One Moms World Mom Blog - Jen Houck

Mom Reviews

THE WIZARD OF OZ Live Stage Performance in Charlotte, NC

Guess what? The Wizard of Oz tour is making a stop in Charlotte, North Carolina December 18-20, 2018.

Ovens Auditorium will host The Wizard of Oz for three shows starting at 7 p.m. This magical production is a celebration of the 1939 MGM movie, and will be presented with breathtaking special effects that will sweep audiences away, from the moment the tornado twists its way into Kansas.

Dean Sobon will serve as the Director and previously created the national tours of “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”. Amy McCleary will create the magical choreography and was the Director/Choreographer of the national tour of Memphis, the Musical and the choreographer of the national tour of “The Wedding Singer”. The team of Sobon and McCleary will take Dorothy, Toto and their friends the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow “Over the Rainbow” to adventures in Munchkin Land, the Haunted Forest and the Emerald City.

Featuring the classic songs, as composed by Harold Arlen, “Over the Rainbow,” “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead” and “If I Only Had A Brain,” along with the beloved characters, TheWizard of Oz will have the entire family captivated as they travel down the yellow brick road for an unforgettable day at the theater.

SAVINGS ALERT! Please use code TINMAN to save 25% off ticket prices. Please note discount expires December 16, 2018. Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, at all Ticketmaster outlets or at the Bojangles’ Coliseum Box Office located at 2700 E. Independence Blvd.

Yeti Or Not Here We Come! {SMALLFOOT}

My oldest daughter, M, has a close group of friends. This group consists of four including two girls and two boys. They all lift each other up and push each other to live the best life. Each day on group chat, conversations are had about their faith, school, food, group outings, and etc. The bond is special between the four and it is a bond that is needed through the crucial teenage years. All four of them traveled across the globe this summer and I find it only fitting that they would all make plans to go see SMALLFOOT this week.

An animated adventure for all ages, with original music and an all-star cast, “Smallfoot” turns a myth upside down when a bright young yeti finds something he thought didn’t exist—a human.

News of this “smallfoot” throws the simple yeti community into an uproar over what else might be out there in the big world beyond their snowy village, in an all-new story about friendship, courage and the joy of discovery.

Friendships make the world better. This is a family-friendly movie that releases in theaters on September 28. Common Sense Media reports  “Fun, feel-good animated musical offers positive messages.”

For tickets and showtimes in your area, please visit the Fandango website.

Family Fun at Xtreme Park Adventures (Durham, NC)

What do you do when a doctor appointment is extremely stressful? You toss the worries out the window for a little bit and drive to the Xtreme Park Adventures in Durham, NC! We enjoy experiencing family fun adventures, so we were happy to accept the invitation from the host at Xtreme Park Adventures. It was the best medicine for us that afternoon.

There are many activities to experience from gem mining to the escape room. Our family experienced three of the activities at the park.

Gem mining was first on our “bucket” list. Each family member received their own pail filled with dirt and sparkling gems. You will be surprised at all the precious gems and you may even walk away with your birthstone. I know I did!

Hubby and M are two very analytical people that love to analyze every situation. This was the perfect pair to experience the escape room. Let me just say, this was their first time in an escape room and now they are eager to try the bigger one at the park. The word on the street is that only four people have successfully escaped the bigger room. Hubby and M say challenge accepted!

Our last adventure of the day was tackling the challenging rope course. Our family of four was all “we got this” until our eight feet stepped onto the first deck. I stood there in awe, Hubby said, what the heck, I’m going, M started tackling one course and then said nope, changing courses, and L said I will just stay right here with my feet firmly planted. You will have to watch the below video to check out Hubby owning the course.

Pack the family up for a morning or afternoon and explore the park. Just a warning as there will be many laughs, smiles, and family bonding!

There is so much more to experience at this park nestled off the main road. You will forget you are near a big city! Schedule your family for a great adventure soon at the Xtreme Park Adventures!

Starting the School Year with New Study Areas!

This is a sponsored post with Big Lots. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

Where did the summer go? It seemed we blinked and the summer flashed before our eyes. Our Madi girl had an amazing cultural exchange overseas. She brought back the best souvenir – a picture in her signature pose.

What an amazing trip for her to experience another culture. She is still talking about all the differences from America. While she was gone, we teamed up with Big Lots to do room makeovers for her and L’s room.

M and L have been eager to re-decorate their bedrooms to fit all their study needs, especially with school around the corner! Big Lots has been our store for decor items for years. We were excited to hear about their store makeover. Once we walked in, my husband was the first to say how he loved the new clean and wider aisles. A customer service associate came right up to us to help us decide on the perfect furniture for each girl.

The decor is appealing to teenagers and also has a clean feel. Madi is our decorator at heart, but it was fun for L and me to pick out items for her bedroom for the big surprise once she made it back to the states.

I know what you all may be thinking – do we have to put the furniture together? Seriously, the girls’ desks were so easy to put together. It may have taken all of 30 minutes to put the desks together. The shelves we picked for L’s room were more of a challenge but still no more than 45 minutes.

Are you ready for the reveal? Drumroll please…..

The girls are fighting over L’s nice comfy white chair. I believe I am going to make another Big Lot’s run to surprise M with her own reading chair.

I love the wall decor, I love the clean feeling, I love the colors – it all just makes their bedrooms a brighter area with great organization. This school year is already starting off on a positive note. We are excited for our daughters to feel ready for school thanks to Big Lots!

On another positive note, you will not break the bank to do a room makeover for your child!

Calling all Dog Lovers – You will love DOG DAYS!

Dogs play a special role in our family. My daughter L has a rare disease along with a sensory processing disorder. These two things cause anxiety in her life. L’s doctor recommended we get her a dog, so my husband researched dogs on the computer and found Indy, a border collie mix. Indy and L became best friends at first sight. The way Indy looks at L will melt your heart. Indy is not a trained service dog, but he can tell when L is going through an anxiety episode. He will gently put his paw on her or nudge her with his nose.

The bond between them is unbreakable. Indy brings L joy and happiness. Life would not be the same without Indy in L’s life.

Isn’t that the sweetest picture? I could go on and on all day with stories of loyalty and dedication. Dogs truly bring happiness to families. This is why our family is recommending the family film, DOG DAYS. This movie is a hilarious and heartfelt ensemble comedy that follows the lives of multiple dog owners and their beloved fluffy pals. When these human and canine’s paths start to intertwine, their lives begin changing in ways they never expected. This is a sweet film about the joy our furry friends bring into our lives and what they can teach us about treating people with kindness and compassion. DOG DAYS releases in theaters on August 8.

The girls loved watching Vanessa Hudgens in Disney’s High School Musical. Now, they get another opportunity to see her in DOG DAYS. Check out a sneak peek below:

We cannot wait to see the full movie in theaters this week! Hop on over to L’s Instagram for a fun giveaway to enter to spoil your dog!

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