Christmas in Colorado – Drive Thru

Drive through millions of lights perfectly synchronized to holiday music you’ll hear right through your radio. Drive by giant candy canes, snowmen, arched pathways and more. Take your time enjoying this lighting extravaganza – we won’t judge you if you join the kids with your face pressed against the window!


NINE LOCATIONS TO SELECT FROM:

COME EXPERIENCE CHRISTMAS LIKE NEVER BEFORE!

SALT LAKE CITY
Bastian Agricultural Center
11161 2200 W,
South Jordan, UT 84095

FEDERAL HEIGHTS, CO
Water World Family Water Park
8800 N Pecos St
Federal Heights, CO 80260

MORRISON, CO
Bandimere Speedway
3051 S Rooney Rd
Morrison, CO 80465

AURORA, CO
Arapahoe County Fairgrounds
25690 E Quincy Ave
Aurora, CO 80016

SAN DIMAS, CA
Raging Waters Los Angeles
111 Raging Waters Dr
San Dimas, CA 91773

SHAKOPEE, MN
Valleyfair Amusement Park
5 Valley Fair Dr
Shakopee, MN 55379

BOISE, ID
Expo Idaho
5610 N Glenwood St
Garden City, ID 83714

ALLENTOWN, PA
DORNEY PARK & WILDWATER KINGDOM
4000 Dorney Park Rd
Allentown, PA 18104

HENDERSON, NV Cowabunga Bay Water Park
900 Galleria Dr
Henderson, NV 89011

VISIT: https://christmasincolor.net/ FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION

(I was compensated for this post, all opinions are my own)

The Immersive Nutcracker

( Advertisement ) Opens On November 19th in Come Experience The Magic Of The Season!

THE IMMERSIVE NUTCRACKER, A WINTER MIRACLE.

Immersive Nutcracker is an ideal family outing, featuring whimsical animated characters alongside footage of professional ballet dancers. This joyful 30-minute immersive experience is an ideal outlet to introduce young children to the art of ballet and the captivating storytelling that often accompanies it. Set to the sweeping music of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Immersive Nutcracker encompasses visitors in over 500,000 cubic feet of projections composed of over 1 million frames of video, curating a grand immersive display that relays the tale of The Nutcracker from opening to finale. The projection features beloved scenes set to their classical scores like “The March of the Toys,” “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and more.


Family packs are 10% off per ticket and must be purchased in bundles of four tickets or more. For more information, visit immersive-nutcracker.com. Follow the exhibit on Facebook and Instagram @nutcrackerimmersive.

Save 10% Off Family Packs to The Immersive Nutcracker – Tickets for The Immersive Nutcracker, A Winter Miracle start at $29.99 and are now on sale. Family packs are 10% off per ticket and must be purchased in bundles of four tickets or more. Click here for your coupon!


Visit https://www.immersive-nutcracker.com/ for more information and tickets.

Best Birthday Party Venue in Colorado

If you’re a Mom, you’re bound to be in a Facebook Mom group, or twelve. If so, you’re sure to come across the daily post, “Where is the best birthday spot for a *insert age* year old?” and a slew of answers will come.. In Colorado, being such a family-focused state, we are blessed with a wide variety of birthday party venues. This being said, one of the top places recommended will surely be Little Monkey Bizness Westminster.

Not only does it have everything an older kid could want: Bouncy houses, snacks, an art room, mega slides, but also imaginary play areas for younger kids like: Veterinarian stations, safari outpost station, postman station, climbing structures, flashing light games, and more!

When booking a birthday party for your little it can be stressful worrying about the differences in ages, siblings of friends, and babies that may accompany adults (Did I mention they have a baby area?! Yeah..). But Little Monkey Bizness Westminster literally takes the stress out of everything for you, all you have to do is book your party and let them take the wheel.. 🎶

With different tiers to fit your budget, they have exactly what you’re looking for in a party. Need a weekday? They’ve got you. Want it private? Covered. Want it private AND on the weekend? OH snap, already done.

It’s literally the best of both worlds. Easy for parents. Pure-energy-burning-fun for kids. So, next time you’re planning a birthday party in Colorado for your kiddo, DEFINITELY book it with Little Monkey Bizness Westminster. This month we are having our second and third birthday party here and have had other friends do there’s here because they loved it so much, too! Highly recommend (did I mention they have a coffee shop inside, too?! Yeah.) and you can have pizzas delivered to the party. Just sayin’. 🐒

Book here – https://westminster.monkeybizness.com/birthday-bookings/

( I was compensated for this post, but all opinions are my own )

Baketivity Subsciption Boxes

Subscribe! Bake! Discover!

IT’S MORE THAN JUST A BAKING KIT: Baketivity Is A Wonderful Way To Bond With Children And Build Skills In An Informal Way; It Is Easy, Fun, And Mess-Free With The Most Delicious Results!

WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS: Create Everlasting Memories With Fresh, Certified Kosher Ingredients That Are Manufactured In An FDA Approved Facility In The USA.

EASY BAKING: Mix and stir in a snap with pre-measured ingredients and simple, kid-friendly instructions.

RECIPES BOOK: Step-by-step instructions with colorful, kid-friendly illustrations to make sure every bite comes out perfectly.

ENJOYABLE LEARNING: Explore exciting, colorful lessons and play educational games while your treats bake.

SHOPPING LIST: Detailed shopping list for the wet ingredients and baking tools you will need in each kit.

FREE HAT AND APRON: One size fits all Baketivity kids apron with a chef hat; it will be the best addition for your little baker!


IT’S MORE THAN JUST A BAKING KIT: Baketivity Is A Wonderful Way To Bond With Children And Build Skills In An Informal Way; It Is Easy, Fun, And Mess-Free With The Most Delicious Results! Enjoy sweet savings today! – Use code FAMILYGUIDE to get 18% on any subscription plans today at https://baketivity.com.

Coupon: https://www.usfamilycoupons.com/coupon.php?bid=14711&dealid=4243

(I was compensated for this post, opinions are my own)

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania

My family has loved the Hotel Transylvania franchise for years and when we saw the previews for this movie we were so excited! And my kiddos were even more excited when they heard that we were going to get to watch the pre-screening from the comfort of our home!

After hours of playing with toys anticipating our movie night, we cuddled up with our bowls of popcorn, cookies, and blankets and got ready for the big show! Yes, a lot like the beginning of the trailer below.

I’ll be honest, when I heard that Adam Sandler wasn’t going to be voicing Drac, I wasn’t sure what to expect but it was perfectly taken over by Brian Hull, I couldn’t even tell it wasn’t him – He did a phenomenal job!

The movie was adorable, the kids were laughing, we were laughing, and it was a memorable night that we can replay over and over again because it’s on Prime Video!! It was such a clever plot that was fun from start to finish and kept the kids entertained the whole time (which is a feat!)

The family bond Drac, his kids, and his friends share is so strong and is such a strong message that is important for all to see and hear – Such a great family movie with laughs and lessons. Wonderful for all ages!

This franchise never leaves you feeling like it’s dragging on, and I hope they come up with more! Watch this with your kiddos, you won’t be disappointed, and neither will they! ❤

Drac (Brian Hull) and Monster Johnny (Andy Samberg) in Columbia Pictures’ HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: TRANSFORMANIA.

There’s nothing more convenient than having young kids and still being able to have a good ol’ fashioned family movie night from the comfort of your home (and not spending $15 on a single snack/drink).

To get the movie night started, I’ve attached a fun Activity Book for your kids to do while they’re amping up to watch! It’s fun to get them excited while you cook dinner!

(I was compensated for this post via a pre-screening of the movie, all opinions are my own)

Barilla Pesto

My favorite new kitchen sidekick is Barilla’s Pesto Creamy Genovese. It literally pairs well with everything and even the kids like it because of its creamy and cheesy taste!

Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto is a versatile product that can be used in a variety of ways and does not need to be heated before use. Here are some of my favorite delicious options right now: Stirring into warm pasta and grains (one jar to one 16-ounce box of pasta), spreading onto sandwiches, toast, OR tortillas for taco night, marinating meats and vegetables, and using as a dip for veggies and pita chips!

To preserve the natural color of basil and the fresh aroma of Italian Cheese, Barilla minimizes the handling of ingredients and rapidly prepares their recipe in as little as three hours from the start of ingredient preparation to the tightening of the lid.

I’ll forever be a pesto lover, but the Barilla brand by far has my favorite ever. If you haven’t tried it yet you NEED to!! Like, NOW!

(I was compensated for this post, all opinions are my own)

Gladskin Eczema Cream

All of my life I have struggled with extreme eczema and sadly I have passed it on to two of my three boys. So looking for something that works for all of our skin types, all of our sensitivities, and that is steroid-free was a huge challenge.

But I found Gladskin Eczema Cream through Mom’s Meet and it held a ton of promise with all of its positive reviews so I tried it out and fell in love! It’s creamy enough without being thick and pasty and it doesn’t burn my poor boys when I put it onto their aggravated rash areas.

I always carry a trial size with me in my car, now and make sure to keep a healthy stock in the boys’ rooms.

If you’ve always struggled with eczema and need to try something new during this dry/transition time of year then TRY Gladskin, you won’t be disappointed. And you’ll save 10% on your order on gladskin.com with code GLADMOM10 on their website.

(I was compensated for this post, all opinions are my own)

Pact Dream Big Pajamas

I’m all about eco-friendly, water-saving, fair trade certified companies – And one of my favorite clothing lines now is Pact, because they’re ALL of those things. Pact is an apparel company on a mission to make Earth’s Favorite™ Clothing. Their products are made of organic cotton—to support a healthy planet—and manufactured by a Fair Trade certified factory—to take care of the people on this planet. By using natural farming practices and contributing to Fair Trade initiatives, Pact creates clothing that is better for the world, and better for your family.

I bought matching pairs of them Dream Big Pajamas for the boys and it’s their favorite things to snuggle up and sleep in. They’re insanely soft, their prints are adorable, (or cool if you ask them about their shark jammies) and I feel better purchasing them clothing that is better for our Mother Earth (and still affordable!)

Pact Dream Big Pajamas are top-sellers and available in kids’ sizes 18 months to 10. They are made of soft, breathable, 100% organic cotton that is made without toxic chemicals and with 91% less water than conventional cotton. Pact’s cotton material is Fair Trade Certified and GOTS Certified Organic Cotton. Dream Big Pajamas provide a snug fit for safety, with a pull-on waistband and banded cuffs at the wrists and ankles. All Dream Big Pajamas for kids are made with a tag-less label on the back to prevent discomfort and skin irritation. The fabric is pre-washed and shrink resistant. Pact Dream Big Pajamas for kids typically retail for $30.

Save 20% on your first Pact purchase at wearpact.com with promo code MomsMeet20. Offer is valid until 12/31/21. (Note: Offer valid on first purchases only. Does not apply to sale items. Cannot be combined with other offers.)

(I was compensated for this post, all opinions are my own)

Best Places to Take Kids in Denver, CO

As a family traveler it’s exciting planning visits to places you’ve always wanted to see. But with kids in tow you’ll need to plan some kid-friendly excursions to keep the boredom woes at bay.

This list is a comprehensive guide to the best spots to take your kiddos while traveling in Denver that’ll surely make lasting memories, they’ll beg you to bring them back!

1. Denver Zoo – This zoo is stocked full of amazing exhibits, great restaurants and thrilling events. The built in aquarium is designed to feel like you’re walking into a muggy rainforest and the animals are so close the kids feel like they’re really in the wild!

2. Denver Aquarium – Experience interactive fun like never before. With tanks that have cut outs for kids to stick their heads into so it feels like they’re swimming with the sharks, “real” mermaids that put on beautiful shows while swimming with the fish, and a sting ray cove where they can feed and touch the sting rays the Denver Aquarium is a thrilling experience for children of all ages! *Did I mention they also have tigers?!

3. Colorado Railroad Museum – Have a train lover? I know I do! This museum has real trains built into the side of a mountain kids can experience the history and beauty of old stream engines (and even ride them!) Thomas the Train comes every September for a fun train ride around the train yard! As well as the Polar Express with reenactments of the entire movie – It’s serious fun for the entire family!

4. Butterfly Pavilion – Ever wondered what it would be like to have thousands of butterflies surrounding you while you take in the smell of tropical flowers? It’s s a constant reality when you’re at the Butterfly Pavilion! They have so many interactive and educational stations for children of all ages it’s an amazing way to kill a few hours while letting your kids get their wiggles out and their minds growing!

5. Denver Museum of Nature and Science – This is a favorite of my family’s. Three stories of incredible history, interactive exhibits, an IMAX theatre and a planetarium. If you’re looking for a way to spend an entire day with the kids this is the spot. With a built in cafe and restaurant, a rotating travel exhibit area, and a kid’s indoor playground this is the place to bring the kids. Seriously one of our favorites!

6. Children’s Museum of Denver – Newly revamped and reimagined this eclectic museum has the coolest places for kids to play, learn and imagine. Another place to spend all day and wear them out (win-win!)

7. Elitch Gardens – Like amusement parks? You’ll LOVE this place. Stocked full of rides for people of all ages, you’ll easily spend an entire day drinking beers, riding crazy rollercoaster and eating some of the best comfort foods you can find!

8. Water World – One of my favorites since I was a kid. An amazing water park filled with some of the best rides and best funnel cakes Ive ever had. This is a MUST do on a warm summer day! Easy to spend an entire day here but definitely an unforgettable memory locale!

9. Denver Art Museum – Have an artsy kiddo? They’ll love the beautiful design of this building and even more beautiful sights inside (ha!). There is some gorgeous and unique art along with interactive STEM fun to keep kids engaged and happy 😉

10. KidSpace – STEM based play space for kiddos. An amazing spot for them to climb, play, learn and experience science with hands on exhibits. Also, it has a built in coffee shop, how cool is that?! It’s a spot we frequent for sure!

11. Little Monkey Bizness Westminster – Another absolute favorite of ours for sure. We come here about once a week, because it also has a coffee shop, an art room, and huge inflatables for kids to get ALL of that crazy energy out. they even have a spot for infants so they don’t get trampled on 😉 You can save 10% off with code SIMPLYKARALIZ_fff.

Obviously, outside of the Denver metro area, there are a million other amazing spots to hit but these are some of our Denver favorites that we go to often!

Looking for great recommendations on places outside of the city? Then check out this amazing post on fun things to do in Breckenridge, CO over at Champagne on Deck!

Provided by Champagne on Deck

Have another local spot you love? Comment with them below!

Like these ideas? Pin them for later!

Top 6 Items For Road Tripping with Kids

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

These are the top 6 items I have on my list when it comes to packing my car for a road trip (Obviously there are TONS more and I’ll do a full comprehensive post whenever I get more time, but this is a good start list!) With kids, a road trip isn’t as glamorous looking as it is on TV but you can still really have a great time if you put in the effort to pack effectively and wisely!

  1. Car Trash Can – An absolute necessity, that’s why it’s number one! Without a trash can your car will be the trash can and I promise it will drive you crazy, quickly. Make sure to clean your car out super well before you travel too, helps create the mindset that the car shouldn’t be made messy.
  2. Car Caddy – This specific one is technically meant for diapers but I love it. It’s sturdy, cute, and handy! Having a one spot, handled carrier for snacks, motion sickness meds, water, gum, etc is amazing. Instead of being that parent swerving all over the place because you’re trying to find and throw back the snacks to the screaming kids, you’ll have a handy handle (ha) that you can simply hand back and they can sort amongst themselves. Easy peasy!
  3. First Aid Kit – Maybe it’s the nurse in me (Cuz I literally have three bins in my trunk full of CPR masks, first aid, razor sharp shears, and more) but I couldn’t imagine not having an emergency first aid kit on hand. You never know what could happen on the road and you certainly don’t want to be unprepared for a medical emergency!
  4. LARQ bottle – I posted this in my last travel necessities guide because I find it so crucial for any situation. It uses UV-C lights to kill bacteria, it has the capabilities of even making stream water drinkable. The survivalist in me couldn’t iagine not having that on hand. Being that water is the most essential thing in life next to oxygen, I highly recommend grabbing one – Seriously!
  5. Travel Journal – They’ll get tired of their tablets and then, they’ll start telling you how boreeeed they are. So have other toys/books on hand! This one is great for being on the road. They can jot down their thoughts, play games and engage with their siblings using these journals and it’s really fun to see flourish.
  6. Steering Wheel Table/Desk – Work on the road? This desk is amazing for those last minute meetings that pop up or if you are just stopping to grab some fast food and have no where else to eat because your car is packed (literally, ha!) This is seriously one of my favorite things to hand on hand all the time, when the babies pass out on a drive I pull over, grab my iPad and do some work while they sleep so I don’t disturb their schedule – This thing rocks!

I’ll be doing some more, like I stated above, comprehensive guides in the future just really wanted to put these out there because it’s almost traveling/vacation season and I know so many families would benefit from these items! I know we do!

What other items are must haves in your family? I’m literally always looking for more ways to efficiently travel with three boys!