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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

Great Looking, Great Cooking: That’s What the MetroCooking Show is Made Of

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To-Do Thursdays: 

I have admitted that I’m a little obsessed with food. 

And in the past I have admitted my love for Paula Deen (I found four posts already where I mention her.) However, today I have another admission about the Deen family: it’s my little crush obsession on Bobby Deen. 


Yep, that’s right. There’s something to be said about a man that is as cute as he is, can cook all Southern-style, but knows how to the cut calories to keep your backside from looking like a rump roast. (I think we can all appreciate that, right?) So when my Bobby comes to Dallas for a little intimate cooking session with me this weekend, I thought it might be nice if I shared him with the rest of Dallas (at least for a little while to see what he can do with a skillet.) 

So consider this your personal invitation to join me, Bobby, his mama and a whole lotta great-cooking folks to come out again for the second annual MetroCooking Dallas on Saturday, Sept. 21 & Sunday, Sept. 22 at The Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center (yes, that’s the former Dallas Convention Center, but aren’t you proud Kay gotten something named after her.) This year’s extravaganza brings renowned television chefs, hundreds of specialty food exhibitors, cooking demonstrations and workshops. 

Graphic from MCESshow.com

If Bobby and Paula aren’t enough to whet your whistle, then consider coming out to see The Chew’s Jason Roberts; actress Debi Mazur (most notable on HBO’s Entourage) and her husband Gabriele Corcos from the Cooking Channel’s Extra Virgin; the Grill Sergeant Brad Turner and the Food Network’s Extreme Chef Terry French. Bobby’s also hosting The Bobby Deen BBQ & Photo Op on Saturday where attendees will enjoy recipes selected by Bobby and have their photo taken with him. Paula will swing by the BBQ for a quick “hey, y’all” as well. (Feel free to come tell me hi.)

While you’re there, you’ll also have the opportunity to visit more than 150 exhibitors so you can make sure to take something tasty home with you (husbands are much happier when you go gawk at other men if you bring home some sweet stuff for them like some of the pepper jelly you’ll find there.) 

MetroCooking Dallas 
Sept. 21 & 22, 2013
Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center

Tickets: $24.50, children ages 4-12 are $12.50 and children ages 4 and younger are free. 
Additional tickets are required for special events such as a VIP meet-and-greets with TV chefs, the one-day theater pass and entry to special lectures by the headliners.
http://www.metrocookingdallas.com/tickets

One more admission: Bobby isn’t really coming to Dallas to see me, but I’m sure once he meets me this weekend, he and his new Venezuelan wife would love to come on over for Sunday dinner with my husband and kids once the show is over.


You Spin Me Right Round, Baby with Terlingo Cycle

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Try-it Tuesdays:

Disclaimer: I was invited to experience Terlingo Cycle for a free class for purposes of this review. All comments shared here are my own. 

I haven’t done a Try-it Tuesday in quite a while since I have been on my Gladiator quest, so I’m excited I was able to amp it up this week with a new workout experience in Dallas. 



One Saturday AM, about six years ago, I borrowed my old man’s spin shoes and showed up to a class to see what all the buzz was about with spinning. Since I hated biking, I figured this spinning was going to be even worse since it was biking AND we weren’t going anywhere.

Oh, I was hooked from the get go. Now after visiting four distinctive spin styles, I can honestly say that just because they all have bikes and play music, they aren’t all the same. This is certainly the case with Terlingo Cycle, the new cycle studio led by celebrity-fitness guru/cycle teacher to Dallas’ elite, John Terlingo.



Described as “delivering a spiritual cardio party, where the lights are dimmed and music is pumping,” TGO is exactly that. Certainly targeting the young, beautiful and social set of Big D, driving up to the studio, the parking looked like a lot for a luxury car lot with Mercedes, BMWs and Land Rovers. Once in the white walls of the 2,200-square-foot-space (which are still in the middle of construction), I quickly dropped my bag in the cubes, put on my shoes (TGO will provide those in the future), and jumped on a 31 state-of-the-art 2013 A.C. Performance Plus Schwinn bike (state-of-the-art, people) on the back row. Soon the lights went down and the service began.


For the next 45 minutes in only the intimate flicker of the candlelight, the packed room of 30+ spinners worked to reach the recommended RPMs by our spiritual fitness leader, John. Our musical journey traveled us from Jay-Z and JT’s “Holygrail” all the way to Diana Ross and Lionel Richie’s “Endless Love.” While my playlist sit much heavier on the hip-hop or hard-rock side of things when I workout, I did find myself belting out a little Elton John (one of my absolute favorites) aloud while we coasted through our upper body arm workout.

Like visiting a friend’s church on Sunday morning, I enjoyed my experience and definitely got something from my visit, but I still prefer my own place of spin-workout worship. However, in the words of Dolly Parton in Steel Magnolias,” …God doesn’t care where you go as long as you show up.”



Terlingo Cycle
3105 Reagan St. (Lemmon
Dallas, Texas 75219
214.520.RIDE
www.terlingocycle.com

Sneak Peek: Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden

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Travel Tuesdays:

On September 27, the Dallas Arborteum will unveil one of the most beautiful destinations for learning, the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. Overlooking picturesque White Rock Lake, this eight-acre “laboratory” houses 17 outdoor/indoor galleries designed around a key science theme outlined the state and national standards for life and earth science. 

Each of the more than 150 exhibits provide preschool and middle-school aged children to experience how life works on a whole-new level with larger-than-life exhibits and hands-on opportunities to discovery science in nature. While we all wait to bring our children to this amazing attraction later this month, I got a sneak peek at some of the park’s coolest features and what you can look forward to you upon your first visit. 

9-foot Ant and Plant Petting Zoo

“Plants are Alive:” Understanding Photosynthesis

“Texas Skywalk”

“Kaliedscope:”
Where Math, Science & Art Come Together (designed specifically for 4-6 graders)

“Pure Energy Gallery”

Areas are built throughout the park to congregate, rest and enjoy the beautiful outdoor scerenery overlooking White Rock Lake

A note before you go: 

Admission for the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden must be purchased online in advance to make your reservation. Also admission to the garden is separate from regular park tickets, so you’ll need to budget accordingly if you are visiting both parks. 

Strollers and wheelchairs can be used in the Children’s Garden, but wagons are not permitted. Also, you’ll want to bring hats and sunscreen during the warm months and bundle up accordingly in the colder parts of the year. 

Food items are served at the park for purchase so you can make a day of it – especially when the legendary “Autumn in the Arboretum” opens September 21 or any of the special “The Year of the Children” performances and activities. 

Have fun exploring and learning about nature!

Get to the Heart and Soul of Family and Food with El Corazon de Tejas

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Food Fridays: 

 Dislaimer: I was invited to sample foods from this restaurant for the purposes of this review. However, all my comments here are my own. 

 And in the heart of Oak Cliff in Dallas, you’ll find El Corazon de Tejas. While this Tex-Mex restaurant is relatively new to the restaurant offerings here in Dallas, the family that opened this neighborhood must-go is definitely not new to the Dallas Tex-Mex scene.


Owned by John and Gilbert Cuellar, grandsons of Adelaida Cuellar of the The Cuellar family, are well-known for their roots in opening the first El Chico and their hands in many other restaurants in Dallas. Taking their experience, family recipes and renovating a beautiful building in the OC from the early 1900s, these brothers have put their heart and soul into making El Corazon de Tejas something we can all appreciate: good food made from local foods from the hands of even more members of this incredible family. 

During the two-hours I dined, I met around 10 family members who either had come in to dine, make our meal or serve it to us. And as I looked around the large dining room, complete with a beautiful newly painted mural of a Mexican maiden and an incredible restored chandelier that like the name of the restaurant, sets as a heart in the circular-like room. Together, you would never know which of the fixtures has been there longer. 


Starting off the smorgasbord was a queso flameado with mushroooms that easily could make for a perfect meal for one, but who can stop there when there are warm, handmade tortillas brought to your table? Then the lineup of food began with all things that make Tex-Mex great: echiladas and tacos! However, the menu also includes parillas, taqueria tacos and some family specialities. 


Once the dishes came out to the table, I already felt that I may need to rethink my form-fitted pants for a pair of sweats. However, like any good experience eating with friends and family, you find a way to make it work, taking tastes from each of the plates and washing them down with fresh mango and watermelon margaritas, sourced from Urban Acres. While both were refreshing, the watermelon flavor tasted like the flavor of summer and paired perfectly with the chipotle quesadillas I kept being drawn to for seconds and thirds. 

There was something for everyone at the table – from vegan and vegetarian options to the more Mexican purist with rich and flavorful mole. And of course, everything came with delish rice and beans (both with bacon and vegan made.)

One of my favorite dishes we tried was a Mexican Fajita Martini – a fun presentation of some of the best things you love about Tex-Mex with guacamole, pico, sour cream, rice and fajita meat. Created from one of the owners’ daughter wedding, this dish isn’t on the menu right now, but it will be — and certainly is the great way to start the fiesta you are bound to have at El Corazon de Tejas.

El Corazon de Tejas
110 W Davis St
Dallas, Texas 75208
214.943.8610
http://elcorazondetejas.com

Mom to Mom: Healthy Baby Food Delivery You’ll Both Eat

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Food Fridays:


 Disclaimer: I was provided products for the purposes of this review; however, no compensation was received. All comments and thoughts disclosed here are my own. 

We all have grandiose visions of what amazing things we are going to do for our children to be “good parents.” One of my biggest goals was to create my own baby food for my son so he would enjoy healthy eating and ate more than chicken nuggets, goldfish and strained peas. 

Unfortunately, my good intentions were ruined with work, unplanned obligations and pure exhaustion of just getting the absolutely necessary things complete – much less the things I wanted to achieve like whipping up some pureed carrots. 

Now, three years later, I’m here again, with a toddler and a wish to feed her healthy food BUT with even less time than I had with one child. 

Thankfully, this time I actually have an option: Half Pint Palates.



 Created by mom/chef/owner/amazingly cool gal Tara Anderson, HPP creates and delivers clean, non-processed, globally insprired baby and toddler foods to doorsteps across the metroplex (within a 30-mile radius of her Deep Ellum kitchen.) Packaged in either a three-day or five-day plan, a single day’s menu includes: breakfast, an entrée style lunch, light dinner, two dry snacks, a fruit puree and a juice all for only $17.50 per day. Basically everything you need for your kid’s menu but milk.


 Since as children we are born with more taste buds than you’ll ever have, priming a kids palate is important to appreciate and enjoy certain flavors and textures rather than the bland ingredients that processed baby food presents. So by using local and sustaintable producers, Tara handcrafts her proportionally appropropriate meals by introducing spices, herbs, grains, local meats and legumes (she opts not to use nuts in her foods, although the line is not totally nut free.) 

A sample menu of Half Pint Palates: 

BREAKFAST
Passionfruit Oatmeal
Summer Tomato and Aji Grit Casserole
Caramelized Banana Pudding
Arroz con Leche
Quinoa with Guava-Lime

LUNCH
Chicken and Summer Vegetable Tamale Pie
Vegetarian Chili Verde
Sancocho de Pescado
Fresh Corn and Quinoa Casserole with Chorizo
Argentinean Bistek with Chimichurri Rice

SUPPER
White Beans with Chimichurri
Sauteed Sweet Plantains
Potato Causa
Stewed Yuca and Collard Greens
Calabaza and Carrots with Coconut

SNACKS
Tomatillo, Celery, Lime, Cucumber
Carrot Pineapple Puree
Pan de Queso
Coconut Cinnamon Shortbread

And remember, this is for your KID!
 I was elated to share a week’s worth of Half Pint Palates with my daughter in efforts to try to change her finicky habits until I took out the container from the freezer and took a bite to try it myself. It was so good, I didn’t want her to have it. I mean I wanted to trade my dinner for hers. (Yes, I was chowing down on baby food that was full of flavor and took all of 1:00 to cook.) However, I made the sacrifice and ler her half it with me. 

 No longer was making healthy food my challenge. It was opening the homemade crackers, freshly squeezed juices with fun flavors like prickly pear cilantro juice and pimento cheese grits and letting her have them before I decided to eat them for my own meal. (Yes, really it was THAT good.)

 How it works:

  1. Clients of HPP go to www.halfpintpalates.com to order their food style preference (purees or ‘stews’), their desired amount of weekly meals and can choose from a selection of HPP snacks and juices as well as some adult treats. 

  2. HPP shops for seasonal ingredients, prepares them by hand, administers a taste test and freezes the fresh meals all within a week of the client’s delivery date. 
  3. All your food is packaged up and delivered to your home in a refrigerated bag in handy plastic containers that are easily placed in the freezer and pantry for quick cooking throughout the week. 

Like many momprenuers, Half Pint Palates was developed out of Tara’s own want to provide her daughter healthy food options and merging her own professional experience as am executive chef with Pepsi. And considering her husband also works with Wolfgang Puck Catering, preparing great food from local sources is a priority for this Lakewood family.


 Lucky for you, Tara also hosts monthly cooking classes and this month a special FREE Cooking Demonstration hosted by Dallas Moms Blog THIS Tuesday, July 23 at 11 AM at Central Market! However, you must register for this incredible event and reservations are limited. 

 My advice: sign up for Half Pint Palates and order two plans – one for your kiddo AND one for you. 

Half Pint Palates
http://www.halfpintpalates.com
214.208.7908



Why I Was Called “The Sex Lady” – June 27 is National HIV Testing Day

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Wow Mom Wednesdays: 

While lots of people know I’m a mom, blogger and work in marketing, they don’t know that when I was in college I worked at the student health and wellness center on campus. 

Part of my job  was educating students in classrooms and in organizational settings about healthy decision making in regards to sex and conducting free HIV testing. That means sometimes I was talking to around 3,000 kids about sex and showing them photos of what Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Infections looked like. (I’ll spare you those, but they were pretty rough.) 




[Cue the music…“Let’s talk about sex, baby, let’s talk about you and me…”]
It makes me laugh to think about it now, but there were times I crossed campus going to class and a freshmen would stop me and say, “Hey, aren’t you the Sex Lady?”  and I would get to answer, “Yes, I talked to you about Herpes and HIV last week.” 
However, that was only part of my job. The other part was reaching out to the community to test people who thought they may be at risk for HIV. It really was was life changing to hear their stories, hear so many misconceptions people had and unfortunately, sometimes have to hear some really sad stories. 
While that part of my life may be over, the need for education and testing isn’t. So I’m getting on my soapbox since June 27 is National HIV Testing Day. 

 
Did You Know? (According to the CDC)

  • More than 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV infection
  • Almost one in five adults and adolescents living with HIV are unaware that they are infected
  • Men and woman in the African-American community make up close to 50% of all new HIV infections in the U.S. per year
  • Men in the African-American community make up 70% of those new infections
  • Women in the African-American community account for 9 out of 10 new HIV infections amongst women
  • The over 50+ age group has one of the fastest rising rates of infection due to physician bias/assumption and lack of HIV community education targeting seniors 

Risk for HIV
HIV is spread through some of the body’s fluids, like blood, semen/sperm, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. HIV is passed from one person to another by:

  • Having unprotected sex (vaginal and anal) with a person who is HIV positive
  • Sharing needles
  • Breastfeeding, pregnancy, or childbirth if the mother has HIV
  • Blood transfusion from contaminated blood 

Misconceptions and Myths about HIV infection

  • The biggest misconception about HIV is that you have to be “high risk.”


    FACT: High risk for HIV is anyone who has ever had sex with one partner, just one time. However, higher risk behaviors include multiple sexual partners, not using protection and IV drug use.

    • MYTH: HIV can be spread through non-sexual physical contact such as hugging, handshakes, sharing toilet seats, and from mosquito bites.
    • MYTH: HIV can be spread during contact with saliva, such as through kissing or the sharing of utensils.
    • MYTH: HIV/AIDS cannot be transmitted during oral sex. 

    Many feel as though HIV belongs to a “certain group”, and they are therefore exempt from the risk.  It is important to know that HIV can infect or affect anyone-male/female, married/single, homosexual/heterosexual, or young/old.

    Testing for HIV
    Make sure you are having the uncomfortable conversations regarding testing – not only with your partners and your loved ones, but also your physician.  Physicians sometimes inappropriately assume that you are not at risk for HIV, thereby missing an opportunity for testing and HIV education. 

    • Take it upon yourself to request testing for HIV if your physician has not asked you if you want to be tested.
    • It is now possible to know results of a testing in as little as 20 minutes with rapid testing, and it can even be done at home. 
      • If the test results are negative, you now have a responsibility to live your best life by protecting yourself and practicing safe sex each and every time you have sex.  
      • If the results are positive, you now have a responsibility to get counseled, get treatment, and then live your best life by protecting yourself and practicing safe sex each and every time you have sex.

    Prevention from contracting HIV
    Many are too afraid of the possibility of a positive result and therefore don’t get tested.  If the unfortunate happens, and you are exposed to HIV, it’s important to know that medical advances and treatments have made it possible for anyone living with HIV to live relatively healthy lives. 

    • Abstain from having sex
    • Practice safer sex: Use condoms
    • Get tested regularly (Know your status before having sex with a partner)
    if you are looking to get testing, then type in your zip code here to find a location near you. Most HIV sites will provide testing for free or at little-to-no-cost!

    Thanks for stats shared from The Urban Housecall
    Drs. Rob & Karla Robinson have established The Urban Housecall Magazine, an online health and wellness magazine with health information for men, women, and children as well as The Urban Housecall Radio Show to promote the message of health and wellness through the airwaves.

    Get On the SOUL TRAIN to Buttons – June is National Soul Food Month

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    Food Fridays: 

     Disclaimer: I was invited to a media event to sample and photograph dishes from Buttons for purposes of this review. No other compensation was received. 

    There’s nothing better then delicious food…unless of course, it’s great food accompanied by great friends and some great story-telling. 

     Then you know it’s GOOD.


     So when I had the chance to sit down to eat a little soul food during “National Soul Food Month” with Mr. Soul Food himself – Chef Keith “Buttons” Hicks of the award-winning Buttons, I brought my appetite and prepared myself to learn a little something about about soul food (something I know very little about.)

     “As a kid, I would watch my grandmothers’ cook by simply adding a little bit of this and a little bit of that and often just making something real good out of nothing,” said Hicks. “They would have the entire house filled with great soul food aromas that would have you anxiously waiting for the food to hurry up and be ready. I knew back then that I wanted to be able to do the exact same thing.”

     Can you dig it? (Which is also one of Hicks’ token phrases.) 

     His southern inspired menu includes: 

    • Signature Buttons’ Chicken and Waffles
    • oxtails
    • shrimp-fish-and-grits
    • chicken fried chicken
    • as well as tasty sides that include braised cabbage, collard greens, jalapeno cheese grits, sweet potatoes, corn cakes and garlic mashed potatoes.  

    However, some of things I was able to get my hands on included the new wedgeburg salad, Josh’s pasta, fire grilled chicken & plants, fried green tomatoes and sweet potato mini pie.

    Fire-grilled chicken & plants

    “Soul food has a deeply-rooted history that will continue to be told and experienced for as long as people continue to enjoy and appreciate great tasting food,” said Hicks. “I’m grateful to be able to continuously spread that history through each of my southern recipes, while also building upon the legacy of soul food.”

    Fried green tomatoes with an egg (to die for)

    Derived from the expression of “soul” music, soul food was a culinary movement spawned in the 1960s. Prior to that time, soul-style cooking was simply known as comfort food or southern comfort food, which originated with African slaves in the United States who were given food parts that their owners did not want to eat (i.e. pig’s feet, beef tongue, ham hocks, chitterlings, pig ears, and tripe as main delicacies of soul food.) Included are also many foods that came from the African homeland such as okra, black eye peas, watermelon, yams, and many leafy green vegetables. 

    Sweet potato mini pie

    And because there was a scarcity of meat, the people during this time learned to trap their own wild game and created meals such as shrimp, fish and grits. Meat was primarily consumed on Sundays because it was considered to be a special day.  Post slavery, many African-Americans in the South would enjoy hearty meals like chicken and waffles on Sundays to keep them full and satisfied throughout the day because church and many other related activities often would consume most all of their time.

     Now that’s food that is good for the soul. 

     So go give your soul a little love and get you some soul food this National Soul Food Month at Buttons.

    Chef Hicks and the restaurant have also been featured on several television programs including The Food Network’s Heat Seekers and Mystery Diners. 

    Buttons Food & Music for the Soul
    Website

    Lego! See Dallas in One Day and Win $50 with Dallas Cityscape at Galleria

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    To-Do Thursdays:

    Looking to expose your kids to the Dallas landscape, but don’t have enough time, money or patience to handle the traffic or the Texas heat? You’re in luck – Galleria Dallas presents DALLAS CITYSCAPE, an engaging and fun view of Dallas created by more than 2.5 million Legos and toy pieces.  (And did I mention it was all in doors, in air-conditioning and  close to a huge ice rink?) 

    Photo courtesy from DALLAS CITYSCAPE Facebook.

    Dallas landmarks in the exhibit include: 

    • American Airlines Center and Victory Plaza
    • AT&T Performing Arts District
    • Trammell Crow Center Crow Collection of Asian Art
    • Hyatt Reunion Hotel
    • Reunion Tower
    • Union Station
    • Klyde Warren Park
    • Winspear Opera House
    • East Dallas Community School campuses 
    • 15’ Galleria Dallas

    To celebrate the grand opening on Saturday, June 29, DALLAS CITYSCAPE will be giving away a $50 Galleria Dallas Gift Card EVERY hour from 10 am-9 pm. You will receive your CITYSCAPE loyalty program, punch card and if you fill it up with multiple visits you will be awarded a $10 Galleria Dallas gift card. 

    DALLAS CITYSCAPE benefits East Dallas Community Schools, a non-profit organization that operates early childhood learning centers with programs to meet the needs of children from birth to age nine.
    DALLAS CITYSCAPE at Galleria Dallas
    June 29 – September 2, 2013
    Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m./Sunday, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
    $5 for adults & children ages 2 and up; children’s ticket includes a special prize.

    You can even make a weekend of it by staying at the Westin Galleria, attached to Galleria Dallas. Check out this amazing property with my recent staycation at the Westin.
    * I am part of the PR team for Galleria Dallas; therefore I am paid to promote activities happening at Galleria…aren’t I lucky?*

    Travel Tuesdays: The Vacation Before the Vacation at The Westin Galleria Dallas

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    Travel Tuesdays:

    Sponsored: I received a comped a hotel room from The Westin Galleria Dallas for purposes of this review. However, the comments provided here are all my own. 

    Yep, just in time for summer, I’ve some tips and recommendations for some great ways to enjoy traveling with and without the family!

     But this time it isn’t a family trip so I’m not talking my favorite the Gaylord Texan or Great Wolf Lodge. For this “trip” I just needed to get away with my honey – a little change of scenery can do a lot to make things feel like a getaway. So right before our BIG family vacation, we opted for an overnight at The Westin Galleria Dallas. 

     I’m already a fan of the Westin brand; being that some of my favorite moments in life: my first skiing adventure in Whistler and my wedding in Puerto Vallarta, were both spent at Westin properties. Now I was going to apply it to my own stomping grounds in Big D. 

     While I could tell you about all the cool things to do around the hotel like shop to you drop at more than 200 retailers in the attached Galleria Dallas (client) or skate on one of the best rinks in the country, but honestly, this was the unplanned trip – and that was the way it was going to stay. We just needed to relax, appreciate the fact that neither of us had to clean the room and wake up without one of our two little visitors asking us to turn on Mickey Mouse or snuggle with us. 

     These parents needed to sleep in peace. 

     When we got to the hotel, we received the full Westin brand experience with the beautiful fragrance of the lobby and the warmth from the staff. We quickly were checked in and went to our Corner Room Suite. And what a room it was. 



     High above the traffic and construction of North Dallas was our view overlooking all of it. It was so beautiful and peaceful. For me it was nice to enjoy it for what it was rather than the work and craziness than it normally presents me. Thankfully, there was a wonderful window seat to do just that. I took a moment to just appreciate the beauty. 

    But curiosity had me wondering what other fun was waiting for us. Two bathrooms, two showers and the best bathtub I had seen in a long time. While I am not normally a bath taker, I could definitely be persuaded when the bathroom space looked like this. It was crisp, modern and just comfortable. Yep, this is what zen feels and looks like. 


     Moving on to just the aesthetics of the room, I couldn’t help but also appreciate the lines and patterns in the room. It wasn’t busy, but again, clean, crisp and just right for the OCD-kinda-gal I am. I couldn’t keep myself from even taking photos of the carpet, tile and cabinet space. 

    As for the bed, they don’t call it the Heavenly Bed for nuthin’. I could only wish that the bed could squeeze into my bag, along with the shampoo, lotion, etc. that I had already stuffed into my case. But at least I slept like a log and awoke the next morning by my own accord or little nudge from my kids. It was blissful. 

     To finish off our quick stay, we started off our full day with brunch at The Second Floor, the upscale restaurant within the hotel. In ideal brunch form, I celebrated our successful evening stay with a mimosa and lots of coffee paired with a delicious spinach omelet. For the hubs, he chowded down on a little eggs and pork belly (oh, it was good.) While the service was a little slow, I can tell you, that morning everything was in the right tempo, so it worked with the pace – at least for while I was the hotel. 


     As I just perused the lunch/dinner menu, I was sad our stay would come to a close, but knew I’d be back for more. Not necessarily just for some peace and quiet, but perhaps a little pool time, a massage, a cheese plate and maybe a little retail therapy. (Right?)  

     Looking for a little more action? Try out the New Balance work out plan that allows you to “borrow” shoes and workout gear for only $5 so you have more room for new purchases.


     Or maybe just a little more of nothing. Sometimes that’s better than anything. 

     As you can tell I’m a huge fan of the hotel experience and I’ve been fortunate to enjoy a lot of nice hotels. The Westin Galleria Dallas is certainly one of them. 

    See Venice in a Day with the SMU Meadows Museum Family Day, June 8

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    Me Mondays:

    Last summer my husband checked-off a bucket list must-do with a trip to Italy – from Rome to Venice. It was truly a life-changing experience and almost daily I am reminded of something from that journey. That’s why I was so excited by the Meadow Museum’s special Family Day event this weekend, June 8. What a great way to share just a little bit with my kids and what mom and dad did on their special vacation and to commemorate our special trip.

    A little iPhone shot I took this summer on the boat in Venice. (Photo credit: Autumn Reo.)
    Families are invited to be immersed in the spirit of Venice at Meadows Museum at a special free family event, from 11 am – 2 pm. You’ll be able to stroll through the galleries featuring vibrant works in their special exhibition Impressions of Europe: Nineteenth-Century Vistas by Martín Rico as well as other activities and performance for visitors of all ages.

    Family Day at SMU Meadows Museum
    Saturday, June 8, 11 am-2 pm
    Free
    214-768-4677


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