Austin Health and Beauty Mama
Help for New Year’s Resolutions
The cycle is the same. Every year we overdo, over-booze and over-eat our way through the holiday season and by the time the new year rings in, we are all ready to start anew – […]
2012
Weekend Events
The Weekenders: Events for Austin Families, December 21-23, 2012
Mueller Solstice Lights- Even though it is the longest night the traditional Luminaries will light up the Mueller Park. Participants are welcome to bring their families and enjoy some hot chocolate, cookies and beautiful light installations […]
Recipes
Thursday’s Dish: Empanadas
There is something about the holidays that brings out this desire in me to embark upon a group cooking project. Maybe it’s having grown up in Austin and nibbling on tamales during the holidays or […]
Features
Shop Local Picks: Parts & Labour
If you celebrate Christmas, you are painfully aware that the clock is ticking. Yes, you’d love to find the perfect gift…of course! But where to go? How do I find something for not just one […]
Austin
Season of Giving: Keep Austin Generous and Helping Newtown
Having children makes us all remember the magic of this time of year. The sparkle in their eyes as you unpack the decorations. The inevitable laughter from watching their favorite holiday movie — for the […]
Recipes
Thursday’s Dish: Raspberry-Almond Rugelach
As of this writing, there are three more nights of Chanukah, which means there are three more opportunities to make latkes and sufganiyot (jelly donuts), both of which are popular traditional foods of the Jewish […]
Weekend Events
The Weekenders: Events for Austin Families, December 14-16, 2012
The Elf on the Shelf Storytime- Join us for a special Elf on the Shelf Storytime this evening. FREE!! Friday, 7:00pm. Barnes and Noble, La Frontera Village, 2701 Parker Road Bldg A Suite 700, Round […]
Austin
A Very Austin Holiday Shopping List (GIVEAWAY!)
Maybe it’s pride of place or just a nice way to share a slice of Austin with loved ones at the holidays, but every year I challenge myself to find an array of gifts that […]
Austin
Season of Giving: Green Doors
Having children makes us all remember the magic of this time of year. The sparkle in their eyes as you unpack the decorations. The inevitable laughter from watching their favorite holiday movie — for the […]
Austin
Shop Local Picks: Buy…and Feel Good about Giving
Am I the only one who isn’t done with my holiday shopping? In between the calendar managing, decorating and card addressing I’m still way behind in the actual gift purchasing department. While I was doing […]
Giveaways
GIVEAWAY: ZACH Winter Camp
The holidays are upon us, mamas. With all of the organizing that comes along with this joyous time of year, gift buying, dinnner, planning, cookie baking, holiday performances, and so on, it can be easy […]
Weekend Events
The Weekenders: Events for Austin Families, December 7-9, 2012
Polar Express Storytime- Join us for a heartwarming holiday tradition, our Polar Express Storytime, on Friday, December 7 at 7:00 pm. The evening will include holiday treats and activities. FREE!! Barnes and Noble (4 locations), […]
Recipes
Thursday’s Dish: Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese
Who doesn’t love mac and cheese? I am an absolute devotee, and of course it’s a “kid food” staple. Although the bright-orange thoroughly-Krafted version is always an option, I prefer mine from scratch. The good […]
Austin
Holiday Event Spotlight: Lights of Love, The Nutcracker and Invincible Czars
Yesterday, as a part of our Season of Giving, we wrote about the Ronald McDonald Charities of Austin and Central Texas. This weekend, the organization is the beneficiary of the Lights of Love 5K and […]
Camps
2012/2013 Winter Camps Around Austin
The holidays are almost upon us and, in addition to the hustle and bustle of preparing for celebrations with family and friends, it’s also time to prepare for school-aged children to be on extended break […]
Austin
Season of Giving: Ronald McDonald House
Having children makes us all remember the magic of this time of year. The sparkle in their eyes as you unpack the decorations. The inevitable laughter from watching their favorite holiday movie — for the […]
Features
Shop Local Picks: Cherrywood Art Fair
Need to do some holiday shopping? The Cherrywood Art Fair is coming up this weekend (December 8th and 9th, 2012) from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm. It’s FREE to enter, kid-friendly, and a great place […]
Weekend Events
The Weekenders: Events for Austin Families, November 30- December 2, 2012
Anderson High School Orchestra Performance– Join us as we celebrate the Anderson High Orchestra with a Bookfair to ring in the holidays. They will perform holiday favorites in our upstairs mezzanine.This event will truly get […]
Austin Foodie Mama
Thursday’s Dish: Holiday Foodie Events Roundup
December is such a hectic time for busy families juggling work and school along with holiday concerts, parties, shopping, and travel. Whether you’re looking for an opportunity to slow down and treat yourself amid the […]
Events
Holiday Event Spotlight: Downtown Austin is the place to be on Saturday
I always love a good parade- ones with marching bands, floats, and funky cars. Instead of the excitement fading away as the parade nears the end, the enthusiasm always builds as this special parade travels […]
Austin
Season of Giving: Ways to Give Stuff, Time and Money This Holiday Season
Having children makes us all remember the magic of this time of year. The sparkle in their eyes as you unpack the decorations. The inevitable laughter from watching their favorite holiday movie — for the […]
Giveaways
Season of Giveaways: Little Passports- a Global Adventure
Would you like to give your child the gift of culture, travel, geography and history this holiday season? Give them an adventure in the USA or the rest of the world with Little Passports, a […]
Weekend Events
The Weekenders: Events for Austin Families, November 23-25, 2012
Georgetown’s Lighting of the Square- Come experience the magic as we kick-off the holiday season with our annual Lighting of the Square, traditionally held at dusk on the Friday after Thanksgiving! This years event will […]
Features
Special Feature: Libby Hague-Smith
I had the pleasure of meeting Libby Hague-Smith for the first time a few months ago thanks to an introduction from a mutual friend. She owns two locations of The Little Gym- one in Round […]
Giveaways
Redbox Giveaway
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered. Enjoy those movies! Just in time to kick off the holidays, we have TWENTY-FIVE FREE Redbox codes to give away! Yes, it’s time to rent […]
Austin Foodie Mama
Pies, Pies and Cookies, Too!
Pie night is coming up at Casa Catherine this Wednesday in preparation for Thanksgiving. While the tradition in my household is to make the pies the night before, there have been years past when I […]
Weekend Events
The Weekenders: Events for Austin Families, November 16-18, 2012
Soft Toy Cirkus- Come one, come all to the IKEA Round Rock Soft Toy Cirkus! Fun Music, Face painting, Balloon art, Carnival games, Yummy food. FREE admission! Participation suggested is a soft toy donation of […]
Recipes
Thursday’s Dish: Stuffed Acorn Squash
Can you believe Thanksgiving is only a week away? Thanksgiving is a holiday for family, friends and counting our blessings… and food, of course. With limited time left to plan, I’m here to save the […]
Volunteer
Thanksgiving Volunteer Opportunities
As Thanksgiving gets closer and closer, many people across the Austin area are wondering how they can help feed the less fortunate. Below are several organizations still in need of volunteers and donations. Be sure […]
Events
FREE show this weekend at ZACH Theatre
Jamie Doesn’t Want to Take a Bath! Theatre for the Very Young (Ages 2-4) SPARK! Theatre Ensemble Cost: FREE (workshop performance) When: Saturday November 17 at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Where: ZACH Theatre, 1510 […]
Features
Little Hearts, Big Impact: Raising Kids Who Care
That moment. It might happen when your child first goes to check on a crying friend…unprompted. When he notices the mother begging next to the road, and asks how he can help. When she decides, […]
Giveaways
GIVEAWAY: Cirque Dreams Holidaze Family Four Pack
Cirque Dreams Holidaze lights up the 2012 holiday season when it transforms stages across the nation and overseas into a wonderland of fantasy and glorious disbelief. Cirque Dreams, an American theatrical production company, brings its critically […]
Weekend Events
The Weekenders: Events for Austin Families, November 9-11, 2012
Lamarfest– Lamar Middle School’s super fantastic carnival with lots of game booths, terrific food trailers, goodies and fun! Traditionally, it is Lamar’s biggest fundraiser of the year, providing nearly 25% of the 2012/ 2013 PTA […]
Features
Giveaway: Brooklyn Castle Movie Tickets and T-Shirts
*This giveaway is closed. Thanks to all who entered and congrats to Melissa for winning! Brooklyn Castle follows the lives of five members of the chess team and their teachers at I.S. 318, a below-the-poverty-line […]
Main
School Absences and Their Impact on State Funding for Texas Schools
I am relatively new to this mom-of-a-school-aged-child thing. My oldest is in first grade. She was in public school for the second half of her kindergarten year, and she had perfect attendance. She’s been in […]
Austin
F-what? Your Cheat Sheet to Formula 1 and the Circuit of the Americas
If you are anything like me and have been barrelling through the fall, barely raising your head out of the sand, lest you forget your kid’s permission form, paying your bills or remembering it’s trash […]
Austin
Oops! We Did It Again: Recap of the 4th Bloggin’ Mama Social
There was laughter. There were cookies. And yes, there was wine. Saturday, November 3rd marked the fourth Bloggin’ Mama Social, hosted by the Orange Wall Collective, which is a collaboration between LiveMom, Free Fun in […]
Weekend Events
The Weekenders: Events for Austin Families, November 2-4, 2012
Friday Night Storytime- Enjoy the autumn leaves with two delightful books: Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert and There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves! by Lucille Colandro and Jared Lee. FREE!! Friday, 7:30pm. […]
Giveaways
Thursday’s Dish: Banana Baby Brain AND GIVEAWAY!
* This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered! Sometimes, when your parenting life gives you lemons, you make lemonade (mixed with your alcohol of choice). At least, that’s how Janet Frongillo, the […]
Austin
We Are Girls Conference: Because Being a Girl Shouldn’t Be So Hard
Over a thousand girls and parents will gather in Austin this Saturday, November 3rd for the fifth annual We Are Girls Conference hosted by local nonprofit (and former Bloggin’ Mama Social beneficiary) GENaustin, The Girls […]
Mommy Mob
Mommy Mob
Boiling It Down: Property Taxes
This week, you likely drove on local roads, maybe dropped your child off at a public school, and passed a hospital, fire station, police department, and library somewhere along the way. Chances are you didn’t […]
Weekend Events
The Weekenders: Events for Austin Families, October 26-28, 2012
Bite Night at Hat Creek Burgers– Brings friends and family in for a spookilicious night of fun, games and FREE chicken flashers (fun size)! There will be pumpkin patch photos, a costume party, a rubber […]
Recipes
Thursday’s Dish: Halloween Cookie Decorating
I am really not much of a baker. Besides that, I lack the artistic talent you really need to decorate professional-looking cookies. So, how on earth did I end up hosting a Halloween cookie decorating […]
Giveaways
The Paul Tough Interview and “How Children Succeed” Giveaway
*This giveaway is closed. Thanks to all who entered and congrats to Laura on winning! When my baby was born, a nurse at the hospital gave me a list of all the vaccines my child […]
Events
Children’s Programming at Texas Book Festival
Photos from Texas Book Festival 2011 If you thought Texas Book Festival was just for serious literary types, think again. Families and young readers will have oodles of fun options to choose from this weekend, […]
Events
Halloween Happenings
Halloween is almost here! Decorations are up, costumes are ready and waiting (or being prepared in a last-minute frenzy of DIY and/or shopping), maybe you’ve even been Boo’ed, and the little ones can’t wait to […]
Mommy Mob
Help Get to 10,000
Texas is in the news again, and in less-than-good ways. We’ve got the school districts suing the state. We’ve got health professionals pointing out there is a multi-billion IOU for Medicaid health care. It all […]
Events
The Texas Book Festival
The Texas Book Festival, coming up on October 27 & 28, 2012, is FREE and open to the public. The festival celebrates authors and their contributions to the culture of literacy, ideas, and imagination. The […]
Events
Halloween Bash at The Little Gym
Did you miss out on attending the Halloween Costume Swap at The Little Gym last weekend? If so, next weekend is another chance to check them out! If you went and had fun, dress those […]