Some places just get it right...color, chaos, and connection all rolled into one big family-friendly experience. A few weekends ago, I packed up my girls Addi and Millie and made our way into the bold, bright, sensory world that is Color Factory Chicago. And let me just say: it delivered.

Right when you walk in, you’re hit with the kind of creativity that makes you want to grab your phone and start snapping. It's not just a museum, it’s an interactive playground for your senses (and your photo albums). We didn’t just see the colors, we felt them. From the moment the girls ran toward the rainbow tunnel to the final room where we all belly-laughed in a mint-green ball pit, this trip was one for the books.

Here are the highlights we experienced and trust me, they’re reason enough to plan your own mama + mini day out:

Top 6 Photo Ops (and Sensory Hits!)

1. The Confetti Room

My girls were obsessed. Picture an explosion of confetti in every direction, colorful, twirly, and full of movement. Even better? Built-in cameras catch you mid-laugh, mid-dance, or mid-spin. Instant joy.

2. The Ball Pit

The girls didn’t want to leave, and honestly, neither did I. I was planted on the bench looking at them live their best life.

It’s soothing, it’s playful, and it’s pretty much a dream come true for little ones (and grown-ups with tired feet).

3. The Mirror Room

You know that feeling when a space makes you feel cooler than you are? This is that room. Light, symmetry, and reflection meet for an unforgettable photo moment. It’s giving funhouse meets Taylor Swift tour visuals. Highly recommend.

4. The Balloon Room

This room is immersive and a little trippy, in the best way. Balloons all around you, creating the illusion of floating. The girls ran around giggling and I had a tiny moment to myself to soak it all in.

5. The Smell Wall

Let me break this down:

The Smell Wall was my personal fave. Yep, a literal wall you sniff. Some spots smelled like warm laundry, others like pizza (yes, for real). Each panel brought back memories and made us laugh out loud.

6. Flavorama Theater

Then there’s Flavorama, basically a mini movie theater for your taste buds. The lights dim, the scenes change, and you’re offered snacks that match the mood. It’s like watching a film where every bite is part of the story.

Extras We Loved:

Free ice cream and snacks throughout the whole experience (YES.)

Friendly, helpful staff that made us feel welcome from the start.

Planning a girls’ day, play date, or just need a colorful reset? Color Factory is that girl. Just bring your energy and curiosity because once you step inside, your senses are in for a ride.

Color Factory Chicago:

Willis Tower | 233 S Wacker Dr. | Lower Level 2 | Chicago, IL 60606

Let’s talk popcorn, but make it gourmet.

We were gifted the full Fly By Jing lineup (yes, ALL the spicy beauties) and let me just say: these jars are not for the background. They’re bold, they’re full of flavor, and they somehow manage to make everything from eggs to pasta to...yep, popcorn, next-level delicious.

Fly By Jing is an Asian woman-founded brand making waves in the food world with their small-batch, flavor-heavy sauces inspired by Sichuan traditions. Smoky, spicy, umami bombs of flavor that make your taste buds do a double take. Every jar is made without additives, preservatives, or MSG and they’re all gluten-free and vegan. IYKYK.

Here’s how we turned our movie night into a taste test explosion:

Chili Crisp Popcorn Recipe (serves 4-ish)

Ingredients:

• 8 cups popped popcorn (about ½ cup kernels)

• 2–3 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)

• 1½ tbsp of your favorite Fly By Jing flavor Chili Crisp ( we use the original for the kiddos)

• Salt to taste

• Crushed pretzels or rice crackers (optional mix-ins for crunch)

Instructions:

• Pop your popcorn (stovetop, air popper, or microwave, no judgment!)

• Melt the butter and stir in your Fly By Jing sauce. 

• Pour it over your popcorn and mix it up real good. 

• Snack. Instantly regret not doubling the batch.

Kid-Friendly Tip:

Start with just 1 tsp of sauce to keep it mild. Adding the crushed pretzels or cereal to stretch it out will keep little hands busy.

Pro Tip: Want more heat? Swap in the Xtra Spicy or Xtra Crunchy versions for grown-up snack time.

This isn’t just snack mix. It’s snack mix with soul. It's a great way to introduce new flavor profiles to the kiddos. Whether you're packing it for school lunches or snacking through a rewatch of Sing 2, it's easy, unexpected and totally addictive.

Follow along @flybyjing for more recipe inspo and trust us, you’ll be hooked.

What advice would you give your younger self? Another woman on the path to finding her calling? To both of these questions I would say “everything happens for a reason.” I truly believe that every challenge I have faced, job that didn’t work out, or friendship that has ended, has led me to exactly where I am supposed to be. And maybe I’m not even fully there yet. Who knows what my life will look like in another one, five, 10, or 50 years. It is all in God’s hands, and I trust Him.

Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing? Outside of working and being a mama, I love to spend time with my family. I love a good dinner date with my husband, and we love to vacation. If me and the girls have any free time at all, we usually try to make plans with my mom and sister. I also enjoy running and working out in my free time, listening to music, spending time with friends, and snuggling my animals. (Yes, the chickens too.)

I graduated from Excel Academies with a degree in cosmetology that I don't use, but give the occasional haircut to family. I have loved art from a very young age, I wasn't "text book smart" in school as a child, but I was always interested in art. It's easy to become infatuated with anything creative when you grow up in a family full of talented glass artists.

I'm technically classified under 'muralist,' but most of my work is more patterning than painting scenes. I love a good floral, greenery or abstract design and I'll never turn down a kid’s project. I work under my business Happy Mama Murals.

All of my clients have found me through social media and word of mouth! It's usually "a friend of a friend showed me her mural..." or "I saw someone's wall and thought it was wallpaper." I find it to be such a compliment that my work is often mistaken for a funky, cool wallpaper.

My art inspiration often comes from clients’ ideas and visions for their space and a lot of the time it's "do what you want!" My absolute favorite niche to paint is a funky floral. I have zero talents in the tech department, so everything you see is 100% free hand, painted in the moment. I don't do rough drafts or sketches. All glory to God because I have no idea what I am doing outside of His leading me through every project I take on.

You can find my murals in local businesses including all of NWI's Twisted Sugar locations, Crown Point Pediatric Dentistry, the Wandering Wildflower, Sweet Pea Designs, Highland Christian School and more, but my heart bursts for the houses that I get to help make a home with personalized "wallpaper like" patterns and scenes. I'm beyond honored to have hit the 200+ mark on mural projects.

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