See More SIghts at Taste of Addison this weekend

eye screening at taste of addison

The 4 year checkup at the doctor is not fun. Three shots and an ear wax incident and the Princess Cupcake was a sobbing mess that even a lollipop and 2 bracelets couldn’t quell. A day later and she still says she “can’t walk” on her legs because they hurt.

Drama aside, the highlight of the visit for ME was the eye chart. I had no idea that the pediatrician would check her eyes. When they said they would have her read an eye chart, I’ll admit I had a little sense of panic. Not only will they be testing her eyes, but her letter recognition. I hope she’s ready!

eye screening at taste of addisonThankfully, they offered her the choice of charts with symbols and pictures on it or one with letters.

She chose letters.

Little munchkin knows all her letters, but the performance pressure may have gotten the better of her on the littler lines. Seeing her scrunch to view the teeny tiny letters at the bottom was just too cute. But also left me wondering if she was struggling to see?

She passed at 20/25 vision but happily we get a do-over this weekend at Taste of Addison of all places. The Transitions See More Sights booth will not only offer the opportunity to photo bomb in front of a gorgeous local scene, but also is providing free eye screening for the whole fam.

Score!

I plan to lure the hubs to the booth with the promise of the free photo opp, and leave having won the argument that he needs glasses.

While somewhat unusual to have a vision booth at a food festival, I think it’s right on the mark for a well-rounded sensory experience. After all, what would Taste of Addison be like if you couldn’t see it? Fun, none the less, but unfulfilling to not be able to soak in the visual artistry of the vendors, the delectable food, the wacky antics of Eddie Coker and the smiles a mile wide on the Princess’s face when she’s riding in circles in the little pink race cars with her bestie.

I know I that I take my vision for granted. And I shouldn’t. My eyes have gifted me the memory of my newborn little girl being handed over to my trembling arms. Without them I wouldn’t have been able to soak up mountainsides full of wildflowers from high up on the back of a horse. I wouldn’t have silent conversations with my best friend. I wouldn’t have seen my baby’s first steps. I wouldn’t have spent afternoons watching the dolphins swim by.

50% of vision loss can be prevented with an eye exam. FIFTY PERCENT. If you can make promise to care for your eyes with a regular eye exam and choose proper eyewear, you can not only protect your cherished memories, you can make a difference in thousands of kids lives.

Show your support for eye health by submitting your eye care promise. For each new promise submitted in 2012, Transitions Optical will donate a brand new book to mobile literacy initiative Bess the Book Bus , helping children nationwide become enthusiastic lifelong readers and reinforcing the important connection between healthy, quality vision and the ability to read and learn.

Eyes are a pretty big deal. You should take care of them. And you should take a minute while you’re at Taste of Addison to get a quick screening, pose for a complimentary photo at the First Eye Care and Essilor See More Sights booth with the  the Ultimate Sightseeing Experience, and enter the Sight of the Day photo contest. I know I am.

Now if only I could find a hearing aid booth for the hubs selective hearing problem…

For more information on the concerts, food, amusement rides and vendors at Taste of Addison, or to purchase tickets, visit here.

To follow Transitions Optical on Facebook, visit here:

I received compensation to participate in a SocialMoms and Transitions lenses blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. To read more posts on this topic, click here

About Transitions Optical, Inc.

Transitions Optical is a joint venture of PPG Industries, Inc. and Essilor International.  The first to successfully commercialize a plastic photochromic lens in 1990, today the company is a leading provider of photochromics to optical manufacturers worldwide.  Transitions Optical offers the most advanced photochromic technology in the widest selection of lens designs, materials and brand names.

As the Official Sponsor of Sightseeing™ Transitions lenses help you see the world the way it’s meant to be seen. By continually adapting to changing lighting conditions, Transitions lenses enhance your everyday moments so your experiences are more vivid, more vibrant, more true.

More info on Transitions lenses: en-us.transitions.com

Project Mom and Chore Chart Giveaway

scripture art chore chart

Bianca said we should go to Project Mom.

So we registered.

We had no idea what to expect. I hadn’t heard of Project Mom before, but when Bianca says we should do something, she’s on the mark.

And we had a coupon. Score.

The Crockin’ Girls were there and we got Vera Bradley swag. It couldn’t be all bad.

The speakers were great, the vendors were fun, Michaels even had a make’n’take.

I’d go to to again.

But the find of the day was the Scripture Art booth. And let me tell you why.

The Princess Cupcake is 4 now and it’s time for her to take some more responsibility. I had just had a conversation with my husband a week earlier saying that I was going to make her a chore chart with pictures on it since she can’t read. So it was on my mind, trying to work out how I would make it coordinate with her bedroom décor and making supply lists in my head as I drove her to and from her school each day. Because that’s what I do.

Coincidentally, one of the first booths I saw at Project Mom was the Scripture Art booth. I was drawn to the concept of these scripture verses attractively printed on material that can stick and remove, stick and remove, stick and remove from your wall. (Great to stick individually into a card to send to someone or place around your home. Check out their many themes here.) I have been known to frame my favorite sayings and verses instead of finding the perfect photo for every frame so this was a no-brainer for me.

Loved those, but loved their chore charts even more. Each one was adorably designed for girls and for boys, had relevant bible verses on the side and space for six stickers with images of the chores on it. It was exactly what I wanted and — I didn’t have to make it. Hallelujah because she’d be 5 by the time I got around to it.

The chore charts were made with the same stick and remove material that the other products were made of so we could move it all around the Princess Cupcake’s room 20 times without danger of a repaint.

Brought it home and the Cupcake LOVED it. She asked me to put it up right away and if she could go brush her teeth. I can’t tell you how much it’s changed her perspective on getting dressed and picking up her toys, making bed, feeding the pugs… It didn’t hurt that I told her that if she filled a weeks worth with smiley faces, then she would get an allowance, part of which she could use to spend on any of the crap toys she incessantly asks me for.

Now, not only is my child motivated to do things on her own, she’s looking forward to earning her allowance. Okay, well, spending her allowance but we’re starting somewhere. There are six categories on the chore chart – I figure at 50 cents per chore, I promised her $3 if she filled her week with smileys. I plan to give it to her in quarters so she can easily divide it between three piggies: one to save ($1.50), one to spend ($1), and one to donate ($.50).

When we go to the store now and she asks me to buy her something, I tell her she can ask Santa for it or she can save her money up to buy it. There’s no whining anymore. This is a glorious thing.

And the added bonus is that the chore chart is ridiculously cute and the scripture reinforces the private Christian education we’re spending so much on the 20th of every month. Of course I have to read it to her, which I do, but she also loves the little girl themed appliques that I got for her as well. She likes them so much, she asked if she could take it to school one day to show a frenemy. So I know she gets it.

I love these products, and I know you will too.

If all that wasn’t enough to convince you that you need one, the backstory of this company will. Founded by two sisters Kelly Shiley (who I met and embodies grace under pressure) and Katie Hamilton, the one famously married to Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton, who are both mom’s and who have cracked the code on how to incorporate the positive affirmations that scripture brings into their everyday lives. These two incredible women are an inspiration and role models for all moms who juggle family, faith and business.

Scripture Art has generously donated two chore charts for MommyUpgrade readers. One for boys, one for girls. Here’s a photo of each:

Boys chore chart scripture art Girls chore chart Scripture Art

To enter to win one of these charts, please leave a comment below on either your allowance experience, your chore chart motivations or if you’re new to both, tell me your favorite scripture. Be sure to also let me know if you want boy or girl chore chart.

Rules for the Scripture Art Chore Chart giveaway:

You can enter the Scripture Art Chore Chart giveaway once per day each of the following ways.

Entries count as:

  • Please leave a comment below on either your allowance experience, your chore motivations or if you’re new to both, tell me your favorite scripture. Be sure to also let me know if you want boy or girl chart.
  • Sharing the Scripture Art facebook post from MommyUpgrade about this contest to your own wall
  • If you’re a tweeter, tweet away! Tell everyone what you like on your pie and link back to the blog post, include @MommyUpgrade in it so I will see it.
  • And not that it counts as an entry, but it would be nice if you “liked” Scripture Art” on Facebook since they’re sponsoring this giveaway, and since you’re also so nice.

Contest ends May 24th. Winner will be drawn using Random.org and announced here and on the MommyUpgrade Facebook page.

Good luck!

Reliant’s Kite Relay to Benefit Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

reliant trinity river wind festival

I don’t think I’ve flown a kite for 30 years. And the last time I did, I’m sure I wasn’t that good at it.

reliant trinity river wind festival

digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Which is a great revelation for my fellow competitors in the Reliant’s Kite Relay event on Friday, May 11th where I will most certainly be the dark horse.

The second annual Reliant Kite Relay event is to kick off the Reliant Trinity River Wind Festival which takes place Saturday May 12th at 146 W Commerce at the Trinity River viaduct in downtown Dallas.

The Friday preview and kite relay will bring together various Dallas media crazies competitors and insane dedicated bloggers who will voluntarily fly a kite at least 50 feet in the air while performing an array of “wind related activities at 5 stations.” Or so they tell me. Sounds like a big tangled mess to me.

Anything that off-the-hook has to be good for a solid hour of laughter so when they asked, I was totally in. Besides, I’m secretly hoping that Reliant’s dreamy spokesman Matthew McConaughey will be on the sidelines.

As a bonus for showing off my kite flying prowess (or lack thereof), Reliant is making a donation to a charity of my choice, which happens to be the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (the MMRF). (Reliant is generously making a donation to each competitor’s charity.)

Multiple myeloma is cancer of the plasma cells in bone marrow. Plasma cells help your body fight infection by producing proteins called antibodies. In multiple myeloma, plasma cells grow out of control in the bone marrow and form tumors in the areas of solid bone. The growth of these bone tumors makes it harder for the bone marrow to make healthy blood cells and platelets.

My mother-in-law has been bravely battling multiple myeloma for more than 7 years. It’s because of advances in research that she’s still with us so in this small briefly humiliating way, I can give back. If I win the relay, I can give back in a bigger way to the MMRF. They need it.

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation “relentlessly pursues innovative means that accelerate the development of next-generation multiple myeloma treatments to extend the lives of patients and lead to a cure.” And the Princess Cupcake needs that, she wants her Mimi around for a long time.

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation is based in Norwalk, Connecticut and regrettably they don’t have any representatives in Dallas, which means my cheering squad for the Reliant Kite Relay is going to be – uh – Bianca…. (who I promised Matthew McConaughey would be there), unless you have some time to come out and witness the spectacle that it will surely be. We’d love to have some MommyUpgrade.com supporters to document the entire embarrassment or even join in on the relay. And besides, it will give you the satisfaction of being able to tell you boss when he asks why you are leaving, “Go fly a kite.” And you’ll mean it.

The Reliant Trinity River Wind Festival free festival runs from noon to 6 p.m. and will feature family – and dog — fun including:

  • Show kite teams from the Southwest
  • Reliant Energy kite giveaway
  • Visit Reliant’s Smarter Home on Wheels
  • Hot Air Balloons on display
  • North Texas Hang/Para Gliders Association
  • Kroger Kids Fun Zone with bounce houses, clowns and face painting
  • Blackland Prairie Raptor Center birds
  • Sprint Cellular Phone recycling center
  • Dallas Zoo with birds and cool animals
  • Wildflower Planting
  • Paper Plane Making Designs and Contests
  • Free Dallas Wind Symphony Concert
  • Food for purchase
  • Other exciting surprises

For more information about the Reliant Trinity River Wind Festival, visit their website: www.trinityrivercorridor.com.

For more information about the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, please visit their website at www.themmrf.org.