Cinco de Mayo in Arlington!

Looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Arlington? Here are a few spots for fun!

Do you know why Cinco de Mayo is celebrated?

Cinco de Mayo (which means Fifth of May in Spanish) commemorates the Mexican Army’s May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Cinco de Mayo is not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16. 

I did an article about Cinco de Mayo for Zulily, with lots of ways to celebrate with kids. Please click the link to read! 

Looking to do more learning on this Mexican holiday with your kids? Here are a few great books to check out:

Celebrate! It's Cinco de Mayo! by Janice Levy

A simple history of the holiday with illustrations perfect for kids.

Cinco de Mayo: Celebrating the Traditions of Mexico, by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith

Follow along with Rosa, a Mexican-American girl from California, as she explores this Mexican holiday. 

Because of the strong Mexican influence here in Texas, there are lots of ways to get festive for Cinco de Mayo here in Arlington. If you are looking to celebrate with or without the kids, here are a few ways to celevrate in the Arlington area. 

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Arlington, Texas.

Cinco de Mayo Celebrations in the Arlington Area

Cinco de Mayo Taco Truck & Food Drive: May 5, 4-6 pm

Join the Deeds Group and Saltillo Taqueria for tacos. Bring a donation for NEW DAY ARLINGTON, an organization that provides meals to the food insecure students of Arlington and we will provide you some free dinner! Daesy's Tropical Sno Truck will also be there to get a Snow Cone! So come by and eat tacos for a good cause!

Cinco de Mayo at Texas Live!: May 5, 5-10 pm

Stop in for free Salsa/Bachata lessons with Dallas Dance Studio. Enjoy drink specials, a raffle, contests and more. 

 

Salsa Joe's Tex-Mex Smokehouse Cinco de Mayo Parking Lot Party: May 5, 11:30 am- 9 pm

Music, drinks, food and more at this parking lot party on Park Row Drive!

Cinco de Mayo at El Gabacho: May 5, 4 pm

Join Wild Rag Vodka, Andrew Sevener and his band at El Gabacho Tex-Mex Grill in Arlington for the Ultimate Cinco de Mayo concert event, starting at 4:00pm.

Cinco de Mayo Skate at Arlington Skatium: May 5, 6:30- 8:30 pm

Skate for just $5 to celebrate May 5! 

Cinco de Mayo with Live Music at Boomerjack's: May 5, 10:30 am- 10 pm

Drink specials all day plus live music with Nikki & Ryan. 

It Pays to Be Green: How to Maximize BYO Rewards

April is Earth Month (and Earth Day is 4/22). What are you doing to help the environment?

I have a trunk full of reusable shopping bags. Some I'm gotten for free at various events through the years, or just from shopping at retailers such as Lululemon, who package all of their purchases in them. Others I have paid for at check out because they were just so cute! There is no shortage of reusable shopping bags in my life... The kicker for me is actually remembering to bring them when I go shopping! Especially if the store offers a bring-your-own-bag discount. What a waste to NOT bring all the bags in my garage. 

Zulily recently asked me to do an article on the top kitchen gadgets you need in your life to make your kitchen less wasteful. Some of these fixes are easy- stop using plastic sandwich baggies and throw-away silverware! Others are harder- like kitchen composting. I want to get there! I'm just... not there yet.

Get a discount for bringing your own bag to certain stores. 

But writing this article really gave me pause. I know I'm not great with my environmental impact. We put out two or three overflowing trash bags for pick up each week. I try to recycle, but, sometimes I simply don't because it's a lot of work. I let my kids bring chips and dried fruit to school in plastic sandwich baggies and we use paper plates that we toss in the trash more than I should probably admit.

So, I need to make a few changes. Luckily, stores are starting to incentivize people like me to make these changes! Some big companies are beginning to adopt policies that encourage you to reduce, reuse and recycle. Here a few spots that reward you for your reduce, reuse, recycle efforts. A discount and a (small) step toward sustainability? Yes please! 

Stores that reward you to Bring Your Own

Target: Bring your own reusable bags to Target and get $0.05 back per bag used. Plus, most stores have recycling stations for plastic bags that can't be placed in the green bins at your home.

Whole Foods Market: The Arlington store will give you $0.05 off your purchase for every reusable bag you use during your shopping trip. Plus, there are collection containers here for recycle cans, bottles and paper goods. 

Starbucks: Get $0.10 off your java jolt when you bring your own reusable cup to collect your morning Starbucks fix in!

Dunkin' Donuts: Some locations offer a discount on coffee when you bring your own reusable cup, but this program was suspended for Covid. Keep your eyes peeled for when they start it back up! 

Several stores not in the Arlington area, including Peet's Coffee and Seattle's Best Coffee, offer similar discount programs. Keep your eyes peeled when you see great BYO discount and send them my way to add to this list!

If you need to recycle cardboard, did you know that each of the Arlington libraries has a large green recycling dumpster in their parking lots? If your green bin is overflowing, don't just set your cardboard out for trash! Fill your trunk and bring it to the library. It's totally free. 

Other Awesome Discounts on Recycled/Reused Goods

Love makeup? Bring six empty MAC Cosmetic containers to select stores and receive a free full-size lipstick! More info here. 

Want some new clothes? Not sure what to do with stuff that is beat-up and worn out? Take our old clothing to H&M and get a 15% discount on your next purchase! You can bring in any old clothing for recycle and snag the discount. Score! 

Trade in old electronics at Target and get PayPal cash or a Target gift card! Target wants all of your old electronics, from old phones and tablets to consoles and speakers. Click this link to learn more. 

What are your favorite ways to earn cash back or discounts for recycling or reusing?

Reduce, reuse, recycle.

Best Places to Shop for Patio Furniture in Arlington

Looking to spruce up your backyard to entertain guests this summer? Here are the best spots in the Arlington area to find patio furniture!

Summer is almost here! The air feels warmer, the kids are counting down until school is out and the pool is calling my name (although ours is still broken from the deep freeze- if anyone knows where to get parts for broken pumps, please please tell me!). My husband is redoing our entire back patio area so it is ready for guests for Summer 2021!

He has tasked me with picking out patio furniture. I've been on the hunt for a table we can place permanently outside to enjoy meals al fresco. I'm looking for something fun and fresh that will compliment our three-piece couch and fire pit table we already have. So I've been running all over town deciding what I like- and what's within our budget! Fun times!

I just did a whole article for Zulily about must-have patio furniture. Zulily also has tons of cute patio options for you that can be delivered right to your door! Check out Zulily for lots of great pieces including chairs, umbrellas and more. I have my eye on this awesome three-piece patio set right now!

The cutest patio set I have my eye on from IKEA in Grand Prairie.

If you are on the hunt for patio furniture and want to see it in person in the Arlington area, here are the best spots I've found to get your hands on great furniture in the area! 

7 Great Spots to Shop for Patio Furniture in the Arlington Area

1. The Backyard Store, Pantego: This is the only spot I've found that is truly a local business. Tons of great styles of patio furniture on Pioneer Parkway in Pantego. They also do outdoor kitchens! Bucket list item for me for sure!

2. The Chair King: The Chair King is actually a Texas chain that started in Houston. Lots of gorgeous patio furniture plus grills and outdoor accessories. I'm shopping here for a grill for hubby for Father's Day... Now I just need someone to tell me which type to get! 

3. Big Lots: Okay, so Big Lots is just a nationwide retailer. But have you seen their patio furniture? If you are on a budget, Big Lots is a great place to start! Lots of great furniture, and sometimes you can find coupons online to apply toward your purchase! 

4. At Home, Mansfield: At Home, at 287 and Broad in Mansfield, can be a bit overwhelming. This home superstore will have you wandering for hours, questioning whether or not you need pot holders or rugs or decorative trinkets. I have to go in here with my eyes on the prize. But if you want a one-stop shop for all of your outdoor needs, this might just be the spot for you! Decent prices, too. 

5. Homegoods, Mansfield: I love wandering through the HomeGoods at 287 and Debbie looking for great homewares. This store tends to get some fantastic pieces you might not find elsewhere. The only downside? You can't waffle at this store. Items will be gone before you turn around! If you see something you like, grab it and don't look back! I still have major regrets over the absolute cutest cooler I saw there last summer and didn't snag when I had the chance... 

6. Lamps Plus: I never would have thought to stop into Lamps Plus to look for patio furniture. Because, hello, it's called LAMPS Plus. Not Patio Furniture Plus. But they have some great outdoor options and reasonable prices, to boot! Definitely check them out.

7. IKEA, Grand Prairie: Nothing like furniture from IKEA to test a marriage, amiright? I was wandering through IKEA last week and fell in love with the cutest outdoor set (pictured at the top of the article). My husband gave me a firm maybe and said he won't consider saying yes until I let him know exactly how many pieces the set comes in... I just keep reminding him we need to show off the deck he is working really hard to rebuild this spring!

Where do you go to shop for great patio furniture in the Arlington area?

Adorable patio set like I want for my own backyard!

Summer Camp Round-Up! 10 Summer Camps for Kids in the Arlington Area

Looking for Summer Camps in the Arlington Area? Everything Arlington has you covered!

I grew up going to a sleep-away camp in East Troy, Wisconsin. I started there when I was 8 and didn't know anyone. I was a fairly shy kid, so, I must have loved it to ask my mom to send me every year. But I went back every summer, and, at 14, I became an LIT (Leader in Training). During high school I was an ACL (assistant cabin leader) and then a CL (cabin leader). Some of my best friends in high school I met at summer camp. To this day, I can't hear "These are the Days" by 10,000 Maniacs without being transported back to Camp Edwards in the late 1990s. Those really were the days!

My kids take after me and love summer camp. They have attended Camp Thurman each year since they've been old enough and started at Sky Ranch in Van, Texas, after they each completed first grade. They talk about Sky Ranch all year long and have been counting down to Summer 2021 and their week at Sky Ranch since I picked them up last year. There is nothing like sleep-away camp to give you your first taste of true away-from-your-parents freedom!

Sleep away camp isn't for everyone, though, and it isn't always super affordable. Luckily the Arlington area has lots of awesome camps for kids with tons of different interests. If you are looking for fun activities for your kids this summer that are close to home, read on!

And, if you are looking for some fun toys to add to your summer rotation to keep your kids happy and playing in your own backyard this summer, click here to read the article I did for Zulily about must-have kids toys for summer!

Get ready for a fun summer with these awesome summer camps for kids in the Arlington area. 

Top Summer Camps for Kids in the Arlington Area

1. Summer 2021 Skate Camp

    If your kiddos want to learn how to skateboard like Tony Hawk (is my age showing?), check out this fun skate camp in Grand Prairie! Kids can learn the basics and maybe even pick up a few tricks. 

2. River Legacy Summer Camp 

    Does your child love critters and being outside? Look no further than summer programming at River Legacy! They even have Girl Scout and Boy Scout programming that will help the kids earn badges.

3. Lindsay's Art Cart Summer Camps

    Get your child's creative juices flowing with summer art camps from Lindsay's Art Cart. Camps take place at Legal Draft in downtown Arlington and there is a sibling discount available!

4. Viridian Sailing Camp

    I have absolutely no idea how to sail a boat- but wouldn't it be cool if I did? What a neat summer skill for kids to learn for a few hours a day right here in Arlington!

5. Spirals Edventure Camp

    This adventure camp in Mansfield allows kids to pack a lot of fun into a week! Kids play games, learn about horses, rock climb and more at this day-long camp.

6. Theatre Arlington Summer Camp 

    Have a drama queen or king in the family? Yeah, us either. Put your child's flare for the dramatic to good use at summer camp with Theatre Arlington.

7. Bricks4Kidz Summer Camp 

    Have a Lego lover at home? Send your little builder to Lego Camp this summer and let your child put their building skills to the test. Each week has a fun new theme to keep your child entertained. 

8. Code Ninjas Summer Camp

    Let your child play while they learn this summer at a coding camp at Code Ninjas in Mansfield. Whether your child wants to learn to design an app or wants to learn coding secrets for Roblox, there is a camp for everyone at Code Ninjas. 

9. La Puerta Spanish Center Camps

    If your is interested in learning Spanish, check out the in-person camps in Arlington this summer from La Puerta Spanish Center. This particular spot comes highly recommended by scores of Arlington mamas. 

10. Mansfield Music Mentors Summer Camp

    Let your child unleash their inner rock star with summer music camp. These music camps meet in Mansfield and run all week, and then Friday night your child gets to impress you with a live performance! How cool. 

Kids can learn new skills at these fun summer camps in Arlington!

Maintaining a Clean Home: 5 Services to Hire Out in the Arlington Area

I'm a terrible housekeeper. 

There. I said it. It is what it is. 

I will happily hammer out five SEO-friendly articles in a day. Drive the kids to Little Elm (or across state lines) for a fun activity? I'm your girl! Volunteer with various organizations and provide value and service? On it! 

But ask me to clean my shower (like my husband literally did yesterday) and I will find 500 things that need to be done before I am able (and willing) to complete this task.

Like I said. Terrible housekeeper. 

I did just do an article for Zulily, though, about 20 Spring Clean Hacks I Learned on Instagram, and I have tried them all out myself! Once. But hey- if you're a better housekeeper than I am, there are truly some great tips in the article. Please click over and read it!

But, in writing that article, I started to wonder what services could be hired out. I hate cleaning, so I sometimes hire a housekeeper. But, there are a myriad of other things I hate doing (like laundry. Because based on the amount currently sitting in my laundry room, I'm genuinely wondering if there are people living in my house who I don't know about). But guess what? There are people I can pay to wash, dry and fold those piles of clothing for me. Brilliant!

Hire someone to do your laundry, pick up your dog's poop, clean your car and more.

5 Services to Hire Out in the Arlington Area

So here we are. Five household chores that you might not want to do that you can pay someone else to do for you! You're supporting a local business, checking one item off your to-do list and just generally freeing up some time that you would have had to allocate to that task. Because time is money. And you are worth a lot more than you give yourself credit for!

Laundry service: I can't even find the time to wash most of the fitted sheets in my house, let alone figure out how to fold them! This is money well spent on my end. Having someone literally air out my dirty laundry sounds brilliant! Check out Top Drawer Laundry to have your someone else deal with your dirty laundry!

Dog Mess Cleanup: When I was younger, my mom used to pay my brothers and me to clean up the dog poop in the backyard. I hated it. Our dog wasn't even that big and yet the amount of poop he could generate was insane! Eventually she started hiring the neighbor kids because my brothers and I all refused to do the job, even if we were paid to do it. Today I would happily pay someone else to clean up dog poop because I really can't think of anything I'd rather do less than clean up poop! Try Poop911 to take this messy task off your plate. 

Mobile Car Detailing: My husband consistently detests the state of my car. I always remind him how much running around I do with the girls- and how often we find ourselves eating in the car, even though it's a bad habit. I'm trying to be better about cleaning out the car regularly and wiping down the interior. But sometimes it's just one more thing to do and I'm out of time (and energy. And desire, quite frankly). Enter mobile detailing. Let someone come to you and scrub your car until it shines! Mobile car detailing is brilliant. Try Savvy Mobile Detail to have a clean car without the having to clean it yourself bit! 

Declutter the House: What is it about kids and chaos? It is so hard to stay on top of the clutter in my house... The kids come home every day with piles of stuff (where does it even come from?!) but it takes me ages to wade through it and get rid of the stuff we simply can't keep. When we moved last summer it was a true struggle to figure out what should stay and what should go. Sometimes you just need a neutral third party to remind you of which items are worthy of a spot in your home and which ones need to find their way to the local charity drop. Try Lisa's Chaos Coordinators if you, like me, need a little help to get out from under all the stuff! If you have baby gear that you no longer need but are hoping to get some money back on some of your big ticket items, try Good Buy Gear- they will come grab your gear, sell it for you, and give you back a portion of the selling price! 

Grocery Shopping: I think I'm one of the total weirdos who actually doesn't mind grocery shopping. Don't get me wrong- no matter how many times I make my list and check it twice I always make it home without some much-needed item, but, that's just because I'm me. But I don't mind wandering the aisles at Target and then telling my husband the ridiculously-high bill included nothing but essentials (three new tops and a new throw pillow are essential, thankyouverymuch). Mostly, though, I love strolling up and down the aisles, discovering new products and new dinner short cuts. I love finding new items to add to the pantry. Also, I love going to the grocery store solo and then claiming the line at checkout was stupidly long and that's why it took so long. If anyone tells my husband that I spent an hour just sitting in the clothing section, scrolling my phone, well, then, we can't be friends. But, if you aren't like me and hate the grocery store, no worries! Try Shipt or Instacart to have your groceries come to you. 

What household errands do you hire out? I love to find new ways to lessen my load at home!

The Best Places to Board Your Pets in the Arlington Area

We are between pets right now. Our beloved dog, Kenzi, passed away in January of natural causes, and we (finally, mostly I) haven't been ready to welcome a new furry pet into our home just yet.

If you are facing the loss of a pet, read the article I wrote for Zulily about how to help kids cope with losing a furry friend here. 

When we did have a dog, though, this is the time of year I would start to stress about making plans for her during our summer travel. I always wanted Kenzi to have a place where she could play and be well cared for when we were off on our summer adventures.

So I've rounded up five of the best places to board dogs in the Arlington area. These spots all have plush accommodations for your beloved pets and will keep them happy and healthy until you can be with them again. 

5 great places to board your dog in the Arlington area.

Best Places to Board a Dog in the Arlington Area

1. Richter Animal Hospital and Pet Resort- The vets at this hospital at 287 & Sublett were the ones who took care of our sweet dog in her older years. The facility is very well kept, and the pet resort comes highly recommended.

2. Pet Resort in The Gardens- This central spot, located near Pioneer Parkway & Bowen, gives new clients one free night of boarding! The Pet Resort also offers doggie day care as well as dog training and bathing. Who doesn't love a one-stop shop?

3. Cozy Pup Resort- Run by an awesome teacher at Corey Academy, the Cozy Pup Resort is the spot where we will send our next furry friend when he or she needs to be boarded. My girls adore Ms. Evans, their dance teacher, and I can refer you to a number of mamas who would highly recommend your pup go stay at Cozy Pup Resort!

4. Wagtime Doggie Daycare- Situated in North Arlington near Whole Foods, this dog-loving spot will take great care of your pup when you are away. They offer daycare as well as overnight boarding and even offer punch cards to save you a bit of cash! 

5. PawPaw's Doghouse- Okay, this spot is in Mansfield. What I love about this spot is the Sweet Barks Sanctuary Senior Rescue that PawPaw's supports! Have you doggies boarded and groomed at this spot near Debbie & 1187 and know that your money is supporting rescued dogs. Learn more on their website. 

Also worth a mention is Rover.com, where I have found a number of awesome dog walkers and boarders through the years!

Kids & Chlorine: The Best Swim Shampoos for Summer!

Last summer we got a pool. 

I now have endless reasons to buy all the pool toys, beach towels, swimsuits and any other pool accessory you can think of. Because I needed more reasons to shop. 

Check out my Zulily article here for must-have items for fun pool games for the summer! These games are fun in your pool, a hotel pool, a city pool, wherever.

This girl loves pool time! I just don't love the chlorine smell in her hair...

Back to shopping, though. One of the items forever on my list of items to get from the store is swim shampoo.

My middle daughter joined swim team about a year ago, and the three-times-a-week swim sessions, combined with dips in our pool, are wreaking havoc on her hair. Her hair is naturally super blond, and she likes it long. 

I've spent the past year purchasing every swim shampoo I can get my hands on, trying to find something that will keep it from turning green (because that isn't just an urban myth, it totally happens!), keep it from smelling like chlorine 24/7 and keep it from thinning out any more than it already has.

So I've made a list. Because if you have a swimmer in the family, you need an anti-chlorine shampoo in your beauty product arsenal. Here are my five favorite products I've discovered to date. If I've missed any that you love, please, please send them my way!

Five Must-Have Swim Shampoos for Kids

Best Inexpensive Swim Shampoo: L'Oreal Kids Gentle 2-in-1 Swim & Sport Shampoo

This product costs less than $5 and is available at most stores in the area. It smells dreamy and works well for a quick rinse after a jaunt in the pool. 

Best Natural Swim Shampoo for Toddlers/Young Kids: Babo Botanicals Swim & Sport Shampoo & Wash

We use this as an all-over rinse after we've been in the pool. It worked really well for me when my kids were little and their hair was baby-fine- the no harsh chemicals really sold me on it! Now we use it as an extra rinse after we shampoo to make sure we combat chlorine build up. It's a great body wash, too, for adults and kids! 

Best Natural Swim Shampoo for Kids & Tweens: Fairy Tales Sun & Swim Lifeguard Daily Clarifying Shampoo

We use this shampoo daily during the summer and it really helps strip my daughter's hair of all the unwanted junk that builds up. It smells super yummy and makes her hair feel clean to the touch. We sometimes pair it with the conditioner.

Babo Botanicals Swim & Sport: one of my favorite products for kids who love the water!

Best Swim Shampoo for the Family: Malibu C Swimmer's Wellness Shampoo

I have to ration this stuff in my household because my kids (and my husband!) tend to slop this stuff into their palms and it's not cheap enough for excessive use! But this has been my favorite find to-date. It actually came recommended by more than, say, 20 people on a Facebook post about swim shampoos. I love it for my hair and my girls' hair. It's been a game changer! I just have to keep it put away or it will disappear... 

Best Shampoo for the Serious Athlete: Ultra Swim Chlorine Removal Shampoo

This stuff brings me back to my own days of swimming on my high school's swim team. I was a butterfly master! My mom would buy this stuff by the truckload. I don't much care for the smell (simply because I smelled it daily for years and it makes me think of my high school's locker room), but, if you have a kiddo in the pool almost daily, this bottle of liquid gold will do the trick and mitigate the chlorine smell. 

Tried & True Tips to Keep Kids' Hair Clean When They Love to Swim!

- Have your child wear a plastic swim cap. Yes, it takes some getting used to. But it helps! I coat my daughter's hair in conditioner, braid it, and tuck it in a cap for swim practice. This has helped restore her gorgeous locks!

- Wet your child's hair before she jumps in the water. Spray it with a leave-in conditioner to help combat chlorine. 

- If possible, wash your child's hair as soon as you can after exiting the water. This will combat the green tones blondes sometimes get.