Highlands Ranch Casting Call

Since I'm an ambassador for LiveWell Colorado, they asked me to post the following message: 

Looking for everyday Coloradans ages 25-40 ish for a LiveWell Colorado television commercial that visually (and classily) portrays what unhealthy weight looks like, and that will encourage citizens to see where they stand and connect them with easy ways they can make healthy changes.

See our other LiveWell commercial (starring non-actors like you!) at http://www.sylviagregorycasting.com/.
COMPENSATION: $500 IF CAST, AND ANOTHER $500 IF YOU ARE USED IN THE COMMERCIAL!

Males and Females of all ethnicities are encouraged to apply.  No acting experience necessary!
Height and weight requirements will apply.

Due to a high volume of responses, only those selected to move to phase two will be notified.
If you would like a chance to be represented in this educational marketing campaign, please email a full length photo of yourself to Assistant@sylviagregorycasting.com by 6:00 PM on Tuesday, January 3rd.
Include your full name, phone number, email, city, date of birth, and current height and weight.

Holiday Happenings

This weekend is sure to be busy for everyone, since it's the last weekend before Christmas! 

Friday, December 16th is the Showtime at Southridge Holiday Concert.  From 7pm - 8pm the Highlands Ranch Swing Shift Band will be performing Holiday Classics at Southridge rec center.  Tickets are $7 per person.

If you haven't had a chance to take your children to see Santa, be sure to stop by the Metro District Office on Saturday, December 17th.  Located at 62 Plaza Drive in Highlands Ranch, Santa will be there from 9am - 1pm.  This is a free event!  Don't forget your camera :)

Santa Claus is Coming to Town....

The countdown to Christmas has officially begun.  Thankfully there are many Holiday Happenings to enjoy with your family right here in Highlands Ranch.  Saturday, December 10th from 11am - 2pm is the Metro District's Holiday Celebration!  Usually this event is held at the Mansion, but because of the construction it will take place at Civic Green Park.  A lot of fun family activities will be offered including: local choirs performing, balloon animals, a stilt walking toy solider, crafts, and more.  Your child will also have the opportunity to meet Santa!  If it's too cold for you outside, warm up in the library with story time or a puppet show!  This is a free event, however the Knights of Columbus will be there accepting donations of coats, blankets, and sweaters for the Denver Rescue Mission.  Parking is only permitted in the RTD lot for this event, not the library.  For more information go to the Metro District website.

Breakfast with Santa

What could be better than Pancakes and Santa?  If you're looking for something fun to do this weekend, bring your children to have breakfast with Santa!  Saturday, December 10th is the annual event at Eastridge from 9am - 10:30am.  Pricing is $9 for kids and $11 for adults in advance, and $11 for everyone the day of (if not sold out).  Your child can do crafts, write a letter to Santa, and then hand deliver it.  Santa will be giving away a small gift to all children attending.  Be sure to bring your camera for some memorable pictures.

Winter Wonderlights

If you ever have wanted to visit Santa at the North Pole you are in luck!  During Winter Wonderlights, the Wildlife Experience will be transformed into the North Pole.  December 9th through December 23rd, from 5:30pm - 8:30pm, families can enjoy: live reindeer, Christmas lights, and a snowy village where children can meet Santa.  Prices are $9 for adults, $6 for children 3 and over, and children under 3 are free.  For more information check out their website.

A Few of My Favorite Things...

I used to love watching the Oprah's Favorite Things show.  It was so much fun to see which products were Oprah's favorite, and see how quickly they were sold out, or back-ordered after the show.  I'm not sure if she will be doing that this year, but I wanted to share some products that I have been so excited about lately.  I am not being compensated for these reviews - whenever I find something that I love, I always tell my friends about it :)

Blocks

 

Jack got these blocks for his birthday, and I honestly think this is the best gift for a two year old!  He loves playing with them, and he has just recently started number and letter recognition.  I don't know if it's just his age or the blocks, but it seems like he has also picked up so many new words (these particular blocks have pictures as well).  He loves stacking the blocks, and cracking up when he knocks them down.  I love toys for Jack that are fun, educational, and keep him busy.

 

Every Mamma needs a Mia...

Living in Colorado is wonderful.  However the elements can be so harsh on your skin - especially this time of year.  If you are someone that doesn't have the time or money for monthly facials, this product is a great alternative.  Not only does it leave your skin feeling so soft, it also helps your moisturizer absorb into your skin.

I can't mention skincare without letting you know about one of my new favorite brands.  My friend introduced me to Philosophy and I have been loving their products ever since.  I like the Purity made simple and Hope in a Jar.  Philosophy isn't the most organic brand out there, but I feel like they eliminate a lot of the chemicals that I try to stay away from.  I know most people have their own routine and products that they love, but if you are looking to try something new, Philosophy is really nice.  I know this brand isn't cheap, but I buy it from Amazon Mom which gives me 15% off, plus (since we live in Colorado) there is no tax.  No matter what products you are using, it's totally worth the 2 minutes it takes to see if you can order them from Amazon Mom.

Tis the Season...

The Little People Nativity is one of my favorite Christmas presents for babies or toddlers.  I got one for Jack last year at Target.  He loved it so much that I ended up sending a couple out to friends, and I even got one for my nephew this year.

Love You Forever

 This book is so cute.  It's crazy how fast time goes by, and Jack is only two.  I can't imagine life when Jack is a teenager.  If I remember while out shopping for a friend's new baby boy,  I try to give this book as part of the gift.  However, I recently discovered that it is just as cute of a gift for a new baby girl.

I am totally addicted!  In case you haven't heard Pinterest is an online pinboard.  My favorite part is all of the fun Holiday Crafts!  It also has so many decorating ideas, recipes, home decor, event planning and SO much more.  I was able to find some cute ideas for Jack's birthday party on Pinterest.  I was just talking to a friend who recently joined, and she had to wait weeks after she requested an invite.  If you aren't a member, and can't wait that long, email me and I would be happy to invite you (as soon as a member invites you, you can join).  Plus they have an iPhone app!

Wow!  This is a super long post :)
For those of you still reading...What are some of your favorite things?

Hometown Holiday

Friday, December 2nd is the annual Hometown Holiday Celebration!  This free event will be at Town Center South.  Some of the festivities will include: caroling, live entertainment, food, and Reindeer.  The tree lighting will be at 5:00pm.  Your children will even have a chance to meet Santa!

Teddy Bear Tea

The Holiday Teddy Bear Tea is Saturday, December 3rd at Southridge.  Tea time will be 10:30am - 11:15am, and the showtime is 11:15am - 12:00pm.  Tickets are $11 in advance and $15 the day of the event.  You can register at any of the Rec Centers or by calling 303-471-8859.  Children (2 and older) must be accompanied by an adult.  Be sure to bring your favorite teddy bear!

House Decorating Contest

Each year we love driving around looking at the Christmas Lights.  If you go all out and want to win the Highlands Ranch House Decorating Contest, December 4th is the entry deadline.  Call 303-471-8821 to let the judges know they need to drive by your home.  The judging will take place on December 12th.  I will be sure to update this post in December with the winners :)

Update: December 12th
For the map of 28 amazingly decorated homes to look at click here!  The map will be updated on December 15th with the 3 winners!

Give Thanks!

Ice Skating in The Ranch

The Highlands Ranch synthetic ice rink opens for the season on November 25th.  It's located at Town Center North.  Through January 15th it will be open on the weekends from 1pm - 4pm.  Bring your HRCA ID card to receive member pricing - $5 per person ($4 for children four and under).  Skate rentals will be available for $1.  A fun holiday activity to do with your family while enjoying the beautiful Colorado weather!

Free Passes

If you're looking for a free outing with your family, the Highlands Ranch Library has a great program you should use!  With your library card you can reserve a four pack of passes to the following locations: The Denver Art Museum, The Wildlife Experience, Plains Conservation Center, and Dinosaur Ridge.  Go to the library website, scroll all the way to the bottom, under What's New click on the Adventure Pass link.  It's best if you get these tickets in advance because chances are they will be gone the day of (4 different library members will get a 4 pack each day for each location).  Once you pick out which day you would like the tickets for and which venue all you need to do is type in your library card number and you can print out your pass!  You will also receive an email confirmation.  Ticket prices can sure add up with a family of four, but if you get these free tickets in advance, you can save a lot of money and give your kids something fun to look forward to!

Choo Choo Jack is Two!

Jack's 2nd birthday party was a train theme, which is so perfect for a two year old!  Since I started the planning just 8 days before the party, I had no choice but to go with Thomas, because it's in all of the stores :)  Jack has one Thomas book (which we have read a million times) so I added a couple of elements from his book to make the party more authentic.

For railroad tracks on the sidewalk we used duct tape.

Sign on the front door.

When the kids arrived I gave them bandanas and conductor hats.  It was so cute seeing them dressed up during the party, plus it was a fun gift for them to take home!

The train room for the kids to play in.

I had to make a train for the food table.

Luckily Jack has a Thomas toy that I was able to use.

 I love these veggie dips for kids parties!

We had signs made at Party City,

 

and glued them to poster board for personalized party decor.

Unfortunately I didn't get to make the cake for Jack's party this year because it was out of town and by the time we arrived I had less than 24 hours to get everything else together.  This cake was ordered from Target and it was only around $25.  They have so many cakes to choose from if you are looking for one - and they're yummy!

As soon as we put the cake in front of Jack, he dove for it!   I had to hold him back so he didn't burn himself, but he loved everyone singing Happy Birthday!

Trick-or-Treat Street

 

Saturday, October 29th from 11am - 2pm Eastridge rec center will be transformed into Trick-or-Treat Street.  The event is $1 per person.  Local businesses will be giving out candy.  They also have a pumpkin patch where your child can get a free pumpkin to take home! 

Haunted Hayrides

 

Stockton's Plum Creek Stables are offering Haunted Hayrides on October 28th and 29th from 5:30pm - 9:00pm.  Rides run every 30 minutes.  Admission is $11 per adult and $8 per child, (children must be accompanied by adult).  Register in advance at any HRCA rec center or by calling 303-791-2500.  This event is a fundraiser for 4-H.  For more information, check out Stockton's Plum Creek Stables website.

Scare on the Square

 

A fun night out for adults looking to get into the Halloween Spirit!  Saturday, October 28th from 6pm - 9pm at Town Center North.  Along with live music there will be a performance of Michael Jackson's Thriller, Games, and Classic Horror Films.  Costumes are encouraged :)  Adult beverages available for purchase.  Admission is free. 

Freaky Friday

Nature Ed-Ventures is the new name of the Metro District’s nature programs offered for kids and families.  The program was previously called Environmental Education Programs.  Metro District park rangers lead participants on different Ed-Ventures throughout the year designed to generate excitement and interest in nature.  Freaky Friday is on Oct. 28 from 7pm - 8:30 p.m.  Kids ages 6 to 11 will listen to scary stories, learn about nocturnal creatures, take a night hike and decorate their own trick-or-treat bags.  Kids are encouraged to wear costumes.  All classes meet at the Highlands Ranch Metro District’s Parks, Recreation & Open Space Service Center at 3280 Redstone Park Circle, Highlands Ranch.  Register for the classes online at www.highlandsranch.org and click the Recreation tab, or call 303-791-2710.

Pumpkin Patch

Fall is officially here, and this weekend will be a great time to enjoy the local activities and pick out a pumpkin!  The Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield (8500 West Deer Creek Canyon Road) has their annual pumpkin festival from 9am - 5pm on Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 8 & 9).  Admission is $6 per adult, $4 per child, children 2 & under are free, and children in a Halloween costume are admitted free :)  Some of the many activities offered at this festival include a super fun corn maze, live music, amusement rides, pony rides, a train ride, and tons of pumpkins to choose from.  (The picture above is from last year's Pumpkin Festival.)

The Littleton Museum is having their annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 8th from 10am - 3pm.  Along with the historic farms and many animals at the museum, there will be a medicine man show, a mock county fair, and a straw bale maze. There is no admission price for the museum (they do however accept donations) and the festival is free, but there will be hay rides, food, and pumpkins available for purchase.   This is also a great location for photographs so be sure to bring a camera.

Magic

Saturday, October 1st, the very talented Dennis Michael will be performing a magic show at Southridge.  His show, "Magic is in the Laughter" will be held from 7pm - 8pm.  Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door.  This event is recommended for all ages.  Prepare to be amazed!

Oktoberfest 2011!

The Highlands Ranch annual Oktoberfest is this Saturday, September 24th.  The day will start off with a 5k / 100yard dash at 12:30pm.  For race information click here.  Oktoberfest will be held in town center south from 2:00pm - 10:00pm.  The annual Dachshund race will begin at 3:00pm.  This is a free event with food and drinks available for purchase.  There will be plenty of fun activities for children including music, dancing, balloons, and magic!  For more information check out the HRCA website.

Doggie Splash

Sunday, September 11th is the annual Highlands Ranch Doggie Splash.  What a fun way to end the summer for your dog!  This event will take place at Westridge Pool from 10am - 2pm.  Tickets are $5 in advance for members and $10 the day of the event. 

Highlands Ranch Days

The Highlands Ranch Days are here!  September 8th and 9th from 9am - 1pm, and on Saturday, September 10th from 9am - 2pm.  Ticket prices are $4 for adults and $2 for children.  This year the Highlands Ranch Days will take place in the Backcountry Wilderness area.  For more information including a map click here.  There will be fun and educational activities for children of all ages!

Highlands Ranch Mansion

The Highlands Ranch Mansion will reopen in June of 2012.  The Metro District has launched a new website with updates and pictures: www.highlandsranchmansion.com.  Before it closed for remodeling the 120-year-old mansion mostly held community events.  When it reopens, it will be an amazing venue for hosting weddings and other private events.  Pricing information is on the website.  Lottery applications will be accepted Wednesday, September 14 through Friday, September 30, and the drawing will be held Monday, October 3, 2011 for reservations through January 2013.  We went to an event at the mansion last summer and took part in a tour of the entire building.  It was beautiful but definitely needed updating.  The Metro District is doing everything they can to keep all of its historic charm.  I am so excited to see the Highlands Ranch Mansion next summer!

Little Monkey Business

 
The Little Monkey Business in Lone Tree has a free day on September 5th.  To qualify you need to bring your Highlands Ranch Rec Center ID card.  Also remember to bring socks for everyone.  They will be open 9am - 5pm, for more information click here.  Thanks Sybil!

30th Anniversary!

The Highlands Ranch 30th Anniversary concert is Thursday, September 1st.  The Nacho Men will be performing at Civic Green Park from 6:30pm - 8:00pm.  Admission is free :)  In the past few years Highlands Ranch has received national recognition for being an amazing place to live.  Business Week ranked HR 7th for America's Best Place to Raise your Kids, Forbes ranked HR 20th for The Best Places to Move, and Money Magazine ranked HR 12th for The Best Places to Live.  One of the things I love about Highlands Ranch is although it has over 93,000 residents it still has a small town feel because everyone is so friendly!  Join our community and celebrate Highlands Ranch!

Fly'n B Park

August 11th from 3:30pm - 5:30pm is the Dedication for the newest park in Highlands Ranch, Fly'n B Park!  This historic park is located in the northwestern part of Highlands Ranch at 2910 W. Plaza Drive.  Many farmers and ranchers have called this area home, because of its proximity to the High Line Canal Trail.  Johnny Bowen called it, "The best little cattle ranch in Colorado!"  Park Rangers will be on site to explain the park's history.  The Metro District has preserved 20 acres of Fly'n B Park.  It has a stocked fishing pond, picnic shelters, and plenty for the kids to enjoy!  Come out and explore this wonderful park.

Film in the Park

This summer's first Film in the Park is this Friday, August 5th.  They will be showing Ice Age: The Meltdown at 8:15pm in Civic Green Park (next to the library).  Bring a blanket and some snacks.  The event is free :)  Plan to arrive early as it will get crowded.  No dogs are allowed at the park.  Ferngully will be shown on August 12th and Alvin & The Chipmunks 2 The Squeakquel on August 19th.  We love this Highlands Ranch tradition!

Museum

The Littleton Museum is such a fun experience that I had to post about it.  Inside they have a historical museum (with an interactive children's section) as well as an art gallery.  Outside they have 39 acres of farms, a lake, school house, farm houses and of course a lot of animals.

Millie's calf (born July 15th)

This is a perfect place to go with children of all ages.  Jack loved seeing all of the animals!  In the fall they have a Harvest Festival (this year it will be held on October 8th.)  There is no price for admission - however they do accept donations.  For more information check out their website.

Splash Park

We finally made it to the splash area at Civic Green Park!  Jack had so much fun, and it was a perfect alternative to the pool.  They have two different areas, one closer to the playground, and one is right by the stage.  I recommend going early because it gets crowded!

Rodeo in the Ranch

This weekend (July 16th & 17th) is the Annual Highlands Ranch Rodeo.  Some of the activities will include: bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and hayrides.  They will also have mutton busting and a chicken scramble for the kids!  Saturday grounds open at 9am with the rodeo starting at 11am and ending at 1pm.  Sunday the rodeo will be 1pm - 3pm with the grounds opening at 11am.  Tickets on the day of the event are $12 per adult and $7 per child (children 2 and under are free).  They may sell out so if you want to buy tickets ahead of time (at a slightly reduced price) call 303-471-8859.  Proceeds from this event will benefit the Highlands Ranch Community Scholarship Fund.  The rodeo takes place on Lucent Blvd. and Plaza Dr.  For more information including a schedule of events click here.

Ice Cream Social

Tonight is the annual Highlands Ranch Ice Cream Social.  All you can eat ice cream is $1.  There will also be Fire Rescue displays and demonstrations, live music, face painting, and more!  This event takes place at Civic Green Park from 6pm - 9pm.

My Favorite Muffin

This Friday and Saturday (July 15th & 16th) My Favorite Muffin is having a Grand Reopening!  They are going to be having some amazing deals such as buy one jumbo muffin get two free!  Also buy one sandwich get one free.  Their muffins are made with soybean oil instead of butter so they are healthier than traditional muffins, and still really yummy!  The address is 2201 W. Wildcat Reserve Parkway.  They are open on Friday 6am - 2pm & Saturday 7am - 1pm.  The new owners are Highlands Ranch residents so stop by and support our neighbors!

Fishing Hole

Jack went fishing for the first time this weekend at Redstone Park Pond.  It's located just east of the playground at Redstone Park.  We were there early and there was already someone on the fishing dock, but there is a lot of safe shore fishing.  Anyone that is under the age of 16 doesn't need a license.  Jack didn't catch any fish, but he loved it.  There are also a lot of ducks in the pond, and of course we stopped at the park afterward.  We are so lucky to have a fishing hole so close to home!

4th of July

The Independence Day Celebration is something you won't want to miss!  It will start at 8:30am with the 5k run/walk.  The family bike and pet parade also starts at 8:30am, however the line will start forming at 7:30am in the Town Center North.  The community parade is 9:00am - 10:30am, it will be commemorating the 30th anniversary of Highlands Ranch!  After the parades in the town center the celebration will be in full swing with vendors, music, rides for the kids, and even a pet adoption fair.  From 7:00pm - 8:30pm is the 4th of July concert with music by the Cruisin' Cats at Civic Green Park.  At 9:15pm the fireworks will begin.

Hawaiian Festival

This Saturday is the Hawaiian Festival at Civic Green Park.  Opening ceremonies are at 9am.  This is an all day event with plenty of fun activities for the kekis (children).  They will have performances going on throughout the day as well as lei making, hula classes, games, and crafts. The closing ceremonies are at 8:30pm.  This is a free event but there will be vendors selling crafts, food, and shave ice!  For a complete schedule click here.

TreeHouse Discovery Deal

A friend emailed me about the TreeHouse Discovery Deal available for purchase this weekend.  I ended up getting it and I wanted to share.  There are so many popular deal websites that I could easily spend $100 a day on deals :)  This deal is $15 for three admissions, as well as $5 off Kindermusic enrollment, $20 off a birthday party, and 50% off an annual family membership to TreeHouse Discovery - all of this would usually be $80 so the savings is $65 or 81% off.  (I know....what a great deal!)

TreeHouse Discovery is in Highlands Ranch (by Sunflower Market) and it's a really fun place.  They have so much to offer for open play and they also do classes.  Our family went there for a birthday party a couple of months ago and Jack had a great time.  I am really looking forward to using these this summer.  If you are interested in getting in on this deal click here.  This will be offered through the weekend, and on Monday and Tuesday they will offer it as their side deal.  I have never used Your Lucky Deals before but it's a local company, and they donate 10% of their proceeds to a local charity of your choice.  Thanks Allison!

Free Yoga in the Park

  

Namaste Yoga & Wellness will be offering free yoga all summer long!  Every Wednesday and Saturday from 8:15am - 9:15am at Civic Green Park (until September 3rd).  All participants must be 18 or older to participate and please arrive 10 minutes early to sign in.

Kidfest

This Saturday, June 11th from 9:00am - 12:00pm, is the Kidfest in Highlands Ranch.  This free event will be held at Civic Green Park (next to the Highlands Ranch Library).  There will be music, several fun activities, and learning opportunities for your little ones.  Hope to see you all there!

Summer Concert Series

Summer is officially here in Highlands Ranch with the first summer concert.  Opie Gone Bad will be performing on June 2nd at Highland Heritage Park (by the Post Office) from 6:30 - 8:00pm.  The event is free.  Bring a blanket and try to arrive a little early.  This is one of the more popular bands performing this summer.  For the full summer schedule click here.

Red Mango in the Ranch

Saturday, May 7th is the official Grand Opening of Red Mango!  They will be celebrating from 11am - 4pm with free FroYo!  Located on the SW corner of Highlands Ranch Pkwy & University Blvd (between Firehouse Subs & Wing Stop).  Red Mango specializes in all natural non-fat frozen yogurt.  If you're unable to make the grand opening - no worries...anytime you go, sampling is encouraged.  You'll be sure to leave with your favorite flavor and you can customize it with any toppings.  They also sell smoothies!