Giveaway-iT'Z Family Food and Fun

Summer is here and the kids are all out of school.  Mom and dad still have to work though.  Boo!!!  Some kids will start summer school, summer programs, or the lucky few, stay at home.  By Friday everyone including mom and dad are ready to break free and have some fun.  I am always looking for places for our entire family to enjoy.  It is a hard job for this mom to do since I have a preschooler and a seventeen year old.  Sometimes finding a happy medium is hard.

Thanks to iT'Z Family Food & Fun for providing my family complimentary buffet, drinks, and $5 game cards for each of us.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

iT'Z Family Food & Fun

5950 Fairmont Parkway
Pasadena, TX 77505

Phone: 281-998-2424

It has been raining cats and dogs in Houston and all over Texas.  After being stuck at work, day care, and at home, we all needed a place to let loose.  We wanted a place were we each could unwind and we found the perfect place.  iT'Z is a place where we all have had fun before.  The first time we visited, we were invited to attend a birthday party.  We have been visiting every since. 

Here are my Top 5 reasons why we continue to visit:

1)  Cost-Buffet and drink must be purchased before your fun can begin.  Kids 3 and under are always FREE. 

Don't feel like cooking during the week, then enjoy even better pricing during the week. 

2)  Food-The low price of the buffet includes pizza, pasta, salad, dessert, and so much more.  Can't find your pizza, ask the cooks to make your favorite.  There is something for everyone, especially those picky eaters.  Some of my kids must haves are the hot dogs, mac and cheese, and rice Krispies treats. 

3)  Games-There is a wide game selection.  They have new games, old games, and classic favorites for each of us to enjoy.

3)  Bowling-There is mini-Bowling which is always fun for all ages, especially the little ones.  Or you can try to beat each other on the full size lanes now open.

5)  Family Friendly-iT'Z has several rooms for your enjoyment.  There is a room for all sports lovers, you can't use the excuse you are missing the big game.  There are tvs everywhere.  You don't just have to play the games.  You can enjoy a movie while you enjoy your food.  The space is so big and open.  Find the perfect spot for your family to sit, grab lunch or dinner, and then go have some fun.

Thanks to iT'z, one of my lucky readers will get to win a Family 4-pack: 4 buffets, 4 drinks, 4-$5 game cards.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck.  One lucky winner will be randomly selected pending all requirements are met.  US only.  Winner will have 24 hours to claim their prize.

Flick Friday-Alice Through The Looking Glass

We really enjoy Disney movies.  My husband and I are really big kids at heart.  We especially enjoy watching these movies with our kids.  To pick a favorite is kinda hard.  One of our favorites is Alice in Wonderland.  We all know the story of the young girl with a wonderful imagination.

I was invited to attend an advance movie screening of Alice's newest adventure, Alice Through The Looking Glass.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

Synopsis-Alice returns to the whimsical world of Underland and travel back in time to save the Mad Hatter.

Alice is an adventurer like I am.  Nothing scares her.  Her spirit reminds me of my daughter, so fearless.  The reason I like Disney movies is because of their message or moral of the story.  This movie talks about friendships, family, and so much more.  If I can give you a one liner it would be in Alice's words, "The only way to achieve impossible is to think of the possible".  Something like that.  I recommend this movie as a family movie.  It was really good.  I cried. I loved, loved the messages in the movie. 

This movie plays with time.  One more thing, do not let time pass you by.  These are the moments and memories we make with our families.  Enjoy them while you have them.  I suggest you grab the family and take them to the movies this weekend.  Then talk with your kids about what they thought the movie was about.  What did they learn?  Movies are a great way to start conversations.

Everything is Bigger in Texas-Comicpalooza 2016

The largest comic and pop culture event is coming back to Houston, Texas.  Yes, you know everything is bigger in Texas.  Every year, our family enjoys this event.

Comicpalooza 2013

Comicpalooza 2014

Comicpalooza 2015

Comicpalooza is back in 2016 there is professional wrestling, cosplay (we love to see all the costumes), code fest, rides, gaming, videos, guest appearances, and so much more....

Questions you may have:

Is it kid friendly? Yes!  We have been enjoying this event as a family for over 3 years now.  Your kids can dress up as their favorite character, you can too.  It can be a family theme. 

Take pictures with their favorite character or yours.  There are costumes everywhere and if you ask for a picture, they will gladly pose with you and your kids.  There is even a children's area.  There are activities for the kids to enjoy all day long for the entire weekend.  Check out the children's area schedule, here or check out the full schedule, here.

WHEN and WHERE is Comicpalooza coming to Houston?

June 17-19, 2016

George R Brown Convention Center

How do you get your tickets?

Go to www.comicpalooza.com to register for day passes, 3-day passes, autographs, and photo ops. 

Mark your calendar, you don't want to miss a chance to win tickets to Comicpalooza 2016.

Disclosure-This is a sponsored post.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience. 

Travel Tuesday-Discovering Discovery Point

Do you ever want to just get away?  If I showed you this picture below, would you want to go there?

Thanks to SeaWorld San Antonio for inviting my family to preview Discovery Point and inviting us to the VIP Party.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

When you step into SeaWorld's Discovery Point, you step into an oasis.  It is so beautiful, you forget you are in San Antonio, TX. 

There is a giant Dolphin Lagoon which is home to a playful pod of bottlenose dolphins.   You can watch them from its sand-swept shores from any side of the lagoon and they swim right up to you. 

You can go deeper with the Dolphin Underwater Viewing that has an amazing view of the dolphins.

If you visited Explorer's Reef before it has been redone.  The reef is home to several species of sharks, many of which are endangered, along with exotic fish and a living coral reef. 

You can even reserve your Signature Dolphin Swim – the only place to swim with dolphins in Texas – or discover the thrill of swimming alongside Beluga Whales or Sea Lions. 

This happens to be a bucket list item for me.  Thanks to SeaWorld for granting this wish and helping me check this off my bucket list. 

Access to Dolphin Lagoon, Dolphin Underwater Viewing and Explorer's Reef is included with any SeaWorld admission.

Swimming with Dolphins - check (I even got two kisses)

But I did not just swim with the Dolphins, I got a lesson on the Dolphins in the lagoon.

The three Dolphins I got to meet were Brady, Fathom, and Gillie.  Gillie was actually rescued from Galveston, TX.  He was 2 years old.  He was stuck on a fishing gillnet and that is how he got his name.  He is not the only animal that has been rescued. 

SeaWorld Cares has done over 27,000 rescues of ill or injured animals.  SeaWorld's Rescue Team is on call 24/7, 365 days a year, and always ready to help an animal in need.

Pet surrender, Elaine.  Her previous owner could not take care of her or her roommate.  SeaWorld gave them both a permanent home.

Rescued in Houston-Otis.  He has been living at SeaWorld for 5 years under their care.  It is harder to tell how old birds are, so they are not sure how old he is exactly. 

There is so much to learn, see, and discover.  For more information, go to seaworldcares.com. 

For more information on Discovery Point, head to SeaWorld San Antonio.

Houston-Check ALL NEW Wet'n'Wild SplashTown

Disclosure-I a USFG blogger.  This is a sponsored post.

Houston is Hot!  My family and I are water babies.  Everyone needs to cool off some how, right?  Growing up there was a waterpark we all headed to in the Summer, Splashtown. 

This is not the waterpark we grew up going to.  It is all new, introducing Wet'n'Wild Splashtown.

Wet'n'Wild SplashTown is Houston's largest and closest water park with over 80 acres of water park Fun.  Featuring over 42 rides and attractions, Wet 'n' Wild SplashTown offers something for everyone including an extraordinary collection of the wettest and most thrilling water rides including Tornado, RipQurl and Texas Freefall.  Experience the parks newest attractions, Big Kahuna, an unforgettable mega-thrill raft ride that blasts through a whitewater journey filled with alternating tunnels and plenty of twists and turns.  Younger visitors can play in their own version of the wettest thrills when they will step into Wet 'n' Wild Jr., the new interactive children's area.  Visitors of all ages and skill level can catch the continuous, perfect wave on the FlowRider double, which means more than one can ride at a time - doubling the fun!

For the most up to date information, visit the parks website at wetnwildsplashtown.com.  For all other park inquiries, please send a detailed message to info@wetnwildsplashtown.com

Check them out on their social media channels as well:

https://www.facebook.com/Splashtown
https://twitter.com/WnWSplashTown

Crack is Whack

No this post is not about drugs, well maybe a little.  My body is getting older and going through some changes.  I sweat a lot more than usual and I usually sweated a lot anyways.  What happens when you sweat?  You wipe it.  The more I wipe my skin, the drier I make it.  I moisturize my body everyday.  A part of my body I hate to admit that is super sweaty are my feet.  My name is Alba and I have cracked feet and crack is whack!    

Thanks to Zim's for sending me sample of Zim's CRACK Creme Creamy Daytime Formula to put it to the review on the blog and put to the test and maybe some relief.  All testing and opinions are all my own based on my personal experience. 

Zim's CRACK Creme Creamy Daytime Formula is an herbal formula that softens and moisturizes dry, cracked skin.  It was developed by a pharmacist.  This is the daytime creme, recommended for everyday use on hands, feet, elbows, and cuticles.  

Originally developed over 60 years ago to treat cement workers cracked, dry hands and feet.  It is a naturally based to soften and moisturizing your rough skin and tough patches on your elbows and feet.  The original liquid and creamy daytime products can help with dry split fingers often associated with dry atmosphere weather in wintertime or southwestern climates.

Simply by massaging a small amount where needed a few times a day to help achieve smoother, softer skin.

The top picture is my day to day, switching from pretty girl shoes to my work steel-toe shoes.  Having to wear this shoes with socks makes my feet sweat even more.  It has caused my feet to get dry and cracked in between my toes.  I started using this creme back in February.  It has helped my feet.  I had tried all kinds of lotions.  I put on layers and layers of lotion but no relief.  On weekends, I would air out my feet by wearing flip flops but that would only make me more conscious of the cracks.  But now, I am happy with my feet and my cracks have healed.

Summer is coming and I want to wear my flippy flops everywhere.  I can't do that with cracked feet.  I no longer have to worry about that. 

These feet are ready for some fun in the sun, are yours?

An Evening with CHI

What does your day consist of?  A mom's job is never done whether you start with diapers, or drops offs.  We do so much for our kids and family, but what do we do for ourselves? 

Thanks to Farouk for inviting the Houston Latina Bloggers for a special evening of pampering which included make overs with before and after photoshoot.

Our evening started with each of us arriving with no make up and no product in our hair. 

I normally do not wear any make up.  When I do wear make up, my go to items are eye shadow, mascara, a little blush, and lip gloss or lip stick.  Only for special events or date nights, do I get the full face done by me.  Trial and error and watching lots of you tube, lol.  This is, dark circles-no sleep-big bags, ME.  My hair is another story.  I am typically a bun or pony chick.  When I go out and get all dolled up, the hair gets straighten out or curly cued.  It all depends on how I feel or how much time I have.  As a mom, I don't have a lot of time.  I'm always the last one to get ready, after I have gotten everyone else ready first.  So when I received the invitation to come and get a make over, I showed up.  Not just any invitation, Farouk.  In March, I told you about the exclusive behind the scenes at Farouk Systems.  I was happy to come back for a make over thanks to the wonderful Lonestar CHI Cosmetology students and the talented make up artists.

We started out by meeting our Hair Stylists.  Then we were taken to get our before pictures.  We came back to get our make overs.  I got Samantha who is on her last month of school.  She first took me to the wash bar.  She washed my hair and gave me a wonderful much needed massage.  Came back to her chair to work her magic.  I asked her to do wild curls on me.  It seems like that is the style that everyone is currently using.  I recently got my hair cut into a reversed bob with Balayage highlights.  I was ready to show off my new style.  Samantha used the Farouk Royal Treatment products on me.  They smell so good.  This was so fitting because I felt like we were getting the royal treatment by all the CHI staff.  They were so nice and friendly.  Once I got my hair done, I headed to the make up chair where Melissa hooked me up.  Afterwards, we headed back to the studio to take our after shots.  The photographer was so funny.  He told me to channel J Lo.  I told him we shared a birthday, how did he know that was my kinda chick to channel.  Fierce, strong, unstoppable-J Lo, a daughter, a mom, a Superstar!  My lioness came out, check out the pictures from the my day.

We come in all shapes, colors, and sizes but one thing we have in common is that we are Latinas.  This is an awesome group of ladies.  We had a lot of fun.  We usually do not have a glam squad ready to make us over like we did this time.  Thanks again to Farouk Systems it was a wonderful evening.

Houston Arboretum and Nature Center

We celebrated Earth day by visiting the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center.  This was our first time here.  I was so excited to see what was hidden behind all the trees.

There were plenty of activities for the kids to enjoy.  Activities inside and outside.  The girl scouts were there teaching the kids about butterflies.

We did all the activities that had to offer.  My daughter even got to pet some turtles and have a snake hang around her neck.  My daughter loves animals. 

We did a scavenger hunt that took us all around the trails.  A little more than four miles of walking around looking for clues and answers.  My daughter did great.  She found all the clues and found all the letters she needed. 

 The prize for doing the scavenger hunt correctly was this cool shirt.  They ran out of smaller shirts before we finished but she was just happy to get a shirt.

 She also won this plant.  She loved it because it had a Praying Mantis on it.  She could say the name of this animal and it was on her plant.  That was the coolest thing she could talk about. 

It was a great adventure for us.  I am not sure what we are doing next year for Earth Day but I know we will be outdoors.  If you have never visited the arboretum, this was a really fun outdoors activity.  All of this was FREE, including parking.