Family Dinnertime at Genghis Grill!

I love going out to eat places where the experience is interactive.

And no, I'm not referring to places where my kids can go and run and act like wild monkeys on the indoor playareas while I beg them to eat. 

I mean places where I do more than just read a few items off of a menu and try to decide whether or not I will like every single item in that dish.

Enter Genghis Grill here. 

An interactive dining experience where you can create your own meal!

And the Genghis Grill at the Arlington Highlands has been newly remodeled, making it a spot you have got to try out for lunch or dinner!

I took my hungry crew (three kids, two grandparents and one exhausted preggo!) Thursday for dinner. I hadn't been to a Genghis Grill in years, honestly, and my girls and parents had never been.

The restaurant was busy but not packed, and we were able to be seated immediately. Coloring sheets and crayons were presented to my girls and drink menus to each of the adults (sad face there!). From there, a server came over and explained the entire dining process to us. Drinks are now self-serve, and, after you select what size bowl you want, you create your own meal!

My girls each grabbed a small bowl and raced up to the counter to customize their meals. So many options! You start by selecting your protein, and man do you have options! Steak, chicken, pork, tofu, bacon, the list goes on. My youngest chose chicken, my middle daughter chose shrimp and my oldest chose steak. I chose chicken, myself.

After you put your raw meat in your bowl, you pick a spice for your meat. Once you sprinkle on your favorite spice, you get to pack the bowl down with all the veggies! From bean sprouts to mushrooms and peas to water chestnuts (with a few fruits mixed in for variety), you can load your bowl down with yummy-looking veggies before selecting your sauce. I'm totally a teriyaki girl, so I went with Island Teriyaki.

After you build your bowl, you give the employee working the line your name and tell him or her if you'd prefer rice or noodles with your bowl. After you've made your selection, you can head back to your seat- or watch your food prepared before you!

My girls loved watching the people working the grill pour their bowls onto the hot surface to prepare the food. They each took turns guessing whose food was where on the grill and loved seeing it flipped and stirred until it was ready to be plated and served!

After your food is ready, your server brings it back to you. If you are good with chopsticks, you can enjoy your meal that way. The restaurant had chopstick trainers available for my girls, who loved trying to eat their food with chopsticks! I personally stuck to a fork.

The food was such a reasonable price- $9.99 for a small bowl (perfect for kids!) or $12.99 for a regular bowl, which is the perfect portion, in my opinion. Genghis Grill also has a variety of appetizers and desserts available for purchase. 

We loved our dinner at Genghis Grill, and my girls can't wait to go back. My oldest has already been plotting out what combination of foods she will try in her bowl next time!

*disclaimer- I did receive a free dinner for my family in exchange for my review and promotion. All thoughts and opinions are my own*

Fun Easter Events in the Arlington Area 2019

Spring is definitely in the air!
My girls love this time of year... Flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, evening bike rides and outside play return to our daily schedule.
I love this time of year because every store in town has an endless supply of Cadbury Mini Eggs. Since I can't have wine (ah, preggo life!), these will do just fine thankyouverymuch.

My girls also can't wait for Easter and all the fun, free activities that pop up around town! Egg hunts, bunny visits and candy and trinkets galore!

Below you'll find a list of great events all over town!

Saturday, April 13

Easter Egg-stravaganza at Crossroads Arlington, 10a- 1p, Free.
3221 W. Pioneer Parkway, Pantego
Egg hunt, bounce house, raffle, karaoke, face paint, and much more fun for the whole family!

Holy Cross Community-wide Easter Egg Hunt, 10a-12p. Free.
4400 W. Arkansas Lane, Arlington
Ages: Preschool to 12 years of age
Activities: Include Bounce Houses, Crafts, Games, Puppet Show, and Easter Egg Hunt

Golf Center of Arlington Easter Egg Hunt, 12-1p, Free.
1301 NE Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington
Join us as we hunt Easter eggs with a special visit from the Easter Bunny!
This FREE event includes egg hunt and photos with Easter Bunny.
Foods and drinks will be available for sale. Miniature golf game will be available for purchase after the egg hunt.
The egg hunt starts at noon and will take place at our miniature golf course - more than 3,000 eggs will be hidden!!! The Hunt will be in 3 age groups (3 and under, 4-6, and 7-10 years old) . Bring your basket and camera to capture memories to last a lifetime!
Following the Egg Hunt, the Easter Bunny will be on hand for photos and hugs!
Walk-ins welcome, no reservations or tickets necessary. Bring the kids, friends, and family!

Satruday, April 20

Easter Egg-stravaganza by GP Parks & Rec, 10a-12p, Free.
Airhogs Stadium; 1600 Lonestar Parkway, GP.
Join us for the 2019 Easter Eggstravaganza! This FREE family event will take place at the Airhogs Stadium and run from 10AM-12PM. The event will feature multiple Easter egg hunts on the field divided up by age group, Easter Bunny Pictures, games, and a wide variety of other activities and family fun!

Easter Celebration and Egg Hunt, The Welcome Table Christian Church in Arlington, 11a- 1p. Free.
4600 Highwood Dr., Arlington
Join us for our annual Easter Celebration and Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 20, from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM. We will have lots of eggs to hunt, hot dogs to eat, and games to play. Plus, the Kona Ice shaved ice truck will be joining us.

Easter Egg Swim at Kirby Creek Natatorium, GP, 1:30-3:30p. $5 per person
3201 Corn Valley Rd., GP
Collect and play with Easter Eggs in the water and turn them in for a sweet prize!
Face painting and bounce house will be on-site.

How much does the average family spend in a weekend?

According to the the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, households with children under 18 years old spend $2900 per year on entertainment ($56 weekly) and $3100 eating out ($60 weekly).
The owner of Pearachute, a company I contract for and write about on my page frequently, thinks this number is bologna. 
I, for one, agree with her. This seems soooo low. Although I have weeks where I'm disciplined and frugal, most weeks we succumb to take-out meals multiple times, and, well, if we are talking about entertainment, a trip to the movies one time costs us well more than $56.
So I kept a diary last weekend of my spending. I actually think last weekend I spent a little bit less than normal. I also think I have to factor in here that DFW has a relatively low cost of living compared to many other big cities in this country, which is why it is so appealing to families. 
What do you think? Are the numbers above accurate?

Our weekends are fairly busy (and frantic), with each one being a bit different. This weekend, for us, actually started on Friday because my husband works a 9/80 schedule, which allows him every other Friday off. My youngest, Corinne, who turned five in October, is not yet in kindergarten, so she is home with us on Fridays while her big sisters attend first and third grade.

This Friday Corinne and I wanted pedicures, and there is a new salon that opened not far from our house that was offering $10 pedicures. I couldn’t resist! We got fabulous pedicures that cost us $28 total including tip. After pedicures, we met Brad for Potbelly at lunch and spent $21. I then went for a run before heading up to school to co-manage my daughter Adelynn’s Destination Imagination team. We had practice until 6 pm on Friday, so I brought the kids a bunch of snacks. I spent $15 on fruit snacks, apple slices and potato chips to hold seven kiddos over until dinner time! To end our day, we went to a free ice skating party at our local mall. My girls started ice skating lessons about six months ago and have really taken to the ice. The party on Friday was totally free, but Adelynn was starving after Destination Imagination. She and I grabbed dinner at the mall food court while we waited for Brad to arrive with my younger daughters, who ate at home with Dad. We spent $15 on dinner. After the party, Adelynn and Brynna (my middle daughter), headed to a friend’s house for a sleepover.

Total spent on Friday: $79

Saturday morning I actually ran a 5K that supports a local charity in town while my girls slept in at their friend’s house (the race entry was $30). Corinne got a lazy morning with Dad while I managed a sub-30 5K at 12 weeks pregnant! After I got home and got everyone fed, we headed off to a Girl Scout Cookie Booth. My older two girls are both involved in Girl Scouts, and we love it. They have done some incredible activities (including Medieval Times, camp outs, iFly, and so much more!) with the money they have raised selling cookies. This year, both my girls want to sell more than 2,000 combined boxes (I did not mistype that number!). Not only does the money they raise support all kinds of activities they get to do with their troops, they also earn free days at summer camp here in North Texas with all the boxes they sell. So we went to our local Walgreens from 1:30- 4:30 to sell cookies. Halfway through, they got a treat for good behavior and awesome sales. I spent $8 at Walgreens on snacks and treats. After we got home, I was too lazy and worn out to cook, so we ordered pizza and had a family movie night! We watched Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which I just finished reading to the girls. We spent $30 on Domino’s pizza.

Total spent: $68

Sunday morning I got up before my crew and made breakfast- hashbrowns, eggs and bacon. They loved it! After running four miles, I got Adelynn and I ready to go to another cookie booth (did I mention how many boxes my girls want to sell?) at the mall. Once we got to the mall, Adelynn talked me into Jamba Juice smoothies for lunch. I spent $11. Brad took my younger two girls up to the skating rink at the mall to practice. We love that our skate tuition includes free skating during any public session. The lessons can be pricey ($135 per girl for a 7-week session), but they enjoy it so much! Adelynn and I left the mall at 3 and I swapped girls with my husband. Brynna and I then worked a cookie booth at 7 Eleven for an hour and sold a lot of boxes! 7 Eleven loves hosting Girl Scouts in our area and allows the girls free fountain beverages or hot chocolate (and coffee for mom!) when they work a booth, which is an awesome incentive for my kids. They love hot chocolate! We then headed home to prepare for school on Monday and have dinner at home.

Total spent: $11

Weekend spend total: $158

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.*