An Enchanting Holiday: Our Evening at Enchant Christmas!

I am so glad that Enchant Christmas is back in Arlington again this year.

I was able to go twice last year, and I sincerely loved the experience.

The light maze is just like something out of a cheesy Lifetime movie, and I just can't get enough of it! Watching my girls glide through the maze in search of the items on the treasure hunt list is one of those memories that will last a lifetime!

This year Enchant Christmas is inside Globe Life Park. We parked at Texas Live (cost to park is $10, although if there are other events going on in the area, the cost may be higher) and entered the Ballpark near Homebase. There is a gorgeous TEXAS light display out front, and a larger-than-life lighted reindeer greets you upon entrance. The magic begins immediately!

There are vendors along the perimeter of the park, allowing you to get some Christmas shopping done before or after you enjoy the maze. You can also visit Santa and snap photos with your own camera! You can also purchase professional photos onsite. The Santa at Enchant is fabulous, and my crazy girls loved telling him about all the things they want this Christmas! There is food for purchase at the concession stands around the ballpark, as well as adult beverages. There is a stage for live music with great local artists performing periodically.

Once you make your way down to the field, however, the magic truly begins. You are greeted by "snow" to set the mood, and given a postcard to begin your journey through the maze. Eddie the Mischievous Elf has misplaced some toys for girls and boys on Santa's Nice List, and Santa needs our help to find them. My girls spun in circles trying to locate a massive toy airplane and giant lighted Teddy Bear. They screamed delightedly each time they located one of the eight missing toys.

I tried furiously to keep up with them and begged them to stop sporadically to capture gorgeous photos. There was a walk-through area with hanging lights that took gorgeous pictures as well as cute holiday sayings on gorgeous fake greenery that showed up well in photos (You had me at Ho Ho Ho was my personal favorite!). I could have snapped photos for days!

My girls have been taking ice skating lessons at Parks Mall for about six months now, so they couldn't wait to get out on the ice! This year, instead of a traditional circular rink, Enchant features an ice skating trail that is roughly 8,500 square feet! It is shaped in a loop, similar to a lazy river! My girls loved circling the ice as many times as they possibly good. Skate rentals are provided on site for $10. If you bring your own skates, ice skating is free!

Tickets for Enchant vary in price depending on what day you go. Kids three and under are free! There are lots of discounted options available at enchantchristmas.com.

Tips and Tricks Before You Go:

1. Check the weather and dress accordingly. We picked a warm night to attend and I lugged heavy jackets we didn't need around the ballpark! We could have skipped them! But the ballpark isn't climate controlled, so if it's cool, bring your coat!

2. Allow at least two hours to enjoy the experience. I'm telling you- I had to drag my kids off the ice. I wish we had gone on a weekend night when I wouldn't have had to worry about getting the girls home and in bed!

3. See Santa! Especially if the line isn't long. He's great, and the photos, even just from my iPhone, are stunning!

4. Bring your camera! I use my phone but I brought my backup battery just in case. I would have cried if my phone had died because I was taking too many pictures!

5. Enjoy!

**Disclaimer: I did receive complimentary admission to Enchant's media night in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own**

DFW for the Holidays: Prairie Lights 2018

For years I've intended to take the girls to Prairie Lights at Joe Pool Lake in Grand Prairie.

And for years, it hasn't happened.

We went for the first time last night... And I now am certain we've been missing out on a fabulous event all these years!

Prairie Lights, about a 20-minute drive from my home in west Arlington, is a drive-through light display with a "Holiday Village" halfway through where you can stretch your legs, enjoy a few treats, see the man in red himself and so much more!

First and foremost- Prairie Lights in super affordable! I have a family of five and only one parent who works full time, meaning we can't spend on holiday activities the way we might want to. Prairie Lights is one of the more affordable options in the Metroplex. It is $35 per car on the weekdays and $45 on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. If you drive a minivan like I do, you can bring 7 people for that one price! This price includes two rides at holiday village, a Christmas show, loads of photo ops and more!

The Website (www.prairielights.org) told us to arrive early to avoid lines and to allow about 1.5 hours to enjoy the attraction to the fullest. So we pulled into line at 5:45 and were through the gates by 6:05. We spent about 20 minutes enjoying the first set of drive-through lights. This year, the lights told several stories. First, A Bug's Christmas, followed by a story that told us about preparing for and then enjoying a large holiday feast. My girls enjoy the moving lights, the silly elves, all of it! I enjoyed our drive through "A Victorian Christmas" and seeing images of Christmases passed.

Parking at Holiday Village and walking through there was my girls' most favorite part of the experience. There is a carousel and a spinning bear/dog/animal ride appropriate for kids of all ages- and the price of these rides is included in admission. How great is that?! There is also a hot dog vendor out front.

Enter the tent marked "Holiday Village," and more magic awaits! You can shop, snap gorgeous photos, treat yourself to hot chocolate, coffee, popcorn and more or go and see Santa (there is an extra charge for Santa photos). There is also a Christmas show with both live actors and images on white screens that we enjoyed. It's a quick 10 minutes and cute for all ages (my girls nearly died laughing when the male actor introduced himself- he has a very silly name, but you'll have to go and find out what it is for yourself!).

After fueling up on $2 hot chocolate (the money benefits scholarships given out by the Grand Prairie Parks and Recreation Department, so it's hard to resist!), we walked through the lights village behind the heated tent. What a treat! More photo ops, lighted representations of different countries (I couldn't resist snapping the Eiffel Tower), walk-through tunnels and much more.

After we got back in our car, we enjoyed about 10 more minutes of drive-through lights before making our way back home.

My girls and I loved our experience at Prairie Lights. I'm honestly kicking myself for never having taken them before. Now that I know what a delight it is, I know we will be back!

Tips and Tricks before you go:
1. Get there early! Gates are at 6. Try to be in line before gates open to avoid crowds.
2. Plan to spend about an hour and a half enjoying the entire experience.
3. Dress for the weather! My girls would have ridden the rides about 100 times each if I had been properly dressed to stand and watch them!
4. Catch the show. It's super cute! (and there's "snow" at the end!)
5. Bring a few dollars to buy coffee or hot cocoa or a pretzel at the concession stand. The money is for a great cause! (they do take cards)
6. If you want to experience Prairie Lights with lots of friends, consider renting a limo or bus and splitting the cost! The cost is higher to get in for larger vehicles but may lower the cost per person depending on how many people attend.
7. Enjoy!

*Disclaimer- I was given free admission to Prairie Lights in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

DFW Holiday Fun 2018: Dallas Zoo Lights

We love the Dallas Zoo. We were members for years, until my girls were in school full time and we weren't able to make frequent trips to the Big D. But every time we go, we really enjoy our time at the Dallas Zoo.

This year we decided to check out Zoo Lights because we love the holidays. We knew the concept... Visit the zoo after dark to see some holiday lights.

Guys. Zoo Lights was so much cooler than I was anticipating!

Once you get inside the zoo, the magic begins. We started by visiting the light show that plays every 30 minutes. Lights dance to music from The Greatest Showman, which instantly won my kiddos over.

After the light show, head over to the children's area, where kids can run and play. My girls got to meet a turtle in the reptile encounter area as well as burn some energy climbing and playing on the slides and climbing structures. There is even a spot to roast s'mores... Yum!

After playing for some time, we continued wandering the zoo, enjoying the lights and music. Our next stop was the Merry and Bright Pathway of Light, where we stopped for a cute photo op in Santa's Sleigh. The girls also got to do a cute craft- drawing with chalk on black paper to create "glowing" masterpieces. They loved it!

The next stop was the LED animal sculptures, which were every bit as cool as they sound!

Our final stop was the Winter Wonderland at the Grove. Guys... We could have spent hours here. Picture-worthy light displays are everywhere. Santa is there. Employees walk around in glowing bird costumes (I can't even do justice to the coolness of these walking costumed-characters). Kids can roam and play in the Grove and paint cute nature-inspired ornaments. There are musical performances. There's a beer garden and a food truck. And there's an awesome ambiance in the air that really gets you ready for the holidays!

We highly recommend this holiday experience. Parking is $10, and admission is $15 for adults and $12 for kids (3 and under are free). This is a must-do for the 2018 holiday season!

(I was not compensated in any way for this review. I just really loved our time here and wanted to share it with my readers!)

Kick Off the Holiday Season with ICE at the Gaylord Texan!

We couldn't wait to kick off the holiday season this year!
Normally I avoid thinking about Christmas until after Thanksgiving, but this year I am determined to try ALL the things!
I haven't been to ICE in about 10 years, and my husband and girls have never been. So we did a bit of research and headed up to Grapevine to experience the wonder!

This year's theme is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, with characters from the 1964 classic film.
The making of ICE is actually incredible. Thirty-six truckloads of ice are delivered to the Gaylord over a period of three weeks- this is how fast the ice factory can produce it! Then 40 artists from Harbin, China (where it stays below freezing for half the year!), carve 2 million pounds of ice into the fantastic wonder you get to experience. How cool is that?!

(Learn more here: The making of ICE)

We picked an off-peak day to go because we know lines get long during the holiday season. Wait times can be several hours long, so factor this into your decision about when to attend!
Once you are lined up and ready to go, you will receive a long blue parka. Rookie mistake on my end: do NOT think the parka itself will keep you warm enough to enjoy ICE for long! It is 9 degrees inside ice. Nine. Degrees. Bring a hat and gloves. Wear boots- or at least socks. I do NOT recommend ankle-length pants and ballet flats (not that I wore those or anything...) Do not think that you won't need your own winter jacket underneath the parka. Seriously... If you're not sweating while you wait you probably aren't dressed warmly enough!

Once you enter, the display is truly a wonderland. The story of Rudolph is brought to life in blocks of ice larger than my children. The color is stunning. There are blocks throughout where you can re-read the story of the holiday's most beloved reindeer. My girls loved seeing the larger-than-life Abominable Snowman make an appearance. There is an On The Blocks Ice Bar inside ICE where you can have an adult beverage to warm you up. I wish I wouldn't have skipped that part...

Toward the end of your time in ICE, you will stumble upon the ice slides. My kids could have run up and slid down for days if my feet weren't so cold! They are a fun way to end your time at ICE.
When you exit you will be given the opportunity to purchase the pictures you took before you went in, and you will also turn in your parka. You will be greeted with a snow tubing hill and Build A Bear Workshop. There is also an entire gift shop complete with ornaments, t-shirts and the like.


Allow about 30 minutes to enjoy walking through ICE (aside from the wait you will experience to get in).

Know before you go:
1. You must pay to park at the Gaylord. Parking cost us about $20.
2. Lonestar Chirstmas is running concurrently with ICE and has lots of awesome activities. However, all activities are a la carte. Keep that in mind when purchasing ICE tickets. You can buy combo tickets that include snow tubing. Snow tubing, purchased onsite, is $20 per person.
3. Dress warmly. Bring a coat. Bring a hat and gloves. Wear boots or socks and sneakers.
4. Leave some time afterward to wander around the Gaylord and see all of the (free) decorations they have out for the holidays! My girls loved the Gingerbread House so large my 5-year-old could have fit in it!
5. Enjoy! Aren't the holidays magical?

*Please note, we were given 4 complimentary tickets to ICE in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Daytrippin' with Everything Arlington: Magnolia Market in Waco, TX!

I think I might be the last person in Texas to have finally visited Magnolia Market in Waco.

Okay, maybe not the last last.

But certainly every time I mentioned to friends or family that I was making a day of driving down to Waco to check out Magnolia Market last week, I heard "Oh, I love that place!" It seemed I didn't know very many people who hadn't been there yet!

Magnolia Market is the brainchild of Chip and Joanna Gaines, the powerhouse couple behind HGTV's Fixer Upper. Magnolia Market as we currently know it opened in 2014 in Waco and has since blossomed into a successful tourist destination for Waco.

Magnolia Market is located in downtown Waco, and, despite what I initially thought, it is more than just a high end home decor store! Magnolia Market is actually the perfect day trip with your girlfriends, your kids, your SO... It's a fun little getaway!

One of my best friends from college moved from Chicago to Austin back in February, and, until last Friday, we hadn't been able to make our schedules line up so we could finally get together. We put this date on the schedule weeks prior and decided to meet in Waco because it is literally half way between Arlington and Austin. The drive to Magnolia Market took me just about an hour and a half and was 91 miles from my home in southwest Arlington.

I was surprised to find that there are lots of paid parking lots around Magnolia Market. To be blunt, I'm super cheap when it comes to things such as parking and generally don't pay if I don't have to. So my youngest and I found street parking a few blocks out and decided to just walk rather than pay $10 to be closer. I was also surprised at how crowded the whole area surrounding the market was! It was a Friday, but the crowds and tour buses were already swarming.

We started out at Silo Bakery, where my youngest enjoyed a cinnamon roll and I had a coffee and a Silo Cookie. Don't let the line-out-the-door intimidate you! Inside is standing room only, and the line doesn't take very long. We then got to sit at the tables outside and enjoy the fresh air and delicious coffee!

Next to the bakery is the market itself. I had been warned by many people that a lot of the items weren't as kitschy and original as things I might see on Fixer Upper, and I found this accurate. The items, while gorgeous, felt a little more West Elm posh than Joanna Gaines earthy (and the price tags were definitely all West Elm posh). I loved browsing the tshirts and Magnolia-specific items. I went gaga for their soy candles, which all smelled divine (I fell hard for a scent called Joy), but I couldn't justify the $28 price tag for the 8 ounce size (in my head, I heard my husband asking if, for that price, the candle would fold his laundry, too.). My youngest loved some of the gorgeous wall hangings, and there were a few I would have loved to hang in my living room!

Beyond the market is a wide open space next to the silos. Pets aren't allowed on the green to keep it clean for kids to run barefoot on or perform cartwheels on (that was my kid- cartwheel after cartwheel). Striped bean bags are scattered throughout the green for lounging and sunbathing. My friend and I sat here for hours catching up, enjoying the weather and the people-watching. We also saw communal games peppered around the green for sharing and enjoying.

Next to the Silos is an entire food truck park with loads of yummy offerings. There was a popcorn truck and a gourmet juice truck and, our favorite, Cheddar Box, a gourmet grilled cheese truck. At 30 minutes, the wait for a grilled cheese was long, but, I assure you, my grilled cheese was most definitely the best I've ever had! There are lots of picnic benches to devour your food truck delicacies or enjoy your own picnic lunch!

Overall I really enjoyed my trip to Magnolia Market. We were there about four hours, and the drive was three hours round-trip, making it a fantastic day outing. I can only imagine how beautiful (and Instagram-worthy!) it will look during the holiday season. I highly recommend it is a week-day getaway with a few girlfriends or sisters, as you'd be able to kick back and really enjoy the scene. If you do need to bring the kids (or, gasp!, the husband!) rest assured they will be well-entertained, too. (Just maybe make sure your husband doesn't know the going rate of, say, any home decor before you go if you actually hope to leave with any!)