Community Blog

Don’t miss the 3rd annual Dallas Green Festival, September 18, 2010 from 9-2!

Join other eco-minded, fun loving, information hungry Texans for this educational event aimed at raising awareness about living the eco-friendly life. Presented by the City of Dallas and Texas Discovery Gardens, this event last year drew over 1,000 guests! This year promises to be even better with something for everyone to enjoy!

Be a part of the fun and beauty at the Gardens for this GREEN event. Enjoy the Smart Car Rally, Mass Butterfly Release at 12:30 pm and 2 pm, monarch tagging, outdoor recreation zone, food and music, demonstrations for adults and kids and plenty of cool activities for kids.

The Dallas Green Festival is the perfect outing for the entire family! Directions to the Gardens are easy!

Mark your calendar, gals! GIRLS NIGHT OUT is coming Tuesday, September 28 to the Village Country Club!

GIRLS NIGHT OUT is designed especially for our VILLAGE LADIES! If you’re a sassy, classy Village Lady, YOU are invited to an awesome evening of music, food, drinks and prizes along with cool stuff to see and buy and so much more!

Lincoln Charities will benefit from your $2 admission ticket at the door and you’ll benefit from a night out with your best girl buds. Bring a friend and have a blast at GIRLS NIGHT OUT at the VCC the 28th.

Keep your eyes peeled for more details to come!

Sorry guys! It’s a NO testosterone zone!

Dear Abs,

We’ve been together a long time. What’s it been now? 48 years? In that time, we’ve certainly had our ups and downs. Remember the baby stage? Sheesh! THAT was a wild ride! But you hung in there with me through literally THICK and THIN … not to mention every kick, roll and stretch mark. You were such a trooper! Ahh… good times … good times!

Now, the babies are grown and we’re in another stage of life. For this reason, it seems fitting that we re-evaluate our long-standing relationship. Clearly, things have changed – YOU have changed and, frankly, I’m getting a little worried. I’m beginning to think we’re not on the same page any more. Heck! Forget the PAGE! We’re not reading the same book!

I don’t want to hurt your feelings! I love you and need you, which is the reason I’m writing and being honest. That’s what a healthy relationship needs, right? A good dose of honesty? Well, I’ve noticed lately, you’re not as … how should I say this? … you’re not as ‘perky’ as you once were. In fact, you seem down … LITERALLY. Down. It’s been going on for awhile now and it seems all my attempts to perk you up have NOT been effective, to say the least. What am I doing wrong? What’s bothering you?

Our frequent power walks through The Village Walking Trails and regular workouts at the Health and Fitness Facility haven’t lifted you like they used to. Not only that, I’ve noticed you’ve been hiding this summer! You used to LOVE going to the VCC pool, especially for the weekend pool parties! But now? I can’t find a moo-moo big enough to please you! It’s a good thing summer is coming to an end. But that doesn’t solve the core issue.

And that’s what we have here, isn’t it? A CORE issue?

Look, no matter what it is that’s got you feeling so low, I’m here for you. Always. I’m committed to doing my part to lift your spirits and give you a reason to show yourself again. To that end, I’ve gotten you a little gift – a gift that comes from my heart. It’s a real pick-me-up Abdominal Work Out from one of the hottest fitness programs around, Core Fusion. This step-by-step walk through from MSN Health and Fitness will have you back to your happy, sassy self before you know it!

Abs, we can do this! We can get you back to your former, perky self! I promise to be right there  with you every step of the way! How about it … will you work with me?

Love,

T

In this lousy economy, it’s tough to ignore the strain on the ole bank account. Between school fees, car payments and rent, I’m stretched to the max these days!

But when my fellow apartment dweller/neighbor/friend/hopeless-animal-lover showed me a picture of a pooch in need, I was tempted to disregard the expenses and become a mommy on the spot!

I teetered on the brink of an impulse adoption for several days. I went  over and over my monthly expenses, trying to calculate the cost of pet ownership. It can be pretty surprising What Your Pet Really Costs You! According to some calculations, the average small dog chews up about $8,000 in food, toys, medical expenses and pigs ears all in the course of a lifetime. Cats are even more pricey! You’re looking at a whopping $10,000 during the average feline’s life. Start up costs alone weigh in at about $500! That’s a lot of chew toys and catnip!

It was all I could do to think with my head and not my heart while holding a picture of the puppy.  After all, I love a good chewed up pair of sneakers and midnight tinkle breaks as much as the next guy! None-the-less, the sad fact is, in the end it is my bank account that’s prevented the adoption.

Here’s the thing, and no amount of chewed up slippers or middle of the night strolls can change this; no matter what kind of pet you’re considering, it’s essential to build the expenses into the budget and it’s best done BEFORE you fall flat on your face in a hopeless puppy-love stupor.

If you’re already the lucky owner of an awesome animal, there are tons of things you can do to Ease Your Pet Expenses. When it comes to dogs, brush your baby’s precious little teeth.  Your vet will show you how.  Regular brushing may well save on costly dental repair after years of shameless chewing. And don’t underestimate the overall savings of feeding your pet quality pet food. It’s yet another preventative measure that can help keep your pet healthy and keep you both out of the vet’s office!

How about you? How do you cut back on pet expenses?

Making reservations at your favorite restaurant is probably a good idea during Restaurant Week!

Participating restaurants around Dallas will be offering three-course prix fixe meals for $35 in an effort to raise funds for the North Texas Food Bank and Lena Pope Home. For every $35 meal sold, $7 of those monies will go to these local charities making a difference in Dallas. YOU can make that difference simply by enjoying a fabulous meal!

Just a couple minutes north of The Village, participating restaurant Bailey’s Prime Plus, is planning a wonderful fare to serve during Restaurant Week. Check this out: Menu includes Classic Lobster Bisque or “That” Salad followed by Broiled Filet Mignon Medallions with Roasted Garlic Potato Croquettes & Barolo Demi Glace or Cilantro Lime Marinated Atlantic Salmon with Roasted Corn Mashed Potatoes and Avocado-Tomatillo Sauce. Dessert choices are Texas Summer Peach Crisp with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream & Streusel Topping or Bailey’s Brownie Sundae topped with English Toffee, Candied Almonds, Hot Fudge Sauce & Whipped Cream.

Make your reservations today! Menu available through the 29th. Call 217-750-8100 to save your table!

Before I got married and produced offspring, my life was a cluttered mess. The closet alone was enough to leave me cowering in fear that something would crawl out and eat me. My kitchen wasn’t any better. I was one rogue pot lid away from handing in my resignation letter.

Then I met my husband and we started a family complete with a small mountain of baby gear to store. It was time to de-clutter and organize our apartment!

With the help of a fellow apartment dweller and parent, I learned the wonders of plastic bins and baskets. Take the sinister world of Sippy cups, for instance. The lids would go one direction while the cups went another. Then I found the perfect basket with a handle on the side. I started tossing those buggers in a bin in a lower kitchen cabinet and voila! Toddlers can wobble on over, grab a cup from the basket and proceed to the check-out lane playing that never ending loop: “Mommy … juice”. I simply pour and off they go with a diaper-swagger.

In my pursuit of the Mother of the Year award, I started making birthday cakes from scratch. It was then that I became acquainted with the handy, yet diabolical hand-mixer. No kitchen should be without this evil little gadget and the horrid attachments that come with it. I’ll admit, my cake making prowess would be in total jeopardy were it not for this handy item BUT Storing a hand mixer has all the elements of a Stephen King horror novel! If the cord doesn’t kill ya, finding the detachable beaters sure will! Enter the perfect basket and you’re back in control of the beast.

I love the layout of the kitchens here at The Cliffs. My kitchen is perfect for my cooking style but like any kitchen, without some great KITCHEN ORGANIZATION TIPS, I’d be lost!

How about you? Do you have tips to share?

Perking up a small bathroom can be a big challenge! Add too much and your space is overpowered. Too little and it lacks personality.  And then there’s the expense that we’d all like to avoid!

There are solutions! You CAN perk your bathroom up without spending a wad of cash the size of a Texas bail of hay.  With a few snazzy accessories and cool look racks, you can go from Whaa to WOW in no time!

Try a few of these fun ideas!

1 – Use old wooden crates to house your bath towels or TP.  Paint them or go natural for an earthy look.

2 – Relocate your nightstand for a change of pace. Use it as a decorator item or for practical purposes like holding make up or small hand towels.

3 – Using a shelf rack with hooks is an ingenious answer to the storage problem posed by smaller spaces.

4 – A decorator basket can hold oodles of rolls of toilet paper so you don’t run out so often.

5 – Add GREEN! A small house plant can do wonders for any space. Pick something that requires little light.

6 – Try a theme.  Go African or monochromatic.  Be outlandish if it perks you up!

Do a Bathroom Make Over to perk up your apartment! How about you? Do you have cool ideas for redecorating a small bathroom?

Are you totally TICKED OFF? Are you BENT OUT OF SHAPE, P.O’d or downright red-faced ANGRY?! Then it’s time to give ANGER MANAGEMENT THE BOOT at the annual FIGHT NIGHT 2010 at The Village Country Club!

Let’s face it, sometimes the only therapy you need is to punch someone’s lights out! If you’re mad at your bone-headed EX, if your boss is such a jerk you can hardly stand it or if you’re mad as a hornet with your freaky roommate, then EMAIL your gripes TODAY to p1@theticket.com and get ready to come out swingin’!

The rules are:
Fighters must be between the ages of 18 and 35  (no exceptions)

Fighters must be within 10 lbs of the opponent

You have until AUGUST 26TH to get REALLY CHAPPED!

WHEN: August 26, beginning at 5pm

WHERE: The Village Country Club. Park at the Dallas Children’s Theater for free and take the P1 Shuttle

COST: No cover for Village Residents

MORE INFO: Theticket.com

Home grown Dallas boy Daryl Dodd has made his mark on country music in the last decade.  Having toured with the likes of Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Dodd’s authentic country style is endearing country fans way beyond the Texas borders. As a backup singer for Martina McBride he also toured with Garth Brooks and Brooks & Dunn and now … YOU can see him live in concert this September for the Labor Day Concert at the Dallas Arboretum!

Save the date and make your plans for September 6th to attend the annual concert and picnic. At 6pm guests will be welcomed into the Garden for a huge family picnic with awesome music firing up at 7:30.  Get your TICKETS ONLINE or call 214-515-6547 for more information.

Learn to cook like a pro at the Dallas Farmer’s Market!

The Dallas Farmer’s Market is a wonderful place to learn the culinary arts in a no-pressure atmosphere where the freshest ingredients rule! Every Saturday at 10 and again at 11:30, enjoy a fabulous cooking demonstration from a Farmer’s Market pro.  Find out about the upcoming EVENTS and CLASSES, too and sign up for few!

While you’re there, stock up on your fresh farm favorites including seasonal items and home made goodies. You’ll find all the help you need in selecting the best produce from the selection provided by farmers from 150 miles around Dallas. And not only that, there are farmers standing by ready to answer your questions about storage, handling, preparation and more.

It’s easy to find [MAP] and less that a 15 minute drive from the Cliffs.  If you have a specific item in mind that you want to buy, give them a call to see if they have it on hand at 214-670-5879.

Buying locally is wonderful for the Dallas economy and great for you, too, because you know it’s farm fresh!

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Image via Wikipedia

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