Creating the ultimate kid’s craft box

Ultimate is a bit of an exaggeration, but from the time that my daughter was 18 months old and scribbling with markers, I have filled a plastic bin (with a lid) with miscellaneous items which have come in handy nearly every day.  The “craft box” is especially useful when I am unable to give my [...]

Photo tips: Rule of thirds

Hello ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, teachers and students. People, as I like to say. I’m Julius Sumn… no, no I’m not. Like Julius Sumner Miller, however, we have some special business to attend to today. The “Rule of Thirds”. It has a rather authoritative title of rule, but I think it’s more a [...]

Rock ‘n River Family Aquatic Center review

The Rock ‘n River Family Aquatic Center in Old Settlers Park is Round Rock’s “water park” that offers more than the average public city pool.  Like most newer pools, there are splash park features with water geyers and pails that dump water.  In a small kiddie lagoon that is 1 foot deep with soft, rubber [...]

The Mediterranean Chef and “Grandma’s Humus”

Each weekend when we visit a local farmers’ market, I look for The Mediterranean Chef stand because I need my “Grandma’s Humus” fix.  My love of hummus is almost as great as my love for Pocky, so much so that even my child recognizes the “chicken pea” as she calls it.  We use it for [...]

“Splash area” at The Park in The Triangle

The heat outside is starting to take a toll, and I find myself staring at the calendar with the dread of realization that we are not even close to scratching the surface of summer yet.  I truly believe that my toddler and preschooler’s brains are little bit fried from the 100+ degree weather, and consequently [...]

Snoopy Dog versus Jim-Jim’s Famous Water Ice

Many moons ago, my sisters and I were garage sale hunting in the neighborhood, and behold before us was the Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine for the massive sum of 25¢ which we happily paid and took Snoopy home.  We ground up the ice, ate it straight because our parents refused to let us have artificially colored [...]

Yogurt Planet – The Triangle

Frozen yogurt must be the cold dessert du jour because everywhere that I turn, shops peddling fro-yo (fro-gurt or whatever other Hobbit-sounding name that it takes on) are sprouting all over town.  Admittedly, before this latest craze probably fueled from celebrity favorite Pinkberry, the last time that I stepped into a frozen yogurt shop was back [...]

Kerbey Lane Doll Shoppe

Kerbey Lane Doll Shoppe is THE place to take a girly girl (or a boy who likes dolls), and just from our experience, it is best to leave the “pesky” baby brother at home on this trip.  The store is in a small, pale yellow, converted bungalow that looks like a life size doll house [...]

Austin Farmers’ Market at Republic Square (downtown)

Our love affair for locally grown produce and foods continued with a trip to the Austin Farmers’ Market this past Saturday where AFM celebrated all things tomato.  For those who have never taken the time to check out one of the many farmers’ markets in town, I have created a list of all the markets [...]

It’s Watermelon Thump time again! June 25-28, 2009

Texas summer is officially underway and nothing (well, nothing PG anyway) refreshes quite like sweet, fresh watermelon. Each June the town of Luling (a quick hour drive directly south on 183) hosts a three-day Watermelon Thump Festival to celebrate the green and red. The Luling Watermelon Thump Festival has a little everything for everyone in the family. Carnival rides, live music, parade (with a Watermelon queen and all!), fair food (read: funnel cakes and roasted corn on the cob!), car show and of course watermelon spitting contest!

Next Page »