Spring is here and warmer weather is right around the corner. While we are still dealing with bouts of cold weather, most days are sunny and comfortable enough for people to move around outside. Because we no longer have an amusement park in Houston and you have to drive quite the distance for water parks, many people are constantly in search of “family fun”. Families flock to the rodeo because it is one of the few experiences for the complete family to enjoy. Once the rodeo ends, many clans are back to square one wondering what to do, what to do. However, if you look around, there are many fun-filled activities for the family in Houston and its surrounding areas. Below is a start to new adventures!
Frobergs – It’s strawberry picking season and Frobergs is a great place to go. They give you large buckets and you can go out and pick as many or as few strawberries as you want. I find it very fulfilling to see so many kids out in the fields having a great time, full of joy and worry-free. While you’re there, you can also purchase fresh vegetables to enjoy.
Live Steamers – This is an attraction that consists of train rides in Hockley, TX. You can enjoy this attraction every third Saturday of the month from March until November. Passengers can board the train, free of charge, and take a scenic ride through the park. There’s also enough land to take advantage of a family picnic before or after the ride.
James Turrell’s Epiphany at Rice University – This light sequence takes place during sunrise and sunset on select days. This is an opportunity to view magical performances of light and sound. It’s also an opportunity to discover the campus of Rice University. Get there early if you want to get a seat.
Miller Outdoor Theater – The Miller Outdoor Theater puts on shows for grown ups and kids alike throughout the year. During the spring, the family can enjoy the shows as well as ride the train, stop for snow cones and roll around on the hill.
Sunny’s Flea Market – This is truly the spot for family fun. This flea market extends for miles and you can shop for almost anything you want. The fun part is the flea market is close to Lucky Land, there’s a small carnival for kids, there are rows and rows of food trucks AND there’s an indoor club for people of all ages and sizes. Everyone is welcome here!
If you’ve been looking for places to go, here’s a start to your “Spring Fling”. These are great places to visit before the dreaded heat of the summer moves in and makes us want to stay inside and eat ice cream all day. These are family friendly places, great for all ages, so go ahead and start your fun!
Everybody that knows me, knows that I am a huge fan of San Antonio. Growing up in Texas, one of the field trips in elementary was to visit The Alamo. This appeared to be a standard field trip for most schools, so I started my journey to San Antonio at a pretty young age. As I got older, I started traveling to San Antonio for pleasure. Sea World opened, I went to San Antonio. Six Flags over Texas opened, I went to San Antonio. Holiday Lights on the Riverwalk, I went to San Antonio. Ripley’s Believe It or Not, I went to San Antonio. Spurs are in the Playoffs! I went to San Antonio. Go Rio Boat Tours, you guessed it, I went to San Antonio. I’ve gone to San Antonio at least once a year my entire adult life; and in recent times I’ve realized I still don’t know anything about San Antonio.
Recently, I traveled to San Antonio for a track meet and had the opportunity to visit Trinity University for the first time ever. Years ago, when I was an athlete, I traveled to San Antonio for competition. Not once did I ever think to visit any of the universities in San Antonio. While I was on the campus of the university, riding through down the compact lanes surrounding the university, I had an opportunity to see the dorms, some of the amenities and how quiet campus life appeared to be on the weekend. I also discovered the school I was there to support at the track meet had a basketball team competing in the NCAA Tournament. So, of course, I went to the basketball game to support the women’s basketball program. It was there I determined the campus wasn’t really quiet on the weekends. It appears everyone had been resting up for this match up. It was a copacetic experience, an opportunity to do something new.
I was only scheduled to be in San Antonio for 24 hours, so per usual I had to dine on the Riverwalk. I can’t even estimate the number of times I’ve been on the Riverwalk. I’m not sure what route I took this time, but it led me to the Kallison Love Lock Walk Bridge. I have walked the Riverwalk from one end to the next and never knew this bridge existed. I know most cities have these bridges but I had never seen one up close and personal. It was a pretty cool experience.
After finding the bridge, I drifted slightly off The Riverwalk in a different direction while looking for the ladies room. In those streets, I discovered La Villita Historic Arts Village. It’s a small village right off of The Riverwalk that has little shops, art museums and cafes. I visited Scentchips, a wax shop. They offered a variety of scent chips that can be used in your wax warmer. Of course, I grabbed a few boxes without even being able to remember if I had a wax warmer at home. They smelled so delectable, I couldn’t resist. Next, I visited SAAAC Museum which is in the process of adding but had a number of artifacts that sparked discussion.
The day was nice, the weather was spectacular so I left The Riverwalk and decided to look for Hemisfair Park. Ha! I didn’t have to go far. The park was basically across the street from The Riverwalk and it was a gem! The park had restaurants and wineries and waterfalls and ice cream shops. I could have spent the entire day out there! But, I had to return home and prepare for the week ahead. I decided right then and there I would be returning to San Antonio sooner than later to go back to this park and enjoy all it had to offer.
My next trip to San Antonio is already planned in my head. This trip has motivated me to truly venture out in San Antonio. While I truly love the things I have consistently done, this trip was just a reminder that the world has so many things to offer. This was my reminder to do try something new by stepping beyond the limits of what I already know.
Investing in your skin is a must. Your skin stands as your representative every time you enter a room. Fortunately, my siblings and I were blessed with appreciable skin that requires minimal maintenance. However, I am the one that’s extra, I do all the things that require me to do more than the bare minimum to maintain untroubled sheathing.
When it comes to my face, I have to protect it in the brutal moments of every season. As an educator, track mom and track coach, I spend a lot of time outdoors. From the grueling winds of winter, to the intensity of the heat that is summer, your girl is outside. So, taking care of my skin is a top priority. To protect my arms, I wear a lot of long sleeved shirts and to protect my face I wear hats and visors. But if you know and truly understand, you know this is not enough. If I had to pick a body part that I loved the most, legs would be at the top of the list. Because I’m in shorts or skorts much of the summer, to keep my legs from getting dried and crisp, I take extreme caution in keeping my legs protected. I follow the same routine during the summer and winter because consistency works. My first layer is always baby oil gel. I use Johnson and Johnson’s Baby Oil Gel, and more often than not, I use Walmart’s Equate Baby Oil Gel. This helps seal in the moisture when layering products. Next I use Dermasil, which is actually a Dollar Tree brand of lotion. Trust me, it works. I then use a thin layer of Palmer’s Vitamin E Oil to aid in the moisturizing of my skin and to give me a little shine. During the summer months I top this off with Coppertone Glow Shimmer which is a sunscreen that allows me to keep that glow. Now if you like your legs to have a little sparkle and smell good, you can also add Truly’s Unicorn Body Butter to your routine. This will have you shining and smelling delectable.
When it comes to my arms, I use this same routine minus the baby oil gel. I don’t want to sweat and have all the oils soaking through my clothes, especially in the summer.
Now, you can hide your legs, but you can’t hide your face. We know a good skin care routine can slow down aging, prevent acne and improve skin hydration. For my face I cleanse with Naturium. I found this cleanser at Target and instantly fell in love with it. I also liked the fact that Target had a travel size I could experiment with before purchasing the full size product. I also do a facial mask once a week and it definitely leaves my face feeling refreshed. Now the absolute two best products I found in 2022 was the e.l.f. gentle peeling exfoliant and the e.l.f. Makeup- Melting Cleansing Balm. If you want an understanding of dead skin cells, please try this exfoliant! And when e.l.f. says melting balm, they mean melting, it literally melts the makeup off of your face. I follow my cleansing with Provence Beauty Vegan Serum. After that, I add Bonajour Natural Moisturizer, which is also a serum. I use the Caffeine Eye Cream to reduce the puffiness under my eyes, and you know the last thing I add, you guessed it, some vitamin E oil.
Another step I’ve used to enhance my skincare routine is using exfoliating gloves. I use them during my scrubs when I bathe and they definitely enhance the silkiness of my skin. I also use then when exfoliating prior to getting waxed and it gets those hairs out of that chokehold that the root has them in.
What are some of your skincare routines? Do you have any products that you stand by? Are there any techniques you’ve used to intensify your appearance? Drop some suggestions below.
Perfume or a body fragrance should be a staple piece that every woman owns. The fragrance you wear can be the first impression as you enter a place, and the lasting impression when you leave. While there are many benefits to wearing perfume that include neutralizing your body odor and boosting your confidence, my favorite reason for wearing perfume is because the idea of smelling good makes me feel sensual.
In a time and age where social media determines what’s salable, perfume has hit the charts as an essential product for every woman that wants to feel relevant. And while I have been a enthusiast of perfume for many years, I don’t know that I’ve ever seen the exigency for perfume as I’ve seen in recent months. As a result, I’m finding the prices of perfumes ascend catapult. For example, my son purchased a bottle of perfume for me in 2020 and the cost was $54.00. That same size bottle in 2023 is $118.00. While I desire to smell delightful, I still want to shop for perfumes that are delectable as well as budget friendly. I have found a few reasonable and satisfactory options that are definitely gratifying.
Clean Rain and Pear – This bottle of perfume cost approximately $25.00 and is a powerful version of Victoria’s Secret Pear Glace. It’s heart notes include chocolate, melon, coconut and pear and each of these make for a very heavenly scent. Although very light, the scent lingers long after you’re gone.
Moschino Toy 2 Bubble Gum – If you were ever a fan of Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum, you will absolutely love this scent. It’s middle notes include bubble gum, cinnamon, blueberries, giner, bulgarian rose, juicy peach and peach blossom. This scent gives you the feeling of fun and is more of a fragrance I enjoy when I know I’m going to be outside. The cost of a 3.4 oz bottle is $90. The downside of this scent is the fact that it’s not sold as a perfume, but an eau de toilette.
Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia – This has been one of my favorites for year. The middle note is freesia and, but you can definitely smell the sensuous freshness of pears in this fragrance. This is a lighter scent and definitely one I always envision wearing in the spring while raining through the rain. The price point for this particular fragrance has remained consistent for years, costing approximately $80.
Kilian I Don’t Need A Prince By My Side To Be A Princess – Described a smelling like a “sassy spice”, this one has quickly become one of my favorites. The middle notes include apple, peach, jasmine and green tea which are a few things I love. This scent is also appealing for both winter and spring. The price point is slightly steeper than I pay for everyday fragrances coming in at approximately $125/bottle.
These have been my go to fragrances to start the year, but I am looking to continue building my collection with a few more perfumes with modest prices. What are some of your go to scents and what are some of your recommendations for perfumes that are economical?
Whew, your girl is back! I started 2022 with a blog post and immediately after the post, life really start life”ing”. It seemed like every time I turned around life was saying, “You think things are bad?. Ha, there’s more where that’s coming from.” It got to a point where people started mistaking my numbness for strength. I went through a phase where I’m not sure if I couldn’t feel or just refused to feel. In the midst of it all, I tried my best to take care of my health in some capacity. On those days, I couldn’t focus on my physical health, I read books and took myself away so I could focus on my mental health. On the days I couldn’t focus on my mental health, I would go outside and walk, 100 things going on in my head, but I was still getting exercise and sunlight. And the cycle just kept repeating itself. I tried Self Care Sundays, which have been effective by the way. I set a goal to read more books to escape my own pain and find some joy, even if it was in the life of a fictional character. I looked high and low to find some source of happiness or joy.
During this entire process, I kept trying to find things that would help me improve my mood, define my purpose and even repurpose my pain. If ever I wanted to try something new, this was the season. Failure didn’t phase me during this time. I would attribute it to me being in that season of life. I tried a variety of things, and here I am a year later implementing those things into my regimen. While most people flock from social media when they are going through things in life, I am grateful I was able to find resources on social media to help me through and through.
The first thing I always look to do in the midst of my storms is exercise. I started going to a Mixed Fit class with a friend. While I enjoyed that time with her, the twerking thing was not in my spirit. I could not handle all the backsides wiggling and jiggling around the class. The gym then opened the Zumba classes back up, so I did Zumba for a while, but my track schedule started to interfere with the class time. So for a while, the only exercise I was doing was walking/running. While I enjoy this, the same routine, on the same route, became very mundane. Then, I came across a Pilates class nearby and decided to give it a try. There were so many benefits to Pilates. It was calm, slow, relaxing, and the classes allowed me to come at my leisure. I enjoy the stretching and activating of muscles I rarely use to ensure my body is getting proper movement to stay mobile for years to come. I recently incorporated some new trails into my running routine, and just a change of scenery has done wonders for my overall health.
Of course, my second indulgence was reading. I read so much during school hours, over the last few years I started denying myself the opportunity to read for pleasure. Don’t get me wrong, some kid’s books make my soul happy, but reading material for adult audiences can really change your mood. When Eric Jerome Dickey passed away, I went and grabbed any books I did not have in my collection from the stores. For years, I had been a fan, but fell off . When he passed away, the devotee in me had to pay homage to this legend by ensuring I had all of his books in my collection. Have I read them? Nope! I actually started reading the likes of Jasmine Guillory and she has kept me occupied. I am now on my last book written by her and I have been able to fall in love with the characters and their fairy-tale, happy ending stories. In between reading all of Guillory’s books, I read The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins. This book was definitely out of my norm, but whew, she made me stretch my imagination and thirst for me until it ended.
I gave myself grace and gifts. I stopped trying to be “on” at all times. I truly let myself fall apart and allowed myself to understand it was okay to fall apart as long as I remembered to put myself back together. I started taking mental health breaks in the middle of the work day. I would shut down and make space to regroup and recharge. I also started literally giving myself flowers. Growing up, I was never a fan of flowers. I was not going to stop and smell the roses. Now, I find flowers in an assortment of colors that are appealing to me. I love color and that in itself is satisfying to me. I have started gifting myself flowers to represent self love, the thoughtfulness I have for myself in regards to who I am and what I have achieved, and as a reminder to extend some compassion to myself.
One of my biggest adjustments was skin care. We often hear, “When you look good, you feel good.” However, when you feel good, it motivates you even more to look good. Most people think facial products when they hear skin care, but I wanted my entire body to feel silky smooth. Self Care Sundays started with a bubble bath. I then started doing a mask every Sunday and from there I added exfoliating, serum and vitamin E oil along with my cleansing to my face routine. I also added body butters and started using my perfume in my nighttime routine. Slowly, I created an oasis that allowed me to start my week in a perfect peace. Turned out the lights, and lit a candle like Teddy Pendergrass had been telling us to do for years. After a good workout, relaxing my body in this manner was the real deal.
Finding new things to take care of my mental, emotional and physical health has been gratifying. It has allowed me to release so many of the negative things, and remember to be more hopeful and more appreciative of the good things. As we enter a brand new month, I am holding on to the joys of life.
How’s life treating you? Has it been as promised? Has life been the way it is? No matter your situations, remember that life is life and it behaves like life.
I recently took a short sabbatical from blogging to focus on what I really want to blog about and the things I am genuinely interested in sharing with others. During this short period, I focused on trying new things related to fitness and fashion. I evaluated my blogger stats, including my views, likes and comments to gauge what my followers are interested in, and fortunately it aligned with some of the new experiences I’ve had over the past six weeks.
I’ve been on a weight loss journey for quite some time now. And while I haven’t lost any weight, I haven’t gained any either. I decided to try some new activities to give me a jumpstart because the goal is not to maintain my weight, the goal is to lose weight.
In November, I tried wood therapy, a massage technique that involves wooden tools and suction cups and is supposed to reduce cellulite and break up stubborn fat. After the first session and reading blog posts about the treatment, I decided I would try it at least two more times to determine it’s effectiveness. I also decided I would schedule appointments four weeks apart and then scale back because I also want to determine if the treatment if effective for an extended period of time (up to three months). I’ve had two sessions and listed below are the things I observed about my body after the first session.
I felt lighter during my workouts. Often, I feel like I’m packing access weight, and I feel a need to wear a waist trimmer belt to hold everything in position. The reality is nothing is moving. I started working out immediately after the first session and I felt like the load of my body had lessened. It was easier and more comfortable to move about without feeling like I needed to lift up extra baggage and pack it to the starting line.
My food intake was more controlled. I was consuming a sufficient number of calories to maintain my weight, but now I am consuming fewer calories and can really focus on dropping a few pounds.
I drink more water. During the procedure the technician asked if I drink a lot of water and the answer was, ‘nope”. I honestly don’t drink a great deal of fluids throughout the day. The wood therapy made me thirst for liquids and my water intake increased. The first week or two my body pleaded for what it needed, and that was more water. Drinking more water has also helped with my food intake and digestion.
I would get stomach spasms. There were days when my stomach felt as if I had done 1,000 sit ups the day before. The agony was similar to the pain I experienced when I was an athlete competing in college.
I recently had my second session, but it’s too soon for any real updates following the second session. One thing I can say I experienced during both sessions is a moment of complete relaxation. If it did nothing for my physical being, it definitely helped me improve my mental and emotional state each time.
I’ve considered making this a monthly treatment, but I won’t make that decision just yet. Have you or someone you know ever engaged in captivation or wood therapy? If so, what was the experience like? Is this something you would try to help your fitness journey along? Drop your comments below.
A couple of months ago I wrote a review about a product I started using after receiving a trial size via Ipsy. I have been purchasing the Ipsy glam bags for one year now and I must say I have found it to be a very beneficial membership. In the beginning I was skeptical about trying Ipsy, simply because I didn’t want another reoccurring bill for something else that wasn’t a necessity. I was already paying a gym membership and for the use of Amazon Prime. I’m not sure what I saw, probably an ad on social media, that made me go for it and I’m glad I did. The pros of using Ipsy have outweighed the cons and I personally think the $12.99/month has been a great investment in my hair and skin care products.
The thing I love about Ipsy is the beauty preference that’s completed to help pick products. Based on my experiences, they utilize the profile sheet to make selections monthly. I can’t recall receiving any products that were outside of my selected preferences. I also like the fact that I can modify my preferences at any time. Because of this, I’ve been able to try some things I wouldn’t imagine picking up in the store, i.e. red lipstick.
Since using Ipsy, I’ve had an opportunity to try some of the best skin care products available. In all of my years I never thought about how beneficial Vitamin C and serum could be for my skin. I received several types of serum and because my skin doesn’t break out often and responds well to most products, I have been able to experience so many wonderful options that have rejuvenated my skin. I do plan to get a facial and continue with the serum to see how much the general appearance of my skin improves.
If you read my post, What’s In My Makeup Bag – Save or Splurge, you know I pay the price for a good mascara. Fortunately, I have not bought a mascara in over a year. For the first six months, I selected a mascara for my selection. And I would like to believe that because mascara was often my first choice, even when I stopped picking mascara, I would often receive one in my glam bag. This has saved me hundreds of dollars over the past year. I also didn’t know what I was missing by sticking with the more popular brands or the brands recommended by the beauty advisors. My top two have been the Benefit They’re Real Magnetic Mascara and Pur On Point Mascara with Hemp.
Like my mascara, I haven’t spent much on facial products. I’ve received masks, exfoliants, srubs, serum, and face wash. I use a basic Ambi soap at night so I’ve been trying some of the cleansing products I’ve received in my glam bags for my morning routine. Again, this has saved me lots of money and trial and error has come at a very discounted price.
While I almost zero negative thoughts or comments, I would appreciate it if Ipsy would ship the glam bags sooner. My items are selected around the 25th of each month, I’m billed on the last day of the month but it takes another 15 days to ship the bag. It seems if my products are already selected, once the payment goes through it should take 3-4 days for assembly with shipping following shortly after. Because I have a fairly decent amount of products, I’m not pressed for any items. However, I do get excited about my monthly glam bag arriving in the mail.
If you have not tried Ipsy, I would strongly encourage you to try it, even if only for a short period of time. If you love make up, facial products, and/or hair care, Ipsy is a lifesaver and you can get products while on a budget. Try it if you dare!
The kiddo is gone and date nights have become more of a thing in my household. For four years, date nights consisted of track meets, drop offs to football games, supporting the beloved high school volleyball team that had been ranked top five in the nation and any other high school highlight. Following my son’s senior year, we were still smack dead in the middle of a pandemic and were not moved to engage in too many extracurricular activities. Although we still limit the places we visit, we do try to find establishments that accommodate smaller crowds in larger spaces. Houston and its surrounding areas has a lot to offer. There are a few places I love to visit and some I am looking forward to dropping by to experience brand new adventures.
First on the list is The Kemah Boardwalk. Located along the shores of Galveston Island, it is a pleasure to go outside and water watch. There are several attractions on The Boardwalk and a variety of restaurants to choose from. In addition to the fun on the premises, there are several shops and restaurants surrounding The Boardwalk. They also have a winery that offers a wine tour and tasting and sits amongst some of the most private as well as beautiful cottages around. Kemah is a great place to go if you enjoy being outdoors and can appreciate amusement park vibes.
Next is Bogies. Bogies is a little gem I stumbled across last year. It is a pub/bar that has a sizable space but never gets overcrowded. They have the jukebox, the TVs, a game room and some of the most impressive Happy Hour specials you can find. On Fridays and Saturdays they have a live band. Each time I’ve visited, I’ve found the staff to be more than superb.
Friday Night Lights! Football is big in Texas. My husband and I are both sports fans so it is only right that we drop by a football game or two or three or four throughout the season. At the conclusion of the game, we will stop by a small establishment like Taco Cabana and enjoy a soda. Simple but effective date night.
The one place I am dying to try is Seismique. I’ve seen pictures of this museum and I am completely intrigued. I’m not sure if it’s going to be a great date night option or would be better for a girls’ night out but I’m definitely interested in seeing what it has to offer.
The best date night and the most recurring date night option is at home dates that consist of us picking up dinner, grabbing popcorn from one of our favorite popcorn places and finding a comedy to enjoy together. It is the least expensive and the most effective.
What are some things you enjoy doing for date night? For us, our favorites are dinner dates, museums. movie nights and sporting events. However, we are open to ice cream dates, driving around the city and even going to the gym. What about you?
Last school year was a very challenging school year for me, the hardest I’ve experienced. This school year, I was challenged with a new task/position and delighted was not on the list of emotions I felt at the time. The first few weeks I struggled. I grappled with lesson plans, instruction, the adjustments in timing and scheduling, meeting new kids, etc.
We are now a full nine weeks into school and I’ve realized how my thoughts and words changed my life. While I haven’t fully acclimated to my position, I’ve tried to highlight the good things that happen everyday. I started telling people why the position is a better fit and that is allowing me to grow in my season of being uncomfortable. Of course, quotes that apply to me during my unique seasons keep me optimistic. Some of the quotes that are visible to both me and my students are below.
“Words can inspire and words can destroy. Choose yours well.” – Robin Sharra
“Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs.” – Pearl Strachan Hurd
“But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.” – George Orwele
Language creates reality. Words have power. Speak always to create joy.” – Deepak Chopra
“There is power in words. What you see is what you get.” – Zig Ziglar
As I move throughout each day, my goal is to change my mindset and my words. Hopefully, this will encourage those around me to change as well. I’ve found the positive in having a modified schedule. While I thought the sessions was too short to fully assess a students’ understanding, I know realize it’s enough time to teach, assess and by the time the class ends the students have reached their frustration level. This gives them time to walk away and return the next day with an understanding of what’s to come. I now have an opportunity to work with students face to face that I had only encountered online. I get to meet personalities versus people. I can truly say I enjoy my babies. The lesson plans are actually scripted if I read between ALLLLLL the lines but half of my work is done. Because I’ve changed my words, I’m not as exhausted at the end of the day and I can focus on my own well being.
Last school year, my scholars and I read the book A Big Day for Baseball. It was a very entertaining but riveting read as we had an opportunity to “go back in time” and understand the experiences of Jackie Robinson and history being made. While I have no interest in baseball, after reading this book, I was enthralled and wanted to know more.
As we were preparing to head home from our annual vacation, my husband shared one of the stops was Kansas City, Missouri. BINGO! The Negro League Baseball Museum is located in Kansas City, MO. and I couldn’t have been more than thrilled. This was a perfect time to enhance my learning from the school year. Being in the museum really made reading come to life as I saw pictures of things that were highlighted in the book.
Upon entering the museum, the first thing we came across were statues of fans/spectators dressed in their Sunday best. This was one of the things highlighted in A Big Day for Baseball. Through pictures, readings, sculptures and statues, we got a chance to see how much baseball has evolved. From the seating to jerseys to dress codes to leagues becoming integrated, we saw it all.
The exit was really fun. The exit simulated an actual baseball field with players in position. It also had an area that housed awards for distinguished players that played in the Negro League as well as those that had gone on to break the color barrier and receive honors in Major League Baseball. What a joy this was to have the Magic Treehouse come to life!
barbiebeauty 