Have you heard of Just Between Friends? It’s a twice yearly marketplace where families from the community consign their like new and gently used items for a huge 4-Day Sale! The next sale for Just Between Friends North Houston is open to the public and will be held November 3-6, 2021. Don’t miss it! More info at https://bit.ly/twmh21fs

Sam Houston Race Park | Pavilion | 7575 N. Sam Houston Pkwy W, 77064
Open to the public, Nov 3-6, 2021
Wed: 10a-6p
Thurs: 10a-8p
Friday: 10a-8p (most items 25%off)
Saturday: 9a-1p (most items 50% off)

The coordinators behind Just Between Friends (JBF) North Houston know that you want to be a budget superhero.  In order to do that, you need to know how to make money and where to shop! The problem is now, more than ever, selection in stores is limited, and prices are going sky high, which makes you feel defeated.  This is especially true since your kids keep growing, but your budget doesn’t – PLUS the holiday season is quickly approaching!

Just Between Friends beliees that all families deserve to feel good about providing well for their families. They understand that keeping up with growth spurts, rising prices, and limited selection in the stores can be stressful and frustrating. That’s why they invite you to shop at their community marketplace to save 50-90% off retail prices.  Hundreds of families are come together to sell items, and you can find all the things growing kids need under one roof, in one weekend!  In addition to their consignors’ gently used items, JBF also gathers up NEW discounted items like Melissa & Doug, Joovy, and Chicco!

You can be a seller, too!  Sellers earn up to 70% on sold items and shop EARLY at the sale.  JBF does all the organizing and promoting – you just need to do the tagging and dropping off!  See the website for more information: https://bit.ly/twm21fs

So, consider selling your kid clutter as a consignor, and in the meantime, grab a free ticket to shop! (https://jbftickets.com/nhoustonfall2021)

Now relax and kiss those days of being stressed and disappointed goodbye, stock up on all the things your growing kids need, and save your family budget!

Houston Botanic Garden will sparkle this holiday season with Lightscape, a world-renowned light show featuring an array of enchanting artistic installations that will elicit wonder and joy as they dazzle the senses. 

Lightscape will immerse visitors of all ages in a first-of-its-kind-for-Houston experience, with a wide array of brightly colored, festive installations by local and international artists, tailored to the Garden’s distinctive landscape.

Are you looking for an opportunity for your whole family to volunteer? Give Mercy House Global a try! Children are welcome to volunteer alongside their parents, and the coordinator can usually find age-appropriate tasks and duties for children 6 years of age and older.

Mercy House Global is a nonprofit organization located at 5814 FM 1488 Rd in Magnolia, and – according to their website – part of their mission is to engage, empower, and disciple women around the globe in Jesus’ name. Learn more about their mission here.

In the past, finding a volunteer opportunity that all six of my family members can do has been a challenge. Often times, the 7-year-old is too young to help, and the 11-year-old who has special needs might not be able to handle some of the more complicated tasks. For other volunteer jobs, the tasks are too easy and/or too tedious for my teens to enjoy. Mercy House Global was a perfect fit for us!


When I visited the Volunteer tab on the Mercy House Global website, I was surprised to see that some shifts were available for that current week. Those of you with unpredictable schedules might appreciate the opportunity to possibly squeeze into an opening without too much advance planning.

I scheduled our shift for a Monday from 9:30 to 12:30; we arrived, signed in, and got straight to work. We received a quick orientation for each task, and then we were trusted to get the job done without micro-management! Our contact person / coordinator, Ms. Jennifer, was thoughtful and kind. She made us all feel valued, and whenever she passed our area she encouraged the kids as they worked. The atmosphere was pleasant and upbeat, and our work processes were efficient. We bubble wrapped and boxed candles, folded and packaged shirts, packaged beaded garland, and performed a couple other tasks. The materials we were handling were well-made and beautiful, and those candles smelled so good! NOTE: We chose to wear face coverings, but they were NOT required.



I highly recommend volunteering at Mercy House Global! They offer 3-hour volunteer slots Monday – Friday, from 9:30am – 12:30pm. In exchange for your serve, you receive a punch card that can be used to save on Mercy House Global merchandise. Sweet perk!

This weekend, Downtown Houston will be transformed into artistic avenues bursting with colors and culture! Bayou City Art Festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, October 9-10, 2021, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at Sam Houston Park and along Allen Parkway.

Bayou City Art Festival will spotlight the festival’s featured artist McKenzie Fisk, a painter from Los Angeles, along with 200 artists from across the country. As one of the top art festivals in the U.S., the outdoor event will provide patrons with the opportunity to personally meet artists, view original works, and purchase artwork from 19 art disciplines including world-class paintings, prints, jewelry, sculptures and more at prices for everyone. 

Guests are invited to enjoy Houston’s skyline views while experiencing a Stella Artois Main Stage, a KPRC 2 Hitch Stage, a food truck park, a craft beer garden, Haak Vineyards wine garden, a Crown Royal sampling area, as well as additional entertainers throughout the festival. In the Active Imagination Zone, guests of all ages can play with oversized bubbles, visit with caricature artist Bonnie Blue, and create art with the festival’s nonprofit partners. To spread joy and show appreciation for healthcare workers Bayou City Art Festival has partnered with HCA Houston Healthcare for the interactive HeART for Heroes Community Art Project with artist Kati- Ozanic-Lemberger. 

For the ultimate art lover, the VIP Hospitality Lounge presented by Frost Bank will include a tented oasis with light bites, and complimentary beer, wine and other beverages. The relaxing setting under a canopy of trees will feature roaming musicians, artistic décor, a phone charging station and more. VIPs will receive all-day access to the VIP area, along with VIP parking.

A portion of the proceeds from Bayou City Art Festival Downtown will benefit the festival’s nonprofit partners including ArtReach, A Cause to Give Us Paws, Artists For Artists, Fresh Arts, Orange Show For Visionary Art, and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Online general admission tickets are available online at www.bayoucityartfestival.com for $18 for adults, $5 for children 6-12, and children under five are free. VIP Hospitality Lounge tickets are also available online for $60 and include admission to the festival. Online pre-purchased tickets are required to enter the festival. Tickets will not be sold at the gate and can only be purchased online.

Bayou City Art Festival Downtown Sponsors include City of Houston, Houston Arts Alliance, KPRC, Stella Artois, Advantage BMW Midtown, Frost Bank, HCA Houston Healthcare, AARP Houston, Rhythm, Crown Royal, Green Mountain Energy, Haak Vineyard & Winery, Evamor, Nuro, Renewal by Andersen, Cirque Du Soleil and T-Mobile.

Photo credit: Katya Horner

The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded The Woodlands Children’s Museum a grant of $10,000 through the Arts Engagement in American Communities program.  Funding will be used to support artist fees and young children’s engagement with the performing arts.  A variety of regional and statewide performing artists, with exceptional skill and experience in interacting with young children, will visit the museum throughout the year, allowing families to enjoy enriching, high-quality live entertainment.

“The arts make communities more vibrant and fulfilling places, help us to heal, and strengthen our nation’s economy,” said Ann Eilers, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “The National Endowment for the Arts is committed to supporting organizations nationwide, such as The Woodlands Children’s Museum, helping to make it possible for our arts and culture sector to grow and for more Americans to have access to the arts.”

The Woodlands Children’s Museum features an event stage with up-close seating that allows children to experience the arts and engage with performers in a unique way not found at larger venues.  Multiple performance times are also offered to ensure performances are accessible for families.  Typically, 15-20 special events are offered each year highlighting holidays and cultural traditions such as Lunar New Year, Tanabata, Native American Heritage Month, Mardi Gras, Hispanic Heritage Month, St. Patrick’s Day, Kwanzaa and many more.  A wide variety of children’s musicians, singer/songwriters, puppeteers, storytellers, dancers and other artists share their talents during the events.

“Early arts education is important to help develop skills such as empathy, confidence, creativity, and social and emotional development,” stated Angela Colton, the museum’s Executive Director.  “Seeing a performer at the museum may be a child’s first time engaging with the arts.  There are so many talented artists in our region and we are honored that this grant will help us bring them to our community.”

The museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2001, with a mission to create opportunities that educate, empower, and excite children and families through play while inspiring a lifelong sense of wonder and discovery.  Additional information and event details are available online at www.woodlandschildrensmuseum.org.  October hours are Tuesdays from 10am-12pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am-2pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-4pm.  The museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays.  Admission is $7 for guests over age one, or free with membership.  The Woodlands Children’s Museum is located in the Panther Creek Village Center at 4775 W. Panther Creek Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77381.