Grimaldi's Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria

When you think about pizza what do you think about?  I think about New York.  I have heard people say if you have not tried NY pizza then you have not had the best.  Pizza is a favorite in our family. 

Thanks to Grimaldi's Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria in City Centre for hosting the Go Houston bloggers for lunch.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

When you walk in, the wonderful smell is the first thing you notice.  You then notice, the place.

This pizzeria is so New York with their signage and pictures.  The space is open.  There is a lot of table seating available.  And the food well.....where do I start?

We started our family style lunch by trying out their salads.  They have a variety of salads for all taste buds.

Kale Chopped Salad-I am into anything Kale right now. 

Caesar Salad-This is my husband's go to salad where ever we go.  This was the first salad to be gone. 

Spinach salad-This had bacon and lots of it.  Not a boring spinach at all.

Grimaldi's House Salad-This house salad had huge olives, oven roasted sweet peppers, and mushrooms.               

Mediterranean Salad-Anything Feta with more Feta on top. (picture credit: Lisa Carey)

These were just the starters.  Then came the pizza.

 The Don-Italian Sausage, Meatballs and Pepperoni....meat lovers dream pizza

 Brooklyn Bridge-Oven Roasted Peppers, Ricotta Cheese, and Italian Sausage....this was oozing cheese and sauce in every bite.

 Quattro Formaggi-Mozzarella, Asiago, Parmesian, Romano, and Gorgonzola cheese...cheese with cheese on top sprinkled with cheese.  It is perfect for cheese lovers.

 The Garden-Lots of veggies.  Roma Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Onions, Olives

  Margherita-Extra Famous Sauce? and basil.  Yum....

What I liked about the pizza the most is that it was thin and crispy.  They had enough ingredients all over.  I hate going places and all you get is a lot of dough.  I didn't order bread.  I wanted pizza.  It was good so good that we were licking our fingers after every bite.

Picture was taken in action.  She will hate me for this picture when she grows up but I caught her in the moment. 

We had a great time.  The staff was very attentive and knew the menu well.  My husband's favorite was The Don.  My daughter's was the Quattro.  I could not pick a favorite.  Each pizza was so different.  One thing we all agreed on was that it was awesome pizza.

Their fresh ingredients, handmade mozzarella, 'secret recipe' dough and pizza sauce has made them the most award-winning pizzeria in the United States.                

To find a location near you, go to grimaldispizzeria.com.

Chuck E Cheese Father' Day Specials-2016

My brothers and I have 10 kids together.  When ever we need to get together we all agree we need a place where we can eat, kid friendly, and close to home.  We recently celebrated my nephew's birthday.

This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Chuck E Cheese.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience. 

In celebration of Father’s Day, Chuck E. Cheese’s is offering exclusive offers and fun activities for the whole family to enjoy together, including:

· Father’s Day Deal: 1-Topping Large Pizza, 4 Soft Drinks, 30 Tokens and FREE Small Wings for $29.99.  Expiration Date: 6/21/16.

· Ticket Blaster: On Father’s Day, dads can enter their names for a special chance to go in the Ticket Blaster.  Random drawings will occur every hour all day!

· In-Store Tournament: Chuck E. Cheese’s wants families to celebrate the biggest kid in the family by having their own gaming tournament.  Ask your store for a tournament scorecard to join in on the fun!

· Father’s Day Sweepstakes: Dads can enter for a chance to win a trip to Great Wolf Lodge.

o Use the hashtags #DadHacks and #Sweepstakes for a chance to win a family vacation to Great Wolf Lodge, along with other summertime fun prizes!

o The “Dad Hacks” Sweepstakes will run from June 6-30th; Grand Prize, First Prize and Second Prize winners will be announced on July 1st

o Grand Prize (valued at $3,000): getaway vacation for Dad, courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge

o First Prize (ARV $750): (1) GoPro Hero Silver Edition and (1) Drone

o Second Prize (ARV $200): (1) $200 Chuck E. Cheese’s Gift Card

So if you are looking for something to do on Father's Day or just want dad to have some, head on over to Chuck E. Cheese.  Where dad can be a kid again! 

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.

Pasadena-iT'Z Family Food & Fun Weekday Specials

***Disclosure-I am a member of the USFG.   I will receive a Free Family 4-Pack as part of sharing this announcement with you.  All opinions stated are my own.

Do not be stuck in your house just because of this artic freeze.  I have something everyone in the family can enjoy-food and fun all in one.

iT'Z Family Food & Fun Weekday Specials!

-Tuesdays! $2.99 Buffets and $.99 Drinks ALL Day

Kids Eat Free on Thursdays! (2 Free Child Buffets per paying adult) Plus $2.99 

Bonus Coupon valid for Pasadena, TX location only! FREE Monkey Jump click here, print and take with you.

Must be used by 2/28/14 or they will be void and can not be refunded!

iT'Z Unlimited Buffet of Pizzas, Pastas, Salads, Baked Potatoes, Soups, and Desserts.
Unlimited Coca Cola Fountain Drinks
1 Game of Bowling (based on 15 mins per game)
Bowling Shoe Rental is included
A Savings of Over 40% off Regular Price!

Freschetta® pizza team’s The Strength of 1™

Now through the end of October, 2012, the makers of Freschetta® pizza are helping to promote breast cancer awareness through their new The Strength of 1™ campaign, which includes sponsoring Bright Pink, the only national non-profit organization focusing on the prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women, while providing support to high-risk individuals. The mission of this The Strength of 1™ initiative is to inspire everyone to realize they can make a difference in some way in the fight against breast cancer.


You too can join me and join other women taking the pledge to show you have The Strength of 1™ power within you. You can do so at www.facebook.com/freschettapizza

Women can also support The Strength of 1™ Thunderclap. To do so, visit www.thunderclap.it, click on Explore Thunderclaps, and choose “Cause” in the drop-down menu to find The Strength of 1™ Thunderclap. Click on the “Support with Twitter” or “Support with Facebook” button to help further spread the word about this The Strength of 1™ mission.

Join the FRESCHETTA® team on Twitter to help spread the word about


The Strength of 1™ program.
1.Change your Twitter profile photo to The Strength of 1™ badge.

2.Tweet @Freschetta with how you would use $500 to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.

You could win $500 - and a matching donation to Bright Pink® in your name.

How to Change Your Twitter Profile Badge


1.Click the download link beneath the badge

2.Log in to your twitter account

3.Click the icon, then click “View My Profile Page”

4.Click “Edit Your Profile”

5.Click “Choose File,” then select the file you downloaded

and click “Open”

6.Click “Done”

Winner will be announced on Twitter on October 8, 2012 at 9:30 a.m.


***Disclosure-No compensation was received.  I occasionally receive compensation in the form of products for posts.   However, the opinions I share are solely my own.

Little Caesars HOT-N-READ​Y Giveaway***CLOSED

School is out.  The kids are going to be home, what is a busy mom like you to do? Planning a graduation party, don't want to cook, running late and have no time to cook? 

For dinnertime value, there's nobody like Little Caesars—voted Best Value in America five years in a row!

 Enjoy a large $5 HOT-N-READY pepperoni pizza, or a large HOT-N-READY 3 Meat Treat, with pepperoni, sausage and bacon for just $8!

Nobody does it like Little Caesars. Pick-up a large HOT-N-READY pizza whenever you walk in, with a taste that makes your family happy—at a price that makes you happy!

Find the nearest location: click here.

I have a giveaway.  1 lucky reader will win a $10 Little Caesars gift card

How to enter:

1)  (1 entry) Follow Little Caesars Facebook
2)  (1 entry) Follow Little Caesars Twitter
3)  (1 entry) Pin this giveaway.
4)  Tweet. (1 entry/per tweet, per hour)

Enter to #win @littlecaesars $10 gc @independentmami #giveaway ends 6/18 http://tinyurl.com/7zjbojk

This giveaway ends 6/18/12 at 8 am.  1 winner will be randomly selected.  The winner will have 24 hours to claim their prize.  US only.  Please leave your email in the comment.  Good luck.

***Disclosure-A $5 gc will be provided to sample product.  All information and materials were provided by Little Caesars.  Any opinions expressed are my own.

iT'Z Family Food and Fun review

Have you heard of iT'Z?

iT’Z has an all-you-can-eat buffet, arcade games, bowling, rides, and much, much more! Buffet and drink purchase is required to enter.

Check out some of their specials...

Check out all the fun we had on our recent visit...

Our thoughts-As a parent, I loved the open buffet. Do you have kids who never want to eat when it's time to eat, or as soon as they see games, they are no longer hungry? At iT'Z, they can eat when ever they want. Play, and then eat, or eat, and then play. They have a great buffet. We enjoyed all the games. The kids really like the bowling. It was just their size balls, and lanes with bumpers! The laser tag was lots of fun for the boys too. We have an awesome time, there was so much to do. I don't think we were able to get to everything so we will be making a trip back.

***Disclosure-My family was invited to this location. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are our own.