These week’s Meet a Mom holds a special place in my heart. Flashback to 2020 and our family took a LOT of walks around our Circle C neighborhood. We walked by a house with some cool chalk art in the driveway and on the next walk we met the artist, Shelley Brothers. Every walk after that we would stop and see what “our chalk lady” had drawn. We tried our best to make our daughter’s birthday that year as special as possible and I was so happy when Shelley agreed to chalk a happy birthday greeting on our driveway for the Thomas the Train loving birthday girl. Our walks by Shelley’s house didn ..read more

Trader Joe’s freezer aisle Ask any mother – working woman or stay-at-home mom, contented chef or takeout pro – busy families need meal inspiration. Use the Local Mom’s Network meal-planning guide to get breakfast, lunch and dinner on the table simply and easily. In this installment, we look to Trader Joe’s for their delicious, cost-effective, and quick food choices.   BREAKFAST Time isn’t on your side in the morning. Choose one or two days a week to make a proper breakfast. On the other days, use TJ’s shortcuts. Keep your fruit bowl packed with bananas and mandarins and your refriger ..read more

We have recently partnered with Legends Boxing and it’s been awesome to get to know the boxing gym team. What an incredible community they’ve created! Today on the blog, we’re getting to know Lynette Fields. Lynette and her husband Jared own two Legends Boxing locations – one in South Austin and one in Cedar Park. I’m honored to have this opportunity to share my “WHY”! I have always wanted to be someone who inspired others, to empower them to believe that age is just a number, and success is a mindset and attitude. I am where I am today because I learned how to work hard from my Mom and ..read more

Psychologist Dr. Tracy Brenner, “The Camp Counselor,” is working with Maine Camp Experience on the topic of mental health in a camp-related context. She is incredibly excited to support camps, campers, camp staff, and parents to promote social emotional development, resilience, and growth for all.  We are grateful to Laurie Kaidan from Maine Camp Experience for introducing us to Dr. Tracy and allowing us to share her very helpful tips.   Hi Parents! Yes, I was a camper (that’s me on the right!)… and one who was quite homesick during her first summer. Yet even with t ..read more

Many may not think of Austin as an outdoorsy place, but as Brittany Coleman, founder of ToughCutie, lets us know – it really is! At first glance, ToughCutie may look like just a sock company, but it is so much more. We’re excited to share Brittany’s story on the blog for this week’s Small Business Saturday.  Hi there! Thanks so much for taking time to chat with us. First up, can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Brittany Coleman, and I am the founder of ToughCutie. I was born in the bay area (quite by accident) – 2 months premature, 4lbs, but did bless my mom with a 15-minu ..read more

Meghan Tynes, an Austin-based Nutritional Therapy Practitioner with Tynes Wellness, is sharing a simple Pulled Pork recipe with two delicious options for leftovers!    Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Ingredients • 4-5lbs pork shoulder or butt • 1 can of Shiner Bock (chicken or beef broth optional) • 1 TBSP of garlic powder • ½ TBSP of smoked paprika • Salt and pepper to taste     Directions 1. Coat pork with spices and place in slow cooker. 2. Pour beer over pork until mostly covered. 3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-6. 4. Enjoy! Note: I usually pair this with ..read more

Two years ago, Ellie Ander of Chicago North Shore Moms shared her experience having a preventative double mastectomy, as well as her ovaries removed, after finding out she carried the BRCA gene. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, we asked Ellie to share a bit about where she is now, physically and emotionally—and what she wants other women to know. Please read our previous interview with Ellie, about her BRCA surgery, here. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What does this month mean to you? Breast Cancer Awareness Month is really all about reminding women (and men ..read more

Felipe created Goodspread Skincare due to the lack of clean ingredients in traditional skincare. He’s committed to using clean ingredients, as well as being cruelty-free, 100% vegan and eco-conscious.  Hi Felipe! Thanks so much for stopping by to chat. Can you tell us a bit more about yourself? I was born in Santiago, Chile just before the Pinochet dictatorship, which lasted until the early 90’s. I remember my early years being chaotic and uncertain as the whole country struggled to cope with the political environment. As luck would have it, my mother met an American aid worker, Ba ..read more

  Slow cooker meals are a lifesaver for busy nights – but we also are beginning to use them on busy mornings. Before school during the week or before early sports games on the weekends, meals like this hearty Banana Bread Oatmeal from recipe creator and Tik Tok star Kathleen Ashmore will get your team fed and out the door, quickly.   BANANA BREAD OATMEAL INGREDIENTS 2 cups unsweetened oat or almond milk 1 cup old-fashioned oats 2 ripe bananas 2 Tablespoons maple syrup ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 cup chopped walnuts 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 tea ..read more

It may not feel like fall, but the season is here and we are ready to celebrate! Here you’ll find a list of pumpkin patches, fall festivals, events and more. Be sure to check back often as we will keep updating as the month goes on! PUMPKIN PATCHES + FESTIVALS*Check websites for hours and location Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival Texas Pumpkin Festival Barton Hill Farms Papa Noel Pumpkin Patch Indian Springs Ranch Sweet Eats Farm Mama Mary’s Farm Sweet Berry Farm Elgin Christmas Tree Farm Crowe’s Nest Farm Evergreen Farms EVENTS Pumpkin Nights at Pioneer Farms Through 10/30 Boo at the Zo ..read more