AND You can use the code below and get an EXTRA 5% OFF ANY shoes in the entire store with a limit of one code per pair of shoes.

KIDO2438

AND if you use this coupon on LiveMom’s Save On, Mom Discount Card Program, you can get a FREE pair of socks, too! Print it out or bring in your discount card.

Get in there early for the best selection. Happy shopping! Happy Saving!

KidOShoe is located at 2438 W. Anderson Lane in the same shopping center as Terra Toys.

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 Cienfuegos and Saturday, The Marshall Ford Swing Band. Friday and Saturday, 6:30- 9:00pm. Central Market, 4001 N. Lamar Blvd.

Home Depot Kids Workshop- Bring your kids to this FREE How-To Workshop for kids ages 5-12 years old where they will make a Keepsake Box, perfect for storing all of those Valentine’s Day cards! Saturday, 9:00am- Noon. All participating Home Depot Locations.

BookKids Storytime- Join us for a wonderfully artistic storytime celebrating children’s book author and poet, Ezra Jack Keats. We’ll not only be reading the classic story The Snowy Day and other stories, but also making paper snowflakes! A perfect storytime celebrating the weather and the beginning of Black History Month. FREE!! Saturday, 11:30am. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd.

Kite Making Workshop- Fly on by and learn how to make a kite for the 84th annual Zilker Kite Festival.  Children will have the opportunity to make multiple kites and then fly them in the park! All materials are provided, ages 5 and up. FREE!! Saturday, 1:00pm. Pan Am Recreation Center, 2100 East 3rd Street.

TEXplorations: Making a Difference- This month, Story Time will feature favorites about making a difference in your community. Come to our monthly Story Time programs to learn more about what’s happening in the world around you! FREE!! Saturday, 2:00 and 2:30pm. The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress.

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.

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.

Walk on the Wild Side- Enjoy an interpretive hike as a park naturalist brings together a unique blend of human and natural history to tell the story of the Colorado River. Discover how the river influences animal, plant and human life along its banks. After your hike, visit McKinney Roughs Visitors Center gift shop with live native animals and interactive exhibits. Bring a picnic lunch and make it a nature day! Hike is limited to the first 20 participants. Clubs or groups of more than five people should schedule a private hike. Pre-registration is required. FREE!! Adults and children ages 8 and up. Saturday, 10:00am- Noon.  McKinney Roughs Nature Park.

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.

Kids’ Circus Camp- Join Circus Chickendog for a unique performance each week and learn new circus skills after each show! It’s fun for families and kids of all ages and great for birthday parties, too. Saturday, 9 to 9:30—A Make-Believe Dance Party with live musicians , 9:30 to 10:30—Circus/Musical Shaggy Dog “Tail” (Complete with Moral), 10:30 to 11:00–Learn to Juggle, Yo-Yo, and Train Dogs. Check out the weekly schedule on our Facebook page under the events section! $5 – kids, adults-free (Cash/Check at door). The Institution Theater, 3708 Woodbury Drive.

Sherwood Forest Faire Preview Day- Enjoy an afternoon of music from some of the fine musicians of Sherwood Forest Faire! Presented by Things Celtic, this is a FREE show that is open to the public. Stop by Things Celtic to enjoy a preview of some of the fine entertainment that will be featured at Sherwood Forest Faire. There will also be a drawing to win free passes to Sherwood Forest Faire! No purchase necessary, and you don’t have to be present at the drawing to win. Saturday, Ky Hote – 1:00pm, Tulstin Troubadours – 2:00pm , Owl Morrison – 3:00pm , The Bedlam Bards – 4:00pm. Things Celtic, 1806 W. 35th Street.

2012 FUMP Music Festival- Live music featuring Austin’s own Staci Gray and Joe McDermott, arts and crafts, snacks and an instrument petting zoo. It’s indoors so come rain or shine and bring a blanket to sit on. Saturday, 10:00am- 1:00pm. Tickets: $10 adults and children, children under 2 are free. FUMC Family Life Center, 1300 Lavaca Street.

Make-It Take-It Valentine Crafts- Create a fun foam mailbox for Valentine’s Day Goodies. Make-It Take-It with purchase of foam or white craft mailbox While Supplies Last. Ages 3+. Saturday, 1:00- 2:00pm. From 2:00- 3:00pm, craft a sophisticated card for a loved one. Free Make-It Take-It While Supplies Last. Ages 3+. All participating Michael’s Locations.

Daddy Daughter Dance- Dad’s grab your star for this Star Studded Night and daughters put on the shine! The theme will be “You are my Shining Star.” A special star studded night full of dancing and fun that will leave you with special shining memories. Light refreshments will be served at each dance.  Dad’s and daughters of all ages are welcome. Dad’s with daughter’s in each category may pick to bring both daughters to the dance of their choice. Professional photography will be available for an additional fee. Tickets are presale only; while supplies last.  Cost is $7 per ticket. Saturday, ages 0-7, 5:30- 7:30pm and ages 8 and up from 8:00- 10:00pm. Clay Madsen Recreation Center, 1600 Gattis School Road, Round Rock.

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.

21st Annual Mock Surgery- What do the masked doctors, nurses and technicians do inside those rooms? Find out when the Seton Healthcare Family presents the 21st Annual Mock Surgery & More event. Mock Surgery & More gives visitors the opportunity to learn what happens during surgical procedures and about many health care professionals and organizations that support surgical care. The self-paced program includes: Several operating rooms with mock set-ups of a variety of surgical procedures, Hands-on demonstrations and learning experiences with surgical equipment and other medical procedures, Seton associates, physicians and surgeons assuming their roles and explaining procedures. FREE!! Saturday, 9:00am- 2:00pm. Clinical Education Center at Brackenridge, 1400 N. IH35.

Austin Zoo’s Primate House Grand Opening- Join the zoo in a welcoming ceremony with family games and activities as the monkeys explore their new home. Regular museum admission. Saturday, 11:00am. The Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary, 10808 Rawhide Trail.

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.

LEGO Friends Launch n’ Build- Kids ages 5 and up can build a lemonade stand to go along with any LEGO Friends set. The LEGO Group will donate $1 for each stand built to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, an organization that raises money for research in the fight against childhood cancer. Saturday, Noon- 2:00pm. Toys “R” Us, 4025 Capital of Texas Highway.

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

A.I.S.D. Diversity Fair- The district is hosting a Diversity Fair that will celebrate the amazing diversity found amongst the district’s student body which represents over 90 languages. Parents and students are invited to host booths and share information about their culture with event guests. The fair will also include cultural performances that you won’t want to miss. Come out and learn something new about another culture!Schedule:9:30 a.m. Korean Dance and Martial Arts,10:30 a.m. Vietnamese Drums, Student Performances and Dragon Dance, 11:15 a.m. Thai and Burmese Dances. FREE!! Saturday, 9:00am- Noon. Austin High School, 1715 W. Cesar Chavez.:

Crafts for Kids- Bring the kids, ages 3 and up, to design their own notebook.  FREE!! Saturday, 11:00am- 3:00pm. Lakeshore Learning Store, 9828 Great Hills Trail.

Tortuga del Mar Puppet Show- Mayan goddess Ixchel watches over two baby sea turtles on their journey across the ocean.  They encounter all the enchantment and mystery the great waters hold.  Can they swim free of the Pacific Trash Vortex that threatens their very existence? Recommended for ages 5 and up. Presented by Literature Live! FREE!! Sunday, 1:00pm. Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe.

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.

Pflugerville Reads: The Wizard of Oz- Join the fun at Heritage House! Wizard of Oz themed puzzles, games and stories in Dorothy’s House! Check to see if you can find the Wicked Witch of the West. All ages welcome. FREE!! Sunday from 1:00- 4:00pm with a special storytime from 1:00- 2:00pm. Heritage House, 901 Old Austin Hutto Road.

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

Lego Fun Day- Learning Fun 101, our fabulous local Lego experts, are hosting a day full of Lego fun! Mark your calendars for a day of everything Lego! Help us build a Giant fireman mini figure, compete in the Lego Battle Tops arena, dig into a swimming pool full of Lego pieces for “Free Building”, Play Lego games, Enter to win a Lego game, Give-Aways. FREE!! Sunday, Noon- 4:00pm. Kaleidoscope Toys, 1601 S. IH35, Round Rock.

Whole Foods Kid’s Club- Everyone loves pizza! Join the Kid’s Club gang as we read an awesome book about pizza and make our very own personal pizzas. FREE!! Sunday, Noon- 3:00pm. Whole Foods, 525 N. Lamar Blvd.

I love the idea of a farmers’ market. Really, I do.

The idea that I can drop in and get a bunch of vegetables I will whip up into fabulously healthy meals that will wow my husband and delight my son.

Somehow, it just doesn’t end up that way.

I usually plan my meals on Sunday and go to the grocery store in the afternoon, at night, or even on Monday if it just can’t happen before. I also find that I enjoy getting a slow start on Saturday and am eternally grateful that my husband often takes early morning kid duty so I can sleep in.

The family trips we have made to farmers’ markets in the past seem to be marked by kid tantrums, my wondering around aimlessly, buying a few random things and leaving feeling like we have missed an opportunity to buy locally grown, often organic food and to teach my son valuable lessons about where his food comes from.

I’m hoping to change this dynamic. One of the nice things about living in Austin is that farmers can grow and harvest food year-round. So that means that on weekends when it’s nice out and still “winter” here, I am determined to be better about visiting the local farmers’ markets.

The market that is most convenient to me is the Downtown Farmers’ Market, which takes place Saturdays from 9-1 in Republic Square. The Sustainable Food Center sponsors the Market Downtown, along with the Market at Sunset Valley (also 9-1 on Saturdays) and the Market at the Triangle on Wednesday afternoons. Another market I want to check out is the HOPE Farmers’ Market at Pine Station on Sundays from 11-3.

At the downtown market during the summer, we once happened upon a cute kids’ activity. Children were given circle-shaped slices of yellow watermelon, which was topped with yogurt and a little honey and mint for a “cupcake”. My son gobbled it up in no time. When I reached out to Susan Leibrock, the Community Relations Director at the Sustainable Food Center, I learned that kids’ activities take place each week under the brightly-colored SFC tent:

• The first Saturday of the month, Maureen Haskell of Be Groovy, Be Green leads kid-friendly storytimes songs and games about being eco-aware.
• The 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month, The Little Kitchen leads a kids’ cooking activity emphasizing seasonally and using ingredients purchased on site at our market.
• The third (and when applicable, fifth) Saturdays Little Sprouts takes place, which is an interactive year of activities based on a passport model whereby kids perform an eco-friendly activity, learn a sustainability-related task or play an educational game about local food or gardening, and then get to choose a sticker to add to their passport as a way to log what they’re accomplishing each month.

Susan is always looking for volunteers to lead the activities, so if that’s something that sounds like fun, feel free to contact her. There is really no excuse for not planning a fun family outing in between these activities, fun live music and baked goods for my child!

I should note that since I had last been, the parking garage where we always used to park is now $3, but there is surface parking (which seemed to be full most of my trip) just south of the market, it’s free to park in the City Hall lot and metered parking is free until 11am and then $1 per hour after that. After circling once, I found a spot just across the street.

After a little research, I realized there are plenty of tools to avoid the aimless wandering that previously characterized my market trips. The Sustainable Food Center’s website has a list of what’s in season, recipes and links to vendors’ websites. I also checked out the beautiful website for Johnson’s Backyard Garden, which has a photo of each week’s CSA box to give you an idea of what will be at the market, plus
recipes, storage tips and cooking advice for each of the vegetables.

When I realized bok choy and cabbage would likely be at the Market, I thought about a recipe that I often make at home and for families with a new baby. Not only is it hearty, fast to prepare and healthy, but it also can be prepared vegetarian if you hold the chicken, vegan if you also nix the feta cheese and is gluten-free (and can be nut-free minus the almonds).

I found the recipe from Amber, who posted it on her blog and who is the author of a low-carb cookbook. She adapted it from Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home. I’ve made some notes in parentheses.

Tunisian Vegetable Chicken Stew

1 1/2 C thinly sliced onions (one large onion)
2 T olive oil
3 C thinly sliced cabbage (Farmers Market cabbages are perfect as they aren’t as huge as the ones at the grocery store)
2 C thinly sliced bok choy (you can either use a medium-sized bunch or a few bunches of baby bok choy)
Dash of salt
1 large red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 28-oz can undrained chopped tomatoes
1 16-oz can cooked chick peas/garbanzo beans
3 C shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie is easy and tasty, but any chicken will do – I shredded two cooked chicken breasts)
1/3 C raisins or currants (I used golden raisins)
1 T fresh lemon juice

Grated feta cheese
Toasted slivered almonds (optional)

In a large skillet, sauté the onions in the olive oil for 5 minutes, or until softened. Add the cabbage and bok choy, sprinkle with salt, and continue to sauté for at least 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the bell pepper, coriander, turmeric and cinnamon to the skillet and sauté for another minute or so. Stir in the tomatoes, chickpeas, chicken, and optional currants or raisins, and simmer, covered for about 15 minutes, until the vegetables are just tender. Add the lemon juice and salt to taste. Top with feta and toasted almonds.

Are you a regular at the Farmers’ Market? Do you plan for the market or just pick up food and decide what to do with it when you get home? What is your favorite source for recipes for farmers’ market goodies?

Written by: Nicole Basham

It seems like every few months there’s a news story that looks at the way we as a nation medicate our kids—the increasing rates, the negative side effects that can come with medication, the off-label usage. All of it raises questions about the ways meds affect our children’s health and development. These stories are thought provoking at the least, utterly disturbing at the worst.

But who doesn’t know someone—perhaps it’s even in our own family—who has lived through the havoc that a serious mental or behavioral health problem can bring? Many families manage to reclaim a sense of healthy functioning after their child receives medication.

While there are some who argue against the use of any mind-altering medication in treating a child for mental or behavioral disorders, research backs what many children and their families witness firsthand—these medications often work. They can be effective in alleviating symptoms and treating problems that previously represented huge obstacles in a child’s ability to function at home, learn at school, or even live safely with family.

Still, there are those disturbing things, too. Some of the drugs are prescribed off label. Many have side effects. Parents need to weigh the benefits the drug provides with any side effects or risks that may come with it.

Like the rest of the nation, Texas has a severe shortage of child psychiatrists, and many parents turn to their pediatrician or family doctor for help in navigating these decisions. In fact, most prescriptions for psychotropic medication for children are written by pediatricians and family physicians, and not by child and adolescent psychiatrists, who have the most training in the appropriate use of these kinds of medications.  While primary care doctors play a critical role in addressing children’s mental health, many may find themselves ill-equipped to help families address the complex issues and needs that often come with serious children’s mental health concerns.

So while medication is a valuable tool that, when used appropriately, has its place in many children’s treatment plans, there are real concerns that children are being inappropriately prescribed medications when other treatment options could—and perhaps should—be used.  Several things may be playing into this. Doctors may be using the tool they are most familiar and comfortable with (you know, just like how carpenters like hammers, surgeons like scalpels…). Pharmaceutical companies are very adept at marketing to both doctors and parents, so not only are doctors are being to encouraged to prescribe the “latest and greatest” medication on the market, but parents desperate for solutions are now coming to their child’s doctor’s office asking for specific meds. And sometimes, well, a pill may just be a more convenient and cheaper way to fix a problem than using other, more appropriate, and less intrusive interventions, such as talk therapy or giving parents and teachers training and tools that help children manage their symptoms.

Perhaps most troubling are reports suggesting some kids are at particular risk of being overmedicated.  A recent federal report found that kids in the Texas foster care system are prescribed psychotropic meds at higher rates than kids in the foster care systems of other states.  This is even after Texas put in place some good policies to bring down its foster care prescribing rates (Texas’ rates have gone down, but we’re still higher than the other states). A couple of years ago, the New York Times reported low-income children covered by Medicaid were prescribed antipsychotic drugs four times as often as their peers covered by private insurance, and that these low-income children were more likely to be handed a prescription for smaller concerns.

As if having a child with mental health or behavioral concerns isn’t hard enough, parents find themselves having to make some tough calls on treatment decisions on what’s best for their child.  What can they do?  Well, I’m not expert, but I say:  Ask questions and research options.  Become educated, and be informed on both your child’s diagnosis and the different treatment options available to your family.  Medication may be the right choice, either alone or in combination with other strategies, or it may not be.  But always, ALWAYS advocate for what your mama-instinct is telling you your child needs—at their doctor’s office, with their therapist, and at their school.

Here are a few resources that might be of some help:

• Choosing the Right Treatment : What Families Need to Know
• Resources from the American Academic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Guide to Psychiatric Medications for Children and Adolescents
• Advocating for Your Child: 25 Tips for Parents

It’s also important for parents to advocate for their children at the Capitol, because decisions made at the Legislature affect the type of care that’s available in our communities.  There are real actions our state lawmakers can take to attract and keep good doctors and child psychiatrists in our state. They can help make sure other people who work with our children—like child care providers and teachers—have information and resources they need to help children with concerns.

Our lawmakers can also take action to increase the availability of effective mental health services and supports available in our communities, so that parents have real options when deciding what’s best for their children—and don’t have to settle for the first treatment that’s offered to them.

Written by: Josette Saxton

“Mommy, we are all going to die one day.”

Children have the remarkable ability to see things in black and white. They have yet to understand the despair of losing a good friend, the grief of seeing a favorite grandparent die or even possibly the heartbreak of the passing of their first pet. They haven’t yet seen that death is something we don’t like to talk about, think about or plan for.

At the same time, becoming a parent seems to be the last milestone on the road to truly being an adult. In addition to dealing with all the mundane things in life, such as Do I have enough diapers to get through the day? to What car seat should I buy? to How many hours of sleep does my infant need?, we are also left to struggle with issues such as What can I do to raise a child who is healthy and happy?, How do I know when to hover and when to stand back? and the question I have struggled with, What will happen to my son if my husband and I die?

Writing a will has been on my to do list for years now. In fact, I found an email from 2008, when I purchased online will software, only to discover that I did not download the product in the required 72 hours. Before another year goes by, I want to put something in place and check this big “adult” task off my to do list — which I know will leave me feeling a huge sense of relief.

I started my research online. Not surprisingly, I found a ton of information about writing a will and the accompanying documents. And I learned that I’m not alone: just over one-third of Americans have a will in place. Although I’m a blogger, I’m still a big fan of books, so I checked out an armful from the library. I also connected with two local resources (and moms): Lesley Hempfling, an estate planning attorney, and Megan Poore, a financial advisor with Lucien, Stirling & Gray. After dragging my feet for five years, I’m happy to say I’m finally making some progress on getting my plans in order. Here is some of what I learned:

Why is it important for parents to have a will?
Let’s start with the most basic of questions: do I really need to have a will?

When you die, your will spells out what you want to happen to your assets (your house, your car, your jewelry, your doll collection, etc.) and who is responsible for your children. Without a will, your estate goes into probate — meaning that the courts decide (at a cost to your estate) what they think is in your best interest and determine how to allocate your assets. The person who you might think would be best to raise your children might not be who the court decides.

So, basically, as parents, the two reasons to have a will are to appoint a guardian for your children (and a backup, in case that person is not available) and someone to manage the money and property your children will inherit.

Obviously, choosing a guardian for your children is probably one of the harder decisions you will make (and might possibly be why you don’t already have a will). Whom do I ask? Can I depend on him/her to make important decisions for my kids? Do we share the same values? How can I even go about bringing up the subject with him or her? Will __________ be upset that we didn’t choose him/her? This article from CNNMoney had a great list from Nolo.com of what to consider when choosing a guardian for your children:

1. Do you have confidence in the prospective guardian?
2. Is your choice physically able to handle the job?
3. Does he or she have the time?
4. Does he or she have kids of an age close to that of your child?
5. Can you provide enough assets to raise the child? If not, can your prospective guardian afford to raise the baby?

The person you choose to be the guardian of your children may or may not be the person you decide should be in charge of your financial assets. That said, if you choose two different people, of course these people will need to work together, so keep that in mind when you make your choice. And although this is such a hard topic to bring up, this should not come as a surprise when you die, so make sure to ask them now and make sure they are willing to serve in this capacity.

What are the main components of an estate plan?
We often hear the words estate planning, wills and trusts used together. An estate plan can include a will, power of attorney (naming someone to manage your affairs if you can’t) and advanced health care directives (which often includes a living will, which states what types of medical interventions you want and don’t want when you are terminally ill or unable to communicate and a health-care power of attorney, which designates who can make decisions for you in the event a decision comes up that is not outlined in your living will).

Generally, estate planning also involves making a financial plan so you can determine how to best pass along assets to heirs and minimize tax burdens on those who will inherit your assets. You may choose to place your assets in a trust that your children can access at a certain age, for example, or when you are older, you may choose to distribute some of your assets when you are living instead of passing them along in your will.

How can I draft a will?
There are two ways to draft a will and the accompanying documents: on your own with the assistance of software or with the help of a financial and/or tax professional.

Last July, Consumer Reports published an article comparing three products on the market to create your own will: LegalZoon, Rocket Lawyer and Quicken WillMaker. The author concluded, “All three are better than nothing if you have no will. But unless your needs are very simple—say, you want to leave everything to your spouse with no other provisions—none of them is likely to meet your needs.” The article then lists some of the products’ shortcomings.

Lesley Hempfling, the estate lawyer I talked to, advised not to use these products. “I know it is very tempting with the Internet to think it is a good choice and possibly a more economical one.  However, most people are not ‘filling’ these out correctly and then they end up with a Will that is not valid under Texas law in the end. The problem with this type of software is that the person using it may not be aware of issues/facts that they have specific to their situations that would warrant inclusion or exclusion of certain language and there is a lot of room for error in interpreting the language and questions that are provided by this software.”

Another recommendation I saw is to create a will online and then have an attorney look it over. But, according to Lesley, this might not end up saving you time nor money. “Assuming an estate planning attorney would review a software type Will such as this, inevitably it ends up costing more and the attorney ends up re-writing the entire document in the end. If you have a simple, non-taxable estate, there are good, affordable attorneys who can help you draft your documents.”

While I did my research, I also picked up another few good tips:

• This makes sense, but there are certain “will substitutes”: beneficiaries named on retirement accounts, life insurance policies and other investments. These designees will inherit your assets, whether or not you have a will in place.
• It’s good to have a list of final instructions for your family, which can include your wishes for funeral arrangements, who has the will and the name and contact information for the executor, where your important documents are, an inventory of assets and basic information about the agencies that control your death benefits (policy numbers, phone numbers, etc.).

How much does it cost?
If you decide to purchase the software, creating a will and the supporting documents can cost anywhere from $35 up to a few hundred dollars, depending on what other legal documents you want to create (living will, power of attorney, advanced health care directives).

Lesley pointed out that many attorneys offer “Will Packages” which include a medical power of attorney, a HIPPA release, a durable power of attorney, a guardianship in advance of need (which designates who you would and would not want to be your “person” — the person taking care of you — and guardian of your estate — the person handling your finances), a living will and an agent to dispose of remains (for funeral planning). According to Lesley, many attorneys appoint a guardian for your children as a part of the will, but some may also spell that out in a separate document. These services generally cost between $600-$2,500 for an individual and between $1,200 and $4,500 for a couple.

When do these documents need to be updated?
As you might expect, you will need to revisit your will and the supporting documents when you have a major life change: a birth, death, divorce, if you move out of state or after buying, selling and/or inheriting major assets. Your relationship with the person you have appointed as the executor of your estate or the guardian of your children may also change and mean you need to revisit these documents. Regardless, due to potential changes in estate and gift tax laws, Lesley recommends having an attorney review your documents every five years.

What professionals should you search for when you are starting the process? What’s the best way to find one you can trust?
Megan Poore, the financial planner I spoke with, recommended forming an estate planning team, comprised of “a lawyer, a financial planner and an accountant, depending on your family’s situation. Whether starting the estate planning process for a young family or updating an estate plan for the adult children and grandchildren, it provides an opportunity to discuss what the future may hold.  Oftentimes having this discussion with an impartial third party – an attorney or financial advisor – can provide the space and environment needed to allow for open discussion.”

Lesley advised asking friends for a referral or contacting the local Bar (in Austin, she recommends trying the Lawyer Referral Service) to find an estate planning attorney and pointed out that most lawyers provide a free consultation in advance of starting to draft a will and estate planning documents.

If the whole process of starting an estate plan/will seems daunting, where/how should you start? Is there one form that you should do first (living will, power of attorney, last will and testament)?
Putting a will and the accompanying legal documents in place seemed insurmountable for me for years, so I thought it was worth asking Lesley and Megan whether there was a way to do a little of this planning at one time. Lesley advised to go ahead and have an entire will package drawn up, but suggested parents could start by designating your children’s guardian. Many of her clients also feel strongly about having a living will in place early on.

As a financial planner, Megan advises her clients to have a plan in place to provide for children and other family members by determining who should serve as children’s guardians and how financial and other assets will support their care. Later on, Megan encourages her clients to consider whether charitable giving could be part of a family’s financial plan. The more prepared her clients are to discuss the “big picture”, the easier it is to address these interests with the estate planning team.

Now I’m hopeful that the next time my son asks me about death, or we hear about the passing of a famous person or acquaintance, I won’t get that nagging feeling, Yes, I need to get on that. I’m looking forward to the piece of mind that this important, albeit unpleasant, “adult” task is in taken care of.

Have you put together a will? Have you, like me, been putting it off for years? If you have written a will, was it easier or harder than you expected? Have you had to make changes to a will yet?

Written by: Nicole Basham

Disclaimer: Thumbing through five books, doing online research and talking to a few professionals by no means makes me an expert on this subject. I encourage you to contact the professionals in this article for further legal and/or financial planning advice or follow the advice above on how to find someone you can trust.

The decision to have or not to have another baby was tough for many reasons. As much as I love being a part-time stay-at-home-mom, I really miss working full-time and having a career that allows me to continue to grow and develop as a professional. If I had another baby, would I be alright with not being around so much if I chose to work more? That was a tough one. Having another child also meant sleepless nights, constant attachment to a mini-human for the first few months, baby proofing the house, keeping poopy diapers out of my dog’s reach ,and possibly the hardest hurdle for me to overcome, the PREGNANCY.

Oh, how I really hate being pregnant. The first few months of feeling sick all day long, gagging, the exhaustion and peeing non-stop are just miserable. Then comes the pain and the stretching of each and every ligament in my body, the pelvic pain that makes me want to just sit out the rest of the pregnancy in my comfortable recliner. And the worry. The worry that my blood pressure will remain low enough to  not go on bed rest or deliver early. Because what the heck would I do in bed all day long? And did I mention the weight gain? No?

I get big when I am pregnant. The above photo is me in October, only a few months pregnant but already sporting a quite sizable baby belly. Within the first several weeks of pregnancy, I put on at least 5-10 pounds easily. That’s typically before I even know that I’m pregnant so it’s not that I’m eating for two already.  My wonderful body that has carried me through so much in my life just likes to have lots of extra cushion with each pregnancy. By my third month, I could easily pass off as a six month pregnant lady.

Knowing that an extra 60 to 80 pounds of weight being added on in a matter of months was not something that was exactly appealing to me. And knowing that I would have to brace myself for the onslaught of comments about my size was also holding me back a little. Because really, who wants to hear, “WOW! You’re huge!” when you’re pregnant? No one does. Ever.

And definitely don’t ask me if I’m absolutely positive that there aren’t twins in there. Because you know what? At eight months pregnant, I think I would be pretty certain that there is only one baby inside of me. You are not being funny or cute when you say that twin thing.

Also, that look. The big eyes going up and down my body while mumbling, “Five months only? Really?!” Not nice, people. The rest of my body may be swollen and not very cooperative but my eyes and ears still work.

So if you see me walking around town or shopping at HEB, it’s ok to approach me to ask about rubbing my gigantic baby belly. I don’t mind that, so long as you don’t look like the Unabomber. But it’s not ok to tell me how big I am. And please keep this in mind for any pregnant woman that you see. Choose words like, “You look so beautiful.” Or, “Look how cute that belly is on you!”

My advice: Just. Don’t. Go. There. Pointing out a pregnant woman’s weight is sure to make her feel bad. She’s hormonal on top of it just being rude. The last thing you want to do is make her break down in tears for the duration of the day because you can’t say something nice. Then you’d have the guilt of making a pregnant woman miserable and dehydrated from crying so much.

Disclosure: In all fairness, most of these comments that I have had to hear in all of my pregnancies come from either women who have never had children or men who are clueless about a woman’s feelings.

I do receive so many compliments about how I look as a pregnant woman, especially from the teachers at my daughter’s pre-school who are always so generous in telling me how cute I look. And my friends are very supportive, but they do know the look of death that I can give when crossed so they are kind of forced to tell me that I look great. But still, they are doing a great job.

And just to be clear, even though the decision to have a third child was a tough one and the fact that I complain each and every day about being pregnant does not, in any way, mean that I am not looking forward to having this baby. He is going to be making an appearance sometime in March (hopefully not sooner). I promise to go back to my normal, loving , much less cranky self after he’s born. Maybe. Depending on how good of a sleeper he is.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Ford

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.

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.

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered!

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