Speaker 1: 0:00

Let me ask you something. Where do you go to find someone to work on your house? Sure, you can ask friends and post on Facebook groups, but can you really trust that they will deliver the quality of work you need? Well, when you sign up for Mannerly, you don't have to worry. Mannerly is a concierge home management service that is your single point of contact for everything having to do with your home. When you contact Mannerly today, they will schedule an appointment with you to walk through your home and provide a personalized home maintenance plan just for you. And they don't just handle routine maintenance. They also are your single point of contact for all your home repair and remodeling needs. So if your AC goes out or another windstorm blows down your tree, just contact Mannerly 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and they will provide you with a white glove home service you deserve. Hundreds of families in the Park Cities trust Mannerly to manage their home, and you should too. Just visit their website at Mannerlycom, that's M-A-N-N-O-R-L-Ycom, and let them know.

Speaker 1: 0:57

Martha from the Bubble Lounge sent you. Welcome to the Bubble Lounge. I'm Martha Jackson, and we are officially kicking off the season of giving, and we invited members from the Women's Auxiliary to Children's Medical Center of Dallas. This group of over 600 women do so many amazing things year-round to raise funds for Children's Medical Center of Dallas. This holiday season they have a very special event that we're here to talk about today.

Speaker 1: 1:29

It's Breakfast with Santa Spectacular on December 8th at 9 o'clock am at North Park Mall. You all are going to love this event. It's the perfect way to spend a day with your family. They have so many fun things planned. They have bounce houses, a DJ, a lot of food, pictures with the famous North Park Santa Claus, and this is the perfect way to avoid the crowd at North Park that always awaits for Santa pictures.

Speaker 1: 1:55

But that's not all. Tonight, november 21st, they're kicking off the season with an exclusive screening of Wicked, and I am so excited for this event. There's still tickets available. It starts at six o'clock tonight. So if you're ready to kick off the season today, join us tonight at North Park Mall and also on December 8th for Breakfast with Santa. This amazing event is chaired by Jessica Rugg, katie Brooks, stacey Hicks and Ashley Smetko, and to let us know more about what's happening, I have Winn Brown, President of Stacey Hicks and Ashley Smetko, and to let us know more about what's happening. I have Wynne Brown, president of Women's Auxiliary, and Jessica Rugg joining us today. Ladies, welcome to the show, thank you. Thank you. Can you introduce yourselves and tell us what you do with the Women's Auxiliary?

Speaker 2: 2:39

Sure, I'll start. I'm Wynne Brown. I am currently the president of the Women's Auxiliary, dallas.

Speaker 3: 2:45

I'm Jessica Rugg and I'm one of the co-chairs this year for Breakfast with Sina Spectacular.

Speaker 1: 2:54

Well, you guys do so much in the course of the year. I've read through all the activities you do and, wow, I'm exhausted just thinking about it. But there's some people out there that may not know what the Women's Auxiliary to Children's Medical Center of Dallas is. So, Wyn, can you walk us through what all you do?

Speaker 2: 3:05

Absolutely. We are a fundraising arm of the Dallas Children's Hospital and it's an organization of women. We focus mostly on providing that magical touch that you feel when you go in the hospital. So there are kids that are there that maybe they're there over the holidays and wouldn't get presents otherwise, or, you know, it's a long stay sometimes for these kids in the hospital, and so we want to decorate the hospital or have a Halloween party or put Christmas trees up around the holidays. There are just lots of the kind of warm and fuzzies, the in-betweens, that we really specialize in. We have a fundraising arm that we feed through all of these different events. We have Breakfast with Santa, we have Six Flags Family Night. Those are the two that most people probably are aware of. We also have a Mahjong tournament. That is a big success and always fills up almost immediately. So be checking your Instagram for posts on that, and I can talk more about some of the other events as well in a minute.

Speaker 1: 4:13

And Jessica. So we're here specifically to talk about Breakfast with Santa Day and you are one of the chairs. Can you tell us about this event?

Speaker 3: 4:20

Yes, I am so excited to be here. Thank you for having us. First of all, and just Breakfast with Santa has been a longstanding tradition for children's and we are hosting it this year again at North Park Center. It is December 8th this year, from 9 to 11 am. Park does in our partnership is we shut down the mall specifically for ticket holders and sponsors. We open up this event.

Speaker 3: 4:53

We feel like, or I feel like, that this is going to be the biggest and broadest year yet. We have partnered this year with North Park, not only in our event space but more specifically with vendors. We have a Joey Dallas is sponsoring our mimosa bar. Italy is going to provide our drip coffee. Hill House Home that is new to North Park and also new to Dallas is going to be dazzled bows and Glossier is going to be charming their lip balms and what our chairs and I have coined the corridor leading out into the lawn as Candy Cane Lane. That is going to be just so much fun and full of activities for kids of all ages to create holiday crafts and holiday just exciting and hands-on craft. I think I said that already, but hands-on crafts for kids, and so I just think, between the balloon twisters, and the characters and the princesses. I mean, I could just go on and on.

Speaker 1: 5:58

It sounds like so much fun. Hey, park City's families, we all feel that pinch of rising home insurance, don't we? But there is a solution, and it's closer than you think. Meet Kathy Elwall of State Farm Agency. She's not just our trusted show sponsor, she's also the expert you need to navigate these unpredictable insurance waters. Why get lost in a maze of policies and rates? Kathy has a knack for simplifying it all. Call 214-350-2692 or stop by kathielwallcom to schedule a meeting. She's ready to review your homeowner policy and pinpoint where you could be saving more money right now. We trust Kathy wholeheartedly, and once you chat with her, you'll see why. It's not just about rates. It's about trust, expertise and peace of mind. So don't let rising homeowner insurance costs catch you off guard. Contact Kathy L Wall State Farm Agency now at 214-350-2692, or visit kathylwallcom. With Kathy L Wall on your side, you'll have an agent you can trust and help secure your family's future. So how long have you been involved with this organization and what made you want to be a part of it?

Speaker 3: 7:10

honestly, I can't even remember. Maybe five, maybe six years now we talk about children's and the women's auxiliary. We talk about our why and my children are my why. And my children are obviously so important to me, like all of our children are, but from not only the tubes in their ears, from my middle daughter being diagnosed with a tumor in her leg years ago and having, you know, the support of my community and the surgeons on staff at Children's and the president of the auxiliary, her husband being the one to remove that tumor, from my daughter just being available and willing to surround me and her with that love and support. Those are my reasons why and if I'm able to give back and put myself and my time and money into this foundation, I'm here for it.

Speaker 1: 8:15

That's great. Well, Wyn, what about you? What made you motivated to be involved?

Speaker 2: 8:19

Well, martha, I've been involved for probably about 10 years and when I initially got involved it was because it was a group of women that all shared a common belief and a common desire to raise money to make life better for children's Very simple.

Speaker 2: 8:34

But then the further I got involved and the more I got involved, the more it just pulled at my heart and I had more than one family member actually needing the services of children's. And until you are in that position and I hope that you never are you just don't realize how fortunate we are to be in Dallas with these incredible doctors, the incredible nurses, just the staff, the people that flew the plane with my nephew from Midland to check for a tumor in his leg, the doctor that diagnosed my other nephew with neuroblastoma at five weeks old, and then the team that treated him. He's now, thank heavens, cancer-free. But just being on the front row watching all of that has made the deepest impact on me and my entire family, and all we want to do is give back to the hospital that has done so much for us.

Speaker 1: 9:38

Right, right. Well, I have said so many times to so many different people just how lucky we are to live in Dallas, texas, with all the amenities and all the resources that we have, and Children's is always top of mind, because, I mean, think about it that place is just filled with the most top-notch surgeons and nurses and everybody there. We're just so lucky to have them and no wonder you both want to give back so much.

Speaker 2: 10:03

Absolutely, I will say. I get to go up there all the time in my role right now and the one thing that seems to always be a response from everybody that works there, from you know, like I said, the transportation people or the security guards, or the nurses or the check-in people, they all love their job. They have so much joy that they find in working there and serving the community and helping these kids that I feel like it is just a special happy place.

Speaker 1: 10:38

It really is. I mean, the moment you walk in, you just feel so welcome.

Speaker 2: 10:41

Yes, I was up there recently for the Halloween party and all the kids in the hospital that are able to leave their rooms can pick from a costume selection that have been donated to the hospital. So they all dress up and they all come down to the atrium and we have little crafts set up and candy and things for them to put in their bags. So they kind of get the experience of trick-or-treating in the hospital and it is just the sweetest. I can't tell you there were probably three or four kids that not only were they there being pushed around, but they had two or three people following after with their cart of all of the medical devices and support that they needed just to get out of their hospital room. Oh, wow.

Speaker 2: 11:35

I mean it's truly incredible. And the nurses and the staff. They are so thrilled to make that work. They want to give these kids the normal life experiences.

Speaker 1: 11:45

Absolutely. Well, I know you guys have something big coming up at the hospital this week and you're going to be decorating the rooms. Tell us about that.

Speaker 2: 11:53

That's right, it's called Deck the Halls.

Speaker 2: 12:04

We have over 150 wreaths that have been decorated by different people in the community.

Speaker 2: 12:06

So people buy the wreaths, they come, pick them up, they decorate them with a group maybe like a Girl Scout troop or a small group or a class or a neighborhood block and they all decorate them with whatever theme they want. Then they drop them back off and then on Friday is the day that we deck the halls. There will be Christmas trees all over the hospital that will be decorated, as well as wreaths that we will hang all over. And last year I was there hanging and there was one family whose child was in surgery and the whole family was sitting outside in the waiting room and they're hanging. And there was one family whose child was in surgery and the whole family was sitting outside in the waiting room in their mashing t-shirts to support the child in surgery and truly it made them all happy, feel a sense of comfort and just a little brightness to their day just to see the decorations go up. It just in an otherwise stale environment that a hospital can be.

Speaker 1: 12:57

It warms it up. Hospitals always are so stale and everything but not children's, and especially during the holidays, what you're describing I literally can't wait to be there and see it. Oh, it's so sweet. It really is. Finding an oral surgeon is hard enough for yourself, and when it comes to your kids it can feel impossible. We suggest our friends at Stuart and Arango because, from emergencies to wisdom teeth and everything in between, they have you covered.

Speaker 1: 13:20

Stuart and Arango are board certified, with MDs who specialize in full scope oral, facial and implant surgeries, for both children and adults. Not only is their office state-of-the-art, they lead the industry with the most advanced techniques and procedures and when it comes to safety, they are pediatric and adult advanced life support certified and use a three-day local anesthesia which keeps you comfortable while limiting the use of opioids. Best part is they're conveniently located at Northwest Highway and Hillcrest Avenue. So if you want the best of big D caliber oral care, come see the friendly staff at Stuart and Arango To learn more about them or book your appointment, visit saoralsurgeonscom. That's saoralsurgeonscom. So you two did a really wonderful job of telling us what your motivation was for joining this amazing organization. I assume that you recruit people and you need more volunteers to fill all these things that you guys work on all year. Why should other people get involved?

Speaker 2: 14:19

Well, I think it is a great organization for women in all walks of life. There are over 600 members in the organization, so there is a friend for everybody in it and there's a role for everybody in it. We constantly have people reaching out asking what can I do? How can I get involved? Whether it's serving dinner on New Year's Eve to the families that are in the hospital or bringing a treat on Mother's Day to the mothers that are there with their kids, we've got lots of little roles as well as bigger roles, and it's a great way to meet people. I have made so many dear friends through the organization and I know that at all of the events I meet somebody every single time that has recently moved to Dallas and is trying to build their network. They're trying to make friends, they're trying to get plugged in in the community, and there is not a better organization than the Women's Auxiliary for doing that.

Speaker 1: 15:16

Well, I just always say anytime a group of women come together, they can like conquer the world, and I mean this group just sounds like the perfect opportunity to meet those other women in the community.

Speaker 3: 15:26

I totally agree with everything Wynne has just said. I think that whether or not you have preschool-aged kids, elementary school-aged kids, middle school, all the way to high school, there is a place for you. You can volunteer in the hospital. Outside of the hospital, you can go to any of our quarterly meetings. It's a perfect way to meet your friends. For lunch, you can do a nighttime volunteership, you can go during the day. Working moms can go, stay-at-home moms can go.

Speaker 2: 15:56

I mean, there is truly something for everyone, and even people that don't have kids, it's still an incredible place to volunteer, right right. Some of my closest friends that I have made in the auxiliary do not have children and it is such a passion for them to go and volunteer and serve in the hospital, right Well, so how do?

Speaker 1: 16:18

people join.

Speaker 2: 16:19

Well, that's really easy, martha. If you look in the notes, martha, that you've included, there is a link to our website. Definitely follow our Instagram. We are constantly posting upcoming events and opportunities, so be following our Instagram and then get on our website and just join. We do an annual membership drive, so that will continue on, probably through March, but the sooner you join, the sooner you can get involved. So I strongly encourage all of you to join.

Speaker 1: 16:54

Yeah, it sounds perfect because you can have as big of a job as you want or something little. You're still making an impact, no matter what kind of job you're doing.

Speaker 3: 17:02

Absolutely. It's really true. We really try to make things very easy for all of our members and try to have a little fun in the process.

Speaker 1: 17:09

very easy for all of our members and try to have a little fun in the process. So we've talked about so many different things that you do year round, but you have a pretty big thing going on tonight at North Park Mall.

Speaker 2: 17:17

That's right, we are so excited. We have partnered with North Park and AMC Theaters and this is a really exciting thing that we do every year, called Movies with a Mission. So when we know that a new movie is coming out that we think would appeal to all the kids in our audience, we organize an event at North Park. So Thursday, sorry. So tonight. We hope that you'll join us. At six o'clock is the red carpet. You can come for a private showing. We have two theaters. You can reserve your tickets in advance so that you can have your seat already designated. Come in, there will be snacks and treats and then you get to watch the movie Wicked in a private showing.

Speaker 1: 17:59

No way, wicked is all over social media right now. I mean, you literally can't get on there without seeing so many different things. It looks amazing.

Speaker 3: 18:07

I encourage everybody to dress up, go all out. This is going to be so much fun tonight. I mean I cannot wait to see what everybody shows up.

Speaker 1: 18:15

Yes, Put that green makeup on please, that's right.

Speaker 3: 18:17

I think that would be great.

Speaker 2: 18:19

I can't wait to be there.

Speaker 1: 18:20

It sounds amazing.

Speaker 2: 18:21

It will really kick off kind of the beginning of the holidays for everyone in the auxiliary. So we have that and then Deck the Halls on Friday and then we'll be gearing up for Breakfast with Santa. It'll be full throttle, that's right.

Speaker 3: 18:36

We call this our season of giving and it's truly just the most magical time of year and we just can't be more excited. We just can't be more excited for all of this. We have so many people that are supporting us, and I mean the list goes on and on. So many special things to look forward to for Breakfast with Sienna. How we have.

Speaker 3: 19:01

My chairs and myself have really tried to take this up a notch this year with all of the exciting things that we mentioned earlier on when we first sat down was we want to make it not only special for our kids this year, but also parents. So when you walk through our doors, we want to treat you with a special custom latte. When your kids are going to be walking down Candy Cane Lane, or when they're going to be seeing Santa Joel for the first time, when you walk up the stairs, we can treat you with a mimosa as well. So you know a little bit from column A, a little bit from column B. We're going to have carolers and singers, a DJ outside, more bounce houses, just bigger and brighter than ever before. We have the most elite sponsors I think we've ever had this year. Meredith Farrell is going to be sponsoring that latte bar for us. Mustang Cheer is going to be there bigger and brighter than before. Like I said, our North Park sponsors are coming out just with fuller force and we just couldn't be more excited.

Speaker 3: 20:15

Some other things that I would love for any of our listeners to consider is that when you are part of this event, it's important to know that you know enjoying the holidays is so special to us, but you are also helping those in need at Children's. You're helping with holiday meals for patients and families. You're helping with cheer for children in the hospital with gingerbread homes. You are underwriting magical moments for patients during the holidays. You are you're sending children's Christmas cards. You're just creating so many magical memories for not only patients in the hospital and sponsoring those kids to come to this event, but also helping with just really wonderful memories for children who might not be enjoying the Christmas spirit as much as our families at home. So we just appreciate everyone that's coming out and supporting us this year.

Speaker 1: 21:15

Well, everything sounds perfect. I mean, like you're saying is you're creating memories for others, which is the most important, but it sounds like, as an extra bonus, you and your family are going to be creating some pretty special memories too. That is the hope.

Speaker 2: 21:28

That's right, and I will say one thing that Jessica did not mention, or didn't mention enough, is that Santa Joel will be there. This is the hottest ticket in town for anybody with little kids. The hardest thing to pull off at Christmas when my kids were little was to get them in Santa's lap.

Speaker 1: 21:45

So when she says Santa Joel, what is she talking about is the famous North Park Mall, santa Claus, You're going to see him and have like a smaller group You're not going to be competing with those huge lines, and so this is a really big deal.

Speaker 2: 22:00

It's a great opportunity to get into North Park before it opens. There are no crowds. This is a private event that's contained, so it's easy to park, it's easy to get in there, it's easy to sit on Santa's lap, get a nice mimosa, some candy and the kids will just have a ball. So it really is the easiest way to kick off your holidays.

Speaker 1: 22:23

Well, I just you've sold me. I mean, it couldn't be more perfect you can sit on Santa's lap too. I was thinking I wish that my college daughter would be in town and I'd make her come take a picture, and that could be our Christmas card. I think that sounds really cute actually Well, ladies, thank you so much. How can people get tickets and find you?

Speaker 2: 22:44

Well, all the information will be on our website and that's included in your notes as well as on our Instagram. Yes, as always.

Speaker 1: 22:52

I will include links to that so you don't have to remember anything.

Speaker 2: 22:55

Perfect, and you can share my email as well. If anyone wants to reach out directly to me, I'm happy to field any questions.

Speaker 3: 23:01

Oh great, same as me, and thank you so much for having us, absolutely.

Speaker 1: 23:04

Of course, Such a treat. That's been another episode of the Bubble Lounge. I'm Martha Jackson and I'll see you next week.