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. 

Mama's Prom Dress

Want it Wednesdays: 

A few weeks ago I went Prom dress shopping with my neice. It was lots of fun, but I realized about half-way through zipping up her 304th dress choice, I never actually went prom dress shopping. While I was lucky to have a gifted and talented mother to create the prom dress of my dreams at the time (something that's necessary when you have as boobs as big as mine at the time), I missed out a a rite of passage. 

Here's the one my neice chose. So cute, but not for me.

Then I realized since I was married on the beach in Mexico, I didn't go wedding dress shopping, but rather found several beach dresses online (it's hard to find a white beach dress in December in store) then jetted off with much thought about my wedding dress. So that meant I didn't have that "this is the dress" moment either. 

The whole moment-I-missed-a-moment made me kinda sad. 

So I decided to go prom dress shopping, but in the way that suits me now, that wasn't  available back in the day when I was young - on the internet. 

Here are a few of my favorites. 

What do you think? 

Is there ever a moment now as a mom you would go back and redo if you could? 

Pizza Can Make You Skinny? {Recipe + Offer}

Try-it Tuesdays:

Sometimes this girl discovers the newest fitness routine, sometimes she eats the newest dish, either way she's still trying it out for the sake of her readers, right? At least that's what I keep telling myself. 

This time I was able to try out one of the coolest things to hit the fast-food scene in a while - Sbarro's Skinny Slice™. 

I love that restaurants are now offering healthier options that aren't just salads, but the things you actually want to indulge in (and pizza is ALWAYS at the top of my list.) And the"skinny" slice didn't taste like anything was missing at all, especially with roasted red and green bell peppers, portobello mushrooms and sweet, caramelized onions topped with a sprinkling of mozzarella and pecorino romano cheeses. Did I mention that it was only 270 calories? That's AMORE! 

Back in March I got to get my hands on a piece for a special sampling at Blissdom. I mean LITERALLY I got to put my hands on the crust and throw it in the air like real Italian style (well maybe it was a reproduction of pizza crust, but I tried.) Don't believe me? I have the photos to prove it. 

But don't just take my word for it, go ahead and try it yourself with this special offer from Sbarro for a free slice of the Sbarro Skinny Slice™. 
Download the coupon!

Too hungry to wait until the next time you go to Sbarro? Don't worry, they even shared a recipe for an at-home version of the Sbarro Skinny Slice™. 

Sbarro Skinny Slice Pizza at Home

Prep Time:  20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Servings: 8

1          yellow onion, thinly sliced

1          tablespoon olive oil

1          package prepared pizza dough or crust

1/2       jar tomato pizza sauce (approximately 10-12 ounces)

2 1/2    cups fresh portobello mushrooms, sliced

1/4       cup roasted green bell peppers (packed in water), drain and julienne

1/4       cup red bell peppers (packed in water), drain and julienne

1          cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1          tablespoon grated Pecorino Romano cheese

To caramelize onions, sauté in a pan with olive oil over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes until slightly browned.  Do not burn.

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Roll out pizza dough on a 17-inch round pizza stone.

Spread tomato sauce evenly across the dough. Sprinkle mushroom pieces over the dough, and then evenly spread onions, green and red peppers. Top with cheeses.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and crispy and cheese is melted. Cool for 1 minute. Cut into 8 slices and serve.

To skip the work and find a Sbarro eatery near you, visit www.sbarro.com. 

Mad Men Moms: Say WHOA and Mojitos

Mad Men Monday:

It's another episode of Mad Men Moms and we definitely needed a drink (or two) to make it through this one! 

So get out some mint to mix up for the mojitos will be drinking tonight and get ready for a good one! (You'll get the recipe over on milkandcuddles.com! )

And if you missed other episodes of Mad Men Moms, make sure you get the whole scoop: 

Mad Men Moms 1

Mad Men Moms 2

Mad Men Moms 3

Mad Men Moms 4

5 Things to Do with Your Strawberries Before You Throw Them Out {Recipes}

Food Fridays:

Are you one of those people that starts off every grocery trip with putting a pint of strawberries in your basket then only to find you throwing them out (AGAIN) because you never ate them before they went bad?

Yes, me too. Our family LOVES strawberries and in the spring time I love to buy them. But unfortunately sometimes good ideas don't always get executed and I can tell you from personal experience brown strawberries don't make them taste sweeter. :) However, I really hate throwing those strawberries away because no one took the time to cut them up and enjoy them. At least with bananas when they get old you can throw those babies in the freezer and whip up banana bread, banana shakes and anything else banana you want.

So it got me thinking - why can't you do the same thing for strawberries? Why can't you just have a few recipes that you know you can use those strawberries before you send them to the bottom of your trash can?

Dang Good Strawberry Cake 
This cake doesn't just take lots of strawberries, but everything else you have in your refrigerator. I can't believe how easy it was and it was THAT good. I made this for my Mother-in-Law for her birthday cake last year, but I'm pretty sure we didn't send it home with her. We kept it and ate every bite.

Here's also a couple I found on Pinterest as well!

Canned Strawberries

No Cook Strawberry Freezer Jam

Strawberry Salsa with Cinnamon Chips

Hippie Juice

Hope you find some great alternative ways to enjoy those strawberries! 

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!) 

Want-it Wednesday: Give Your Bedroom a Facelift with $500 Upgrade {Giveaway}

Want-it Wednesdays:

Do you ever just feel like if you changed up the look of a room it would change everything? You would feel less stress and more together if your room, especially your bedroom, looked like it came straight from the Pottery Barn catalog or photos from Pinterest?

Yes, me too.

Actually I designed our bedroom and I still like it, but after seven years, it’s worn on me and a need a fresh breathe of air. Unfortunately, my pocketbook doesn’t need to see the light of day.

Thank goodness for giveaways.

Ready for your bedroom to go from weak to chic? Enter the UGallery / Crane & Canopy “Bedroom Makeover” Contest by May 6 for a chance to win a $250 credit to UGallery and a $250 credit to Crane & Canopy. That’s a combined $500 for new art, new bedding and a brand-new bedroom look!

UGallery is a unique online art gallery offering affordable art for sale from the nation's most talented mid-career and emerging artists. UGallery’s team of art experts carefully select and curate each artist and piece that’s exhibited so that you can purchase artwork online with real confidence.

What UGallery does with art, Crane & Canopy does with bedding. They’re an innovative online home goods company, offering beautifully designed, high-quality bedding without the department store mark-up.

Enter the UGallery and Crane & Canopy contest to upgrade your bedroom and sleep in style!

Never to be one not prepared, I’ve prepicked my favorites in case I win or you win and want to donate your gift card to a friend in need (i.e. me.)

And while this one doesn't match, I have to include this artist because her name is Autumn Rose. 

Acylic painting, "Scarlet" by Autumn Rose

I'd love to see what you'd pick out if you won! 

Remember to enter by May 6 for the UGallery / Crane & Canopy “Bedroom Makeover” Contest for a chance to win a $250 credit to UGallery and a $250 credit to Crane & Canopy.