Act of Kindness :: Buckner International Shoe's for Orphan Souls

I believe, that whenever possible, we should help those who need help. Sometimes that may be in the form of monetary donations, hands-on services, emotional support, tangible items, or simply friendship. Anyone may need assistance at anytime - meals for a grieving family, donations for a medical necessity, helping fundraise for a variety of reasons, and even just lending an ear. We may give to our family, friends, community members or even complete strangers and non-profit organizations which champion a plethora of causes. I do believe whenever we are called to be thoughtful, caring, and supportive in our communities, we need to answer.

I oftentimes share acts of kindness with our homeschool group hoping to engage families and youth to be more community service minded; my boys are no exception. We routinely see a need and try to fill it or at least do our part to lessen someone else's burden. Our family really believes that helping others is a part of life.  

Earlier this month, I wanted to set up a shoe drive for Buckner International's Shoes for Orphan Soul's Ministry. This is a fabulous service project for groups to do together and I highly recommend starting one in your community. However, I found out two weeks ago that Buckner was collecting shoes for our community's impoverished children through our local Lifeway Christian Bookstore and Chick-fil-a, so I decided to rally the troops and give-back locally. Shoes from this donation would be supplied to the Junior League of Longview in their annual school supply drive where area youth would not only receive necessary school supplies, but also a uniform top, new shoes, and a hair cut.
 

Several of our homeschool families participated and I was completely pleased with their efforts! The boys and I did some shopping for our family and another and then delivered our purchases to Lifeway. While this was a simple monetary/tangible goods donation, my kiddos took careful time to select the shoes they thought would make a boy or girl happy to wear. They were careful to stay within our donation budget and visited many stores before finally making their purchase. Not only did this act of kindness help other children, it taught my boys how to be price conscience, how to stay within a budget, how to think of others, and how good it feels to help someone else.

What are some ways you encourage your children to be good stewards in their community? Do you have a favorite organization or activity you give to each year?

Grand Opening Celebration :: The Toy Place, Tyler, TX

Next Saturday, one of my favorite toy stores, The Toy Place, (formerly known as The Knowledge Nook of Longview) will be celebrating their Grand Opening in Tyler, Texas. Included in the festivities will be a photo opportunity with Elsa and Olaf, Frozen craft activities, toy demonstrations, prizes, give-aways and more! You don't want to miss welcoming the newest toy store to town!

Located in the same shopping center as Jason's Deli, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and Starbucks, The Toy Place aims to please! Owners Paul and Brenda Allegrezza will be on hand to meet and greet new customers. The Allegrezza family has been providing toys to children for the past nine years and is eager for The Toy Place to become a household name. The store offers thousands of products from the best manufacturers including LEGO(R), Ezyroller, Madame Alexander, Hape, and more.

Offering birthday and Christmas registries, free gift-wrapping and custom orders, The Toy Place should be your first stop for holidays, birthdays and random Tuesdays!

Location: 4905 S. Broadway Tyler, TX
Phone: 903.581.5100

Little Adventures of the Day to Day :: Harvesting Grapes in the Vineyard

Ever so often, I get the opportunity to check something off my Master List, otherwise known as the bucket list to most individuals. This week, I did exactly that!

One of my friend's recently moved to California, near our old stomping ground, and we've missed her family terribly! She sent me a message  earlier this week offering a chance to pick grapes at her vineyard since the fruit was ripe and there was no one to harvest. Of course, I squealed and immediately replied, "Yes, I would love too!"

Jake and I went out mid-week to check on the fruit and to see how it was faring with the birds and the Texas heat. The minute I stepped between the rows of vines, I no longer felt as if I were in East Texas, but somewhere magical and far away. There were no sounds except for the birds and bugs and whatever tromping noises my husband and I made as we walked through the grass. There was a slight breeze and the sun, while hot, was nice on my back as we clipped grape bunches from the vines.

The wine grapes were sweet orbs of glistening nectar beckoning me to pick more!

There is something soulful about completing a task you've always wanted to accomplish, but weren't quite sure when and where. I think I may have had a huge grin on my face the entire time I was in the vineyard. I appreciate the opportunity my friend offered me and I am thankful.



 

Experimental Recipes :: Blue, Oh So Blueberry Muffins

 

  Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons of melted butter
1 Cup of milk
1 egg

1 Cup of all-purpose flour
1 Cup of cornmeal
1/2 Cup of sugar
3 Teaspoons baking powder
1 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon salt

1 Cup of blueberries, hand-picked are always better!

Let's Begin:

Heat your oven to 375 degrees F. Grease muffin pans or use parchment liners. I like to use non-stick spray.

Mix together all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Beat together the butter, milk, and egg in another bowl. Make a small well in the center of the dry ingredients and then, pour the wet ingredients into it. Using a large spoon, combine all the ingredients quickly by folding, until all ingredients are moistened. The batter should be lumpy and not smooth.

Spoon the batter into the muffin tins, filling each about two-thirds of the way fill.Bake for 20 minutes or until nicely browned. Let them rest for about 5 minutes before taking them out of their tins.

________

These are extremely quick & easy and can be prepared before the kids are ready for breakfast. My boys devour them in a matter of minutes, so I always have to hide a couple for myself! Enjoy!

Weekly Goals, Cinderella, a Lime Tree, and a Recap of Last Week!

Weekly Goals for 8/4/2014-8/10/2014

Summer Fun

• An evening out with Jake - Here's hoping this week's date doesn't have us back in urgent care!
• A movie break with friends
• Crew Work Day for As You Like It***
• Back to ArtsView for one more week of Cinderella! My eldest son got to play Prince Charming on Saturday for a photo shoot!

 

 *** For those who don't know, this Summer, I've directed our homeschool group's first annual Theatre in the Park performance of As You Like It. Many of our students performing have never had acting experience so I really wanted to bring the theatre to life for them. We have some seasoned players and our cast and crew span from 7 years to 16 years old. It has been a wonderful experience! This week, we're working on the finishing touches for the set for a performance at the end of August. ***
 

Around the House

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

• Organize under the master bedroom sinks
• Organize all the school supplies
• Plant my new key lime tree ~ Isn't it adorable!!!
• Hang photos 

 Recipes

• Help boys select recipes for their cooking class - Italy is this month!

Planning - both of these are back on the list this week as I still have more to work on them before I can cross them off!

• Homeschool book sale
• Grand Opening for the Toy Place 

Giving

• Dylexia fund for a sweet girl
• Get Well Soon package to another sweet girl

Reading

• Continue Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv  
• Begin The Language of Bees by Laurie R. King ~ I'm really excited to start this book! I've had it in my possession for a little while and I've been waiting for the perfect time to read it!

Just Me

• Garden work
• Study up on Soccer
• Back to the Gym
• Blog articles
• Thirty-One schedule set for Fall   

 

Weekly Goals for 7/28/2014 - 8/3/2014

Summer Fun

• Chase hot air balloons with my boys!  We had a lot of rain this week, so most of our ballooning was sparse this year!
• Have a birthday party for the youngest : )  I always love birthday parties and this one was fantastic! I've never seen so many children play soccer for the first time and enjoy themselves so much!
• Take a swim
• Enjoy ArtsView's summer camp Cinderella! Last week was a busy week of costuming and prepping the set. This coming week, we will have some last minute items to finalize!
• An evening out with Jake Not quite the evening out I had hoped for as we landed in the urgent care clinic on Monday for stitches...ugh!

Around the House

• Dust....achoo!
• Wash windows
• Fertilize and prune the roses
• Organize the garden cabinet

Recipes

• Strawberry Lemonade I didn't get too this one, this week!
• Fresh Blueberry Muffins Sharing the recipe with you all!

Planning

• Homeschool book sale
• Grand Opening for my favorite toy store

         I've worked on both of the above goals last week, but they will carry over into this week as there is more to be done : ) 
 
Giving

• Buckner International's Shoes for Orphan Soles drive

Reading

• Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv

Just Me

• Create an inventory/expense spreadsheet for my Thirty-One consulting
• Work on blog articles
• Hit the gym   

The Great Texas Balloon Race :: Up, Up and Away!!!

Every year, balloonists from all over the world gather together in Longview, also known as The Balloon Race Capital of Texas, to compete in national and international races. While the National race kicked off yesterday, balloon flights will take place over Longview, Kilgore and the East Texas Regional Airport through Sunday, August 3rd.

In addition to daily flights, balloons appear throughout the area at local special events. Tonight, the boys, Jake and I will head to Driller Park in Kilgore to watch the Pump Jacks play baseball, enjoy root beer, and get an up close look during a special balloon glow event.

On Friday, August 1st, the specialty balloons will be inflated in the early morning hours for children and adults to enjoy. A list of where each balloon will be located is provided here. This is always a treat for my boys as we usually get to help set up a specialty balloon and meet the crew!

The weekend festivities are fantastic for families. You can purchase advanced tickets for entry into the festival grounds (which I highly recommend).  In the evening, depending upon the wind and weather, pilots perform an incredible balloon glow for all the spectators. There is a special "kid zone," food vendors, music and more. This year's musical performances include Roger Creagar and Tracy Lawrence.

I sincerely hope you get to enjoy these wonderful balloons sometime this week!

Texas Barbecue :: A Summertime Favorite!

Summer in Texas is synonymous with Bar-B-Que. From grilling in the backyard to enjoying this mouth-watering culinary delight in restaurants, most Texans (and many Americans!) spend countless hours dining on grilled meats and veggies throughout the season. In the past, Jake and I have even made special trips around the state just for some fabulous southern BBQ!

One of our favorite places is located in the quaint town of Taylor, Texas. Home of the best black-peppered brisket I've ever had the honor to dine upon, Louie Mueller Barbeque is absolutely stellar, and  not to mention historical.Their hours of operation can sometimes differ, so be sure to call or check their website for updates before heading that way. I promise you want this barbeque on your bucket list!

If you really want to get serious about BBQ, Texas Monthly wrote an article several years back about the best B-B-Q establishments in Texas and someone added the list to a Google map. (This is kind of like cheating!) So, scour the state and pick a few in your vicinity to visit!

If you hadn't already noticed, I spelled BBQ several different ways over the course of three short paragraphs. And, just as frequently as the spelling changes so does the flavor, cut and style of barbeque change across the state. The info-graphic below sheds a little light on the variety of Texas Barbecue.   

 

So, Bar-B-Q connoisseurs, where do you go for the tastiest BBQ this side of the Red River? I'd love to try out some of these long-favored establishments in the near future! 

Weekly Goals, Balloons, Bags and Roses!

Weekly Goals for 7/28/2014 - 8/3/2014

Summer Fun

• Chase hot air balloons with my boys!
• Have a birthday party for the youngest : ) 
• Take a swim
• Enjoy ArtsView's summer camp Cinderella!
• An evening out with Jake

Around the House

• Dust....achoo!
• Wash windows
• Fertilize and prune the roses
• Organize the garden cabinet

Recipes

• Strawberry Lemonade
• Fresh Blueberry Muffins

Planning

• Homeschool book sale
• Grand Opening for my favorite toy store

Giving

• Buckner International's Shoes for Orphan Soles drive

Reading

• Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv

Just Me

• Create an inventory/expense spreadsheet for my Thirty-One consulting
• Work on blog articles
• Hit the gym    

I hope you all are having a wonderful summer and enjoying lots of the great outdoors with the mildness of the season this year. While we are in our third week of school (Yes, we started back early this year!), we are still enjoying our time outside. 

This week in Longview, balloonists come from all over the United States to compete in the Great Texas Balloon Race. This is what I call the magical time of the year, and indeed, it is! In fact, we are very fortunate because through the course of the week many balloons will fly over our home and we can enjoy them from our backyard. If you live in the East Texas area and have never experienced balloons first hand, you don't want to miss this great opportunity. Last year, my eldest, got to help inflate the Little Old Lady in the Shoe balloon. He is the one in the white shirt holding the balloon open!

     

 

Specialty balloons will launch the morning of August 1st all around Longview and Kilgore! Visit the Great Texas Balloon Race website for more information!

I also recently began selling Thirty-One bags again because I truly love their products and needed some new ones! While the Summer styles are winding down, I'll share the newest Fall fashions with you in the near future! Until then, visit my page for more information, to book a party, to place an order, or just to see the catalog online!

Tomorrow, I'm pruning and fertilizing my rose beds. This summer, while great for humans, hasn't been the best for roses! I've had more fungus on them than in previous years and I'm having to treat every six weeks. If you are experiencing black spots too, pick up some fungicide and treat aggressively. I use Bayer Advanced all-in-one Rose and Flower Care. It seems to control the spotting fairly well. Now, if I can just find something to treat the spiders!

I hope you all have a great week and get many of your goals accomplished while still having fun and making time for yourselves!
 

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center :: Luci and Ian Family Garden Ribbon Cutting

This past Sunday, May 4th, the Luci and Ian Family Garden at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center opened to public.

Named after lead donors Luci Baines Johnson and her husband Ian Turpin, the $5 million Family Garden will double the maintained garden acreage at the 279-acre Wildflower Center that is part of The University of Texas at Austin. 

"The Wildflower Center is on the cutting edge of sustainability,” says Luci Baines Johnson. “Our hope is that the Family Garden will be a place where families go to play and discover the wonder and importance of nature.”

During this momentous occasion, I had the pleasure of capturing the private ribbon cutting ceremony with Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon Baines Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson, her husband, Ian Turpin, and their family.

This 4.5 acre hands-on garden welcomed children and their families from all over Texas. Featuring a lesson on the water cycle, giant birds' nests, a waterfall grotto and more, the Luci and Ian Family Garden is sure to please.

Providing multi-sensory play, the Luci and Ian Family Garden creates a fun exploratory environment where children can hide behind a waterfall, walk across the river on carefully place stones, and use their imaginations while learning about cave art.

In addition, the Family Garden provides children the opportunity to meander through a maze,get creative using products of nature to build, and discover wetland creatures.

Beyond the children's garden lies the remainder of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Visitors can stroll through meadows, a butterfly garden, a woodland garden, an inspiration garden for homeowners and more.
 

 

In addition, the Wildflower Center offers a lovely plaza with an accompanying cafe, classroom and gift shop.The next time you visit Austin, make sure to stop by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and stroll through the Luci and Ian Family Garden!

Grand Opening :: Luci and Ian Family Garden at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

The dogwoods have bloomed, the mimosas are quickly emerging, and the harshness of winter is waning into a lovely Spring. Flowers perfume the air, soft clouds sway in the breeze and among all the season's festivities, a special occasion arises. On May 4th, join me and my husband as we celebrate the grand opening of the Luci and Ian Family Garden at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas. 

Open to the public, this celebration showcases the 4.5 acre native plant Family Garden designed to encourage hands-on, creative outdoor play, with sustainable features including giant birds' nests, a creek, and a maze. 

Named after lead donors Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson, and her husband Ian Turpin, the $5 million Family Garden will double the maintained garden acreage at the 279-acre Wildflower Center that is part of The University of Texas at Austin.

"The Wildflower Center is on the cutting edge of sustainability,” says Luci Baines Johnson. “Our hope is that the Family Garden will be a place where families go to play and discover the wonder and importance of nature.”

The Luci and Ian Family Garden aims to connect children and families to the natural world by providing more than a dozen interactive and educational features made of natural materials such as Nature’s Spiral, a mosaic–inlaid limestone wall that illustrates the spiral shapes found in nature. Other features include a maze made of native shrubs, giant tree stumps for kids to climb on, giant bird nests made from native grape vines, a grotto with caves and a waterfall, a lawn designed with native turf, a creek with dinosaur footprints and water activities, and much more.

“There is nothing like this garden in Texas on many levels,” says Susan Rieff, executive director of the Wildflower Center. “The Luci and Ian Family Garden will offer children a safe environment for exploring the natural world that we hope will instill a sense of wonder and excitement.”

Designed by landscape architect and artist W. Gary Smith and architecture firm TBG Partners, the Family Garden is a model for eco-friendly landscaping as a pilot project of the national Sustainable Sites InitiativeTM(SITES) program. The Wildflower Center developed SITES in partnership with the U.S. Botanic Garden and the American Society of Landscape Architects. It is the most comprehensive national system for rating the design, construction and maintenance of sustainable landscapes.

The Luci and Ian Family Garden was made possible by more than 200 generous donors, including Lynda Johnson Robb, also daughter of President Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson, whose family funded the Robb Family Pavilion. Taken together, these donors contributed over $5 million to fund the project.

I encourage you all to take time this season and visit the Luci and Ian Family Garden. And, if you’re available on May 4^th, come join me in the garden!

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is located at 4801 La Crosse Avenue, Austin, Texas 78739.