Sometimes you just have to get the kids out of the house, amiright? But in Texas in the summer, and even spring and fall for that matter, it can be difficult to find an air-conditioned place to go that won't break the bank. Our number one go-to for a cheap day is... Stonebriar Centre. AKA, the mall.

I know. The mall is a very typical place a lot of you mommas already take your kids on a regular basis. But I want to share how my family gets in an entire day's worth of air-conditioned entertainment for less than $25. Here's our plan of attack:

1. Barnes & Noble- My kids love to look at all the educational toys and play with the train table. We always fit in reading a few picture books too.
   SUMMER BONUS: Every Thursday in the summer at 11am, Stonebriar Barnes & Noble has an in-store storytime. After your kids listen to the story and make their craft, be sure they fill out their Reading Log (Grades 1-6) or get a sticker for their Reading Passport (Birth-Kinder) to earn a surprise at the end of the summer!
   Running Total: $0

2. Nordstrom- Our next stop is Nordstrom for one thing, and one thing only: balloons. We head straight to the kids' shoe department and each kid picks out a balloon that I know will hit me in the back of the head for the rest of our time at the mall. If Nordstrom is running a kids' shoe sale, I'll browse if one or both kid is in need of new shoes. Nordstrom is also a great place for a potty break if needed, and they have a great nursing room as well.
   Running Total: $0

3. Lunch- Take your pick of the food court! Popular places in our family include Chick-fil-A, Sonic, and Paradise Bakery. With two kids' meals and a light lunch for me (hello, WeightWatchers), we can usually get away with spending about $15 for lunch. If we have a sweet tooth and no one’s had a meltdown, we'll also get a couple small sugar cookies at Great American Cookies ($3).
   Running Total: $18

4. Carousel- That dang carousel. Sure, it was darling when my 15-month-old lit up with joy and delight while riding the horsies. Now though, my kids are mostly over it and act bored while spinning, but they still beg to go on the carousel every dang time. Some days we do, some days we don't. If you choose to go on the carousel, it'll set you back $3/kid. So in my case, $6.
   Running Total: $24

5. LEGO- Our next stop is the LEGO Store. The kids love looking at all the new sets and then building with the sample sets for a few minutes.
   Running Total: $24

6. Disney Store- This stop is always one of our favorites! It could entertain my kids for an hour if I let it. Be sure to check the sale section as they often have some good deals that you might not be able to pass up.
   Running Total: $24

TOTAL COST: $24

After that, little feet and legs are ready to call it a day! Notice that I didn't put the indoor play area on our plan of attack. That's because I hate it and try to avoid it at all costs. But if that's your jam, add it in or swap it for one of the other kid-friendly stops.

Do you have a favorite mall stop that is kid- and budget-friendly?