Happy Lunar New Year! Our Family’s Three Favorite Chinese Restaurants in Omaha and Council Bluffs!

Happy Lunar New Year! My family loves Chinese food and ramen any time of year, but a cold January day seems to really bring out our cravings for it. With that in mind, I’d like to tell you about three family-owned Chinese restaurants we love in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area. I think you will love them too!

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A Warm, Welcoming Place with Fabulous Food!

We all have a favorite restaurant. Favorite restaurants can be places of refuge and connection - nourishment for both the body and soul. While I have many favorite restaurants around the world, I’m eager to tell you about a wonderful new place I’ve discovered recently that both warms my heart, promotes self-care, and has amazing, inventive food. While I hesitate a bit to let everyone in on the secret, this place is seriously too incredible not to share.

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A Jousting Good Time at Medieval Times in Scottsdale

Do you or your family or friends enjoy all things medieval? Do you like medieval atmosphere, jousting, and hearty meals? Then you want to read about this blog post about our experience at Medieval Times in Scottsdale, Arizona!

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Exciting Changes and New Locations You Can Expect in 2025!

Happy New Year to all! I just wanted to provide a quick update to you as we start 2025. I have so many great places and attractions to write about! Plus I will be completely revamping my blog page. You will see MAJOR changes in 2025! I’m excited about all of it❣️

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Don’t Miss Light Bloom by HYBYCOZO at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden!

The Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden is currently featuring a unique and beautiful art exhibit called Light Bloom by HYBYCOZO. The exhibit, which is spread throughout the gorgeous gardens, features intricately crafted geometric shapes which allow both sunlight (by day) and an interior light (by night) to cast a wide net of exquisite shadows around the geometric shapes. The effect is simply magical, particularly after sunset. Be sure to visit the garden before March 30, 2025 to see this wonderful exhibit!

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A Superb Storytelling Tour in Santa Fe

In October 2024, I went to Albuquerque, New Mexico and crossed an item off my bucket list by attending the International Balloon Fiesta. I spent a few extra days in the Albuquerque area and took a side trip to Santa Fe, which was about an hour away from the AirBnb I was staying in. Santa Fe was exceptional and the tour I booked through Airbnb Experiences was the “icing on the cake,” so to speak. Tour Santa Fe with me in this blog post!

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Holidays, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Events, Celebrations, Omaha Area, Omaha, Omaha zoo, Zoolightful, Lauritzen Gardens, Botanical Gardens, Gift Shop, Durham Museum, Merry and Bright, Bright Nights, Advent, Fun, Activities, Lights, Food, Treats, Festive, Holiday Events, Christmas Tree, Culture, Flowers, Plants, Music, Games, Decorations, Council Bluffs, Papillion, Parade, Holiday Market, Holiday Lights Festival, Luminarium, Science Museum, Glow, A Country Christmas, The General Dodge House, Dodge House, History, Family Events, Family Night, A Day with the Dodges, Decorated Trees, Breakfast, Holiday Lights, Christmas Lights, Light Shows, Drive Thru Light Displays, Santa’s Rockin Lights, Christmas at the Dodge House, General Grenville M Dodge, Railroads, The American West, U.S. History, Historical Customs, Holiday Decorations, Christmas Trees, Tour, Garland, Iowa, Union Pacific Railroad Deanna Etherington Holidays, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Events, Celebrations, Omaha Area, Omaha, Omaha zoo, Zoolightful, Lauritzen Gardens, Botanical Gardens, Gift Shop, Durham Museum, Merry and Bright, Bright Nights, Advent, Fun, Activities, Lights, Food, Treats, Festive, Holiday Events, Christmas Tree, Culture, Flowers, Plants, Music, Games, Decorations, Council Bluffs, Papillion, Parade, Holiday Market, Holiday Lights Festival, Luminarium, Science Museum, Glow, A Country Christmas, The General Dodge House, Dodge House, History, Family Events, Family Night, A Day with the Dodges, Decorated Trees, Breakfast, Holiday Lights, Christmas Lights, Light Shows, Drive Thru Light Displays, Santa’s Rockin Lights, Christmas at the Dodge House, General Grenville M Dodge, Railroads, The American West, U.S. History, Historical Customs, Holiday Decorations, Christmas Trees, Tour, Garland, Iowa, Union Pacific Railroad Deanna Etherington

Final Holiday Series Post (Part 7): Holiday Happenings in the Omaha Area!

Everybody loves doing something fun and unique for the holidays! This is the final post in my running event posts of select Omaha-area holiday events that I’ve either been to in the past or look like fun. I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing the options available and have maybe even been to something featured in this post. Get ready to see The Historic General Dodge House in Council Bluffs decorated for the holidays!

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Holidays, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Events, Celebrations, Omaha Area, Omaha, Omaha zoo, Zoolightful, Lauritzen Gardens, Botanical Gardens, Gift Shop, Durham Museum, Merry and Bright, Bright Nights, Advent, Fun, Activities, Lights, Food, Treats, Festive, Holiday Events, Christmas Tree, Culture, Flowers, Plants, Music, Games, Decorations, Council Bluffs, Papillion, Parade, Holiday Market, Holiday Lights Festival, Luminarium, Science Museum, Glow, A Country Christmas, The General Dodge House, Dodge House, History, Family Events, Family Night, A Day with the Dodges, Decorated Trees, Breakfast, Holiday Lights, Christmas Lights, Light Shows, Drive Thru Light Displays, Santa’s Rockin Lights, Magical Lights at Lake Cunningham Deanna Etherington Holidays, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Events, Celebrations, Omaha Area, Omaha, Omaha zoo, Zoolightful, Lauritzen Gardens, Botanical Gardens, Gift Shop, Durham Museum, Merry and Bright, Bright Nights, Advent, Fun, Activities, Lights, Food, Treats, Festive, Holiday Events, Christmas Tree, Culture, Flowers, Plants, Music, Games, Decorations, Council Bluffs, Papillion, Parade, Holiday Market, Holiday Lights Festival, Luminarium, Science Museum, Glow, A Country Christmas, The General Dodge House, Dodge House, History, Family Events, Family Night, A Day with the Dodges, Decorated Trees, Breakfast, Holiday Lights, Christmas Lights, Light Shows, Drive Thru Light Displays, Santa’s Rockin Lights, Magical Lights at Lake Cunningham Deanna Etherington

Part 6: Holiday Happenings in the Omaha Area!

Everybody loves doing something fun and unique for the holidays! Discover two fantastic Omaha area light shows this week, plus learn about the ongoing special events I’ve featured weekly in the past month. You’ll be dazzled!

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Part 5: Holiday Happenings in the Omaha Area!

Everybody loves doing something fun and unique for the holidays! I have decided to create a running event list of select Omaha-area holiday events that I’ve either been to in the past or look like fun. This post contains two new holiday events, plus the previous events I featured last week. See what’s happening this weekend at Ditmar’s Orchard and Vineyard and the Historic General Dodge House.

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Eyes Will Sparkle at Lauritzen Gardens Bright Nights!

Last Friday evening I attended one of the Bright Nights events at Lauritzen Gardens. If you love any of the things on this list - beautiful lights and decor, toy trains, poinsettias, gorgeous flowers, festive food and drinks, holiday photo ops, outdoor games, visits with Santa, cheerful music, beautiful plants, or just celebrating the holidays this event is for you! My family and I are going closer to Christmas but I also wanted to go early in the event to take photos. It is GORGEOUS!

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A Plethora of Holiday Purchases at Palmer’s Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe in Sioux City, Iowa

It’s no secret that I enjoy historical and boutique shops, so on a recent trip up I-29 I made a beeline for Palmer’s Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe (Palmer’s Old Time Candy Shop). While I have been here before and the shop is always a treat, it’s especially fun near the holidays. It’s also a great place to buy gifts, particularly if you love Twin Bings, like I do!

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Part 2: Holiday Happenings in the Omaha Area!

Everybody loves doing something fun and unique for the holidays! I have decided to create a running event list of select Omaha-area holiday events that I’ve either been to in the past or look like fun. In this post are two more new holiday events, plus the three events I featured last week!

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A Visit to Oklahoma City’s First Americans Museum

Did you know November is Native American Heritage Month? In honor of that distinction, I’m writing about a wonderful and informative museum in Oklahoma City called the First Americans Museum. Oklahoma City is beautiful and well worth a trip and the First Americans Museum is a “must visit” attraction while you are there!

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Part Five: Incredible AirBnbs in the Midwest

As you have likely guessed, I really enjoy staying in AirBnbs when it makes sense to do so. The variety of AirBnbs and other home rental offerings is amazing to me. Check out this automotive-themed AirBnb in Rogers, Arkansas!

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