Surprise Ride... Entertainment in a Box!

Tell me it isn't just my kids...

They wake up Christmas morning at some ridiculous hour to mountains of presents under the tree, and by noon they are already bored and asking what they are going to do all day...
That's right. My kids were already bored by lunch time with all of the new toys they had to have from Santa. Noon. I hadn't even finished my second cup of coffee before they were asking where we were going and what we were doing.

Luckily, a few weeks back, I saw an ad for Surprise Ride on Facebook and decided to try it out. (No, I did NOT receive anything for free from this company. I'm simply writing to tell you all about an awesome product I found!)

Surprise Ride was actually featured on Shark Tank (freaking love that show... And Mark Cuban!), but

I learned about it through the wonders of Facebook advertising. Surprise Ride is a monthly subscription box- something that seems to be all the rage right now. But this one is targeted toward your kiddos, and it includes multiple activities, games and reading materials based on a central theme that intrigue your littles!

The box we received was Polar Bear themed, which was perfect to please all three of my monkeys, ages 3, 4 and 7. Our particular box included a bracelet, game, two activities, info packet, snack and book, all themed around polar bears. My girls seriously loved it!

We started by eating our snack while reading the instructions and the handout with interesting facts about polar bears (did you know that polar bears can be up to 11 feet tall and weight between 700 to 1400 pounds?!). The snack was a freeze-dried ice cream sandwich... A true novelty! They gobbled this up while learning that polar bears actually have black skin but it appears white because it reflects visible light (who knew?). They also took turns playing the small plastic ring game that was included in the box.

After a tiny squabble over who got to wear the Surprise Ride bracelet (my girls fight over EVERYTHING), we dove into the first craft- creating a Polar Bear habitat! This was a slower activity, as it involved water beads, but we filled a bowl with water beads and water and set them aside to expand into a "polar bear habitat." (We've never done water beads before. We are all enthralled. We will be buying more of these STAT.)

Secondly, we created a polar bear coaster out of wood and pom poms. The pom poms were meant to simulate the soft pads on a polar bear's paws, and the girls had fun using glue and making a mess because why not? This craft also included a package of hot chocolate, which I made and consumed myself (shh... Don't tell my girls!).

Lastly, we started on the polar bear story that was included for us, entitled "Polar Bears Past Bedtime" (part of the Magic Tree House series), but we quickly discovered this book was geared toward slightly older kids and decided to check on our water beads, which were getting bigger and delighting my girls.

Overall, this box entertained us for about 45 minutes, which is an eternity where my 3 and 4 year olds are concerned. The activities were appropriate for all three of my girls, and I love that the box went beyond just crafts and included snacks, a small game and a book, as well.

I have tried other monthly subscription boxes with my girls, and I've been most impressed with this one. Today's offer is $5 off any box, and most boxes (there are so many fantastic-looking ones to choose from! China! Amelia Earhart! Smile!) cost $30. You can buy one box or sign up for a subscription. My Facebook offer was one box free, just pay shipping, which was $5.95. I love this deal. This box was well worth the $5.95 I paid. Truth be told, it's well worth significantly more than that. I'm usually the person who will try any offer that has a great intro deal and then cancel when the price goes up... But this is one I will probably keep.

Because it was awesome.

The end.

Mom's Best Friend: Shop Online, Pick Up In Store...

Yesterday was one of those days where I just couldn't get motivated to get off the couch.

And then I remembered my little two had a birthday party to attend. And we didn't have a gift.

One look at my kids and I knew we wouldn't make it out of any store without tears (probably mine) because there was some silly toy their lives weren't complete without.

So instead, I shopped online to pick up in store at Toys R Us.

Shopping online is all the rage these days. Major grocers are hopping on board- you can now order your groceries online from Walmart (see my guest blog post a few posts back), Albertson's and Kroger. I'm sure other grocery stores won't be far behind.

But did you know you can shop online with stores such as Toys R Us (or the Babies R Us on Arbrook if it's a toy they carry) and Target and pick up at customer service? With Toys R Us, pick up is ready within an hour if the item is in stock!

I love this for a number of reasons. Number one, I can browse and compare prices with no pressure. I don't need to wonder if I'm getting the best price- I can flip from Amazon to Toys R Us to Walmart with a click of a button. Secondly, I can use coupons and rebate apps! That's right- when I shop online, I use Ebates to collect cash back on all my purchases. When I shop online to pick up in store, I can still use Ebates to collect my cash back. I can also check RetailMeNot.com for any coupon codes that can be applied at checkout. Lastly, I don't need to wander the aisles of the toy store with multiple children who will ultimately throw a massive tantrum when I say no to any and all of the toys they beg for.

So today I selected the toy I wanted to give as a gift for our party and checked out on toysrus.com. I selected "in-store pick-up" and voila. I was done! Toys R Us emailed me an hour later saying my item was ready for pick up. I selected a bag and card from my stash and stuck them in the car to head to the store for in-store pick-up.

The downside? There is no curbside pick up. Yet. I did still have to drag my girls to the customer service counter to pick up the gift. But, we were able to avoid the rows and rows of shiny toys just begging my girls to take them home. We were in and out with minimal fussing, whining and begging in about 5 minutes.

I've done this multiple times with Target, as well. It really is a sanity-saver. Being able to shop in my pjs and pick up at my leisure takes my laziness to a whole new level.

What stores have you done in-store pick up at that I don't know about?!

Why Are You Still Pregnant?

“If you’re already 40 weeks, why don’t you just have your doctors induce you? That’s what I did.”

This is the sound advice from the woman behind me in the checkout line at Kroger, who seems utterly confused as to why I choose to carry my pregnancy past its fortieth week.

I mean, I don’t really want to still be pregnant. Really, I’d much rather be one of those women who busts into spontaneous labor around 38 weeks and produces a plump, screaming baby within hours of those first contractions starting. Really, that sounds dreamy.

But that’s not my body. I’m on my fourth pregnancy, and I’ve never delivered earlier than 39 weeks. And that delivery was via c-section that I was scared into having. I’m fairly certain that, had I waited to go into labor on my own, I would have carried my oldest to 42ish weeks.

It seems to be a misconception that pregnancy needs to or must end on or about the 40^th week. This number is not the be all end all of pregnancy. Believe me, I know. Forty weeks is just the average number of weeks at which most babies are born. It is just as safe and common to deliver at 38 or 39 weeks as it is to deliver at 41 or 42 weeks. Forty just seems to be the number of weeks at which doctors encourage patients to induce for a number of reasons… And at this point, most women are done with the pregnant thing anyway, so they are happy to oblige.

This is my favorite pregnancy meme EVER. 

Typically, Caucasians (like me) are statistically the most likely to soar past their due dates. In fact, there have been studies that show that babies of Germanic descent (both my husband and I have significant German lineage) are most likely to be born at 42 or even 43 weeks gestation. I read this early on in my fourth pregnancy. It brought tears. Serious, serious tears.

To be honest though, I feel no need to be induced into labor. Babies can’t hang out in there forever, and as long as my midwives feel that I’m healthy to keep going (i.e., blood pressure is stable, no significant swelling, baby’s heartbeat is where it needs to be), I see no reason to change Mother Nature’s course. After all, I get to choose baby’s name, going home from the hospital outfit, formula, first foods, preschool. Do I need to pick her birthday, too?

I carried my third daughter all the way to 42 weeks and 2 days. She was born the day before Halloween. I can remember walking into a Halloween party on the 28^th with my then 4-year-old daughter, and watching as every head turned to focus on me. “Why are you still here?” seemed to be the question of the hour.

That was Sunday night. Monday afternoon, contractions started. And Wednesday, at 12:01 a.m., I had my third beautiful baby girl. And my first successful vaginal birth after cesarean (my middle daughter was a failed induction and failed VBAC attempt at almost 41 weeks). Patience has never actually been my strong suit, but she was worth every uncomfortable second I had to wait for her. 

With this surrogacy, I long to let baby arrive on his own. As a woman who has been through two c sections, I’d strongly prefer avoiding another. Because I’ve had one successful VBA2C, I’m longing for a second. And I know that my best chance of another successful VBAC is to let labor begin on its own, without medical interventions such as Pitocin.  So… I wait. And wait. And wait. Trust me… This waiting part is not fun.

For the record- I have nothing against c sections. I know full well that, even if I wait to go into labor on my own, that I may end up with another. But as a woman who has been through both kinds of birth experiences, If I can produce the results I want (a vaginal delivery), this is what I prefer to do. Having been through both, I can tell you from experience that one birth isn’t less painful than the other. A vaginal birth is simply much easier to recover from on my end.

I think I’m one of the lucky few who does pregnancy well. Four pregnancies deep, I’ve never once thrown up or even had what most would qualify as morning sickness. Aside from gaining a few more pounds than I would like with each go round, I’ve never had any complications with pregnancy. I wanted three kids, we had three kids. I wanted to be a surrogate, sweet little dude took the first time around. These hips were clearly made for carrying babies. (Don’t ask my husband his opinion on me a pregnant person… I’m not sure he’d paint such a rosy picture…)

The hospital has already scheduled my induction for next Wednesday night, which is the eve of my 42^nd week of pregnancy. Please, please send magic baby dust my way… I want nothing more than this baby to arrive safe and sound this week so he can be whisked off into the arms of his waiting mama J

(Note: This is just my personal opinion regarding my own pregnancies. To all of my friends who chose to induce, for whatever reason, awesome! To all of my friends who had c sections, for whatever reason, cool! The birth experience is different for absolutely every woman but nonetheless magical, no matter how, why or when baby arrives!)

Blue Apron- the down low on chef-inspired recipes on your doorstep!

I'll be honest here... I'm not a huge fan of cooking.

It's not that I don't actually like to cook. Really, it's a combination of challenges that combine to making cooking virtually anything but an unpleasant feat.

1. My girls hate anything I make. Seriously. If McDonald's made shrimp po'boys, they'd eat them like there's no tomorrow. When Mom makes them, time to whine, throw your food and act as though they are made from pure poison.

2. I hate shopping for ingredients. For two reasons. Either: 1. I buy a large amount of an obscure ingredient I don't otherwise want or need, such as an odd type of vinegar or a bizarre seasoning. I'll spend $10 when I just need one teaspoon and the rest will sit in my pantry for years until I toss it. Or 2. I get home and go to prep a meal, only to realize I don't actually have enough of an ingredient that is key to the recipe, such as eggs or butter or flour. So I either have to go back to the store or find a new recipe.

3. Lastly, cooking takes time. Especially if I have to slice, dice, prep, etc. I don't mind the work, really. It's just that... My girls can do a large amount of damage in a small amount of time. And, referring you back to reason one, my girls will not only color on all my walls while I dice onions, they will then refuse to eat until I heat up turkey dogs and pull the tops of strawberries so they don't starve to death because, gross, Mom has lost her mind if she thinks I'm going to eat whatever she has prepared.

So when a friend offered me a totally free trial of Blue Apron, I jumped at the chance. It was totally free- and provided by a friend who subscribes to the service, not Blue Apron itself. So my opinion is totally my own and not influenced by the company at all.

I got online to Blueapron.com and selected my meal plan. I could choose between three meals in a week that each served two, or two meals in one week that each served four. Because we are a family of five, I selected the later, knowing that it would at least feed the hubby and me and maybe produce leftovers when my girls refused to eat the mom-prepared meals.

I'm fairly picky about meat- I spent many years a vegetarian before adding turkey and chicken back to my diet. To my Texas-born husband's dismay, I still will not touch red meat, bacon, pork or anything game-y, and Blue Apron gave me the opportunity to tell them this. I answered their questions about my eating preferences, and they assigned my recipes using my profile.

There was a week delay on my order, so I ordered on a Wednesday and it was delivered on a Tuesday, almost exactly two weeks later. The box arrived on my door step fully insulated, so it didn't matter that it was delivered in the morning and I wasn't home until early afternoon. My favorite part of the whole process was that it came with absolutely everything I needed to make each recipe, from fresh garlic to two tablespoons of butter to the meat required for the recipe. This definitely made me like Blue Apron immediately.

I unpacked all the items and separated them by recipe. I was assigned Chicken Rollatini with spinach and Parmesan and Shrimp Po'Boys with homemade slaw. Each recipe came with a print out of directions complete with recipe, ingredients and step-by-step instructions. Basically, even a novice cook like myself couldn't, in theory, mess it up. Another win.

I chose to make the Chicken Rollatini that night. So I got out all the ingredients and got to work. My biggest complaint in the process was that I had to prep everything. Not a single item came sliced, diced, or otherwise prepped and ready for the recipe, unless you count that a few items came in the serving size needed for the recipe. I had to mince onions and dice capers and ready everything for cooking. The recipe sheet said that the process should take me 35 minutes from start to dinner,and I would say this was incredibly accurate. I followed each step to a tee, and I was pleased to find out that each step I prepared looked like the pictures on my recipe sheet- a good sign I wasn't screwing anything up!

I served the meal to my parents and my oldest, and I had the fourth helping. My little two tried a bit of the pasta but refused to eat the chicken (typical). The meal was actually really good! I was pleasantly surprised that, for as involved and gourmet as the meal felt when I was preparing, it turned out as it was supposed to. Even my parents and oldest daughter complimented me!

While I would say that the serving size on this meal was accurate- it could easily feed the four of us- I prepared the Shrimp Po'Boys two days later and would say that a meal for four it was not. My husband and I alone could have eaten the four sandwiches, which would have been fine because all three of my girls refused to even try them anyway. This recipe took more prep- lots of slicing, dicing, mixing, marinating- and it was, again, about 35 minutes from start to dinner.

Overall, I really liked my experience with Blue Apron. I did not continue past the two meals- I would need to do some thinking before committing long-term to a program like this. The cost of two meals twice a week that are meant to feed four people is about $65, which I find a bit steep. However, it was nice for a change to get to actually "make" dinner, rather than just heating something on the stove that I pulled out of the freezer or microwaving turkey dogs and dicing fruit for my boring eaters.

Two things that would probably make me stay- 1. Easier recipes. Yes, it was nice to know that I prepped these meals from start to finish, but 35 minute meals aren't typically I have time for in the evenings. We run from dance to gymnastics, fit in homework and reading and meetings. If some of the items that needed to be sliced and diced came, well, sliced and diced, that would be a total game changer! 2. Cheaper prices. $65 a week for two meals is a bit pricey. My grocery budget for the week is typically between $100-$120 for breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Continuing with Blue Apron would eat up half that budget and yield me two meals and maybe enough for one extra when you factor in leftovers.

What about you, reader? Do you use any of the home delivery meals? Which services have you tried? Are there others that would work better for me? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Grocery Shopping Made Easier- Guest Blogger Brittany Doering

Oh, the grocery store! A place of wonder and delight. Unless you’re me, that is. In that case, the grocery store is a dreadful place of screaming toddler meltdowns and budget-blowing impulse purchases. My family lives a hyper-scheduled chaos-filled life, and I just don’t have time to aimlessly roam the grocery store aisles hunting for hard-to-find items while corralling children.  Low and behold, that feared toddler meltdown was averted because I discovered something beautiful right in my own backyard: Wal-Mart Grocery Pick-Up. Say that three times fast and a genie will appear and grant all of your wishes.

I knew of friends in cities nearby trying out the service at Wal-Mart’s competitors but none that had tried Wal-Mart itself. It was like a mystical secret club that I desperately wanted needed to be a part of. I decided to take the plunge head first. You’re welcome, friends.

 First things first, place your order. I hopped online to www.walmart.com and selected an available pick up time slot. You’re given a one hour window to pick up your groceries. Once that was hashed out, I was able to browse my store’s selection of foods. Everything from dairy, produce, paper goods, organics, baby items, canned goods, frozen items, snacks, deli meat, beverages and all the in-between. Produce and deli meat are sold by the pound. In this magical, virtual land, there are no additional fees and the prices are the same as those found in the store! The best part about it being virtual was that I was not tempted to make impulse purchases. I stuck to my list and budget! Sorry, junk food but you’re not hitching a ride on my hips this week. The only requirement is a $30 minimum order. Once you’ve added your desired items to your basket, you simply check out. That’s it. No waiting in line. No kids endlessly begging for candy bars and soda that no one needs. None of that. Not here! I placed my order around 5 pm and was allowed to log in and make changes until 12:00 am. I appreciate that flexibility, Wal-Mart. Did I mention that I did all of this while helping my kids with their homework at my kitchen table? Oh the glory!   I slept peacefully knowing that my most tedious task for the following day was nearly complete!

 The next morning, I received a call an hour before my pick-up window from my very friendly “personal shopper” letting me know that she had done my dirty work.  She gave me parking instructions for the store to let me know where to pick up the goods. She asked what time to expect me and then advised me to call 10 minutes prior to arrival so that they could be sure and have my order ready to deliver.

I called again once I arrived at the store to let them know what numbered space I was in. I was bursting with excitement as I waited no more than 5 minutes for my super hero errr…..I mean “personal shopper” to head out with my purchases.  

Hallelujah!!! Out she came with my bagged groceries in neatly organized blue bins.

She lovingly handed me my bread and eggs which were marked with a “fragile” sticker to put safely in the front seat, y'all.

Since I was a first time customer, my friendly shopper handed me a goody bag full of samples. It just kept getting better and better!

 She loaded it all in my trunk with a great, big smile. I was not tired nor did I need chocolate to ease my stress because I did not lift a single, solitary finger. That means I had plenty of energy to do the unloading at home.

 I was very skeptical about quality but I have to say that my personal shopper nailed it! My bananas and tomatoes were delicately picked. My salami was sliced beautifully for epic sandwich making. Nearly everything in my order was accounted for. The only thing completely missing was 2 lbs of peaches. Another slight glitch was a substitution for the gargantuan jar of Best Maid Pickles that I had originally ordered. They had to be replaced by another (non-Texan) brand. I like my pickles from Texas, ya’ll. My shopper placed a sticker that said “substitution” on the outside of the bag that had the impostor pickles.

My shopper never mentioned that my preferred pickles and peaches didn’t make it to my order but that’s okay. I’m guessing they were out of season, stock, whatever. Who cares. I didn’t have to step foot in a grocery store. Now you don’t have to either, friends. Dive in with me and follow this link to Save $10 on your first order! 

Brittany is a wine-drinking lover of Jesus who was born and raised in Arlington. She loves exploring the sights of DFW with her 3 preciously crazy children and lovingly devoted hubby. She is an independent social media consultant by day and a semi-super mom by night. You can get in touch with her at brittanyd@encompasssocialmedia.com         Photo Credit: Ashley Rutland Photography

Holiday Happenings for the Kiddos!

My trio and I can't wait to start attending all the activities the Arlington area offers during the Christmas season! From the lights at Interlochen to the Santa Adventure at Parks Mall to activities at Christkindlmarkt, there is lots of fun to be had during the most wonderful time of the year!

Love Actually and Elf start on a continuous loop at my house the day after Thanksgiving- which is also when the tree goes up and Sparkle, our Elf on the Shelf, returns. Peppermint mochas become my dietary staple and the girls wear red and green for pretty much all of December. I seriously love the holidays!

We are taking Santa photos with a great photographer in Mansfield today to get a jump on the holiday photo card rush (did you see the giveaway I shared? With Event Paperie? You need to enter- do you need an incentive beyond FREE Christmas cards?!) and I've queued up some holiday music to put me in this spirit while I compile this list (and simultaneously fill my planner for December). Happy Holidays!

Ongoing Events

Texas Christkindl Market, Rangers Ballpark, 11/25- 12/23. Event is free to walk in.
One day, I will attend the original Christkindlmarkt in Germany, but, for now, this event is fabulous and so close to home! This year, they are debuting Peppermint Park for the kiddos. PP is open on the weekends when school is in session and then all week leading up to Christmas. Activities include games, a trackless train, a petting zoo, crafts, a stage with entertainers and more! Some activities may cost. Also new this year is the Artic Blast Tubing Run, a 200-ft. slide you travel down in a tube. Awesome! While you are there, stop by and visit Father Christmas, Germany's version of Santa Claus.

Adventure to Santa, Parks Mall, 11/4-12/24, hours vary. Event is free; Photos available for purchase.
Join the characters from Kung Fu Panda as you embark on a virtual adventure to Santa Claus. At the end of the journey, you'll meet the jolly guy himself and pose for a photo. Picture pricing varies, but the journey is free and totally fun for littles! I highly recommend making a reservation at adventuretosanta.com beforehand so you can skip the line to the North Pole!

Holiday in the Park, Six Flags Over Texas, through January 2, hours vary. Event free with park ticket.
Enjoy all the wonderful rides at Six Flags without the warm summer air! Thousands of lights make for visual delight as you stroll the park. Enjoy a lights show set to music, fake snow and a sledding hill that replicates the kind of snow-sledding I grew up doing in northern Illinois! Hot chocolate is available for purchase and there are warming stations throughout the park.

Santa at Lincoln Square, November 25- December 24. 
Visit Santa to tell him what you want to find under your tree; Santa will also be taking donations to benefit Safe Haven. Find a full list of items needed here: http://www.lincolnsquarearlington.com/event/13th-annual-santa-land/2145480708

Prairie Lights, Lynn Creek Park in GP, open nights and weekends from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day. Per-car cost.
Drive through a spectacular lights display set to music! More than four million lights stretch across two miles of track with displays that stretch over the road and dance to the music that fills your car. Grab your friends and your hot cocoa and enjoy the magic of the season! You can stop and get out half-way through the path and shop, grab hot cocoa or hot cider and visit Santa himself. Some activities cost extra.

Theatre Arlington presents A Christmas Carol: Scrooge & Marley, December 2-18, matinee and evening show times available. Tickets start at $18.50.
Experience the entertaining tale of Scrooge, Marley and, of course, Tiny Tim, as they discover the true meaning of Christmas.

The Lights at Interlochen, December 16-25, 7-11p, free.
Drive through one of Arlington's iconic neighborhoods as its residents spread holiday cheer. The lights are sure to impress even the grumpiest of Scrooges.

Events

Third Thursdays Mansfield- Decorate Main St.; Thursday, November 17, 5p-8p, free. Some activities may cost extra. 
Local businesses have sponsored 10 trees to be decorated during Third Thursdays in November! Lots of activities, giveaways and fun to be had!

Prairie Lights Sneak a Peek Walk and Stroll, November 20, 6:30. Cost per participant.
If you've never been to Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie, well, why not?! It's a light spectacular synced to music you can ride through in your warm car with kids and friends! Holiday-themed light displays await. But you can go on November 20 and walk the route with kids in strollers and wagons and get a leg-up on Thanksgiving eating! Lynn Creek Park hosts the spectacular, must-see holiday event. Less than 70 spots available for this event at last check!

Hot Cocoa with Santa for Mommy and Me, November 25th at 1:30p, A Moment in Time Princess Tea Parties, 406 W. Main St., Arlington. $27.99 per person, advance ticket purchase is required.
A decadent menu awaits all princes and princesses in attendance, including popcorn balls and milk-chocolate dipped marshmallows. Cost includes a photo with Santa and one-on-one time with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Polar Express Reading with Mrs. Claus, Barnes at Noble at Parks Mall, November 30, 7p. Free. 
Slip into your PJs and come support the Mansfield Library. A portion of anything bought during the reading (even at the cafe) will benefit the Mansfield Library. Be sure and bring your camera!

Mainstage Classic Theatre Presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. St. John Lutheran Church in Mansfield. December 2, 7p; December 3, 2p and 7p. Tickets starting at $8.
Enjoy a local theater's production of an adorable holiday tale.

ChristmasSpectacular at Arlington Music Hall, December 2-4 and 9-11, matinee and evening show times available. Tickets start at $20.
This show will feature spectacular dancers and performers in fabulous holiday attire kick-lining and singing to holiday music. This show is the vision of a former Disney show writer and director.

City of Mansfield Hometown Holidays, Friday, December 2- Sunday December 4.
Friday: 5p-9p, free. Meet Santa, tree lighting, penguins, holiday market, ice slide, shopping.
Saturday: 9a Kiwanis 5K; 12p The Music Place performs Elf Jr. The Musical; 2:30p parade downtown.
Sunday: 1-6p, Parade of Homes.

Olde Town Christmas at Dottie Lynn, Saturday, December 3, 10a-3p. Event is free, some activities cost extra.
I won't lie... This caught my eye because, new this year, they are having an "Elf Workshop" for kids! For $1 per kid, kids can enjoy crafts and activities without mom and dad! I can shop without the pleas for "Can I have this?," "But I need that," "Why don't you ever let me buy anything?," and they can have fun crafting and hanging out with the other kids! And I can support local crafters and sellers in my hunt for the perfect Christmas gifts. Win-win!

Arlington Parade of Lights, downtown Arlington, Saturday December 3, 6:30p. Free.
Bring the kiddos downtown to watch a fun and spirited parade sponsored by the City! Dozens of floats decorated by local groups (my oldest and I will be walking in the parade with her Girl Scout Service Unit this year! Our first time being in the parade!) will glide through downtown. Be sure to bring something to sit on, some hot chocolate and a light up thing or two (so your kids don't beg you for the ones being sold onsite!).

Kennedale Christmas Tree lighting, Kennedale Town Center, Tuesday December 6, 5:30-8p, free.
Santa arrives at 6p so be there with your camera! Sing along to carols and enjoy treats from local businesses.

Breakfast with Santa, Cliff Nelson Recreation Center, 8a-11a Saturday December 10. $10/person, advance ticket purchase required.
Children can make crafts and play games and eat a hearty breakfast with the man in red himself. This event will sell out so get your tickets now!

Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's at the Highlands, 8a- 11a Saturday December 10. $19.99 per person, includes a $10 game card.
Unlimited video game play plus activities. Hot breakfast. Santa.

Holiday Safari with Symphony Arlington, December 15 at 7:30p. Tickets start at $15.
Enjoy a holiday-themed night with the Symphony.

Breakfast with Santa, Alley Cats Bowling, December 17th 9:30-11:30a. $14.99 per child includes breakfast, a picture with Santa, $10 game card and crafts.
Enjoy a morning of arcade games and a hot breakfast with Santa!

Art Ballet Academy Presents The Nutcracker, Saturday, December 17, shows at 2p and 6p at the Mansfield Center for Performing Arts. Tickets start at $12.
Bring your kiddos to see one of the timeless classic that captures the magic of the holiday season. Local dancers from Art Ballet Academy will perform and delight audiences of all ages... You are never too young to fall in love with The Nutcracker!

Coupon Brag- Free Body Wash!

Okay... This is not really a coupon blog.

But every now and again I come across deals so good I can't not share.

I'm not really the coupon-clipping type. And trust me, I want to be. No- I NEED to be. 

I'm just lazy. And usually, even if I take the time to clip coupons, I get to the store and realize they are sitting on my counter.

So coupons are not my thing.

But mobile apps? That is where it's at!

For this deal, you will need ibotta. Use my referral code and get $10 when you redeem your first rebate! 

https://ibotta.com/r/kwwbq

You will also need Checkout 51. Get this from the app store.

Lastly, you will need the Kroger app. Get this in the app store and link it to your Kroger card.

Here are the 4 items I bought:


Axe Shower Gel: 
on sale for $3.99
I used an e-coupon from the Kroger app to save an instant $1.50
Final price: $2.49

Caress Shower Gel:
on sale for $2.99
I used an ecoupon from the Kroger app to save an instant $1.00.
Final price: $1.99

Then I submitted to ibotta for $4.00 cash back.
Then I submitted to Checkout 51 for $4.00 cash back.

Final price, after rebates: I got paid $3.50 to buy these products!

Dove Shower Gel:
On sale for $5.49
I used an ecoupon from the Kroger app to save an instant $2.00.
Final price: $3.49

Dove Men's Shower Gel:
On sale for $3.99
I used an ecoupon from the Kroger app to save an instant $2.00.
Final price: $1.99

Then I submitted to ibotta for $5.00 cash back.

Final price, after rebates: $.48 for both!

Actually, counting all rebates, I got paid $3 to buy 4 full-size body washes.

If you are conscious of toxic products like I am, these are great to donate to Mission Arlington.

Just be sure you watch product sizes- they are specific!

Any questions? Hit me up! Happy to answer :) 

Cookies, Cookies, Cookies! (AND a giveaway!!!)

My girls absolutely love when they get to celebrate their birthdays at school. There is nothing like having a class full of your peers singing Happy Birthday to your child to put a smile on your face!

But as much as they love being the center of attention for their birthdays, they also love handing goodies out to their friends to help celebrate!

My youngest requested "Paw Patrol cookies" for her class... So I did some sleuthing, and came across Sweet Petites & Treats in Mansfield for the perfect classroom treat!

Check out these AH-mazing Paw Patrol-inspired "paint" cookies that my youngest and her classmates got to enjoy!

I love these because, in addition to be adorable, they allow the kids to do more than just consume sugar (which, let's not lie, is the best part of cookie-eating). They allow the kids to decorate their cookies to their liking!

Each cookie has dots of colored icing and a paint brush for kids to get creative before they enjoy a yummy cookie treat! (And these cookies are every bit as yummy as they look, not that I'm pregnant and ate three or anything...)

Even my older two loved painting these cookies, and then devouring their creations! My oldest called the cookies "delicious," and ate hers and the remnants of her sister's (my middle daughter is not big on sweets... For this reason, I'm still not entirely sure she's even mine!). These cookies were sweet sugar cookies with a hint of lemon.

Can I talk about the packaging for a minute? When presentation matters, these are definitely stunning! They came in individual boxes, beautifully wrapped for a perfect presentation! These are seriously great for gift giving: no wrapping, worrying, bow-tying, etc. They are good to go exactly as you pick them up from Petite Sweets & Treats. Perfect for on-the-go moms like me who want a head-turning gift without the effort!

Petite Sweets & Treats makes gorgeous cookie creations for any occasion. The Facebook page is filled with absolutely stunning cookie creations of all sorts... This is your go-to spot for cookies for any reason! Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, corporate functions. I'm already thinking of cute snowflake cookies for teacher gifts as we approach the holiday season...

Photo from Petite Sweets & Treats Facebook page.

Like Petite Sweets & Treats on Facebook for fun giveaways and guessing games, as well as info on ordering and pricing. Trust me... You'll be glad you did!

**As a thank you to my followers, and to get you ready for gifting this holiday season, I've teamed up with Petite Sweet & Treats to give one lucky reader $30 credit to her shop! So you can get a dozen beautifully decorated cookies on us! Think holidays- teacher gifts, neighbor gifts, etc. Design is your choice! I'll also throw in three paw print paint-your-own cookies from my youngest's birthday party- packaged and ready for gifting (or consuming!). This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook.**

To enter, please LIKE the original post on Everything Arlington, TX. Then like Petite Sweets & Treats on Facebook and Everything Arlington, TX and comment that you did. That's it. You're all set!

Birthday Fun at Texas Tumble Tots!

October is birthday month at our house.

My oldest's birthday is October 2, my youngest's October 30. (My middle daughter is our loner with a May birthday... Even my husband and I share August!)

It's not always easy hosting two parties in one month (especially when you are on a budget!), but it's always fun!

My youngest, who admires her older sisters greatly, wanted a party similar to my oldest's. So, after hearing lots of great things about Texas Tumble Tots, I decided to try there.

And I'm so glad I did!

Party guests arrived to an obstacle-course of gymnastics equipment ready to be climbed on. Slides, bars, beams, cushy mats... The kids came ready to play- and play they did!

The party hostess helped younger kids with the balance beams and bars, and lead them in a few activities, including Simon Says, musical hula hoops and bubbles.

The back room was set up for eating and gift opening. And, to my delight, it also had two small bounce houses for the kids to enjoy! One featured a large slide that my girls loved going down head-first, and the other was a mini boxing ring perfect for bouncing and playing.

I was able to bring in whatever food I wanted, so I chose some fruit platters from Kroger, a chicken nugget platter from Chick Fil A, a few odds and ends from Costco and a cake from Sams. Kids got to enjoy the food at small red tables just their size.

The gym itself features plenty of seating for adults to be able to relax and socialize while kids burn off some energy. There is also a corner with books and small toys for little ones not yet big enough for the gym floor. The facility is kept very neat and tidy, and is easy to find just a few miles off of 287 when you take the Heritage Trace Parkway exit.

I chose not to do a fancy set up- no balloons, streamers, banners or the like this time around. But there is certainly tons of space for decorating if you want to so do!

I would highly, highly recommend Texas Tumble Tots as the perfect indoor birthday party venue! Great for hot, hot summer days and chilly winter days. I love when I don't have to worry about canceling a party last minute because Mother Nature isn't cooperating! I would recommend this venue to birthday boys and girls ages 10 and younger.

Texas Tumble Tots is located at 12615 FM 917 in Alvarado.

facebook.com/texastumbletots

www.texastumbletots.com

Save Calories and Earn Cash!

Like my children, I'm over-the-top excited for Halloween weekend.

We have plans to attend three Halloween events, plus we are throwing my youngest a birthday party on Saturday (yay for October babies!). 

My two younger girls have parties at PreK this week. As well as parties at dance class.

And then there is the big event itself: Halloween night.

I love love love it!

But I do fear the amount of sugar that is about to enter my home...

Hi. My name is Stephanie. And I'm shamelessly addicted to sugar.

Aside from consume it all shamelessly in my closet while my girls sleep and blame surrobabe for the incident, what am I going to do with all the candy that is going to pour into my home?

Luckily, I've come up with an answer that does not involve the words "eat it all."

Actually, it's a win-win.

I'm going to let my girls each pick out 10-15 pieces of their favorite candy.

Then we are going to "sell" the rest to a local Halloween Candy Buyback Program sponsored by a local dentist's office. That dentist's office will then donate the candy to the troops. So my girls get to enjoy all the Halloween festivities and some of the candy and then earn some dollars for their piggy banks as they hand over the candy to someone who will appreciate it. Win win.

Here are the two local dentist's offices in our area offering candy buyback:

Carrier Dentistry
515 S. Carrier Pkwy, Ste 102
GP, TX 75051
(972)642-2423
carrierdentistry@sbcglobal.net
www.carrierdentistrytx.com

Starting November 1st, Carrier Dentistry will buy your candy for $1 per pound! They will then shipped your candy off to the troops stationed overseas through the charity Soldiers' Angels. Awesome!

Greystone Dental
1476 Eastchase Parkway Ste. 115
FW, TX 76120
817-451-9588
greystonedental@gmail.com
www.dentalDFW.com

Starting November 1st, Greystone Dental will accept your candy and send it overseas to the troops. Although they are not paying you for candy, this is a great way to teach kiddos about paying things forward!

There are lots more locations in the greater FW area participating in this program. For more info, check out www.halloweencandybuyback.com.

Alternately, if you'd like to send your candy to the troops directly, visit halloweencandybuyback.com to get started!

Arlington... Welcome to Cake Bliss!

There is no such thing as too much dessert. 

In my opinion, anyway.

So when Dionne Dixon opened Cake Bliss last month in the Pantego area, I knew we were in for- literally- a treat! Cake Bliss does cupcakes, cakes and cinnamon rolls and takes special orders. Cake Bliss has been making cakes for the DFW area since 2011. My girls and I stopped in yesterday to check out the space and treat ourselves to cupcakes before we started our Saturday happenings, and we had those cupcakes devoured before I even started the car!

Before you watch Cake Bliss on Cake Wars on Halloween, get to know a bit more about the Michigan-born owner and master baker behind Arlington's latest gourmet treat stop!

Everything Arlington: What made you decide to open a bakery in the Arlington area?
Cake Bliss: I'm originally from Michigan, but we've been here for nine years. I've developed great relationships with past clients and it only seemed right that I'd open a place in this area. A perfect space opened up in Pantego, and I jumped on it.

EA: What is your vision for Cake Bliss?
CB: I want Cake Bliss to be what people in this area think of first when they think custom cakes. I want them to know that the work is beautiful, but the taste is delicious too!

EA: How did you first get into baking?
CB: I'm an RN by trade. Funny story is that I started taking cake decorating classes at the same time that I started nursing school. I've been doing both ever since, but this year I decided to stay home and focus on the cakes. Then later on I decided to open the retail space.

EA: What is your favorite cake? And what is your favorite cake to make?
CB: My absolute favorite cake is German Chocolate Cake. It's a more involved cake, and it tastes amazing! My favorite thing to make is the chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. Mostly because of the reaction. Most people aren't too sure about it, but when they taste it... It never fails!

Short and sweet:

Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate but ONLY with peanut butter. Otherwise vanilla.

Whipped or buttercream frosting? Cream cheese

Sweet or savory? Sweet of course, but even better with salty... Like salted caramel.

To have Cake Bliss design the perfect sweet treat for your next event, contact her at 682.220.9296.

www.cakeblisstexas.com

facebook.com/cakeblisstexas

All images used with permission and taken from Cake Bliss' Facebook page.