OMGoodness, you guys! I've already written an ENTIRE other article with fall picture book picks for your kiddos, but I just read a new one and it's so cute and comical that I needed to tell you about it! The Leaf Thief is an adorable book about a squirrel who loves counting the leaves on his tree. But then, one day, he finds that one of his leaves is missing.

I'm still sooo amazingly full and satisfied from the dinner + retreat I had three days ago!

I say "retreat," because that's what the eclectic dining experience at Costa Fina Latin Coastal Kitchen feels like. Frankly, it’s what it looks like, too. Get a taste of this:

SCENE FIT FOR A QUEEN

The evening began with a gorgeous, flawlessly designed setting, an exotic, well-thought-out menu of delicious scratch-made food (flavors inspired by Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, and other Latin American regions), and the cherry on top was the cool, chillax ambience (a bit of romance, a dash of spice, and a whole lot of elegance). Add in down-home hospitality (our server, Frank, was friendly, knowledgeable, and highly attentive), and we had the makings of an unforgettable Date Night only a few minutes away from home.

If I forgot my own name as I approached the host stand after walking into this restaurant, it's because I was truly stunned to learn a place this gorgeous has been right here in The Woodlands - less than 10 minutes from my house - since January 2024!

Costa Fina is located at 26435 Kuykendahl Rd Ste 900 in The Woodlands Village of Creekside Park. The decor is amazing and vibrant, yet the lush botanicals and chic, subdued colors take the atmosphere up several notches above the typical Latin American restaurant.

Sophistication is the word I've settled on for now. I felt like I was dining at an upscale island resort, and Costa Fina definitely gives a "let me put on my cute linen dress and my Ariana Grande ponytail because I need a fun, elevated ensemble to match this vibe" vibe! (Yes, I know I used “vibe” twice. Read it again. I promise it makes sense!)

It was Date Night for me and my beau, but this restaurant is just as perfect for Girls Night Out, a business luncheon, or impressing your father-in-law, and - of course I asked - they have a few kids menu options in case you bring little ones along!

THE BODACIOUS BAR

And look at this bar! (Seriously, do you see this?) It's extravagant! Happy Hour never looked so good! (More on that later.) Oh, and I ordered a sweet and fruity Mango & Pineapple mocktail. It was bright and pretty, served with a chamoy-covered lime and a tajin rim.

DINNER'S A WINNER!

I’m not naïve enough to think you’re here just to hear me ramble. You came for the food! And it’s the food you shall get! Ah-mazing selections here, I'm excited to say! Lots of original options, and even if you see something on the menu that looks familiar, you can bet it's going to have its own Costa Fina flavor, so you'll really get something unique.

Our meal started off with a large plate of fresh, warm, crunchy plantains and chimichurri sauce that came to the table complimentary! A delightful surprise!

For appetizers, Frank suggested the Crema Poblana which looked simple but was marvelous, and that's no exaggeration. It’s a creamy, roasted poblano soup that was lick-the-bowl good (but I promise I didn't!). The soup was comforting, full of flavor, slightly spicy, and had a smoky undertone to it. I told my husband I'll be ordering this “to go” on the regular once the cool weather kicks in, to bring home and eat it in bed in front of the TV.

The slow-braised pork empanadas are served as 6 half pieces with cilantro sauce. They have a perfectly light and crispy crust, and the meat filling was scrumptious.

The appetizers menu boasts many other flavor-promising options like ceviche, smoked guacamole, and even calamari!

But what to choose for an entree? The Braised Lamb Shank? (I hear that it's fall-off-the-bone!) The Cuban Sandwich? It's meaty, cheesy, mouthwatering deliciousness, according to the photos I've seen!) Pork tacos? (Slow-braised pulled pork served with all the fixins!) 

I ended up choosing a Five-Star meal - the Surf & Turf - which includes a grilled 6-ounce beef tenderloin steak with chimichurri, broccolini, yucca, gallo pinto (a delectable rice dish), and three huge shrimp covered in some butter cream sauce.

It's a LOT of food! The plate is large and they fill it up, so you're getting your money's worth and then some! I was able to bring half the dish home to finish it for breakfast the next morning.

The Surf & Turf is undeniably rich, and I really appreciate the artistry of the chef and creation of this splendid combination of flavors. The rice had a bit of a kick to it, and everything was served hot and fresh. And even though I wasn’t quite a fan of my yucca fries, I still ate them because I felt like the chef had done such a fantastic job deciding what to include on this plate that I'd better have some appreciation for it.

I always order my steaks medium-well, which tends to yield a drier-than-I'd-prefer steak. Well, not here! My medium-well steak was cooked to perfection, and it was all-around succulent. I was pleasantly surprised! I would order the Surf & Turf here again and again (and again)!

My husband ordered the Arroz A La Marinera. We’d seen the dish ahead of time on the Costa Rica Instagram page and were drawn to it because it looks like a paella. It has ALL THE THINGS: saffon rice, scallops, octopus, squid, shrimp, mussels, chorizo, and more!

But it’s NOT a paella. This dish has a flavor all its own, and it's saucier than a typical paella which has a drier rice. I would say the texture of the rice here was more like what you'd find in risotto. If you prefer saucier dishes with fishier flavors, this beauty is one to try!

HEY, YOU'RE LOOKING SWEET!

For dessert, we ordered two more of Frank's recommendations - the Tres Leches and the churros. But look at my photo below. Does this look like any tres leches you’ve ever had?

I hardly recognized it! It was coated / topped with a beautiful toasted meringue, and the cake was soooo doggone good. Frank had warned that it wouldn't be as sweet as a typical tres leches, but I found the sweetness level to be about what I've come to expect for this type of dessert. Tres leches is all about texture as much as flavor for me, and this one was skillfully executed! Luscious, it was!

I’d planned to save some for my teen (who was babysitting her siblings for us), but when all was said and done, there was only a spoonful left of cake for the to-go box! Our gracious waiter didn't shame me about that either! He was happy to oblige when I asked if I could get it to go.

Listen... the churros didn't fare any better. They're palette-plesaing -- served warm, drizzled with caramel, and paired with dulce de leche ice cream. You get a good amount of churros (I think about 7), and I was certain hubby and I could limit ourselves to one or two each and bring a few home for the kids. Well... I hereby present you with the churros that we had left over to bring home:

I'm sorry, but they were so good, and I think they were hubby's favorite, along with his cappuccino.

LIVE MUSIC - LET'S TURN UP!

I'm excited for a chance to visit again, because there are many new experiences to have at this restaurant. For one, many other menu items were just begging to be tried, so I’ll have to continue the culinary journey some other time.

On Saturday nights, there's live Latin music on the expansive patio. Also, Mondays thru Fridays from 4-6pm and Sundays 6-9pm, there’s Happy Hour at the bar and patio with great prices on drinks and small plates. And every Tuesday there’s even a selection of half-priced bottles of Latin wine (valid on all bottles priced under $100)!

Visit Costa Fina on their websIte to check out the full menu and other highlights including their Live Music Schedule.

Also, keep up with them on Instagram and Facebook to see more photos and stay in the know!

We decided to try something new today, and LET ME TELL YOU!!! Our experience at Young Chefs Academy far exceeded my expectations! Okay... so in our family, we already spend a LOT of time in the kitchen most weeks, so what was my 10-year-old really going to do that was actually new?

It’s always a risk when you’re buying furniture online, especially assemble-it-yourself pieces. So whenever I find a WINNER, I love to tell you guys about it! I was in the market for a modern design desk that had a lot of storage, and I found this cute Tribesigns Stores desk that happened to be $169 on Amazon (I know right? It’s a bargain!).

Nobody gets excited about a new laundromat, until they end up with a power outage at home, or either a washer/dryer that’s out of commission and family members complaining that they’ve run out of clean undies. Or maybe it’s a season in life where you end up with a backlog of laundry and want to knock it all out in a couple of hours flat. Or… you know… when it’s time to wash those huge bed comforters or all the draperies in the house.

That’s why I’m ecstatic to tell you about the new washateria at 24421 Gosling Rd, just south of The Woodlands. If you’re at Woodlands Parkway & Gosling Rd, just head south on Gosling and you’ll arrive at Smart Wash Laundry less than a minute past W. Rayford Rd.

Shhhh!! Who knew silent mice were a thing? Such a simple little gadget has made all the difference in my household!  A year ago, I didn't even know there was a such thing as a silent mouse. My poor husband. All these years I've stayed up late, night after night, working on my computer - click, click, click goes my mouse as he tries to sleep while I browse the Internet and make updates to my website. He has never complained. I mean, you would think a mouse click is no big deal, but at the end of the day when the house falls quiet, even smaller noises seem to be amplified.

Have you seen the Little Live Pets "My Puppy's Home" toy? It's a WoodlandsMommy.com Editor's Pick for the 2023-2024 season, because it's one of the most innovative and magical toys we've seen in a long time. In a nutshell, your child will (very easily) assemble a sweet little dog house, choose a name for his/her new puppy, and once the kennel is complete, the puppy magically appears inside of it, giving a playful bark. I'm not joking. Your child will see the newly-built empty kennel, and then within minutes, there's the cutest surprise in the form of an adorable pet puppy right there!! The cute pet puppy appears with a toy bone in his mouth and making interactive puppy sounds. Let me just say that my 9-year-old and my 18-year-old daughters were equally impressed with this toy!​

What would you think if I told you your child can mix up some fun kitchen ingredients and actually bake up a REAL interactive plush friend? It's true! The Cookeez Makery Oven Playset is one of the most innovative toys I've seen in a long time! Your child can mix together some raw ingredients, pop it into the Cookeez Makery Baked Treatz Oven, and he/she will soon have a new plush companion! I find myself wondering WHERE WAS THIS TOY when I was a kid? It's an extraordinary blend of creativity mixed with a bit of MAGIC.

Hey foodies! I have an adorable restaurant for you to add to your list. It’s part of the new Hyatt Regency Conroe in Grand Central Park – just a short drive from The Woodlands (20 minutes tops!) – so you can make this a full-blown staycation experience. An R&R (restaurant and retreat) is the ultimate couple’s date or girl’s weekend away, so start making plans!

Conroux opened at the end of May and is located on the first floor of the Hyatt Regency at 1001 Grand Central Parkway, Conroe, TX 77304, just south of historic downtown Conroe.

I made my visit a mommy & me excursion with my teenage daughter, and we also checked in for an overnight stay.

Editor's Experience

Ahhh, let me tell you!! The restaurant is sooooo gorgeous! It’s bright and spacious with high ceilings and modern architectural details. I really admired the circular dining booth seating that makes for cozy couples’ conversation. In my case, hanging with my teen, we enjoyed sitting together and taking selfies! 

Gotta be honest… the "roux" in the restaurant name made me think that this was a Creole/Cajun type of joint, but luckily I was smart enough to check the menu in advance. There's some fusion going on, but this isn't New Orleans cuisine, so don't come here expecting it. The full-service restaurant actually celebrates Texas Gulf cuisine with homage to Vietnamese flavors through menu items like crawfish fritters, corn chowder, and pork belly banh mi. This place does food their own way, featuring dishes driven by local ingredients.

For starters, we ordered two drinks: a Passionfruit Cherry Limeade mocktail, and The Texas Sunset, their signature craft cocktail with orange juice and pineapple, two of my favorite fruit flavors! I'm not one for alcoholic beverages, but I heard that this one had smoke involved, and, well, I'm always up for a good “show.” The drink was poured tableside, so indeed I got the entertainment I was seeking, a beautiful display of aromatic smoke, softly twirling upward. To boot, the drink was delectable and elegant, sweet and citrusy – sure to especially delight you if you enjoy a good Bourbon.

For appetizers, we tried the corn muffins, the crawfish fritters, and crab cakes. My favorite was the crab cakes, and you’ll have to disregard the fact that it’s plural on the menu. It’s served as a single crabcake that’s thick and plentiful (enough to share), fresh, and flavorful.

I asked my server for a recommendation for the main entree, and she quickly offered the redfish as a favorite choice. Perfect, as it was the very thing I was eyeing. Mmm, mmm, mmm. Be warned, it's called Blackened Redfish, but it wasn't the blackened with all the smoky, charred, Creole flavors that I was used to. What I got was an absolutely scrumptious, perfectly-flavored cut of fish, with crispy skin on top. That single piece of crispy skin really made my whole meal! It was well-seasoned with a slight tangy/lemony flavor, and I know I will order this dish again and again. The fish was paired with the best sautéed spinach. Mind you, spinach is often something I tolerate but never something I truly enjoy. This spinach, however, was very enjoyable!

Hold on, I said the crispy fish skin made the meal, but I forgot about the dessert.

Believe me when I tell you that I am serious about my chocolate cake! For dessert I ordered the Chocolate Mousse Crunch which was rich, but not too rich, smooth and decadent, yet it had a layer of crunchiness that just made for one perfect bite after the next. It’s served with a dollop of chocolate sauce elegantly spread on the plate. The chocolate cake was so palette-pleasing, I ordered a second one to go.

Here's a photo of my daughter’s cheeseburger. As far as burgers go, it wasn't her favorite, and she did feel like it could've been a bit juicier. (I don't know why she ordered a cheeseburger when there were so many other unique flavors on the menu to sample!) She also felt the burger could've used a bit more salt. I didn’t sample it, but I did taste the fries, and they were delicious!

I definitely recommend giving this restaurant a try when you're tired of the same old same old. You'll get a peek at the Hyatt Regency hotel, which is beautiful.

As I mentioned above, we stayed overnight. Hyatt Regency Conroe has 250 well-appointed guestrooms, with complimentary Wi-Fi, modern bath amenities like Smart Mirror featuring ideal lighting, and 65” flat screen televisions with streaming capabilities. Our bed was comfortable, the room was clean, and the whole vibe had a contemporary flair. All in all, it's about what you'd expect for a new Hyatt hotel.

My favorite part of the hotel was the multiple conversation areas. Throughout the hotel, especially the first floor, there are multiple elegant spaces to sit with company. I can imagine myself staying overnight again for a work escape, and inviting a girlfriend or two to join me in the lobby area for some juicy conversation.

After you’ve had a chance to visit, please drop me a line and let me know what you thought about it!

This was our first time tie-dyeing socks, and they came out so cute that I wanted to share our experience with you. If you’re intimidated at the thought of dyeing t-shirts, or maybe you need a project for the kids that will take less time and is easier to manage, consider purchasing the Tulip Slumber Party Crazy Socks Kit (affiliate link). I purchased this kit over a year ago, and we finally decided to pull it out and bring our creations to life. It turned out to be the perfect creative thing to do to fill some spare moments at home on a Saturday afternoon. (We dyed t-shirts too, and my kids are serious about their tie dye, so all-in-all – t-shirts and socks – we spent 45 minutes on  the "dyeing" part of this project. If you're just doing socks, I estimate it'll take 10-15 minutes or less).