What: Target First Saturday ~ head to the Nasher Sculpture Center for some family fun. This family event includes family tours, scavenger hunts, and more.
Where: The Nasher Sculpture Center
2001 Flora St.
When: Saturday, August 2, 2008 {10am - 2pm}
Cost: Free
Need More Info: 214-242-5100 www.nashersculpturecenter.org
I was kind of surprised when strolling by the windows of my local GapKids the other day to see the following retro T's - it just struck me as odd as I can't recall a time before when The Gap has sold a product like this...The shirts are really fun...They have TONS to choose from and they are quite reasonable @ $22.50.
They've got Snoopy, Batman, Little Miss Characters, Strawberry Shortcake, StarWars, The Beatles, and my personal favorite Go Go Speed Racer ---- and they are all retro and worn looking. Check 'em out :)
For the Princesses we especially love their Magic Garden Toy Chest & if you really want to spoil that little princess in your life their Just Too Cute Teaset is a must see!
And for the little Frogs we love the Barn Dandy Teepee 
& the Monkeying Around Canvas Growth Chart.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
This boutique has such a wide variety of great items - and the prices range so vastly that any budget is sure to find something they must have here...so take a look and see what you'd use a $50 gift certificate towards if you're chosen as the winner of our next fabulous giveaway!
To enter: Visit The Frog and The Princess - take a look around and leave us a comment letting us know what your favorite item is and we'll enter you for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to The Frog and The Princess. Good Luck! Contest ends at midnight on Monday, August 11th.
The winner of the Bags & Buggies Giveaway is: Ginny who said, "I love your Activities Galore category! Love to see more in that :) "
Information provided by the U.S. Dept of Education
Teachers were asked to complete a survey ranking the most important qualities a child needs to possess to make entry into Kindergarten a success.
The top three qualities public school kindergarten teachers consider essential for school readiness are that a child be:
1) physically healthy, rested and well-nourished;
2) be able to communicate needs, wants, and thoughts verbally;
3) and be enthusiastic and curious in approaching new activities.
More than half the teachers also place significant importance on the ability to follow directions (60 percent), not being disruptive in class (60 percent), being sensitive to other children's feelings (58 percent) and the ability to take turns and share (56 percent).
Of less importance are knowing English (42 percent), the ability to sit still and pay attention (42 percent), and finishing tasks (40 percent).
Of least importance according to kindergarten teachers are good problem-solving skills (24 percent), the ability to identify primary colors and basic shapes (24 percent), the ability to use pencils and paint brushes (21 percent), knowledge of the alphabet ( 10 percent), and the ability to count to 20 (7 percent).
AND Don't forget today is the last day to enter the BAGS AND BUGGIES 3 pairs of BabyLegs contest! {See above for links to all active contests}
What: YEEEEHAAW, grab those little cowpokes and head to the Mesquite Rodeo
Where: 1818 Rodeo DriveMesquite, Texas 75149
When: Check their calendar - many dates to choose from http://www.mesquiterodeo.com/calendar/
Need More Info: http://www.mesquiterodeo.com/
Our next feature is such a great gift giving option. Ashley owner of Jesus Name Designs, creates these wonderful HANDWRITTEN names out of Bible verses. That's right ~ Ashley will take verse and write it in the form of the letters in your child's name.
The pictures just do not do this one justice...we've seen them in person and they are so sweet and special. Definitely something a mother or sister or friend would cherish forever if you gave them one with their newly born child's name and a favorite scripture.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Take a look for yourself....and to all those who visit Jesus Name Designs and leave a comment here - you will be entered in a giveaway for a free Bible verse name. If you're the lucky winner Ashley will whip one up for you with the name and verse you provider her with. Giveaway ends midnight August 5th. Very cool!
What: Movies in the Square
When: Every Saturday nite @ 9:00 PM beginning June 7 through July 26
Where: Frisco Square, movie screen will be located on City Hall Plaza
Cost: FREE
Need More Info: These are showings of family-oriented movies. Refreshments such as snow cones, popcorn and nuts are available. Families are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy the outdoor movies in comfort.
Movie Schedule: June 7 Wizard of Oz; June 14 Madagascar; June 21 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory; June 28 Dreamer; July 5 Spiderman; July 12 Superman Returns; July 19 Bee Movie; July 26 Flipper
Wake up the kids, get their creative juices flowing and get them working on a craft project this summer. Oriental Trading has so many to choose from and most are quite reasonable - you can even invite a few of your kids friends over for the fun!
We get so much junk mail at our house and it drives me absolutely insane. I used to like going to the mailbox - but the increase in the trash received on a daily basis has turned this once fun excercise into something I dread. The piles that I create all around the house - on the entry way table, on the kitchen counter, on the stairs - JUNK JUNK JUNK! So what can we do about all this unwanted trash we receive daily?
Check out GreenDimes - they promise to reduce your postal junk mail by up to 90%....and they have two ways to do it - they will give you the tools/tips and you can do it yourself for free - or they will do it all for you for $20. I'm seriously considering the $20 option- wouldn't it be nice to not have to deal with all that extra trash??
Sometimes there's a budget crunch - but you just don't want to stay in...Cut the cost of dining out by being smart --- take advantage of Kids Eat Free at several local restaurants!
We found this great site that lists major restaurants by day of the week and the specials they offer --- DEFINITELY worth checking out http://www.coupondivas.com/kids-eat-free/.
We found this other site that lets you search by location (may pick up some of those restaurants that are not widespread like on the coupondivas site) - http://www.mykidseatfree.com/ - where you can search by state and then city and find out which area restaurants offer free kids food and on what day. We did the search for Dallas (and surrounding cities), Texas and these are a few of what we found. ENJOY!
1) Central Market Cafe320 Coit Road Plano, TX469-241-8300Kids Eat Free on Tuesdays with purchase of Adult Entree Nights: Tues Click to visit us On-line
2) Dickey's Barbecue Pit1441-A Coit Road Plano, TX972-867-2901Kids Eat Free every Sunday at all Dickey's Barbecue Pit Restaurants Nights: Sat Click to visit us On-line
3) The Black-eyed Pea 1905 Preston Road Plano, TX972-248-6096Bring the Family any Tuesday Night after 5. For each paying adult entree purchased, any kids meal on the kids menu is FREE. Kids through age 12Nights: Tues Click to visit us On-line
4) Bennigan’s305 Central Expressway N.Allen, TX972-747-9627Kids eat free Tues night between 4 and 8 p.m.Nights: Tues
Drum roll please....and the winners of the $25 MonkeeMoos gift certificate and the Paisley Baby Wet Bag are......as selected by the random number generator....
MonkeeMoos - Lynn who said, "We would definitely have to have the gator loafers, too cute! Also love the 'sky romper' by tea...precious. I love our slings, so maybe another?! Good stuff! "
Paisley Baby - Jennifer who said, "I would pick the Safari pattern. Thanks for the chance to win! "
New Giveaway!!!!! Enter today!
3 pairs of Baby Legs!
How exciting is this??
To enter leave a comment on this post telling us what your favorite post has been on The Trendy Mommy OR tell us what you'd like to see more of on The Trendy Mommy. It's that easy!
Good luck - contest ends at midnight on July 28th! Winner will be posted here the following day.
Also, don't forget to take a look at the top of our page - a discount code for 15% off at Bags & Buggies has been added!
We absolutely love this next product review - The Manhattan Momma Patemm Pad Diaper Bag. This item is extremely practical and oh so very compact {measuring 8x8x2 when folded - making it easy to toss in any bag}. We think the design of this not so ordinary changing pad is ingenious! - We all know that changing a baby on the go is always a little stressful and you are having to constantly worry about little babycakes rolling to one side or the other and off your changing pad and onto who knows what....and that's why we love this changing pad!
We found this changing pad at Bags and Buggies which carries all kinds of hip designer diaper bags, brand name strollers, innovative changing pads, baby slings and carriers. They also offer FREE SHIPPING on all US orders - gotta love that! We love this site - and all the products they offer - like their oh so trendy Baby Shower Favors --- seriously these are not your ordinary favors - these are fun so take a look!
And their adorable Baby Gift Sets - what a precious gift to give to an expecting mom. We love the 5 Little Monkeys Gift Set ~ but there are soooooooo many others that are just as cute!
Fireworks Baby!
The metroplex has so many great firework displays this weekend. Here are just a few:
Star Spangled 4th July4th, 10 a.m.-midnight. Enjoy crafts, live music and entertainment, art, car and motorcycle shows, parade, and fireworks at the Firewheel Town Center in Garland.
Dallas Booms! at Fair Park July 4th, 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Live music, free museum admission after 4 p.m., and food available at Fair Park. Fireworks after dark. No coolers, lawn chairs and a picnic blanket are allowed.
Addison Kaboom Town July 3rd, 5 p.m.-midnight. Fireworks can be seen from anywhere in Addison, so you don't have to actually go into Addison Circle Park. However if you want food, music, rock climbing wall, giant slide, and warplane fly-bys from the Cavanaugh Flight Museum these will be at Addison Circle Park, 4970 Addison Circle Drive in Addison.
Lone Stars and Stripes Fireworks Celebration July 3rd and 4th, 3 p.m.-11 p.m. Pony rides, bounce houses, a petting zoo, clowns, and other fun stuff during the races, and fireworks after the last race at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie.
City of Bedford 4thFest July 4th, noon-11 p.m. Concert, food, family activities, a parade, and fireworks will be at the Bedford Boys Ranch at 2801 Forest Ridge Drive in Bedford. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, and coolers. No alcohol. Admission is free, but there is no parking at the Bedford Boys Ranch, except for those with handicap signs or plates. Park at Pennington Field at 1501 Central Drive in Bedford and catch the shuttle for $3 per person.
Quad Cities Family 4th July 4th, 9:30 p.m. Twenty minutes of fireworks will take off at the North Richland Hills Village Center, 6351 Boulevard 26 in Richland Hills at the intersection of Highway 26 and Highway 183 inside Loop 820.
Patriotic Concert and Fireworks Celebration July 4th, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. The Irving Symphony Orchestra will put on a concert starting at 8:30 p.m. Food and beverages will be available. No coolers or alcohol permitted. Admission is free. The concert and fireworks will be at Williams Square Plaza (5215 North O'Connor Boulevard) in Las Colinas in Irving.
All-America Fourth Fireworks in Plano July 4th, 9:30 p.m. The city of Plano will have a fireworks show at the Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve at 2801 Spring Creek Parkway. Some food and beverages will be available for purchase. Free parking will be at Collin County Community College and First United Methodist Church of Plano. Radio station KLAK 97.5 will have a simulcast during the fireworks show.
Frisco will have a fireworks display after the FC Dallas and Rough Riders game on the 4th.
Is this a joke? A breast pump the size of a ipod? Where oh where were you when I was working?? Having to haul this huge jingle jangle backpack containing Mr. Heavy Noisy Pump down past all my NOT SO UNSUSPECTING coworkers and into the storage closet so I could pump at work....Man, if this thing actually works - I have to say THANK YOU to the engineers and design team on behalf of all working mothers who choose to pump at work! Medela launched this pump - the Freestyle in February of this year touting that it took five years to research and come up with the technology to make this possible. Many great features from this one including a charge time of one week! WOW! Small - weighs only one pound and can fit in the palm of your hand.
Try these fun ideas this summer to beat the, "Mom, I'm bored Syndrome" taken from anordinarymom.wordpress.com
Go to the pool or splash pad
Write an animal report on zebras
Write and illustrate a book
Visit the library
Draw and color
Have a playdate
Read a book
Play board games
Go to the park
Play with dress-up
Paint toe and finger nails
Ride bikes
Fly kites
Have a picnic (outside or inside)
Watch a movie and eat popcorn
Play with play-doh
Go on a short hike
Make homemade lemonade and then try your luck at selling it
Bake a cake
Visit local museums and city centers
Go to the Farmer’s Market
Make necklaces
Play educational games on the computer
