Money Matters: Earn, Save, and Give Responsibly
As parents, we want our children to understand how to earn money through hard work, and how to save carefully, spend wisely, and give generously. Simply saying “We have to pinch our pennies” or “That costs an arm and a leg” is not going to help them truly...
The Life Changing Magic of Purging Toys
Until recently, I was convinced my life would be better if only we had more space. Until we got a bigger house or remodeled, I thought a special organizing system for our burgeoning collection of toys and books would do the trick. I lived in constant fear of a painful...
Celebrating the Austin Way – That’s Weird, Right?
I don’t know about you, but it’s been a while since “the holidays” really felt like the holidays to me. I mean, sure life is always changing, but when it came to that wonderful season, it always started with Halloween and gluttonous amounts of candy, slid seamlessly...
31 Days of Fun
Parenting can be busy and can become a series of routines that look and sound like a to-do list: wake up, get to school, pick up from school, do homework, eat dinner, get ready for bed, and then we do the same set of things the next day and so on and so on. Without...
5 Ways To Make Mom Friends in Austin
During the early days of my parenting journey, working from home was a blessing and a curse. I was grateful to continue my career while staying at home with my son, but I missed being able to connect with other adults. Being new to Austin didn’t help...
Role Playing Games: Fire Up Your Child’s Imagination
The setting is your family room. The props are simple: a towel, a sofa cushion and an empty water bottle. The actors? A pair of four-year-old best friends. The one wearing her father’s bedroom slippers commands, “I’ll be the daddy, and you be the baby.” For the...
Boom! Five Great Firework Shows
July 4th celebrations wouldn’t be the same without the bright, glittering lights of fireworks against a night sky. However, lighting anything more than a simple sparkler inside the city limits is illegal, not to mention somewhat dangerous. Better to...
Celebrating Dads, Austin Style
Father’s Day rolls around every year in June just as summer is getting started. If your family needs some fresh inspiration for celebrating the dad, grandpa or uncle in your life, here are some fun ideas that are tailor-made for Austinites. Car Wash for...
Peaches, Whimsy & Wonder: Day Trips to Fun Events
Drive down I-35 or Mopac and you’ll see that Austin is growing and changing fast. According to the Business Journal, the Austin metro area (which includes suburbs like Round Rock and Georgetown) was the fastest-growing area in the country between 2020-22. With all the...
Bring on the Bluebonnets: 4 Wildflower Festivals
Spring in Central Texas is arguably the most beautiful time of year thanks to an abundance of our state flower, the beautiful bluebonnet. If you’ve ever wondered why you see so many wildflowers along the highways every spring, you can thank the Texas Department of...
Tween Scene: Spring Break Fun
If you have a pre-teen in your house, you know that they like to be silly, hang out with friends and still need parents to help them plan just about all their activities. So, without breaking the bank or putting extra stress on your schedule, how can...
7 Ways to Motivate Kids to Do Chores
My kids’ rooms sometimes resemble a frat house. But instead of empty beer cans and pizza boxes, my kids have 10 water bottles and half-eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwiches scattered throughout their space. I know that parents have complained about...