Let’s face it everyone, in the midst of all this COVID-19 business, we’re juggling. Here’s a list of links to help you keep all those balls in the air.
Khan Academy – Provides daily schedules & age-appropriate guided curriculum
Virtual Field Trips – A great list of resources curated by Freedom Homeschooling
Scholastic Learn at Home – Project based resource incorporating books, videos, and interactive learning
Have Fun Teaching – Relief packs (geared towards teachers, but aren’t we all learning to be teachers this week) by grade level for Preschool through 4th grade
Free Educational Resources – Kid Activities blog has put together a pretty thorough list of resources that are free while we school-in-place
Disney Parks Virtual Rides – Romper compiled a list of links to some of our faves to enjoy while the parks are closed
Playbill – Watch some of your favorite Broadway shows from home
Just Fun
Check out Instagram and Facebook Live feeds for some great live-from-home entertainment. My faves like Harry Connick, Jr. (Hunker Down with Harry) and Jimmy Fallon are regularly posting content.
Sweet Bun-Bun has gone to his Bunny Mansion in the sky, but thankfully my RHOD Recaps haven’t!
I’m back with a mid-season recap of the first 10 RHOD episodes. I mean…. It’s been a minute so thanks so much for coming back for more. Since it seems silly to go back three episodes to catch up, I thought a Top 10 would be the perfect way to bring everyone up to speed. So here it goes!
#10 – Kameron used to camp!
That’s right, everyone, before she became a self-proclaimed “Couture Barbie,” Kameron used to enjoy time in the outdoors. And how grateful are we that Bravo dug up the photographic evidence?
#9 – Brandi’s bunny died.
Playboy Bun-Bun Redmond’s funeral (episode 8) was quite the spectacle, especially the children as pal bearers and creepy reincarnated human-bunny that mysteriously appeared after the burial. Even more creepy was the fact that Brandi kept her dead bunny in the freezer for six months while she figured out what to do with its body. And she looks to have frequently retrieved said frozen dead bunny from its icy tomb to snuggle (or at the very least pet). Given the choice between stuffing Bun-Bun for taxidermy or the requiem for her furry friend, I’m pretty surprised Brandi ultimately went with the burial service.
#8 – We miss Cary (with a “C”).
I mean no disrespect to Kary with a “K,” but Mrs. Deuber remains my favorite despite not starring this season. She’s teased us with her lingerie party and affirmed that she’s a true friend by crashing Kary’s not-so-inclusive ladies’ night with LeeAnne and Kam. I hope she’ll keep coming around even after all of the wedding festivities are over.
#7 – Brandi and Stephanie are still Ride or Die, and they have the podcast to prove it.
While Stephanie and Kameron seem to be feuding an awful lot this season, Brandi and Stephanie’s friendship is going pretty well. Somewhere along the way, they even started their own podcast, Weekly Dose of B.S.
It will be interesting to see how things play out with Brandi’s adopting Bruin’s biological sibling (his birth mom is pregnant again and the Redmonds have been approached about placement with them, in case you missed a step), especially given Stephanie’s ultimately being responsible for bringing sweet Bruin into their lives in the first place. Momming is really hard, and I’m encouraged to see that there’s no B.S. in the support these two have for each other.
#6 – Eduardo needs the “Travis Treatment.”
Remember how we all used to hate Travis because he treated Stephanie like a paid employee? All of those annoying lists and spousal micromanagement made us feel like he was borderline misogynistic. He seems completely transformed over these last couple of seasons. Now it seems Kary’s husband, Eduardo, needs to take a few lessons from Travis about how to be a supportive, non-patronizing husband.
Those telling moments during Eduardo and Kary’s datenight (episode 10) at Talum provide us with a glimpse into the control issues we’ve heard about all season. Eduardo’s smug lecture about how “we” talk at dinner was especially cringeworthy, and I can only hope he learns as much from watching himself on the show as Mr. Hollman apparently did.
#5 – Daughter Wars: The Saga Continues between Brandi and Brooklyn.
As I’ve said in previous posts, this story line highlighting the struggle between otherwise-bubbly Brandi and her oldest daughter, Brooklyn, is one of the most real things about the Real Housewives. I think every mom watching can sympathize with the dynamics here. It’s easy to get frustrated with Brandi’s essentially laissez faire approach to discipline, but there’s also real truth in the complexity of mom-guilt.
#4 – Travis and Stephanie are holding strong as our cutest couple.
It’s not to say that D’Andra and Jeremy aren’t as cute as pie with their cooking contests, but Travis and Stephanie’s relationship seems to be strengthening every time we see them. Travis’s 50th birthday party is teed up to air, and I can’t wait to see him in full midlife-with-a-hot-wife crisis!
Also, we know Casa Hollman is amazing, but how do we feel about the Jacuzzi in the master bathroom? Stephanie wasn’t thrilled with the pool in the living room when Travis originally purchased the home (Recall that he bought the house without consulting Stephanie. Consult #6 above.), and she makes a sideways comment about filling in the hot tub during her confessional. While I’m pretty concerned about humidity-levels in their bathroom, I absolutely love dynamic between Stephanie and Travis this season.
#3 – LeeAnne really does have mama drama.
Listen y’all, we saw this coming. LeeAnne has made no secret of her tumultuous childhood, in part because of her mother abandoning her at the carnival gates. We’ve met LeeAnne’s mother, Margaret, before when the two attempted to (unsuccessfully) work out their differences during a counseling session. Rich, in a pretty endearing moment over dinner, encourages has betrothed to cut her mother some slack because she won’t be around forever. Clearly LeeAnne still struggles with issues from her childhood.
It’s obvious LeeAnne is afraid of her mama drama taking center ring at the wedding. She makes no secret of the fact that her mom almost didn’t get an invitation to the wedding (neither paper nor text invite!). And we can feel the air chilling as LeeAnne’s mom is so late to the wedding that she almost misses it. Pardon the cliche, but this picture is worth 1,000 words:
#2 – Turns out Mama Dee is a villain.
Speaking of mama drama, turns out Mama Dee REALLY doesn’t give a rip! We learn over a series of really uncomfortable conversations that she intentionally left D’Andra a company in financial ruin, and she’s completely unapologetic about it. The dynamic between Dee and D’Andra is simultaneously fascinating and frustrating with the struggles over money and power central to their story this season.
I don’t know whether D’Andra is making a real effort to preserve her mom’s legacy along with the company or how much she really cares to, but the thread of financial strongholds in Dallas is front and center. And Mama Dee appears to be vying for the role as spokesperson for the Society for People Who Control Other People with Money. D’Andra’s wounds are deep, and Dee appears to still see her middle-aged daughter as a petulant adolescent.
Sidenote: Is the richness of the irony in character development of the D’Andra vs. Dee saga and Brandi vs. Brooklyn conflict apparent to anyone else? Okay; just wondering.
#1 – LeeAnne is married!
So D’Andra and Brandi didn’t go, and there wasn’t any food for the guests at the reception, but LeeAnne and Rich finally got hitched! Despite all the questions I have about the five-hour time lapse after the ceremony, the weird mirrored people milling around at the party, and why there really wasn’t a meal served at the evening reception, my absolute favorite part of the entire wedding episode was the trip to the Sonic drive-thru for chili dogs.
Congratulations and best wishes to the happy couple! Now back to the drama…
Did your mid-season highlights make this RHOD Top 10? Let me know via social media or comment below. I can’t wait to see the drama that unfolds in Thailand and beyond!
The Housewives are back home this week for some engaging pillow talk, tenuous business dealings, and daytime lingerie-wearing. Also, I’m officially petitioning Bravo for a reality show for this cutie, Hilton Westcott.
Our Dallas ladies are back to Dallas for regularly scheduled programming. A few things are still lingering from the Careyes trip though. Stephanie is hurt because Kameron isn’t fully acknowledging the value of their relationship. Kameron is hurt because she’s misunderstood. (Remember she may look like Barbie, but you can’t play her!) And LeeAnne is still getting married. Here’s what you need to know to gear up for tonight’s episode.
Travis Encouraged D’Andra to Streamline Her Company
In other words, most of D’Andra’s remaining employees are staring in the face of some VERY hard nights (with few good mornings to follow). Mama Dee has left the skin care/lifestyle company in dire straits, and the heir apparent is still holding a pretty sizable (and tearful) grudge. D’Andra has been struggling over what to do with her business this season, and she’s finally found time to sit down with Travis for some advice.
D’Andra is determined to preserve her mother’s legacy and save her company despite having only a few weeks’ operating budget available. Travis encourages her to think only about cash flow and to surrender her office space to save money. We know this means significant downsizing and moving the corporate offices to D’Andra’s home. I have SO many questions about this I hope will play out in coming weeks. Primarily whether D’Andra’s omnipresent trust is in someway linked to the solvency of her company.
Pay attention to the Jeremy dynamic here too. It seems to me that D’Andra, despite her self-proclaimed years of service to this company, is very vulnerable to influence. I’m curious about his role in her decision-making, and hope D’Andra will rely on her own instincts going forward.
Kameron is Sending Hilton to Summer Camp
And I’m here for it — the personalized pink trunk, the independent attitude, all of it! Kameron is spot-on about the crazy Texas parents who send their tiny people off to summer camp. It may seem crazy, but putting kids on wait lists for camps while they’re still in the womb is common place around here. (Other places where womb waitlists are necessary: Preschools and exclusive dormitories at the University of Texas.)
Just in case you were wondering, here’s the real reason Hilton is so excited for summer camp:
LeeAnne’s Lingerie Shower is Legendary
As you might expect, LeeAnne’s lingerie shower was the highlight of the episode. Say what you will about over the muscle breast implants, Kam, this bridal shower was a SMOKE SHOW. Let’s pause and explore this whole thing more for a second, ladies. Have you ever been to a lingerie party where you actually WEAR lingerie? Oh, really? Good, me neither. I thought I was the only one with no experience donning my boudoir best at 1 p.m. on a Wednesday.
Where do I even begin? First, Stephanie is encouraged during a really sweet pillow talk session with Travis to confront Kameron about her feelings from Careyes. And when she finally musters the courage to engage, Kameron walks away from the conversation. I think they both have a point here, and Stephanie continues to maintain her “ride or die” status with Brandi.
Next we have the hilariousness of LeeAnne acting surprised by aspects of the shower we know she planned herself. As a fellow control freak, I completely get it. The cake, the be-peckled waiters, the circus/Moulin Rouge/whatever it is theme — according to Cary (don’t we miss her?!), it was all LeeAnne’s doing. The lovely hostesses with amazing asses, Stephanie and Cary, simply wrote the check and showed up.
And then there’s the fence story… You know, the one where LeeAnne talks about Rich’s and her exploits with a hole in their neighbor’s fence? Yes, that’s the one. We’ve known LeeAnne for a while now so we think she’s kidding. Then we pause for a minute and wonder if it really could have happened. She confirmed on Twitter last week that she indeed made it up, but she had us going for a minute.
Meanwhile, Rich’s real sex-ploit answer about being in flagrante delicto in the bathroom at a party is pretty rich too. Pun intended, especially since there’s photographic evidence.
It’s also worth noting that D’Andra is no where in sight at the shower. Both Cary and Stephanie acknowledge that she was intentionally excluded. LeeAnne is still unapologetic about controlling her environment at wedding related events, and we ultimately know how this all turns out.
This Week’s Honorable Mentions
The flashback sequence during Travis and Stephanie’s conversation was a perfectly-timed reminder of his personal and spousal growth over the past three years. According to Stephanie, he also may have grown a vagina.
Kameron gives a whole new meaning to #modestishottest with her nightgown and slippers at the lingerie shower. She even recognizes that she’s the youngest Grandma there. Slow clap for Kameron for owning it… all of it.
Kary’s conversation with her 20-year-old daughter gives us some real insight to her experiences as a divorcee and mother. We already know Kary is really good at meddling in the lives of her fellow housewives. I’m relieved to see she meddles in her children’s loves too.
On another note, I cannot figure out where they were during this little mother-daughter talk. I love the chairs and the vibe at this place and want to visit asap. Help! Anyone?
I’d love to know what you think of the #RHOD this season! And if you like what you read (pretty please) share, comment, or like.
Our favorite Dallas Housewives travel to Careyes to celebrate D’Andra’s 50th birthday, dish about prenups, and take a ride on the Tragedy Train.
In honor of the Real Housewives of Dallas girls’ trip to Mexico, let’s spice it up a bit, shall we? I think a highlight reel of the Episode 3 revelations is the best way to proceed with this recap. And there’s a lot going on tonight so let’s start unpacking this (suitable for commercial flights) luggage.
Put on your fabulous metallic bathing suits and pour a margarita, everyone!
Here’s what we learn in tonight’s episode…
Jeremy does laundry. D’Andra doesn’t.
The feminist in me just loves that this hot house husband (Stephanie’s roast, not mine) is called out for doing the laundry by his wife!
LeeAnne is good at getting free stuff for her wedding.
The scene where LeeAnne visits Nardos to design her wedding dress is — in the words of my 6th grader — cringey. I’m not sure if everyone was on the same page when the budget talks started, but Steve, the dazzling wedding planner, handles it like a boss. We’re seven weeks from the wedding, and there’s one thing we know for sure about that free dress — it will have a train as long as a…
Stephanie Sees a Life Coach
She and the kindergarten version of herself work on pervasive issues of low self esteem and anxiety. I love moments of venerability from my favorite housewives — they are so important for the ‘real’ part of reality tv.
D’Andra’s Priorities (in order)
Hair Emergencies
Sleep
Meeting with Travis
Careyes is a two hour drive from Puerto Vallarta.
Well, first we learn that Careyes is a beautiful coastal city in Mexico with a scary bridge across the water. But we have to get there by traveling via an annoying van trip through what can only be described as the ‘real’ non-resort-esque Mexican countryside. Better use the potty at the airport next time, ladies!
D’Andra’s a slob, and she owns it.
LeeAnne likes to sleep alone.
Listen, girl, I am with you on this one. While I appreciate Kary’s effort to use sleeping arrangements as a way to unhinge the bestie brigade, grown-A women don’t need to share a bed to feel close. Clearly the seven-bedroom compound has room enough for everyone.
Kameron’s Superlatives
Most likely to get lost in the airport on the way to college.
Most likely to be on the cover of Cosmo.
Looks like Kameron hasn’t changed a bit since high school. Could we love her any more?!?
D’Andra dated Eduardo’s brother!
And had she known about the Careyes vacation home, she might have made more of an effort in the relationship. (Guillermo is still single, ladies!)
Kary has her own jewelry line.
In the fight against the insulting infantile spousal allowance, Kary and Kameron bond over having their own money by way of their separate businesses. Now onto a collab – edible pink dog bracelets!
All About the Prenups
Kary has one. Stephanie has one. Jeremy has one. Kameron has one too.
Brandy doesn’t. And LeeAnne, well she’s a fourth-wife-lifer so no apparently there’s no need.
We also confirm what many of us already know — sometimes prenups include a weigh-in provision for wives. And it’s not just a Dallas thing. Rest assured, y’all, there’s no weight requirement for Mrs. Westcott, and she has a clever cupcake plan if anyone tries to change it.
The tragedy train has left the station.
We end the episode with some pretty heavy dinner conversation. While the other ladies do their best to stay out of the fray (Brandi is snoring away in her room), Kary and LeeAnne swap tragic stories of their upbringing.
Kary’s mom was an alcoholic and blew through all of her family’s money.
LeeAnne doesn’t want children because of her rough childhood. And she was molested over a shockingly long period of time. And she’s attempted suicide three times. Things get uncomfortable and tense, and we see LeeAnne’s fearlessness shine once again, albeit irascibly, in her confrontation with Kary.
I can’t wait to see what we learn next week! Until then…
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Stimulating workouts, contrasting date nights, and infuriating shopping sprees play second fiddle to D’Andra’s 50th Birthday Roast in this episode of the Real Housewives of Dallas.
There’s a lot going on this week, y’all! The ladies are out and about trying a “vagine” stimulating workout at Ninety20, chatting over some delicious chips and queso at Kung Fu Saloon, and suffering through a $729 grab at a daughter’s affection. We are ushered along on a tour of some of Dallas’s hotspots (Cru, Sixty Vines, One Sette, oh my!), but end up at the center point of Episode 2 — D’Andra’s 50th birthday ‘roast’ party.
Date Night
First, how cute is this glimpse into Rich and LeeAnne’s date night at Matchbox over margaritas and spinach dip? I love their interactions, and the fact that Rich has finished writing his vows well before LeeAnne even starts them is pretty endearing. I find so much truth in LeeAnne’s confessing she never really saw herself married, acknowledging that she always thought she’d have to take care of herself. Their date night conversation says a lot about the issues LeeAnne is still having with D’Andra, as she admits to being unfaithful to others their first date. Also, just spit balling here, but doesn’t Rich’s eye patch need its own Instagram?!
How about Kary’s date night with Eduardo? Juxtaposed with LeeAnne and Rich’s time together, there’s palpable tension between these two. Maybe they’re just hungry. Kary calls out Eduardo’s jealousy and acknowledges some hard years during their second marriage. Regardless, they’re coming up on their 10thanniversary, and I’m hearing some warning bells. Given that she’s new here, I’m anxious to see where the Latin lovebirds end up. Note to servers in Dallas though: do NOT attempt to take Kary’s dinner order before her appetizers come!
Beavis & Bestie
We’re still loving Brandi and Stephanie’s truly sophomoric friendship. Maybe it’s my weaknesses for 90s references, but the Beavis & Butthead moments are some of the best of the night. Brandi has memorized her roast but keeps notes on her hands. Stephanie is clearly nervous about the possibility of bombing at the party, but it’s so fun to see them fully embrace each other’s crazy. By the way, did anyone else catch that Brandi practiced her speech in the shower… for TWO HOURS?!?
Palm vs. Paper – The Battle of the Roast Notes
LeeAnne and D’Andra, on the other hand, are all business and a little bit of shade at their wine lunch. Ahem, Ms. Locken: “My mother doesn’t have any financial hold over me so I don’t really have a need to talk to her.” LeeAnne is clearly still pained by what went down and is seeking some pretty specific penance. It’s not enough for D’Andra to say she’s sorry (apparently for the third time), LeeAnne needs her to acknowledge that she was wrong to make accusations about Rich’s infidelity. D’Andra only sort of repents, but patches things over by inviting LeeAnne to her birthday party.
The Meat & Potatoes aka D’Andra’s Birthday Roast
For starters, how much do we love that no one is buying that this is an actual roast? Setting aside the idea that it’s not really customary to ASK to be roasted, D’Andra decides she wants to spend her 50th birthday with people having fun and “saying all the things they’ve wanted to say in public.” Um…. okay. We’ll see how this goes.
D’Andra’s assistant of three weeks acts as the emcee for the fete, and there’s not too much roastin’ going on at this roast. LeeAnne’s dissection of the event during her confessional is SPOT on; the hairs on her head speak the truth! Also true to form, Stephanie and Brandi come to play mocking everyone from Mama Dee to House-Husband Jeremy. Everybody else seems to play softball with the microphone.
(Said in your best Mama D Voice) “We’re changing the name of Hard Night, Good Morning…”
And then there’s the gift of… DONUTS! Jeremy gives D’Andra 50 donuts at the party to celebrate her love of food and the five years they’ve spent together. The other girls are appalled, rightfully so, but this gives a whole new spin on the birthday girl’s role as a sugar mama. There is no shame in her donut game, and they serve as the perfect dessert for this lukewarm roast.
Sugar Mama
What do you think of donuts as a birthday gift? What would you like 50 of to celebrate your 50th?
Next week we take a commercial flight to this casa enorme…
It’s more than just the books – beat the heat and the dreaded “summer slide” with a visit your local library.
I’m a big believer in libraries. I think it’s a hazard of my job as a college professor, but I find tremendous value in spending time in the presence of books. With the kids out of school and looking for new and fun activities, summer is a perfect time for a library field trip. Here are my top five reasons why:
The Free Books
This may go without saying, but borrowing books is ideal for bibliophile kids like mine. A trip to Half Price Books costs us at least $50, and the benefit of free books should be enough to justify the visit. My kids, especially the 11-year-old, is a veracious reader, and he can easily read three or four books every week over the summer.
The Free Non-Books
Libraries are chock full of books, but you can find lots more there too. For those of us who actually own and know how to use a DVD (Blu-Ray, whatever…) player, you probably know you can also borrow movies, television series, and even (gasp!) audio books.
These aren’t the real treasures though. In my opinion, the best non-book parts of a library are found in exploring special collections like maps, photographs, and other undiscovered materials. And if you really want to rock your kids’ world, show them some old newspapers on microfilm or microfiche.
Look, Mom, free books!
The Programming
Public libraries everywhere feature exciting kids’ programs for all ages. While there’s always story time and puppet shows, most cities invest in intriguing author visits, science demonstrations, etc. to attract audiences to their libraries. Follow your library on social media to stay on top of events and activities.
The People
First, librarians are some of the most helpful and kind people in the universe (at least the ones I know are). They are always more than willing to help you or your child find your new favorite author or literary genre. Get to know the librarians at your local public library, and they’ll greet you with a warm smile every time you stop by.
Moreover, public libraries are, well, public. People from all walks of life use libraries to search for jobs on the internet, conduct genealogy research, and even to escape extreme weather conditions. Libraries are a demographic melting pot. While I can’t attest for every community, our Dallas public libraries provide a sound lesson in the vast diversity of our great city.
A scene from our beloved local public library.
General Enrichment
Planning a trip this summer? Trying to overcome the dreaded “summer slide”? Just looking for something new and different to do? Plan some time at your library. Send the kids on an age appropriate scavenger hunt. Start a family book club. Assign them a research project for your summer vacation destination (hint: look at some of those maps I mentioned earlier). Use the library for its intended purpose – to sit quietly and browse.
I’d love to hear stories about your public library. Please share them in the comments below.
Every time you enter a library you might say to yourself, “The world is quiet here,” as a sort of pledge proclaiming reading to be the greater good.
