Mommy Upgrade - Inspiration for Busy Moms Who Make, Shop, Eat, and Go - Reviews and How-to's to upgrade your Mom life!

A science-in-disguise exhibition where kids get the answers to many of the slimy, oozy, crusty, stinky questions they absolutely love to ask about the human body. Designed to be the first of its kind, the exhibition gives kids, along with intrigued adults, an opportunity to:

Climb a human skin wall with warts, hairs, wounds and other objects that act as hand and foot holds. Discover more about features such as pimples, blisters, pores, bruises, and scabs as they relate to the epidermis. Stop by the Toot Toot exhibit to create different sounds that replicate the physics of gas. Play surgery and attempt to remove organ parts from a body without touching the sides of the patient. And so much more!

When: Now through January 6, 2019

Where: 1600 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107

@fwmsh

Dinosaur enthusiasts will love Perot Museum’s Ultimate Dinosaurs exhibition that showcases an exciting array of species from south of the equator – including T. rex’s more-fearsome distant cousin and the largest dinosaur that ever lived.

Ultimate Dinosaurs reveals a new breed of dinosaurs that evolved in isolation in South America, Africa and Madagascar – dinosaurs that are unfamiliar to most North Americans. Presented locally by Highland Capital Management, Ultimate Dinosaurs tells the story of the break-up of supercontinent Pangaea into today’s continents and the ways that continental drift affected the evolution of dinosaurs.

Through hands-on activities and augmented reality technology, guests will discover that an amazing diversity of species evolved as a result of this phenomenon. Presented in English and French (with a Spanish audio guide available), Ultimate Dinosaurs is presented by the Science Museum of Minnesota and requires a surcharge.

Also new to the Museum’s T. Boone Pickens Life Then and Now Hall is the Paleo Lab, a glass-encased permanent exhibit that gives guests real-time views of the dynamic dinosaur research of Museum paleontologists as they process and prepare fossils fresh from the field. Looming above the Paleo Lab is the first-ever skeletal reconstruction of Nanuqsaurus hoglundi, the polar tyrannosaur discovered and named by Perot Museum paleontologists in 2014.

Guests will also want to check out the new T. rexcalator, which features a life-sized model of the 2nd most complete T. rex skeleton ever discovered at the top of the glass-enclosed escalator. The new “Dancing Dino” interactive allows visitors to dance with their own raptor avatar while discovering how paleontologists use footprints to study dinosaur anatomy and behavior. Also on display for the first time are Protohadros dinosaur tracks found decades ago at Grapevine Lake.

HOURS: General hours of operation for the Perot Museum are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. IMPORTANT: The Museum will close early Nov. 9 (1 p.m.) and all day Nov. 10 for the Night at the Museum fundraising gala. The Museum also will close Nov. 22 (Thanksgiving) and Dec. 25 (Christmas).

Member-only hours! From 9-10 a.m. every Saturday and 10-11 a.m. every Sunday, members can enjoy exclusive access to the Perot Museum, plus member-only access to the Moody Family Children’s Museum on Mondays from 10 a.m.-noon.

TICKETS: Museum general admission is $20 for adults (13-64), $13 for youth (2-12) and $14 for seniors (65+). Museum general admission is free for members. Children under 2 are always free. For groups of 10 or more, call for special rates at 214-428-5555 ext. 8. All prices are subject to change.

WHERE: The Perot Museum is located at 2201 N. Field Street in Dallas, Texas. For ticket information, parking maps and other details visit perotmuseum.org or call 214-428-5555.

@PerotMuseum

Through the wonders of stunning digital technology, audiences are transported to the depths of the rainforest, times long before humankind existed and wild lands a world away.

Slip on some 3D glasses, and encounter Tyrannosaurs, oceans, extreme weather and even a journey through American music. The lineup includes Waking the T. Rex 3D: The Story of Sue (through Jan. 6, 2019), Oceans 3D: Our Blue Planet and America’s Musical Journey 3D (through May 23, 2019), and Extreme Weather 3D (Jan. 7-May 23, 2019).

The Museum’s cutting-edge 297-seat theater features brilliant 4K digital projection, immersive surround sound, and incredible RealD 3D capabilities that come together to create an unmatched theater experience in both 2D and 3D formats.

Waking the T. rex 3D
September 7, 2018 – January 6, 2019

Approximately 20 minutes

Travel into the field, inside science labs, and back 67 million years to the Cretaceous Period to reveal the T. rex named Sue like we’ve never known her before — from nest to death — in roaring, bone-crunching, in-your-face 3D. We witness her life-and-death struggles as she lives up to her reputation as one of the great dinosaur predators of all time, facing off with Triceratops and other threatening creatures. This is a high-drama science adventure you won’t soon forget. Get showtime information and tickets here.

Oceans 3D: Our Blue Planet
September 7, 2018 – May 23, 2019

Approximately 20 minutes

Go on a global odyssey to discover the largest and least-explored habitat on Earth. New ocean science and technology has allowed us to go farther into the unknown than we ever thought possible. From the coastal shallows to deeper, more mysterious worlds, we reveal the untold stories of the oceans’ most astonishing creatures. Narrated by Academy Award®-winning actor Kate Winslet. Get showtime information and tickets here.

America’s Musical Journey 3D
September 7, 2018 – May 23, 2019

Approximately 40 minutes

Chart-topping artist Aloe Blacc invites audiences to join him on a joyful, tune-filled, giant-screen tour of the nation’s most iconic music cities, diving into the special places and unique cultural diversity that gave birth to America’s celebrated musical heritage. Narrated by legendary Academy Award®-winning actor Morgan Freeman, America’s Musical Journey 3D reflects the nation at every turn, telling stories of survival or celebration, of love or heartache, of protest or coming together. Get showtime information and tickets here.

To view trailers and film times, go to perotmuseum.org. 

Films are presented locally by Primrose Schools.

@PerotMuseum

Ever wonder how the Perot Museum appears to “float” at night or why its glass-encased escalator only goes up? Learn all about the structure Architectural Digest recently named one of the “10 best-designed buildings in the world” on a Perot Museum Architecture Tour.

See this award-winning museum – lauded for its bold artistry and sustainability and designed by 2005 Pritzker Prize Laureate Thom Mayne and his firm, Morphosis – in a whole new light.

The tour is available to adults only and lasts 1-1.5 hours. Tours are available for groups of 1-20 at a fee of $5 per person. NOTE: The tour is only available with the purchase of Museum general admission tickets and must be purchased in advance.

For ticket information, parking maps and other details visit perotmuseum.org or call 214-428-5555.

@PerotMuseum

WHAT: 

The 9th Annual Funky Finds Holiday Shopping Experience is the perfect opportunity to shop local with over 100 of the area’s top makers.

Shop handmade & support your local economy with over 100 artists, crafters, designers, authors & gourmet food makers. Event also features a charitable raffle with all proceeds benefiting the Humane Society of North Texas and DFW Toys for Tots. HSNT will be facilitating on-site pet adoptions all weekend and Santa will be in attendance taking photos with humans AND pets!

WHEN: Saturday, November 17th, 10:00 am-5:00 pm and Sunday, November 18th, 11:00 am-4:00 pm

WHERE: Cattle 2 Building at Will Rogers Memorial Center, Cattle 2 Bldg., 3337 Burnett-Tandy Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76107

COST: Free

EVENT FEATURES:
* 100+ Area Makers Selling Unique Hand-crafted Goods
* 150 Swag Bags
* Charitable Raffle benefiting Humane Society of North Texas & CASA of Tarrant County
* Pet Adoptions by HSNT
* Toy Drive – FREE raffle ticket with each toy donation!
* Photos with Santa – Humans & Pets welcome!
* Event T-shirts for Charity & More!

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Build Merry Memories with Lego® During Holiday Bricktacular

WHAT:  LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth’s annual Holiday Bricktacular and Master Model Builder 

WHEN:  Bricktacular:  December 15, 16, 22 and 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Master Model Builder:  November 19, 20, 21 and 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth, 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Grapevine, Texas 76051.

Holiday Bricktacular activities include:

• Giant LEGO Nutcracker: View the Master Model Builder’s newest creation, a 5-foot-tall Nutcracker.
• Meet & Greet LEGO Santa: Meet jolly old LEGO® Santa and tell him about all the LEGO® sets you want this year.
•  Holiday Quilt Build: Test your building skills by helping the Master Model Builder create an oversized, one-of-a-kind holiday LEGO® quilt.
• Scavenger Hunt: LEGO® Santa has lost his toy bag filled with iconic toys. Help him find all the lost robots, cars, planes, dolls and teddy bears in MINILAND for a chance to win an annual pass.

COST: $21.95 for guests 3 years of age and older, and free for kids 2 and under. To purchase special discounted tickets visit dallasfw.LEGOLANDdiscoverycenter.com. Holiday activities are included in the price of admission. Pre-booking tickets is recommended for guaranteed entrance.

HOURS:  Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. – last admission two hours prior to closing.

HOLIDAY HOURS:  Thanksgiving Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Eve from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Christmas Day from noon to 6 p.m. New Year’s Day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Last admission is two hours prior to closing.

Shop the LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Retail Store for the gift on every child’s list – LEGO®. Discover unique and hard-to-find products and sets.

 Facebook:@ldcdfw | Twitter: @ldcdfw |  Instagram: @ldcnorthamerica

Build Merry Memories with Lego® During Holiday Bricktacular

WHAT:  LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth’s annual Holiday Bricktacular and Master Model Builder 

WHEN:  Bricktacular:  December 15, 16, 22 and 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Master Model Builder:  November 19, 20, 21 and 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth, 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Grapevine, Texas 76051.

Holiday Bricktacular activities include:

• Giant LEGO Nutcracker: View the Master Model Builder’s newest creation, a 5-foot-tall Nutcracker.
• Meet & Greet LEGO Santa: Meet jolly old LEGO® Santa and tell him about all the LEGO® sets you want this year.
•  Holiday Quilt Build: Test your building skills by helping the Master Model Builder create an oversized, one-of-a-kind holiday LEGO® quilt.
• Scavenger Hunt: LEGO® Santa has lost his toy bag filled with iconic toys. Help him find all the lost robots, cars, planes, dolls and teddy bears in MINILAND for a chance to win an annual pass.

COST: $21.95 for guests 3 years of age and older, and free for kids 2 and under. To purchase special discounted tickets visit dallasfw.LEGOLANDdiscoverycenter.com. Holiday activities are included in the price of admission. Pre-booking tickets is recommended for guaranteed entrance.

HOURS:  Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. – last admission two hours prior to closing.

HOLIDAY HOURS:  Thanksgiving Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Eve from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Christmas Day from noon to 6 p.m. New Year’s Day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Last admission is two hours prior to closing.

Shop the LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Retail Store for the gift on every child’s list – LEGO®. Discover unique and hard-to-find products and sets.

 Facebook:@ldcdfw | Twitter: @ldcdfw |  Instagram: @ldcnorthamerica

GIFT OF LIGHTS IS BACK and bigger than ever with hundreds of new displays and a brand new on-track Santa’s Village. 

Gift of Lights is pleased to partner with Ronald McDonald House, Toys for Tots, Speedway Charities, KLTY Christmas Wish, and Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. A portion of every sale benefits our partnering charities.

For additional information, visit TMS Gift of Lights.

Facebook: @tmsgiftoflights | Twitter:  @TMSGiftofLights

WHAT: The Broadway musical Elf  presented by NETworks Presentations, LLC, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures and Unique Features,

WHEN: Tuesday, November 27 – Sunday, December 2

WHERE: Musical Hall at Fair Park

COST: Single tickets start at $20 (pricing subject to change) are now on sale for all performances. Ticket information.

Elf is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner Elf.

The New York Times says that Elf is “A SPLASHY, PEPPY, SUGAR-SPRINKLED HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT!” USA Today calls Elf “ENDEARINGLY GOOFY!” Variety proclaims, “Elf is happy enough for families, savvy enough for city kids and plenty smart for adults!”

@dsmusicals

#ELFdsm

WHAT:  11th Annual Dallas Woman’s Forum Holiday Home Tour

The Alexander Mansion Holiday Home Tour gives the community an opportunity to view the historic Alexander Mansion in all of its holiday splendor! Since its beginnings in 2008, the Holiday Home Tour has grown into a true holiday tradition and a way of spreading joy for so many families!

WHEN: November 30 – December 2, 2018, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

WHERE: Alexander Mansion, 4607 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX (parking lot)

Holiday Home Tour
Tickets- $10 in advance or $12 at the door
Your ticket includes:

*An enchanting stroll through the elegantly decorated home guaranteed to put you in a holiday spirit

*A tour of the historic Alexander Mansion, one of only two remaining mansions on Ross Avenue built at the turn of the 20th century

*Access to the specialty boutique upstairs where 20 merchants offer unique gift items for purchase

*A chance to enter a drawing for one-of-a-kind items ($5/ticket)

*A selection of handmade baked goods to purchase at The Bake Sale and take home with you

Holiday Bistro
(11:00 am-2:00 pm) – $15 in advance
Enjoy Lunch, a Beverage, and Dessert!

You can purchase Holiday Home Tour tickets or make Bistro Reservations online or by telephone at 214-823-4533. You can also send a check to Dallas Woman’s Forum, P.O. Box 140997, Dallas, Texas 75214-0997.  Be sure to include the day/date desired for the Bistro reservation with your check. *Reservations required, tickets held at the door.

WHAT: Deck the Plaza

A free holiday celebration featuring the official illumination of City Hall Plaza, including the lighting of a 40-foot tree. This is the first time the city will host such a celebration, but it’s part of a bigger plan to add energy to and make use of the plaza in front of Dallas City Hall.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Dallas Winds and the Castro band, headlined by locals Jason and Michael Castro of American Idol fame. Attendees can enjoy holiday treats including hot chocolate, apple cider, and cookies.

Deck the Plaza will kick off an entire weekend of events that includes the annual Dallas Holiday Parade on Saturday morning, December 1.

WHEN: November 30, 2018, 4:30 – 8:00 pm

4:30 pm – Guest arrival
5:30 pm – Program begins
5:55 pm – Santa arrives
6 pm – Lighting of the plaza
7:15 pm – Photos with Santa
8 pm – Event ends

WHERE: The plaza in front of City Hall, 1500 Marilla St., Dallas, TX