Holiday Wonder at Perot Museum #DFW

Thank you to guest writer (and mommy), Erica R. for going on a fun family adventure to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and sharing her adventures with us at McKinney Mommas!

We are huge dinosaur fans in this house. 

We will never forget the reaction of our oldest, who was 3 at the time, when we walked into the dinosaur hall at the Perot Museum for the first time, and she saw the T Rex. 

She could only say “Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my GOSH!” over & over. 

Now both girls can recite the names of most of the skeletons in the museum.  

The Perot Museum keeps them curious, and we love that.
 

Today we visited all of our favorites – the dinosaurs, the earthquake simulator, the gem hall, and the children’s museum – and experienced a couple of new things. 

The current traveling exhibit is 2TheXtreme: MathAlive! The girls really liked this exhibit. 

They climbed a rock wall, rode a snowboard, and took a 360 photo of themselves which was emailed home so we could watch it again. There are all sorts of things in this exhibit for kids of all ages. 

We also had a great time at “Story Time Under the Stars” inside the portable planetarium. The girls couldn’t wait to get inside the inflatable planetarium (okay, maybe they thought it was a bounce house!) - either way, they were mesmerized by the night sky and fully engaged all three stories. 

There's just a few more days to experience some of the special winter programs at the Perot Museum, so plan your visit in the next few days (ends January 5th, 2015) to catch:

Live Winter Wonderland Demonstrations (daily Dec. 20 – Jan. 5) From live shows with cold habitat animals from the Dallas Zoo, to experiments with super-cold liquid nitrogen, the Perot Museum takes winter wonderland to the extreme.

• Animal Adventures with the Dallas Zoo, Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 1 and 2 p.m

•  Fruit DNA Extraction, daily 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

• Science on the Spot featuring wintry demonstrations, daily 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• 2TheXTreme:MathAlive (through Jan. 4, 2015) Snowboard through a mountain pass, design your own video game, attempt an Ollie on a virtual skateboard, master engineer a modern city and capture a snapshot of yourself in 360-degrees. Then challenge a friend in a mountain bike race, jump into a ‘binary dance party,’ or program and control Curiosity, NASA’s next Mars rover. 

• Discovery Days (January 10) Families discover the fun of science together every second Saturday! Try out real experiments, design and build new creations, and check out dynamic performances each month with guest scientists, educators and artists
   

For more information on admission, pricing, and special events throughout the year, visit: http://www.perotmuseum.org/.

Deliciously Easy Entertaining With Whole Foods Market

Disclosure: I received samples of products from Whole Foods Market to facilitate this post. However, all opinions are 100% my own and have not been influenced by the products received. 

Wait. 

You're not ready for holiday entertaining yet. 

Not until you've seen this appetizer spread I created from Whole Foods Market.

Whole Foods was my first stop this season for throwing together a quick and easy cheese platter, perfect to impress last minute guests that might drop by.

If you have questions about how to create a quick and easy appetizer platter, here are some of my favorite tips: 
 

McKinney Mommas' Tips For A Delicious Cheese Platter

Tip #1. 

Too many cheeses confuse guests.  Stick to 3 or 4 good quality cheeses.  

Tip #2. 
Be sure to include some nuts or crackers to cleanse the palate between tasting the different cheese. 

Tip #3. 
Use the expertize of the cheesemonger to your advantage. No question is dumb. Explain the purpose of your platter (holiday, wine pairing, etc.) so they can steer you in the right direction.

Tip #4. 
Don't serve your cheese cold! Be sure to set it out an hour before serving to optimize the flavors.  

Now, if you're lost, when choosing cheeses for your cheese platter this year, which I often am too - these (3) are a gorgeous choice, and of course most important....delicious too!

1. Le Marechal  - a French raw milk cheese that all levels of cheese lovers will like, nice and nutty similar to a Gruyère

2. Brillat Savarin with Truffles - this is absolutely the BEST cheese I've had in a few years! A triple cream cheese with a bloomy rind (like the classiest version of brie you've ever tasted) with a layer of truffles in the middle!

3. Mons Petit Sornin - this French cheese is washed in a local beer to the region of France that it's made. I'd call this one a "stinky" cheese in my book. It packs a bit of a punch, so I'd only include this cheese if your guests are adventurous cheese eaters.

Your guests will be talking about this cheese platter, for days!

I'm glad this year I was steered towards these three cheeses from Whole Foods Market. 

I have found a new favorite that I will add to any of my cheese boards from here on out - the Brillat Savarin with Truffles is honestly amazing and will wow any of your guest.

Yes, even your in-laws will be singing your praises! (hee, hee) 

Be sure to grab some Raincoast Crisps (apricot, fig and lemon crackers) and Potter's Crackers - organic artisan crackers to round out your entertaining platter! 

Both of these crackers are beautiful on the platter and are the perfect compliment to the cheeses! 

Happy Holidays, and Happy Entertaining!

Meeting The Octonauts At SEA LIFE Grapevine #TX

Guest Blogger, Erica R. takes it away again with a visit to the SEA LIFE Grapevine for some holiday fun! 

 

Do your kids love the Octonauts? Mine do! 

They were very excited to meet Captain Barnacles and Kwazii at SEA LIFE Grapevine, and try out  some new Octonauts toys while watching the Christmas episodes of the cartoon.

SEA LIFE Grapevine is a favorite of ours. 

It’s just the right size for their attention span. 

They love Stingray Bay, the sea turtles, the 360◦ tunnel and the seahorses. My youngest even hugs the seahorse window each time we’re there.

 

SeaLife has a lot of fun things happening for the holidays this year!

 The Octonauts events will be at the aquarium until December 21^st. 

Octonauts holiday activities include:

• Meet Captain Barnacles and Kwazii in the Cinema. Plus, get an Octonauts sticker! (Weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

 
• Take a special undersea mission with an Octonauts fact-finding trail, available at admissions. (Daily)

 
• Listen to a festive tale as SEA LIFE team members read one of the Octonauts holiday-themed books (Daily at 11am) 

• Watch a special Octonauts holiday-themed episode in the Cinema. (Daily)

 
• Octonauts-themed ornament coloring activity. (Daily)

The Octonauts were a little larger than they appear on TV!

If the Octonauts aren't enough, how about a #ScubaDivingSanta?

The jolly old beareded, red-suited diver, along with his elfs are taking the plunge in a magical dive show with the fish, sharks and sea turtles in SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium’s 160,000-gallon ocean tank. 

Pose for pictures and find out whether Scuba Diving Santa thinks you’ve been naughty or nice.  Scheduled dives occur at 11:30 a.m. on December 13, 14, 20 and 21. 

Snap a selfie of yourself & your family with a scuba diving Santa! #SantaSelfie

These events are free and included in the price of admission to SEA LIFE Grapevine.

Sounds like lots of fun at SEA LIFE! http://www.visitsealife.com/grapevine/

Octonauts cutouts are throughout the Aquarium too, so your little ones can get a pic with their favorite characters.

This Mom Doesn't Style Her Hair #RSVPInStyler

I received samples of InStyler tools from Vocalpoint to facilitate this post. I could receive compensation if purchases are made through the links in this post.

I can't keep hiding behind my "I just had a baby" excuse.

It's been 8 months now since the arrival of my third and final little girl, and it's time to start fixing my hair once in awhile.

Now, I'm not going to pressure myself to fix it daily, or heck, even weekly. But, the holidays are here and we have lots of family gatherings, which mean family photos.

I don't want to embarrass my kiddos when they look at holiday photos later in life, and see their mom peering at them through messy bangs and frizzy locks of hair.  

Thanksgiving hair - after some help from InStyler

 
I was given the opportunity to check out a few hair styling tools by InStyler, and thought this was the perfect timing - right before Thanksgiving family photos to get my messy hair in gear.


InStyler Tools

• TULIP Auto Curler - makes perfect curls in 3 seconds!
• MAX 2-Way Rotating Iron - rotating iron for straightening & eliminating frizz
• Ionic Styler Pro - ceramic hot brush and flat iron, great for short styles

The MAX 2-Way Rotating Iron was by far my favorite styling tool. Honestly, it works like a breeze and made me think:

Dang! I wouldn't have waited so long to style my hair if I knew it was this easy! 

Even though it's blurry, I just HAD to share this photo. My 2 year old must have thought it was a momentous occasion, when she walked into the bathroom and saw me actually styling my hair.

She took this photo of me without me even knowing. I had no idea until I uploaded the photos. 

Hee, hee, my little "paparazzi-in-training", what a cutie she is! 

Okay, now for the embarrassing Before / After photos........

AS you can see, in the BEFORE photos my hair has some random, funky wave to it that is unruly and just plain messy.

I found, the MAX 2-Way Rotating Iron has this awesome rotating barrel, so you aren't frying your hair between two flat stationary plates, like most straightening irons. 

I love the built in brush, that has ionic bristles, to comb and eliminate frizz, while the rotating barrel polishes the hair cuticle. Also, you can change the direction of the roll to either flip ends under or out by a simple double click of the tool!

I'm throwing away all my cheap, silly hair tools after using this one. Seriously. 

Me and the InStyler MAX 2-Way Rotating Iron

I'm really not a foofy, nails and hair sort of gal, but this styling tool made doing my hair super easy and I felt like a totally new person when I saw how my hair could look in just 10-15 minutes!  


InStyler has mommas like you and me in mind, and is offering an awesome discount on their styling tools right now until 1/31/15. 


You can get 30% off up to 2 InStyler tools with my discount code when you  by visiting RSVPInStyler.com, and entering [SAVE30] Expires 1/31/15.

I totally recommend this product, and can't wait for you to tell me how YOU like it!   

You'll be happy you did!

Holiday Gift Guide #Giveaway 2014

Whoo Hoo! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, but wait...the holiday season isn't over yet! Here's a fun Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway to get you in the mood.

Welcome to the 2014 Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway! This event is hosted by Dixieland Reviews and Co-Hosted by Mom 'N Daughter Savings, Ottawa Mommy Club, Finger Click Saver, Susie Q-Pons and Giveaways & Michigan Saving and More and is sponsored by the various companies.

There will be a total of 19 Winners! To see a list of winners at the end of this contest, just click here.

This event is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada who are 18+. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified via email and will have 24 hours to respond. If no response is received, winner forfeits the prize and a new winner will be chosen. We are not responsible for late or misdirected email or email ending up in your spam folder. Please add Marie@dixielandsdeals.com to your safe list so the email will reach you if you win. This event will begin at 11:59 pm eastern standard time on November 28th, 2014 and end at 11:59 pm eastern standard time on December 8th, 2014. All entries from all tools will be combined and then ran through Random.org to ensure a fair draw. Chances of winning varies depending on number of entries received. Approximate retail value of all prizes is $4440. Participating Bloggers are not responsible for shipment of prizes.

Prizes: 

(1) Mantry Gift Package -arv $75- from Mantry.- 1 Winner- And don't miss their incredible Black Friday Deal!! But the deal is only good on November 28th!

(1) HP Stream 7 Tablet arv: $99.99 Blogger Sponsored Prize -1 Winner!

 

(1) Click 'n Dig F6 Smart RF Item Finder-arv: $67.95 from Click 'n Dig- 1 Winner!

(1) Coach Embossed Horse & Carriage Handbag -arv-$475- from Just Ideas with Venus Kem -1 Winner

(1) Keurig 2.0 Coffee Maker K550 Bundle arv $249.99- from Keurig - 1 Winner - Save 20% + Free Shipping on Black Friday Only! Use Code: BLACKFRIDAY
 

(1) Black & Decker 4 Speed Digital Blender arv: $49.99- from Black & Decker  1- Winner

(1) Black & Decker Extra wide Convection Toaster Oven arv $59.99 from Black & Decker  1 Winner

(1) $350 Visa Gift Card arv $350 from Our World Travel - 1 Winner

(1) XBox One arv $349 from Our World Travel -1 Winner

(1) Absolutely GORGEOUS Butterfly necklace- arv $15 from Joyful Gifts by Julie - 1 Winner

(1) Samsung Galaxy S 5 arv: $649 - from Samsung - 1 Winner

(1) $500 Visa Gift Card arv $500 - from Our World Travel -1 Winner

(5) $100 Visa Gift Cards -arv $100 each-from Just Ideas with Venus Kem 5 Winners

Grand Prize!!! (1)- ONE lucky winner will win a $1000 shopping spree with a $1000 Visa Gift Card courtesy of Our World Travel, where you can earn cash back every time you book travel!- 1 Winner Entry is simple, just follow the instructions on the Giveaway Tool below.  Entries from this Giveaway Tool and the Follow Pages will be combined and ran through Random.org to ensure a fair draw. All winning entries will be verified. When you Visit a Facebook Page, please take a moment to "Like" the page.

Good Luck!!

Entry-Form

Black Friday Favorites Round Up!

You know you want 'em.

I've got 'em. 

Here's a roundup of some of the best Black Friday & Cyber Monday deals I found from some of my favorite stores.

....oh, and if you find something you like, please be sure to shop at the store through the links in this post, that way you're helping McKinney Mommas' keep on tickin' (aka. I get a little chunk of change to take my kids out for hot chocolate or another fun winter treat!)

My Favorite Black Friday Deals

1. Janie and Jack

Deal: 30% off your entire purchase at Janie and Jack 

2. Gymboree

Deal: 50% off everything + free shipping on all orders at Gymboree 

3. Tea Collection

Deal: Find styles for $12, $15 and $17 at Tea Collection’s Black Friday Event! Includes looks for girls, boys, and babies. Shop now!

Turkey Anxiety? Ultimate Guide To Turkey From Whole Foods

If you haven't already picked out your turkey, it's time to start thinking about which "Tom" is gonna grace your table, this #Thanksgiving holiday. 

As the weather starts getting cooler, I start to get "TURKEY ANXIETY."  

What's that you say? Well, since I only cook one turkey a year, I always forget what works, how big of one I need, what temp and cooking method, etc. 

Here's one of the birds my hubby and I worked on a few years ago! Delish!

Luckily, Theo Weening, the Global Meat Buyer at Whole Foods, has some awesome tips to lessen my "TURKEY ANXIETY" this year.  

Here's a handy dandy guide to help you along as well:

Whole Foods Ultimate Guide To Turkey

#1. Picking your poultry:

• Weigh your options: Go for turkeys that allow at least one to one-and-a-half pounds per person. Add an extra half-pound per person if you want leftovers. (Your guests won’t eat a full pound of meat. That number takes bones and skin into account, too).
• Get fresh: At Whole Foods Market, our fresh turkeys are raised to reach the perfect size just before the holiday season, then processed and stored just above the freezing point so you get juiciest, most flavorful meat possible. 
• Start early: Reserve your turkey ahead of time to make sure you get your pick of the flock! You can even order your turkey online at shop.wholefoodsmarket.com.
• Consult your butcher: From organic to heritage turkeys, there are a lot of options to consider. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, Whole Foods Market’s classically trained butchers can help you pick the perfect gobbler for your gathering. Just ask!

#2. Prepping:

• Factor in defrosting time! For best results, your turkey should be as close to room temperature as possible before roasting. Frozen turkeys take about 24 hours per five pounds of meat to thaw in the refrigerator, so plan accordingly (or save on time with a fresh turkey).
• Brine like a boss: Brining — soaking the turkey in a saltwater solution for four to 24 hours before roasting — makes for a tender, juicy bird. Our 365 Everyday Value^® brine kit and adaptable basic brine recipe are two great picks for first-timers. If you want to earn the wows without the work, order an oven-ready, hand-brined turkey for pick-up at shop.wholefoodsmarket.com.

#3. Roasting: 

• Don’t wing it: Cooking guidelines are printed on the packaging for a reason. Each turkey type cooks a bit differently, so follow instructions carefully.
• Check for doneness: Use a meat thermometer to test the thickest part of the thigh not touching bone. When it registers 165°F, the turkey’s ready. If you stuff your turkey, plan for an extra 5 to 7 minutes cooking time per pound.
• Let someone else do the work for you: Not up for the whole roasting thing? Order a fully cooked turkey for pickup at shop.wholefoodsmarket.com. Reheating instructions are included.

#4. Post-roast tips:

• Give it a rest! Once it’s done, let your turkey sit for 30 minutes before carving so the juices can redistribute. This locks in moisture and makes for smooth slicing.
• Sharpen your knife skills ahead of time so you can carve with confidence. When the big moment comes you’ll want to create a plate, not a crime scene. This great step-by-step carving guide will help walk you through the process.

Of course if you choose to buy your turkey at Whole Foods, you'll know your meat will come to you the way nature intended it to... with no antibiotics, no added hormones* no animal byproduct in feed, and on farms that have achieved certification to the Global Animal Partnership’s 5-Step™ Animal Welfare Rating System.

I hope you enjoyed those turkey tips and that you can kiss your TURKEY ANXIETY goodbye this year!