Pick Your Plum - Cute Umbrellas

Have y'all noticed that little square over there to the right?  The Pick Your Plum box?  They have some really neat deals every day, but I thought today's deal was really cute.  It's umbrellas that look like little animals, or princesses, or superheroes, or rock stars for your kiddos - adorable!!  They even have a polka-dotted one for the big kids like us - yay!  They're $8.99 a piece and ship for $4.99. 

4th Annual Shootin' For A Cure

Saturday, August 25th marks the 4th annual Shootin' For A Cure in Cresson, TX.  This event benefits the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

The Miles For Melons team started this event back in 2009 to help one walker in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day For A Cure and to help with medical expenses for one of their dearest friends who found out earlier in the year that she had stage three breast cancer.

The registration fee is $50 per shooter.  This $50 pays for your shooting, dinner, drinks, and one raffle ticket.  If you just want to go to the event and not shoot, that will cost you $15 and you'll get dinner and drinks and a raffle ticket.  They accept cash, check, and credit card payments.  

They will have five gun stations. The gun stations are set up with "Annie Oakley" style shooting.  There will be six rounds where six shooters will compete against each other trying to knock one another out based upon the hits on the clay target. If you leave a fragment of the clay after you shoot, the other shooters have a chance to shoot the piece of the clay you missed.  Winners of the six qualifying rounds will face off in the final round for the winning round gift prize.

Also, $20 will get you one ticket or $100 will get you six tickets to register to win a 2012 Honda Four Trax 400 Rancher 4X4ES.  Tickets to win a Benelli Super Black Eagle II 12-gauge with hard case and two cases of shells are $5 for one ticket, $20 for six tickets.

There will be a live auction and a raffle where you could get anything from two tickets to the National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas (including hotel room) to Ariat gift cards to custom jewelry to cowboy coolers.  Each raffle ticket costs only $1.

Registration begins at 11:00 @ The Gray Ranch, 617 Clear Skies Court, Cresson 76035.  Shooting starts at 11:30.  The live auction begins at 6:00.  The BBQ dinner and the live band start at 6:30.  Bring your gun and ammo and a lawn chair.

See y'all there!

Staycation in Cowtown - Tour Fort Worth Stockyards On The Cheap

I don't know about y'all, but there is no way in the world we're going to be able to take a vacation this year.  With my husband being on strike for two months, we just do not have the funds to go anywhere.  I've done everything in my power to not let that two-month strike affect my children.  I've taken them to free events and cheap events and we've had the best time.

I read somewhere that if you're low on funds but want to do something fun, you should consider having a staycation - you know, vacation in your own hometown - walk around your own town like you're a tourist.  I think we've got the best town to have a staycation in - so much history in this here Cowtown.

What better way to learn about this great city of ours than this GPS-guided tour of the Fort Worth Stockyards?  It normally costs $12 per person.  But you can get this 2 for 1 deal from Dealsaver.

Be sure and click here to watch a preview of the tour.

It really looks like a lot of fun, and 12 bucks ain't gonna break the bank I don't think.

Click here to purchase 2 GPS-guided tours of the Fort Worth Stockyards for $12.  You have until Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at midnight to purchase this deal.

Tequila & Rum Soaked Watermelon

I found this recipe on Pinterest and decided I'd tweak it a bit.  Here's the recipe I came up with:

Tequila & Rum Soaked Watermelon
About half of a medium-sized watermelon cut into bite-sized chunks - rind removed*
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup rum
3/4 cup tequila
2 limes
salt

Cut watermelon into bite-sized chunks with rind removed.  Arrange in single layer in 9x13 baking dish.  Place sugar and water in saucepan and heat until sugar is dissolved.  Let mixture cool slightly.  Add tequila and rum to sugar water.  Stir.  Pour yummy concoction over your bite-sized watermelons.  Squeeze lime juice over watermelons and sprinkle with some salt if you want - but I wouldn't put very much.  Cover with plastic wrap and let sit in fridge overnight.  Drain liquid.  (I drained the liquid into a bowl and it's sitting in my fridge waiting for me to mix it with a Sprite - I bet that will be yummy)

That's all there is to it.  Be prepared to have your flip-flops blown off because these are pretty dang good.

*Take my advice and cut the watermelon into smaller chunks than what is pictured above.

If you plan on taking these to a get-together, make sure you label the container in some way that the other guests will know these watermelons are for adults only.    

Fort Worth Herd's Cow Camp

Tomorrow, June 30th, from 1:30 to 2:30 you and the kiddos could have a hands-on, interactive experience with equipment used during the Cattle-Drive Era.  You'll learn about roping, sorting, saddling and you'll hear chuck wagon stories and see a cattle drive demonstration.

Come on out and see The Herd and meet some real-life cattle drovers and learn a little bit about a tradition that's the backbone of this great city we call Fort Worth.


Cow Camp is held directly behind the Fort Worth Livestock Exchange Building at 131 East Exchange Avenue.  This is a free event but donations are greatly appreciated.

Fort Worth - The Mayor's Summer Reading Challenge

Have y'all heard about The Mayor's Summer Reading Challenge?  I heard about it before but never participated.  I never participated because I thought I couldn't because my children didn't know how to read yet.  Well, guess what?  That doesn't matter.  As long as you read to your child, you and your child can participate.

Go to your local library and tell them you'd like to register yourself and your children (no matter what age) for The Mayor's Summer Reading Challenge and they will hand you a red card for yourself and a white card for your child.  Fill out your information.  Each day as you read to your child, fill in the date you read and the amount of time you read.  You can get a new card every 14 days.

After you've filled out your card and read to your child for at least 14 days, you then turn your card back in to the information desk at your local library.  Those completed cards will then be sent to the Central Library downtown where a drawing will be held on August 12th. You could win prizes including iPads, netbooks, Kindle Fires, books, gift cards and more.  You do not have to be present to win.

When you turn in your completed cards for the first time, you will also receive a nice big, bright green bag that you can use to carry around all those books you'll be reading.  You will also receive a voucher good for one premium infield or dugout box ticket for any Sunday-Thursday Cats game in the month of November.  Your children will receive the voucher for the Cats game AND a voucher for one free child exhibit admission to Grossology at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History AND each child who registers for The Mayor's Summer Reading Challenge will also be given the opportunity to join Kinsler's Kids Summer Reading Club and could possibly earn a ticket to enjoy a free Ranger game on July 29th - check with your local library for specifics on how to earn the ticket.

The Summer Reading Challenge isn’t just about reading — the library has fun programs too.  Throughout June and July, all the libraries around Fort Worth will be offering different programs where you and your children can learn about anything from recycled art to courageous cowgirls.

Be sure and attend the Grand Celebration on Sunday, August 12th at the Central Library from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.  The event is free and open to everyone.  They will have face painting, live music, crafts, storytelling and refreshments.  They will also have the grand prize drawings with special guests Deborah Ferguson from KXAS-TV, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, and Bob Ray Sanders from the Star Telegram.  Parking will be free in the garages and on the streets.  

Go today to your nearest library and register for The Mayor's Summer Reading Challenge.  You'll be glad you did!

Cocktail Time - Tropical Sludge

Yes, I am a mama.  Yes, I like cocktails.  There, I said it.  I feel much better now.   

This is my absolute favorite summertime adult beverage.  It is so fruity and tropical and sweet and just plain ol' delicious.  My husband doesn't care for it, but you know what that means...more for me!!

I found the original recipe over at another great website called Deep South Dish.  She calls it Vodka Slush which sounds so much nicer than Tropical Sludge, but since I tweeked the recipe to my liking, I figured I better call it something else.  Here's my take on this awesome drink:


Tropical Sludge

1 (12 oz.) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 (12 oz.) can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
1 (12 0z.) can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
4 1/2 cups water
2 cups vodka
1 cup granulated sugar
Lemon-Lime drink - Sprite or 7 Up or whatever you like (I buy the cans because I like my drinks fizzy.)

Mix thawed lemonade, limeade and orange juice in a large, freezer-safe container.  Add the water, vodka and sugar and stir.  Freeze overnight (if you can wait that long - if you can't, just pour in sludge mixture over ice in a cup about halfway to 3/4 full, then pour lemon-lime drink on top - mix well and drink.)

If you're patient enough to let it sit in the freezer overnight, then when you're ready to drink it, scoop out the mixture and fill a cup about half to 3/4 full, then pour lemon-lime drink on top.  Stir it up then sit back and take a few sips and let the relaxation begin. 

(Need more cocktail / mocktail ideas.  Check these out over at Carole's Chatter.)

Contest Celebrates Locally-Grown Tomatoes

If you're growing tomatoes this year, you might want to think about entering one of your bigguns in Calloway's Nursery Chef Jeff Tomato Contest which celebrates locally-grown tomatoes.  You could win a gift card to Calloway's Nursery. 

Just bring your entry to any Calloway's location on June 30th between 9:00 and 12:00 and complete a registration form.  A $50 gift card for first place and a $25 gift card for second place will be awarded at each store.

Now if only I could get one of my unruly tomato plants to sprout a love apple, it'd be on like donkey kong!

My unruly tomato plants - tons of stalks and leaves, no fruit

75¢ Movies - Reel Family Time @ Cinemark Theatres

 
Did you know that Cinemark offers 75¢ movies?  The Cinemark in North Richland Hills offers 75¢ admission on Mondays for 2D movies when you purchase 3 or more tickets at the box office.  For 3D movies, the cost is $2.75 when you purchase 3 or more tickets at the box office.  Adults and children are all the same price.

They also offer something called a Kiddie Combo.  It's a box of popcorn with a small drink for $2.50.

My family of four went last Monday to see the The Lorax in 3D.  We bought three kiddie combos.  We left the theater having spent $18.50.  Not too shabby!

(Check this link to see if a Cinemark near you participates in Reel Family Time.)

Burleson's Hot Sounds of Summer is Pretty Dang Hot

So we made it down to Burleson this past Friday to see Charlie Robison perform for the Burleson's Hot Sounds of Summer Concert Series.  Boy, he did not disappoint.  Charlie Robison always puts on a great show.  I've seen him probably 4 or 5 times at different venues and he and his band are always awesome.

What a great idea this concert series is.  The City shuts down a couple of streets in Old Town Burleson at the corner of Wilson and Ellison Streets.  You park for free.  Your bring your lawn chairs or blankets and your delightful beverages and snacks and plop yourself down and enjoy the show. 

One thing I did learn was you probably ought to bring an umbrella or a portable fan or something because you'll be staring at the sun going down for about 30 minutes to an hour before the show starts.

I can't wait to see Junior Brown and his Guit-Steel on the 22nd.  Next Friday is a band called Fastlane.  They are “the Southwest’s premier tribute to the Eagles." That ought to be a good show too.

Thanks, City of Burleson, for offering this great family fun activity.

Things That Should Be In Your 72-Hour Kit or Bug-Out Bag

I am, like, obsessed with this blog I found recently.  It offers so much useful information that I could sit and read it for hours. It's called Homestead Survival. 

One of their recent posts is about 72-Hour Kits or bug-out bags.  If you've watched any of the Doomsday Prepper shows, you'll know what they're talking about.  I think it's better to be safe than sorry, whether it's for doomsday or a natural disaster.

One day there was a fire burning really close to our house, and I was so worried that it was going to reach our house that I just started throwing anything and everything in my car.  It would have been much easier to just have all the important, necessary stuff in one spot instead of me running all over the house gathering stuff like a chicken with my head cut off.

Here's a list of that important, necessary stuff.  Each member of your family should have their own kit.

 

Thanks, Homestead Survival, for all the awesome information you provide.  Keep up the good work.

Best Home Improvement Tool...EVER

An oldie, but a goody!!

Hot Sounds of Summer in Burleson, TX

Little ol' Burleson is doing it up big, y'all, with their summer concert series.  Bring your chairs or a blanket, bring your own food and beverages and the great City of Burleson provides the entertainment. We're talking big wig entertainers like Charlie Robison and Junior Brown, to name a couple.  It's completely free!  Can't beat that with a stick now, can ya?!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Since I will be basking in all things motherhood tomorrow, I thought I'd pass this along while I could.  Always try to remember this:

And if you keep this glass filled with wine, it will help you to keep calm!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, LADIES!!!

Frontier Forts Days - Come Out & Get Your Frontier On!!!

From the Stockyard's Station Website:  A free, two-day heritage event where the Stockyards National Historic District is transformed into an authentic representation of Texas frontier life.  There will be fort camps, artillery demonstrations, military parades, Native American exhibitions, live music and a train robbery!

Best of all, this event is free.  According to the Fort Worth Stockyards Facebook page, this event is Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12 from 9 to 5 at the Stockyards Station, of course.  Your kids can march with the soldiers and learn about life on the frontier.  Sounds like fun to me!  Giddy-up!

Mayfest Starts Tomorrow

Hope everyone got their discount tickets while you could because Mayfest starts tomorrow at 3:30.  We will be there with bells on - not really with bells on because that would be just too dang loud - but we will be there with kids in tow.

Check out The Highway 80 West band on the Riverbank Stage starting at 5:45.  I might or might not be the mandolin player's little sister...that depends on how well he plays!!

Lots of fun stuff to do and see and yummy food to eat and drinks to drink!  

Andre Extra Dry Champagne - $2.91 @ Sams Club

Was shopping at Sam's Club last night and noticed they have their Andre Extra Dry Champagne for $2.91 a bottle. Better go stock up - hiccup!

Two NCAA Fleece Hoodies or Pants for $40 @ Finish Line

I read about this over at My Dallas Mommy. You get two NCAA cozy fleece hoodies or pants for $40 - that's $20 a piece. Can't beat that with a stick.

I already placed my order for two of them. I'm not biased or anything, but you might want to check out these pretty purple ones:

Hurst Recreation Center - Fun Things For Kids and Adults To Do

Did you know that Hurst Recreation Center offers tons of things for your little ones to do? And don't worry, you don't have to be a resident of Hurst - you just have to pay a couple extra dollars for each class if you live outside of Hurst.

Here's a link to a PDF file. It's the Where We Live magazine and it includes all the classes you can sign your kids up for fall classes. The classes for children start on page 29.

You can start them as young as 18 months with classes like Crafty Squiggly where your little ones can create masterpieces. There's lots of classes to choose from for the 3- to 5-year-old set. I just noticed a sewing club class for 7- to 12-year-olds. Wouldn't that be fun? Start 'em young!!

You can also take some classes for yourself. There's a class called Recycled Couture where you can turn plastic bottles or old t-shirts into new things. That sounds interesting, doesn't it? Or you can learn how to dance or paint or play an instrument. There's tons of things to choose from.

Registration for the Fall classes starts August 1 for residents of Hurst and August 8 for nonresidents. For further details see page 48 of the PDF file above.

My daughter has taken an art class, tumbling class, a dance class and she's on her second summer of swim lessons. I've had nothing but great experiences with Hurst Rec Center. Check it out and let me know what you think!!

(Here's a link to the Winter edition of the magazine just in case you like to plan way ahead like me.)