Favorites Archives - Being Bon Mot

RHOD Mid-Season Top 10

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?

Kameron Westcott Real Housewives of Dallas Camping

#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!

Best Amazon Halloween Treats (No Tricks)

Looking for a few new spooky Halloween ideas? We’ve scoured Amazon for the best finds of the season.

We are very serious about Halloween in our house. Very serious. We throw parties. We decorate every nook and cranny. And we carefully plan our costumes as early as possible (but we don’t purchase them before September 1 because kids change their minds…). I have amassed quite a collection of decorations and supplies over the years, but I just can’t resist fun, new Halloween stuff. My storage spaces echo this sentiment with packed collections of spider webs, gothic candelabras, and myriad spooky materials.

Yet every year I scour my favorite haunts for trifling trinkets and spirited sundries to add to my collection. Of course, it would be wicked for me not to share the treasures I’ve found. So, my pretties, here are my favorite Halloween treats from Amazon.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission on recommended products at no additional cost to you.

Halloween Pillows

Changing out throw pillows is one of my favorite ways to spice up seasonal decor. I use festive pillows on my patio furniture, living room sofa, and chairs to set a spooky mood around the house.

Misting Party Light

Pop this cool find in a jack-o-lantern on the porch or in a vase as a centerpiece for a chilling party effect. It uses water for mist so safe it’s around kids.

Gross Out Faux Medical Supplies

Use these blood bags, syringes, and Petri dishes to serve potables (potent or otherwise) at your spooky soiree.

I love to suspend these creepy gummy body parts in a thin layer of Jell-O in a Petri dish. My kids ask for them every year!

Spooky Skeletons

We love dressing up the skeletons that sit on the porch every Halloween. Bony and Peaches are always festive as they welcome our guests. The last couple of years we’ve started collecting (plastic) animal skeletons to add to our spine-tingling display.

Halloween skeletons decorations — Bony & Peaches in their fetching scarves.

Mantle Decorations

A spooky mantle or table sets a the mood for all who dare to visit your home. I love to gather miscellaneous decorations and kids’ Halloween crafts with a few new things to spice up the fright!

Outdoor Spookiness

Our outdoor decoration game is always strong, and we’re shameless with our inflatables from September to January. I love these new witch hat lights for over the front door or adorning a tree. They’re battery operated so they can go just about anywhere. Try switching out your porch lights with these flame-effect bulbs to trick the treaters. I also like to change our front flood lights to glow spooky colors on Halloween night.

I hope you try a few of these spooky finds! Whatever your decorating poison, get everyone involved in the effort. Recruit your kids, your roommates, and your neighbors to help. Happy Haunting!

Halloween wraps fear in innocence, as though it were a slightly sour sweet. Let terror, then, be turned into a treat …
Nicholas Gordon

Celebrating Community One “Like” at a Time

A Bon Mot Birthday Give Back

Ready or not here comes a birthday… May is generally one of the craziest months of the year with grading finals, end of school, graduations, summer preparations, etc., so I tend to gloss over any real celebration. Plus, once you get to a certain age, it’s often better to just ignore the completion of another trip around the sun. Nonetheless, I’m delighted with the likes of Facebook and other social media outlets that make it so easy to honor birthday boys and girls with gifts to charity. So I decided to do a little experiment. Throughout this month, I’ll donate one whole dollar (that’s right, $1!) for every new like, follow, and blog subscription we rack up here at Being Bon Mot. My dearest Auntie Margo, who was notorious for ridiculously long birthday feting, always encouraged me to draw the celebration out as long as possible so I’m honoring her and starting today.

It’s my birthday, and I’ll give if I want to…

All of the money raised during this “Share the Love” campaign/drive/whatever we’re calling it will be donated to Bonton Farms. Bonton Farms is one of my favorite nonprofit organizations in Dallas (or really anywhere). And since I’m a believer in direct giving to charity, I’ll keep tabs on our progress and report often to Bon Mot followers (whether you like it or not). My goal is $250, and I’m committed to give more if things get crazy. I’m not sure what will happen with this little experiment, but I sincerely hope it will make an impact.

Bonton is a neighborhood in south Dallas where 85% of the men have been to prison and incidences of cancer and diabetes are more than 50% higher than the rest of the city. Named during its golden age of “high class” (loose translation of bon ton and generally accepted history of the name), Bonton quickly devolved into a food desert with few job opportunities and rampant poverty. Access to fresh foods was non-existent in the neighborhood. The nearest grocery store was a three-hour roundtrip bus ride for residents. And then Bonton Farms planted its roots firmly in the neighborhood’s soil. Now Bonton Farms is thriving and the organization’s investment in the health of citizens and the health of community is paying off.

Bonton Farms honey and fresh eggs are a fixture at the Dallas Farmers Market, and their beloved goats should have their own Instagram page. The farm’s 40-acre extension is one of the nation’s largest urban gardens and provides seasonal produce in easy walking-distance to neighborhood residents. While the idea of an urban farm isn’t necessarily a new one, the use of their crops to grow confidence, develop skills, and support a thriving culture is entirely innovative in our community. Simply put, Bonton Farms is an oasis.

Daron, Trog, Patrick, and the whole team are dedicated to sowing seeds in a struggling community and to the promise of growth in everyone there. What’s more, the folks at Bonton Farms have always been more than willing to welcome me, my family, and my students to mill about the farm and frolic with the goats and chicks. We’ve also put in work tending to the livestock and crops there. Farm staff have even served on a Homeless and Hunger Awareness panel I hosted on campus. So I’m dedicating my birthday month to cultivating more admirers of the awesome work happening at Bonton Farms and in community gardens everywhere.

My student, James, spending some time on the farm.

You can never go wrong with a Friends reference…

Listen, I acknowledge that this initiative is also slightly selfish in nature. I mean, aren’t most all things philanthropically-focused? There was an entire episode of Friends, cleverly titled “The One Where Phoebe Hates PBS,” dedicated to Phoebe’s pursuit of an entirely selfless act (1998 spoiler alert: She loses the bet.). Regardless of the obviously shameless and transparent self-promotion, I hope you’ll consider taking a minute to explore the great work of Bonton Farms or the community garden in your area. If you have more time and you’re a local, stop by the Bonton Market or spend a Saturday helping out around the farm. Whatever you choose to do, I’m grateful you took the time to read this post.

Graffit in Bonton. garden farm signs — Signs of Hope at Boston Farms

Best Disney FastPass Choices – Skip the Line!

Top 6 Disney FastPass Choices

Make the most of your Walt Disney World Vacation by planning ahead and reserving these Pixie Six FastPasses —

1. Avatar Flight of Passage

Avatar Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom is THE FastPass to get while visiting Disney World, and it’s a hard one. Soar through the world of Pandora on the back of your very own banshee in a multi-dimensional experience that’s as unique as this new section of the park. (Height requirement: 44 inches)

Beautiful Day in Pandora – World of Avatar

2. Slinky Dog Dash

Wait times for Slinky Dog Dash in the new Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios can inch towards an hour within minutes of the park opening; therefore, a FastPass is a must. Getting your Slinky Dog fans to wait in line for a two-minute rollercoaster ride is a hard sell, especially in the Florida sun so be sure to plan around ride times if you can. The voyage through Andy’s backyard is worth the wait, but a well-planned FastPass can save time so you can explore all the fun of Toy Story Land. (Height requirement: 38 inches)

Slinky Dog Dash Disney World Hollywood Studios

3. Frozen Ever After

Frozen Ever After is a very popular, Tier 1 ride located in Norway at Epcot that journeys through Arendelle, and all of your favorite residents are here to greet you. The ride is surprisingly thrilling, especially for Frozen’s smallest fans (there’s a small drop and a section where the ride moves backwards). (Height: Any) If you get another Tier 1 FastPass for Epcot, think about an early breakfast at Akerhaus then head over to be first in line for Frozen Ever After at park opening (read more here).

4. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho – it’s past the line you go! Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a hit for the entire family and just thrilling enough for big kids too. Be on the lookout for that menacing witch knocking at the door. Bonus: The Photo Pass video and pictures from Seven Dwarfs are always among our favorites. (Height requirement: 38 inches)

5. Soarin’ Around the World

Soarin’ Around the World at Epcot remains of our favorites, and the long wait times make it a FastPass must. The ride was updated in 2016 and provides an experience unlike any other (the closest thing is Avatar Flight of Passage). You’ll fly over the world’s most impressive landmarks and landscapes aboard a soaring glider, taking in the sights and smells along the way. (Height requirement: 40 inches)

6. Expedition Everest & Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster

If you’re a fan of true roller coasters, both Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom and Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios should be on your list. Both rides’ lines grow quickly so a FastPass (or two) is always a great idea. I prefer the Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster only slightly to Expedition Everest because you can’t beat an indoor coaster that blasts off to a 60 mph start in the first few seconds. Moreover, with the hubbub of Toy Story Land in full effect, Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster is now a Tier 2 FastPass. Don’t discount the adventure that awaits on Everest though. Expedition Everest is a really fun coaster, and the (spoiler alert!) surprise Yeti encounter is the highlight. (Height requirements: Rock ‘N’ Coaster – 48 inches; Everest – 44 inches)

Mount Everest Disney World — Excited to Zip to the Top of Mount Everest with a FastPass

Honorable Mention FastPass Options

If you don’t have a chance to grab the Pixie Six, here are some other rides worth reserving a FastPass for:

Toy Story Mania (edges out Alien Swirling Saucers in Hollywood Studios Tier 1)
Alien Swirling Saucers (Hollywood Studios, Tier 1)
Test Track (Epcot, Tier 1)
Big Thunder Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
Star Tours (Hollywood Studios, Tier 2)
Enchanted Tales with Belle (Magic Kingdom, fun for tots who don’t meet height requirements)
Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
Kilimanjaro Safaris (Animal Kingdom)

Kilimanjaro Safari Disney World Animal Kingdom — The Kilimanjaro Safari Savannah

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” -Walt Disney

Big Thunder Mountain Disney World — Big Thunder Mountain Fun

Which FastPass choices are a must for your family? Tell us about your favorite Walt Disney World Rides, and share your FastPass experiences here.

Best Disney World Character Meals

Top 6 dining choices to meet characters on your magical vacation.

Reservations Recommended

Bust out the autograph books and get your cameras ready! Presenting my Pixie Six Best Character Meals at Walt Disney World:

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

Akershus is sometimes seen as the not-so-wicked stepsister of the more grandiose Cinderella’s Royal Table, but Bon Mot princesses prefer the intimacy of Epcot’s regal buffet. It’s also easier to get a decent reservation. Try to get in early for breakfast then skate directly to “Frozen Ever After” to be first in line to ride (located right next door).

Characters: Belle greets you at the door. Other princesses include Snow White, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Ariel, Aurora, and others as schedules permit.

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Disney Dining Rapunzel

Tusker House

The Tusker House buffet serves some of the best food in the park, and the venue is perfectly themed for its Animal Kingdom (Africa Village) location. Look for reservations featuring the River of Lights Package which includes access to reserved seating for the evening event at no additional charge (If you weren’t able to get a package reservation, I recommend asking the hostess about seating vouchers at check-in because sometimes they have extras.).

Safari Chic Characters: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy

Tusker House Dining Disney World Mickey — Safari Mickey always gets a thumbs-up!

Hollywood & Vine

Hollywood & Vine has two different character meal offerings at Hollywood Studios. Breakfast features a traditional buffet with popular Disney Junior stars. Minnie hosts the lunch and dinner buffet and seasonal themes vary throughout the year. The diner-style restaurant is centrally located and features a photo-worthy background at the entrance. We prefer breakfast because we still have a huge Disney Junior fan in our midst, and morning reservations mean early access to the park to rush to Toy Story Land or to get in line for Jedi Training.

Breakfast Characters: Doc McStuffins, Vampirina, Sofia the First, and Goofy (Fancy Nancy is joining the party in March 2019).

Lunch & Dinner Characters: Minnie (the hostess with the mostess), Mickey, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy.

Hollywood & Vine Disney Dining Doc McStuffins Breakfast — Starting the day with her favorite toy doctor.

Garden Grill

Chip and Dale host meals at the Garden Grill in The Land pavilion at EPCOT. It’s one of my family’s favorite character meals for two important reasons. First, the meal is served family style and includes some of the park’s most delicious dishes (We’ve done breakfast, lunch, and dinner here and prefer the unique lunch/dinner menu as the breakfast offerings aren’t much different than those offered in other restaurants.). The absence of a buffet is also a welcome change of pace. Second, the restaurant spins! Your table slowly floats above the “Living with the Land” ride sets and makes for a fun and ever-changing ambiance.

Characters: Chip & Dale, Farmer Mickey, and Pluto.

The Crystal Palace

At the Crystal Palace character buffet at the Magic Kingdom, the characters are the star. Your favorite Hundred Acre Wood Characters reside here and spend ample time entertaining their fans of all ages. The glass-domed restaurant is centrally located just off of Main Street USA. The menu is pretty standard fare, but the garden greenhouse-esque atmosphere provides a refreshing respite from the theme park chaos. And did I mention you get to meet Tigger?

Characters: Tigger, Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, and Eeyore

Supercalifragilistic Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare

This character breakfast is, well, supercalifragilistic. It’s worth the trip over to the Grand Floridian Hotel to join Mary Poppins and friends for a meet and greet. 1900 Park Fare is a great option for arrival day or a non-park day. Try to make some time to explore the resort after your meal; you won’t regret it. Dinner at 1900 Park Fare is fun for the Cinderella purists and fans in your family and includes a buffet of world flavors. (Tip: Use a Lyft Minnie Van or other private transportation to avoid the chaos of bus transfers, etc.)

Breakfast Characters: Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, Mad Hatter, Tigger, and Pooh

Dinner Characters: Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, and Drisella (a.k.a. the wicked step-mother and -sisters), and the Fairy Godmother.

Garden Grill Epcot Disney World Chip & Dale — Chip signs an autograph for his adoring fans.

Character meals are one of the best ways to meet characters without having to wait in lines at Character Spots throughout the park. And I think it’s the ultimate in vacation multi-tasking (you’ve gotta eat, right?). We tend to maximize our Disney Dining Plan by cramming as many character meals as we can into our visit, but even if you’re not on the Plan, I strongly recommend finding time for just one. It’s always a great idea to make reservations as early as possible when traveling to Disney World (start making them six months in advance if possible), especially at the park’s most popular restaurants.

Visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/ for more information on these and other dining options for your visit. Please note that characters are always subject to change.

It’s always hard to Pixie Six, especially when there are so many great dining options at Disney World. What are some of your favorites?

Looking for more Walt Disney World planning tips? Check out my Pixie Six FastPass Choices!

Tin Can Taco Soup = Cold Weather Comfort + Uncanny Convenience

Recipe Alert!

(Pay attention, people, because this recipe sharing business won’t happen very often…)

On cold nights, nothing warms our family like a delicious, hearty bowl of Tin Can Taco Soup. It’s a crowd pleaser (read: kid approved), embarrassingly easy to prepare, and leaves enough leftovers for a yummy lunch or two. What’s more, it’s ready in less than 30 minutes and can be adjusted to fit your family’s palette. Truth be told, I love this soup so much that I make it a little too often (once a week if I can get away with it), and topped with Fritos and a touch of sour cream, it’s a bowl of convenient culinary perfection.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground turkey or lean beef
1 package taco seasoning
3 cans stewed tomatoes
1 can Ranch Style beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can whole kernel corn (drained)
1 can hominy (drained)
3 cans water

Brown ground meat over medium-high heat until thoroughly cooked.
Add all canned goods. (Opening the cans first is an excellent idea.)
Add three cans of water. (Why dirty a measuring cup when your empty can works just fine?)
Add taco seasoning and stir well.
Simmer over medium heat until warm and serve with toppings.

Bonus points: Serve Tin Can Taco Soup with a fun toppings bar including sour cream, shredded cheese, diced avocado, sliced black olives, diced green chilis, Fritos corn chips (tortilla chips are good, but Fritos are better), and whatever else you have lying around.

You can easily make this a meatless option, and the beans provide plenty of heartiness on their own.

As I mentioned, this is a ridiculously easy recipe – it basically requires you to open cans and brown meat. I never promised gourmet, and Being Bon Mot clearly isn’t a food blog. But busy moms need culinary inspiration sometimes, and I’d argue you can find it in a tin can.

Please let me know what you think of Tin Can Taco Soup if you try it, and report back on any fun or interesting toppings you discover. Also, shout-out to my bestie, Jessica, for sharing this recipe with me so many years ago. And for her patience with my texting her to report every time I make it…

Benevolent Bargains: The Genius of the Family Place Partners Card

Most anyone who knows me knows about my obsession with The Family Place Partners Card. I was an early adopter, a really early adopter. We shopped with our very first Partners Card at Harold’s in Highland Park Village after learning about it from a salesperson there almost 20 years ago. Does anyone still remember Harold’s? Harold’s was at the center of the preppy printed pant movement that closed out our last millennia and was ultimately responsible for the leather braided belt trend that followed. (You’re welcome.) So when I say I am a fan of the Partners Card, I really mean it. Here’s the deal – the Partners Card is a discount card you purchase whereby you save twenty percent at major retailers around Dallas. 20% at MAJOR retailers — Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma, Tumi, The Container Store — the list goes on and on. You get 10 days (including two weekends) to save using the Partners Card. I research, plan, and strategize weeks in advance of the savings window in my best attempt to maximize the greatness of the discount. As a matter of fact, holiday hiring and shopping starts weeks earlier in North Texas than it does elsewhere because of the retail volume generated during the Partners Card period. (It’s right around the corner: October 26 – November 4, 2018 for your own planning purposes, by the way.) But this card is about more than just the savings. It’s about contributing to an organization that does amazing work in our community.

The issue of domestic violence (now commonly referred to as ‘intimate partner violence’ as victims often don’t share a home with their perpetrator) is prevalent across all races, levels of wealth, and most all other socioeconomic indicators. Domestic violence against men is also rising at a staggering rate. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) reports that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will experience some form of physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime, and it’s far more common in young adult relationships. This is clearly an issue that pervades our community. On the brighter side, Dallas is fortunate to have a number of fantastic nonprofit organizations working in support of survivors and their families. The Family Place is unique in the Dallas charitable landscape for several reasons. First, it’s the only family violence emergency shelter in the community that has a program for men. Next, because studies indicate that many victims with pets tend to stay in abusive situations for fear of harm to their animals if they leave, The Family Place recently opened a facility with dog kennels, cat towers, and veterinary care to supplement their otherwise human-centered programs. And finally, they are the purveyors of the Partners Card.

As the story goes, Paige Flink, the current CEO of The Family Place, imported the Partners Card idea from a trip she took to Chicago more than 20 years ago. She learned of a similar program while shopping there and knew that it would be successful in a community like Dallas. And the rest… well, you know. The Partners Card effort is primarily volunteer and represents the vast potential of our community and the commitment of local retailers to the intimate partner violence cause. 100% of the $70 purchase price of the Partners Card goes directly to the Family Place. Conveniently, $70 also covers the cost of one night of safety for family violence victims at their shelter. The event is a major fundraiser for the organization as it has raised more than $1 million every year since 2010. This year the deal is even sweeter because the discount has been extended for online purchases with some retailers. Needless to say, the Partners Card is a perfect fit for this Creative Charity series because of its uniqueness and, dare I say, genius approach to special event fundraising. For more information on The Family Place or intimate partner violence, visit www.familyplace.org. You can purchase the Partners Card at participating retailers during the event (unfortunately the online sales window has closed). Click HERE for a list of retailers and for more information. Be sure to comment below with your Partners Card shopping tips and stories!

“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.”
-Coco Chanel

Top 5 Kid Bands for Grown Ups

Check out these kid jams that help make carpooling and road tripping much more groovy!

**This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn commissions from qualifying products at no additional cost to you.

____________________________________________

Our family is really into music. I mean, we’re really into music. We’re always singing loudly and busting into impromptu dance parties. But people are often surprised that my kids rarely listen to FM radio or popular music. Instead, my husband and I try to curate their music because, let’s be honest, it’s pretty jarring to hear a six-year-old kid sing a song about a one-night stand. And, in my opinion, a fifth grader has no business bopping along to lyrics with curse words that demoralize women, even if edited and sung via Kids Bop. Nonetheless, we owe it to our kids to teach them about good music. Most of us started exposing our children to music in utero (headphones on your baby bump, anyone?) with the hope of growing well-cultured offspring. Whether we mean to or not, we shape our kids’ musical tastes. I can still sing along to most every song by Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Little River Band because that’s the music I grew up on (there’s a bad moon on the rise NOT a bathroom on the right, thank you very much John Fogerty).

My kids weren’t born requesting Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 or, much to my jazz-loving husband’s chagrin, selections from Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue. But they pay attention to what we’re listening to in the car and at home. And, when they like what they hear, they ask to play it over and over and over again. We listen to kids channels on Amazon Music and Pandora, and we love absolutely everything about SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live. I’m not a music reviewer; I don’t have a degree in music or any real musical appreciation standards, but I know what makes my kids sing along and demand we turn it up. And in those moments, I make mental notes about what we should add to our ever-growing playlist.

It goes without saying that there are some great grown up musicians who are suitable for kids too. Thankfully the likes of Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Imagine Dragons, and even the Beatles are cool enough for everyone in the family. But even some of their songs aren’t necessarily appropriate for young ears. I struggle with spinning funky beats that are groan-proof and suitable for kids that are four years apart in age. We share pop music and show tunes and lots of classics and absolutely delight in landing on an artist or song that falls in the family music sweet spot.

In our quest to find family-friendly music from various sources, we’ve come to love some children’s musicians that I think grown ups will love too. I’d encourage you to take a listen and share with your budding music lovers. A note of caution about kids’ music though – it’s clever and silly and the lyrics are meant to stick in that part of your brain that’s difficult to silence (a.k.a. the dreaded phonological loop). And remember it’s music made for kids so manage your critiques accordingly. Here are my TOP 5 (well, actually, six) for your consideration:

Okee Dokee Brothers –

Not-really-brothers Joe and Justin write and sing folksy songs about everything from canoeing to mosquitoes to the illusive Jackolope. Their trilogy of Grammy-nominated albums follows their many adventures in the outdoors, and the harmonies and clever lyrics are most prominent. It’s hard to say which album is best, and even though Can You Canoe? won the Grammy, we have favorite songs from all of their albums. “The Great Divide,” “Lighten Your Load,” “You You You” and “Campin’ Tent” are standouts.

Parry Gripp

My apologies in advance for this awesome recommendation, but Mr. Gripp is a master of the earworm. His novel kid songs (mostly about animals and food) haven’t really been combined into album form because he introduces them mostly through YouTube, but they’re worth downloading individually. Some of our favorites include: “Space Unicorn,” “Raining Tacos,” “Black Hamster,” and “Do You Like Waffles?”, but tune to his Pandora channel or ask Alexa to play his songs and discover your family’s favorites.

Laurie Berkner Band

Laurie Berkner is the OG of kids’ music. She’s been stomping around like a dinosaur since 1997 when her first album Whaddya Think of That? was released. People magazine called her, “The queen of children’s music,” and it’s a title well-deserved. Her music is probably most suitable for younger kids (my son insists he outgrew her music at eight), but we still play her holiday album on repeat without any complaints. Her dance remix album injected a new twist into some of our old favorites like “Victor Vito” and “The Cat Came Back,” but the originals are still as fun as they’ve ever been for me.

Recess Monkey/Anything by Jack Forman

These teachers turned kiddie rockers know a thing or two about catchy lyrics. And they’re impressively prolific. They’ve released an album every year since 2009, and you’ll find family favorites on all of them. In the interest of full disclosure, everyone in our family loves Recess Monkey front man, Jack Forman, and his Sirius XM Kids Place Live Show, Live from the Monkey House!, so we may be a bit biased here. But Jack’s solo stuff including “Yodeling Yoda” is definitely also worth a listen.

TIE – Lori Henriques & Gustafer Yellowgold

The number five spot on this list was a source of great debate in our house. I lobbied vehemently for Lori Henriques, but the kids thought Gustafer should take the Cakenstein. So we declared it a tie…

Lori Henriques’s music is jazzy and artful and just plain fun. Lori is an absurdly talented musician with a distinct sound in the kid music genre. “How Great Can This Day Be” should be mandatory morning music while “The Poop Song” (yep, that’s right) and “Vocabulary” are sure to delight the entire family.

Gustafer Yellowgold (Morgan Taylor’s alter-ego), on the other hand, is the kind of artist and musician that is difficult to categorize. His songs are skillful accounts of well-imagined schemes with evil foods and vivid adventures. His “Cakenstein” and “Baconstein” are our obvious favorites, but Gustafer’s prolific audio and video offerings are a sure winner for long roadtrips and kitchen dance parties. Also, if you get the chance to see him live, go and take the kids. You won’t regret it.

I hope you’ll consider giving a few of these talented artists a listen. Maybe you can jam to “Raining Tacos” on the next Taco Tuesday or surprise your kids with “Baconstein” over breakfast. If you do, let me know what you think. And I love learning about new children’s artists and songs so please share your favorites here.

“Where words fail, music speaks.”
-Hans Christian Andersen

“Here I am. Yes, it’s me.”

Warning: You might learn something from reading this blog.

I’m not making any promises, but I just can’t resist geeking-out about most things. I tend to simultaneously observe and learn from experiences, and the lessons from those observations are what you’ll find here. Consider this an exercise in learning from someone else’s mistakes. Plus, there’s a pretty good chance that you and I have a lot in common. Or maybe we just have one thing in common and you’ve visited this blog on a very specific mission. In any case, welcome to Being Bon Mot!

Being Bon Mot (name explained here…) is a blog about nearly every aspect of the things I love in life, but it centers on my parenting follies, my love of traveling with my family, and my life as a college professor. Being Bon Mot is an outlet for observations about the world around us. It’s more real life than life style. Mostly this blog will serve as an affirmation for that insatiable voice inside your head that searches for a greater understanding of mid-life adulting challenges and triumphs, solved one mommy hack at a time. It’s a quest for the silver lining in all things.

Who am I?

My name is Alicia Schortgen, and you can blame me for Being Bon Mot. I’m a 40-something mom who lives in Dallas, Texas with two kids, a great husband, a too-often messy house, and a full-time job. Actually, if you account for time and effort, being a mom is my full-time job. Being a college professor is my side hustle. Don’t worry – I’m well aware that I’m a blogging dinosaur. I also know how much time people like me spend searching for a representative voice in a sea of relative online youth. We Pinterest and Google and Facebook like teenagers even though we know better than to rely on social media for validation.

Interestingly enough, I do spend a lot of time around teenagers, but I’ve tried my best to stop acting like them. I teach nonprofit studies at Southern Methodist University, and I love that I get to introduce my students to ideas about charity that sometimes challenge their conventional notions of doing good in the community. So Being Bon Mot is also about my expertise in all things nonprofit – from vetting charitable organizations, to finding a place to volunteer, to rocking your time serving on the PTA. I explore the perils of college life with the benefit of hindsight and write about the real lessons we can all learn from time spent on campus.

I love to travel – by land and sea and air! You’ll see lots of posts about Disney travel and trips to Colorado because I’m mouse and mountain obsessed. I’ve planned no less than a hundred million Disney trips for friends for fun (bring me a latte and I’ll wake up early to snag FastPasses with you!), and those efforts served as one of the catalysts for starting this blog. I’ll go most anywhere anytime I can, and I live to experience new places through the eyes of my children. I’ve been known to drive cross-country for several weeks over summer break making frequent stops along the way; suffice it to say that I’m not afraid of road trips.

Mostly, I am a foil of myself. In other words, I constantly suffer from an identity crisis. I am both the protagonist and antagonist in the story of my life. I listen to NPR and love hip hop music. I read The Economist and People magazine weekly. I watch the Real Housewives and Sunday morning political shows with the same enthusiasm. I’m a college professor who appreciates a great pair of shoes. And I try to bring all of these perspectives into what I share here in a quasi-Shakespearian attempt to present the world as I see it.

Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.
-Abigail Adams