Category: Reviews

Santa’s Toy Factory: Christmas Fun for the Whole Family in DFW!

I’ve partnered with Bloggin’ Mamas & GGP Parks at Arlington to share these free family events with my readers, and am being compensated for this partnership. All opinions expressed are my own.
©2017 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. ©2017 Mattel. All Rights Reserved.
Image Credit: ©2017 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. ©2017 Mattel. All Rights Reserved.

The Parks at Arlington Mall has partnered with Mattel to introduce a new holiday adventure that will be memorable for the entire family. Santa’s Toy Factory will open on November 11 in the center court area of the shopping center.

I love Christmas shopping and the hustle and bustle of everyone around!  There’s nothing that puts me in the Christmas spirit more than shopping for goodies with an eggnog latte in hand!  I’ve got 13 nieces and nephews and they love all sorts of toys like Barbies, Hot Wheels, and Thomas & Friends.  All of these great brands, including Santa will be at Santa’s Toy Factory this year!  If you live in the DFW area, then you have to take your kiddos to go check this out.  And the best part…IT’S FREE FOR EVERYONE!

Here’s a bit more about Santa’s Toy Factory:

Image Credit: ©2017 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. ©2017 Mattel. All Rights Reserved.
Image Credit: ©2017 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. ©2017 Mattel. All Rights Reserved.

Santa’s Toy Factory is designed to empower creativity through an interactive, immersive experience to meet Santa. Within the 1,600 square-foot space, young guests will have the opportunity to “test” new toys in Santa’s Factory before they get delivered to all the boys and girls on Christmas morning. After they “test” the toys, they visit different stations to digitally design, build and paint toys from Mattel’s iconic brands including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, and Thomas & Friends™.. The grand finale, of course, will be meeting Santa himself for photos and to share their holiday wish list.

“We are proud to be partnering with Mattel to bring this new, one-of-a-kind holiday concept to life,” said Lorie Lisius, general manager of Parks at Arlington. “We are always looking for ways to introduce new brands and experiences to our community and can’t wait to showcase Santa’s Toy Factory this holiday season. We know our guests will embrace it.”

The experience with Santa’s Toy Factory is free-of-charge and photo packages begin at $39.99. To make reservations to ensure quicker access, please click HERE. If you’d like more information, please visit www.VisitSantasToyFactory.com. Parks at Arlington is located at 3811 South Cooper and is home to a plethora of high-quality tenants including H&M, Aveda and Dickey’s BBQ.

Check out these One-Day Special Events Too!

You Can Be Anything Barbie

©2017 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. ©2017 Mattel. All Rights Reserved.

Image Credit: ©2017 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. ©2017 Mattel. All Rights Reserved.

November 11, 2017
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Center Court

Thomas and His Super Station


Image Credit: ©2017 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. ©2017 Mattel. All Rights Reserved.

November 28, 2017
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Center Court

Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage

©2017 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. ©2017 Mattel. All Rights Reserved.

Image Credit: ©2017 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. ©2017 Mattel. All Rights Reserved.

December 10, 2017
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Center Court

Get Social with Parks at Arlington

Twitter: @ParksArlington

Instagram: @theparksmallsatarlington

Facebook: @TheParksMallatArlington

Get Social with Mattel

Twitter: @Mattel

Instagram: @Mattel

Facebook: @Mattel

Bad Moms Christmas- Girls Night Out & Free Movie Tickets! #BadMomsXmas

WHAT:

I’m giving away 20 tickets to the advance screening of A BAD MOMS CHRISTMAS, starring Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Jay Hernandez and Susan Sarandon.

The 20 passes are first come first served.

WHEN:

Monday, October 30

7:30 PM

Harkins Southlake Town Center 14

1450 Plaza Pl

Southlake, TX 76092

 

HOW TO GET TICKETS:

http://stxtickets.com/THEJAVAMAMA

Post a pic! I would love to see what your favorite favorite  drink is! lol!

Use hashtag #BadMomsXmas

Also, check out this fun SNAPCHAT filter and be a “Bad Mom” yourself 😉

It’s FALLING outside! Prepping for Fall + Enter to WIN!

This post is sponsored by Zoono GermFree24®, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hi All!

Okay so today it’s like 80-something degrees…but wait for it….Saturday it’s going to be in the FIFTIES!!!  Bring on the scarves, boots, and sweaters….YIPPEE!

Here’s my little punkin and the pumpkin patch.  He’s getting so big!  

I love sooooo many things about fall.  The smell in the air, the clothes, the temperature.  A reason to drink HOT coffee!  One thing I don’t care too much for is GERMS!

We use Zoono’s GermFree24® Hand Sanitizer.  It’s an FDA-compliant, water-based hand sanitizer that kills 99.99% of germs on contact and keeps killing them for up to 24 hours.

GermFree24® provides protection against germs for up to 24 hours. Over that time period, you might touch hundreds of surfaces, each covered with tens of thousands of microbes, half of which will stick to your hands. Here’s the lowdown on some of the germs you may encounter over a 24-hour period:

  • Doorknob: 8,643 bacteria
  • Computer mouse: 79,000 bacteria
  • Remote control: 17,000 bacteria

Why choose Zoono’s GermFree24???

  • Traditional alcohol-based hand sanitizers only work while they are wet and quickly evaporate. GermFree24® kills germs all day with one application.
  • GermFree24® doesn’t use chemistry to kill germs – it uses physics. It bonds to your skin’s surface and sets up a nano-molecular layer of “pins” that physically impale and destroy germs on contact.
  • GermFree24® has been proven to provide long-lasting antimicrobial protection against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses (such as influenza), fungi and mold.
  • GermFree24® does not rub off and will remain active on the skin’s surface, even with hand washing or sweating.

ZOONO GERMFREE24 STAYS ON FOR 24 HOURS EVEN AFTER IT DRIES!!!

These small Zoono GermFree24 spray pens are so easy to use and are easy to pack in your purse, backpack, or bag.  These are great for travel, camping, or school.

Want to try Zoono GermFree24 for yourself?

A Zoono GermFree24 Gift + $25 Visa Gift Card

ENTER TO WIN!!!


Zoono GermFree24 Gift + Visa Gift Card!

Halloween Boo-Quets with Mini Babybel

Happy Halloweeeeeeen Everyone!

Today I’m getting crafty and showing you a fun gift for a teacher, neighbor, friend, or whoever you would like to send a BOO to!

I made these fun Mini Babybel® boo- quets.  First – cheese is EVERYTHING!  Second – how cute are these little goodie buckets?  Third – let me show you how easy it is to make these cuties.

You can purchase Mini Babybel® at Target. It’s a wholesome, nutrient-rich, all natural snacking option for the whole family.  Mini Babybel is on sale all this month at Target.  It’s 100% real cheese & comes in six different varieties.

Connor loves Babybel because they are fun to open and come in really cute wrappers.  Look at these festive wrappers for Halloween.

Babybel is a great source of calcium and protein.  It’s perfect for snacking, lunches, or the occasional kitchen grazer 🙂 Not to mention it’s super convenient if your in a hurry or on the go.

This Halloween why not serve something healthy and delicious as an alternative to all that sugar?  These fun Halloween boo-quets cost less than a few dollars to make and I’m sure they would make someones day extra special!

Check out the video below to learn how to make these fun boo-quets!

Home For The Holidays with Best Buy

This is a sponsored post courtesy of Best Buy.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Do you see that guy right there?  That’s my Dad…aka “Poppy”.  Every year we gather at the farm in Arkansas for Christmas at my Nannie & Papa’s house.  It’s truly the one time of year I look forward to.

Living apart from my family as an adult has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.  So, when we get together it’s extra special…especially at Christmas!

At the heart of our gatherings is FOOD!  My Nannie makes the most delicious food.  We eat all through the holiday, whether it’s enjoying a home cooked meal or munching on snacks, tis the season to watch a fun Christmas movie and slip into a food coma.

Over the years the kitchen at the farm has seen lots of changes, but the one thing that hasn’t changed is the yummy food.  My Nannie just has that magic touch!  Nannie didn’t have a dishwasher for years and I remember how excited she was when she actually had one installed!  With less dishes to wash it means we get more time to share with one another.

Have you been wanting to update your appliances, but have been putting it off?

As you prep your home for entertaining during the holidays, you can count on the experts at Best Buy to find you the right GE appliances at an unbeatable price.

GE Profile Series appliances are designed to reflect the modern approach to style. Clean lines, minimal curves and a streamlined look that blends with today’s kitchens. Everyday routines become amazingly simple with next generation features. Brilliant touches that answer real-life needs.

This GE Profile Gas Range has some amazing features:

·       Edge-to-edge cook-top – A large cooking surface gives you extra room for pots and pans of all sizes and lets cookware move easily from burner to burner

·       Extra-large, integrated reversible cast iron grill/griddle – Enjoy ultimate cooking versatility. Cook up to six grilled cheeses on the industry’s largest integrated griddle, and then flip it over to grill your favorite foods.

This GE Profile Series French Door Refrigerator has a Keurig Brewing System built right into your fridge!  I mean seriously how cool is that?

Using the GE Kitchen App you can make coffee or tea from your bed and it’s ready right away!  It also has WiFi Connect- use your voice to control your refrigerator with Amazon Alexa.

If you’ve been putting off buying new appliances, now is the time to upgrade.

SAVE UP TO $1,200* on Select GE Appliance Packages

*Purchase 4 or more eligible GE Profile™ or select GE® appliances and, depending on the number of appliances purchased and whether any are BONUS models, receive a GE Appliances (GEA) Visa prepaid card valued up to $1200*.

I can’t wait for the holiday season to begin?  Are you ready…because I’ve got my stretchy pants and I’m ready to go 🙂

No Reserves about it…A visit to Starbucks Reserve

Ever since I found out Dallas was opening up a few of the Starbucks Reserve stores I’ve been dying to go visit.  If you’ve been following my blog for the past 11 something years…then you know my love for Starbucks runs deep.

I had heard lots of things about the Reserve.  I heard they had different coffees, flavors, and concoctions.  When I first walked in the atmosphere was very warm and inviting and the bar looked kind of like a chemistry lab.

(On the left is my Americano Con Crema & on the right is Terence’s Vanilla Latte)

Well….let’s get to experimenting now shall we!

I tried the “Americano Con Creme” and it was delicious!  It’s an Americano with cold, blended foam, made with milk, vanilla, and cinnamon.  My first thought was that it doesn’t taste like regular Starbucks coffee.  The burnt flavor that everyone claims Starbucks coffee has wasn’t there.  Also, there is was a $3 extra charge for special “Reserve shots”.  Be prepared to spend a little more for your fancy coffee.

The Starbucks Reserve also offers tons of other flavors of coffees from different places all over the world.  These are coffees that you normally won’t see at a regular Starbucks.  These are small batches that come from different origins all over the world.

As far as food goes…they don’t really offer any bites different than their normal menu.  Starbucks Reserve is clearly all about the beverage.  I was a bit disappointed in that because I had hoped they would offer other foodie items as well.

So, my biggest takeaway…I liked it.  I don’t think I would go out of my way to get this coffee as opposed to a regular Starbucks drink.  It’s more about the experience and atmosphere.  I think next time I’ll be trying one of the ice cream beverages.  You can’t go wrong with a Classic Affogato or Cold Brew Float with scoops of vanilla ice cream.  

In other fall family news…we made our annual trip to the pumpkin patch!  This kiddo is getting so big!  Every morning I wake up to my Facebook and Time Hop just kills me every time with the flashbacks.  Does any other Mama think Time Hop makes you a little teary eyed?

It has been a busy season for sure!  I look forward to cooler temps here in Texas and sharing lots more with all of you over the next few month….good things to come!

xo- Becky

(As much as I wish this post was sponsored by Starbucks…it is not.  All opinions are my own.)

Celebrate Father-Daughter Day with American Greetings

This post is sponsored by American Greetings.  All opinions are my own.

Sunday was Father-Daughter Day y’all!  This day was incredibly special to me because my Dad had a house of only girls and I’m thankful we didn’t drive him in sane!  Actually, I am pretty sure we did drive him in sane at times, but he still kept us around anyway.  My Daddy means so much to me.  He has the biggest heart in the entire world and has loved me and my twin sister through thick and thin.  No matter how many mistakes we’ve made over the years, my Dad has been there to talk to, give a hug, or provide guidance.

This Father Daughter Day American Greetings has created a special ecard with Smokey Robinson’s version of ‘My Girl’.  When you log on to send your ecard you can even personalize it to this classic tune with your special someone’s name built right into the song. It can also be customized for a variety of different occasions.  How Cool is that?

Find the Smokey Robinson ecards and more digital options for staying connected at the American Greetings website.

DID YOU FORGET TO SEND YOUR DAD SOME FATHER-DAUGHTER LOVE???

IT’S NOT TOO LATE!!!

Use this link to receive a FREE 7-day trial subscription to American Greetings, plus save 20% if you join today.

There are two new Smokey Robinson video ecards launching in October.  These cards are the third installment in American Greetings Hollywood SmashUps™ collection of celebrity video ecards and will give fans the opportunity to customize greetings sung by Smokey himself for a variety of holidays and occasions.

My Dad also loves to SING!  He sang to me on my wedding day before he walked me down the isle.  He has always loved to sing and he enjoys music so much!  I can just picture him opening this ecard and singing along with Smokey Robinson 🙂

These days not only he the best Dad around he’s also a pretty darn good Poppy too!

Don’t forget about your Dad, why not send him something special that will put a smile on his face 🙂
You can find these Smokey Robinson ecards and more digital options for staying connected at www.americangreetings.com. A great selection of inspiring cards from American Greetings is also available at participating drug chains, grocery stores and mass retailers nationwide, as well as in American Greetings and Carlton Cards retail stores.

Follow American Greetings on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram for more.