mamachallenge | Real Solutions for Real Parents | Dallas Blog

Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

How to Save at the State Fair of Texas

By Leave a Comment

It’s a North Texas tradition, the State Fair of Texas! But before you head to the fair, make sure you have your list of the best ways to save! 

You know you’re gonna go, so why spend money on your admission when they make it so easy to save at the State Fair of Texas! With these tips you can take all your savings and spend them on another Fletcher’s Corny Dog or a trip on the Ferris Wheel! But make plans now so you don’t let the fair pass you by! 

State Fair

State Fair of Texas website:
Just going to the State Fair website instead of at the gate will save you $1.50 and you don’t have to wait in line! Plus if you sign up for the Big Tex insider 


DART GoPass: 
Go on your DART GoPASS® and you can your Dart pass to the fair and your State Fair tickets for just $16 and kid/seniors for $12 – all on your smartphone!

Kroger: 
Go to Kroger and purchase your discounted tickets to the fair is $16.50 and a season pass for just $34.95 (and gives you a free one day bring a friend ticket too!) 

McDonalds: 
Any day make a trip to McDonald’s to grab a trayliner or a bag stuffer in the bag for $5 off  admission and 1/2 kids tickets. 

Dr. Pepper: 
Any day after 5 pm, bring a Dr. Pepper can to the State Fair and get 1/2 admission! 

State Fair

Special Days to Take Note of for State Fair of Texas Savings!

TUESDAYS
Dr. Pepper
On Tuesdays (Oct, 3, 10 & 17) get $6 admission to the State Fair when you take an empty DP can! 

And most rides are reduced on Tuesdays too (but not all rides.) 

WEDNESDAY 
North Texas Food Bank
Get $4 admission to the fair on Wednesdays (Oct. 4, 11, and 18) when you bring 4 cans to donate to the North Texas Food Bank. 

THURSDAYS 
Seniors (60 years and older) receive FREE admission any Thursday (Oct. 5, 12 and 19.) 

Coca Cola
Bring an empty Coca Cola 20 oz. bottle of any Coca-Cola product on Thursdays for $7 admission!

And Thursdays are Thrifty Thursdays! Save on your cotton candy and funnel cakes with mini versions and discounts from 2-7 coupons!) 

Columbus Day, Oct. 9 
And actually this year, my kids were given any day tickets so they could go on any day to the fare Monday – Friday. But of course, remember many schools are closed for Columbus Day so many families will be there that day! So plan accordingly! 

First Responders Day, Oct 13 
All first responders and up to three of their family members receive free admission on Oct. 13 to the fair. Make sure to bring your documentation. This is a special day! 
VISUAL -(still: First Responders Day, Oct 13: First responders and three family members receive free admission.)

State-Fair

Featured photo credit: Kevin Brown/State Fair of Texas. 

Don't miss

Headed to the fair? Then don’t miss Jackson’s recommendations on what to eat! (From the mouth of babes!)

Better Drives Us

By Leave a Comment

Hyundai Hope on Wheels isn’t just giving money to help pediatric cancer, it’s a true hands-on organization that reminds us all, no matter our titles or roles, that Better Drives Us. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Hyundai Hope on Wheels® for inviting me to share this special experience and sharing their story with this sponsored post. 

Better Drives Us - Hyundai Hope on Wheels

PC: Jaren Collins, JCI Creatives

A lot of big companies say they do a lot of good things. They fund big fundraising events, they wear shirts in support, and all those big impressionable things in the name corporate social responsibility. I know, I’ve worked with many of them to help organize them and sat at big fancy dinners gala to support the cause and it’s needed. But when you see the big guys sit side by side the little guys they are working to help, you realize that your purchases, small or big, DO make a big impact. 

Better Drives Us - Hyundai Hope on Wheels

PC: Jaren Collins, CI Creatives

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Hyundai Hope on Wheels Celebration of Life Dinner in Dallas. While there was a check presentation planned, there was so much more to this non-profit. In fact Hope on Wheels is one of the largest non-profit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country and has awarded more than $130 million towards childhood cancer since its inception in 1998. 

Better Drives Us - Hyundai Hope on Wheels

PC: Jaren Collins, CI Creatives

That’s a pretty big commitment and it goes way beyond corporate social responsibility. 

But what touched me the most were the other invitees in the room.

  • It was the dealers of North Texas (835 dealers actually contribute to the cause nationally)
  • It was the doctors and researchers that are doing the work for pediatric cancer at the many hospitals in and around Texas
  • It was the families and the KIDS that had pediatric cancer and their families that had been directly impacted by Hyundai Hope on Wheels. 

The room was filled with the a full circle of how a simple purchase of a Hyundai can help research to find a cure for pediatric cancer. 

It was amazing to see them together and interacting, seeing how working together makes a positive change. And how their motto “Better Drives Us” really comes to life.

Better Drives Us - Hyundai Hope on Wheels

PC: Jaren Collins, CI Creatives

One of the most moving moments of the night was listening to a mom describe the moment she heard her son’s diagnosis for a rare pediatric cancer. Hearing her personal, real story with all the emotions that took her over in front of all of us really put it into perspective. It put everything into perspective – and that it can happen to you. Any mom, any family, any child. In fact every 36 minutes a child is diagnosed with pediatric cancer. And unfortunately, you probably already have. 

Better Drives Us - Hyundai Hope on Wheels

PC: Jaren Collins, CI Creatives

Better Drives Us - Hyundai Hope on Wheels

PC: Jaren Collins, CI Creatives

In fact every 36 minutes a child is diagnosed with pediatric cancer.

But the night was not over. There was still a special concert by The Voice’s Luke Wade who has been ambassador for Hope on Wheels across the country. He sang from the heart and brought the kids together for a moment on the stage. He also sat with the Hope on Wheels kids and their families. 

Better Drives Us - Hyundai Hope on Wheels

PC: Jaren Collins, CI Creatives

 

Better Drives Us - Hyundai Hope on Wheels

PC: Jaren Collins, CI Creatives

 

Better Drives Us - Hyundai Hope on Wheels

PC: Jaren Collins, CI Creatives

A check presentation to a few incredibly deserving teams: 

Hyundai Scholar Hope Grant ($250,000)
– Dr. Christopher Porter, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
– Dr. Julie Wolfson, University of Alabama – Birmingham
 
Hyundai Young Investigator  Grant ($150,000)
– Dr. Kathryn Dickerson, UT Southwestern Children’s Medical Center Foundation
– Dr. Wendy Allen-Rhoades, Texas Children’s Hospital
 
Better Drives Us - Hyundai Hope on Wheels

PC: Jaren Collins, CI Creatives

But at the end of the night was the honestly the best part that made the biggest difference to me, the Handprint Ceremony. 

The children and the doctors all placed their handprints on posters and on the doctors’ coats. It was truly moving to see all the smile of everyone making their own individual handprint. And each handprint’s story is distinctive in its own way.  Whether it’s completing a round of chemo, celebrating a beautiful new head of hair or receiving a clean bill of health, one child’s milestone can be another’s symbol of hope.  And these handprints serve as their symbol. These handprints will also be displayed on Hyundai cars around the country to share their mission and their hope. 

Better Drives Us - Hyundai Hope on Wheels

PC: Jaren Collins, CI Creatives

 

Better Drives Us - Hyundai Hope on Wheels

PC: Jaren Collins, CI Creatives

 

Better Drives Us - Hyundai Hope on Wheels

PC: Jaren Collins, CI Creatives

 

How can you get involved and learn more about this great organization? Visit their uplifting website.  Or connect with them on Facebook and Twitter to see more up to do work they’ve done and helped to make a change for pediatric cancer.

Mix it Up with Teambuilding with Taste

By Leave a Comment

Need to cook up a new way to hang with friends or spice up work? You’ll find the recipe for fun at Teambuilding with Taste. 

Thank you to Teambuilding with a Taste for inviting us for a fun experience. 

One of my first jobs just out of college was as an event planner. A dream job opportunity, I was able to travel and see places I’d never been while using my OCD skills to organize conferences, meetings and networking events for our company’s executives. Team building was always a component of each event and how creatively we could get our employees to work better when they were working together. After ropes courses and retreats of many different kinds, it got hard trying to come up with something new and cool. 

Teambuilding Taste DFW


So when I heard about Teambuilding with a Taste in Dallas, the event planner me was all ears. Everyone loves food and so many people love cooking, so the idea is such a cool way to get people motivated. Plus it was all the parts about my favorite Food Networking shows put into one – for a timed culinary challenge that results not just in an amazing meal and memories to last a lifetime. 

To get things started off right, we enjoyed a glass of wine and met all the other people participating. Once we got things rolling, we broke into teams and were briefed by the lead chef in charge Chef Joey on our assignment (to be judged later): Best Global Appetizers!  For our group we were given a Scotch Egg. One of my favorite English pub staples that I have always wondered how to make and now had the opportunity to learn first hand. 

Teambuilding Taste DFW

For the next two hours all the teams went to work, pulling together their recipes, food items and cooking. Thankfully, we had a chef to “assist” us with some pointers to make sure we didn’t go completely off course. And just like Iron Chef, you had a table full of ingredients to add your own twist to the recipe and a huge commercial kitchen to let you cook whatever you needed, how you needed. For me, it was a dream! 

Teambuilding Taste DFW

After the crazy scurry to deliver something edible and presentable, and even a last-minute ingredient addition, the clock buzzed and it was “hands off the table.” 

Then we met back to present our dishes and serve them to the other teams. (That might have been the best part!) 

Teambuilding Taste DFW

While our team may not have won, we did have a great time, met some super friends and definitely had a cool experience to remember (as well as a full tummy.) 

If you’re office or organization is looking for something to mix it up, Teambuilding with Taste is a first-rate experience. With both a location here in Dallas and Atlanta, you have several options for whatever fits your needs and budget! 

Teambuilding Taste DFW

Available Packages

Team Building With Taste – 3 Hours: $89 to $109 per person (Based on the menu selected.)  Service fee, team building fee, alcohol and tax extra.  Team minimum is 10. 
 
Taste of Innovation – 3 hours: $79 per person (Secret ingredients)   Service fee, team building fee, alcohol and tax extra.  Team minimum is 10. 
  
Cooking up Camaraderie – 2 hours: $69 per person (Global appetizers menu) Service fee, alcohol and tax extra. No team building program fee.  Team minimum is 10.
 
Visit Teambuilding with Taste to find just the right recipe for your group’s success! 
 
 

Easy Guide to Big Savings at Allen Premium Outlets {Giveaway}

By 93 Comments

Want how to get the most out of your back to school budget? We have your easy guide to big savings at the Allen Premium Outlets.

Thanks to Allen Premium Outlets for the savings and this sponsored post. 

Mowing lawns. Babysitting. Doing extra chores.

Growing up, I saved up $100 all summer to buy my back-to-school clothes. Back to school time meant it was your opportunity to create “your style” for the next year. 


Things haven’t changed much when it comes to making your mark at school, but that $100 doesn’t go quite as far as it used to and I don’t have the time to know all the ins and outs of savings, either. 

Allen Premiuim Outlets

But at the Allen Premium Outlets you don’t have to work at saving money because they make it easy! And this weekend aiming to help you make the most of your money for back to school! With this guide to savings at Allen Premium Outlets, you can really make your dollar stretch for the whole family! 

1. GO: Texas’ Tax-Free Weekend, August 11-13. 

We do it big in Texas and BTS shopping is no different. So Aug. 11-13, 2017, Texas retailers help us celebrate BIG savings during Tax-Free Weekend, a three-day span where sales tax isn’t added to most clothing, backpacks, footwear, supplies, etc. up to $100. That means you can save approximately 8% on every dollar you spend when you buy these items.

And Allen Premium Outlets sweetens the deal with extended hours during tax-free weekend.

Allen Premiuim Outlets

Shop to You Drop with Extended Hours for Back to School at Allen Premium Outlets

Friday, August 11 – 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Saturday, August 12 – 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Sunday, August 13 – 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

* Department store hours may vary

2. Get Ready for the Deals.

The sales during Tax-Free Weekend make it pretty sweet to go shopping, especially since you don’t have to do anything but walk in and start shopping. 

If possible, if there are a few stores you know you’re going to want to visit, then do a little homework to see the deals on the website. Just walking into Gymboree, we found out that EVERYTHING in the store was under $12.50! When we added their discount with the 25% VIP Club offer (see below, you have to learn about it), my kids went crazy…and I could let them! Plus when we checked out, I signed up for the Gymboree Rewards card to get reward dollars back (we were halfway there already) and received $50 in GymBucks (that’s $50 off a $100 purchase.) 

Allen Premiuim Outlets

Savings here today: $185.39 (My total would have been $321.29!) 

Savings in the future: More than $55!

Savings in total: $240.39! 

And check out this deal we found at The Children’s Place. $3.99 TEES! 

Allen Premiuim Outlets

Allen Premiuim Outlets

3. Sign up for your favorite retailers emails.

If you don’t get emails from your favorite stores, you are losing money! I know it’s your email address you don’t want to share, so create another one just for your deals. I have one and that let’s me search easily before I shop to see which retailers have a good deal. For this trip, Gap Factory Store had a great deal on 40% off any purchase. So my husband picked up a few shorts and I picked up a cute shirt. That discount plus being rewarded for using my Gap Credit Card gave me another 10% off. Added together with the savings (and the in-store sale),  we only spent $29 for a savings of over $90! (That was too easy, right?) 

Allen Premiuim Outlets

Allen Premiuim Outlets

 Don’t miss this deal either if you’re shopping this weekend – August 25.

Buy $150 worth of gift cards from any of the Gap brands, and you’ll get another $30 Simon Gift Card. 

Allen Premiuim Outlets

4. Be a Simon VIP.

This is an easy one – and best of all it works at all your favorite Simon mall locations. Sign up for the VIP Club for free and BAM – they are coupons already loaded and ready to go! I did this on the spot and was able to get to the coupons immediately to some of my favorites including Polo Ralph Lauren Children’s Factory Store for 20% off $100. All I had to do was show them the coupon and I got the savings.

Allen Premiuim Outlets

Want to see how it broke down? It was $43.58 off what I thought I was going to spend that day. That was awesome.

Allen Premiuim Outlets

5. Get Your Simon Passport to Savings! 

When I arrived at Allen Premium Outlets, I didn’t know why all these people were in line at Customer Relations (in the food court.) But I quickly found out that occasionally I would also get to come pick up my Passport to Savings that included additional offers that were not included in my VIP coupons. There was a whole booklet of deals with several of my planned shopping destinations. And because some of the offers were so good, I actually went to check a few other stores I hadn’t planned (because saving makes me happy.) 

Allen Premiuim Outlets

Since my husband needed a few things (and so did I), we made a quick stop for the Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store. The Passport to Savings had $25 off $200 so we now there we saved another $25!  

It had been a while since I headed to Allen Premium Outlets, especially with online shopping being so easy, but with these deals it’s hard to just not want to save money! In total this trip alone I saved almost $250! And there are lots of new things happening at the APO too – I even saw a new Tory Burch store going in and lots of new parking being built! 

Allen Premiuim Outlets

Plus with all the deals I have already for my next shopping trip in addition to my Passport to Savings, we’ll be back to Allen Premium Outlets soon! 

Allen Premiuim Outlets

Want to make it more fun to shop?

Win $50 Gift Card to Allen Premium Outlets

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get Away with a Weekend Getaway to the Hilton Anatole

By 58 Comments

 ENTER TO WIN A WEEKEND AT THE HILTON ANATOLE

Aerial - JadeWaters

Watch our MAMACHALLENGE LIVE FOR MORE CHANCES TO ENTER.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

CONTEST RULES:

Contest open to only U.S. citizens, 18 years and older.

Guest room (for a stay Friday – Sunday between now and Labor Day, September 4, 2017) at the Hilton Anatole Dallas.
Complimentary resort fee (includes self-parking, two Starbucks coffees per day in Counter Offer, access to JadeWaters, etc.)
$100 resort credit good toward spa or hotel food and beverage

By entering this contest you also confirm your address to be added to the MamaChallenge.com Newsletter list. If you do not wish to be added to this list, email autumn@mamachallenge.com with the message to remove your address.

Grand Opening: NEW Academy Sports + Outdoors in Rockwall

By 115 Comments

Whether you’re headed to the lake, the driving range, the gym, or just the backyard, you’ll find what everyone needs at NEW Academy Sports + Outdoors in Rockwall, Texas! 

Thanks to Academy Sports + Outdoors for getting families active and sponsoring this incredible giveaway! 

Do you or someone in your family: 

  • Hunt 
  • Fish
  • Enjoy being in the water
  • Play golf or tennis
  • Go camping
  • Enjoy grilling 
  • Go running
  • Play sports 
  • Love the cowboys
  • Wear sunglasses?

Academy


Well I could have just kept going…but I think you get my drift! With 100 stores now in Texas, Academy knows when it comes to families being active and enjoying the outdoors, no one gets you geared up like Academy Sports + Outdoors. This Friday, July 7 you’re invited to join in all the fun with some amazing deals and some even more amazing giveaways! (But if you can’t make it in store on Friday, join us here to get your own sneak peek from your computer/smartphone and we’ll show you!) 

Academy Sports + Outdoors is already known as your resource for everything your need on sports + outdoors, but during this special grand opening weekend in Rockwall, you’ll find some big buys just like this ECOXGEAR waterproof portable speaker (that charges everything but your car! LOL!) Just check out that price. But of course, that’s not all…

Academy

Got a fisherman or outdoorsman that needs to stay cool when he’s outdoors (my dad swears by Academy’s exclusive Magellan shirts). Buy one, get one 50% off!

Academy

We couldn’t live without our portable chairs for hanging out with friends, festivals, concerts and just hanging by the pool? Less than $5 for one and available in every color of the rainbow! 

Academy

But it’s not just the best buys that make Academy THE destination for everything sports + outdoors, but also the opportunity to get everything you need whether you’re an amateur or a professional in one place. Plus you can get hands on the equipment you’d be buying! With so many golf courses in Rockwall, they make it easy to get in and out on the course in no time at all! And that’s just for starters! 

Academy

I can’t believe we’re already talking back to school (we’re halfway there) but for those of us with kids in sports like baseball or are gearing up for two-a-days for football, Academy already has what you need. So beat the crowds and get what you need now! 

Academy

Need a backpack? Of course you will! If they don’t have a backpack here you or kids want, they don’t make it! 

Academy

Academy is always our go to for shoes! With a family of four, you can be buying a lot of shoes just to get you started for the new school year. Thankfully, Academy has tons of brands available for you to try on – and not just running shoes for the big kids. 

Academy

I love Academy for its perfect prices for toddler shoes! They have great styles to fit your tod, but you can actually afford to keep up with those ever-changing sizes at prices that fit your budget and their feet! 

Academy

Academy

But it’s not just the toddlers – I love to stock up on Sperrys for both my son and for my husband! We love the look and the style, so we know we can rely on Academy to have our favorite Sperry style without the crazy lines at the shoe store. 

Academy

PRICE MATCH POLICY

Academy is so sure they’ll have the best price for what you’re looking for, if you find the same exact somewhere else (i.e. Amazon or another retailer) for a reduced priced, Academy will match it AND reduce it by 5% when you show them the ad or online price. Here’s the details on their best prices in Texas! 

Academy

SHIP TO HOME

Is your shoe size out of stock? Don’t worry, the store will happily order it for you and have it shipped to your home, free of charge!  

In Texas grilling is always in season, but the summer time is prime time for bringing out the grill! Whether you’re smoking it, grilling it or looking to update the outdoor kitchen, Academy has a top-notch selections that you can buy now and be at home flipping burgers in no time at all! 

Academy

Just check out the best buy deals for some sizzling prices on some of the best equipment! (I’ve my eye on this Academy exclusive brand Outdoor Gourmet Kamado Ceramic Charcoal Grill for less than $600!) 

Academy

And of course, with a lake just steps away from the front door of the new Rockwall Academy store, you better bet water sports and fishing is front of mind. Whether you’re just throwing out the first catch with your kiddo or looking to invest in some serious rod and reel time, you can try out what you want at Academy. And with team members always available to help you, come loaded with questions for them to help you make your best buy of your own. Don’t forget to get your license here too! 

Academy

Academy (17 of 19)

Now are you ready for the YETI? Come out for the festivities starting Friday at 8 AM! 

Academy

Friday, July 7 – Grand Opening Activities

FREE EXCLUSIVE ACADEMY T‑SHIRT

Event starting at 8am: First 250 customers will receive a free Academy t–shirt. Limit 1 t–shirt per person. Size selection and color vary.

YETI LINE UP AND WIN

Event starting at 8am: FREE YETI Rambler for the first 100 customers with a wristband. Two lucky customers will win a YETI Hopper Two 20!

BE A STAR PHOTO BOOTH AND SPIN TO WIN

  • $500 Academy gift card
  • Masterbuilt 40″ Electric Smoker (Valued at $299.99.)
  • Fitbit Blaze Fitness Watch
  • Pelican Premium Apex 100 Angler 10′ Kayak
  • Columbia® PFG Thermal Tote

ADDITIONAL EVENTS

  • FREE Jack Link’s jerky samples
  • Kids fish FREE in our Shakespeare catch tank from 10am – 4pm
  • Hourly $50 gift card giveaway from 1-3pm

Saturday, July 8 – Grand Opening Activities

FREE MYSTERY GIFT CARD

Event starting at 8am: Be one of the first 150 customers in line beginning at 8am to show that you like or follow Academy on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, or Snapchat and receive a FREE mystery gift card valued between $20 and $500. (ARV of all prizes is $4,870.)

KIDS FISH FREE, COURTESY OF SHAKESPEARE

Event starting at 10am: Make the catch! Kids fish FREE at our Shakespeare catch tank from 10 am-4 pm.

BE A STAR IN OUR PHOTO BOOTH AND SPIN TO WIN PRIZES

  • $500 Academy gift card
  • Masterbuilt 40″ Electric Smoker (Valued at $299.99.)
  • Fitbit Blaze Fitness Watch
  • Pelican Premium Apex 100 Angler 10′ Kayak
  • Columbia® PFG Thermal Tote

ADDITIONAL EVENTS

  • The Carhartt Experience and FREE gift with a $50 or more Carhartt merchandise purchase from 10am – 4pm
  • Try on adidas for a Chance to WIN
  • FREE Brooks gift with Brooks shoe purchase
  • FREE Spalding Shoot-to-WIN game
  • Try on SKECHERS for a Chance to WIN a $50 Academy gift card
  • FREE Wolverine Enter to WIN
  • Hourly $50 gift card giveaway from 1-3pm

Get all the details about the Rockwall Grand Opening Celebration this weekend here.

Academy Sports + Outdoors
920 Steger Towne Rd.
Rockwall, TX 75032

Enter to win a $100 Gift Card to Academy Sports + Outdoors!

Academy

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fun Out of the Sun: Grapevine Mills

By 33 Comments

Looking for the coolest places for fun this summer?  Here’s the scoop on the sale you can’t miss and the fun you’ll find for the whole family at Grapevine Mills. #ThePerfectBag 

Thanks to Grapevine Mills for this collaboration and giving us the scoop on the fun this summer. 

The moment school let out, Camp Mama took over. 

It’s a hybrid of family fun activities, carpooling to camps all over the map, and me still trying to keep everything else rolling and going without losing my mind. 


Grapevine Mills

Shop, Drop, Repeat.

When’s the last time you were at Grapevine Mills? 

It’s a crazy day, everyday. 

I try to mix it up with a little something we can all enjoy…summertime doesn’t have to be just for the kids, right?

So when the hot Texas summer takes over, we’ve found refuge at Grapevine Mills. 

Recently the center finalized a multi-million dollar renovation, with sleek new flooring, lighting, seating and special details to make your experience more comfortable whether you’re dropping in for an hour or hoofing it for the whole day of shop ’til you drop. Plus many new stores and unique entertainment destinations has made Grapevine Mills on the top of our go-to shortlist.

Speaking of shortlist, you have just until June 30 to head to Grapevine Mills for their Annual Handbag Sale. Considering I’m always on the hunt for a handbag (I’m totally a bag lady), this sale features already hugely discounted prices on the hottest trends from some of my favorites like Saks Fifth Avenue OFF FIFTH, Banana Republic Factory, Francesca’s, J.Crew Factory, Guess Factory, Nautica, Steve Madden, Vera Bradley Factory Outlet and many more! 

Grapevine-Mills (4 of 13)

// GUESS // 

Grapevine-Mills (3 of 13)

// BANANA REPUBLIC FACTORY // 

Grapevine-Mills (2 of 13)

// STEVE MADDEN // 

AND THERE’S MORE (in my best Price of Right voice!) 

  • Win the Handbag of Your Dreams Sweepstakes – Two lucky shoppers will have the chance to ‘win the handbag of your dreams’ through a sweepstakes hosted on Grapevine Mills’ Facebook page. All you have to do is comment with which one you love the most! The winners will be selected at random and will receive a Simon American Express gift card valued at $500. (The winners have to be residents of Texas and have the ability to pick up from Grapevine Mills.)

// PLUS FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN WIN $100 SIMON GIFT CARD FROM MAMACHALLENGE.COM// 

Facebook Live

  • Handbag Pop Art Display – Shoppers can get interactive at the 5’-by-10’ pop art handbag display in front of Guest Services courtyard near Victoria’s Secret. It will make a great backdrop for photos and Grapevine Mills encourages shoppers to take and post photos at the display and of their handbag finds using #ThePerfectBag.

FUN FOR EVERYONE

Shopping can be fun for some, but not everyone! That’s where Grapevine Mills also makes it easy for you to entertain the whole family especially with some of the NEW destinations! 

The Escape Game / Located near the Food Court
Opening just a month ago, you can now choose your escape! The Escape Game is perfect for large groups, girls’ night out, date night, or just a new way to mix it up your day. Rated #1 “Escape Room” On TripAdvisor’s National Rankings, you and your team are locked in a room and have one hour to complete a mission and escape. Escaping requires teamwork, quick thinking, determination and a sense of urgency!

Grapevine-Mills (10 of 13)

Fieldhouse USA / Located at Entry 3 by Burlington Coat Factory
Build on your sports skills or discover a new one! Fieldhouse USA offers summer camps for basketball, volleyball and futsal camps through August 15 for children ages 5 and up with the emphasis on 100% participation and FUN!   Camp Add-Ons are also available to give your child a full day of sports fun all week long.

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre / Located at Entry 5 with SEA LIFE Aquarium and AMC Theaters
LEGOLAND Discovery Center is the ultimate indoor LEGO® experience full of amazing play, creativity and building fun designed for families with kids aged 3-10 years. Plus with Pirate Beach, its outdoor waterpark (included with your admission), you can let the kids play with 30 water gadgets, splash through a 2o-foot-tall, 50-gallon bucket of water, while you chill in the shade (or get a little sun!) 

SEA LIFE Aquarium / Located at Entry 5 with LEGOLAND Discover Center and AMC Theaters
Take a fascinating journey from the coast to the ocean depths through 16 themed zones at SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium. Get up close to thousands of amazing creatures and find out how it feels to touch a sea start and other creatures living in our interactive rockpool experience. With an amazing 360° ocean tunnel, 30 display tanks and thousands of sea creatures the aquarium is the perfect stop for family fun. (Plus it’s all in the A/C!) 

Sealife-Aquarium

Round One Bowling and Entertainment / Located at Entry 6 near the NIKE Factory Store
Whether it’s bowling, arcade games, karaoke, billiards, darts, ping pong or more, you’ll find it at Round One! At 80,000 square-foot game complex features a full bowling alley with 24 lanes that can accommodate up to 120 players, 2,603 square-feet dedicated to singing, and 12 tournament standard billiard tables can accommodate up to 48 players.

Grapevine-Mills (11 of 13)

Don’t miss these guys at PUDDING ON SMILES! It will make you smile every time you lick your spoon! 

Grapevine-Mills (13 of 13)

AMC Theaters / West side of Grapevine Mills
Whether you’re looking for a comfortable spot to watch a movie or enjoy a full-on movie and a meal experience, AMC Theaters is perfect. Plus it’s close proximity to LEGOLAND Discover Center and SEA LIFE Aquarium, finish off the day with a movie (they’ll probably sleep on the way home.)

Grapevine-Mills-Mall-Kids

Mark your calendar and save the date for these great family movies this summer!

  • Despicable Me 3 – June 30
  • Spider-Man: Homecoming – July 7 – PG-13
  • The Emoji Movie – July 28
  • The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature – August 11

Want to win $100 Simon Gift Card to get your new handbag or try out one of these amazing destinations? 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

10 New Reasons to Love Target Even More

By 184 Comments

Love Target? Of course you do! However, here’s 10 new reasons to love Target even more as they bring new changes with their recent renovations! 

Thanks to Target for giving us a special look at the new changes and sponsoring this post.  

Can you imagine a world without Target?

Even if you could, why would you want to?


There are few places I can think of that give me the convenience of getting a few groceries, filling my prescriptions, styling my home, and the opportunity to cruise quickly for something new (and out of budget) than Target. And let’s not even throw in the fact they meet you at the door with Starbucks. However, several Target stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth are going through a huge remodel to make Target even better (sounds like an oxymoron, right? But it is! We recently took a sneak peek at one of the newly remodeled Target stores and this is what we found. 

10 Reasons to Love Target Even More 

10 Reasons to Love Target Even More 

1. They’re making a big investment in DFW.

Target is investing more than $220 million to remodel 28 of 47 Target stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, the company’s largest remodel investment in a single market in 2017 (lucky for us!) All the remodeled stores will receive top-to-bottom overhauls, including a mix of design and functionality, taking a customized approach to each store location. 

Target-Remodel

2. Almost There.

Twelve stores have already debuted their completed remodels and 16 remaining stores to be completed later this summer and fall! Customers will find modern design elements, including updated LED lighting, new paint, new floors and fixtures! 

Already remodeled stores: Addison, Grapevine, Lake Worth, Weatherford, Fort Worth Central, North Dallas Coit Road, Mansfield, McKinney, Plano West, Watauga, and Frisco North. 

Scheduled July Completions: Rockwall, Burleson, Waxahachie, and Euless

Scheduled August Completions: Love Field, Frisco, and Dallas North East

Scheduled October Completions: Medallion, North Richland Hills, Flower Mound, Mesquite, Hurst, Cityview, McKinney SW, Denton, Allen North, and Lewisville. 

3. More Macchiatos.

Addison, Rockwall and Irving, you’re getting a big upgrade with new Starbucks are added to your Target stores. (Caffeine feeds the Target shopping machine!) 

4. Real Inspiration Right in Front of You. 

Forget just rows of racks. Target is giving guests an opportunity for more inspiration and style with new merchandise displays and mannequins throughout the store so you know exactly how that dress will look when it’s on a body! 

Target-Remodel

5. Just for You! 

Ever started shopping for clothes and found yourself looking at the teenage sizes (way off from what you need to be looking at?) Many other guests did too, so Target took the recommendation and now have create separate sections for teens, maternity, plus size, etc! 

Target-Remodel

6. Grocery Goodness.

Taking a little inspiration from area farmers’ markets, Target has remodeled their grocery department with new wood-grain fixtures, updated floors, LED lighting, and products perfectly paired together to make a meal (everything you’ll need will be in one area and not spread out in different aisle for quick dinner making!) Plus many featured local products like Tupps Brewery. 

Target-Remodel

7. More style, year-long.

Target is already considered a destination for style but they’ve added even better way to find style, year-round. Bathing suit season isn’t just June – August. Now you’ll be able to find suits throughout the year and in sizes for you (cup sizes will now count!) You’ll also find beloved brands like Cat & Jack kids clothes and baby brand Cloud Nine.

Target-Remodel

8. Quicker, Easier, and Better.

In a rush, no biggie with Target! They’ve added more self-checkout lanes for ease of guest check-out options including updates to the Order Pickup and Guest Service counter! You’ll now find a digitally connected experience with an updated Order Pickup counter and Ship from Store service, so you can get those Target.com orders even quicker! (And remember, there are already CVS / pharmacy there for that much more quick and easy shopping!) 

CVS at Target

9. One NEW App Solution.

Love couponing with Cartwheel but feel torn with having two apps to cover your Target needs? This fall you’ll find both apps combined together for one easy-to-use digital solution!

10. See if for yourself. 

You may not need a reason to head to Target (you probably were on your way already), but we’re giving you a $100 Target gift card to see the changes for yourself! 

NOW what’s your favorite thing about Target?   

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spots Mom Can Relax and Recharge

By Leave a Comment

Mommin’ ain’t easy. Help mom unwind with this handy list of spots mom can relax and recharge in Fort Worth. 

MamaChallenge is happy to share all the fun families can have in Fort Worth. #SeeFortWorth

Spa

PC: Omni Fort Worth Hotel, Mokara Spa.

Being a mom may be the best job in the world, but sometimes it can be hard to remember that when she’s elbow deep in stinky diapers, last-minute school projects, and a mess of dirty dishes. And that’s not including her own long list of to-dos. Help mom unwind this Mother’s Day with our handy list of ways to relax and recharge in Fort Worth.
 

Wine Down with Wine 


Let mom catch up with the girls or get in some uninterrupted reading time while sipping on a few great wines at Times Ten Cellar. From tastings to special events, everything she needs to begin her downtown wine down is just steps away. If she prefers more for a wine country kind of experience sans the long car drive or plane ride, plan an escape to LightCatcher’s Winery & Bistro for wine tastings and a little trip away from everything right here in Fort Worth (at least until it’s sold.) Make sure to catch a Jazz Sunday brunch for an all-out event.

Lightcatcher Winery

Don a new Do 

In a hurry? In just one hour at Drybar, mama can get the ultimate multitasking hair makeover paired with a mimosa (or elect to leave out the OJ.) Also with that drink order, she can get a 10-minute scalp massage during her shampoo followed by a paired hair order like a Manhattan, Cosmo or a Straight Up. At the end, mom will be ready to take on the world with beautiful tresses to match the picture-perfect smile now on her face.

Relax with a Rubdown

Feeling a little beat up and beat down?  Nothing relaxes mom’s body and soul better than a massage. Fort Worth is full of award-winning spas that can help melt away knots and stresses while mentality whisking mom away. Not looking for a full rubdown? Then concentrate on just the feet with reflexology from FeetWorth where they take down those tootsies for more than an hour…ahhh!

Omni Spa 

Cooldown with Cryotheraphy

If mama is looking for a boost, then The Cryo Spa may be calling. It boasts several health benefits such as increased energy and metabolism. While a few moments in freezing temperatures may not be mom’s ideal way of taking a time out, the end results may change her mind.

Walk off the Worry 

A quick way to relax and recharge is to get those feet moving in the great outdoors. Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to appreciate Mother Nature with a stroll along the Trinity. Head out to the Trailhead Clearfork, Fort Worth’s posh new green space, and enjoy a free exercise class, fresh local goods for sale from the Farmer’s Market, and a Summer Shandy from what Texas Monthly notes is one of the “Best New Restaurants,” Press Café.

 Press Cafe

Stretch it Out with Yoga 

Nothing takes mom to that zen-like state more than reconnecting with her center at one of Cowtown’s many yoga studios. We love Karmandy, SoulSpace and The Yoga Project to name a few. No matter if she is a newbie or a committed yogi looking for a new home to hone your practice, making yoga a part of her daily routine can help ensure mom gets the “me time” that she needs.

Recharge with Retail Therapy

Sometimes a gal just needs a new handbag or a pair of heels. Fort Worth’s options to shop ‘til she drops include the hip Near Southside, the trendy University Park Village, the popular Sundance Square, the bustling West 7th neighborhood as well as the famous Fort Worth Stockyards and the newly opened Neiman Marcus at The Shops at Clearfork. A day just hitting the racks for something special can remind her how special she is to you, too.

Widget: Sundance Shopping

Sleep off the Stress

Ask any mom what she wants and you’ll find a “time to myself” on the list. One trend many mamas have learned to indulge in is a little staycation. The Omni Fort Worth and the Worthington Renaissance know exactly what she needs with clean sheets, no messes, long baths and room service. And with amenities like spa treatments, pool time and beauty treatments, mom will feel like a new woman in as little as 24 hours. 

This article originally appear on FortWorth.com.

The Right Way to Do Babe’s Chicken

By Leave a Comment

Looking for the best bonafide homestyle, family-style, fried chicken experience in Texas? Look no further than Babe’s. But if it’s your first time, then you better learn the rules. Here’s our guide to The Right Way to do Babe’s Chicken. 

Thank you to Backpack Wine for this sponsoring this post.

Texas is a proud state so no doubt we fancy ourselves the best at a lot of things…

The best BBQ.
The best Tex Mex.
The best Steak.


And most definitely home to the best fried chicken.

Many lists will also reinforce that we’re home to the best place for real, deep south crunchy, perfect fried chicken. 

And the name of that home is Babe’s. That’s right “chicken fried with Texas pride!

Babes-Chicken

While a Babe’s Chicken House can now be found in nine locations around North Texas, the first Babe’s was founded (and still stands) in the Unique Dining Capital of Texas in 1993.

Even typing the words I can begin to aroma of the buttery, crispy fried chicken when you open the door…

Unfortunately, there are only two things that stand between you and the smorgasbord of pickle salad, creamy corn and biscuits make its way to you at the table. 

Your choice of Fried Chicken or Chicken Fried Steak and the WAIT. 

Babes-Chicken

That’s right – it can be a long one, especially if you hit up a Babe’s on a weekend.

There are no reservations and there’s no bar to enjoy a few cocktails to make the ticking clock seem less daunting. 

But wait – it’s the wait that almost makes Babe’s a mandatory food experience…as long as you do it the right way. 

How to do Babe’s Chicken the Right Way

First, if you plan to go to Babe’s (and you should), make sure you don’t eat much that day.

You’re going to want every part of your belly to enjoy the family-style experience you’re gonna embark on. Also know that the menu slightly differs at each location. If you hit up the original, they’re still serving just the staples but they’re just that good you don’t need the extras. It’s just what you expect from a homemade dinner of fried goodness served with creamy, buttery mashed potatoes with country gravy, Grandma’s creamed corn that will change your life (it’s got a slighty sweet, buttery and smooth texture) and perfectly made pillows of buttermilk biscuits that you’ll want to eat with butter, then gravy, and honey (or sorghum.)

Babes-Chicken (10 of 9)

But if you go to some of the other spots, you might find rotisserie chicken, green beans, and even dessert. So call ahead just in case you’re looking for something good. However, you can’t go wrong at all – unless of you have a gluten allergy. Then you need to make the call:) 

Second, bring friends and family.

Babe’s is more fun the more people you have with you. It’s a great place to catch up, celebrate, have dinner together which is something many of us don’t make time for anymore and should.

Babes-Chicken

Third, don’t forget the chairs.

If you have a truck, you can always sit on the tailgate while you wait or in the many seats you’ll find outside Babe’s. But there’s no guarantee you’re gonna score a few – especially all together. So bring the chairs. Also bring a deck of cards or anything else that’s gonna keep the kids happy while you wait. Waiting is really half the fun here.

Babes-Chicken

Fourth, one special thing about Babe’s is that it’s BYOB.

That’s right, you can (and must) bring your own beverages (alcoholic ones that is.) While some folks bring beer, some bring bubbles (I’ve done that a few times), but those bottles can be a real pain, too. And let’s not even talk about forgetting the corkscrew.) If you want to make it easy on you and still enjoy your Babe’s experience, pack up a little ice chest of these small cans. Perfectly sized and perfectly paired, Backpack Wine® comes in a 250 ml. convenient, recyclable slimline can and right now in two palate pleasing flavors:  Cheeky Rose® and Snappy White®. 

BabesChicken4

Best of all you don’t have to remember a corkscrew (or even a glass)! Just grab it and go. 

If you consider yourself a wino, then you might think a “canned wine” is blasphemy, but both wines are from Washington (known for some amazing wines in the Columbia Valley.) The white is a riesling-based wine with a touch of pinot blanc and the rose is also pinot blanc but blended with sangiovese for color and for the floral, strawberry, rose petal flavors that you want from a rose. And the can had nothing to do with the process or changing the taste of the wine.

Fifth, Prepare for a good time!

Babe’s is about being in the moment and enjoying the people, food and experiences you love most. There will be music, dancing, and maybe if you’re lucky, some singing by the staff too. So remember: wear your comfy pants and get ready to smile! (Unless of course, you eat just one more biscuit with honey than you should have.) 

Babes-Chicken2 copy

Now that’s the right way to do Babe’s.

Babe-Chicken

Pin This!

Visit Mama Challenge's profile on Pinterest.

Pictures Say a 1000 Words

Follow Along!