Suburban Parent, ND, January 2019 by Suburban Parent

PLANO \ FRISCO \ MCKINNEY \ RICHARDSON \ ALLEN \ AND MORE

January 2019 \ FREE

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Money Matters

A PENNY SAVED IS A PENNY EARNED

GOOD SAVING HABITS

HELPING YOUR KIDS FIND THEIR PURPOSE

GOOD FATS, GOOD FIBER AND GOOD FITNESS

STRONG IS THE NEW PRETTY a celebration of girls being themselves

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MARY SHARES

PUBLISHER/EDITOR Mary Ellen Caldwell, RD, LD, CLT editor@suburbanparent.com

WELCOME TO A NEW YEAR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Renée Higgins renee@suburbanparent.com

COPY EDITOR Francie Morin

ach new year seems to start with some reflection of the past, and more importantly, looking forward to the coming year. Resolutions will be made this month that, interestingly, as studies and polls have shown us, are the same as years past. The top 10 usually include, Eat Healthy Food, Get a Better Education, Get a Better Job, Get Fit, Lose Weight, Manage Debt, Manage Stress, Quit Smoking, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, and Save Money. While these are all good changes that may make us happier, we might want to ask ourselves, will it bring joy – true joy? You see, Joy is different from happiness. Happiness is a state of being. For instance, we might say, “I am so happy I received…. or I let go of…” This state of happiness may fade because we may have lost the item we received, or gained the weight back; and soon we will be attracted to the want of something else to make us happy (this is perfectly human.) However, Joy is a response. Joy comes from an encounter rather than an acquisition. Joy is found within our deepest recesses and independent of our outward circumstances. Our children bring us true joy for they are a God given gift. I’m sure you know the joy, as I do, of every state of your child’s development. I can remember bringing home our first child. Such care we took to put him into the car and carefully drive home (probably too slow). The Joy was stronger than the fear of being a new parent. And to see our son’s joy when we brought home his baby sister 5 years later has a lasting effect that we will never forget. For our family, we hold to the promise from God, that Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. We were never promised that we would have everything we wanted in this life, but Joy is a promise. As we look at those we love and cherish around us, be thankful for the true joy we get from witnessing their lives. Here at Suburban Parent magazines, we wish you more than a happy new year, we wish you a joyful new year. We’ll look forward to hearing of your joys as we share ours.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sandi Haustein Cheryl Maguire

CALENDAR EDITOR Paula Leonard

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER Misty Stagnone Photography mistystagnonephotography.com

AD DESIGNERS Alex Canales So Hee Lee Won

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Julie Lesser Williams

AD COORDINATOR/ DISTRIBUTION Francie Morin francie@suburbanparent.com

ACCOUNTING Carrie Vincent carrie@suburbanparent.com

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Amyrah / 3 years Amyrah loves to draw, paint, solve puzzles and read. She has her own mini library at home! She also loves to dance and is quite talented at coming up with her own dance moves. When she grows up, she’d like to be a dancer. Or maybe work with animals. She keeps asking for a giraffe.

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Suburban Parent and Irving Parent are registered trademarks. Reader correspondence and editorial submissions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit all submissions due to space. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without express written permission is prohibited.

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YOU SHOULD KNOW Be Less Spontaneous

NEAT

NON-EXERCISE ACTIVITY THERMOGENESIS (NEAT) IS THE TERM FOR ALL THE SPONTANEOUS PHYSICAL

ACADEMIC SUCCESS Young children, and some teens, don’t have the executive function skills needed to successfully manage their academic lives independently. Executive function skills are the mental processes we need to plan, focus, and organize our lives as we envision our futures. We’re not born with them; we develop them as we mature. That’s why many young students need parent and teacher involvement to create detailed routines around homework, projects and assignments. They will eventually get there, but until then, if you notice them looking like they don’t know what to do next, it’s probably because they don’t.

activity we do each day, like standing, walking, working, even fidgeting. And it plays a significant role in the way our bodies manage our weight. Apparently what we do when we’re not at the gym is as important as what we do when we’re there. A great workout can only do so much if we spend the rest of the day sitting still. So get up! Stand during phone calls; stretch during commercials; take the stairs; park far away; carry a basket instead of pushing a cart; vacuum with verve. In other words, be less spontaneous with your spontaneous activities. Ask More Questions When conversing with our kids, our spouse or our boss, we’re often so focused on what we’re going to say next that we don’t really hear what’s being said. Stop. People like to be listened to and the best way to show them you’re listening is to ask them clarifying questions. You’ll gain their respect and appreciation because not only have you proved to them you’re listening, you’ve shown them you care about what they’re saying.

BE HAPPY in The New Year

READ TO RELAX One study found that it only takes six minutes of reading to reduce stress levels by up to 68%. Reading proved to reduce stress better than listening to music, walking or drinking tea did. It seems that when you concentrate on what you’re reading instead of your worries, you benefit both physically and mentally. Physically, reading slows down your heart rate and eases tension in your muscles. Mentally, reading provides knowledge and inspiration, and it sparks imagination and creativity. There really is nothing better, or more relaxing, than losing yourself in a good book – even if only briefly.

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Don’t wait for happiness to come find you this year. Be proactive and make yourself happy. Here’s how. • Do what’s important to you. Family, friends, church, etc. Schedule it if you have to. • Do things that matter to you. Find your purpose. • Do something. Being active feels good. • Do something new. Get out of your comfort zone. • Do good. Shift the focus from “me” to “you” with acts of kindness. • Do right. Make good choices. • And…do it now. What are you waiting for?

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QUESTIONS

What should we consider when choosing a school for our child with autism?

Receiving a diagnosis for your child is scary, and looking for a school to support learning differences may feel daunting. Things to consider: Transparency is vital. Observe classrooms with your child. Inquire about communication. Are teachers and administrators accessible and willing to be honest with you about your child’s strengths and weaknesses? Are therapists on staff to provide speech therapy, OT and social guidance? Is the school accredited through a third-party? What specialized training is required of teachers in regards to individualized curriculum and behavior issues? Seek out a school that resonates with your personal philosophy – a place your child will feel loved and thrive. Brit Smart \ Executive Director \ Oak Hill Academy www.OakHillAcademy.org

My son uses a wheelchair. Is there a camp for kids interested in being active with a disability?

A wheelchair sports camp, whether an overnight or day experience, opens a new world of involvement for kids in wheelchairs. The recreational activities encourage independence and use of social and coping skills. In a supportive environment, campers go outside of their comfort zone to triumph over mental and physical barriers. Individuals with disabilities often feel isolated in the “normal” camp environment. A disability specific camp is a way to introduce your child to adaptive recreation and a new level of participation. Whether it is riding a horse for the first time or sliding down the zip line, wheelchair sports camps allow children to experience camp just like their able-bodied siblings and friends. Genny Gomez \ Director \ Moran Camp Xtreme www.tirrfoundation.org/youth-programs

Our family has never gone skiing at a mountain before. Our kids are 11, 9 and 6. How do we prepare?

A family ski vacation creates great memories that you and your kids are sure to cherish for years to come! For beginning skiers, bigger does not always mean better. Check out smaller resorts which often have no crowds, more affordable pricing and a family-friendly feel. Research and book your rental equipment in advance for the best pricing, and sign up for group lessons – some resorts even offer family lessons so you can all learn together! Lastly, make sure you stay warm and dry! That means waterproof top and bottom, insulating base layers, hat (or helmet!) and gloves. Sunglasses or goggles are highly recommended. Lisa Branner \ Community Relations \ Kendall Mountain Ski Area www.skikendall.com

What is the best month to list a home (with kids) for sale?

With school-aged children, you may want your move to coincide with the end of school, for which selling in the spring makes sense. Research historical data on the number of homes sold in your neighborhood looking for trends in peak months. Sellers need to remember that it can take 30 to 60 days (or more) from the time a contract is signed to the time its actual closing date arrives. Therefore, families moving in the summer will make offers several months prior. Homeowners looking to sell need to be talking with an experienced Realtor® in Feb/March allowing time to get their home ready to go on the market by March/April; which in my opinion are the two PRIME months for listing a home. Chad Collins \ www.collinsdfw.com

Our Experts Lisa Branner Kendall Mountain skikendall.com

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Brit Smart Oak Hill Academy OakHillAcademy.org

Genny Gomez Moran Camp Xtreme tirrfoundation.org

Chad Collins collinsdfw.com

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THIS

New Year, New Everything

COLOR ME HAPPY Keep the kids busy and creative with this giant coloring poster, 36’’x 48 ‘’ Tested and approved by kids! A good gift idea for a birthday party! We found it on Etsy. www.etsy.com/ shop/AtelierRueTabaga. $13.18

SOLOSOCKS Yes, your man needs some fun socks, and these socks are designed to complement each other. A set of seven singles, so there is always a match. They are colorful, comfortable, sustainably-minded, and made with organic cotton. We found them at www.thegrommet.com. $39.95

OSCILLATING FLOOR MOP by Nellie’s WOW Mop

This cordless electric mop has a fast, oscillating design that is powered by a high-frequency motor. The extra-long handle is jointed for easier maneuverability and LED headlights help you see under furniture. Reusable microfiber wet cleaning cloths do the dirty work, and can go through the washing machine about 100 times. We found it at www.thegrommet.com. $189.00...(worth it!).

PUT THEM ON CANVAS Hey, cozy up your home or office with stunning canvas photo prints! 100% guaranteed to delight you and your visitors. You’ll love the museum quality print, custom option, and easy ordering process—all at a price you can afford. www.easycanvasprints.com. prices vary.

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FUN HATS by JP DOoDLES We all know little ones love feeling like one of the big kiddos and sporting things their big brother/sister and mom and dad like to wear. JP DOoDLES gives babes their own whimsical version of big people style trucker hats that are sized JUST for them. Cute as they are, they’re comfy too thanks to an adjustable Velcro closure and cotton sweatband. JP DOoDLES also comes in adult sizes and has matching styles available for parents and kiddos. www.jpdoodles.com. $14.99

Your child learns to independently swim, surface on his back to breathe and return to his stomach to exit the pool. • Results in weeks, not years • Gentle approach • Ages 6 months to 6 years

Indoor winter session begins Jan.28 at Carpenter Rec Center in Plano Maintenance lessons available for graduates

floatingkiwis@gmail.com Richardson | N. Dallas Co. | S. Collin Co.

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BOOK SHELF

Transform Your Health From the Inside Out

BODY KINDNESS

Imagine a graph with two lines. One line tracks happiness and the other tracks how you feel about your body. For millions of women these lines never intersect, however, it doesn’t have to be that way. Body Kindness is a loving, practical, inspirational, and visually lively book that shows how to change poor health habits using incremental alterations to bring together those two lines. Learn the science behind cognitive change, and more. It’s an anti-diet book. Rebecca Scritchfield, RDN \ For Women Building Relationships with Your Kids

THE PARENTING PROJECT

In a world full with influences, this book will show you how, through the practice of daily conversations, to maintain influence in your child’s life. Learn how to talk to your child on a regular basis to gain their trust. In a time when kids have many things vying for their attention, you want to become the go-to person, the one they turn to the most for advice and comfort. And you’ll want to be ready for the serious subjects! And this book helps with that too. Dr. Amy Alamar & Dr. Kristine Schlichting \ For Parents Build Traditions that Bring Joy and Memories to Your Family

MEMORY MAKING MOM

Jessica Smartt, blogger and homeschooling mom of three, shares her family’s journey out of monotony, distraction, and busyness to a life of making lasting memories and how families can take their memories – together with old and new traditions to literally breathe life into their homes. In Memory Making Mom, the author highlights ten tradition-gifts that kids need most and includes a rich resource of two hundred-plus unique traditions.

STRONG IS THE NEW PRETTY

A celebration of girls being themselves

Girls being fearless. Girls being silly. Girls being wild, stubborn, and proud. Strong Is the New Pretty celebrates, through more than 150 memorable photographs, the strength and spirit of girls being 100 percent themselves. This book conveys a powerful message for every girl, every mother and father of a girl, for every coach, mentor and teacher. Kate T. Parker For All Ages

Jessica Smartt \ For families

Go Beyond Adulting to Become an Emotional Grown-Up

MASTERING ADULTHOOD

In this book the reader is equipped with more than just the essential tools of self-awareness and emotional selfcare. This book prepares them to face the challenges of adult life. The journey in this book is like a treasure map of finding what a life beyond adulting means to young adults, and the skills they need to get moving in the right direction. Delving into the deeply emotional aspects of growing up, Dr. Fielding offers more than an entertaining how-to book on becoming an adult! Lara E. Fielding, PsyD \ For Young Adults

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EDUCATION \ FINANCE

A PENNY SAVED IS A PENNY EARNED

HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP GOOD SAVING HABITS FOR FUTURE FINANCIAL STABILITY

By Kimberly Blaker

ccording to a report by Sallie Mae, “Majoring in Money,” students aged 18 to 24 carried an average credit card debt of $906. This exemplifies the point made by Nellie Mae in a report that credit card usage isn’t going to go away. If anything, it reveals credit card use, at least by young adults, is on the rise. The average credit card balance carried by college students just three years ago was $499. This reflects an increase of nearly 190%. So educating kids on how to use credit cards responsibly is crucial to their future financial well-being. Fortunately, those who learn and develop good saving habits early in life are more prepared to deal with what lies ahead and develop into financially responsible adults.

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THE YOUNGER SET Begin teaching your child the concept of money, including the values of coins, from the ages of 4 to 6. During this time keep it simple. Allow your child to earn money to save in a piggy bank for small chores.

IT’S ALL ELEMENTARY By the time your child is 7, an allowance is essential to learning about money and developing good habits. Familiarize your child with banking. Open a savings account so she can watch her money grow. Also, help set achievable goals, such as saving for a new toy or putting away for holiday gifts. Keep in mind; many banks charge service fees unless a minimum balance is kept, and frequent trips to the bank may be impossible. As an alternative, set up your own ‘family bank.’ Give your child a spare checkbook ledger or savings passbook. Then copy blank savings deposit and withdrawal slips from your bank for your child to use. Require him to fill out the slips and log transactions in the ledger. Also give your child monthly interest for his savings so he can experience the immediate reward of saving money.

THE TEEN SCENE Designer clothing, entertainment, and car expenses are the biggest areas of teen spending. Some teens also put away for college. But few are prepared for the adult world. That’s because most teens aren’t primed for the responsibility of paying for food, housing, and health care costs.

Those teens involved with the family budget and who contribute to family expenses learn a valuable lesson. Opting to show teens the spending categories in which they have a direct impact on family expenses is helpful. Also, agreeing on a reasonable amount in which teens can contribute to help cover those expenses can go a long way toward preparing teens for adulthood. Whether teens contribute or not, their working hours should be limited to no more than 10 to 15 per week. According to Cobb, researchers have found adolescents who work, especially 20 or more hours per week, are not as engaged in school as their nonworking peers. Based on various studies, this shortchanges students in the long-term. If you restrict your teens’ working hours to ensure success in school, it’s good to provide an increased allowance for clothing and personal needs. You can then help your teen to budget her money. Still, there are many ways teens can learn the value of money and develop good habits. In fact, limiting a teens’ funds may force them to be more selective and make wiser financial decisions.

TIPS YOUR KIDS CAN BANK ON Help your child develop good saving and spending habits, by allowing your child to make some of her own spending decisions. Place reasonable limits. Then offer appropriate guidance while giving your child opportunities to learn from her mistakes.

Don’t loan your child money every time he wants it. But do offer occasional opportunities for him to learn the costs of borrowing and the experience of repaying the loan. When deciding whether to loan money to your child and how much, consider the purpose of the loan, past repayment, and his ability to repay within a reasonable time. Charge interest on loans so children learn the cost of borrowing. Realize, regardless of how financially savvy we raise our kids to be, borrowing does have its place. At the very least, it’s often necessary or practical for acquiring a college education, reliable transportation, and a home. These can be wise investments even when borrowing is necessary. Teach your child how to set financial goals. By the teen years, these may include those big ticket items just mentioned: saving for automobile expenses, college, a home, and other longrange plans. And don’t overlook the importance of short-term goals, which offer your kids a feeling of accomplishment and a boost in self-esteem. Require your child to put at least 10% of each paycheck, or allowance, into savings. It’ll be much easier to adhere to as an adult if practiced during childhood and teen years. Don’t be completely secretive about family finances. Children have few opportunities to see and experience the financial side of the adult world. This doesn’t mean you need, or even should, disclose everything. But it’s easier for kids to understand if they can see it in concrete

terms. Develop a detailed household budget. Then explain it so your adolescent can see how your family spends and why. Discuss the different ways in which you save and invest your own money, and explain how these different plans work. Point out both the benefits and the risks.

The Mint Where your kids will learn about money, goal setting, saving, investing, and more. www.themint.org

Family Bank Try a computer program such as Family Bank by ParentWare to help your child track his allowance, expenses, loans, and more. It calculates interest for both savings and loans, allows children to write checks to their parents, creates graphs of their spending habits, and more. Visit download.cnet.com/Family-Bank/3000-2132_ 4-10077035.html

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HOW TO HELP YOUR KIDS FIND THEIR PURPOSE AND FULFILL THEIR

very parent wishes that their children will have all of their dreams come true. Pursuing meaningful goals that reflect our purpose plays an important role in developing and maintaining a happy life. Achieving our dreams ultimately makes us happier emotionally and more satisfied with our lives. Positive psychology researchers have discovered that people who have a clear purpose in life experience less pain and anxiety. Feeling good about the future is important for our emotional well-being, and having a purpose gives us direction and something to look forward to. Without goals and a purpose, we just go through the motions

of life and can start to feel numb and depressed. Each goal we set and achieve on the path to reaching our purpose takes us one step closer to true happiness and success in our lives. According to Psychology Today, progress on our goals makes us feel happier and more satisfied with life. In turn, positive emotions then make us more motivated to keep wanting to achieve even more. Goals give us a sense of accomplishment and are how we turn our dreams into reality. Our job as parents is to pass along this knowledge to our children so they can discover their own purpose in life and make choices based on what will make them happy and satisfied. A recent study published in the journal Psychological Science looked at whether the

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positive health effects of having a purpose in life also applied to young adults. The researchers found that having a strong purpose can be as important to young adults as it is to older people. This means that finding one’s direction in life should be done as early as possible. We can give our children tools so they can start crafting their purpose, even at a young age.

SET SMART GOALS If we are not careful about how we set our goals, we can lose our balance. According to Action for Happiness, “Happiness doesn’t just happen–it comes from thinking, planning, and pursuing things that are important to us.” The types of goals we want to guide our children in setting should be interesting and

engaging to them, give them a sense of meaning and purpose, and bring a sense of accomplishment when they achieve them. This will help build confidence for future endeavors. SMART goals are used by managers to help their employees set realistic, attainable goals. The author of Embark on the Journey blog translated this business language to make it useful to families. She also created worksheets that you can easily download and work on with your children.

THE ACRONYM SMART REPRESENTS GOALS THAT ARE... • Specific: The more specific we are, the more focused we can be in reaching a goal. When your children say they want to do bet-

By Sandi Schwartz

ter in school, ask questions to guide them in identifying a more detailed goal. For example, which subject would they like to do better in? What grade are they hoping to achieve? • Measurable: It is important that we help our children identify how they will know they reached their goal so it is clear what they are working towards. Is it an award, a grade, a project, or a skill they are looking to end up with in the end? • Achievable: Goals should be challenging within reason–not impossible. It is best to encourage our children to take one step at a time and not to make things too difficult for themselves. They will be happier if they reach a few easier goals than struggling to attain a really difficult one. • Relevant: Goals need to mean something to the children. They need to be excited and passionate about what they are working towards. If we set the goals for them, they will not gain anything from the experience and may possibly fail and be stressed over what we expect from them. • Timely: If we don’t identify when we hope to achieve a goal, we are unable to succeed. Ask your children to determine a realistic time frame for meeting the goal. Be sure to consider other obligations and interests when choosing the estimated finish line.

PROVIDE NEW EXPERIENCES As parents, we can guide our children through this discovery process to figure out their purpose in life. We can’t tell them what their purpose should be, but we can give them

experiences and resources to help them discover their own sense of purpose and ultimately their true happiness. Some ways we can enhance their view of the world around them include: • Taking them on trips–both domestic and abroad. • Participating in volunteer activities. • Being part of a sports team. • Exposing them to different cultures through food, shows, music, etc. • Exploring art and science through shows, museums, and classes. • Giving them opportunities to explore life on their own through camp, group trips, study abroad programs, and spending time with friends and family in other locations.

STAY FLEXIBLE It is also important that our children learn how to stay flexible when setting and working towards their dreams. Goals are not meant to be written in stone. We should approach goals as fluid opportunities for personal growth. As they learn new techniques or fail at their first attempt, they can tweak their goals to better fit their needs over time. The key to success is to allow them to take a break, find a new perspective, and then come back and try again with a revised plan. Our children will thank us for teaching them this little trick in life so that they can learn to adapt more easily and persevere even when faced with unexpected surprises and challenges. The world is their oyster–let’s allow them to find their true purpose so they can lead happy, fulfilling lives.

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Calendar / January 2019

FIREWORKS AND FAMILY FUN

January 1

3-7pm. Day 1 Dallas is a FREE event designed to bring together children and families on New Year’s Day. Hosted by Vogel Alcove, the event features a variety of children’s activities, live music, magical performances, karaoke, bounce houses and amusement rides, culminating in a spectacular firework show set to the soundtrack of The Avengers! www.day1dallas.com

TUESDAY 1

WEDNESDAY 2

THURSDAY 3

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

The Trains at NorthPark 10am-9pm The Trains at NorthPark will mark its 20th year at NorthPark Center with more than 750 railcars on a 1,600-foot elaborate configuration of tracks and scenes. This holiday tradition is located on level two, between Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. Admission: $7 adults; $4 children ages 2–12 and free for children under 2. Through Jan. 6. NorthPark Center, 8687 N Central Expy, Dallas www.thetrainsatnorthpark.com

Winter Mini CampObservation Nature 1–3:30pm Spend time exploring the sanctuary and learn different ways to record what you experience. You will be provided with your own journal to use and take home. We will also have a visit from one of our animal ambassadors. $18 per minicamp for Heard members; $22 per mini-camp for nonmembers. Spaces are limited and preregistration is required. For ages 5–18. Heard Museum, 1 Nature Pl, McKinney www. heardmuseum.org/winter-mini

Vogel Alcove - Day 1 Dallas Event 3-7pm Come out to a free children’s and family fair benefitting Vogel Alcove. Fireworks Launch at 7pm – 360 degree fireworks will be set to the Avengers music. Fair Park, Centennial Hall, 1001 Washington St, Dallas www.day1dallas.com Lone Star Christmas featuring ICE! – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 9am-9:30pm Families will marvel at dozens of lavish holiday displays including more than 2 million twinkling lights and larger-thanlife decorations. Guests can also experience ICE!, featuring favorite scenes from Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer. Tickets start at $12.99 (child) and $21.99 (adult). See website for daily hours and ticket information. Through Jan.1. Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine www.gaylordtexan.com Zoo Lights 5-9pm After the animals head in for the evening, the Dallas Zoo will transform into a winter wonderland with over one million twinkling lights illuminating ZooNorth throughout the holiday season. This year, discover realistic silk-covered lanterns in the shape of your favorite animals, plus even more light displays and festivities for the entire family! Zoo lights occurs on select nights through the month of December. See website for more information. Free with paid admission. Dallas Zoo, 650 S R L Thornton Fwy, Dallas www.dallaszoo.com

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Crayola Experience 10am-8pm Come experience 22 hands-on attractions inspired by Crayola products and their technologies. Visitors can name and wrap their own Crayola crayon, star in a coloring page, create melted wax spin-art, and learn how crayons are made in a live factory show. There are also two new attractions: Silly Selfies and Kaleidoscope. Plano’s location includes a 5,000-square-foot retail store selling the world’s largest selection of Crayola products and unique souvenirs, such as plush items and apparel. General admission is $20.99 at the door or $18.99 online. Annual passes are $30.99. Kids under three are free. Crayola Experience at the Shops of Willowbend Mall, 6121 W Park Blvd Suite A100, Plano www. crayolaexperience.com/plano Color Me Happy 11am-12pm Join the fun and color to your heart’s content. We provide the supplies. You bring the creativity. Ages 3-5. Free. Parr Library, 6200 Windhaven Pkwy, Plano www.plano.gov/203/Library

FRIDAY 4 Plano Metropolitan Ballet’s The Little Mermaid 7-9pm The Plano Metropolitan Ballet presents an original Fairy Tale Ballet: The Little Mermaid. Join Ariel as she explores her world with the colorful characters under the sea and on stage at Courtyard Theater.$18. Through Jan. 19. Courtyard Theater, 1509 H Ave, Plano www.visitplano.com/event/ plano-metropolitan-ballet-presents-the-little-mermaid Disney’s Newsies 7:30-9:30pm Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged newsies. Newsies is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message, perfect for the whole family and every audience. Tickets from $16. Through Feb. 10. Artisan Center Theater, 444 E Pipeline Rd, Hurst www.artisanct.com

First Fridays at the Farm 10am-12pm Each month, this program presents a different theme that highlights the heritage skills that you could use to enrich your life today. Register online to reserve your spot. Space is limited. This month’s theme: Noodle Soup. Roll out noodles for a big pot of chicken noodle soup on our wood fired stove. Tickets start at $3. Nash Farm, 626 Ball St, Grapevine www.grapevinetexasusa. com/nash-farm

SATURDAY 5 Back to Nature 1-4pm Do you love technology but want to get back to nature? Meet at Oliver Nature Park for this 3-hour camp and try different apps that you can enjoy outdoors. You’ll explore apps including geocaching, iNaturalist, Pokémon Go, eBird, and Skyview. Students must bring a mobile device to camp. Pre-registration required. For ages 9–14. $25/$27 per child. Register at the MAC or online at olivernaturepark. com. 1650 Matlock Rd, Mansfield www.olivernaturepark.com Deck the Halls and Welcome All—Christmas at the White House 2006 9am-5pm This special exhibit allows visitors a glimpse into the magical White House holiday celebrations of 2006. $19 general admission; free for members. Through Jan. 6. 2943 SMU Boulevard, Dallas www. bushcenter.org

SUNDAY 6 Free Family Day at Samurai Collection 1-3pm Bring the whole family to see The Samurai Collection on the first Saturday of the month for free fun during Family Day. Enjoy family-oriented guided tours and art activities. Each month a new aspect of samurai art and culture is explored. Free. The Samurai Collection, Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum 2501 N. Harwood St., Dallas samuraicollection.org/index_web.html Illuminate 11am-5pm See the Perot Museum in a whole new light! Come be

illuminated by breathtaking lights and beauty as well as inspiring, lightthemed science throughout the museum.Wear your own glowing or light-up accessories. Find that the already impressive dinosaurs have been enhanced by dramatic lighting and projection mapping and much, much, more. Free with general admission. Through Jan. 6. Perot Museum, 2201 N Field St, Dallas www.perotmuseum.org Ultimate Dinosaurs at the Perot 10am-5pm Be transported to prehistoric times through cutting-edge technology, where you can explore the breathtaking characteristics of these exotic species through hands-on activities. Exhibit runs through January 6. Perot Museum, 2201 N Field St, Dallas www. perotmuseum.org

MONDAY 7 Let Me Be Myself: The Life Story of Anne Frank 1-3pm Let Me Be Myself tells the story of Anne Frank in a modern way, addressing current day issues of identity, exclusion, and discrimination. Free with admission, virtual reality tours are available in 15-minute sessions daily, but must be booked online. Through August 2019. Dallas Holocaust Museum, 211 N Record St #100, Dallas dallasholocaustmuseum.org/news/ recent/let-me-be-myself-the-lifestory-of-anne-frank Bowl and Bite Mondays at Pinstack 11am-12am Come to Pinstack each Monday from 4pm until close, guests enjoy 1/2 price appetizers. Monday motivation at its best. Pinstack, 635 Central Expressway North, Allen pinstackbowl.com

TUESDAY 8 Dallas Farmers Market 11am-7pm Come visit the 26,000 square foot food hall and artisanal vendor market containing four anchor restaurants, a mixture of local specialty foods, artisanal food vendors, and seating areas both inside

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TIME OUT and out where you can grab a bite to eat or enjoy a cup of coffee while taking in a view of the Dallas skyline or observing the market-goers. Open daily. 920 S Harwood, Dallas www.dallasfarmersmarket.org

WEDNESDAY 9 MLK Celebration Week Opening Ceremony 12-1:30pm Come to the Inaugural Wreath Laying Ceremony celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. King. Free. Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St., Dallas dallasmlkcenter.com/ event/mlk-week-opening-ceremony/?instance_id=1

THURSDAY 10 Tejano at the Texas Theater 7-8:30pm Presented by the Dallas International Film Festival. Desperate for cash to save his sick Grandfather, a South Texas farmhand resorts to the extreme: he breaks his own arm to smuggle a cast made of cocaine across the Mexican border. This film is not rated. Tickets are $10. 231 W Jefferson Blvd, Dallas thetexastheatre.com Winter Wonderland at the Perot 10-11am Baby, it’s cold outside! What makes winter so wonderful? Come and explore the unique sights, sounds, and smells that winter brings, and discover how extremely cold temperatures affect different objects and the world around us! For kids 3-5 years. Register online. Members: $20/child, $5/adult; Nonmembers: $20/child, $10/ adult. Perot Museum, 2201 N Field St, Dallas www.perotmuseum.org/ programs-and-events/early-childhood/classes/2019-01-08-winterwonderland.html

Offer expires 12/31/19

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Tejano at the Texas Theater 7-8:30pm Presented by the Dallas International Film Festival. Desperate for cash to save his sick Grandfather, a South Texas farmhand resorts to the extreme: he breaks his own arm to smuggle a cast made of cocaine across the Mexican border. This film is not rated. Tickets are $10. 231 W Jefferson Blvd, Dallas www. thetexastheatre.com

FRIDAY 11 Dinosaurs Live! Life-Size Animatronic Dinosaurs 9am-5pm Encounter the 46-foot T. rex and nine new life-size animatronic dinosaurs along the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary’s nature trails at the 13th annual Dinosaurs Live! Life-size Animatronic Dinosaurs exhibit. $12 adults; free for Heard members Through Feb. 18. 1 Nature Pl, McKinney www.heardmuseum.org

SATURDAY 12 Hotcake Hustle 6:30am-10:30am Start the new year off right by running this year’s Hotcake Hustle, the first event in the Run Project Series. Enjoy pancakes, great music, a beer garden (for those 21 or older), and free goodies from sponsors. There are race distances for everyone! Participants can choose between 5K or 10K while kids will have a ball in the fun run. See website for the full schedule. Register online in advance to receive discount. Addison Conference Centre, 15650 Addison Rd, Addison www.runproject.org/ events/hotcake-hustle-race Daddy’s Little Sweetheart Dance 7-9pm Enjoy an evening of music and dancing for fathers (or other significant male in the family) and young ladies, 4–14 years. Registration required for each adult and each child. See website for registration information. $20 per person for residents; $24 per person for nonresidents. Plano Event Center, 2000 E Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano plano.gov/3285/Daddys-Little-Sweetheart-Dance Family Workshop—Painting with Opposites 10-11:30am There are many opposites in the world, like dark and light and fire and water. Appreciating the relationships between these opposites is important to Asian philosophies such as yin and yang. This workshop will look at opposites in your lives and in the color wheel, then will move to the art studio to make paintings using complementary colors. Ages 6 and

older are welcome. $12 per person, $10 per person for members. Crow Museum, 2010 Flora St, Dallas crowcollection.org Painting at the Park 1-2:30pm Meet at Oliver Nature Park for a painting class. Theme: windmill. An artist will guide you step-by-step as you create your masterpiece. This class is geared towards participants ages 5 and up, with no prior experience required. All materials will be supplied. Pre-registration required. $28/$30 per participant. Save $2 with MAC membership. See website for registration information. 1650 Matlock Rd, Mansfield www. olivernaturepark.com Family Storytime 11-11:30am Come to the Davis Library for an interactive program for all ages with books, flannel stories, rhymes, puppets and songs to encourage a love of reading and the library. Parent/caregiver participation required. All ages. Free. Davis Library, 7501-B Independence Pkwy, Plano www.plano.gov

SUNDAY 13 The Snowy Day and Other Stories by Ezra Jack Keats 1:30-3pm Final showing of this family favorite. Peter and his friends enjoy the excitement of a fresh snowfall, the delight of whistling for the first time, the awe in finding a special treasure, and the feelings of a first crush. Recommended for ages 3 and up. Tickets start at $17. 5938 Skillman St, Dallas www.dct. org/plays Las Colinas Bridal Show 12-5pm If there are wedding bells in your future, don’t miss this show with more than 100 wedding and honeymoon-related businesses on hand. See a bridal fashion show and learn all about the hottest wedding trends. Brides can register at the door and online to win some great prizes. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 3 years and older. Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas, 500 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Irving www. irvingtexas.com/event/las-colinas-bridal-show/24586

Second Sunday Funday 1-4pm Family Fundays give parents and children projects they can co-create. Find inspiration in the gallery exhibitions, holidays and seasons as families make art, friends and fun. Each month features a different theme: January – I Have a Dream, art projects celebrating Martin Luther King’s Birthday and the power of creative vision. Free. Irving Arts Center, 3333 N MacArthur Blvd, Irving www. irvingartscenter.com

MONDAY 14 Babes in Arms 9:30-10am Rhymes, music and movement for the youngest babies. Bring a blanket for baby. Pre-walkers and parent/caregiver only please! Ages 0-9 months. Free. Schimelpfenig Library, 5024 Custer Road, Plano www.plano.gov

TUESDAY 15 MLK Birthday Celebration 12:30-2:30pm Join us for a special birthday celebration at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center. Free. 2922 MLK Boulevard Dallas dallasmlkcenter.com/event/drmartin-luther-king-jr-birthday/?instance_id=167

WEDNESDAY 16 Soup in a Jar 10-11:30am Winter is the perfect time for soup. Layer beans, pasta or rice, seasonings and dried herbs or vegetables in a mason jar to create a heart and hearth warming soup to share with family and friends. Makes a great gift. All supplies provided. Limited to 20. Ages 16+. Allen Public Library, 300 N. Allen Drive, 2nd Floor, Allen www.cityofallen.org Cine de Oro: Miss Bala 10am-12pm Rated R. After entering a beauty contest in Tijuana, young woman witness’s drug-related murders and is forced to do the gang’s bidding. (1h 53min). Free. Latino Cultural Center, 2600 Live Oak St, Dallas www.lcc. dallasculture.org

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TIME OUT Tiny Techies Introduce your preschooler to technology concepts in this special storytime series. Books, flannels and activities will be used in each session to explore a new concept. Ages 3-5. Free. Davis Library, 7501-B Independence Pkwy, Plano www.plano.gov

THURSDAY 17 Let Me Be Myself: The Life Story of Anne Frank 1-3pm Let Me Be Myself tells the story of Anne Frank in a modern way, addressing current day issues of identity, exclusion, and discrimination. Free with admission, virtual reality tours are available in 15-minute sessions daily, but must be booked online. Through August 2019. Dallas Holocaust Museum, 211 N Record St #100, Dallas dallasholocaustmuseum.org/news/ recent/let-me-be-myself-the-lifestory-of-anne-frank Into the Woods at the Perot 10-11am Do you enjoy camping or going for a nice long hike? Let your imagination venture into the woods to examine life in the forest. Using all of our senses, we’ll learn more about our Texas ecosystem and some of the fascinating creatures that live around us! For kids 3-5 years. Register online. Members: $20/child, $5/adult; Nonmembers: $20/child, $10/adult. Perot Museum, 2201 N Field St, Dallas www.perotmuseum.org/programsand-events/early-childhood/ classes/2019-01-15-into-thewoods.html

FRIDAY 18 Jurassic Quest 3-8pm Jurassic Quest has been the largest and most realistic dinosaur event in North America since 2013 and is now even bigger! The exhibit features science stations, interactive dinosaurs, bounce houses, crafts and more! $10 parking, tickets range $20-36 Fair Park Coliseum, 1438 Coliseum Drive, Dallas www.jurassicquest. com/events/dallas-tx

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SATURDAY 19 Big Preschool Expo 10am-2pm Join the MOMS Club of HEB for a one-stop shop of preschools, extracurriculars, and family-friendly businesses, all under one roof! Registration now open for schools, extracurriculars, and select family-friendly businesses. Don’t miss out! Also, round up your gently used shoes! They will be collecting new and gently used shoes in all sizes for the 6 Stones New Hope Center. Questions? contact thebigpreschoolexpo@gmail.com Free. Hurst Conference Center, 1601 Campus Dr, Hurst www.facebook. com/BIGPreschoolExpo McKinney Bridal Show 10am-3pm From cakes to bridal gowns, calligraphers to venues, peruse the two levels of the historic courthouse in beautiful Downtown McKinney and find top wedding professionals to make your day oneof-a-kind. With 45 exhibitors, you can talk to each one and find the one that matches your unique style. Come to the theater level at noon for the fashion show to experience and explore bridal gowns, bouquets and hair and makeup. On top of everything else, you have the chance to win some fabulous giveaways, including a honeymoon vacation! $5 per person in advance and $10 per person at the door. McKinney Performing Arts Center, 111 North Tennessee Street, McKinney www. mckinneytexas.org Dallas Area Train Show 10am-5pm Mark your calendar for Saturday, Jan. 19 and Sunday, Jan. 20, for the largest model train show in the North Dallas area. Everyone is welcome–from the inexperienced novice to the seasoned engineer. The show will have operating layouts, dealer displays, how-to clinics and video displays running both days. Exciting door prizes. There will be two full days of clinics, and many home layouts will be on tour. If you would like your layout added to the Dallas area tour, contact Chris Atkins at chris@ railroadmodelers.com or call 469438-0741. Admission is $10 per person (subject to change). Cash only at the door. Children 12 and under free. See website for more

information. Plano Event Center, 2000 E Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano www.dfwtrainshows.com/content/ dallas-area-train-show Dallas Children’s Theater Activities at Klyde Warren Park 10:30-11:30am Bring your drama princess or prince to the Children’s Park for acting games and fun with DCT. Join in on the fun! Dallas Children’s Theater will lead activities in the Children’s Park - meet at the learning tree! Free. 2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway Dallas www. klydewarrenpark.org Plano Metropolitan Ballet’s The Little Mermaid 7-9pm The Plano Metropolitan Ballet presents an original Fairy Tale Ballet: The Little Mermaid. Join Ariel as she explores her world with the colorful characters under the sea and on stage at Courtyard Theater.$18. Courtyard Theater, 1509 H Ave, Plano www. visitplano.com/event/plano-metropolitan-ballet-presents-the-little-mermaid McKinney Bridal Show 10am-3pm From cakes to bridal gowns, calligraphers to venues, peruse the two levels of the historic courthouse in beautiful Downtown McKinney and find top wedding professionals to make your day one-of-a-kind. With 45 exhibitors, you can talk to each one and find the one that matches your unique style. Come to the theater level at noon for the fashion show to experience and explore bridal gowns, bouquets and hair and makeup. On top of everything else, you have the chance to win some fabulous giveaways, including a honeymoon vacation! $5 per person in advance and $10 per person at the door. McKinney Performing Arts Center, 111 North Tennessee Street, McKinney www. mckinneytexas.org

SUNDAY 20 Movie Royalty 3pm. Ensembles from The Plano Symphony Orchestra will perform music about kings, queens, princes and princesses in film. Learn about

the orchestra as well as hear selections from The Lion King, Moana, Star Wars, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty and more. Frisco. For more info and tickets, visit encoreyouthmusic.com or planosymphony.org. See ad in this issue. Dragons Love Tacos and Other Stories 2:30-4pm Theatreworks USA presents their newest musical revue of beloved contemporary children’s books including: Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin; Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein; The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds; Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride by Kate DiCamillo; and Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa School Days by Erica Silverman. Tickets start at $12. Eisemann Center, Hill Performance Hall, 2351 Performance Dr, Richardson www.eisemanncenter.com/event/ i/6010/d/dragons-love-tacos Selma Screening at the Texas Theater 4-7pm In conjunction with the City of Dallas’ Annual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., the Dallas Holocaust Museum will host a screening of Selma. The film is based on the 1965 voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery led by Dr. King and other Civil Rights leaders. Free. Texas Theater, 231 W Jefferson Blvd, Dallas thetexastheatre.com The Snowy Day and Other Stories by Ezra Jack Keats 1:30-3pm Final showing of this family favorite. Peter and his friends enjoy the excitement of a fresh snowfall, the delight of whistling for the first time, the awe in finding a special treasure, and the feelings of a first crush. Recommended for ages 3 and up. Tickets start at $17. 5938 Skillman St, Dallas www.dct. org/plays Martin Luther King Jr. Day Observance 6-7pm Presented by the City of Irving’s Parks and Recreation Department, a variety of performances will be offered to honor the legacy of Dr. King. Free. Irving Arts Center, 3333 N MacArthur Blvd, Irving www.irvingartscenter.com/ event/martin-luther-king-jr-dayobservance

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TIME OUT

MONDAY 21 Annual MLK Parade 10am-12pm The MLK parade is considered one of the largest commemorative events held in the United States. The parade begins at the intersection of Holmes Street and MLK Boulevard; it proceeds down MLK and end at Fair Park. Free. Intersection of Holmes St. and MLK Jr. Blvd., dallasmlkcenter. com/2019-mlk-parade

TUESDAY 22 Babes in Arms 10-10:30am Rhymes, music and movement for the youngest babies. Bring a blanket for baby. Pre-walkers and parent/caregiver only please! Ages 0-9 months. Free. Davis Library, 7501-B Independence Pkwy, Plano www.plano.gov Music and Stories with KidsWorks 11am-12pm Bring your little ones and join Miss Kimberly for an hour full of music, movement and fun stories every Tuesday. Free. Klyde Warren Park, 2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway Dallas www. klydewarrenpark.org Adult Craft Night 7-8pm Make it and take it home at Stay Crafty, Lewisville Public Library’s monthly craft event for adults! All supplies are provided. Registration is not required, but space is limited. Free but need ticket. Tickets will be handed out at The Hive service desk 30 minutes prior to the class start time. Attendees must be age 18 or over. January’s activity is cedar sachets. Lewisville Public Library, 1197 W. Main Street, Lewisville www.cityoflewisville.com

WEDNESDAY 23 Retro-Matico 2: The Works of Jose Vargas 10am-5pm The LCC presents Retro-Mático 2: The Works of Jose Vargas. Working from the late 1960s to the present, Vargas’ art explores a wide variety of themes

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and styles. Reception and exhibition free and open to the public. Through March 30. Latino Cultural Center, 2600 Live Oak St, Dallas lcc.dallasculture.org

THURSDAY 24 Ryme Time 10:30-11am It’s a known fact that songs, nursery rhymes and books provide a language-rich experience for young children. Active parent/ caregiver participation is a must! Ages 0-24 months. Free. Schimelpfenig Library, 5024 Custer Road, Plano www.plano.gov Toddlers in Motion Story Time 10-10am Bring your walking toddlers age 23 months to the second floor children’s program room for story time. Story times are created and presented by early literacy experts and are designed to be developmentally appropriate for each age. Space is limited. Get your free ticket at the Frisco Public Library’s second floor Ask Us desk on the day of the class. Caregivers attend class with children. Free. Frisco Public Library, 6101 Frisco Square Blvd Frisco friscolibrary.com/event/ toddlers-motion-1 Simple Machines 10-11am What do all of the great inventors have in common? They understand the power of simple machines like the wheel and axle, screws, inclined planes, levers, wedges, and pulleys. Find out how simple machines can make big things happen! For kids 3-5 years. Register online. Members: $20/child, $5/adult; Nonmembers: $20/child, $10/adult. Perot Museum, 2201 N Field St, Dallas www.perotmuseum.org/programsand-events/early-childhood/ classes/2019-01-22-simple-machines.html

FRIDAY 25 2019 DART Student Art Contest Deadline Submit your art by today. The theme is “My next stop is ________.” For details, visit DART.org/artcontest. See ad in this issue.

Ella Enchanted: The Musical 7:30-9:30pm Ella is turning the traditional Cinderella story upside down! At birth, she was given the “gift” of obedience which forces her to do anything people command. As a teenager, strong-willed Ella chooses to reject this lifestyle as her fate and embarks on a quest to break the curse forever. Tickets start at $17. Recommended for ages 6 and up. Through Feb. 24. Dallas Children’s Theatre, 5938 Skillman, Dallas www.dct.org

SATURDAY 26 New Year’s “HelpCreate” Bowls Event at Vetro Glassblowing Studio 10am-6pm. Try new color mixes and patterns while we do what we love best – play with fire! $65/bowl. Must register online. 701 S Main St, Ste 103, Grapevine, 817-251-1668, www.vetroartglass.com. See ad in this issue. BRICKLIVE 10am-7pm BRICKLIVE, the international LEGO® brick event will feature over 99,000 square feet of astonishing interactive exhibits, hands-on building activities, amazing live performances and incredible demonstrations for builders of all ages. The interactive experiences will include LEGO® master builders’ workshops, endless free build activities, live stage challenges and a fully immersive educational brick experience, and more. General tickets are $34. Ford Center at The Star, 9 Cowboys Way, Frisco brickliveusa.com The Boy Who Would be Captain Hook 3-4:30pm. This is the story of David Harrell, a boy who was born without his right hand and is fitted with a prosthetic hook before school starts. He is kept on the sidelines of recess until the game becomes Peter Pan! He fits perfectly into the game as Captain Hook but soon grows tired of playing the part and decides he wants to be a hero. With appearances from hilarious and colorful characters from his childhood, David serves as story teller and performer, teaching the importance of accepting and including others

that may not look exactly the way that we do. $25. Eisemann Center, Hill Performance Hall, 2351 Performance Dr, Richardson www.eisemanncenter.com/event/i/6133/d/ the-boy-who-would-be Frost Fest 10am-1pm Cold weather fun comes to Irving with the annual Frost Fest, a free winter festival, featuring rarely seen fluffy snow and fun activities. Come enjoy the cool side of winter weather. There will be a snow tubing hill, a play area with fresh snow every 30 minutes, train rides and more. During the event, residents can head inside Cimarron Park Recreation Center to create winter crafts and enjoy a variety of story readings and puppet shows. Food will be available for purchase; parking and admission are free. 100 Cimarron Trail, Irving www.cityofirving.org/2956/Frost-Fest

SUNDAY 27 Ella Enchanted: The Musical 4:30-6:30pm Ella is turning the traditional Cinderella story upside down! At birth, she was given the “gift” of obedience which forces her to do anything people command. As a teenager, strong-willed Ella chooses to reject this lifestyle as her fate and embarks on a quest to break the curse forever. Tickets start at $17. Recommended for ages 6 and up. Through Feb. 24. Dallas Children’s Theatre, 5938 Skillman, Dallas www.dct.org The Wild Detectives Kids in the Cliff Storytime 11-11:45am Come participate in a 45 minute read followed by a short discussion with the kids. All ages are welcome. Free. The Wild Detectives, 314 W Eighth St. Oak Cliff. Dallas www.facebook.com/ thewilddetectives

MONDAY 28 Indoor Winter Swim Session begins The Floating Kiwi Swimming School offers indoor swim lessons at Carpenter Rec Center in Plano. floatingkiwis@gmai.com. See ad in this issue.

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TIME OUT Birthdays

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Adam / 6 yrs January 3

Aiden / 8 yrs January 3

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Caroline / 5 yrs January 21

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Ryan / 5 yrs January 21

Dallas Farmers Market 11am-7pm Come visit the 26,000 square foot food hall and artisanal vendor market containing four anchor restaurants, a mixture of local specialty foods, artisanal food vendors, and seating areas both inside and out where you can grab a bite to eat or enjoy a cup of coffee while taking in a view of the Dallas skyline or observing the market-goers. Open daily. 920 S Harwood, Dallas www.dallasfarmersmarket.org

thrills and a timeless message, perfect for the whole family and every audience. Tickets from $16. Through Feb. 10. Artisan Center Theater, 444 E Pipeline Rd, Hurst www.artisanct.com

WEDNESDAY 30

Crayola Experience 10am-6pm Come experience 22 hands-on attractions inspired by Crayola products and their technologies. Visitors can name and wrap their own Crayola crayon, star in a coloring page, create melted wax spin-art, and learn how crayons are made in a live factory show. There are also two new attractions: Silly Selfies and Kaleidoscope. Plano’s location includes a 5,000-squarefoot retail store selling the world’s largest selection of Crayola products and unique souvenirs, such as plush items and apparel. General admission is $20.99 at the door or $18.99 online. Annual passes are $30.99. Kids under three are free. Crayola Experience at the Shops of Willowbend Mall, 6121 W Park Blvd Suite A100, Plano www.crayolaexperience.com/plano

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show 7-9pm A cast of 75 puppets brings the beloved children’s book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar to the stage. The iconic illustrations and simple stories that have enthralled audiences for decades is jumping off the page at the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. 525 Commerce St., Ft. Worth www. basshall.com

Eco-Explorers 9am-12pm Introduces children to the wonders of the natural world through the use of self-guided and hands-on activities, books, crafts, and other interactive items. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Weekly themes available on the Biodiversity Education Center Facebook page. Free. Biodiversity Education Center, 367 Freeport Pkwy, Coppell www. coppelltx.gov/bec

TUESDAY 29 Rhyme Time 9:30-10am It’s a known fact that songs, nursery rhymes and books provide a language-rich experience for young children. Active parent/ caregiver participation is a must! Ages 0-24 months. Free. Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Road, Plano www.plano.gov

THURSDAY 31 Disney’s Newsies 7:30-9:30pm Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged newsies. Newsies is packed with non-stop

Restless Heart 8-10pm The country group Restless Heart have enjoyed one of the most successful careers in country music history, placing over 25 singles on the charts – with six consecutive #1 hits, four of their albums have been certified Gold. Tickets start at $24. Arlington Music Hall, 224 N Center St, Arlington www.arlingtonmusichall.net/events/restless-heart

HAVE AN UPCOMING EVENT? SUBMIT

Upload your Birthday Kids picture @ suburbanparent.com Submit by 10th of the month prior to their birthday.

List it in our Online Calendar @ suburbanparent.com Please note: Although we strive to bring you the most current information available regarding event dates & times, confirming with the event venue before going is always a good idea.

FUN STUFF Ruled By Two Signs

HEAR, HEAR!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Gen Z, a generation that is global, social, visual and technological. Being adept researchers, Gen Zers have no problem self-educating. They are the most connected, educated and sophisticated generation ever. The upagers have influence beyond their years. Hey, businesses get ready for them! Oh, and you may have to change a few things.

JANUARY BABIES!

The month of January is ruled by two signs; Capricorn begins on December 22 and lasts until January 19th, and then it’s time for Aquarius to shine, from January 20 to February 18th.

QUOTE (FROM A GEN Z): “My favorite physical store to shop in is thrift stores because I feel that they are unique, and they can change the world.” –Alex, 17

Capricorns are highly practical people, with a good sense of adventure (so long as it is well thought out!) Our Capricorn friends are usually affectionate and have a good sense of humor. Aquarius’ are typically very optimistic, and are good at adapting to the energy of their surroundings. Maybe that’s why people love spending time with them. They are also good listeners; everyone likes that trait.

GOTTA LOVE ‘EM

My daughter and I share the same birthday, and someone asked her how old she was and she held up 3 fingers. She then said, “and my mommy is...” And she started counting her fingers and stopped; she looked at me confused and said, “Mommy, I may need to borrow your fingers.” — Victoria, mom of one

P C H L N T I W R T X C P V M A F M

W P F O W B A R B E C U E L B R Q O

H F G N M B S M W X I D O D I O K C

S R P E M E Y T U A A L K D U A W K

Q I Z S V Y C N Q S O U A J B D B I

P E K T O E Y O A C T Y E H A T R N

B N K A L S F Y M H N W N O C R C G

X D I R D M P E I I O H I O N I L B

M S Z S V A I P G L N D A K P P M I

D H R T C A Z H K I N G Y E S S I R

A I E A Q M T M S U C T M M K R V D

F P G T Q L D T M O L E C U F K B T

X H A E I L T Q U S A X N X M M E H

A K L G M E I H E H S M Y V I S Z Y

Y C H I C K E N F R I E D S T E A K

O T M G K R X A D I N X J L G J M L

S H L P B L U E B O N N E T S A H W

n BARBECUE

ALL THINGS TEXAS WORD SEARCH

n BLUEBONNETS n CHICKENFRIEDSTEAK n FRIDAYNIGHTLIGHTS n FRIENDSHIP n HOMECOMINGMUMS n HOOKEM n LONESTARSTATE n MOCKINGBIRD n ROADTRIPS n TAMU n TEXASCHILI n TEXMEX n YESMA’A M n YESSIR

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WHOLESOME ENDING New Year, New Tips

F, F AND F NO, IT’S NOT BAD GRADES! IT’S GOOD FATS, GOOD FIBER & GOOD FITNESS Good Fats are healthy for you. They nourish your body through foods such as flax seeds (omega-3 fatty acids) and cold water fish. Good dietary fat is nature’s secret weapon against aging. Good Fiber helps you to maintain or lower your weight and lower your cholesterol. Fiber also makes you feel fuller so you aren’t inclined to over eat. (beans, vegetables, sweet potatoes and berries.) Good Fitness helps with weight loss efforts. Not only does exercise help keep you fit, it also improves your mood, energy level and can increase your overall metabolism. Not in the habit of exercising? Simply start walking for 10-20 minutes each day.

LIMP CELERY

Wait! Don’t throw it out. Rehydrate it! Simply cut off the base and place the stick ends in a glass of cool water. Wait an hour or two and voila, crispy celery! It’s not that the celery went bad; it’s that it got dehydrated. Once it’s rehydrated you’re good to go.

PUFFY EYES? HAVE DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY?

Get Your Thyroid Checked

Many of the symptoms of depression and anxiety are also symptoms of thyroid disorders, which may mean that people often don’t know they have a thyroid condition.

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It can be a simple fix. Simply apply a cool compress (or cooled cucumber slices) on your eyes for 5 to 10 minutes; just enough time to constrict blood and lymph vessels. If you have swelling, use cool tea bags; they contain tannins that help reduce swelling. Since puffy eyes can be caused by a high salt diet or alcohol, go easy on (or avoid) both before an important occasion.