UncommonGoods Kids Quotes Contest!

If your kids are anything like mine, surely they say things that make you either crack up or cringe on a regular basis. My children have given me enough material for both stand-up comedy and therapy, and judging by my Facebook newsfeed, I'm certain my friend's kids are equally as hysterical. That's why I'm excited to tell you about how to enter UncommonGood's Kids Quote contest here. From now through May 31st, submit your child's funny or otherwise adorable quote for a chance to win a piece of custom wall art displaying their quote. Though we've all had the experience of our child saying something highly inappropriate at the wrong time (always funnier in retrospect than it was at the time, am I right?), your submission needs to be PG and kid-friendly. Chances are, if you're comfortable with it hanging on your wall for eternity, it qualifies :)

My favorite recent quote from my five-year-old daughter, Ava, was during communion on Easter Sunday. She likes to wait until the absolute quietest part of the service to say or do anything remotely questionable, so naturally as soon as it went silent for communion, Ava said (very loudly, I might add!), "Wine is my FAVORITE part of church!" Oh, super. Thankfully our Rector has a good sense of humor and just barely stifled her laughter. Out of the mouths of babes, right?

I'd love for you to enter to win the custom wall art, and share with me here in the comments your favorite quote from one of your kids! While you're perusing the goodies, check out the other personalized home decor available here. Good luck!

If you're not yet familiar with UncommonGoods, there are many worthwhile things to know about them and their mission as a company. For example, as an independently-owned Brooklyn business, they have the creative license to feature unique and one-of-a-kind products, with a focus on those that positively impact the world. Furthering this mission of conscientiousness, they also partner with several not-for-profit organizations, such as RAINN, Reach Out & Read, Women for Women International, and American Forests, and give $1 from each purchase to your choice. Shopping you can feel good about - what's not to like about that combination?

Touch-A-Truck Returns May 9!

Returning from its one year hiatus, Touch-a-Truck is a family-friendly event that hosts a wide variety of vehicles for kids of all ages to play on, while learning about the automobiles and how they help to serve their communities. Featured vehicles have included firetrucks, police cars, motorcycles, school buses, recreational vehicles, ambulances, and more!

Other features include live music, a local Austin favorite ‘Food-Truck Food Court’ and a Kid Zone complete with a petting zoo, face painting, barrel-train rides and much more.

Touch-A-Truck is a fun way for families to bond as their children explore vehicles they have seen in movies, books, or just driving down the street. More importantly, however, the event raises funds for essential programs within Austin Children's Services. Please join us as we welcome community leaders, families, children, youth to the Annual Austin Children's Services Touch-A-Truck.

Details:

Saturday, May 9 from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

*VIP Admission from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM – Includes breakfast!

Located at Camp Mabry, 2210 W. 35^th St. Austin

Tickets available here and are $5 for general admission, and $20 for VIP admission, which includes breakfast and early admission.

You can learn more about the event and see photos from previous events by visiting Touch-a-Truck’s .

Pollyanna Theatre Company's The Big Bolt at The Long Center.

Looking for a fun family event this upcoming Mother’s Day weekend? Do you want to encourage a love of the arts in your young child(ren) while spending time together as a family? If so, you’re in luck! Pollyanna Theatre Company presents its next production, The Big Bolt, by Holly Hepp Galvan, May 9^th – 17^th with multiple performance times at the Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, located at 701 West Riverside Drive, Austin, with two of the Saturday performances (2:00 pm on May 10^th and 17^th) to be followed by ‘Meet the Cast’ parties.

This 60-minute production is written specifically to appeal to the developmental and educational needs of very young children ages 3 – 7, exploring the concept of cause and effect, as well as basic pre-math concepts.

The story centers on a young girl named Jimmi and her dog Pal, who discover what can happen when a seemingly unimportant, but very big, bolt is taken out of its intended place. A hilarious cast of characters experience the varying effects of the missing bolt and with Pal’s help, Jimmi learns how to confess to her mistake and put things right again.

You can learn more about Pollyanna Theatre Company and The Big Bolt, as well as download a free study guide for parents and teachers www.pollyannatheatrecompany.org>here

The founders of Pollyanna Theatre Company believe that theatre is a powerful teaching tool that speaks to people of all ages in a unique and powerful way through a variety of visual, aural, and emotional languages. Therefore, theatre should be a part of all general education from pre-kindergarten through adulthood. Toward that end, The Pollyanna Theatre Company strives to work alongside educators to inspire, motivate, and teach audiences of all ages. Although the company’s primary focus is upon young audience members, the ensemble performs top quality theatrical productions that speak to and illuminate the human spirit and condition for all ages.

Color Me Mine in Bee Caves: A Review.

I posted a while back about a special going on at Color Me Mine, a paint-your-own-pottery studio located at the Hill Country Galleria. Never one to let a new opportunity to slip by me, Ava and I headed out there last weekend to create a few pieces of our own!

I've been to my share of painting studios, despite lacking even an ounce of my own artistic ability, and there were several things about Color Me Mine that immediately stuck out to me. 

First of all, I was mesmerized by the beautiful murals on the walls. The studio was beautiful and inviting, with lots of great light for painting! There was also quite a few designs and pottery pieces that seemed exclusive to their studio, which was one of the highlights for me. A lot of times you get a similar selection of a handful of designs, but they had some wonderful character pieces that really appealed to Ava - they are exclusively licensed for Sony and Warner Brothers designs! 

Ava picked out a couple of pieces to work on, and we sat down to get to work. At other studios I've been to, you get to choose 4-6 colors to use on your piece, but at Color Me Mine, they had a color menu with nearly 100 colors to choose from, and all colors were available to you. They also had plates against the wall with various techniques demonstrated on them, and other tools accessible to customers to help get their creative juices flowing!

Ava chose two pieces - a Snoopy piggybank for herself, and a piece to work on for Mother's Day - one that I'm very anxiously awaiting opening next weekend! Despite the presence of other families in the studio, I never once felt rushed or like we had overstayed our welcome, despite Ava painting for nearly two hours! She also used a significant amount of red, and no one raised an eyebrow - in fact, they kept coming back around with more! 

Here's my little artist at work:

Another fantastic thing was that our pieces were ready in just TWO days! They were promised by Thursday, but we got a call that they were ready on Tuesday afternoon - Ava couldn't have been more excited!

If you're interested in checking out Color Me Mine, you can find a location near you on the mural below! If you're in the Austin area, though, I highly recommend visiting the Bee Caves location in the Hill Country Galleria - you won't be sorry!