Shop Local: An Arlington-area Shopping Guide for the Holidays

Every year about this time, I vow to support local a bit more and order from Amazon a bit less..

And then every year, about two weeks from now, I start to get a bit overwhelmed by the idea of "shopping locally" and don't know where to start. So I revisit a little Website called Amazon and cheat on all my favorite local spots that make this community awesome.

So this year, I'm making it easy on all of us. I'm making a gift guide for all the people on your list- and I'm telling you exactly where or how to find these awesome items that anyone would be thrilled to get under the Christmas tree! (Every. Single. Item. is from a local shop or direct seller or small business owner in the Arlington & Mansfield area so your dollars support local. Awesome, right?)

Read on for the Ultimate Arlington Holiday Shopping Guide!

For the Woman in your Life: (Mom, Aunt, Sister, Wife, Girlfriend)

Makeup Junkie Bags, starting at $25

These lay-flat makeup bags and clutches are made by a Houston-area Mommy and sold by an awesome Mom here in Arlington. They come in a variety of sizes and patterns, and are perfect for everyday use. They make adorable clutches for date night or diapers and wipes holders for the car or diaper bag. A definite hit with all the women in your life!
Find them here:
Makeup Junkie Bags

Fun, Quirky Earrings from Front Porch Boutique, starting at $15

Kitschy earrings are a staple in any woman's wardrobe, and Front Porch Boutique, run by a local Arlington Mama, has some of the cutest styles currently available! I mean, honestly here, how many women wouldn't go gaga for margarita earrings? Or coffee earrings? They are a great price and so cute you may not want to give them away!
Find them here:
Fun Earrings

Funky, Gorgeous Bangles from Frills & Trimmings, $17.99

I'm always in search of accessories to add some sparkle to outfits I already own. And leopard print is my go-to neutral. Match these bangles to almost anything you already own to add a bit of spice to your wardrobe!
Find them here:
Animal Print Bangles

Drapey, soft, amazing Piko tunics from Jazzy Jems, starting at $19.99

Piko tunics are as important in my life as wine. So... There's that. But seriously! Piko tunics come in loads of gorgeous colors, fit so well and feel so so soft. They are great over jeans or leggings, or even a killer skirt. They come in sizes small-large and are a great match with any of the above accessories (or all of them for the ultimate gift for your gal!).
Find them here:
Jazzy Jems Info

For the New Mama You Know

Adorable Swaddle Blankets from The Crunchy Boutique, starting at $29.99

Large, lightweight blankets were a diaper bag staple for me when my kids were little. I could use them for everything from a nursing cover to a changing pad and everything in between. We still keep my favorite prints around for my girls to cuddle up to at night or use on their dolls. And the prints from these Little Muffincakes Blankets would definitely qualify these puppies as keepers!
Find the here:
Swaddle Blankets

A Fit4Mom Membership, starting at $40

One of the hardest parts about becoming a mom for me was accepting the changes to my body that each of my kiddos brought with her. Four pregnancies on, I don't think I'll ever be back to my pre-pregnancy weight, and I've finally made peace with that. But I found support from the Fit4Mom village back when my oldest was an infant (8 years ago now!), and those women really helped me appreciate all that my body is capable of. This is a gift for the body and the soul!
Find it here:
Fit4Mom Facebook Page


For the Man in your Life (Husband, Boyfriend, Uncle, Guy Friend)

Dad Bod On Point shirt from Southern Taterbug, starting at $18

My husband is, surprisingly, pretty open to wearing any of the shirts I put in his closet, even if they are a bit self-deprecating. This shirt from a local Mansfield Mama would make us both laugh. He's still as hot to me now as he was the day I met him in college, and he would definitely find the humor in a shirt like this! (Someday I'll have my college waistline back. We all will...)
Find it here:
Southern Taterbug

Stealth Flasks from Rocket Fizz, $19.99

Admittedly, my husband and I don't drink like we used to, but I do have a brother and a brother-in-law who would still put these guys to great use. I found these hysterical when I bumped into them at Rocket Fizz- hand lotion containers for, well, not hand lotion! What better way to pretend you are 18 again than with a flask your 18-year-old self would be envious of?
Find them here:
Rocket Fizz Arlington

Signed Sports Memorabilia from Gracie Lane, from $9.99

Got a guy who loves sports? Check out all that Gracie Lane has to offer in its Man Cave! Signed jerseys, photographs and so on from some of his favorite athletes. Pricing varies greatly here. Even if your main man isn't crazy about sports, chances are you'll be able to find something he will like at Gracie Lane!
Find more info here:
Gracie Lane info

Goodr Sunglasses from The Runner, $25

I've been a runner for years, and I don't think I've been this excited about a running item in a long time! These sunglasses are lightweight, don't slip when you get sweaty or bounce around as you move. Plus, they are polarized and come in lots of cool colors. Even if your man isn't a runner, these glasses are seriously cool for keeping that Texas sun out of your eyes!
Find them here:
The Runner Info

For the Kiddies

Pearachute Kids Membership for Classes and Activities, starting at $39 per month

My kids have everything. Literally all the things. And while I have a few presents to wrap and stick under the tree, I've enjoyed, more than anything, giving my kids the gift of creating memories. Pearachute Kids is a drop in class pass system for kids and caregivers to attend classes, events and activities all over the Metroplex. Try out soccer, or channel your inner Picasso at art class, or check out a movie on the big screen. Pearachute has activities for kiddos seven days a week, from morning until night, from west Fort Worth to Mesquite and everywhere in between. Instead of things, give your kids the gift of memories!
Find it here:
Pearachute Kids

Adorable Plush Toys from Chelsea's Tea Room, starting at $24.99

Kids gaga for all things soft and cuddly? Mine too. I could go on a nice vacation for all the money I've spent on TY through the years. I was hooked on Beanie Babies as a kid (fine- as a teenager, I'll admit it!), and now my girls are nuts for the Beanie Boos. We own more than I care to admit. And they are always on the hunt for the next animal to join the zoo that lives in our playroom. Chelsea's has a few more victims, I mean sweet plush things, to add to our collection. (Although I secretly have my eye on the big unicorn... Santa would do well to leave her under our tree!)
Find them here:
Chelsea's Tea Room Facebook Page

Tegu Blocks from Sockmonkey Junction. starting at $19.99

These magnetic wooden blocks are pure joy for young builders. The familiar warmth of wooden toys mixed with the magic of magnets will help your child's imagination soar. If blocks aren't the right gift for your kiddo, Sockmonkey Junction will absolutely be able to help you find something to please your kiddo!
Find more info here:
Sockmonkey Junction Facebook Page

Learning Wrap Ups from Usborne Books, starting at $8.99

My favorite toys are ones that are both fun and educational. My girls love math (my husband has his fingers and toes crossed that they will all be engineers one day!), and these learning wrap ups from Usborne books are a perfect educational tool to help them work on their addition and subtraction in a fun, tactile way. Even better- you can buy learning wrap ups for more than just math, and they come at a fantastic price, making them a great gift for all the kids on your list!
Find them here:
Usborne Books Learning Wrap Ups

Animal Herbal Warmers from Hank & Ellie, $23.95

Again with the "can't go wrong with all things cute and plush here," these huggable animals from Hank & Ellie in Pantego make a cute gift for a kiddo to snuggle up to all winter long. These herbal warmers will be great for the wintertime, keeping kiddos warm at night or on the inevitable sick days that January and February will bring. Plus, they come in a variety of adorable creatures. I've got my eye on that unicorn, too!
Find them here:
Hank and Ellie Facebook Page

For you Tween

The Charming Bracelet, a book by local author Sherry Hall, $18
I love to read. Anything girly and light is right up my alley. I can't wait until my girls are old enough to start reading some of my all-time favorites such as The Babysitters Club or Harry Potter. This book is definitely something I'll be purchasing to put in the vault for them to read in a few years. And a signed addition that supports a local mama? Awesome!
Find it here:
The Charming Bracelet

Easy Teacher Gifts

Gorgeous plush throws from Twisted Southern Root, $34

Teacher gifts are so easy and yet, so hard. I want to think outside the box, but with all the gift giving and activities and general mayhem that is the holiday season, I'm generally scrambling the night before winter break begins, wondering what in the heck I'm going to give my girls' teachers. So when I stumbled upon these beauties at a local Mansfield shop, I knew I'd hit on something fabulous. These bright, vibrant blankets are perfect for cold winter nights, and their uplifting sayings can brighten anyone's day. Plus these are something outside the ordinary- no one else will be gifting something quite so special!
Find them here:
Cozy Blankets

Silly Socks from Hello Be-YOU-tiful Boutique, $14

Nothing says winter break like snuggly socks to pad around the house in when you know your chances of getting dressed that day are pretty close to zero. These socks, with cheeky sayings such as "If you can read this, it's time to wine down," are a great, funny gift to tell your kids' teacher to have a great break! Plus they come from a couple of Mansfield Mamas who run a great online boutique!
Find them here:
Silly Socks

For the Grandparents

Photo Ornaments from MAK Designs, starting at $12.75

My parents and in laws love nothing more than glossy photos of my sweet girls (fine, and my husband and me, although I avoid the camera like it's going out of style!) more than anything else I could possibly put under the Christmas tree. Photo anything is always a hit at our Christmas celebrations! These sweet ornaments come from a local Mansfield Mama and are sure to make any grandma or grandpa swoon with pride!
Find them here:
Photo Ornaments

Nothing in Life is Free: A Holiday Retail Lesson

I recently saw my hair stylist post an image on Facebook that got me thinking. Quite simply, it said: Friends will ask for discount prices. True friends will pay full price, to support you, your time and your work.

This message hit me hard as I start preparing for the busy holiday season and start to make my lists and check them twice for my girls, husband and family.

Because I am definitely a bargain shopper. I don't want to overpay for anything. And in this internet age, I don't have to. I can always find a better price. A cheaper price. A cheaper version. I have friends who direct sell everything from cleaning products to wine, lip gloss to children's books. This time of year, everyone is offering a discount. To get you in the door. To give you a taste. And to hope that it will get you to spend enough money that the discount was worth it, in the end.

And it's got me thinking about this changing retail climate, this internet age. How we shop, how we spend. How badly I want to support my friends and support local.

And yet, how I, like most people, have to pay attention to the bottom line. Because no matter how savvy of a shopper I am, the money is finite. The Christmas fund will dry up. So the questions becomes- what's more important? To support my friends and local businesses even if that means paying more? Or giving in to the Amazons of the world, knowing it's hurting the "little guy" but that it's helping me put more presents under the tree?

I've been pricing out trips to Disney for Spring Break with my Disney Girl (should out to Lisa
Rebstock, Travel Agent Extraordinaire) and am trying to find the best deals. Through some casual internet research, I came to discover that, early each calendar year, Disney offers free dining. FREE dining! That's amazing! I will be traveling with my family of five plus my mother in law- dining, per my previously priced out plan, was going to cost me about $1900! So FREE dining if I move my dates around a bit? Yes please!

So I had Lisa change my dates and recalculate my trip. Though I'm not surprised (but definitely disappointed), Disney's free dining ploy reconfirmed what I already knew: Nothing in life is free.

Free dining was actually going to cost me MORE than if I stuck with my original dates, which were not free-dining eligible. Basically, dining isn't free. Free dining, at the same hotels as my original trip, was about $500 more than paying for the original package and adding on dining. Dining is never free. And how could it be? If I walk into a restaurant with my party of six people and enjoy a meal, that food had to be purchased from the supplier, prepared by a line cook, sold to me by a cashier and so on. Not one of those elements is free. Somebody paid for it, even if Disney told me it was free. The truth is, I paid for it. Disney just sold it to me it a way that made it seem as though I didn't.

And so it goes in retail. Y'all- NOTHING is free. It's all about the marketing.

I tried my hand at direct selling a few years back with a company no longer in business. I wanted so badly to be good at it. I believed in my product, I asked friends and family to buy it. It was expensive. But it was good stuff.

I had a friend who consistently wanted to try the product but always resisted. She would tell me she wanted to buy the shampoo and then asked me what discount I would offer. Discount? How could I offer her a discount? Did she realize how little I was making selling her one bottle of shampoo to begin with? Literally, I was making maybe $3. But she complained. "Shipping is so expensive." Fair. It was. $4.95 to ship one bottle. And the shampoo was $12.95. "Amazon would ship it to me for free," she would tell me. Also fair- Amazon would ship it to you for free.

But not because shipping itself is free. Y'all- shipping is NEVER free. Someone pays for shipping. Always. UPS, FedEx, USPS- they do not ship your packages for free. It costs them money to operate their planes and trucks and pay their workers. Shipping is not free!

For starters, if you are an Amazon Prime member (and you aren't a student), you've paid for that membership! So you've prepaid your shipping. At some point, if you order enough, you've paid pennies per actual shipment. But you have paid for shipping! If you aren't a Prime member, you have to purchase a certain amount of goods- at least $35 worth, generally- in order for shipping to be free. But, again, shipping isn't free! Amazon just feels that, after $35, they've made enough money off of your purchase that they can "gift" you free shipping to seal the deal.

Now imagine a smaller company, who doesn't do nearly the amount of business that Amazon does. Imagine that this small company offers you free shipping. It isn't free! If you spend $50 on this company's products, they have made around $25 profit on your purchase. Maybe this is enough that this company feels "Hey, I'll eat $6 in shipping because I made $25." Your free shipping is eating into the profits. But maybe you, like me, are trained to look for deals. You won't online shop if you have to pay for shipping. But then you are consistently undercutting the company's profits, whether you mean to or not.

Back to the selling. Remember that shampoo? Yes, Amazon could have "gifted" my friend free shipping, thereby making her shampoo only $12.95. Maybe she would have purchased. Maybe she even would have thrown a few more things in her cart while she was already placing an order. But by asking me, a stay-at-home-mom trying to make money for my family, to discount her product, she was simply cutting into any money I may have been making. I did pay her shipping, in the end, to get the shampoo in her hand. She loved the shampoo, but never purchased again from me. "Too pricey," she said. Quite literally, it COST me $2 to get her to try a product. I didn't last long direct selling...

I've spent years in retail, prior to my mommy days. My last "real" job before I stayed home was with a high-end denim label, working as their Retail Coordinator. I've seen it all and heard it all. And in this changing retail climate- yes, Amazon is truly taking over the retail world- before we all complain that stores are closing and favorite brands are filing chapter 11 and small businesses can't survive- let's look at how our behaviors as consumers affect this.

Let's call the brand I used to work for Brand X. Brand X produced seriously expensive, gorgeous jeans. The fabric was imported from overseas, but the jeans are made in the US, in factories in LA. These jeans cost, on average, $50 to make. Fifty dollars, for the materials and the labor.

Now let's say that Schmooingdale's wants to sell these jeans. Brand X will sell these jeans to S for $100 per pair. That's to cover the $50 cost, plus $50 profit. Brand X then sets an Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for Schmooingdale's. $200. So, if S buys 10 pairs of Brand X jeans, S pays $1000. If S sells all 10 pairs at $200 each, S makes $2000 and nets $1000 profit. Not bad.

Not bad, but remember- S has stores all over the country that it operates. Each of those stores costs a lot of money. There is mall rent, there is the price of heating or air and electricity. There is the price of labor for the salesperson that sells you those jeans, the stock people who receive and sort the shipment that contains these jeans, and so on. So S may be "making" $100 on profit on each pair of jeans. But S is not keeping $100 per pair of jeans.

Let's backtrack, though. S has to sell five pairs of jeans at full price in order to break even, to not be in the red with these jeans. But it's a tough retail climate. S can't sell these jeans. S only sells two pairs at full price. So, S has made $400 on jeans. S still has eight pairs, and is still "in the red" for $600. So S offers a discount. Hey, shopper! I'll see you these jeans at 25% off. $150! $150 for these $200 jeans. Steal! So S sells four pairs at this discounted price. S makes $600 on these 4 pairs, so now S has sold 6 pairs and broken even. Not in the black yet, but no longer in the red.

But now this has affected how many jeans S wants to buy next time from Brand X. S says "Brand X, your jeans didn't sell very well for me. I had to give steep discounts on your jeans to get them out the door. I only sold two pairs at full price. I sold 4 pairs at 25% off and the remaining 4 pairs I sold at half off. I only made $400 selling your 10 pairs of jeans. I'm not impressed with that margin." Brand X then has to figure out how to make S want to keep selling it's jeans. Brand X then says "Okay, S. If you will keep selling my jeans, I will discount the price. Next month, if you will buy 10 pairs again, I will sell them to you for $90 each. Then you can still resell them for $200. Margin builder!" But now Brand X is taking a hit. Brand X either has to find a way to cut costs- buying cheaper materials, manufacturing overseas, layoffs- in order to continue to turn a profit on it's product. Everybody loses.

In order for you, the shopper, to get these "great deals" on consumer goods, companies have to take hits. How many Gymboree and Crazy 8 stores have shut down this year? How many stores will we see close down next year? And why? Because we, as end consumers, now have choices. I can stand at Target and price match to Amazon. Better yet, I can sit at home and research a product and, with a few clicks on the mouse, figure out who has the best price. Oftentimes, I can obtain this best price online. AND I can shop through cash back sites such as Ebates or Swagbucks and still use all my discount codes, ensuring I get the best price. Why would I walk into a Gymboree store?

And how often does Amazon, this big retail giant we all support, "support local?" When I went to my girls' school's silent auction this weekend, I didn't see any donations from Amazon. Not a single prize basket was sponsored by Amazon, or Target, or Walmart, or any of these other retail giants. But I did see lots of gift baskets from local direct sellers. From local mamas who run online boutiques or local photographers or other local businesses. Personal stock. Personal items. Purchased and paid for by these local businesses and kindly donated. To help the school. To support the kids.

Keep all this in mind this holiday season as you Amazon Prime all your presents straight to your doorstep. Keep in mind that we have an awesome local toy store in Mansfield called Sockmonkey Junction that carries incredible toys. No, they probably can't beat, or even price match, Amazon's price on toys. But I bet if you need a donation for your kid's school fundraiser you'll have a much easier time getting in touch with those owners than anyone high up at Amazon.

And if you need shampoo or oils or lip gloss or books or bags, consider buying from your friends. Consider paying full price, even if you could get it cheaper elsewhere. Even if it means one or two fewer gifts under the tree. Consider supporting your friends' businesses because they appreciate your business a lot more than Amazon does. Consider going up to Parks Mall and shopping in store rather than doing everything online. Support local. Support our community. Because the holidays are a time to be thankful- and it's awesome to be thankful for the incredible community we live in!

The Adventure Begins: Our Day at the new Seaquest Aquarium Fort Worth

I love trying new and different things with my girls.

And with so many exciting things popping up all over DFW in the upcoming weeks and months- well, there is always something for us to do!

I've been seeing ads and Facebook posts about the new Seaquest Interactive Aquarium opening at Ridgmar Mall this fall and couldn't help but get excited- Fort Worth needs more of these places!
The opening deals were too fantastic to pass up, too. For $70 plus tax, I got my family of five a year-long membership. That's a steal (and only half of what it will cost going forward)! With the cost of tickets on their Website, it would normally cost us $64 to walk in the door. So the membership option was the way to go!

On Monday, October 30, Seaquest did an advance opening for members. Although the Aquarium wasn't fully up and running, my youngest and I were able to get a peek at the awesomeness to come- and we were not disappointed!

Ridgmar Mall has been on the decline for years... So Seaquest snapping up some prime real estate in the mall's center will hopefully inject some much-needed life back into the establishment. As of Monday, the wall's weren't yet decorated nor were signs super clear about Seaquest's location- but it is right near the kid's play area at Ridgmar, making it a great destination for kiddie fun!

I was surprised to find that SeaQuest is so much more than just an aquarium. It is an interactive jungle for kids and kids at heart!

There is a gift shop in the front of the aquarium complete with all the things your kids could possibly whine for, including stuffed mermaids and trinkets galore. But if you can convince them to look beyond the goodies and get inside, a world of wonder awaits!

Immediately upon entering, my youngest was seated in a canoe and greeted by a staff member who talked about what she would experience during her visit. It was great!

I was surprised to find so many staff members walking around with live creatures. After my daughter exited the canoe, she was immediately asked if she would like to hold a parrot! Never a shy one, she was seated and had a parrot perched on her shoulder. She loved it!

 A few minutes later she got to hold a lizard (never one for, well, creatures of this nature, I can't remember exactly which type of lizard she held!).

She was also able to hold small birds (or rather, she was able to let them fly up to her and around her at their leisure!) in an enclosed "bird cage," and pet a turtle and let fish nibble on her fingers! Unlike at other area aquariums, kids are actually encouraged to touch the creatures that live here! This excited my daughter to no end! Employees walked around coaching kids on how to use just pointer and middle fingers to gently pet the reptiles. The staff here is wonderful!

Not all the creatures were yet acclimated to their environments, so some of the cages and tanks were empty during our visit. But normally, we will be able to visit everything from snakes and lizards to sting rays and bamboo sharks! Birds, fish, stingrays and more will be waiting to greet visitors from their tanks and habitats.

Informational signs are available throughout the facility to let visitors know more about each creature he or she is looking at or engaging with. This will be so great for visiting school or scouting groups!

Visitors will also be able to purchase "tokens" to enhance their visit. I am told that these enhancements will includes things such as swimming with stingrays, which sounds equal parts cool and scary!

Nonmembers will be able to start visiting on November 10th, when Seaquest opens to the public.
This will be a such a great spot for kiddos to come in Fort Worth and learn about and interact with amphibians and reptiles in a safe and fun environment.

Looking to plan a trip? The mall's food court has kid favorites such as Chick Fil A and Sonic? Need to do some shopping for your kiddo's while you are there? The Children's Place, Old Navy and Justice are all near by! Ridgmar also has a Rave Cinemas attached to catch a flick before or after your visit. Or allow some extra time for kiddos five and under to bounce around the indoor play area before the drive home!

Here is their Facebook page for more info: https://www.facebook.com/seaquestfortworth/
If you have more questions- message them on FB. They are super quick to respond!

I can't wait to hear why you all think about Seaquest! Drop your comments below!