But if you’re brave and really into saving then go for it! If you buy a lot your tax savings add up.

TAX-FREE

* Baby clothes
* Backpacks for use by elementary and secondary students
* Belts with attached buckles
* Boots – cowboy, hiking
* Caps/hats – baseball, fishing, golf, knitted
* Coats and wraps
* Diapers – adult and baby
* Dresses
* Gloves (generally)
* Gym suits and uniforms
* Hooded shirts and hooded sweatshirts
* Hosiery
* Jackets
* Jeans
* Jerseys – baseball and football
* Jogging apparel
* Neckwear and ties
* Pajamas
* Pants and trousers
* Raincoats and ponchos
* Robes
* Shirts
* Shoes – sandals, slippers, sneakers, tennis, walking
* Socks (including athletic)
* Shorts
* Suits, slacks, and jackets
* Sweatshirts
* Sweat suits
* Sweaters
* Swimsuits
* Underclothes
* Work clothes and uniforms

Visit the state’s website for more information and a complete list of school supplies and clothings that qualify for the tax free holiday.

Phone: 972-759-0217

 13380  Preston Road (across from Valley View Shopping Center and next to Half Price Books). They also have other locations.      

http://www.smoothiefactory.com/ 

Heart Dallas Advisory: Walking into Smoothie Factory could be dangerous. If you walk out feeling super energized and your family and friends don’t know what to do, don’t blame me.

This is a one-and-only view of the outside of Smoothie Factory on Preston Road.

On a recent weekday afternoon, I stopped by. It was my day to be adventurous. I boldly declared that I wanted the Meal Replacement smoothie. Soni Gvrung, 20, convinced me to try it with a chocolate protein flavor and almonds. Gvrung was in the store that day with Cody Newlin, 23, while owner Shital Balar was out.

Gvrung (the one who is 20) told me that the point of a Meal Replacement smoothie is that you are supposed to drink one after you work out. After that, you do not have to eat for three or four hours if you do not want to. I wasn’t to thrilled about ”not eating,” but I wanted to try a smoothie just to see what it tasted like.

The Verdict: the smoothie was smoothie-licious, but I think next time I’ll stick to a Banana smoothie. ”Plain Jane” is my smoothie style right now. The Meal Replacement smoothie was a little too chocolate-y and too crunchy.

In case you want to start planning your smoothie this minute, other smoothie categories at Smoothie Factory include Acai Berry or “Brazilian Power Berry,” Protein Smoothies, and Specialty Smoothies (which are extra unique smoothies). You can add items like creatine factor, which is for strength and recovery, to your smoothie.

While you are at Smoothie Factory, make sure you get a punch card, and remind them to punch it every time you go. If you are like me, you’ll keep it at a close distance at all times. Once you visit eight times, you’ll get something FREE, even if it’s only a small smoothie.    

 I stopped by the Smoothie Factory location at Skillman Road and Walnut Hill in Dallas also. They are at 7215 Skillman Road, Suite 322. Owner Chad Piepenburg was very helpful.

The BOTTOM LINE you’ve been waiting for: If you want to go often, watch so the smoothies (about $6.83 for a medium) don’t slurp a large amount from your wallet. Speaking of $6.83, any chance of lowering this price, Smoothie Factory Gods?

More tables and chairs need to be added, so it’s not just a grab and go place.

But, do go. Look out for Troy Aikman. He is a fan. When you are finished, browse at Half Price Books with smoothie in hand.

Smoothie Factory, a beautiful site for Mine Eyes

by Alice, smooth blogger

 6300 Harry Hines Boulevard,  Suite 130 (on the ground floor of the Chase Bank Building. At the corner of Mockingbird Lane and Harry Hines Boulevard)   

Dallas, Texas 75235

Phone: 214.352.2296

Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Breakfast and Lunch only. Closed Saturday and Sunday. 

www.freshmarketonline.com  

Saunter into Fresh Market looking for a drink, snack, or meal, (or even a chicken and watermelon combo — see below) and chances are you will find something.

Co-owner Nopp Pradappet is feeling smiley. Nopp said he is from Thailand.

Fresh Market is not a market at all, but a casual, grab and go buffet eatery. Fresh Market does have a couple of tiny tables where you can eat. However,  owner Nopp Pradappet (co-owner is Nong Clapper)told me the idea is for customers to take their food into the Chase Building (to the area that is known as the “food court” even though it pales in comparison to some food courts), and eat at one of ”hundreds” of tables. I have done this before. It is possible, just be ready, my friends, to sword-fight someone for a table between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.

Sun Chips and other snacks leading you to temptation at Fresh Market.

On a recent visit (I am going to school and my EMT classes are in the Chase Bank Building) , I was especially hungry and ended up getting a few pieces of watermelon and three or four chicken strips in a styrofoam container. The quick combo did not contain elements of all four food groups. However, I did not care, being ravenous at that time.

Fresh Market has been around since 1984. Pradappet likes to chat up customers (this is an understatement — he really, really likes to chat up customers). If you are nearby, you may hear him smirkingly ask something like, “would you like an Extended Warranty with that 20 ounce Pepsi?” If you want to get him going, tell him ”yes,” enthusiastically.

Also, Pradappet enjoys making the joke, “buy one, get the next one at the regular price.”  Whoa, I’ve never heard of a deal like that before.

If only it were: “buy one meal, get a free meal the next 100 times you visit .”

The Heart Dallas Bottom Line: Fresh Market is only open for breakfast and lunch, so make sure you go while they are open (6:30 to 3 p.m.). You may want to stop if you are driving down Harry Hines Boulevard (the medical district) and need a place for a quick bite. It can be a little expensive, and the miniscule amount of tables needs to be improved, but at least there are tables nearby. They have excellent cookies (located near the Salad Bar) and they always have coffee (even when I walked in at 7:30 a.m.)             

by Alice, rapid-meal-assessing blogger

Let me briefly mention Planet Earth Live at the DSO coming up this weekend, I mentioned this last week. Click here for that post.

A few months back Alice did a post on dd’s DISCOUNTS. Got an email from their reps, and this Saturday, the 26th, dd’s DISCOUNTS will celebrate the opening of their newest Dallas store located at 3200 S. Lancaster. As part of the grand opening ceremony and in support of the community, the new dd’s DISCOUNTS store will donate $1,000 to the local Boys and Girls Club. Additionally, the store will give away $1,000 in dd’s gift cards. Customers may enter from June 26th thru July 4th for a chance to win one of five $100 or one of ten $50 dd’s DISCOUNTS Gift Cards.

Being a superhero is sometimes hard but it has its perks. This Friday, the 25th, will be the last time to catch It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Superman at the Dallas Theater Center, Wylie Theatre. Call 214-880-0202 for ticket info.

If you can’t fly with Superman this weekend maybe you can elevate yourself some with the Eagles at the American Airlines Center this Saturday. Check out ticketmaster.com for more info.

Monday was the official start of summer and for something FREE I recommend White Rock Lake. Escape the bustle of the city without traveling far, and did I mention it’s free? Embrace the Texas heat; it’s here to stay for a while.

Have a good weekend!

Suggesting that you go to see a movie isn’t how I want to start off WeekendLove, but for family fun this weekend I suggest Toy Story 3. Toy Story was Pixar’s first feature film and I’m sure Pixar will not disappoint with the release of Toy Story 3.

The 2010 DallasChild Baby Fair and Model Search is this Saturday from 10am-3pm at the Stonebriar Centre in Frisco, TX (2601 Preston Road). This fair will offer information for parents, and experts on child-related issues will be available for conversations. This event is free. More information on dallaschild.com.

Head to Grand Prairie for fun at Lone Star Park. Enjoy live horse racing and then Eli Young Band on Friday night. Saturday afternoon there will be a Mexican Fiesta. For details check out the news event page at lonestarpark.com. There are also events on Sunday that are worth looking into.

For some live music this weekend check out the House of Blues Dallas on Friday night to see The Who Show: A tribute to The Who. It starts at 8:00am, with tickets at $13.00. I imagine this is the next best thing to seeing the 70’s band live? House of Blues Dallas for more information.

For heads up on next weekend…If you are into music and loved the Planet Earth series on Discovery you might want to look into Planet Earth Live from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. As of right now, tickets are still available ranging from $35 to $85.Tickets.

Have a good weekend!

Best Travel Tips for a Fabulous Vacation

By: Sunne Khurana

Traveling is such a great experience that we thought we could do this all the time.

Unfortunately, we get very less time to travel in this fast & furious world. Mostly of us only get a couple weeks a year (if we’re lucky) to take our vacations.

Make ensure that those trips are the extremely best which are having some kind of humor in that(unlike the many travel movies where there are nightmares around every corner), we are providing our top 10 travel tips to make your vacations unforgettable – in a superior way of course.

Top 10 Travel Tips

1. Plan early & book when a best deal fits your budget. Companies pop up everyday for more and more travel. Why? Because as the baby boomer age group gets grown-up & once they boot their kids out of the house, they are traveling more and more. Best deals are easy to get and many sound companies that offer great & economical rates and fares.

2. Be familiar about your destination and the best times to travel. Remember when Angelina Jolie takes the whole family to cross-country only to find out favorite Fun Park, which is closed? Do not let that happen to you. Know what is going on and when the best times to travel are. For example, most people know that March and April tend to be spring break times. Well, if you take your little ones to Panama City Florida during these months, chances for you to go to run into wild.

3. Take care of your belongings. Making sure the family pet is also taken care off.

4. Budget wisely. Make sure that if the worst happened you still have resources to fall back on. If you are on a budget, be smart & enjoy doing things on a trip.

5. Don’t forget your key documents. There is nothing more frustrating than forgetting something when you are hundreds or thousands of miles away from home.

6. Again, pick up your area of choice to determine how close you are to different activities and restaurants. Its nothing like landing a great deal on a hotel which near by beach, market & restaurant for a fabulous vacation. For example, a hotel that is so far away from the beach you need to catch a train or rented car just to get there. In addition, you want to make sure that everyone traveling with you will have fun! Again, in Las Vegas Vacation when the kids are too young to gamble, they have to come up with creative ways to have a good time.

7. Sign up for online magazine & newspapers keep your ear to the ground about your destination of choice.

8. Plan it properly it can really bite you in the behind on certain things like rentals and such.

9. Make a checklist and to be sure, that everything is in order before and during the trip. From booking to packing to check in relaxation, do not fail to remember anything.

10. Having a great fun and enjoy No matter what type of vacation you are going on.

These are our top 10 best travel tips and we live by them each time we take a vacation. Hope you will too as we know your trip will be much more enjoyable.

If you want your Trip in a Budget, I promise that if your try it out you will be pleased. Besides, you have absolutely nothing to lose by trying it but you will miss some great airline deals if you do not try it. I suggest you for best travel website as I found while searching on Google. These are Airtkt.com,Cheapfareguru.com, www.erostours.com,www.latinfare.com for Last minute cheap airline tickets.

Happy Traveling

About the Author

Sunny Khurana having experience of more than twenty five years in travel inudstry. He is very interested in searching and negotiating for the best value available for travelers.He has traveled extnesively around globe. He has successful relationship with all major travel vendors and suppliers. He is well qualified in travel management,rich knowledge of world’s tourist place. A successful businessman as well author of Tours and Travels.

(ArticlesBase SC #394879)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Best Travel Tips for a Fabulous Vacations

I am excited to introduce a new section here on heartdallas.com. WeekendLove will be a weekly feature published on Wednesdays of fun things to do for the upcoming weekend. Stay tuned.

Next concert, according to calendar: Slightly Stoopid on Sat. April 24.

Cobra Starship will be there, Fri. June 4

Midlake (they are from Denton, TX) will be there, Sat. June 5.

http://www.thepalladiumballroom.com

Everything in this post will get a “beer up” (in the air) or a “beer down” (poured onto the floor). This is in place of Thumbs up or Thumbs down. The reasoning is that many people at the Alkaline Trio concert I went to enjoyed very much raising their beer high in the air.

I went into the concert March 27 cold from the wind outside. I came out wiser about the practice of moshing.

During the show a mosh pit started.

I was not super close to the people who were barreling into each other, but I was Too Close For Comfort. A kind guy next to me offered to shield me if the super-drunk 13-year-olds (I mean, 21 year-olds) came my way. Before this I had not really seen a mosh pit, except maybe at a Lollapalooza concert in the 10th grade. Which is why I had perhaps thought moshing was dead. However, Alkaline Trio must attract moshers.

The Palladium is super spread out. Right in front of the stage it is standing room only (this made me wish I was tall), creating an OBSTRUCTED VIEW for me most of the time.

Beer Down: There are a lot of dim lights. Seeing a couple of feet in front of you is hard.

Beer Down: The bartender (who was wearing a tight tank top) looked like she was not old enough to serve beer. My Corona was $5.

Beer Down: If you park in the super-close parking lot it is $20. If you park in the farther Parking Area, it is a mere $10. I should have taken my chances on Cadiz Street nearby. A side note: The Palladium is near the South Side on Lamar apartments, where the Obama Headquarters were two years ago.

Derek of Alkaline Trio

The HEART DALLAS bottom line: The Palladium gets a lukewarm response from this fearful-for-her-life during Mosh Pit ritual blogger.

Do go if there is a concert you really want to see. The Palladium does attract many good shows. But do not become a special member of the VIP club, or eagerly sign up for their Frequent Visitor punch card.

514 South Garland Avenue (Corner of South Garland Avenue and Avenue “D”) (The Dallas store is at Jupiter Road and Garland Road). 

Garland, 75040

Hours: M, W: 11-7 p.m.

              T, Th: 11-8 p.m.

               F, S: 11-6 p.m. Closed Sunday.   No web site.

972.272.8077

In case you want to know my desires: I first stumbled into Garland’s Zoo Music because of a desire to take drum lessons (and also because of a job opening). I signed up for the lessons and now have much to practice. The store also offers guitar lessons with instructor Tony Camponovo.

When you walk in, you will view an extensive Wall of Guitars, and speakers everywhere you look.

Wall of Guitars. I do not think they will fall on your head.

The store looks dingy from the outside, however DO NOT be intimidated. Once you go in, you will find Friendly Associates.      

Following is more about why you should also go to Zoo Music if you require musical gear or lessons.

In case you like background with that guitar: Zoo Music has been in existence for more than thirty years.  

Dave Anderson is the founder of Zoo Music, thus every business card from the store states, “Dave Anderson’s Zoo Music.” According to employee Jeremy Panich, Anderson is known for dropping by the store.

Panich also told me that Anderson is now into real estate. I say that is a good thing because the Garland store is not on a very pleasant piece of real estate.           

In case you like science: I conducted a brief and very scientific survey of some Zoo Music employees, asking why people should shop there.  This nugget is from Joel Simka, 40, also my drum instructor: 

“Take into consideration that when you shop at ‘mom and pop’ establishments such as Zoo Music, you take part in sticking it to the corporate world.”

Jameson Pirkle, 25, wants you to go because there is  “a cornucopia of gear at your disposal!”

In case you like my opinion on sheet music: The store could offer more music books for drum and guitar students. Maybe I should speak to the ubiquitous Dave Anderson about this.

 Camponovo, the guitar instructor, had this to say about why you should shop there: “Why not?”

Jeremy Panich, who works at Zoo Music. He said he likes the Gorillaz.

Glorious outside of Zoo Music

In case you want the Heart Dallas BOTTOM LINE:  Go. Get some useful gear. Ask questions about said useful gear and the many guitars on the wall (They are SECURELY fastened, do not worry).

By Alice, Drum Pad Owner.

9779 Forest Lane (Corner of Forest Lane and Audelia Rd.)

Dallas, TX 75243

972-792-0929 (When I called, someone answered on the first ring).

http://www.ddsdiscounts.com

Before early 2010, I had often passed dd’s discounts and wondered aloud to anyone listening, “What kinds of discounts does dd offer?”

Anyone wanna go buy a Tortilla Warmer or a Hair Straightener?

Despite the messy store, when I entered I discovered a gleaming array of housewares, clothes and products such as hair straighteners.

While visiting the store for the second time, I noticed a pair of extremely shiny black leggings. My boyfriend asked, “will those melt if you put them in the dryer?” I told him they would not, or dd’s discounts would not sell them. The shiny black leggings are an example of Hard-to-find items.

If your thing is Playboy bunny T-shirts or T-shirts that say “Diva” on them, then run to dd’s discounts.

I visited the store on Forest Lane. Even though the store is in Dallas, it is located a few miles from Garland, so I secretly call it the Garland store.

According to their web site, there were 52 dd’s discounts stores in four states (including Texas) in 2009. The chain is owned by Ross Stores, Inc.

The woman in the picture did not know I was taking a picture of her and her Awesome Steals.

The Heart Dallas bottom line

: Go. The store is open until 9 p.m. all weeknights.

Actively employ bargain hunting skills. Watch out for: messy store, long lines, and ugly clothing items (see Playboy bunny T-shirt horror, above).

by Alice, previous Wonderer of dd’s discounts’ Magic