My son loves scary stories. At age eight, we hesitantly introduced him to my favorite childhood scary books – Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. He was hooked! The two sequels were quickly added to the rotation…then we tapped out the library. Around this time, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark was turned into a movie. And there he is. Harold. Right there on the cover. If you know, you know. But, if you don’t, let me tell you – Harold is hands-down the scariest story in all three books. It hits all the creep and is definitely the one to skip ifRead More →

It is back to school 2021, Houston! This time can be some of the most exciting and stressful times of the year. Especially these days when every day at school is not guaranteed – will we stay in person? Will virtual rear its ugly head? Who is ready to skip back to school and start homeschooling?! Kids have a lot to look forward to. They get to see friends again, maybe start at a new and unknown place, and (not to mention) new clothes, and shoes, and binders – oh, my! However, from the parents’ side, it is the “return of the routine.” Running withRead More →

‘Tis the season for school graduation! April and May get very busy and some of the best celebrations during this season are graduations. It is amazing to see the culmination of years’ worth of intentions and efforts result in such amazing accomplishments. And, what better way to celebrate than a graduation ceremony? School graduations are a way to bring family and friends together to celebrate. Ready to party? It is now that you need to decide which type of celebration you will host and what types of invitations should you send. What Type of Celebration? Graduation celebrations typically follow the schedule of ceremony then reception.Read More →

Congratulations on that baby bump – now it’s time to find some maternity clothes! Some moms will try to make it through without buying any. But, more than likely, you will get fed up with trying to fit into things and just want something comfortable – even if you will only wear it for a few months! It is time to go shopping. (spoiler: those maternity jeans will probably still fit you for a little while after the baby is born – do not be afraid to put maternity clothes in your hospital bag) That being said, you do not want to break the bankRead More →

pinata cake

Move over hot cocoa bombs, piñata cakes are here! Or, you can have your cake and drink your bombs too! Plus, they are here just in time for Valentine’s Day. What are Piñata Cakes? Sadly, there is no actual cake in a piñata cake – but, there is so much more fun! Piñata cakes are a hard decorated shell of chocolate filled with treats. Nearly always they are delivered with a mallet for cracking! What is especially fun is the fillings can be customized to suit. Generally you see an assortment of candy and toys but if you work with your baker you can haveRead More →

The Gilded Ones, by Namina Forna Pre-Order and it will arrive on its publication day, February 9th, 2021 Her blood proves her worth. Deka lives in Otera, a land that has ritualized the patriarchy to keep women in their place. ‘The Gilded Ones,’ Namina Forna’s debut novel, takes you deep into these themes and more. As girls reach their sixteenth year they are sent to the village temples for a ceremony to determine their purity. If their blood runs true they become a member of society. If their blood runs gold a girl is impure and sentenced to death. What is not shared about theseRead More →

cirque italia water circus

The Cirque is coming! The Cirque is coming! Sharpen your cutlass and dust off your eye patch, Cirque Italia is taking you on an epic pirate adventure! Come to the brand new production! Notably, it is under the big top tent but this circus experience is unlike any other as it features a 35,000 gallon water tank. And, we have tickets to giveaway! The cirque begins when our Ringmaster goes fishing and finds a treasure map. Consequently, he must brave the high seas, dodge pirate fights, resist the lure of mermaids to claim the treasure as his own. In classic cirque tradition audiences will delightRead More →

hot springs

Our third hike on Day two at Big Bend National Park is the Hot Springs Trail. Like Boquillas, this is rated as a not-to-be-missed hike. Along the Hot Springs Trail, there are ruins of the old bathhouse, post office, and motel; a hot spring (duh!); the Rio Grande; pictographs, and petroglyphs. To get a fantastic history of this trail read “Big Bend: A Homesteader’s Story,” by J.O. Langford (referenced in the Packing & Prepping article).  Oh, and did I mention the thrill of almost dropping to your death? Shear fun. This is in reference to the road in. It is terrifyingly narrow. It is only aRead More →

After hiking down to the beautiful Boquillas Canyon and screaming our echoes for one singing Mexican to hear we drove to the Rio Grande Village. Here there are bathrooms, a visitor’s center, and a store. The visitor’s center was closed on the day we were there. Rather, we bought sandwiches at the store and topped off our Camelbacks with water. Our late start meant we would be out in the mid-day heat longer than we had originally planned. The store has picnic tables out front and we ate in the shade before trekking to our second trail. Our next scheduled trail is the Rio GrandeRead More →

Little boy hiking Boquillas Canyon

Boquillas Canyon Our first hike is at Boquillas Canyon. It is another popular hike as it is pretty easy for everyone with gradual inclines and it gently heads down to one of the three canyons in Big Bend National Park. Not to mention, if you bring your passport and time it correctly, you can pass into Mexico and visit the town of Boquillas. Boquillas, Mexico While you are there you can pick up your Boquillas stick – a light-weight hiking stick that is usually adorned with a painting of an animal or vegetation. These make great souvenirs for the kids. If you are unable toRead More →