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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.

Our Homeschool Room Tour

altEven some of the unlikeliest moms in our area are starting to consider the option of educating their kiddos at home. There are so many pros and cons to homeschooling, and also very many pros and cons to sending your kiddos off to school. Personally, I think education works best when youre doing what works best for the child and the family, and every situation is different. So here are two words for you homeschoolers, public schoolers, and private schoolers: ROCK ON!

I've homeschooled for the past few years, and we plan to do it again this year. This could possibly change in the future, but until it does, Ill be enjoying the time I get to spend in our home schoolroom. If youre thinking of creating a home education space, feel free to take note and/or send me your own schoolroom photos so we can post them.

5 Easy-to-Give Teacher Gifts That Really Show Your Appreciation

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If you feel compelled to bestow your favorite teachers with a small token of appreciation during Teacher Appreciation Week or the last week of school, here are some thoughtful gifts that are easy on the pocketbook and don't require too much time and effort:
 
1.  Mini Bundtlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes - These moist little cakes are like little bits of heaven! For the teacher with a sweet tooth, they come in half a dozen flavors and make a great presentation. Nothing Bundt Cakes in The Woodlands is located next to Trader Joe's in the Kuykendahl/Gosling shopping center.

You Forgot that Person’s Name!

There’s something about residing in a small town like The Woodlands that almost guarantees you’ll run into familiar faces almost every time you leave your house to go to the grocery store, the library, the mall, movies, etc...  And no matter how hard we try, some of us have a tough time remembering people’s names.  Sure, there are certain “tricks” that can help you get better at this, but even still there’s a chance a name will escape you from time to time. When this happens, here’s how to handle it:

Scenario 1: Walking down the H-E-B aisle, and it’s impossible to avoid eye contact

You can say: Hi, our boys are in the same Cub Scout troop.  Do you remember me? My name is Leah.

By taking the lead and being proactive, you reduce the tension, and she's likely to respond with her name. Make sure to pay attention, and use her name in the conversation. By doing so, you are more likely to remember it in the future.