What is our book about?

Kidding Around Town: What is it all about?

We've told you a little bit but you probably want to know more about our new book, Kidding Around Town.  We want you to be "in the know" with Kidding Around Town.

While AroundTownKids is a great resource listing places to go in Dallas Fort Worth, Kidding Around Town takes that a step further by giving you age-appropriate activities for various DFW locations.  These activities are important to engage your child and contribute to her brain development. 

Here's what Kidding Around Town includes:

• Know Where to Go - Hundreds of DFW-area Locations sorted by interest category - some you've never heard of!
• Know What Your Kids Can Learn - Specific Featured Destinations with suggested independent Age-Appropriate Activities to grow their brains.

• Know Before You Go - Know how much you'll have to Spend on Admission Prices with the One-of-a-kind Dollar Rating Guide for hundreds of destinations in the DFW area.

• Know When to Go - How best to Enjoy Dallas Fort Worth all year long with a Handy List of Local Festivals sorted by month.

• Know Where to Find it - Handy Quick Reference Map to Find your Location before you go.

• Know the Inside Scoop - Helpful tips from the “Around-Town Mom” for every Featured Destination.

• Know How to Keep that Brain Growing - At-home Activities to reinforce the experience and learning concepts. 

We'll be selling our book next week! Stay tuned to your email for a special introductory offer. If you're not signed up for our weekly e-newsletter, use the sign up box on the upper right corner on any page of AroundTownKids.com

Where's the Book?

I know you all probably think I died or something! You keep wondering when is the book coming out, right? I promise, it is! I have seen an actual bound & printed copy & it is AWESOME!!

We all know writing a book takes time but not having done this before, I can now tell you the editing process takes time. I was warned it would be the longest part of the process and they were right!

The book should be ready MARCH 1st so hold on to your hats! Just in time for Spring Break so you know where to take your kids and what fun you'll have!

If you need to book me as a speaker I'll give you the inside scoop on these places and how this book can make your kids smarter. Times are booking up! Contact me today.

Brain Fun Facts

We all have a brain and we all know what a brain is. Today I'd like to offer you some FUN FACTS on the brain.

Did you know.....?

• The brain is a muscle that needs constant care and exercise.

• The brain weighs 3 pounds and can process information faster than a computer. 

• The brain generates enough electricity to power a low watt light bulb. 

• The brain sends neurons of information to itself at 150 miles per hour.  (“There’s a bee on your leg!”)

• Although the brain can send messages about feelings, a surgeon can operate on the brain w/o anesthesia because the brain can’t feel pain itself.

• The brain uses 20% of the body’s oxygen and  20% of the body’s blood.

• The brain has 100,000 miles of blood vessels and 100 billion nerve cells.

Why am I telling you all of this?

Kidding Around Town, my newest book, explores the connection between your child's brain and taking them out to fun and exciting places.  Stay tuned for the launch date coming soon!

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 "Kidding Around Town" is the ultimate educational outing guide for you and your kids to explore the DFW Metroplex. 

With a comprehensive listing of destinations, Catherine Cates provides detailed outlines on how to create educational and fun experiences for kids of every age AND their parents!  Also included are featured destinations in each category that go into specifics related to that particular destination. 

"Kidding Around Town" will help you create wonderfully well-rounded memories for your kids, and develop a springboard for noticing the lifetime learning that surrounds them if they have been taught to look for it!

Have Ms.Cates come speak to your group about brain development and the importance of outings. Contact her at:info@aroundtownkids.com 

The Trains at NorthPark

The Trains at NorthPark were becoming a holiday tradition for us when we could get down to NorthPark Mall. It is surely worth the drive and proceeds benefits the Ronald McDonald House for children.  If you've never been, it's a great place to take out of town guests.  Better yet, do your holiday shopping while you're at the mall! 

As parents we are already educating our kids everyday and don't even realize it. We teach at every step of the way consciously or not. Our goal by providing you with this information, is to give you extra pointers to the teaching you are already doing with your children, to teach with intent.  

Before you go, give this list a quick read or print it out and take it with you. Kids of all ages can enjoy The Trains at NorthPark. If you have an infant or one year old, bring him or her along because they can get something out of it too!



One Year Olds

• While holding your child up so she can see, point out things like lights, colors, encourage following the moving train with their eyes, 
• While pointing to objects introduce new vocabulary to your little one. Even just your running narrative is making their brain work in the background!

Twos and Threes

• At the Washington DC in winter display identify the White House and Capitol Building.
•  Introduce new vocabulary: conductor, box car, freight train and caboose.

Six & Beyond:

• At the Mount Rushmore display ask: Can you name the presidents?
• At the Golden Gate Bridge display discuss where this bridge is located in our country.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 "Kidding Around Town" is the ultimate outing guide for you and your kids to explore the DFW Metroplex. 

With a comprehensive listing of destinations, Catherine Cates provides detailed outlines on how to create educational and fun experiences for kids of every age AND their parents!  Also included are featured destinations in each category that go into specifics related to that particular destination. 

"Kidding Around Town" will help you create wonderfully well-rounded memories for your kids, and develop a springboard for noticing the lifetime learning that surrounds them if they have been taught to look for it!

Have Ms.Cates come speak to your group about brain development and the importance of outings. Contact her at:info@aroundtownkids.com 

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How did Frisco get its name?

Do you know how Frisco got its name? Frisco is often the shortened name for San Francisco. Frisco, TX isn't located in California, so how did we get associated with that name?

In 1902, a line of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway was being built through the area, and periodic watering holes were needed along the rails for the steam engines. The current settlement of Lebanon was on the Preston Ridge and was too high in elevation, so the watering hole was placed about four miles to the west on lower ground. A community grew around this train stop. Residents of Lebanon actually moved their houses to the new community on logs. 

The new town was originally named Emerson, but that name was rejected by the U.S. Postal Service as being too similar to another town in Texas. In 1904, the residents chose Frisco City in honor of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway on which the town was founded, later shortened to its present name.

Preston Rd is the old Shawnee Trail

When we think of Fort Worth we think of "cow town" complete with rodeos, cattle drives and wagon trails. A trip to the Fort Worth Stockyards is a perfect example. But did you know Dallas also has old cattle trails? 

When the pioneers were settling Dallas they traveled by wagon train along the Shawnee Trail. Eventually the trail became known as Preston Trail and later on, Preston Road. Did you know that Preston Road is one of the oldest north-south roads in all of Texas?  Or that it used to be a cattle trail? 

Next time you drive down Preston Road, take the opportunity to teach your kids about cattle trails and why they were important to the local economy. 

Old Fashioned Apple Dumplings

 

Old Fashioned Apple Dumplings

This is a recipe I used to make. Earlier in the fall I discussed apples and wanted to share this delicious recipe. 

Ingredients:

3 packages pie crust mix (each one enough for 8 or 9” pie)

3 tbsp butter or margarine, softened

3 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp raisins

2 tbsp chopped walnuts

3/4 tsp cinnamon

6 large apples

2 tbsp lemon juice

6 whole cloves

1 egg yolk

Glaze:

½ c butter or margarine, softened

1 tsp vanilla

1 ¼ c. confectioners sugar

Make pie crust pastry as directed on package. Form pastry into 8” round, wrap in wax paper & refrigerate.

In small bowl combine butter, sugar, raisins, cinnamon & walnuts. Blend with a fork.

Core apples.

Peel apples & brush & brush with lemon juice to keep from browning. Using spoon, fill the centers of the apples with walnut mixture.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease a shallow baking dish, 15 ½ x 10 ½ x 1”

On lightly floured pastry cloth or surface divide pastry evenly into 6ths. Form each piece into a round ball. Flatten each piece, then roll out from center into an 8 ½” square.  Trim edges using a pastry wheel for decorative look. Save the trimmings.

Place an apple in center of each square, trim w strips, brush edges with water.

Bring each corner of the square to top of the apple, pinch edges of pastry together firmly to cover apple completely.

Roll trimmings ½” thick. With knife cut out 24 leaves, 1 ¾” long & ¾” wide. Brush one end of each leaf lightly with water.

Press leaves o top of dumplings, press clove in center.  Arrange in the pan.

Brush with egg yolk mixed with 1 tbsp water.

Bake, brushing once with juices in pan, uncovered 40 mins or until pastry is lightly browned and apples are tender. 

Add water to pain once or twice during baking so apples don’t burn.

With broad spatula remove dumplings to serving dishes. Serve warm topped with the glaze.

Glaze Directions:

In medium size bowl, using electric mixer, cream butter until light. Add vanilla, sugar & beat until smooth.