Summer Ready with British Swim School of Arlington & South Grand Prairie

Not to be a Negative Nancy over here, but did you know that drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death in kids ages 5-14 in the US according to the CDC? And more kids ages 1-4 die by drowning than from any other cause?

Swimming is an important life skill. British Swim School is here to help.

Swim safety is important. Learning to swim is an invaluable life skill.

Enter British Swim School of Arlington and South Grand Prairie, which just opened its third location in the area at the LA Fitness on Little Road in Arlington (they also have locations at Candlewood Suites in Grand Prairie as well as 24-Hour Fitness in Grand Prairie). British Swim School offers lessons for babies, kids and adults with low student-to-teacher ratios and generous sibling discounts. Classes are 30 minutes long and can be taken once, twice or three times per week. Private lessons are available. 

Learn to swim with British Swim School in Arlington, TX.

British Swim School is locally owned by a family I've known for years through a Mom's Group I was a member of when my babies were babies. Woman-owned, family-owned, locally-owned, British Swim School is dedicated to helping teach people of all ages to feel confident in the water. Greg and Melissa, the owners, have four kids of their own and are deeply committed to British Swim School's mission and the community it is a part of. 

So why choose British Swim School?

• No long-term commitment. You can cancel anytime with a 30-day notice.
• Join anytime. Enrollment is on-going. 
• Risk-free guarantee. Try two classes, and, if you aren't satisfied, you will get a full refund.

Figure out which program is right for you and your child at British Swim School.

Enroll today and let them know that Everything Arlington sent you. When you enroll at the Little Road location, you'll get an additional four lessons for FREE!

Swimming is an important life skill that you're never too old to master. Get ready for summer fun at all the great pools and waterparks all over DFW with British Swim School.

*Please note: I was compensated by British Swim School for this content. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Affordable Summer Getaway Less Than Two Hours from Arlington: Tanglewood Resort at Lake Texoma

Did I just discover the metroplex's best kept secret for summer fun that is both close and affordable? Tanglewood Resort at Lake Texoma is all that and more!

Picture this:

A lake setting on the border of Texas and Oklahoma. A resort with various sizes of rooms available to accommodate travel parties of all sizes. Two outdoor pools with a slide plus a small kiddie pool plus an indoor pool with racing lanes and a hot tub. Two on-site dining options: a lakeside grill and a restaurant, plus a snack stand at the pool area. An outdoor playground. An 18-hole golf course with an onsite bar and grill. Pickleball courts. A tower bar (as cool as it sounds!) for 21 and over. Programming for kids and adults all summer long.

Hanging out poolside at Tanglewood Resort at Lake Texoma. 

Are you hooked yet? 

THIS is the fun that awaits guests at Tanglewood Resort in Pottsboro, Texas. They hosted my family for two nights over Easter weekend, and, despite the rain and chill in the air, we had an absolute blast. We could almost imagine this spot bustling with vacationers in the summertime, kids running wild while parents relax in the poolside loungers, soaking up the Texas sun.

Located on Lake Texoma, Tanglewood Resort is the perfect spot to take your boat (the boat launch is less than 10 minutes from the resort) and head out on the water for the day (you can also rent a boat in the area or skip boating altogether- it is a fun spot no matter what!). Once you have had enough of lake life for the day you can head down to the pool area at the resort and relax, maybe grabbing a sandwich and fries from the lakeside grill to nosh on. With or without kids, this place is the perfect DFW escape. For the 21 and over crowd, definitely consider having a drink at the Tower Bar as the sun is setting- the view of the lake from eight stories up is absolutely stunning!

View of Tanglewood Resort from the Tower Bar.

If you have a golfer in your group, they can head over to the Tanglewood Golf Course and play a round of golf and grab a bite at the 19th Hole (and maybe a drink!). Those who want to brush up on their skills before hitting the green can also perfect their stroke at the Golf Simulator. Be sure to check out the rules of the course before you tee off. 

Checking out the Tanglewood Golf Course.

Kids and kids-at-heart will love playing at the indoor and outdoor pools at this property. My girls loved the slide and the waterfall features as well as the lap lanes at the indoor pool. I enjoyed lounging in the hot tub with my oldest while we timed my younger two as they raced down the lap lanes. In warmer weather, the snack bar between the indoor and outdoor pools will offer up refreshments to satiate hunger brought on by all the splashing around! Once they tire of swimming, kids can play tetherball or play on the playground. There is also a beach- Island View Park- about 10 minutes from the resort by car. Talk about options!

Hanging out at the indoor pool at Tanglewood Resort while the kids play. 

I can't say enough great things about the accommodations, to boot. We stayed in a villa with one king bed and oh my gosh! In-room hot tub, fireplace, washer and dryer, all dishes and silverware, a great balcony. We added on an adjacent suite with two queen beds and had loads of space for the whole family with multiple (huge!) bathrooms, multiple TVs and more. This would be perfect for a summer weekend. 

The awesome kitchen area at our villa at Tanglewood Resort at Lake Texoma. 

We enjoyed our time at Tanglewood Resort so much and know that you will too! Book today to secure your summer spot before all the rooms are full (just plugging in random June dates we were seeing the king villas for less than $300 a night. That's a steal!)

Summer is just five weeks away... Not that we are counting or anything! Who wants to meet us at Tanglewood for a fun weekend away?

*Please note: I was given a free stay in exchange for promotion on my social channels and a blog post. All thoughts and ideas are my own.*

Big Things are Happening at the Arlington Highlands!

A long-standing shopping and entertainment mecca in the Arlington area, the Arlington Highlands is undergoing changes to make the space even more welcoming. 

Kendra Scott. Pottery Barn Outlet. These are just a few of the exciting retailers who have decided to open up shop at the Arlington Highlands within the past year. Color Me Mine, a fun arts and crafts spot for all ages, is set to open this spring. These retailers join the stores, restaurants and entertainment destinations you've come to know and love at the Highlands, including Old Navy, Gloria's and Studio Movie Grill to name a few. 

The Arlington Highlands gets a glow up!

On April 1, 2025, The Highlands debuted a $30 million renovation (phase I) with a new greenspace located in the strip of shops that leads from I-20 to Studio Movie Grill... And the space is an absolutely welcome addition to this fabulous shopping area. The greenspace includes space to walk and play as well as seated areas to relax with friends and family (covered, of course, to keep the sun or rain off your back!). My sweet gymnast loved cartwheeling all the way down the greenspace on the turf. There are pretty water features dabbled throughout, as well.

Gorgeous new water feature at the Arlington Highlands. 

Now patrons can grab a coffee from Starbucks or a to-go meal from spots such as Chicken Salad Chick or Freebird's and dine outside. Parents and friends can bring a few toys and enjoy some sunshine and chatter while the kids play in the wide-open area. Once the sun sets, the space lights up with 3,500 white lights that give the space a soft glow and make it perfect for hanging out with friends after hours. A powered, canopied stage completes the upgraded area and will be home to exciting concerts in the future! 

Brand new covered seating area at the Arlington Highlands.

Even better, the Highlands will be hosting a series of FREE events open to all starting this spring. The first event to kick off the series is a MOMumental event on May 10. The event celebrates moms just in time for Mother's Day and includes activities such as making flower arrangements, checking out pampering stations, listening to live music and more. These events will continue monthly throughout the year as a way to celebrate the new space and the community that surrounds it. 

Phase II of this project is expected to be finished by the end of 2025 and will feature additional park amenities perfect for families as well as new signage and facility upgrades.

The new signage welcoming guests to the Arlington Highlands.

We love love love the Arlington Highlands and are SO excited for all the new updates to this pretty space. Join us May 10 for the MOM-umental event... Hope to see everyone there!

*Content is sponsored by the Arlington Highlands. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*