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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

DIY Healthy “Drive-Thru” Makes Breakfast Delightful with Jimmy Dean Delights {Free Printable}

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This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Jimmy Dean, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #BreakfastDelight  http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.

Mornings are madness for most families, especially at our house. 

With Dad trying to get out the door for work, the two kiddos to school/daycare and for me whatever appointments or errands I have lined up in the power-packed day, from the moment I open my eyes, we are in a marathon to get dressed, fed, packed up and out the door — ideally, on time. Unfortunately, with all I’m doing to get everyone ready, breakfast Monday through Friday isn’t something isn’t as healthy as I’d prefer, but there’s has to be a compromise, right?

Actually, there doesn’t have to be anymore with Jimmy Dean Delights. 


For months I’ve felt like these were my little secret as I would sneak a box just for me in the cart at Walmart and store them in the back of the freezer for those mornings when I was short on time, but wanted to splurge on flavor like with my Egg White with Spinach & Mozzarella on Honey Wheat Flatbread. It was more convenient than going through the drive-thru, less expensive, loaded with protein, and frankly tasted better. (And did I mention less than 200 calories!?!) All of a sudden, I was actually getting to eat breakfast and not just cook it for the kids! 


However, one morning the kids refused to eat the boring breakfast I’d made. I had to admit, I couldn’t blame them. They begin whining why we couldn’t go to Chick-Fil-A or McDonalds for breakfast. While there’s totally a time and a place for either, this was not the morning. There was no time, we didn’t need to spend the money and frankly, starting this routine could only mean trouble for all of us. 

So, I busted out my stash of Delights, wrapped them in a paper towel and threw them in the microwave for 1:45 minutes – and voila – breakfast, kids! I couldn’t send them to school hungry and looking at the calorie count compared to their normal breakfast, my Jimmy Dean Delights were healthier than anything I was giving to the kids every morning. Now, hopefully, they liked them.  


Oh, yes they did! They told me it was like going through the drive-thru…at home, but better. And for my kids, that’s a pretty good compliment. There was no reason I needed to tell them at this junction that Jimmy Dean Delights are a healthy option loaded with protein and low calorie, too. And with so many options, we weren’t going to have to worry about another boring breakfast for a LONG time.

Jimmy Dean Delights are available in nine varieties all under 300 calories: 

  • Delights Bacon, Egg & Cheese Honey Wheat Flatbread (Boy’s favorite)
  • Delights Turkey Sausage, Egg White & Cheese English Muffin (Girl’s favorite)
  • Delights Turkey Sausage, Egg & Cheese Honey Wheat Flatbread
  • Delights Canadian Bacon, Egg White & Cheese Honey Wheat English Muffin
  • Delights Turkey Sausage, Egg White & Cheese Croissant
  • Delights Egg White With Spinach & Mozzarella-Style Cheese Product Honey Wheat Flatbread (my favorite)
  • Delights Turkey Sausage, Egg White & Cheese Whole Grain Bagel
  • Delights Maple Pancakes & Turkey Sausage Griddlers
  • Delights Cinnamon Glazed French Toast & Turkey Sausage Griddlers

Now if I can just get my hands on those JD Maple Pancakes & Turkey Sausage Griddlers or Cinnamon Glazed French Toast & Turkey Sausage Griddlers, I’d probably be the best. mom. ever.

And to make it really fun for those mornings when we are really running late, I decided we’d take that “drive-thru” concept to heart with our own specially labeled bags! 

Click here to download this sticker printable – perfect for Avery 9-up stickers templates. 

Making a cute little sticker, I just warm up the Jimmy Dean Delights and either throw a sticker on the napkin with the kiddo’s name or on days when we might be in the car for a long stretch, this “McMom” puts in an orange juice, fruit or box of raisins and a Jimmy Dean Delights in the specially branded “bag” (sticker) and we head out ready for our day. I feel like a rockstar and they feel like they got a special treat of going “out” for breakfast.

It makes my mornings a DELIGHT and theirs, too!

You can can find Jimmy Dean Delights at your local Walmart. And I’d get two boxes at least, because the first box won’t last you long!







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

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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. 



Belk Brings New Spring Style and New Dallas Store This Spring

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Many women will work in 2014 to make a better and more fashionable statement, but like me, will need a little more knowledge and skill to make it happen. 

Thankfully, a new friend has come to town. Arlene Goldstein, vice president of trend merchandising and fashion direction for Belk, hosted an exclusive media-only spring fashion forecast event last week.  The veteran-style expert and fashion and style contributor to Huffington Post and a notable fashion resource for stylists and fashion publications, shared fashion trends and forecasts for the spring season. Attendees got a glimpse of the designer brands that will be available at Belk’s new flagship store opening at Galleria Dallas in April.

Arlene’s 2014 Style Statements
From bold colors to timeless essentials, Arlene’s 2014 style statements showcased top trends from Belk brands such as Michael Kors (one of my favorities), Free People, Eileen Fisher, Adrianna Papell and Vince Camuto to name a few.


Feminine Charms:
Amp up your inner goddess with this ultra-romantic look featuring an eccentric twist for the modern woman. You’ll see plenty of frills, ruffles and 3D appliqués this spring for an elegant and textured style.

Clean Slate:
This look is all about making a bold statement while maintaining a minimal and chic palette. Embrace the architectural details with the modern textures for a bold style that is sure to impress.

Jet Setter:
Be the ultimate world traveler with tribal patterns and multicultural influences. You’ll see large embellishments and colorful patterns that embrace varying cultures.


Opening this April, Belk at Galleria Dallas will be the company’s first flagship location in Texas.  Get ready girls!

GoGo squeeZ Valentines Thanks for Being Awesomesauce

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Anytime of the year is a good time for Gogo squeeZ, but it’s even sweeter at Valentine’s Day! As an ambassador for GoGo squeeZ, we’re excited to share this cute idea for a quick and free printable Thanks for Being Applesauce that’s easy for valentines class treats or even party favors. 

I admit one of my favorite things about my kids going to school are the holiday parties. I just love those cute little foodie treats for the class parties, but unfortunately, all that sugar is no good for them (or for me).

Gogosqueez Valentines
 
That’s why I came up with this cute printable to be used with pouches of healthy GoGo squeeZ for a Valentine that is quick, easy and that your children will LOVE!
 
 
“Thanks for being awesomesauce!” FREE PRINTABLE (click here to download the PDF)
 
 
We love GoGo squeeZ around here, so I’m constantly coming up with new and fun ways to use it! From pancakes, muffins and Valentine’s treats, they make the perfect compliment to healthy snacking that’s convenient, delicious and full of nutrition! With 11 different flavors in all, GoGo squeeZ is the natural, no gluten, no dairy, no nuts, no mess way to get what you need, when you need it with just a squeez!
 

Just check out some of the fun things that we’ve used GoGo squeeZ for around here.


 

 
This downloadable prints six per page and could be printed on sticker paper or card stock with a hole punch affixed with ribbon tied around the top.  There’s also a line for your child’s name. I’ve used these for playdate treats as well as birthday party favors that doesn’t cost much time or money. 
 
 
I hope you think these are awesomesauce as well! 
 

 

#GoGoPlayfully with Go Go squeeZ Play Day, January 11 at 1:11 p.m.

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With just one week in the 2014 hopper, many of us are working to be: 

 Better at being active 
Better at healthy eating 
Better at quality time enjoying life – living playfully!


 This Saturday on January 11, Go Go squeeZ is launching its first GoGo Play Day to jumpstart the new year across the U.S. including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Aspen, Boston, Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, San Francisco, DALLAS, and the Bay Area! We are celebrating with free products and exciting surprises at fun events of how people are choosing to live playfully and capture it with photos, videos, and storytelling. Plus, we’re calling 1:11 p.m., the official kick-off to a playful year. That’s when we’ll be unleashing coast-to-coast playful experiences showing the world what being playful really means.

As an ambassador for Go Go squeeZ, I’d love to invite you to celebrate with us! 

 We’d love you to be involved with our Play Day campaign!  We are looking for fun and unique events and activities going on Saturday, January 11.

  • Join us in participating in a Play Day event or host your own event – even if it’s your sports activity, playing at the park or just having fun with Go Go squeeZ
  • Play with us on January 11 at 1:11pm by sharing something fun 1-11 on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram! with @Gogoplayfully @squeezsquad #Texas
  • Get your own Go Go squeeZ redeemable for discounted GoGosqueeZ redeemable on Jan. 11 only.
With Go Go squeeZ, there are 10 flavors to enjoy whenever and wherever you GoGo, including: AppleCinnamon, AppleStrawberry, ApplePear and AppleBerry and many more. Our innovative, re-sealable packaging allows kids, big and small, to snack spoon-free and get their play on. And every pouch is gluten, nut, and dairy-free!


Looking for some fun ideas to starting celebrating? 

 Here’s 7 Ways to Have the Most Playful Week Ever from Go Go squeeZ

 It might cold outside, so considering cooking up some Go Go squeeZ fun for a great way for the family to involved with delicious Apple Cinnamon Muffins from 7 on a Shoestring! 

Or see how to make some colorful Apple Cinnamon pancakes from ME, Mama Challenge, on Good Morning Texas! 

 


 Valentine’s Day is just around the corner? Get moving on those Valentines for the classroom with this BERRY adorable idea from A Nerd’s Wife!

So how do you #GoGoPlayfully? 
Let us know this Saturday at 1:11 p.m!

5 Fun Things to Do in Los Cabos Mexico with Kids

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Think Mexico isn’t the best vacation for kids? Think again! There’s tons of things to do in Los Cabos Mexico and at the Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Golf & Spa Resort, which hosted just my son and me for a long weekend. It was such a fun learning experience for both of us! 

ThingstoDoKidsLosCabosMx
 
In October I celebrated my 33rd birthday by taking a trip to Mexico. Unlike previous trips I had taken to Mexico, including getting married there seven years ago, I wasn’t planning for lazy moments sipping banana-rum-somethings by the pool. This time I was taking my five-year-old with me as my traveling companion. 


 
While he’s been a great this year as we ventured to Disney World (his first airplane ride) and to the Texas Hill Country (his first road trip), this trip would require a passport and me as his sole guardian while we were out of the country. The pressure was definitely on as I wondered if he would even enjoy it and hopefully, being it my birthday, would I enjoy it, too!

I can definitely say from this happy face we both had a wonderful time. It took very little work on my end and within a few hours from an Artic-feeling Texas, we were soon walking on the beach enjoying the weather, the sand and the hospitality of Los Cabos. 


Here’s the highlight reel of what we did and definitely our recommendations for an adventure in Los Cabos, Mexico with a five-year-old. 
 
1. Enjoy a Special Dinner Together
Kicking off our first night in Cabo, we went for a “fancy” dinner at the beautiful Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Golf & Spa Resort restaurant, Tomatoes. I love to experience different cuisines and considering we were on the coast, we went for a seafood dinner on the beach. And while it wasn’t a romantic dinner with my husband, my pint-sized version of him was the perfect gentleman as he sat a little taller than normal as he felt the ambience had changed from our normal Chick-Fil-A. 

There was no kids meal ordering though on this night. He was able to order off the adult menu and sipped his first Shirley Temple while I appreciated my margarita. There was something so cute about the two of us having “drinks” as we breathed in the ocean air and the sounds of the tide hitting the coarse sandy coast. It was about then the mariachi band came over and serenaded us with a fun and spirited song that my son couldn’t have been more excited about. I was never so happy to pull out pesos for that tip (too bad it was too dark for a picture, but the memory is worth a thousand words for us!) 

2. Explore the Water 
While I’m not a real sports enthusiast, I’m still of the mindset you should try everything once even if this mama didn’t have the know how. So one day Baja Outback picked us up at the Sheraton Hacienda and took care of everything! 

We were taken by van to a nearby beach with a safe surf and treated to a Cabo 4 Kids adventure complete with an afternoon of sandcastle building, boogie boarding, swimming, snorkeling and refreshments! All I had to do was watch, relax and take photos while my son had the time of his life doing everything he could imagine with a group of new friends! They brought EVERYTHING including life jackets, snorkels, boards and lunch! I couldn’t suggest this enough, especially if you have several kids you want to keep happy (and worn out for a little afternoon siesta.)



 
3. Appreciate the Culture 
My birthday coincides with the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) so during our trip we were able to see how how the Mexican culture celebrates. And to make it even more of a treat my son, who is a student at a bilingual school in the U.S., had learned about the holiday at school before he left, so he knew about the altars and could also practice his Spanish-speaking skills. 

Altar space at the Sheraton Hacienda

 
Altars along the Marina

Another friend of mine at OC Mom Blog actually got to Cabo a few days before us and took her kids Trick or Treating in Cabo, so we couldn’t recommend more spending time in a new country during a holiday! 

4. Kiss a Dolphin 
We could have spent our whole vacation at the Sheraton Hacienda with all the fun activities on the property, I wanted us to venture into the city before we left and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to swim with the dolphins with Cabo Dolphins. 


I was able to schedule the experience with the hotel concierge and the van picked us up three hours later. The driver took us into town and while we picked up other passengers we had a little peek at the city and the other side of the ocean! About 45 minutes later we were dropped off at the Cabo Adventures headquarters to wait for our time to meet the dolphins.

I opted to not get in the water, so I could take photos from the deck a few steps away. The experience was about 30 minutes long and during that time my son was able to pet the dolphin, watch several tricks with the trainer and then snag a little kiss from the dolphin. 

 
5. Discover the Marina
Just outside of Cabo Dolphins is the beautiful marina in Los Cabos. Full of amazing yachts and azure waters, the marina area was a perfect way for us to get a little last bit of Mexico before we said adios to our Mexican expedition. We walked along the edge of the water, enjoyed a little helado (ice cream), scooped up a few souvenirs for the family and his classmates for show and tell, and tasted one last bowl of Mexican fare before boarding our car to the airport. 

Whether you go during the day or evening, there’s tons to do including great shopping, dining and just people watching. 


There’s something special about having a vacation with just one of your children alone. We spent lots of time talking about what he was experiencing, enjoying things together and just letting my inner kid have a chance to come out and have fun building sand castles and being silly. 

It felt good just to be without expectations. 

And while the facial I had at the hotel spa was amazing (we’ll talk about that soon), there was something so relaxing about just having fun with my son, especially in a beautiful and safe place as we stayed at the Sheraton Hacienda Los Cabos.
 

I can only hope as my kids get older and my two-year-old turns five, I can continue this tradition of enjoying my children on a one-on-one basis. If time doesn’t allow you the extravagance, consider just a date-night with your son and daughter to do something fun like the movies, a museum, bowling or just a nice dinner. You’ll never regret it and they will definitely have a special memory with you as well. 

 

Organize and Digitize Handwritten Recipes to Your Own Online Cookbook

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Note: I was provided complimentary services for purposes of this review. 

Over the hustle and bustle of holiday cooking I became nostalgic for smells and tastes for Grandma’s banana bread and other recipes that made up my childhood. While I had written down many of them over the years, calling her at the last minute for her recipe for meatloaf or the special ingredient she put in her macaroni and cheese, I realized that most of her recipes as well as other handed-down family recipes, were all still captured in a small red metal box. 


When I had the chance to look in the box, I loved looking at the handwriting, the fragile personalized recipes cards women used before the days of home printers or even typewriters, and the other little notes on the recipes that reminded her of how grandpa liked it or that special touch that had made it her own. For a family engrained in food as much as ours, this little box was more like a piece of history over Christmases and family long gone than utility. 

As wonderful as the box was, I wanted to use recipes, too. But if I used these recipes while I cooked they would be covered in grease and flour in no time, so I needed to record them for my own use and protect their original source. And even more so, I wanted to be able to share them with the rest of my family. However, the time it would take to transcribe, input and format the recipes wasn’t something I had a lot of time for, much less where I would upload them and be searchable.



With Dish Dish, members can digitize their recipes in an online cookbook – easily accessible from any computer or mobile device (using their iPad/iPhone App – and Android app to follow soon). This allows you to store recipes, search, add photos, add notes, keep private when preferred or search other Dish Dish members’ recipes, make shopping lists, plan menus, print, share over social media or email, and access all of this while at home or on the go.


Dish Dish offers a free account that includes many great features. However, the Pro account for only $19/year includes access to the menu planner, special printing options, decorative printing templates, embedding videos with recipes (you can be your own Food Network star), adding multiple photos with recipes, and the opportunity to have 20 recipes transcribed/uploaded for the member by scanning, mailing, faxing or emailing. And Dish Dish is also including a free trial to the Dish Dish recipe importer tool so take the time out of uploading your own recipes! 

Take a look at my family cookbook here. I can’t wait to try the Greek Chicken with Pine Nut Dressing and the Bohemian Coffee Cake! I’m planning to make each of these dishes this year and upload a photo to accompany the recipe! 



What a great way to organize those recipes and then have the opportunity to share them with your family members as an online cookbook throughout the year! And even better, you could download your online cookbook as a PDF so you could print out the recipes once they’ve been uploaded for useful and thought cookbook gift for Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving or next Christmas. 

Check out http://dishdish.us to begin organizing and creating your online cookbook today! 

Lose Weight in 2014 with the Mama Challenge Diet Bet

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It’s no secret that losing weight has been one of my biggest “mama challenges.” 

It’s always been something I’ve had to work at especially since I became a mom. But after looking back at all the amazing photo moments of this year and how much I wanted to Photoshop myself out of them or at least my double chin (and a few other very specific places), I knew I had to do something. 


So rather than my normal New Year’s lose weigh bandwagon of diet + workout and maybe budge a little bit, I’ve decided I needed to up the ante. So the bet began. 

The Mama Challenge Diet Bet that is. Have you ever done a big money pot for losing weight at work? Or did you ever want to be a member of the Biggest Loser to get you going in the right direction? Are you looking for a fun way to get the challenge of weight off your 2015 New Year’s resolution list? 

Consider it the next step in social networking…social dieting. And it’s really simple: You’ve got four weeks to lose 4% of your starting weight. To begin, everyone puts money into the pot to play – $35 dollars to be exact. After four weeks, whoever’s hit their 4% goal is a winner and splits the pot. Now I bet you are wondering how you know everyone is being truthful when it comes to weigh-in time? The Diet Bet has that all figured out with referees who make sure that everyone is truthful, but never shares your actual weight (score!)

So are you ready to lose weight and gain some money with Mama Challenge? It’s easy – you just have to sign up now to the Mama Challenge Diet Bet. The game begins on Monday, January 6, so make sure to sign up now!

I’m going to be kicking off a new fitness and detox routine to get my health in the right direction, so I’ll be sharing some tips on Facebook, Instagram and my Fitness Routine and Healthy Recipes Pinterest Boards.  


And if you are looking for something to motivate you from budget-friendly healthy meal plans, adorable workout wear and even fun ways to get moving, I’ve got you covered! (If’ you’ve never read about my Hot Yoga moment or me trying out Surf Fitness those are both worth the read just for laughing-your-hiney-off-sake. 

Now what are you waiting for? 

Let’s get moving! 


7 Places to Go with the Kids Before Jan. 6

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* 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…




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