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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

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?*

To-Do: Star Wars Miniland on Exhibit at LEGOLAND Discovery Center DFW

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To-Do Thursdays:

The summer is up and running and we’ve taken no breaks making the most of it.

 We’ve done Disney World already, so what could be left?

 A lot and we aren’t even leaving the Dallas/Fort Worth area this time!

 Here’s one worth putting on your summer to-do list:



Make sure you check out our experience on TodaysMama.com. 

Toast to Summer with Free Car Show for Dad, Acting Camp for Kids and White Wine for Moms

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To-Do Thursdays:

I can’t believe the summer is already in gear and it’s just June 6. Half our summer is scheduled and I’m still writing March on my documents! 

So rather than resist the change, embrace it with a little bit of something that everyone will love this season starting off with Dad!

Remember Father’s Day is near, so send him (or join him) on Saturday, June 8 for the Glory Days Classic Car Show in Fort Worth on Camp Bowie.

While school is out, the kids must play (and give mom a break!) So consider some a unique  day camp like this one for your budding actor or actresses in Addison. (Watch out Selena Gomez!) 

Mommy needs a little time to celebrate the summer too, so round up the girls or make a date for the Summer White Wine Festival at FnG Eats in Keller. Chef Bob Stephenson, whom I have the pleasure of working to promote his creative cuisine is offering a big deal for only $40 to sample six wines and several noshes sure to tickle your taste buds!) 

Salud to Summer!


Tasty Treats from my iPhone {Food Porn}

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Food Fridays:

One of the great parts of my job is working with food – a lot. 

And once a year I’m privileged to promote one of the best Dallas food events – Taste Addison. So as I gear up for a 3-day weekend of more than 70 restaurants making more than 300 entrees for more than 75,000 people in Addison Circle Park, I thought I’d share what the last couple of days worth of Iphone photos revealed as I revved up for Taste Addison. 

I’m a lucky girl, right? If spending some up-close-and-personal food space with the likes of Kent Rathbun, Tre Wilcox, Lan Nickens, Bob Stephenson and some of the most educated folks on BBQ across the country from Dickeys, then consider me your golden girl! 

A little disclaimer: a few of these photos are also from the other-food minded things I’ve been up to this week including Keller’s FnG Eats new menu items, a get -together with my blogging buddies, a case of tea delivered for a review AND a coping mechanism for one of my more stressful days.

Yes, I like food. And apparently drinks too. And if you do, you should come out to Taste Addison. (A PR girl’s work is never done.) 


Do you like food ? Then make sure to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest. I take lots of foodporn. I mean a lot. 

And come see me this weekend. Come hungry.

Taste Addison 
May 17-19, 2013
Addison Circle Park


You’re Invited to Learn the Hottest Looks for Texas’ Hottest Season with Summer Style Soiree TONIGHT

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To-Do Thursdays:

While North Texans just changed out our winter wear for our tank tops and flip flops, it’ll be just as soon that those mercuries will reach the 100s. (Try to hold back the excitement.)
However there’s no excuse why you can’t look hot while you are hot – that’s where Jenny Davis, Indulge Magazine’s Fashion & Beauty Editor comes in. (Consider her your own Rachel Zoe.)
Tonight treat yourself to an evening of all things summer chic with a special preview of the season’s hottest fashions from Grand Prairie Premium Outlets®, including Bloomingdale’s The Outlet Store (one of only two in Texas) and beauty trends from Daireds Salon & Spa Pangéa — all hand-selected by the fabulous fashion & beauty editor for Indulge Magazine,Jenny Davis. Enjoy a complimentary mini-service, VIP goodie bags, decadent treats, giveaways and much more.



I’ll see you there – if I can find something to wear…
Daireds Salon & Spa Pangéa Host Summer Style Soirée
Thursday, May 16, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Grand Prairie Premium Outlets®
2950 W. Interstate 20, Grand Prairie (Exit at Great Southwest Parkway)
Free (To secure your complimentary mini-service, please RSVP to guestservice@daireds.com. Spaces are limited. Choose from a mini manicure, chair massage or a makeup application.)
ABOUT DAIREDS SALON & SPA PANGÉA
Daireds Salon & Spa Pangéa is a luxury salon, spa and med spa located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The Daireds staff consists of the top trained beauty experts in hair, skin and nails — including several Vidal Sassoon trained stylists. Daireds has been featured in various local and national media outlets, and has an impressive celeb clientele list, including: Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Chris Bosh and his family, famous home-run hitter Jim Thome, baseball legend Nolan Ryan, as well as several Texas Rangers and Dallas Cowboys players. For more information, please visit www.daireds.com or www.facebook.com/daireds
ABOUT GRAND PRAIRIE PREMIUM OUTLETS®
Grand Prairie Premium Outlets®, which opened in August 2012, brings upscale outlet shopping to the area. With 110 stores, this shopper’s paradise offers an impressive collection of designer labels and leading brands at savings of 25% to 65% every day. One of its largest stores is Bloomingdale’s The Outlet Store, which offers a range of apparel and accessories, including: women’s ready-to-wear, men’s, children’s, women’s shoes, fashion accessories, jewelry, handbags and intimate apparel. For more information, please visit http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=106.

Get Back to the Good Days with Fort Worth’s New Coyote Drive-in

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To-Do Thursdays:

When I was growing up in Graham (about 90 minutes west of Fort Worth), we always had a drive-in. In fact since 1955, most the time in Graham, there has always been the Graham Drive-in to look forward to on summer nights. You went with your family, you went with your friends and later, most of us probably had a date night under the stars, watching films like Grease, Indiana Jones and many others that I can’t seem to remember now in much older years, but meant a lot to me at the time. 

The Graham Drive-in has been showing movies since 1955. (Photo courtesy of Facebook.)


It wasn’t until I “moved to the big city” that I realized that a drive-in was a pretty unique attraction. Especially since many of the ones in other cities and towns across Texas were drying up and turning into nothing but a pasture of old memories and old technology from a time of yesterday when people didn’t have smartphones to stay close to watch their favorite films at leisure. Nowadays at a flick of switch we can watch what we want, when we want and how we want. Technology is great, but all this social media has instead made us anti-social.  You just don’t make time hanging with your friends, watching a film, munching on popcorn and just enjoying the art of doing nothing. 


Thankfully, I’m not alone in this nostalgic feeling for getting back to the good ‘ole days. A collaboration of the Tarrant Regional Water District, Trinity River Vision Authority, the City of Fort Worth and many others folks, the Coyote Drive-in is now open along the Trinity River near the Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth. This three-screen wonder with outdoor, covered patio areas and a great menu, adds to the additional community vibe the city has been trying to build along this area. 

The brand new Coyote Drive-in in Fort Worth is definitely an upgrade, but still takes you back to the same old drive-in movie experience of yesteryear. (Photo courtesy of Facebook.)

For more about the Coyote Drive-in read the 

To-Do Thursdays: Mayfest, Derby Days, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and Kenny Chesney

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To-Do Thursdays:

If you haven’t felt the lovely brisk air outside yet, make sure you don’t forget your jacket – you’re gonna need it, especially with all the great events happening this weekend! 


Here’s my picks:

May 2 – 5: Starting today make Mayfest in Fort Worth part of your list this weekend (goes to support several great causes like the Junior League of Fort Worth!) 

May 4: Do it Derby Style for the Kentucky Derby at Lone Star Park (don’t forget your hat!) 

May 4: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo on a grand scale with Cinco de Mayo in the City!

And remember, Mother’s Day is NEXT WEEKEND, so that means buy your gifts, send your cards and make those reservations, so you don’t forget! 

If mom is a big Kenny Chesney fan, Eric Church or Eli Young Band (like me!) then you should enter this contest on Not-So-Average Mama to win tickets to his May 11 concert at Cowboys Stadium! (She’ll love you for that!) 


We Are to Going Disney World…NOW WHAT?

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To-Do Thursday: 

Photo courtesy of 1001fonts.com.
NOW WHAT? 

Is it just me or does it seem like your list keeps getting longer and you aren’t taking anything off? I know mine does. So I took a big look at my calendar and saw what was on my “must-do” list for this weekend: 

Go to Michael’s on Saturday for “Kids Craft, You Shop” Event for $2!
Very cool event for kids to do a special themed craft at your local Michaels, learn more here.

Get Ready for “Day Out with Thomas” at Grapevine (next weekend)!
Don’t have your ticket yet? Then get your discount code here!

Prepare for a trip to Disney?!?
WHAT? Yep, you got that right! My son’s wish was granted from a Wish with Wings to go to Disney World and we go in less than 90 days! Considering some good moms plan this magical trip for months and sometimes years, it’s difficult to think I haven’t planned anything yet! #uhohspaghettios

Photo courtesy of the a Wish with Wings Facebook page

So to get things rolling, I decided to ask my fellow mom experts who have thought of EVERYTHING from how to surprise their kids they are going, how to dress them, itineraries – you name it.

Wow. Man, did I learn one thing…there is SO much to learn about going to Disney World! 

So while I’m doing my homework to attempt to live up to my four-year-old’s dream vacation (did I mention it’s his FIRST vacation, too?), here’s a look at some of my favorite posts and sites to help us plan our trip to Disney World? 

Milk and Cuddles: Dining at Disney World 1 and More Dining at Disney
There’s so much to say here, she had to do two posts! Did you know you SHOULD make reservations for some of your Disney dining choices at 180 days out BEFORE your trip? Yep, it’s true and there are so many places to eat, snack and treat. And considering eating is one of our favorite past times, dining is at the top of our Disney to-do list. Shannon, gives you the lowdown on what you need to know to get your grub down on Big D (Disney that is!)

Ramblings of a Frugal Mom: Disney World Tips, Tricks and Ideas!
Dawn’s family heads to Disney each time she finds out she’s pregnant (sounds like a reason to keep having kids, right?) This DFW-based online expert knows how to do things awesome and inexpensively. She shares all her memorable tricks to make your trip memorable for years to come. 

Suitcases to Sippy Cups: What Happens When You Lose a Child at Disney
This mama knows how to travel AND with her family in tow, too. She’s done a little bit of everything from RVing, skiing, and of course, Disney. While I don’t anticipate losing my child, it is a relief that it’s happened before AND there’s a way to locate your kid. (Consider it like algebra, you don’t need it daily, but there will be a time.) 

My Crazy Savings: Looking for a Stroller Rental at Disney World?
With two kids under 5 at Disney, I’m sure there will be more time on wheels than there will be on feet. And since we will also be on a plane to get there, I’m not going to try to tote the “good stroller” to Disney or use the “cheap” one and have it die out on my on Day 1. 

Alpha Mom: 65 Things to Do & See at Disney World? 
While we won’t be doing all of these things, it was a great checklist to begin our jouney of “what to do, what to do.” 

Free Disney Font Download: without having to download a free toolbar to create some of the coolest stuff for the kids like shirts, special messages and more. 

WDW Prep School: “How to Plan a Trip to Disney World in 6 Steps, this is my one-place-for-everything from packing lists, templates and more. (She’s got things there I wouldn’t even think to think about.)

So now I ask: do you have a recommendation of must-dos for two toddlers at Disney World? If so, please let me know. Really, I need all the help I can get. And if you are a blogger, than share your link here and I’d love to add it to this “best of” Disney blog posts! 


Celeb-Inspired Spring Jewelry Looks {Invitation to My Online Spring Trunk Show}

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To-Do Thursdays:

JOIN THE PARTY  
—————> AUTUMN’S TRUNK SHOW <—————–

So this week’s Want-it Wednesday and To-Do Thursday comes together to for a mega party and YOU’RE INVITED! 

Spring means it’s time to update your wardrobe with color and fun…for me that means it’s time to take out the black and put some white in there, too. Luckily, I dress up my look with fun statement pieces like big necklaces and cuff bracelets. (In the words of Rachel Zoe, “I die!”) 



I’ll admit that my kids love to play in my jewelry and even my son likes to help me accesorize my look – he actually told me the other day I needed a little pop of color! So I’m taking his advice and sharing a few of my favorite pieces (and the celebs) from the spring Stella & Dot line! 

I’m kinda obsessed with this Modern Mom, Brooke Burke!

Most people know Stella & Dot for at-home parties with your friends – but the lack of time makes it hard to just have a night to hang out with the girls. So I’ve done us all a favor and created an online jewelry trunk show you can attend in your PJs and from your couch! 

JOIN THE PARTY  
—————> AUTUMN’S TRUNK SHOW  <—————–


Elizabeth Banks is more than “Pitch Perfect,” but she’s got jewerly perfect taste, too! 

If you don’t love Olivia, you should – look at her good taste! 


I hope you join me at least for a little time-out to see what you’re missing…
and even better: 


So what are you waiting for? 

JOIN THE PARTY  
—————> AUTUMN’S TRUNK SHOW <—————–




To-Do Thursdays: DFW Fun Runs with Zombies to Zebras

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To-Do Thursdays:

 Many moms are working on things to do with Spring Break coming up next week, but I know a lot of moms are also revving up for the huge number of runs that are coming up – including this weekend. Just know that running is no longer a race, but a fun activity with everything from zombies to zebras. 

 So get on your running gear and check out this rundown of fun runs happening in DFW: 

 Zombie Run
March 9, 2013
Forney, Texas 

Logo from DFWZombieRun.com

Are you a Walking Dead fan or obsessed with zombies, but now you’ve got a run to get primed in case we the world gets taken over by them! 

  • Before the race, you will be given a belt with 4 flags attached to it. These flags represent your health. During the race, zombies will be scattered across the course to eat your brains… err get those flags. One zombie can only get one flag from you.
  • No hitting, throwing or real biting allowed.
  • Upon crossing the finish line, you need at least one health flag intact in order to be eligible for prizes. Should you lose all your health flags, you are still allowed to finish the race and your time will be recorded but you shall be considered “dead” and no longer be eligible for a cash prize. Turn in your belt and get tickets for the non-cash prizes.
  • If you find yourself out of health flags, you are not considered a zombie and are not allowed to start pulling at other runner’s flags.

Survive the challenge? You can score money, glow sticks, medals, music and free beer. 

 The Color Run
April 6, 2013

SOLD OUT

(Photo credit: from The Color Run 5K)

The Color Run™ event is a unique experience focused less on speed and more on crazy color fun with friends and family. Color runners come from all different ages, shapes, sizes, and speeds; but everyone toeing the start line has a blast. Whether you are a casual morning mall walker or an Olympic athlete, the 3 miles of The Color Run™ course will be the most memorable and colorful run of your life! 

 Since you can’t register for this one, you’re in in luck – there’s another fun “color-themed” fun with Color Fun Fest 5K, May 11 and you can sign up now for more than 50% off! 

 Fort Worth Zoo Run
April 20, 2013

 Early registration guarantees a Zoo admission ticket, a race bag, a T-shirt, as well as a timing chip, if desired. T-shirt sizes based upon availability. Strollers are invited to attend at the back of the line! Then of course, visit the zoo when you get to the end of the line!


The Survival Race
April 27, 2013

(Photo Credit: The Survival Race website)


The Survival Race is designed for fun and although you’re going to be running, jumping, climbing, crawling and working hard, it’s more like exercise in disguise…You’ll be having too much fun to think of the challenge, plus the crowds, which may include your own friends and family, are going to be rooting you on! 

  • The Official Survival Race T-Shirt
  • The Energetic and Awesome Live Tunes From Our Race Band, The Pulse!
  • Free Digital Picture Suite – Our professional photographers will be dispersed throughout the 5k-race course, waiting to capture the essence of you and your awesome adventure…this is our gift to you, for being a Survival Racer.
  • Official Survival Race Post-Race Dog Tag – You must finish the race to earn your right of passage.
  • Chip Timing: Every participant will be provided with a chip timer. You will be able to check your results online or live at the event. Not everyone wants to compete…no worries, simply have fun, take your time and complete the race!


 Right now you can get registration for this event at half off, with this link (for a limited time only.)
Tasty Run 5K & Fun Run
May 18, 2013

Are your taste buds up for a challenge?  If so, get ready for the 1st Annual Tasty Run located at the food and fun festival, Taste Addison 2013.  The Tasty Run will feature a 5K and Fun Run with Tasting Stations from Addison’s restaurants along the route.  Bite size samples will keep runners satisfied and entertained as they race through the streets of Addison.  Individuals, teams and costumes welcome!  Restaurant booths along the course will have a Best Theme competition and the winner will be announced during the Awards Ceremony. Registration includes food, shirts and admission to Taste Addison! 

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