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Friday Night Storytime- Enjoy two food related stories this evening: Rah, Rah, Radishes! A Vegetable Chant by April Pulley Sayre and You Are What You Eat and Other Mealtime Hazards by Serge Bloch. FREE!! Friday, 7:30pm. Barnes and Noble, La Frontera Village, 2701 Parker Road Bldg A Suite 700, Round Rock.

The Magikhana Show- The French Legation Museum invites you to a special evening of enchantment with The Magikhana Show featuring world renowned performers: Arsene Dupin, Bertil Fredstron, Kelsey Strauch, Magical Mystical Michael, and Owl Morrison. Visitors are invited to bring a picnic and enjoy the magic show. Tickets: $5. Friday, 6:00- 8:00pm. The French Legation Museum, 802 San Marcos Street.

Live Music at Central Market- Enjoy live music for FREE while the kids have a chance to work off some energy on the playscape. Friday features the band Black Red Black and Saturday, The Flying Balalaika Brothers. Friday and Saturday, 6:30- 9:00pm. Central Market, 4001 N. Lamar Blvd.

Tree Talk Winter Walk – At this free event you can enjoy guided walks in the Wildflower Center and talks by local forestry experts. There will be family fun with a Kids Tree Climb and an educational tree scavenger hunt. TreeFolks will provide native tree saplings to those who complete the scavenger hunt. To see the schedule for this event, visit here.  Admission to the Wildflower Center is FREE during the month of January. Saturday, 9:00am- 5:00pm. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Avenue, Austin.

Puppet Show: No Tooth, No Quarter- Join us this morning for another rousing performance by are absolutely almost perfect puppeteers as they perform a masterful rendition of the Tooth Fairy starring book, No Tooth, No Quarter – a cautionary tale of the tough job held by the wealthiest fairy of them all, the Tooth Fairy. It will be funny and loud and silly and crazy – so don’t miss it! Make sure to arrive early to get a seat. FREE!! Saturday, 11:30am. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd.

Lowe’s Build and Grow: Build-a-saurus- A FREE do-it-yourself clinic for kids! This kit is awesome! Your child can build this cool dinosaur and then choose the stickers to make it a cartoon or a realistic dinosaur! Saturday, 10:00am. All participating Lowe’s locations.

Austin Family 14th Annual Annual Camp Fair- Kids will enjoy the carnival atmosphere with music, games, prizes and entertainment. There will be  over 100 camps available to speak with to learn more about the different camp options. FREE!! Saturday, 10:00am- 5:00pm. Fee for parking. Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road.

Family Storytime- Family Storytime is open to all ages. Come enjoy books, music and crafts with Miss Kit. Call 512-401-5634 for more details. FREE!! Saturday, 10:00am. Cedar Park Public Library, 600 N. Bell Blvd., Cedar Park.

Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild Live- Jack Hanna’s live show features many of his favorite exotic animal friends, as well as fascinating, humorous stories and footage from his adventures around the world. Audiences give Jack rave reviews everyone from the youngest child to the oldest adult is entertained and inspired. Saturday, 2:00pm (doors open at 1:00pm). Tickets starting at $30. The Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave.

What’s the Story Steve- Move Your Tale and ColdTowne Theater collaborate to present this fully improvised theatrical journey through a story of the audience’s making. Improv is great way to approach collaborative storytelling. This production empowers children to help make the story happen or to just sit back and enjoy the ride! A great, theatrical way to spend a Saturday morning. Featuring Steve the improvising poodle, a portion of the show is inspired by the PBS series What’s the Story Wishbone. Pay what you wish. Appropriate for audiences of all ages. Saturday, 10:00am. ColdTowne Theatre, 4803 Airport Blvd.

Food-Free Family Storytime- Enjoy a reading activity that welcomes families with children of all ages to a fun environment that’s safe for individuals affected by food allergies.This interactive program includes a variety of activities such as books, fingerplays, music, movies, and puppets. FREE!! Saturday, 10:30am. Round Rock Public Library, 216 E. Main Street, Round Rock.

Crafts for Kids- Bring the kids, ages 3 and up, to make a Groundhog Puppet. FREE!! Saturday, 11:00am- 3:00pm. Lakeshore Learning Store, 9828 Great Hills Trail.

AISD Feria Para Aprender – AISD presents the 6th annual Feria Para Aprender, a FREE education fair designed to aid Spanish speaking parents and students who are navigating the US educational system from elementary school through college. Parents and students can browse booths from AISD departments, nonprofit organizations, as well as colleges and universities. Ask questions on topics ranging from early childhood education to scholarship applications. There will also be professionals in many in-demand careers on hand to speak about their experiences and the importance of education. New to the Feria this year will be special “Teen Zones” and “Anti Bullying Zones.” Saturday, 10:00am- 3:00pm. North Austin Event Center, 10601 N. Lamar, Austin.

Alamo Kids Club: The Original Bad News Bears- Yep, if there’s one thing that brings joy to the hearts of children across the world, it’s Walter Matthau. No…wait a minute…that’s not true at all. Anyway, ol’ Dogface was already a Hollywood legend before he decided to make the unlikely leap to playing the lead in a family film. Even more surprising is that the movie was a huuuge hit, spawning two sequels, a TV series, and a 2005 remake that we won’t talk about here. But the original movie is the best of the bunch, jam-packed with zany antics, childhood triumphs, PG swear words (okay…plus a few real ones), and the type of kids movie electricity that no one’s been able to match in decades! Sure, one kid smokes, another one’s kinda racist and the coach always has a beer in his hand. But these are all parts of what made THE BAD NEWS BEARS the most memorable, enduring little league epic of all time! So don’t be a wimp! Bring your kids on down, and if they end up hooked on Marlboros, we’ll refund your ticket price in its entirety. PS: This show is free.  No infants. Children 3 and up allowed. Saturday, 10:45am. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, South Lamar.

Australia Day- Boomerang’s Gourmet Veggie & Meat Pies will celebrate its sixth anniversary and Australia Day on January 28th.   Benefiting Meals on Wheels and More, the anniversary celebration will feature food and drink specials, live entertainment, a silent auction and the much anticipated third annual ”fastest to eat a pie” contest. There will also be a bouncy house for the kids! FREE Admission!! Saturday, Noon- 10:00pm. Boomerang’s, 3110 Guadalupe Avenue.

Storytime- A weekend storytime for families with kids of all ages. FREE!! Saturday, 11:00am. Wells Branch Community Library, 15001 Wells Port Drive.

Kid Activities at Elgin Farmers Market- Mom’s can shop and the kids can get engaged in art! The activities are provided and supervised by the Elgin Arts Association and there it’s FREE! Saturday, 10:00am- 2:00pm. Elgin Main Street.

Storytime at Mitchie’s- Enjoy a FREE storytime and language featuring African-American folktales from 1:00-2:00pm every Saturday. Kids receive free refreshments, a free book and a 30% discount! Mitchie’s Gallery, 7801 N. Lamar Blvd., Bldg. B, Suite 148.

Symphony of Clouds- The childhood story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart was a famous musical prodigy at the age of five. Come see the young Mozart as his family and the rest of the world discover his amazing talent. Tickets:$12 online, $15 by phone. Saturday and Sunday, 2:00pm and 4:30pm. AustinVentures Studio Theater, 501 West 3rd Street.

Flying Theatre Machine: The Adventure Room- Sundays at the Hideout, Flying Theater Machine presents the only kid-oriented improv in Austin. The audience will help us with suggestions and sound effects, and a few lucky kids will even get to join us on stage. Tickets: $8. Sunday, 2:00pm. The Hideout Theater, 617 Congress Ave.

Sunday Storyime- Enjoy an all-ages, FREE storytime on Sunday at 1:00pm at Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe Street.

Sunday Morning Kids Show: Introducing the Que Pastas- Bring the family out for a FREE show for kids of all ages!! Sunday, 10:00am. Ruta Maya Coffee Shop, 3601 S. Congress Ave.

Chinese New Year Celebration – Celebrate the Chinese New Year with traditional Chinese firecrackers at the pagoda, followed by two different dragon and lion dance team troupes. There will also be face painting, martial arts, Chinese Calligraphy, and more! FREE!! Sunday, 10:45am- 5:00pm. Chinatown Center, 10901 N. Lamar Blvd.

For Mom:

Le Garage Sale- Le Garage Boutique Sale is a two day shopping event that brings together your city’s coolest independent boutiques all under one roof and all at clearance sale prices! You will find unbelievable markdowns at many of your favorite stores AND you will discover new, up and coming retailers with a fresh take on style. Spend the afternoon discovering great deals on everything from shoes to handbags to jewelry, to clothing for men, women and children as well as home furnishings and accessories. Now you can feel good about supporting your local businesses and saving money! Saturday (11:00am- 6:00pm) and Sunday (Noon- 5:00pm). Tickets: $10 per person, per day. Cash only. Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez St.

I bet you have a favorite dish made by your mother. Something comforting, maybe something you’d want when you’re feeling down or have a cold. Maybe you’ve even gotten the recipe from her, but it doesn’t taste right unless she makes it. I know I have one, but it’s kind of surprising because my mom’s from Alabama. It’s no down-home Southern favorite; it’s Tom Kai Gai, the Thai chicken soup in a fragrant coconut broth. (Here are some of the ingredients, ready to go.)

Mom originally got the recipe from one of Jeff Smith’s cookbooks. (Smith was otherwise known as the Frugal Gourmet. My family loved his cooking show, but were horrified by the allegations made against him later. He died in 2004, and most of his books are now out of print.) We’ve adapted it somewhat — for instance, we don’t add sugar, but you may want to try it without and stir in a half teaspoon at a time until it meets your tastes. We also don’t add jalapeño or black pepper, preferring the heat of red pepper flakes or Sriracha. He had incredibly fussy directions, which maybe were necessary back in the ’70s, when few people had been introduced to lemongrass and the like, but today can be simplified. If you’re unclear about something, the Internet is there to guide you. (Here’s a lovely woman showing exactly how to prepare lemongrass.*)

This is such a fragrant, delicious, filling soup. It seems like it would be difficult to make, but it’s actually quite simple once you’ve procured the ingredients. I was able to find everything I needed at MT Supermarket EXCEPT for the kaffir lime leaves. After checking a few other Asian markets, I called the Savory Spice Shop-North Austin, which had dried ones. If you can find fresh kaffir lime leaves at a good price, buy a bundle and freeze what you don’t use (wrapped tightly, of course). They’ll keep for a year in your freezer (and we’ve used older than that, out of desperation). Alternately, you can buy a kaffir lime tree, which grows well in Austin if you cover it or bring it inside for hard freezes. There’s really no good substitute for its flavor in this soup.

Tom Kai Gai

6 cups chicken broth

4 slices fresh, peeled or dried galangal root (about 1/4-inch thick)

1 slice fresh, peeled ginger (same)

2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced

1 large or 2 small shallots, peeled and sliced

7 fresh, dried or frozen kaffir lime leaves

3 stalks lemongrass, cut into 1-inch rods and slightly crushed*

1 teaspoon Thai red curry paste

1 can (13.5 ounces) coconut milk

3 Tablespoons Thai fish sauce

3/4 pound sliced boneless, skinless chicken breast meat

1 can (15 ounces) straw mushrooms, drained and rinsed

2 Tablespoons lime juice

Salt and red pepper flakes (or Sriracha) to taste

1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro

Quartered limes

Put chicken broth, galangal, ginger, garlic, shallots, lime leaves, lemon grass and curry paste in a large soup pot. Stir and heat over medium-high until just boiling, then turn down to simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add coconut milk and fish sauce, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add sliced chicken, and cook for 5 minutes, or until chicken is fully cooked. When ready to serve, add mushrooms, lime  juice, salt (if needed) and red pepper flakes to taste, and bring back to a low simmer (do not boil). Remove the tougher aromatics prior to serving (galangal, ginger and lemongrass) or instruct those eating it to remove them as they go. Serve with cilantro and extra limes. You may serve over rice or rice noodles.

Written by: Shannon Oelrich

photo credit: lindsay.dee.bunny

Looking for a way to express yourself to your loved ones this Valentine’s Day? Look no further! The wonderful ladies from Future Craft Collective have put together a crafty night out for mamas that is coming up on February 4th and they are giving away a spot to one lucky LiveMom reader! Be sure to enter below for your chance to win. From the Future Craft Collective website:

Want to spread the love you feel for your partner, your kids, your friends far and wide? Are you in need of a girls’ crafty night out with a bunch of other amazing women in a setting that is sure to set your heart a flutter?

Come to this half-day Valentine workshop on February 4th in a beautiful South Austin get-away in the middle of it all, where we’ll spend 4 hours cutting and making. I’ll have writing prompts for you to get to the heart of the love you feel. We’ll make beautiful love letters and maybe even a Valentine riddle or two. We’ll stitch, fold, glue, cut and fold some more. We’ll work on haikus too because what Valentine is complete without a haiku or two??

The Writing Barn is the perfect place to spend time crafting, collaging, cutting out paper hearts and writing love letters to the people in your life. Maybe you’ll even make one for yourself! Everything you need will be provided for you to make as many cards as you need!

We’ll drink and nosh while we craft and talk of love and family and partnership and children. We’ll focus on appreciation and admiration. We’ll figure out ways to feel more love and get more love and I’m hoping too that I’ll have some of Ginger Webb’s Love Elixirs on hand for you to try and buy.

Event Details: Crafting in the Name of Love Crafty Night Out

When: Saturday, February 4, 2012

Time: 4:30-9:30pm

Where: The Writing Barn located in S. Austin near Manchaca and Slaughter Lane

Cost: $35

GIVEAWAY: Do you need a crafty night out with other amazing mamas? If you would like an opportunity to win a spot, please leave a comment or fill out the form below. We will choose one winner on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 9:00am. Only one entry per household, please. The winner will be contacted via email.

How many local businesses have been around since 1975? If you guessed Central Market, Salt Lick, Amy’s Ice Cream or Whole Foods, you’d be wrong.

Tucked in the 26 Doors Shopping Center is Rootin’ Ridge Toymakers. For the past 36 years, owners Georgean and Paul Kyle have been (hand)making and selling wooden toys out of their storefront to Austin families (and now have an online storefront). As a native Austinite who was born across the street at Seton and whose mom got her hair cut for years upstairs at what used to be Jezebel’s, I can’t help to feel drawn back to Rootin’ Ridge when I need a toy for a special little guy or girl.

Sometimes, it might be an armadillo-shaped crayon holder. Other times, it might be a Texas puzzle. But lately, I’ve been going to Rootin’ Ridge to get a personalized name train for the children in my life (the one I got this week is for a sweet little girl named Pearl — there is an engine, one car for each letter of her name and, of course, a caboose). Although I usually buy off the registry for baby showers, when I know a child is turning one, I often return to get one of these personalized trains.

Although I often forget to talk about Rootin’ Ridge to my mom friends, when I do, I remember not many people have heard of the store. I’m hoping to change that, since I love the fact that the toys are handmade, you are buying local and the toys are simple (no batteries required is always a plus for parents of children!) Rootin’ Ridge also has a good selection of wooden toys made by companies like Plan Toys, Alex and Melissa & Doug.

I was curious about a few things about the store and its history, so thanks to Paul and Georgean who answered my questions below.

LiveMom: What is your top seller?

Paul and Georgean: Our best sellers have always been the personalized items: name trains, name puzzles and custom step stools.

LiveMom: What types of wood to you use for your toys?

Paul and Georgean: Most of the wood we use is pine — a renewable wood. We do use formaldehyde-free maple plywood for our puzzles.

LiveMom: How long does it take to make the typical toy?

Paul and Georgean: It is extremely variable. The stock toys on the shelves are made in batches which saves time and makes the end product more affordable. Each custom item (e.g. step stool or name puzzle) is made one at a time and can take two to three weeks.

LiveMom: Do you both make toys? Has your production process changed over time?

Paul and Georgean: Absolutely.  Georgean does 90% of the design work and cuts out all of the toys on the band saw or scroll saw. Paul sands and assembles the toys and then turns them back to Georgean to apply the finish (paint, sealer, etc.) This has been our process for our 36 years of toy making.

LiveMom: Do you make any of the exact same toys as when your shop opened?

Paul and Georgean: All of the rolling toys (animals and vehicles) are essentially the same. The materials used have changed somewhat due to availability over the years.

LiveMom: What is your favorite toy you make?

Paul and Georgean: Our favorite toy is generally the one we are working on at the time.  However, the rolling animals still hold a special place in our hearts since they are what we started with. They seem to actually come alive in our minds as we put on the wheels and roll them across the counter.

LiveMom: How has your clientele changed since the store opened (apart from getting older) ?

Paul and Georgean: Our clientele has always been fairly consistent:  young parents and grandparents. The most remarkable change is that over three decades the children whose young parents shopped with us have themselves become young parents shopping for their own children and the young parents have become grandparents shopping for their grandchildren.

LiveMom: What is the age range of the toys in your store?

Paul and Georgean: Most of our toys are for pre-schoolers. However, we do have musical instruments, games and other items that appeal to older children and even adults: children of all ages.

LiveMom: Although my family and I have been shopping at the store since it opened, I had no idea about your habitat conservation work. When did you begin this work?

Paul and Georgean: We have always had a love for the wildlife habitat of the Texas Hill Country — it is what brought us to Austin from Houston (where we grew up) over 40 years ago. We became serious about the effect of the disappearing habitat as Austin grew in the mid 1980s when we began rehabilitating injured and displaced wildlife for Texas Parks and Wildlife and the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. We have used the modest profits from Rootin’ Ridge to acquire and protect much of the land around our home in northwest Travis County. In 2006 we donated our home and the surrounding 8 acres to the Travis Audubon Society to be maintained as the “Chaetura Canyon Bird Sanctuary” in perpetuity. We continue to live on the property as Sanctuary Stewards, which is in itself a second full-time job with constant maintenance, workshops and educational events. Travis Audubon is actively pursuing the protection of the small amount of remaining undeveloped land around us, and folks can help by contributing to the Chaetura Canyon Expansion Fund and by continuing to shop at Rootin’ Ridge.

Did you have a favorite wooden toy as a child? Do you find yourself drawn to stores you visited growing up? Do you have a certain item that is your “go-to” gift for kids’ birthdays?

Written by: Nicole Basham

Big Miracle, a film that is based on the inspiring true story that united the world, is coming to theaters everywhere on February 3, 2012. The rescue adventure tells the amazing tale of a small town news reporter (John Krasinski) and an animal-loving volunteer (Drew Barrymore) who are joined by rival world superpowers to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.

LiveMom, Free Fun in Austin and A Family Village are teaming up with Universal Pictures to get you in to see this movie at a special Family Day at the Movies before it i s released to the public!

The special viewing will take place on January 28, 2012 at 11:00am at the Galaxy Highland 10 Theater. We are giving away 25 passes, each pass admits two people, so that you can join us at the movies with your family for FREE!! We are also giving away a special VIP pass for one lucky family that will offer seating for a family of four!

So, what do you have to do?

Fill out the form below. We will choose 25 people who will receive the passes and one lucky winner who will receive the VIP pass that will reserve seating for a family of four. We will close the giveaway on, January 26, 2012 at 9:00am and contact the winners via email. If you win, you will receive an electronic pass via email. The family who wins the VIP seats will have their name on a list that will ensure seating for this specific show. The 25 passes are based on a first come, first served basis and the winners are advised to arrive an hour prior to the start time.

One reason I think so many Austinites are so smitten with the city is the variety and selection of restaurants to choose from. Yes, we Austinites love to eat out. Of course, for parents, eating out can be a welcome break from the routine, a golden opportunity to be waited on instead of feeling like a short-order cook subject to the most discriminating palates and of course, the chance to have someone else do the food prep, cooking and perhaps, most important, the cleaning (sound the trumpets!). Living close to the Arboretum, one of the restaurants in our rotation is Iron Cactus.

When I’m choosing a restaurant, there are three characteristics I tend to gravitate towards and Iron Cactus fits them all:

1. Family friendly. Yes, most of the places we go to appeal to the 10 and under crowd. One thing we particularly like is the shady back patio with fountain. The kids menu has a lot of options and chips at the table is always great for staving off pre-meal hunger.
2. Moms’ Night Out. The restaurant does great business at Happy Hour, and with one look at the drink and appetizer menu, it’s easy to see why. You can choose from $3 house margaritas, house wines, well drinks and domestic beer. There is an impressive list of appetizers and it’s not the kind of place where you have to scream so the person on the opposite side of the table can hear you.
3. Date night. Although the restaurant is kid-friendly, it’s also a bit more upscale than the typical family restaurant, so it can easily double as a date night location. There is tons to choose from on the menu, from staples to items you won’t see on a typical Tex-Mex menu. My husband requests to go because he loves the salsa that’s served warm, although I know others are not crazy about it (seems to be one of those love-it-or-hate-it things). Since my dad is gluten free, I appreciated seeing they have a menu with a good selection of items he could order from.

While Iron Cactus might not be my *favorite* restaurant and there have been a few cases of the food being inconsistent, I’m glad we live close by so we can enjoy it with kids, friends or just on a quiet evening with my husband.

GIVEAWAY- Would you like to receive a $50 gift card to Iron Cactus? Take your family, take your friends, take your husband or partner and allow yourself a night off from the kitchen!

What do you have to do to win? Leave a comment here or fill out the form below. One winner will be chosen randomly and will be contacted via email. The deadline to enter is Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at midnight. Only one entry per household, please.

Disclosure: We received a gift certificate to check out the restaurant which we used to celebrate a December birthday.

Written by Nicole Basham

*This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who left comments or submitted an entry.

Stargazing at the Roughs- Don’t miss this opportunity for the whole family to explore the galaxy together as our astronomer takes you on a tour of the Milky Way that’s truly out of this world! Behold the wonder of the cosmos through our Dobsonian telescopes and venture beyond the boundaries of our planet Earth. Learn about the constellations and marvel at the beauty and mystery of the universe in this spectacular free program for the whole family. Bring lawn chairs, refreshments and blankets for comfort and enjoy this family event. Program will be canceled in the event of inclement weather. FREE!! All ages. Friday,  8:30- 10:00pm. McKinney Roughs Nature Park.

Friday Night Storytime- Courtney’s birthday is finally here and she has invited all of her friends to the celebration! Find out what happens next in The Costume Trunk by Bob Fuller. FREE!! Friday, 7:30pm. Barnes and Noble, La Frontera Village, 2701 Parker Road Bldg A Suite 700, Round Rock.

Stargazing in Sunset Valley-Join us for an evening of stargazing.  We will take a tour of the night sky, learn star lore stories, and how to use star charts.  There will be activities inside City Hall as well. Snacks and drinks provided.  If you have telescopes or binoculars bring them along for a great evening.  FREE!! Friday, 6:30- 8:30pm. Sunset Valley City Hall- 3205 Jones Road, Sunset Valley.

Architects of Air- A luminarium is a sculpture people enter to be moved to a sense of wonder at the beauty of light and colour. Since 1992, over 2 million visitors in 37 countries across 5 continents have immersed themselves in the spectacular, luminous world of Architects of Air. Visitors remove their shoes before entering an airlock. Once inside they can wander freely or just lay back and enjoy the ambience of the structure. The first reaction is often one of delight at the unexpected beauty of the light.
The radiance of the daylight transmitted by the colored pvc of the luminarium is surprising in its luminosity and makes a direct impact on the senses. Through labyrinthine tunnels and cavernous domes, visitors move in a medium of saturated and subtle hues. Vivid reflections of liquid color spill across the curved walls creating a world apart from the normal and everyday. Friday, 10:00am- 5:00pm. Tickets: $8. The Long Center for Performing Arts, 701 West Riverside Drive.

Live Music at Central Market- Enjoy live music for FREE while the kids have a chance to work off some energy on the playscape. Friday features the band Lost and Nameless Orchestra and Saturday, Earl Poole Ball. Friday and Saturday, 6:30- 9:00pm. Central Market, 4001 N. Lamar Blvd.

Cookie Mouse Visits Storytime with ZACH Theatre- Join us as special guest Cookie Mouse visits Storytime! With him will be actors from the ZACH Theatre production of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Join them as they present to you their version of this classic picture book. FREE!! Saturday, 11:00am. Barnes and Noble in the Arboretum, 10000 Research Blvd #158.

Family Movie: The Smurfs- Bring the family out to watch a movie at the library for FREE!! Saturday, 1:00- 3:00pm. Southeast Austin Branch Library, 5803 Nuckols Crossings Road.

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do Storytime- Join us for a very mellifluous storytime for all of you young songbirds out there.  We’ll be reading the Caldecott Award winning There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly along with other lyrical tales to leave you on a high note!  So whistle your way to the store this morning for a marvelous storytime full of songs and stories and surprises!  FREE!! Saturday, 11:30AM. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd.

C hinese New Year Celebration with Dragon Dance Team-Join us at the library for a Chinese New Year celebration! The Texas Dragon Dance Team will perform traditional Chinese Dragon Dances! Learn about the Chinese New Year holiday and then watch the dancers perform. FREE!! All ages. Saturday, 10:00am. Wells Branch Community Library,  15001  Wells Port Drive.

Jan Bozarth Book Signing- Put on your wings and sprinkle on some fairy dust, because we have a magical event coming for you with one of BookPeople’s bestselling authors, Jan Bozarth! More magic and adventure await in this latest Fairy Godmother Academy story. Sumi Hara loves fashion. She always looks beautiful, and always wears the perfect outfit. When she arrives in Aventurine, Sumi is thrilled to learn that she’s a shape-shifter.Unfortunately, she’s not very good at shape-shifting yet, so she’s given a guide named Kano—who’s distractingly gorgeous in his human form. But right away they get off on the wrong foot; Sumi can’t understand why this boy doesn’t seem to like her. When they find out that an evil fairy queen holds the final mirror shard needed to complete their mission, Sumi will have to discover what true beauty and perfection are, or she could lose Kano and her chance to become a fairy godmother.Come dressed in your best fairy costume and help us celebrate another wonderful book from Jan Bozarth! FREE!! All books that you would like to have signed must be purchased from  BookPeople. Saturday, Noon., BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd.

National Geographic Little Explorers: Bugs- We’re bringing the science museum experience to our stores with hands-on activities, quizzes, songs, and more. Kids ages 3 and up are invited to explore together with us as we learn all about bugs, birds and maps. Children will earn a badge for every event that they attend, and kids who attend all three events this season will get a special prize. FREE!! Saturday, 10:00am. Pottery Barn, Barton Creek Square Mall, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy.

Family Storytime- Family Storytime is open to all ages. Come enjoy books, music and crafts with Miss Kit. Call 512-401-5634 for more details. FREE!! Saturday, 10:00am. Cedar Park Public Library, 600 N. Bell Blvd., Cedar Park.

What’s the Story Steve- Move Your Tale and ColdTowne Theater collaborate to present this fully improvised theatrical journey through a story of the audience’s making. Improv is great way to approach collaborative storytelling. This production empowers children to help make the story happen or to just sit back and enjoy the ride! A great, theatrical way to spend a Saturday morning. Featuring Steve the improvising poodle, a portion of the show is inspired by the PBS series What’s the Story Wishbone. Pay what you wish. Appropriate for audiences of all ages. Saturday, 10:00am. ColdTowne Theatre, 4803 Airport Blvd.

Fancy Nancy: Design a Tiara and Storytime- Imaginative fun for crafty little ladies. FREE Make-It Take-It While Supplies Last. Ages 3 and up. Saturday, 10:00am- Noon. All participating Michael’s locations.

Food-Free Family Storytime- Miss Rocksssanne visits storytime! Enjoy a reading activity that welcomes families with children of all ages to a fun environment that’s safe for individuals affected by food allergies.This interactive program includes a variety of activities such as books, fingerplays, music, movies, and puppets. FREE!! Saturday, 10:30am. Round Rock Public Library, 216 E. Main Street, Round Rock.

Crafts for Kids- Bring the kids, ages 3 and up, to make an Anchors Aweigh! Floating Boat. FREE!! Saturday, 11:00am- 3:00pm. Lakeshore Learning Store, 9828 Great Hills Trail.

The Season Highlight Reel- Enjoy favorite activities from programs throughout the season of Texas High School Football: More Than the Game. Celebrate the end of another year of football and make your own championship trophy to take home. FREE!! Saturday, 1:00-3:00 p.m. The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave.

Storytime- A weekend storytime for families with kids of all ages. FREE!! Saturday, 11:00am. Wells Branch Community Library, 15001 Wells Port Drive.

Kid Activities at Elgin Farmers Market- Mom’s can shop and the kids can get engaged in art! The activities are provided and supervised by the Elgin Arts Association and there it’s FREE! Saturday, 10:00am- 2:00pm. Elgin Main Street.

Storytime at Mitchie’s- Enjoy a FREE storytime and language featuring African-American folktales from 1:00-2:00pm every Saturday. Kids receive free refreshments, a free book and a 30% discount! Mitchie’s Gallery, 7801 N. Lamar Blvd., Bldg. B, Suite 148.

Sunday Storyime- Enjoy an all-ages, FREE storytime on Sunday at 1:00pm at Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe Street.

Flying Theatre Machine: The Adventure Room- Sundays at the Hideout, Flying Theater Machine presents the only kid-oriented improv in Austin. The audience will help us with suggestions and sound effects, and a few lucky kids will even get to join us on stage. Tickets: $8. Sunday, 2:00pm. The Hideout Theater, 617 Congress Ave.

Sunday Morning Kids Show: Mr. Johnny and Sharon- Singing and jumping and dancing! Includes special performances with Amber and Nick! FREE!! Sunday, 10:00am. Ruta Maya Coffee Shop, 3601 S. Congress Ave.

Hey Lollies Kids Show- Enjoy a FREE performance by the Hey Lollies! Sunday, 10:30am. Cherrywood Coffee Shop, 1400 E.381/2 Street.

Symphony of Clouds- The childhood story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart was a famous musical prodigy at the age of five. Come see the young Mozart as his family and the rest of the world discover his amazing talent. Tickets:$12 online, $15 by phone. Sunday, 2:00pm and 4:30pm. AustinVentures Studio Theater, 501 West 3rd Street.

Identification Day- Have you ever wondered about a fossil you’ve found? Then bring it with you to Identification Day. Scientists and experts from all over Central Texas are on hand to look at and identify natural objects (fossils, bones, rocks, etc.) and archaeological materials (arrowheads, points, scrapers, etc.).Scientists from Texas Natural Science Center’s Non-vertebrate Paleontology Lab and Vertebrate Paleontology Lab, and Texas Natural History Collections are present at each ID Day, along with a variety of special guest experts from The University of Texas at Austin and the Austin area. FREE!! Sunday, 1:00- 4:45pm. Texas Natural Science Center, 2400 Trinity Street.

Octavitas -Christmas is not over for the Puerto Rican community! Come celebrate the Octavitas as the Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance and Cultural Center honors Linda Irizarry-Crockett, our first honoree, for her contribution to our community. Come enjoy with your familia, this traditional holiday festival that will kick off our 15th year! There will be antojitos Boricuas, music, artist exhibitions, a Parranda sing-along, and folkloric to contemporary music and dance performances by Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance. FREE!! Don’t be shy and stop by. Sunday, 2:00- 5:00pm. Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center, 701 Tillery Street.

ParentU Baby Expo- This is a FREE event you don’t want to miss! The first 50 guests will receive an awesome free schwag bag. Every guest will receive a free class pass to any ParentU lecture. Free belly shots for all pregnant mamas. Free infant portraits for the little ones. Free car seat inspections for all parents. Free belly or hand henna. Free seminars on meditation, yoga, fitness, nutrition, sleep, and more!  More freebies to discover at the expo. Don’t forget to enter the raffle for free doula care ($409 value).  Awesome silent auction prizes up for bid as well, all benefiting the Get Babied Scholarship Fund which provides doula care to low income families. Saturday, 1:00- 5:00pm. Get Babied Doula Collective, 1825 E 38 1/2 St.

Future Scientists Jamboree- Join 1000 friends and family for the most exciting science education event of the year. You’ll experience hands on science of the movies and witness amazing stunt demonstrations by renowned movie stunt expert Steve Wolf and his team of professional stuntmen, zip line rides, The Austin Planetarium, Dr. Kold, rope obstacle course, food and the first human android keynote in the history of man – “Zeno” developed by Hanson Robotics, this kid-friendly event will ignite the love of science in adults and children and raise money to provide supplemental curriculum to elementary and middle school teachers! Sunday, 3:00- 8:00pm. Star Ranch adn Fire Lake Event Center, 13317 Fitzhugh Road

For the past few years, I have either hosted or attended a soup swap in the fall or early winter (there was one year I missed because I was in the hospital having a baby, but my friends all brought extra soup to the swap I missed and brought it to me when I got home, which was a lovely gesture). I really love a good soup swap, not only because you get to stock your freezer for the cold(ish, if you’re in Austin) days and nights ahead, but you also get to exchange food with your friends and community members, which is never a bad thing.

The beauty of the soup swap is that it is a versatile event. You can make it a party or you can be all business. I once went to a swap that was held outside at a park; the children played on the playscape while the moms attended to the business of soup. When all of the soup had been exchanged, we all went home. Conversely, I have held soup swaps that are like little early-evening parties, complete with wine, a groaning buffet of nibbles, and fun little things like handmade door prizes for the first and last soups picked. The tone you set for your soup swap is contingent, of course, upon you and your invitees, but I personally believe that no one will want to come to your soup swaps if they aren’t a little bit fun!

The basics of a soup swap are these: choose a date sometime during the cold months for your event. Choose 10-12 people to invite, based on the theme of your soups to be swapped. This year, I chose to have a vegetarian/vegan soup swap because meatless soups are generally pretty uncontroversial, and many people I know are trying to reduce their meat intake. However, you will want to ask your attendees to please specify, either on the Facebook event page or Evite or perhaps even a Google doc, what kind of soup they are bringing so that you don’t wind up with a dozen variations on butternut squash or lentils. Attendees should make enough soup to fill 6-8 freezable (no glass!) quart-size containers for sharing. Truly thoughtful attendees will bring copies of their recipes with them to the swap. Containers should be clearly labeled with the type of soup, and any ingredients of note for attendees with allergies or dietary restrictions; for example, you’ll want to indicate if your soup has peanuts in it or whether it is gluten-free.

Make sure you have a large enough surface to accommodate everyone’s containers of soup on the day of the exchange. After everyone has arrived, set up their soups, and had a chance to mingle and nibble, assemble guests in the main swapping area and have everyone go around and introduce themselves and their soups, telling any interesting stories they might have about their soups (“I got this bantan recipe while doing an ethnographic study of nomads on the Mongolian steppes”; “My Sicilian grandmother brought this recipe for split pea soup over on the Mayflower”). After everyone has introduced his or her soup, everyone draws a number and the swapping begins, with the person who drew number 1 selecting his or her first soup, then number 2, number 3 and so on until everyone has selected a soup. Keep going in rounds until all the soup has been swapped. Depending on how many people you have and how chatty they are, this might take a while, so just remember that sharing food with your friends and neighbors is fun, and that to help one another stock each other’s freezers with warm, nourishing food for the long winter nights to come is a great way to make new and strengthen existing bonds.

Soup’s on!

Vegan Wild Rice Soup*

• 3 T olive oil
• 1 small onion, minced
• 1/2 cup flour
• 6 cups vegetable broth**
• 2 cups cooked wild rice
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 1 cup carrot, shredded
• 3 T sliced almonds
• 1/2 cup vegan white wine (this may not require a special purchase; check the white wines you have on hand against this database [http://www.barnivore.com/wine#]. You may find that you already have a vegan white wine on hand.)
• salt to taste (be careful if you’re not using a low-sodium broth)

1. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a heavy pot.
2. Add onions and saute until soft and fragrant.
3. Add flour and cook until a roux forms.
4. Slowly add the broth and whisk continuously with the oil, onions, and flour. Bring to a boil, and then cook for one minute longer.
5. Stir in rice, carrots, celery, and almonds. Simmer for 5 minutes more.
6. Add white wine and simmer until heated through.
7. Taste for salt, add more if necessary.
8. Package into quart containers (this recipe as written yields about four quarts, so you may need to double for swapping) and freeze until your soup swap!

*If this soup tastes too “vegan,” you can always add some chopped bacon or shredded chicken, and substitute chicken broth for the vegetable broth.

**This soup is rather thick, so you might want to add more broth at the end until it reaches your desired consistency.

Photo credit: Megan Myers from Stetted.com

Written by Melanie Haupt

Melanie Haupt is a freelance writer, sometimes-blogger, and the mother of two young children. She recently defended her dissertation on women’s food writing at  UT-Austin. You can read more of her work at austinchronicle.com and boxingoctopus.wordpress.com.

Ladies, mark your calendars… there are several events coming up that you won’t want to miss!

MomCom Austin

This Saturday, January 21, 2012, plan to head out to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for MomCom Austin, a conference that is just for moms! Now, this isn’t your typical conference. It is sure to be a day that is filled with fun and inspiration, a place where you will find other people like you, people who are ambitious, creative, social, inspirational, brilliant. You’ll find writers, business owners, politicos and media mamas. You’ll find support and acknowledgement that wherever you are today, it’s exactly where you are supposed to be.

MomCom Austin is not going to show you the steps to publishing your novel, but you might hear the way another mom did it in her own way, on her own terms, as a mom. You might not learn the basics of blogging success, but you’ll be able to hear how other blogger moms take care of their families and follow hearts. There aren’t going to be instructors telling you how to write the perfect business plan, but you’ll hear from moms who can honestly tell you there is no perfect business plan.

It’s not just about networking. It’s about creating. It’s about connecting. It’s about community.

Tickets for the conference are $55 and includes breakfast, lunch and a chocolate lovers reception at the end of the day. Door prizes, giveaways, food and fun…. priceless. And if you need childcare for the day, Kid Spa Austin, which is right down the road from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, will be waiving the registration fee of $30 and offering a discount for the day. For $50, you will receive up to 9 1/2 hours of child care and free lunch and snacks for the day.

I, along with Heidi Gollub from Free Fun in Austin and Tiziana Barrow from A Family Village, will be speaking on the Inspiration Panel. You can see a list of all the speakers here.  We hope to see you there!

Family Day at the Movies: Big Miracle (PG)

Based on the inspiring incredible true story that united the world, the rescue adventure Big Miracle tells the amazing tale of a small town news reporter (John Krasinski) and a animal-loving volunteer (Drew Barrymore) who are joined by rival world superpowers to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.

Local newsman Adam Carlson (Krasinski) can’t wait to escape the northern tip of Alaska for a bigger market. But just when the story of his career breaks, the world comes chasing it, too. With an oil tycoon, heads of state and hungry journalists descending upon the frigid outpost, the one who worries Adam the most is Rachel Kramer (Barrymore). Not only is she an outspoken environmentalist, she’s also his ex-girlfriend.

With time running out, Rachel and Adam must rally an unlikely coalition of Inuit natives, oil companies and Russian and American military to set aside their differences and free the whales. As the world’s attention turns to the top of the globe, saving these endangered animals becomes a shared cause for nations entrenched against one another and leads to a momentary thaw in the Cold War.

Would you like to take your family to see this rescue adventure film for FREE? LiveMom, Free Fun in Austin and A Family Village are teaming up with Universal Pictures to get you in to see this movie at a special Family Day at the Movies screening that is taking place on January 28, 2012 at 11:00am at the Galaxy Highland 10 Theater. Big Miracle will be in theaters on February 3, 2012.

We will be giving away passes and even some VIP reserved seating early next week. Be sure to check back here on Sunday for details on how you can get the passes.

Becker Elementary 1st Annual Pachanga Dance Party

Becker Elementary, the oldest elementary school in South Austin, will host their 1 ^st Pachanga dance party on Friday, February 10 ^th , 2012 from 5:30pm – 8pm . Featuring Grammy award-winning Adrian Quesada of Grupo Fantasma on the turntables, this party is FREE and open to the public.

Other activities will include a Valentine’s Day craft area sponsored by Livemom, face painting by Patricia Calabrese, a family photo booth produced by Fun Loving Photos, and Latin-inspired cuisine provided by Thrice Café/Thai Fresh, whose owners are also proud Becker parents.

Witness a school gymnasium turn the lights down low and hang the disco balls up, as Becker Elementary produces the most highly-anticipated all-ages dance party of the year. Adrian Quesada says, “I’m a proud parent of a Becker Elementary student and honored to donate my time to perform for our future bi-lingual community leaders. Music is an art form that brings people together and I’m excited to see both young and old enjoying themselves for a great cause.”

Come learn about Becker Elementary, listen to some great music and enjoy the party on the dance floor!

Be sure to stop by the Valentine Craft Table to say hi to the folks from LiveMom!

Emily Moores, Home, monoprint and watercolor on paper, 10″ x 6.25″, 2010, unframed, $100

When we become parents, watching the news can be hard. Knowing the amount of pain and suffering in the world and that we are raising little beings that will soon inhabit it can be overwhelming sometimes.

At the same time, being a parent can be so all-encompassing it’s hard to get out of our little bubble. Time is such a commodity and volunteering is often out of the question. Heck, sometimes even getting out of the house with a shower and brushed teeth is a challenge when your kids are really little. What can we possibly do to make a difference?

Enter Austin mom and artist Jennifer Chenoweth and Generous Art, a business venture she launched last February with Virginia Fleck to support both nonprofits and artists. Jennifer is a single mom to 2 boys, ages 5 and 7, and fixture in the local art community. A graduate of UT’s MFA (Master of Fine Arts) program and the owner of Firsterra Studio, Jennifer has taught art and creative entrepeneurship, served as a panelist for Austin’s Art in Public Places program, opened her home each year as a stop on E.A.S.T and mentored and employed countless aspiring artists.

Sydney Yeager, Under the Influence, oil on canvas, 60″ x 60″, $6,250

Jennifer receives 30-40 requests each year to contribute art to fundraising events. “I have some causes dear to my heart, and just donating a piece of art to their auctions isn’t enough,” she explained. “I can’t afford to write the kinds of checks that I would like as a self-employed artist and single mom”.

As a person who has run and attended a dozen silent auctions, I have solicited art from a friend, only to see it go for a fraction of what it was worth. Usually, art is mixed in with jewelry and other random items, and most likely not displayed as it would be in a gallery. Under these conditions, the artist receives little, if any, benefit and the charity rarely receives market value for the contribution.

Karen Maness, Spankdance Duet, oil on masonite, $1,250

Generous Art began as an effort to maximize the benefit to the buyer, artist and community. Potential buyers can access the online gallery anytime, from anywhere, to select a piece of art. Generous Art even offers gift registry services and sells gift cards. When a buyer selects a work of art, 40% of the purchase price goes to the artist, 40% goes to a charity of the buyer’s choice and 20% goes to sustain the business. From the first sale, which was a studio sale of Jennifer’s work last June, through December, Generous Art has sold 46 pieces of art, which generated $4,166 to 19 nonprofits.

“…this is the way I can really make an impact in my whole community to make what I value sustainable. It’s like building a safety net that threads us all together.”

Generous Art currently features 23 local artists and 31 participating charities. Jennifer looks for works that have been exhibited and are in the artists’ inventory. She works with artists to select the pieces from their collections she feels will be the strongest for the gallery. There is no requirement for the participating artists or charities to be local, and Jennifer plans to expand Generous Art on a city-by-city basis. Both artists and charities can apply online.

Jade Walker, Puberty Near, fabric, cotton stuffing, found objects, 24″x20″x24″, $750

Generous Art also provides opportunities for potential buyers to see gallery items in person. Jennifer hopes to organize four studio sales and one group show each year. The next studio sale will feature works from Emily Moores. Emily’s art will be on display online from January 21st-February 12th and can be seen in person at Texas French Bread from 3-6pm on Sunday, February 5th. The next group show, where Generous Art takes art on easels to nonprofit fundraising galas, will take place at Citizen Generation’s Charity Bash Masquerade Ball on Saturday, February 18th.

Was Austin a particularly good place to consider launching this type of business? Jennifer responded with a resounding yes. As she points out, “we have an unusually tight network of nonprofits, thanks to organizations like the Austin Community Foundation and Greenlights for Nonprofit Success, Austinites are particularly cause-oriented and are quite culturally literate and our artists are quite generous and talented.” That said, she is eager to take Generous Art to other cities and continue to “spread the love”.

I know I’ll be virtually cheering her on.

Written by: Nicole Basham