canadian? It reminds me of those good ole days (minus the glass bottle I’m thankful it’s not made of since I have two children!)

Anyhow, when my kiddo found my inventory of “mom’s drinks,” he certainly asked to taste one, especially since they come in bright colors that match their flavors. (Sparkling Ice’s collection includes delicious flavors including Coconut Pineapple, Lemon Lime, Kiwi Strawberry, Lemonade, Orange Mango, Pomegranate Berry, Pink Grapefruit, and Black Raspberry.) We’ll once he tasted them, he was on board the Sparkling Ice train, so we started to experiment.

For my four-year old, he helped to pour the Sparkling Ice to make popsicles. Mom made a margarita with the strawberry kiwi flavor. For the family, we decided to make Ice Cream Sodas with the remaining Sparkling Ice. You can try the recipe below for the Ice Cream Soda or there are several Sparking Ice recipes for cocktails online.

Sparkling ICE Cream Soda Recipe

Ingredients

·         Any flavor of Sparkling ICE

·         1/4 cup milk

·         1 cup vanilla ice cream (or 1 large scoop)

·         Can whipped cream (optional)

Directions

·         Pour the milk into one tall 16-ounce glass.

·         Add in ice cream and enough Sparkling Ice to fill almost to top of glass.

·         Top with whipped cream if desired.

·         Serve with a long spoon and a big straw.

What a great way to kick-off a great summer and to do it together as a family. 


***Disclaimer: I was provided Sparkling Ice for purposes of this review, but the opinions expressed here are all my own.

Mama Needs a New Pair of Shoes

Unlike most women, I don’t like shoes. (Pause for gasping.)

We’ll let me paraphrase…I don’t like to wear shoes.

I actually like to look at shoes and even take them out for a walk from time to time, but I’d just rather be barefooted all the time. Unfortunately, the only thing bad about an upcoming trip to Italy is that I have to get a few pair of shoes that are supremely comfortable to wear for several miles of exploring, but have a smidge of style since I only have room enough for two pairs of shoes for two weeks! What I found is that shoes can be a lot more than just footwear. They can have their own personality and even improve your health.

The Predictable: Black Crocs Capri IV Sandal, ($39)

I’m a big Crocs lover, not of their most familiar shoe design, but their sandal line. I’ve had four years to research all the pros and cons of these shoes. They’re versatile, far-beyond comfortable with Crocs technology, minimal design, and reasonably priced at approximately $40. The double-cushioned footbed feels amazing, the little “massage pods” feel nice all day long. I can tell you from experience the only downfall is that if you leave a pair in the sun for several hours, they will shrink, so I pay attention to the warning they give you! However, a few avid travelers told me that Crocs were not the way to do Italy and I needed something more “sturdy.”


However, from looking at some blogs, it seems you either think Crocs are the best or the worst option for traveling. I won’t know which of these camps I’ll be in, but I’ll let you know in August upon my return as I don’t go anywhere without my Crocs – at least not yet.

The Trendy: Tom’s Wedge, ($69) 

A recent birthday party with some moms all discussed their love or hate of Toms. Some of the ladies owned like ten pairs and my side still didn’t get it. I really want to like Tom’s…really. I looked at buying several pairs of them, although I think they are the cutest ugly shoe I’ve seen in a while. But after I yearned for a cute comfortable shoe that I could go to a party or the grocery store and not feel like I looked like “that” mom, I finally broke down and bought the Tom’s Wedge. I considered this style to be an upgrade from the original style and would be so stylish. Once they arrived on the doorstep, I put them on immediately and was pretty depressed. Not so comfortable and actually kind of tight, but thought I needed to break them in. While I got complimented EVERYWHERE I went, my feet hated me even more than they did all swollen at 9 months preggo…I still have hopes, but they just feel like a nice boyfriend that you just couldn’t get yourself to like no matter what.


The Wise One: Dr. Andrew Weil Spirit Sandal, ($90)

In the middle of my research on comfortable shoes, I ran into Dr. Andrew Weil…or at least his line of MOVE-ment sandals. Developed to not only make your feet look good, his podiatrist-designed, biomechanical Tri-planar Motion Control footbed has a deep heel cup that stabilizes, supports and naturally realigns the feet. And since this renowned doctor has focused his line on the mantra walking for life, I knew these shoes had to be comfortable and really great for my feet -- if anything my feet (and my posture) would better than it was before. So to be a little “out-of-the-norm,” I opted for a snake-skin look and put these puppies to work.

I definitely felt the difference. Immediately the way I stood changed in the sandals. The style was cute and certainly above my everyday sandal. Now while the sole was flexible and soft, I have yet to actually put this sandal and the straps to a real “wear-it-all-day” test on my toes. However, I think this shoe might make it a place in my suitcase…maybe not as my long haul option, but as my dressier number for dinners and a change of shoe. I am actually looking into the Restore Sandal for #1 spot, but at $90 I’ll have to save up a little.


The Wild Card: Marchez Vous Claudette ($395)

In my search to “Google” comfortable shoes, I have run across several probably comfortable but very ugly shoes. But that was not the case with Marchez Vous. French for the words “You Walk,” this Italian-made shoe line is designed not only with comfort in mind, but definitely with style and fine craftsmanship. Created by veteran actress-turned footwear entrepreneur Yeardley Smith (probably most-well known voice of Lisa Simpson), this new line of shoe have a personality all their own. Now while I won’t be galloping in these shoes in Italy, I might have to make some space in my case to at least take these babies out to at least frolic.


Not only were these tall platforms rather comfortable for a pair of 4 1/2-inch shoes, but they made me feel like a whole different woman. And apparently that’s exactly what self-professed shoe-aholic Smith wanted when you slip her shoes on. So much so that each shoe has a card inside the box that has a special name and personality for each shoe.
When I opened my box and unraveled the pretty autographed-inspired paper to find:

Once I buckled them across my ankle, I felt like a supermodel with those killer-to-die-for shoes you repin on Pinterest (and I was just walking from my bedroom to the kitchen!) While I may have to find the right dress to match these hot-mama shoes, it'll be worth it if I get the same head-turning looks I felt like they deserve. Time to take Claudette for a test drive (or at least another strut around the house!)
         

Do you have any suggestions for a fabulous shoe that is as comfortable as it is hot? Please let me know and soon since I leave for Italy in just a month!

Disclaimer: I was provided a pair of shoes from Dr. Weil and Marchez Vous for purposes of this review. However, all the opinions expressed here are all my own.

Last-Minute Daddy's Day Ideas + Giveaway!

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

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

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


See below for a special giveaway from Edible Arrangements! 


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

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

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


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

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