5 Best Spots for Kids Craft Classes in the Arlington Area!

Sometimes I love crafting with my kiddos at home. 

I love digging out all the supplies we have- pipe cleaners, glitter, paper, glue, feathers, the works!- and seeing what we can come up with. Sometimes we search through Instagram or Pinterest to get inspired, and sometimes we just wing it.

For winter craft inspiration, check out the article I did for Zulily with six woodland creatures to create at home! 

And other times, I like to take my kiddos to craft. You know, to leave the inevitable mess that follows any given crafting session behind! Sometimes it’s nice to not have to get down on your hands and knees and scrub until the glitter goes away (although, let's be honest, it doesn't really ever go away)!

Here are my five favorite spots in the Arlington area to craft with kiddos!

1. Kidcreate (Mansfield). This spot offers weekly lessons as well as one-off workshops, parents' night out and day camps. The staff is super friendly and my kids always come home with the coolest creations!

2. Busy Bee Workshop. We have done some really cool take-home projects from this local art stop! Okay, so, I still brought the mess home, but it was far more contained than if my kiddos get free reign of the glitter. This place also offers private parties and workshops. 

3. Art Smart. Weekly art classes, workshops, summer camps and so much more. This spot also offers Scout workshops and is sure to get your kiddo excited to draw and create!

4. Creative Catalyst Arts. This past fall, this new downtown spot offers weekly pottery classes for kids. So cool! You can also stop here and grab activities to create yourself at home!

5. Art Castle (Hurst). Drop into this spot for a variety of creative activities, from family days to summer camps and private parties to weekly classes. Your kids will definitely find something to inspire them here!

A Visit from the Tooth Fairy: When Kids Lose Their Baby Teeth

My kids have looked forward to Tooth Fairy visits since they could talk (and, admittedly, I couldn't wait to use the Tooth Fairy pillows I bought them off Etsy basically on the days they were born!).

                                         

There is something so exciting- and so grown up!- about losing teeth.

The other day a friend mentioned her 5-month-old teething, and it brought me back to the days of teething babies and sore gums. We are well beyond that stage at my house now. In fact, I don't even have any more kiddos with missing front teeth! My 11-year-old just lost her final her tooth (crazy that kids are still losing teeth at that age, right?), and she is a bit sad that the Tooth Fairy won't be making any more stops in her bedroom. (I told her she was always welcome to do chores if she was looking for spending money. She rolled her eyes and said "Pass.") So I did a little research to find out when kiddos get teeth and when they lose teeth, and found out these great facts!

Check out this article I wrote for Zulily about when kiddos lose their teeth! 

Baby Teeth

Image from BabyCenter

Kiddos have 20 teeth total- 10 on top and 10 on bottom. They have the same 10 teeth on their top and bottom jaws: 4 incisors, 2 canines and 4 molars.

Babies typically begin teething around 6 months of age. They usually get their two front teeth on the bottom first- their lower central incisors. The top two front teeth, the upper central incisors, come in when infants are about 10 months old. Next come the lateral incisors, then the first molars, then the canines. Second molars on top and bottom are usually the last baby teeth to come in. Kiddos are about 2-3 years old when those grow in.

When it comes to losing teeth, baby teeth are normally lost in the same order they grew in. So, bottom front teeth typically fall out first when kids are about 6 years old. Then the lateral incisors are lost, followed by the first molars and then the canines. Second molars, then, are the last to fall out when kids are between 10 and 12 years old (hence why my 11-year-old just lost her last tooth!)

Wisdom Teeth (Third Molars)

Wisdom teeth (third molars) may come in when your child is a teen, although not everyone gets wisdom teeth! Wisdom teeth, if you get them, are often removed due to overcrowding. Scientists think that evolution has stopped us from getting wisdom teeth as often these days because our food is softer and easier to chew than the food that our ancestors ate was. Did you know that wisdom teeth are called such because people used to think you only grew these teeth if you were wise and had a lot of life experience? 

Baby Teeth: Keep or Toss?

When a friend asked me if I kept my kids' baby teeth, I gave an immediate and emphatic "No way," as my response. However, after a bit of digging, I did discover that, if you have kept or plan to keep any lost baby teeth, you may be thankful down the road! New scientific evidence suggests that keeping baby teeth can help down the road should children get sick because stem cells can possibly be harvested from lost baby teeth. 

The Tooth Fairy

I've surveyed my friends to find out what the going rate for the Tooth Fairy is these days. I got a variety of answers, but I noted that most people pay more for the first tooth than any subsequent tooth lost. In our house, we paid $5 for each first tooth and then $1 per tooth after that. If the Tooth Fairy forgot to grab a tooth one evening (whoops!), she would leave $2 the following night. Someone my children were never sad when a tooth was forgotten because they knew they would be rewarded handsomely for the Tooth Fairy's mishap. Whoops.

When my children have all lost their final baby teeth (my youngest is 7, so I still have a little ways to go!), I will surely miss the days of sneaking into bedrooms and trying not to disturb a sleeping child while leaving money for the lost tooth. Until then, we will keep watching The Rock in Tooth Fairy to remind us about how fun it is to get a visit from the Tooth Fairy!

Happy NOON Year's Eve! Celebrating New Year's Eve with Kids!

Once you become a parent, New Year's Eve becomes a whole lot less exciting. 

In my experience, anyway!

Staying up past midnight enjoying adult beverages is no longer as exciting when you remember there are tiny humans who will require your attention the next day- and they never seem to care if you've gotten enough sleep or if your head is throbbing. Kids.

When my girls were little, we started celebrating New Year's at noon instead of midnight. We were all well rested and happy at noon. We could play games and make crafts and make lots and lots of noise. We didn't worry about being on the road alongside people who shouldn't be driving and just generally got to enjoy being together as a family.

Check out the article I wrote for Zulily with loads of fun ideas for a fantastic New Year's Eve with kids!

I'm already lining up our Noon Year's Eve activities for this year- games, activities and food- so my family of five can happily celebrate 2021 together, even if none of us makes it to see the ball drop at midnight!

Festive Food for Noon Year's Eve

A party calls for fun food! Here are a few of the things I will be serving at our "Yay 2020 is finally over!" party:

1. Lil' Smokies in the crockpot. 

2. Crescent rolls with butter. My kids love these. 

3. Pinwheel sandwiches. I will spread cream cheese mixed with dry ranch salad seasoning on a tortilla and then add ham. Then I will roll up the sandwich and slice into pinwheels. I will make enough to display these on a platter in a way that the sandwiches spell out 2021.

4. Lots and lots of fresh fruit. My kids can eat grapes, raspberries and cantaloupe by the truckload, so I will have plenty of each out!

5. Cookies. Lots and lots of cookies! We love cookies at our house, so I will have Mint Meltaways, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Snickerdoodles and Chocolate Chip cookies on hand. 

6. Kiddie Spritzer. My girls love acting grown up, so I will serve them kiddie spritzers in plastic champagne flutes. Since it's still morning, our kiddie spritzer will be orange juice with a splash of sparkling grape juice. The version I will have myself will include champagne. 

7. Cupcakes. Because cake. And parties. And cake. I will likely pick a few up from a local bakery. Sugar Bee Sweets in Arlington is usually my go-to when I need a sugar fix!

Party Games for Noon Year's Eve

One of our favorite games to play as a family is Headbanz. It's quick and silly and appropriate for all ages! 

We also love to play the wrapping paper game, and I prepare for this game a few weeks in advance. I prep by buying lots of fun little trinkets- things such as lip balm, small candy bars, key chains, bouncy balls and the like- and then one larger prize, usually a $10 giftcard to somewhere like McDonald's or Starbucks. You will also need several rolls of wrapping paper and lots of tape to prepare for this game.

-Start by wrapping the gift card.

-Add a trinket on top of the wrapped gift card and wrap the trinket and gift card together. 

-Repeat this step, constantly wrapping the wrapped gift with a new gift until all gifts have been wrapped. You should have a wrapped ball the size of a basketball or larger!

To play this game you will need two oven mitts or glove and two dice.

-Have all players sit in a circle. Hand the ball of goodies to the youngest player and give the dice to the player to her right.

-The player with the ball dons the oven mitts and goes to town trying to unwrap the gift while the person with the dice rolls. Once the dice-roller rolls doubles, the gift ball and dice are passed to the left.

-Anything that fell out of the gift ball while the player was unwrapping it belongs to that player.

-Continue until all prizes have been claimed!

Try not to laugh too hard when you witness your family members trying to unwrap a ball of gifts with oven mitts on. It's harder than it looks! (This game usually takes us a solid 30 minutes to complete and everyone who plays thinks it's a hoot!)

Make or buy a few noisemakers, also, and let the kids run around the yard when the clock strikes noon, allowing them to make as much noise as they possibly can (it never ceases to amaze me how much noise my three sweet girls are capable of producing!) to celebrate this special holiday. 

Party Wear for Noon Year's Eve

In my younger days, one of my favorite things about New Year's Eve was dressing up in a super-fancy outfit and too-high heels. I love all the sparkly things and all the makeup. For this reason, I let my kiddos get decked to the nines for our party. We usually find gorgeous, fancy dresses for less than $10 at Half of Half and find fancy shoes at Walmart (although they are usually barefoot because we are at our house!). I let the girls look up fancy hairstyles on Pinterest and do my best to recreate those for them. I also let my girls go hog-wild with my make up on New Year's Eve. My youngest, especially, doesn't think a girl can possibly wear too much blush. I put on a fancy dress and can usually talk my husband into a white button down and black slacks, as well. We take photos to commemorate the coming of a new year. 

Making it to midnight on New Year's Eve may be a thing of the past for us (although my oldest and I did watch the ball drop together on the couch with her sleeping sisters last year!), but we do love celebrating the holiday all the same. Noon Year's Eve is a great way to have the best of the holiday and a full night's sleep, too!

DIY Farmhouse Decor for Your Living Room

When we moved this summer, I knew I would want to update my new space to reflect my style. With a blank slate of space in mind, my husband and I hit up furniture and decor shops looking for inspiration on a style to call our own. 

Modern Farmhouse is the theme of the moment, and we were instantly charmed by its rustic feel and bright openness. I love the freshness of white and pale gray, as well as the dark wood accents prevalent in this motif. We didn't walk into a single furniture store in the Dallas/Fort Worth-area that didn't contains loads of white or off-white distressed furniture with wood accents. I love it all!

Check out this post to see more modern farmhouse decor I ideas I wrote about for Zulily!

While we bought a lot of furniture new, we did have a few older pieces from our first home that were structurally in good condition but needed some TLC. I had never before refinished furniture but decided now was as good a time as any to start! 

DIY: Repaint your Old Furniture to Make It New Again

My first project was a set of three tables for our living room- a sofa table, coffee table and end table. They were originally a medium wood and had lots of damage from water and kids through the years. I was surprised at how easy each piece was to refinish!

To redo your own furniture, you will need:

1. Sandpaper

2. Paintbrushes (I used multiple sizes)

3. Wood stain in the color of your choosing

4. Paint (I used chalk paint in white for my tables)

5. Painters tape

~Start by sanding each piece to make it smooth

~Stain first. I restained the tops of each of my tables and then let them dry for 48 hours.

~Tape off any areas of the tables or furniture where you don't want paint to make sure you have clean lines.

~Paint. It took me about 3 coats to get my desired look and effect.

~Let furniture dry for about 48 hours after you apply the final coat.

~Sand and distress. Have fun with this part- this is how you really make your piece unique! I sanded legs, corners and centers of the underside of my tables and love the result.

~Optional step: Apply a clear/finishing coat. I didn't do this because I like the look and feel of the chalk paint but some people prefer a more satin-y finish.

Voila! Your furniture, modernized by you!

DIY Modern Farmhouse Decor

After we maxed out our furniture budget and I redid the pieces I wanted to, I decided I would need to DIY a few decor pieces before we went broke furnishing the new house. I came across a simple stack of books at a vintage shop in East Texas and couldn't wait to remake it myself!

Vintage Book Stack Decor:

You will need:

Several old books (I picked several up at Arlington Resale)

White spray paint

Twine

Decorative (fake) flowers

Stamps

1. Remove jacket from books. Smooth the binding to remove any excess glue.

2. Spray paint books white and let them dry. 

3. Decide on a saying to stamp on the book bindings and stamp. How about "Kindness is everything" or "Happiness is contagious."

4. Stack books together. Bind them with twine.

5. Add flowers for decoration on top.

Voila! A gorgeous, simple craft that can be placed on a mantelpiece or bookshelf.

Modern Farmhoue is the theme of the first floor of my house, and I love it! I get regular compliments about how open and bright my space is. I have accessorized with fun clocks (purchased from Big Lots!), vintage frames with pictures of my sweet girls (from Hobby Lobby) and canvasses and pictures with fabulous sayings. 

What DIY projects have you found to make to accessorize your Modern Farmhouse?

So Many Choices! The Best Flour to Use for your Holiday Baking

Holiday baking is the best.

I mean, who doesn't want to hang around in fuzzy socks, watching cheesy Hallmark movies and eating shameful amounts of sugar? Because Christmas.

Holiday baking with kids is the best!

Here's my absolute favorite cookies to make this time of year:

Peanut Butter Blossoms, from my Grandma Ruth.

Peanut Butter Blossom Recipe from my grandma's kitchen. 

(We know the recipe by heart at our house, but here is a link to the dessert in case you've never made it and want to check it out: Peanut Butter Blossoms)

During a recent trip to Kroger to prepare to make my beloved Peanut Butter Blossoms, I went down a rabbit hole.

There are SO MANY types of flour. Seriously. So. Many.

I've always just bought all-purpose flour- and usually store brand, at that. But during my last trip to Kroger, I counted eight different kinds of flour. Eight! I wondered if I had been using the right kind of flour all these years!

Well, after some research, the simple answer is yes. If you, like me, always just go with tried and true all-purpose flour, then you're probably good. But if you want to switch up your flour, here's a quick tutorial on which type to use when.

Here is the article I recently wrote for Zulily, which includes a pretty comprehensive breakdown of flours!

Different Types of Flour Available 

The difference between the types of flour available is the protein content. The higher the protein content, the more gluten the flour has. The more gluten in the flour, the tougher the baked good it produces is. Quite simply, if you want a soft, spongy Angel Food Cake, you may want to use cake flour. But, if you're making a chewy, dense pretzel, you'd be better off using bread flour. 

If you are wanting something gluten free for dietary reasons, you have a couple of options. You can buy gluten-free all-purpose flour, or you can purchase a specialty flour such as almond flour. Both can be swapped pretty seamlessly for their full-gluten counterparts.

Here's a quick break-down on the different types of flour available:

Cake Flour has a very low protein level (between 5 and 8 percent). Use this in a soft baked good such as Angel Food Cake. 

Pastry Flour has a protein content of 8 or 9 percent and is perfect for pie crust.

Bread Flour is the toughest of all the flours because its protein content is between 12 and 14 percent. This flour should be your go-to for pretzels or pizza crust.

Whole Wheat Flour also tends to have a high protein content, usually 13 to 14 percent, which means it yields denser baked goods. Break out this flour for pancakes.

White Whole Wheat Flour is not the same as unbleached flour, even if I did mistakenly think that at first! It has a high protein content of 13 to 14 percent but a sweeter taste than whole wheat flour thanks to a lower tannin count. Try this flour in muffins.

If your recipe doesn't call for a specific type of flour, all-purpose flour is fine to use. Just make sure you measure... I learned the hard way in my early days of baking that too much flour is not a good thing!

I have so many friends that are gluten-free that I'm excited to try out some new recipes this season! This one is top on my list of GF cookie recipes to try (with gluten-free flour, obviously!): Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownie Cookies. Yum! Almond flour is also a great Gluten-free alternative. 

Happy Holidays from the EA Crew!

(I'd love to know your favorite family cookie recipes- please share them in the comments!)

Best of Arlington: Town Talk Foods

When it comes to shopping, I love a good treasure hunt. 

Sure, I can appreciate walking into a typical grocery store and knowing exactly where each product I need is and grabbing it, paying for it and enjoying it. There is definitely something to be said for simplicity and ease.

But I also love the thrill of finding a good deal and seeing how many unique finds I can haul home and prepare for my family. And how inexpensively I can compile a delicious meal for the dinner table.

This, friends, is where Town Talk comes in to this conversation!

Town Talks Foods has been a Fort Worth staple since 1954. In June, Town Talk came to Arlington, debuting a location by Arlington-based owner Tom Brown, who took over Town Talk in 2013. Arlington's location is at 2320 S. Collins Street, at the intersection of Collins and Arkansas. 

I got to meet with Tom, the owner, this past Monday, and talk to him about opening Town Talk in Arlington. First off, Tom was born and raised in Arlington, and opening a location locally was really a long-term goal realized for him! Hearing him talk about his store was incredible- he's so passionate! 

If you haven't been by yet, you are most certainly missing out!

I admit, I didn't really know what a salvage grocery store was during my first visit. I wandered the aisles, eyeing lots of foods I had never heard of before. Many packages were past their sell-by dates. Some prices were good. Some were really, really good. The store was organized in a similar way to a regular store, but there was no guarantee of what was on the shelves. There was no guarantee that a specific item I needed would be on the shelf at any given time.

What blew my mind, though, about Town Talk, was the fact that they work with plethora of different vendors, purchasing close outs or quick sale items at deeply discounted prices so they can pass the savings on to consumers. Food waste in the US is something you hear about semi-regularly but you (or I, at least) don't necessarily give much thought to. Town Talk is able to snap up a lot of items that might otherwise go to waste and bring them to us. On this last trip I made, I purchased plant-based frozen meals I normally pay $5 for at Sprouts for $2. I purchased Annie's pizza bagels, my girls' favorite, for $2 (they are normally at least $4 at typical grocery stores). I grabbed grapes at two full bags for $1! My $100 haul from Town Talk looks very, very different from my $100 haul from Target or Kroger.

I also learned that Town Talk has a lot of items from restaurants that were not going to be used. While Town Talk can't advertise these items as "excessive fries from XXX," that's exactly what they have bundled in the freezer section, ready for your air fryer or deep fryer. They get meat and sides from a variety of restaurants you probably eat at regularly (because I do!) that weren't sent to stores for this reason or that. So now you can purchase them, at a fraction of the cost, and prepare them at home. Score! 

I've seen some negative chatter on local Facebook groups about food past its best by date and salvage grocery stores, so I discussed this with Tom. I admit, I tend to steer clear of items that are too far past best by dates. I'm fine going back a few months (I have purchased chips that are two months gone and frozen pizzas a month or two out), but I get leery going more than about six months past, especially depending on the nature of the item. If you, like me, get nervous about food past it's Best By date, here is an article that really opened my eyes: Food Expiration Dates. Another bit of info that blew my mind- do you know how much grocery stores pay each month to dump food that can no longer be sold? Y'all... These statistics are nuts. Town Talk alone pays about $4,000 per month to dump food that can no longer be sold. Can you imagine what a monthly bill must be for a mega store such as Walmart or Kroger?

Town Talk is truly a gem of a store that we are lucky to have here in Arlington. Not only is it owned by a local resident, it provides inexpensive food to families from all walks of life. Tom gives tours of the store every Thursday at 10, and he loves what he does. Stop in and visit with him during that regular meet up, or call him up and request a tour any time. He will tell you all about this great store and the suppliers from whom he gets his products. I love hearing from business owners who are passionate about their businesses!

Have you been to Town Talk? I'd love to hear about the steals and deals you've found there in the comments! 

Have Kids, Will Travel: Weekend in Wichita

 My kids and I are on a quest to visit all 50 states. 

So when I found out that Wichita, Kansas, is only 5.5 hours from Arlington, I knew it was the perfect weekend escape for my crew. 

A quick internet search about Wichita gave me these bits of info about Kansas' largest city.

~Wichita is located in south central Kansas, where the Little and Big Arkansas Rivers meet. It is about 160 miles north of Oklahoma City. 

~Wichita is nicknamed the "Air Capital of the World" because several major airplane manufacturers have facilities there, including Airbus and Learjet. 

~Wichita is home to the largest airport in Kansas. 

I grew up in the Midwest, so I'm pretty partial to the downhome feel of those middle-of-the-country states. (Although I'm also a Missouri Tiger, and this gives me mixed feelings about all things Kansas!) I love the weather in the Midwest (Summers aren't as hot as in Texas and Winters aren't as mild), and my kids delighted in the fact that there was still a small amount of snow on the ground upon arrival in Kansas. We all took an instant liking to the place!

I had never been to Kansas before this visit to Wichita, meaning I was seeing the state and landscape for the first time alongside my kiddos  Together we explored downtown, shopped for treasures at Lucinda's, ate so much yummy food at Chicken N Pickle, hung out with the animals at the zoo and so much more! We also can't say enough good things about our hotel, the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview. 

The EA definitely recommends putting Wichita on your schedule for a fun summer road trip. To get to Wichita, you hop on I-35 and drive north for about 375 miles. Plan to stop near Stillwater at the Cowboy Travel Plaza to gas up and let the kiddos stretch and play on the indoor pirate ship play area! A four-day weekend should give you plenty of time to explore the best of Wichita and get a feel for the city that considers itself the Heart of the Country!

Must-Visit Spots in Wichita

Exploration Place- This wonderful science spot along the Arkansas River is a kid's happy place. Study aviation, play in a medieval play area, experience high winds in the wind tunnel, learn about the Plains, test your skills as a guitarist and more. This spot is hours of fun for kids! I love when learning and fun combine for the ultimate afternoon. 

The Museum of World Treasures- This is a fascinating spot for older kids (I would recommend for 10 and up). Learn about the United States' Presidents, see relics from many of the great wars the US has been involved in, see ancient artifacts from long-gone civilizations and so much more. There is a kids' play area on the third floor that looked fun but was closed during our visit. The rest of the museum was interesting for my fifth grader and me, but my other two girls (8 and 7) weren't quite as enthralled.

Sedgwick County Zoo- observe almost 400 species of animals at this zoo, the seventh largest in the country. Get up close with farm animals, walk through the Rainforest exhibit, learn about multiple venomous snakes (I skipped this part!) and so much more at this animal sanctuary. We especially loved seeing the tigers!

Botanica-  In the summer, stroll the gorgeous gardens and ride the carousel. In the winter, stroll through the Illuminations display, which will make you feel as though you've stepped onto the set of a Hallmark movie. The gardens even have a great gift shop with some absolute gems, so don't forget your wallet!

Kansas Aviation Museum- This is honestly one of those spots that pleasantly surprised me. We are an airline family (my husband helps build fighter jets, my brother is a pilot and my mom is a flight attendant!), so airplanes fascinate us. While I was personally interested in exploring aircrafts from yesteryear, I really didn't think this museum would hold the girls' interest very long. Well, I love being wrong! This museum has a kids' area on the second floor that allows kids to simulate flying planes, work in a control tower and more. We spent hours learning and playing. Plus, this spot is free for kids 12 and younger and their adult chaperones Fridays before noon through the end of 2020! Don't underestimate this spot- its as fun as it is educational and fascinating!

Where to Eat in Wichita

I'm not sure if I should admit how much I like to eat, honestly. But there is certainly something fun on vacation about finding spots that locals love. We tried out three places we would definitely frequent if we lived in ICT!

Chicken N Pickle- Let me just start by saying we spent more than $150 and 6 hours (spread over two days) at this destination restaurant and playground! This spot has an ice rink and pickleball courts, as well as life-size versions of some of your favorite games, including Battleship. Order a chicken sandwich or the chicken and waffles, grab a drink and spend an afternoon playing and relaxing. We are getting one of these in Grand Prairie next year, and guys... Just try to beat me there!

Picassos Pizzeria- This is a spot where you get some serious bang for your buck! Snag a pizza slice bigger than your head for less than $10. I highly recommend the BBQ chicken slice. So. Good. The kids' menu is super affordable and sure to fill up and delight even your pickiest eaters! Plus it's next door to a cute local boutique to grab some souvenirs. 

Bite Me BBQ- Unfussy local barbeque at great prices! My middle daughter actually ordered the fish tacos (because I always have one who likes to be difficult) but we all found something on this menu to fill our bellies, and we all went home happy! I'm a huge fan of BBQ turkey sandwiches from barbeque joints and this one did not disappoint.

Must-Stop Shops for your Weekend in Wichita

The Nifty Nuthouse- If you, like me, have a wicked sweet tooth, you won't want to skip The Nifty Nuthouse! This locally-owned shopped, a Wichita staple since 1937, has everything you need to gift or enjoy yourself. From nuts of all flavors to gum and unique gifts to savory treats, The Nifty Nuthouse is the candy shop you dreamed about as a kid. We visited during a busy time but had plenty of friendly employees standing by ready to help us!

Lucinda's- This great spot in Wichita's Old Town is sure to have something for everyone you are shopping for! From pretty bracelets to cheeky coasters and local t-shirts to kid's gifts, this shop was fun to visit (and even more fun to drop some dollars at)! We found trinkets for several people on my Christmas list, and the girls found a few goodies to remind them of our trip as well!

Bungalow 26- If you are a lotions and potions girl like I am, don't skip this shop! This gorgeous spot, located near Picasso's Pizzeria, has tons of locally-made wares and trinkets to bring a piece of Kansas back to Texas with you! I may not be a Wichita native, but I loved all the candles that boasted the various neighborhoods that make up the city. They all smelled so good!

We didn't make it to the Great Plains Transportation Museum or the Old Cowtown Museum, or a host of other spots that looked equally fun! Wichita really is a great spot to escape to for a weekend away from DFW. It's affordable, driveable and great for all ages. 

If you need more information on Wichita, visit Visit Wichita for inspiration!

*Please note: parts of my trip were sponsored or hosted by Visit Wichita. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Best of the Holidays 2020: Prairie Lights!

We look forward to the holidays every year, and 2020, with all of its challenges, is no different.

We love holiday lights and visits with Santa and all the festivities and hoopla.

We've been fortunate enough to get to check out several holiday events (around the country!) this year... And one of our favorites has been Prairie Lights right here in Grand Prairie!

We have gone for the past several years... We pile in the minivan (well, okay, this year we piled in our brand new Kia Telluride!), grab some hot cocoa, turn on Christmas music and enjoy the lights and magic at Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie.

This year there is no walk-through village, which, while disappointing, is most certainly understandable. BUT, don't worry! The magic isn't lost! The rows and rows of twinkling lights, the different themed areas and the light tunnel all make the experience so very fun for the kiddos.

Even better? This year's Prairie Lights is at an unbeatable price! Seriously, guys... This year Prairie Lights is only $30 per car. $30!!! For my family of 5 that is only $6 per person. Totally reasonable (more than reasonable, actually!) for the fun, festive event you can enjoy from the comfort of your vehicle. Most events around DFW are at least double the cost per person.

Prairie Lights is open nightly at 6 pm through New Year's Eve. And guys, it's one of the best events we have been to here in DFW and most certainly the best value for your money. 

What are you waiting for? Book your tickets now and enjoy the magic of the holidays at Prairie Lights 2020! 

*I attended this event for free. All thoughts and opinions are my own*

Have Kids, Will Travel: Must Be Memphis!

Let's be honest. 

Traveling with kids isn't always easy.

And it certainly isn't cheap.

But I love to kids. And I have kids and will travel. I will get in the car and road trip anywhere. When people ask me where my favorite place I've been is I always answer "someplace I have yet to visit!" (Followed by Paris. I LOVE Paris). 

So I decided to start with easy-to-tackle weekend trips with my girls. Places that were driveable and offered a change of scenery.

When a quick Apple Maps search of Memphis showed me that Justin Timberlake's old stomping grounds were a mere seven hours from Arlington, I couldn't wait to hop in the car and just go! 

Memphis, here we come!

Memphis!

Fast Facts About Memphis:

-Memphis is in the southwest corner of Tennessee, just across the Mighty Mississippi from Arkansas. 

-Memphis has a population of 1.3 million people, making it Tennessee's second most populous city.

-Memphis, TN, was named after Memphis, Egypt. 

-Memphis is home to Elvis' famed Graceland and the site of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1968 assassination. 

-Memphis is best known for it's music scene. It is well-known for the Blues, shaped by a mix of musical influences including country, rock and roll, soul and hip hop. 

-Memphis is home to Beale Street, a street well-versed in musical history.

Planning a Weekend in the Home of the Blues with Kids!

I worked with Memphis Tourism to plan my weekend away in this fun city in Tennessee's southwest corner. The Tourism Board suggested I check the zoo, the Civil Rights Museum, the Peabody Ducks, Sun Studios, Beale Street and, of course, Graceland! We also checked out Shelby Farms and the Bass Pro shop located inside the Memphis Pyramid, which is home to the country's largest free-standing elevator (how is that for random-fact Friday?). We feasted on Memphis barbeque and brunched at Memphis' oldest café, Arcade, and stayed at the fabulous Hotel Napoleon downtown. The views of the Mighty Mississippi from downtown were pretty fabulous. Memphis is a fun city!

Places to Visit in Memphis

Memphis Zoo & Aquarium

The Memphis Zoo is gorgeous and located on 76 acres in Memphis' Overton Park. It has more than 3500 animals and opened in 1906. We loved that the zoo incorporated so many animals, from farm animals (donkeys, chickens) to cold-weather animals (penguins, polar bears), and so many more. Our favorites were the playful hippo and the sneaky red panda, who spent our whole visit high up in a tree above us (and took us forever to find!). This time of year, the zoo also does a big Zoo Lights display to celebrate the holidays. 

The National Civil Rights Museum

The National Civil Rights Museum is one of those places you visit and it changes your world view. I got a perspective on the history of the US that I wasn't necessarily taught in school. I was engaged from the time I walked through the doors of this museum, and I wish every person in the US could spend time here learning about our nation's past. The museum is built around the Lorraine Motel, the spot where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. My kids were fascinated by this fact because they have studied MLK so much in school. The next time you're in Memphis, don't skip this museum. 

Sun Studios

Honestly, I'm not a huge music buff. Although my dad is a big fan of Johnny Cash and Elvis, I grew up loving typically 80s and 90s music. Sun Studios wasn't a spot I was just dying to see. It sits on an unassuming corner, and we visited on a cold, rainy day. Immediately inside the doors to the studio is gift shop with loads of memorabilia from the studio that put Elvis on the map. The tour, however, was so very worth it... Even my kids loved it (although kids younger than 5 are not allowed). The entire tour is about an hour and gives you the history of how Elvis was discovered and some insight into the recordings of the Million-Dollar Quarter in the 50s. The girls walked away with guitar picks, stickers and a lot of knowledge about Elvis for kids their age!

Beale Street

"Walking in Memphis. Walking with my feet 10 feet off of Beale." Marc Cohn, Walking in Memphis

Beale Street is one of those American walkways famous for its history and its party ways. Grab a drink and see the famous goat at Silky O'Sullivans. Shop for souvenirs and enjoy some ice cream at A. Schwab's, Beale Street's longest-operating business. Take a walking tour with BackBeat Tours to learn all about the people and stories that put Beale Street on the map. Fun fact- did you know that B.B. King, who got his start in Memphis, was born Riley King, and B.B. stood for the Beale Street Blues Boy, shortened to B.B.? 

Graceland

The iconic home of the King himself, Elvis Presley, is a must-do when in Memphis. You can tour the first floor of the mansion as well as the grounds, his private airplanes and all the store fronts with his various outfits and musical memorabilia through the years. You can also grab food onsite and tons and tons of incredible souvenirs. The tours are self-guided with tablets (and narrated by John Stamos!) and are fun for all ages. My kids loved seeing the mansion, which hasn't been updated since Elvis died in 1977. It was even decorated for the holidays during our visit!

The Peabody Ducks

This simple tradition will delight your children! Stop by the Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis daily at 11 am or 5 pm to see the Duck Master march the ducks to and from the elevator that goes to and from the ducks' rooftop sanctuary. It's a fun tradition to behold. Then shop for souvenirs at the shops within the hotel. They have cute non-glass wine glasses, just sayin'...

Bass Pro Shop

Visiting the Bass Pro Shop in Memphis was honestly a spur-of-the-moment decision. You see the big glass pyramid that is now home to Bass Pro on the banks of the Mississippi as you drive into Memphis from the west, and you initially think- huh? It turns out the pyramid wasn't built to be a Bass Pro Shop but, well, here we are! Bass Pro opened its doors there in 2016, and this location is so unique! Kids can see alligators and fish, as well as Santa in the winter. There is also a hotel built into the pyramid, as well as the country's highest free-standing elevator. We took the elevator up and walked out on the glass overlook, modeled after the overlook at the Grand Canyon. The views of Memphis were stunning! We recommend a stop here for the sheer oddness of it!

Where to Eat in Memphis

You can't visit Memphis and not eat barbeque! But honestly, the city has so many great places to eat it's hard to know where to start! Here are a few of our favorite places.

Central BBQ

Casual BBQ with multiple locations. I had the pulled chicken and baked beans and loved it! Very yummy. I also had a Wiseacre Beer, from a local brewery in Memphis, and thought it was just what my Saturday night needed!

Corky's BBQ

This spot came highly recommended by multiple friends so I knew we had to check it out. I haven't eaten beef in decades, but I was the only person in my party of five who didn't eat the beef, and there wasn't a scrap left after the meal if that tells you anything! Everyone is my party gave their sandwiches two thumbs up. I can attest that the pulled chicken was amazing!

Rendezvous BBQ

We actually didn't visit Rendezvous on this trip- we ran out of time! I ate there years ago, though, and loved it. The restaurant is tucked away downtown and truly a Memphis staple. Yum!

Arcade Restaurant

Memphis' oldest café was as charming as it was delicious! We had brunch on a busy Sunday and loved the ambiance and busyness of the joint. The food was typical diner fare and the coffee bottomless- my favorite kind of brunch spot! This spot is a Memphis icon and a place you must visit when you roadtrip to Memphis! 

There were so many more spots we never made it to in Memphis... The Children's Museum came recommended by friends. And Shelby Farms Park has lots of outdoor activities to partake, although the playground was closed during our visit because of Covid. The Pink Palace Museum was also on our list of places to visit before we ran out of time! 

Memphis is a great, easy spot to drive to from DFW to teach your kids about American history. There is plenty to do for a long weekend away that will leave you happy you decided to travel to Tennessee!

*please note- Memphis Tourism hosted me for my trip. Parts of my trip were paid for by the tourism board although all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Boredom Buster: A DIY Backyard Fire Pit You Can Make In An Afternoon!

It's not a secret that I love Fall!

The leaves are changing, pumpkin spice is life and crisper, cooler evenings mean that I can comfortably be outside in a sweatshirt and jeans- my favorite attire of all time! When we moved last summer, my husband and I both knew we needed a yard that would offer us something to do all year long. 

So, we got a large in-ground pool for the summer months, a trampoline for the kids for cooler months and a fire pit (and a fire table!) to enjoy whenever we want to! (Click here to see the in-depth tutorial I did for Zulily!)

I'm not the savviest DIY-er (not that I don't want to be!), so when my husband mentioned building our own backyard fire pit, I figured I was signing on for a weekend-long affair that would cost a lot of money and test my marriage (you know, the same way a desk from IKEA does). When he dismissively assured me we could complete the project in a matter of hours for less than $100, I figured we weren't envisioning the same fire pit. 

But, low and behold, he was right and I was wrong (and he's not smug at all about it). After a quick trip to Lowe's (my husband's version of my Target) for a few supplies, he and I had a DIY backyard fire pit built in less time than it normally takes us to figure out what to watch on TV any given evening. 

Here is how we DIY-ed our own fire pit.

- We have a perfect shady spot in the corner of our yard with a tree whose branches are fairly high off the ground and a large patch of dirt where grass refuses to grow. 

-We brushed all dried leaves out of the way and cleared the ground of all debris, and then marked the circular fire pit we wanted to make with white spray paint on the ground. 

-After that, we securely stacked paving stones as close together as possible in rows until we reached our desired height. 

-From here, my husband secured them together with mortar, although this step is entirely optional. If your bricks or blocks are fit snugly enough together, you may not need to adhere them to one another. We also have curious kiddos who we worried might try to sit or stand on the blocks (kids!) and we didn't want them to come loose and fall on precious toes. So we decided to use mortar to make our fire pit more secure. 

After we completed our DIY backyard fire pit to our liking, we filled the bottom of the pit with pea gravel. My husband also contemplated pavestones and river rocks here, as both would provide a flame retardant base on which to build a fire that would look pretty when the pit wasn't in use. But we ultimately ended up going with pea gravel.

We purchased a grate to go over our fire pit when not in use so that debris (and even small animals) doesn't clog up our fire pit. We are hoping to get a grill to go over it to use in the Spring to grill meat on!

We enjoy this fire pit endlessly with our girls. We use it to roast marshmallows and hot dogs, and my husband frequently uses it to burn leaves. I even hosted a socially-distanced girls' night where we were able to place camping chairs at a safe distance to enjoy each other's company (and a few libations!) around the fire.

Here's the DIY tutorial my husband made me watch if you still need inspiration: YouTube Fire Pit Tutorial

I can't stress enough how easy this fire pit was to build! I was really convinced that a proper, aesthetically-pleasing firepit would be both expensive and time consuming to create and really advocated for buying one. We ended up being gifted a fire table by a family member as a housewarming gift and use it just as much as our fire pit, although the pit is better for roasting things like marshmallows. I'm so pleased with the outcome and can't wait to continue to use it as the temperatures drop more!

Have you ever built your own fire pit?

Boredom Buster! Fun DIY Winter Decor (with kids!)

I love Winter.

I love snow and hot cocoa and the crisp air. 

Sometimes, though, I have a hard time figuring out how to decorate my house after the holidays! I've packed up all the red and green, tucked away the ornaments and filed the holiday cards away until the next holiday season. I don't feel quite ready for the red and pink of Valentine's Day... So what do I use to decorate my house?

Check out some of the winter DIY decor I wrote about for Zulily!

One of my favorite DIY Winter decorations is a piece I actually made with my kiddos when they were little. I dipped their feet in black and white and made them into penguins on a canvas to commemorate that place in time (I'm in denial that my kiddos were ever actually that small!). It's a conversation piece every time someone walks through my door- "Oh my gosh, how cute is this little canvas? Is it really from 2014? Wow! I love it!" I plan to keep it for years!

Footprint Penguin:

1. Paint the outside of your kiddo's foot black, including toes. Paint the inside white. Press onto canvas.

2. Draw penguin's arms next to child's foot.

3. Decorate penguin's face with googly eyes, triangle nose and ribbon for a scarf.

4. Embellish any way you see fit!

Not all DIY Winter decor needs to be a keepsake at that level, but it is nice to create some unique pieces I won't find in stores (or, at least, version I borrow from stores and DIY myself!). I did a great article recently for Zulily's blog all about awesome DIY winter decor- check it out here!

I love that trees are now trendy decor well past the holidays. Pine trees covered in snow remind me of winters growing up in Illinois. I literally didn't ever think I would miss winter once I left Illinois. Eighteen of those rough winters plus four more in Missouri were plenty, thankyouverymuch. But isn't it funny how, the older you get, the more you long for the comforts of your youth? Now, tree decorations in January can be used to remind me of my northern Illinois winters right here in Texas- and these pompom trees are easy and fun for kids and adults to make! All you need is Styrofoam cones in different sizes, a hot glue gun and pompoms in whatever colors float your boat.

Styrofoam Trees

1. Take Styrofoam cone and stand it up on table.

2. Attach pompoms with hot glue to cone in any desired pattern.

3. Voila! Easy and gorgeous tabletop decor.

I've also got my sights on some fun Mason jar crafts for Winter. There are so many ideas floating around on Pinterest on how to make Mason jar snow globes and other fun winter crafts. My friend Julie at Julie Measures has so many tutorials I can't wait to try out once the rush of the holidays ends.

What crafts will you and your kiddos make this winter?
 

DIY Turkey Crafts for Thanksgiving

I'm such a sucker for holiday kids crafts, especially if they involve handprints. It's such a fun way to mark a passing moment of time with your kiddos.

I still proudly display the turkey canvas we made when my youngest was a newborn that has each girl’s handprint at that point in time (they were 4, 1 and newborn). That newborn is now 7, and her hand is double the size it was on that canvas. I love to look at it every year and remember fondly that season of life.

Now that my girls are older, they don't need my help, as much, creating memorable crafts. Every year, we love to make Thanksgiving Turkeys out of paper plates and brown paper bags to decorate our table for the big feast. Thanks to Pinterest through the years we've found a number of awesome variations that make our Thanksgiving table look one-of-a-kind.

We love making paper plate turkeys, and one we look forward to making every year is a handprint turkey on a paper plate.

Check out my great list of turkey crafts I compiled for Zulily for more fun crafts to make with your kiddos for turkey day!

Paper Plate Turkey:

1. Trace hand onto paper plate.

2. Color in the palm and thumb brown. To the thumb, add details- eye, beak, wattle (yep, the red hang-y thing on the turkey's neck is called a wattle!). 

3. Color each of the fingers a different color to act as the turkey's feathers. 

4. Lastly, draw legs underneath the handprints for the legs and feet. 

I detailed how to make several more fun turkeys out of paper plates over at Zulily. Check out my blog post there for inspiration on paper plate turkeys.

This year, my girls decided to create a turkey that was inspired by something we see a lot of in Winter- pinecones! 

Pinecone Turkey

1. Take pinecones and lay them down on the table with the top facing you. 

2. Glue on eyes, a beak and wattle. 

3. Take strips of colored construction paper and write down things you are thankful for on each strip and stick them between the edges of the pinecone. 

They turned out so cute and will be a wonderful addition to our Thanksgiving table!

There are so many ways to create your own paper plate turkey to hang on the fridge or use as a centerpiece at your Thanksgiving Feast! What fun variations of a paper plate turkey have you found (and made)?

Mrs. Claus- The Holidays' Most Underrecognized Super Woman

It's November.

And Zulily, one of my favorite online retailers whom I write for, just did an article about how women run the holidays in most households around the country. Check it out here: Zulily's article, Dear Mrs. Claus

This article got me thinking. In my house, November means that I'm starting to make my holiday shopping lists and check them twice (hats off to all you mega-planners out there who are already done shopping. I salute you!). I'm checking to see what toys are hot this season and where to find them at the lowest prices. I'm making menus for holiday meals I'll serve my family or dishes I'll bring to any meals we may share with extended family. I'm checking the budget. I'm figuring out how to rearrange furniture to accommodate a tree (or two, or three!) and wondering what pieces I'll need to purchase this season to round out my festive trimmings. As I type, I'm also messaging with several photographers, trying to line up holiday photos and then slap my favorites onto a holiday card I'll mail to friends and family near and far. 

                  

Truly, I'm doing it all. The holidays. As the mom, the matriarch of my family of five, the holidays, and all their tedium and wonder, are my responsibility to plan and execute. 

Don't get me wrong- I have a wonderful, loving, supporting husband who works hard to provide for my family! He truly is outstanding. 

But I don't think I'm alone in feeling that women are the brains behind the operation that is the holiday season.

So why does Santa, the jolly man in red, get so much recognition each holiday season? I think it's safe to assume that Mrs. Claus is a huge part of the holiday operations at the North Pole as much as every mama out there like me is the heart and soul of her family's holidays. Why, then, doesn't Mrs. Claus get any credit?

Did you know that the first mention of Mrs. Claus is in 1849, in a short story called "A Christmas Legend," by missionary James Rees? Santa Claus himself was made popular in American Culture in the later half of the 18th Century. So, Mrs. Claus didn't come onto the scene for more than 50 years after her jolly husband became the figurehead of the holidays in America. 

I suppose, given the time that Santa rose to popularity, the fact that Santa, a man, was the person to thank for holiday cheer isn't entirely unexpected. But come on. It's 2020. We know that women run the homestead and the holidays. We know that women are a truly vital part of holiday festivities, from trimming the tree to wrapping the presents. We know that the holiday season wouldn't go off so seamlessly in most American households if supermoms didn't undertake the task of making everything merry and bright.

So its time to recognize Mrs. Claus as the woman behind the legend. It's time to recognize her as the superwoman she is. It's time to say thank you to Mrs. Claus. For standing by and supporting her husband and helping him be the face of the holidays. It's time to recognize and appreciate that Mrs. Claus, like me and every other superwoman and supermama out there, is a vital part of the holiday season.

Mrs. Claus- thank you. Thank you for being a vital part- even if you are often overlooked!- of the Santa and Mrs. Claus duo that makes the holidays full of festive cheer. 

Zulily even started a Change.org petition to get Mrs. Claus more recognized this time of year. Check it out here: Let's give Mrs. Claus the thanks she deserves

                                    

10 Dallas/Fort Worth Holiday Events 2020

 It's official.

The 2020 Holiday Season is upon us.

Today I got my reusable Starbucks cup in Christmas Sweater print at a jam-packed Starbucks near my house. 102.1 now has Christmas music playing around the clock. My calendar is filling up with a list of events I want to take my kiddos to to experience the magic of the season. 

I'm starting now with making my list and checking it twice so I don't miss a single minute of holiday joy! 

Here is a list of (some!) of the awesome events coming to DFW for 2020. (If I miss any, please please let me know!)

10 DFW Holiday Events for 2020

Luminova at Globe Life Field- From the makers of Enchant, Luminova is a walk-thru holiday light experience sure to delight right in Arlington. Grab your tickets and your friends and prepare for Insta-worthy pics and holiday merriment. The magic starts November 20.

Dallas Zoo Lights- this year's Zoo Lights will be drive-thru only so you can enjoy the magic from your vehicle. Kids will love seeing the zoo lit up for the holidays! Nights starting November 20th, 6:30-9:30 pm. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Prairie Lights- Prairie Lights at Loyd Park in Grand Prairie will also be socially distanced this year, with customers staying in their car for the entire magical experience. The fun opens Thanksgiving night- grab your tickets in advance!

Wonder (at Toyota Music Factory)- This event is new to DFW for this year and is described as an "immersive experience for families to journey to the North Pole to meet Santa." Each kiddos who visits the big man in red gets a toy from the big guy! Make your reservations early! Event starts 11.19. This event was canceled. 

The Lights at Texas Motor Speedway- Drive through millions of sparkling lights starting Thanksgiving night. The excitement starts Thanksgiving Day. Check the Website for various discounts.

Holidays at the Gaylord Texas- No ICE! this year, but there is still lots of holiday magic to be enjoyed the Gaylord Texas. Go snow tubing, ice skate outdoors and enjoy an immersive holiday movie experience starting November 13.

North Pole Express at the Grapevine Vintage Railroad- hop aboard a 1920s-inspired coach car and journey to the North Pole. Kiddos will enjoy an on-board visit from Santa and his elves and receive a cookie and a "We Believe" bell. Please note: the website says all events are sold out, so check FB Marketplace and local buy sell trade groups for tickets.

Holiday Party at Theatre Arlington- experience fun with the whole family at Theatre Arlington's Holiday Party production running November 13- December 13.

Dallas Holiday Parade- The Dallas Holiday Parade may look a bit different this year as it adjusts to Covid protocols, but mark your calendar for December 5 at 10 am to enjoy the show.

Holidays at the Dallas Arboretum- Bundle up and head out to the Dallas Arboretum for gorgeous photos with holiday backdrops along White Rock Lake. The event features the 12 Days of Christmas and starts November 7.

Happy Holidays!