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The Enrichery Casey

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You can do it yourself! Check out The Home Depot's painting workshop!

My house is almost 10 years old, and it's past time to refresh the paint in some of its bedrooms. My pre-teen wants to switch out her lavender walls to a beige or tan, and the younger girls who share a room must certainly be bored with pink by now. My 14-year-old isn't too picky, but her room might get a new color too!

I wish I had the confidence and know-how to paint the rooms myself, rather than dropping several hundred dollars per room plus the cost of paint. (I've already gotten a quote on my master bedroom and bathroom; that alone is $800). But wait - what's this I see on the Home Depot's website? On Saturday, February 8, from 10:00am - 11:30am, they'll be offering an Interior Paint and Drywall Repair workshop that happens to be just what I need! Here is description of the FREE workshop, taken directly from the website:

What’s that howling sound? It’s probably a coyote! (Yes, The Woodlands has them!)

Lots of folks have been seeing (and hearing) coyotes lately! It’s nothing new; coyotes have been around The Woodlands since forever, but some newer residents are just now getting the memo, plus it seems that sightings have been on the rise in recent years. Reportedly, some neighbors in Creekside Park have even experienced having their little chihuahuas hauled off by these wolf-like canines (YIKES!), but this could possibly be an urban legend. (Let us hear from you if you have some facts about this.) Living among wild animals is part of the beauty of living in a heavily wooded, mostly secluded area like ours.

Genealogy Research - A Wonderful FREE local resource for getting started!

Have you tested your DNA for genealogy? I know a few people who have, and they have been quite intrigued with the results. I've even heard of families who have traced their ancestors all the way to Africa and consequently recently visited the continent for the first time to meet distant relatives. What an adventure!

Many times, I've thought of purchasing one of the kits like Ancestry or 23AndMe, but what if I start digging and then uncover a long lost family secret that really bothers me? (Yes, I tend to be more paranoid than most folks!) And on the other hand, suppose I discover a great great uncle who has willed me all his riches? I know... slim chance.. but it's a fun idea that I conjure up often!

Give your kids a last-minute pseudo-vacation before school starts!

Remember my girls' weekend at Embassy Suites in Hughes Landing last year? Well, the same fun can apply to a family with kids who need a last-minute summer thrill before school starts (that's August 14 for most Woodlands-area public schools). Embassy Suites is situated right here in The Woodlands, and my family LOVES the hotel - it's clean, the suites are spacious, and the lobby is elegant enough for my taste but not pretentious.

Call or visit the Embassy Suites website for the best price, but a preliminary online search for this Friday night pulled up rates as low as $149. This price doesn't include tax, but let me tell you what it DOES include: 

Road Trips from The Woodlands

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Enjoy our tried-and-true adventures of road trips from The Woodlands! 

Houston Area: 
 
Dallas Area: 

Mindful Monday: May I Have Your Attention Please?

Last week as I sat in the waiting room at my daughter's vision appointment, I noticed that 4 out of the 5 adults in the room were browsing on their cell phones, while the fifth person was typing away on a computer. As other visitors came and went, there were no greetings, no eye contact, no gentle nods. Even the couple who had arrived together were separately engaged on their cell phones.

I hate to admit, but I was one of those 5 adults on the phone - looking at nothing in particular, perhaps checking out my friend's recent Facebook post about her son's guinea pig - when I made the deliberate decision to tuck my phone away into my purse and strike up a conversation with the woman next to me. The rest is history.

What about you? When you're in the presence of others, do you focus on them and pay them attention, or do you operate in another world?

Kid-Friendly Restaurants In & Around The Woodlands


What makes a great kid-friendly restaurant? A menu beyond just hamburgers and chicken fingers? Space to play? iPads to play with? All of the above?! We've assembled a variety of restaurants in The Woodlands, Spring, Conroe, Tomball, Magnolia and Cypress areas that are sure to please the pickiest of eaters, the wildest of rambunctious toddlers and those parents desperate to kick back and enjoy their meal (and drinks!) while their kids play safely.

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