APRIL 30...Save the date!

We already know that if you're reading this blog, you're totally a cool mom. So, how about coming to a party for cool moms + cool kids (PS - dads are allowed too!)? Next Friday (one week from today), we're hosting a little shindig with one of our favorite little stores in Dallas...Little Bean! Mix with other "in the know" families and mingle with the designer of the hip kids clothing line, Clover (coming all the way from NYC!). Plus...our very own Creative Director makes her debut as a DJ spinning tunes all night long as DJ Lacy. Be there...or be square!

Celebrating Kids Who Give Back

More than two thirds of schools nationwide offer service opportunities for students (according to Corporation for National & Community Service). Is your son or daughter one of the millions of children who give back to his or her community?

If so, take a second to recognize your enthusiastic volunteer's good work: nominate him as a Huggable Hero, a recognition award offered by Build-A-Bear Workshop. Kids age 8-18 (who have notably contributed to their local communities) may be nominated online here through Feb. 26.

Ten winners will be selected nationwide, and the winners will each receive $7,500 in the form of an educational scholarship as well as $2,500 to be donated to the charity of each Huggable Hero's choice.

—Gretchen

Call for "Explosive" Essays!

To all of those little Dallas Cowboys fans out there: Get ready to bring your "A" game when writing an essay that might just win you the chance to help demolish Texas Stadium!

Sponsor of the demo, Kraft Foods, asks that kids 9-12 submit 300 word essays describing how they've made an impact on their local community. The winning writer will get to push the trigger button during the Texas Stadium demolition later this year (a date has yet to be set). Essays will be accepted Jan. 7-Feb. 5.

The explosive event will coincide with Kraft's release of a brand-new version of the beloved mac 'n' cheese, named "Cheddar Explosion." In addition to bringing light to the new cheesy food, Kraft plans to donate $75,000 that will be split between local charities and an additional $75,000 toward local food banks.

—Gretchen

Book Signing with DallasChild Mom Next Door

Mom Kristine Kahanek knows a thing or two about the weather (after all, she's a veteran meteorologist). The busy mom has stepped out from in front of the camera and into a new realm: book writing.

Following the release of her first book, Katie and the Magic Umbrella: A Stormy Adventure, last year, Kristine recently finished her second book, (a sequel) Katie and the Magic Umbrella on Snowflake Trail. Perfect for sparking a discussion with your kids about the cold winter weather patterns, this beautifully illustrated book will fascinate little minds at bedtime and beyond!

You can purchase your own copy of the new book (and Katie merchandise) at Plano's Learning Express store. Or, preorder a copy of the book at Legacy Books (972/398-9888) in Plano and pick it up at Kristine's book signing at 6pm Monday Dec. 18. During the event, Kristine will sign books, discuss the new release and host a storytime—don't miss it!

To learn more about the inspiration behind Katie and the Magic Umbrella, go here or read our exclusive interview with Kristine that printed in our February 2009 issue.

—Gretchen

Brad Oldham Leaves his Mark on Dallas

If you and your family have taken the DART's new Green Line on a recent trip to Deep Ellum, you may have noticed three striking new additions to the artsy landscape: gigantic metal sculptures of robot-like men.

The sculptures — dubbed "The Traveling Men" — are works by Brad Oldham, who was profiled with his family in DallasChild's June 2009 Nesting section. Brad joined creative forces with fellow artist Brandon Oldenburg (of Reel FX Creative Studios) to meld and weld the sculpture series.

"Walking Tall" is located at the corner of Good Latimer and Swiss Avenue, and is the tallest of the three "men" — measuring in at 38 feet! This sculpture, which appears to be walking into the adjacent neighborhood, is accompanied by stainless-steel birds. Reminiscent of Chicago's jellybean-like "Cloud Gate" sculpture in Millenium Park, the birds (which serve as seating) boast a mirrored finish — offering little ones endless entertainment!

At Good Latimer and Gaston Avenue, visitors will find "Waiting on a Train," the second installment of a futuristic man who appears to be seated and leaning against the Deep Ellum Tunnel. As a nod to Deep Ellums artistic environment, the man is strumming a guitar while waiting on his train.

In the heart of Deep Ellum's neighborhood (at Good Latimer and Elm Street), "Awakening" surprises visitors with its 8-foot-wide head that appears to be emerging from the ground. More stainless-steel birds offer eclectic and kid-friendly seating to those in need of a rest.

To read more about the sculptures, go to DeepEllumGateway.com, or visit Brad's Web site at BradOldham.com.

Looking for DART maps that detail the Green Line, go here and plan your next trip!

—Gretchen

Just Rocks!

At a young age, it can be hard for your child to hold a pencil or crayon properly. No doubt you’ve tried to keep them from grabbing it in their fists.

Teach your little one the proper grip in a fun way with Crayon Rocks. Made of soy wax, they are a perfect size for little hands to properly grasp and doodle with, and produce drawings with a smooth, rich, pastel-like effect. Plus, the unique shape of the crayon makes coloring larger shapes easier minus the hassle of peeling off wrappers (and seeing them littered all over the floor!).

The non-toxic crayons come in sets of eight ($4.95) or sixteen ($6.95) and are recommended for children ages three and up and are available online.

– Mari Park

ZillaMail Me, Please!

E-mail has replaced snail mail as a main means for communication. No doubt your kids have been begging to get their own addresses to chat with friends (and send mail to grandma and grandpa, of course!), but with the Internet, it’s hard to take all the precautions necessary.

Get a safe e-mail service for your kids through ZillaMail. Parents can set up the free account and create a password-protected contact list in the child’s address book. Then, kids can only receive e-mail from buddies on the list, guaranteeing no spam. Want to keep an eye on their messages? Parents can also opt to be copied on all outgoing messages.

Not only that, but the ZillaDog homepage has other fun features kids can enjoy – all their favorite games, movie trailers, and music (that are age-appropriate) are available, minus annoying pop-ups.

Check out this free service and get more information here.

– Mari Park

“Serving Justice and Serving Lunch!”

Graphic novels are a guilty pleasure for me. I may not be a kid anymore, but I’ll admit that I’m a big fan of Captain Underpants and his zany adventures. If your kids are like me, and enjoy these reads, grab a copy of the Lunch Lady series. Written by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, known for his picture books like Punk Farm, the similar comic book format is sure to be a hit.

The series centers around the Breakfast Bunch, Hector, Terrence, and Dee. The curious trio does some snooping around and realizes that their school lunch lady secretly has a double life fighting crime. Follow the gang as they battle cyborgs and save the world from dominating librarians.

Fun graphics and humorous gadgets including a spatu-copter and a spork phone will keep your kids in stitches. The smart, funny plots are sure to appeal to parents too.

Books one (Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute) and two (Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians) are available for sale, and the third book is projected for December of this year. Find them for $5.99 at your local Barnes & Noble.

–Mari Park

Who Wants to be a Rock Star?

Do you have budding talent on your hands? Does he or she want a bit of fame? Bring your musically inclined kids to the first-ever casting call for the Sears Arrive Air Band, from 10am-1pm Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Sears Court in Mesquite’s Town East Mall.

Actress/singer Selena Gomez (of Wizards of Waverly Place fame), who won't be on location, is teaming up with Sears to help create the band. The live casting will be nationwide, and judges will choose one lucky person to be the fifth band member.

To participate, contestants must be between the ages of eight and 16 and perform their favorite version of the “Don’t Go Back, Arrive” song (song available for download online). Entry is free, and everyone who takes part will receive a free tee shirt.

The winner will appear with the Sears Arrive Air Band on the red carpet at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City.

For more information on the competition, visit the Web site or follow the Sears Arrive Air Band at Twitter.com/arrivelounge.

—Mari Park

We All Scream for Ice Cream

I am a total sucker for nifty contraptions. You know those people who are suckered into buying things from infomercials? That’s me. So imagine my sheer delight when I stumbled upon this online: a Play & Freeze Ice Cream Maker!

Get homemade ice cream the easy way. All you need is 20 minutes, ice, rock salt, and ice cream mix. No electricity, no long wait. Pretty neat, huh?

It’s easy too. Simply fill one end with ice and rock salt, and the other end with the ice cream mixture. After tightening the lids, have a ball! Roll it, pass it around, shake it. Any motion will do. No doubt this will tickle your kids, who won’t complain about the waiting time. Do this for 20 minutes, and voila! A pint of homemade ice cream.

And the best part is, you can do this anywhere. Do it at home, take it to the park or bring it to your next barbeque.

The Play & Freeze Ice Cream Maker comes in seven bright colors, so it’s easy to find one to your liking. $20-$25; available online, or find it at your local Wal-Mart, Target or Bed Bath & Beyond stores.

—Mari Park

Bubbling for Bubble Tea

I reluctantly tried something new last night: Boba tea — a drink I had heard of but had never been adventurous enough to actually try. The thought of a tea filled with tapioca balls just never really appealed to me for some reason.

Walking into Boba Latte in Richardson felt like walking into a small coffee shop — and they did offer the typical coffee-shop fare. But, in addition to the mochas and macchiatos, the menu listed flavors of pearls (huh?) and extra jellies (like the shoe?).

I quickly learned that boba tea (also called “bubble tea” or “pearl tea”) can take several forms, but is generally a flavored black or green tea with tapioca balls (called bobas or pearls) filling the bottom of the cup. The pearls are sucked through an oversized straw along with the drink. At Boba Latte one may also order coffee, smoothies, slushes, fusion teas (flavored green tea) or milk tea (a black or green tea flavored with creamer). And, patrons may opt to add jellies to favored drinks – jellies are small squares (similar to a gummy bear) that come in flavors like coconut and mango.

I was surprisingly impressed by the boba tea, and my husband loved his mocha frappe with coffee-flavored jellies. Kids will love mixing and matching fruity flavors — what's not to like about gummy-bear like sweets at the bottom of a drink!

Try it for yourself and let us know what you (and your kids) think!

Boba Latte: 112 S. Greenville Ave., Richardson. 972/480-8889. No Web site is currently available.

—Mary Dunn

Add Some Punch to Your Lunch

Honestly, I hate packing my lunch. Not only does the food not taste as fresh, it’s no fun to carry it out in a sack, or even worse, a plastic bag. BO-RING.

However, after discovering these adorable lunchboxes, I may have to change my mind. Even kids will love taking these colorful carriers to school with them, especially with so many options offered.

For your wee ones, there are the Dante Beatrix lunchboxes with adorable cartoon animals on the front. And, not only are they insulated, they’re made with heavy-duty laminated canvas, making it easy to wipe clean.

Does your older child cringe at the thought of cutesy lunchboxes? No problem. Mimi the Sardine offers little tote-like lunchbugs in colorful patterns. The chic carriers are so cute, you’re going to want one too, Mom. It comes in five different patterns so everyone can pick out their own. Plus, it’s easy to wipe clean, or simply toss it in the washer.

So go green and stop spending money on lunchsacks. Find these lunchboxes, priced between $24-$34, at babybliss in Snider Plaza, Dallas, or Southlake Town Square.

—Mari Park

A "Jillion Helpful Hints" from Junie B.

The end of July is nearing, and that can only mean one thing: preparing to go back to school. Groan. No doubt it can be a headache, with plenty of last-minute arrangements and errands. But have no fear; we’ve found a resource that could actually make it fun this time around!

Grab a copy of Barbara Park’s new book, Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School ($10.39 at Barnes and Noble). Chock full of fun advice in categories like “Getting Started (Stuff you need to know and buy for school” and “Getting in Trouble (Plus how to stay out of it!),” you and your kids will giggle as you read through Junie B.’s words of wisdom.

The book is spiral bound, complete with pages that look like they’re straight from a notebook, penned by Junie B. herself. Kids will delight in the silly illustrations and afterward, they can write and draw out their own ideas in spaces provided in the book. How cool is that?

The book/journal is a perfect gift for the first and second-graders in your life. Plus, it may spur them to help out (willingly!) with back to school prepping.

—Mari Park

What's for Dinner, Mom?

If you're like me, the thought of planning dinner is more daunting a task than actually cooking. Ladies, lets help each other out: Send me your easy, make-it-in-a-pinch dinner recipes and I will re-post to help ease your dinner-planning headaches! E-mail: gsparling@dallaschild.com.

In the meantime, I'll share a little inspiration from my kitchen. The past couple of weeks, my (teeny-tiny) backyard garden has been in full bloom. Green peppers, basil, cucumbers, tomatoes — it may be a small plot, but it sure does produce! To keep up with the ripening veggies, I've been on the hunt to find tasty meals to 1) entice young taste buds and 2) quell my husband's incessant appetite. (Don't forget No. 3: the meal must be EASY!) A friend of mine turned me onto pizza making — a great activity to involve kids or entertain guests!

The biggest leap of faith (for me, at least) was making homemade dough. But, let me tell you, it is worth it! Here is a quick, pain-free recipe for homemade pizza. (Never made dough? Check out this link for tips on making your own dough. No breadmaker required!)

Kid-friendly Pizza
Dough: Activate 1 packet of yeast, 1 and 1/2 cups of hot water and 1/4 teaspoon of sugar in a mixing bowl. Wait 5 minutes. Slowly add (one-half cup at a time) a mixture of 2 and 1/2 cups of plain flour and 1 cup of whole-wheat flour. Add 1-2 tablespoons of garlic-infused olive oil as dough gets tougher to knead. Remove dough and knead on floured surface for 10 minutes. Place dough back into bowl (first oiling bowl to prevent sticking) and cover with towel. Let dough rise for 45 minutes.

Pizza: Gather your favorite pizza toppings together on an open counter top. (GET THE KIDS TO HELP!) Roll out dough in preferred size and shape of pizza. Place on oiled baking sheet (no pizza stone necessary!). Have the kiddos toss on their favorite toppings ... including but not limited to pesto, marinara sauce, basil, garlic, pepperoni, tomatoes and (most importantly) CHEESE! When completed, place in a 400-degree oven for 25 minutes, watching carefully to prevent overcooking. When browned, remove pizza from oven and let cool. ENJOY!

Please share your recipes with me! Send to gsparling@dallaschild.com!

—Gretchen

Triathlete Kids Compete (and Have Fun!)

At the soggy break of dawn on Saturday, May 2, kids from across North Texas challenged their bodies to complete the Historical McKinney Kiwanis KIDS triathlon (a sporting event in which athletes swim, bike and run), sponsored by the Playtri triathlon training club.

During the event, kids ages 7-10 were required to swim 100 yards, bike 2.5 miles and then run .5 miles. Participants ages 11-14 were required to swim 200 yards, bike 5 miles and run 1 mile.

I joined the ranks of volunteers who aided athletes with directions and traffic control. And, as a triathlete, I was astounded at the friendly competitiveness of the young participants. The kids whizzed by me on the bike loop — some of the kiddos even rode top-notch bikes made especially for triathlons (I was struck with a bit of bike envy!).


My favorite participant of the younger age category was a girl who rode a pretty pink one-speed bike fitted with a white wicker basket (shown at left). She was out on the course cycling to her heart's content with her head down and arms bent as she cranked up a hill. I was so inspired by this little athlete's devotion to the sport!

Congratulations to the participants and finishers of Saturday's race! And, kudos to the parents who encourage exercise and healthy competition. *More photos of the event coming soon!

Interested in signing your child up for a race? The following events are perfect for first-timers:

Frisco Youth Triathlon, May 31
Click here to register, find race details and read about training clinics just for kids.

4th-Annual Kids Tri at the "J", June 7
Click here to register and for race details.

9th-Annual Town North YMCA Kids Triathlon, July 19
Click here to register and for race details.

Kids Playtri Triathlon at Stonebridge Ranch, September 26
Click here to register and for race details.

Lifetime Fitness Kids Triathlon (Flower Mound), October 10
Click here for more information. Registration coming soon.

Trick-or-Treat Kids Triathlon, October 25
Click here for more race details. Registration coming soon.

—Gretchen

Congrats, Marathon Kids!

Last Saturday, April 4, I discovered what I love most about being a runner. The enjoyment of exercise isn't in logging hours on the track, treadmill or your neighborhood's sidewalk (duh!). The joy is sharing an experience with others who also dedicated months and months of their time to achieving a fitness goal.

On Saturday, I observed a new view of the finish line from the eyes of thousands of children enrolled in Marathon Kids, a free fitness program that teaches kids (in kindergarten through fifth grade) about the value of exercise and healthy eating. Sponsored by Whole Foods Market, the program requires participants to log 26.2 miles during a six-month course. Saturday's final mile celebration marked the completion of this journey.

My co-worker Kendall and I braved the windy and cold weather (alongside hundreds of volunteers and supporters) to help serve this great organization and the kids who committed themselves to healthy living.

The experience was one to remember. Our volunteer duty was to help the runners get pumped up before hitting the track to run their final lap — a task that involved lots of cheering and occasional goofiness (our specialty). It was truly special to see how exciting this moment was to so many kids. They spent six months dedicating themselves to exercise and learning about healthy nutrition. From the looks of it, they loved every minute! How many kids share those feelings when it comes to exercise?

As a reward, each finisher received a medal. One young boy showed his medal off with tremendous pride, saying, "Isn't this the coolest this you've ever seen?!" I agreed. It was surprisingly cool to spend my morning with little runners who will surely treasure their Marathon Kids experience for the rest of their lives.

—Gretchen

Bring the Outdoors Indoors

While rifling through my mail last Friday, I unknowingly discovered a box holding the main source of my weekend entertainment: Namco Bandai's Active Life Outdoor Challenge for Nintendo Wii. Let me just preface this entry by saying that I absolutely detest video games. Really, I cannot stand them. Why? Beyond the violence, gore and male-intended content (of most adult games at least), I’m not one to spend hours at a time sitting on the couch … that is, unless there’s a Law and Order marathon on TV! But that’s beside the point.

When my father decided he wanted to give into the video-gaming frenzy and purchase a Nintendo Wii, I rolled my eyes. But my apathy soon changed. Now I jump at the chance to play a pick-up game of tennis with my mom (yes, my ‘rents are technologically-savvy!) or bowl against my younger brother. I can see why this gaming device is the hottest thing since sliced bread (and why kids can’t get enough of it).

So, when I opened my mail to find a reviewer’s copy of the newest Wii game, The Outdoor Challenge, I couldn’t wait to visit my parents’ house and take the game for a test drive.

Outdoor Challenge is a part of Namco Bandai’s Active Life games, meaning that it’s similar to Wii Fit (read: you have to get your butt off the couch and participate). In the Outdoor Challenge, players stand on an Active Life Mat, reminiscent of Dance Dance Revolution. Players can compete (in one-person and two-person games) in a series of activities, like mountain boarding, log jumping, kayaking, mine-cart driving and – best of all – mole stomping. (Yep, you read that right.)

Imagine this: a room of four adults bouncing around on a mat while yelling, cheering and falling to the couch exasperatedly out-of-breath due to the on-screen challenges. It was a blast. (Several times my marathon-running dad joked that he was going to have a heart attack!) The games are physically challenging and require a great deal of focus, balance and agility, yet they're kid-friendly and can be adjusted in difficulty for young followers.

I haven’t fully changed my opinion on video games. But this new addition has me one step closer to becoming a believer. Snag yourself a copy of this game when it hits shelves later this fall and have your own family gaming night. (Don't forget to take water breaks!)

—Gretchen

Rock On!

Mimic the moves of actor Jack Black — no, we're not talking Kung Fu — at the newest (and coolest) music school in town: Paul Green's School of Rock. Just like in the movie, this music school aims to save rock-&-roll "one kid at a time." (And have a little fun too, of course!)

Director Mark Warner, an active Dallas-area bassist, will teach students to play some of the most intricate and rockin' classic rock with a focus on performing the music for live audiences. This philosophy requires that students stage live shows every three months — what better way to teach aspiring musicians than with live concert experience?

The Austin-based School of Rock students will help make the June 14 Grand Opening official with an all-ages benefit concert for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, concluding the weekend's Open House at 4pm June 15 at The Loft in Dallas. The Open House hours are 10am-4pm Sat June 14 and 12-3pm Sun June 15.

In addition to the Austin School of Rock performers, the benefit concert will include performances by Judas Rising (Warner's top-rated Judas Priest tribute band) as well as Brian Brooks, a current Make-A-Wish child and aspiring rocker. 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit the North Texas Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

If you've got your own aspiring rocker at home, check out the grand opening weekend at the School of Rock — I have a feeling you'll be nodding your head and singing along with the classic tunes before you know it!

Enrollment to the Dallas School of Rock is now open. Call 214/263-8325 for more information, or visit the school's Web site.

—Gretchen

C-O-N-G-R-A-T-S To Spelling Bee Champ

Mouctika Paluri, a 12-year-old student at Creek Valley Middle School in Carrolton, trumped two-time defending champion Amy Chyao, a 13-year-old from Richardson, Saturday at the 50th-Annual Dallas Morning News Regional Spelling Bee.

Mouctika, an India native who learned to speak English only seven years ago, out-spelled 30 other competitors (who advanced to the spelling bee after winning their school and county competitions) — but not without several dramatic pauses.

When it came down to Mouctika and Amy, both girls misspelled the word "passado." When Amy incorrectly spelled "statolatry," Mouctika stepped into the lead with the correct spelling. Then a challenge: Amy argued the competition's pronouncer failed to provide a second pronunciation of the word. Judges overruled her challenge, and Mouctika moved on to correctly spell the word "masseter" — winning the competition.

After winning the nail-biting regional spelling bee, Mouctika will represent North and East Texas in May at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

If you want to try your hand at spelling some of the words used in the national competition, check out Merriam-Webster's tool for kids: Spell It! And be sure cheer on Mouctika in May!

It's (Almost) Primary Election Time: Get The Kids Involved

In honor of the nearing primary election (March 4 — go here to read about voting eligibility and locations), here's a mix of politically-infused items that have recently traipsed across our desks/computer screens:

• Get your middle-school aged kids involved in the voting process by adding the Scholastic Online News' Election Center to their list of parental-approved internet sites. This site offers up-to-the moment news tickers, daily polls (such as "Do celebrity endorsements make a difference to voters?") and daily reports from the Scholastic News kid reporters who are covering the campaign efforts across the country. Kids also can play games that test their knowledge about the election or how they might fare if they were president.

• Head to your local library to peruse children's books about the election process. There are tons to choose from — one title we like in particular is As if Being 12 3/4 Isn't Bad Enough, My Mother is Running For President! by Donna Gephart. This book (for ages 9-12) is written from the perspective of a preteen girl who's mom is, well, running for president — and ruining her life! Girls will love this enjoyable tie-in to current events.

• Your kiddos too young to read on their own, or be curious about the political atmosphere around them? Dress them in political-savvy style with these adorable T-shirts from Uncommonly Cute. (Reading: 'Lil Democrat and 'Lil Republican.)
  

Got another suggestion to add to our list? Send it our way: editorial@dallaschild.com. Don't forget to vote!