In the original Tanglewood Moms group on Facebook, a member asked for recommendations for VBS in Fort Worth. As usual, the group knew all the best places! We’ve gathered them all here, including ages and additional information (if available), so be sure to bookmark this page. And if we missed one, add it to the comments below!

• Travis Avenue Baptist Church
• Christ Chapel Bible Church – June 23-26
• Arlington Heights Methodist Church – July 13-17, 9 am to noon
• Andrew’s Anglican Church – July 6-10, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
• Peter the Apostle Catholic Church – June 8-12 (Please note, this camp costs $20 per camper)
• Lighthouse Fellowship
• First United Methodist Church – July 20-24, 9 am to noon
• Worth Baptist Church – June 22-26, 9 am to noon, ages 5-12
• First Baptist Church, Benbrook – June 15-19, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
• Paul Lutheran Church/Summit Aledo – June 8-11, 9 am to noon, 3 years through 5^th grade
• Doxology Bible Church – June 8-11, 9 am to noon, kindergarten through 5^th grade
• Stephen Presbyterian Church – June 1-5, 9 am to noon
• Broadway Baptist Church – June 8-12, 9 am to noon
• University Christian Church – June 9-11, 9 am to noon, 2 years (UCC members) through 5^th grade
• Grace Church Southwest – June 14-28, 6 to 8:30 pm, 4 years through 5^th grade
• Arborlawn United Methodist Church – June 29 through July 2, 9 am to noon, 2 years through 5^th grade
• Trinity Episcopal Church
• North Fort Worth Baptist Church – July 6-10, 9 am to noon, kindergarten though 5^th grade
• Christ Lutheran Church – July 19-22
• All Saints Episcopal Church – June 8-11, 8:30 to 11:45 am, 3 years to 5^th grade
• Holy Family Catholic Church – June 8-12, 8:30 am to noon

The post As Determined by TWM: Vacation Bible School first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

A member of the Tanglewood Moms group on Facebook recently asked for recommendations for men’s cologne. She wanted something woodsy and fresh and masculine. We’ve gathered the answers together (along with some of our own!) and present them as a last-minute present idea!

• Armani Code by Georgio Armani
• Oud Wood by Tom Ford
• BOSS Bottled Infinite by Hugo Boss
• Acqua de Gio by Gorgio Armani
• Light Blue Pour Homme by Dolce & Gabbana
• Sauvage by Dior
• Y by Yves Saint Laurent
• Another 13 by La Labo
• Guilty Pour Homme by Gucci
• Cypress & Grapevine Cologne Intense by Jo Malone
• MYSLF by Yves Saint Laurent
• Aventus by Creed
• F****** Fabulous by Tom Ford
• Paradigme by Prada
• Bleu by Chanel
• Explorer by Mondblanc
• Pasha by Cartier
• Terre by Hermès
• Dior Homme Intense 2011 by Dior
• Allure Homme by Chanel
• La Nuit de l’Homme by Yves Saint Laurent
• Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier
• Vetiver by Creed
• Baccarat Rough 540 by Maison Francis Krkdjian
• Gambit by Mind Games
• Rehab by Initio Parfums Prives
• Every Storm a Serenade by Imaginary Authors
• 212 VIP by Carolina Herrera
• Obsession for Men by Calvin Klein
• H24 by Hermès
• Stronger with You Intensely by Georgio Armani
• Althaīr by Parfums de Marly
• Invictus by Rabanne
• Bad Boy by Carolina Herrera
• Luna Rossa Carbon by Prada
• Green Irish Tweed by Creed

Happy Holidays from all of us at Tanglewood Moms!

The post As Determined by TWM: Men’s Colognes first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

It’s the holidays, and they’re coming FAST. I’ve already been Mariah-ed and Whammed, and it’s not event November 15.

One of the members of the Tanglewood Moms Facebook group asked for ideas for non-traditional Christmas dinners because she was tired of spending all day in the kitchen instead of with her family. Amen, sister!

Of course, Tanglewood Moms rallied around and came up with some great ideas, which we’ve gathered here. Quite honestly, if my family wouldn’t divorce me, I’d do any of these. So, get out of the kitchen and ENJOY your holidays!

• Tamales and sides
• Brisket (even better if you can get the man to do the work!)
• Enchiladas – made ahead
• Lasagna or other make-ahead pasta like baked ziti
• Baked potato, nacho, taco, or pasta bar
• Steaks
• Gumbo
• Sandwich board
• “Party” appetizers
• Pizza – points for make-your-own pizza bar
• Steak and ale pie
• Breakfast for dinner
• Chicken spaghetti
• Chicken and dumplings
• Waffle bar/pancake bar
• Soup
• Big roast and salad
• Pulled pork in the crockpot
• Seafood boil
• Soup and salad bar
• Go out for hibachi (several people suggested this!)
• Chicken pot pies
• Grazing table
• Chili
• Chicken and waffles
• Fondue
• Smoked salmon, bagels, and all the fixin’s with champagne in front of the fire once the baby was asleep (Editor’s note: This is what my then-husband and I did one year when our Christmas Eve flight was canceled. It was one of the best holidays I’ve ever spent!)

And of course, there is nothing to say that you can’t do any of these for Thanksgiving or any other big holiday gathering! Whatever you do, just make sure to remember that being together with friends and family is far more important that making the perfect meal!

The post As Determined by TWM: Non-Traditional Christmas Dinners first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

This is what one member of Tanglewood Moms was looking for this week. Of course, she got so many great suggestions for places with exactly those requirements that we knew we had to share them! (Now please excuse me, I need to set up a schedule in which I taste test every single one. Anyone want to join me?)

• Charleston’s
• Cat City Grill
• Pacific Grill
• The Tavern
• Clay Pigeon
• Walloon’s
• Wishbone & Flynt
• Bricks and Horses
• The Capital Grille
• Cane Rosso (Okay, they serve tots instead of fries, but I think we can let it slide this time.)
• Zoli’s
• Pappadeaux
• Pinstripes
• B&B Butchers
• Del Frisco’s – Double Eagle Steakhouse and Grille
• Lucile’s Stateside Bistro
• Tricky Fish
• Luna Grill
• Wicked Butcher
• Bankhead Brew Pub
• City Works
• Plank Provisions
• The Bearded Lady
• Emilia’s (Sure, they call them papas bravas, but they’re fried potatoes!)
• Little Red Wasp
• Winslow’s Wine Cafe

Did we miss any? What are your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Sometimes You Just Need a Caesar: As Determined by TWM first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Many of us decided to celebrate the new year by cleaning out our closets. One Tanglewood Mom asked if there was a good place to donate women’s clothing other than Goodwill. (Not that there’s anything wrong with Goodwill. My brother-in-law’s brother was the boss for Goodwill in the Pacific Northwest, and they do good things.) Of course, the members of the Tanglewood Moms group had great suggestions, so we gathered them here for you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to finish cleaning out my closet!

• The Resale Shop benefitting the Center for Transforming Lives
• Berry Good Buys benefitting SafeHaven
• Carrie’s Closet
• One Safe Place (The Ladder Alliance has become part of One Safe Place as of January 1)
• Fort Worth Community Collaborative
• Union Gospel Mission
• Second Glance Thrift Shop benefitting Community Enrichment Center
• When We Love
• Salvation Army
• The ARC of DFW
• Aledo Children’s AdvoCats
• FWISD Care Closets
• Christian Community Assistance
• Stepping Stones Foundation Thrift Boutique
• Community Crossroads
• Prom Dreams Boutique

These are wonderful places to donate your gently used clothing to help those who have less than you. It’s easy to take the ability to buy clothing for granted.

The post As Determined by TWM: Clothing Donations first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

A Tanglewood Mom asked for recommendations for “your latest greatest thriller that got your attention from the first chapter and you could not put it down until the last page.” Thrillers are so much fun! Of course, the Tanglewood Moms group came through with some great suggestions. So bookmark this page for when you need your next great read!

• The Robert Hunter series by Chris Carter
• The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
• The One: A Thriller by Audrey J. Cole
• The Hunter by Tana French
• Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli
• The Extinction of Irena Rey by Jennifer Croft
• The Family Game by Catherine Steadman
• Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier
• House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
• The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden
• The Beetle by Richard Marsh
• Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
• Devil House by John Darnielle
• Brother by Ania Ahlborn
• Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman
• Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
• Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
• If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
• None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
• Come with Me by Ronald Malfi
• The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
• Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda
• Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

There are soooooooo many more! But if we’ve missed your favorite, leave a comment below. I’m always looking for a new thriller!

The post As Determined by TWM: Best Thrillers You Can’t Put Down first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Well. I DOVE into the comments. While fiction is the preferred genre for summer beach reading and winter cozy reading, I tend to read nonfiction in the spring. Weird, right?

Of course, the Tanglewood Moms came up with some amazing suggestions, much to my budget’s demise. But now I have a lovely large To Be Read pile on my bedside table, so thank you!

• A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan
• I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennett McCurdy
• Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner
• If My Heart Had Wings: A World War II Love Story by Nadine Taylor
• Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
• The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage into Self-Mastery by Brianna West
• The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery
• Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection by Charles Duhigg
• The 5AM Club: 11 Tips to Help You Wake Up Early, Energize, and Get Things Done by Michael Lombardi
• The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson
• The Many Lives of Mama Love: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing by Lara Love Hardin
• Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture by Viginia Sole-Smith
• If You Only Knew: Navigating DNA Surprises and the *NPE World by Lezlee Liljenberg
• Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities by Bettany Hughes
• Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FB by David Grann
• The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South by John T. Edge
• The Disappearing Spoon and Other Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of Elements by Sam Kean
• Find Your People: Building Deep Community in a Lonely World by Jennie Allen
• When the Body Says No More: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection by Gabor Maté
• How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told by Harrison Scott Key
• Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
• How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith
• Wild DFW: Explore the Amazing Nature in and Around Dallas-Fort Worth by Amy Martin
• Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants by Douglas W. Tallamy
• Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia
• How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan
• Feeding Each Other: Shaping Change in Food Systems through Relationship by Nicole Civita and Michelle Auerbach

The post As Determined by TWM: Best Nonfiction Books first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Recently, someone asked the original group where you would take someone if you wanted them to move to Fort Worth.

Boom.

And the answers are PERFECT. The City of Fort Worth should hire the TWMs. Seriously, the answers made our Fort Worth-lovin’ hearts swell with pride. Check out the list below and let us know what you think in the comments below!

• Mani/pedi, brunch, and window shopping at the Shops at Clearfork
• Lunch and an afternoon in the Modern
• Get some Curly’s frozen custard and then sit on the lawn at the Amon Carter
• Wander through the Stockyards on a Tuesday afternoon (fewer tourists!) and grab a drink at the Side Saddle Saloon
• Download the Neighborhood Leap app and do the amazing augmented reality art walk through the Near Southside
• Go for a morning walk or bike ride along the Trinity
• Do a Museum Day. Start at one end of Lancaster and do the Modern, the Kimbell, the Carter, and the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Then pop over to West 7^th or up Camp Bowie for drinks and dinner.
• Have a picnic in the Botanic Gardens [Editor’s note: the best way to end a Botanic Gardens picnic is to stop at Curly’s on the way home.]
• Joe T’s and a rodeo at the Cowtown Coliseum
• Spend the afternoon at Airfield Falls (bring your swimsuit!)
• Go to either Cowtown or Clearfork Farmers Market and then make lunch with your finds
• Wander along Magnolia
• Either a brewery crawl or a coffee/tea crawl through the Near Southside
• Afternoon tea at the Kimbell
• Go to a football or baseball game at TCU
• Take in a show at Bass Hall
• Spend a morning wandering through the Japanese Gardens
• Enjoy a spring afternoon at Trinity Park
• Take in one of our amazing festivals – ArtsGoggle, Mayfest, Main Street Arts Festival, and more
• Spring or Fall Gallery Night [Editor’s note: if you want the full experience, take the Party Bus with ArtTooth – trust me on this!]
• Spend a summer’s day at Burger’s Lake
• Birding in the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
• Attend a Fort Worth Astronomical Society Star Party at the Tandy Hills Natural Area
• Go to a show at Dickies Arena
• Even better, find a local bar like the Cicada or Tulips and check out our amazing local music scene
• Take a historic walking tour or ghost tour (BOO!)

And if you really want to dig into all the fantastic things that make Fort Worth a great place to live, check out Celestina Blok’s 100 Things to Do in Fort Worth Before You Die. It’s great for out-of-towners getting to know the area or natives who want to become reacquainted with their city!

The post Why You Should Move to Fort Worth, As Determined by TWM first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

[Editor’s Note: We expanded the search area to include the Metroplex. Why not make a whole day of it?]

• The Rose Garden Tearoom in the Mercantile
• Secret Garden Tearoom in the Montgomery Antique Mall
• The Ashton Hotel
• The Rose Garden Tea Room (it’s a popular name!) at Gracie Lane – Arlington
• The Kimbell Café
• DeGolyer Tea Room at the Dallas Arboretum
• Somplicitea’s Tea Room in the Lone Star Antique Mall
• Maiden Fine Plants and Spirits
• Taschen Library at the Joule – Dallas
• Tin Tulip Tearoom in the Cooper Street Antique Mall
• The French Room in the Adolphus Hotel – Dallas
• Gigi’s Tea inside Golightly’s Antiques – North Richland Hills
• Indulge FW
• Potpourri Boulangerie – Oak Cliff
• And although it doesn’t serve Afternoon Tea, Leaves Books and Tea Shop inside of Stir Crazy is THE place for tea and treats!

The post As Determined by Tanglewood Moms: Afternoon Tea first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Please note: This is a list of places with a special Easter brunch. There are many other places that do a lovely brunch in Fort Worth. Most restaurants require a reservation for Easter brunch, and they may be full, but it’s certainly worth trying!

• The Capital Grille
• Eddie V’s
• 97 West (Hotel Drover)
• The Omni Hotel
• Pinstripes
• Silver Fox Steakhouse
• Taste Project
• Blue Mesa Grill
• B&B Butchers
• Fort Brewery
• Winslow’s Wine Café

And finally, Central Market’s Chef Prepared Easter Meals are still available, BUT you have to order by 6 pm tomorrow, Thursday, April 6. I promise, they’re delicious!

The post As Determined by TWMs: Easter Brunch first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.