Fall is a nice time to take a scenic drive near Houston. There are several great places to check out the amazing fall foliage. Here are a couple of them.
Hope on FM 1375 towards Austin and you’ll see some great trees and ferns at Sam Houston National Forest. These trees will look great during the fall as their leaves turn from the bright green of summer to the beautiful red, orange, and yellow of autumn.
Another nice scenic drive also goes towards Austin. If you get on 2222 West, you’ll get to pass through a number of different hilly areas that are very pretty this time of year. You might also want to take highway 290, depending on where you live in Houston and how fast you want to go.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Gift Baskets Make Great Gifts
There are times when flowers just don’t seem appropriate. Maybe it’s the circumstances. Maybe it’s the person. Whatever it is, you just know a bright bouquet of flowers won’t be quite right. Oh, the recipient will thank you for them, but you know he or she is just being polite. If flowers aren’t quite right, what can you send instead? How about a great gift basket?
Gift baskets can include a wide variety of things. Most feature food. You’ll find gift baskets full of gourmet fruits such as apples, oranges, and bananas for those who eat healthily. On the other hand, there are baskets for those who love candy and chocolate. Some include peanuts and other salty snacks. There are themed gift baskets, too. A gift basket for a baseball lover might include popcorn, candy, and a baseball. Some are themed for certain holidays, such as an Easter gift basket full of candy eggs, a stuffed bunny toy, and jelly beans.
Who might want a gift basket? Well, there are many different people. Some people are actually allergic to flowers, so gift baskets are perfect for them. Men often prefer gift baskets over flowers because flowers aren’t seen as being a very manly gift. Kids might like gift baskets full of candy and cute stuffed animals over flowers as well. You may also want to send a gift basket instead of flowers to a co-worker or work associate since gift baskets are seen as more of a neutral gift (some flowers have romantic connotations).
Gift baskets are no more expensive than flowers, and they are available anywhere. If you’re not sure if flowers would be appropriate, send a gift basket. Everyone loves fruit, candy, and the other treats you can include in gift baskets.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Art of Giving
Everyone likes to give gifts. It makes us feel good to know we’ve made someone’s day a little brighter, and it helps cement our relationships. But giving gifts isn’t a science, and it isn’t always easy. Here are some tips you can use to master the art of giving.
Know what the recipient will like. This is the trickiest part of gift giving. What if you get them a gift they hate or won’t use? No one wants that. While the recipient will (hopefully) be polite enough to pretend to like the gift, you’ll be able to tell from their initial reaction that they don’t really want it. If you’re buying for a close friend or relative, chances are you have an idea of their interests and likes. If you’re buying for a co-worker or someone you don’t know that well, you may be at a loss. In this case, gift cards may be acceptable. You can also ask people who know the recipient better for ideas.
Know all pertinent information about the recipient. If you’re buying clothing, for example, you need to know what size to get. Knowing the person’s favorite color may also help in deciding on a gift.
Know where to shop. Once you’ve got that perfect gift in mind, you’ve got to know where to find it. Sometimes this is as simple as walking in to a local department store and buying it. Other times, however, it can be difficult, especially if you’re looking for a popular item (remember how crazy people went over that Tickle Me Elmo doll years ago?). Thanks to the internet, however, you can often find the gift you want online. Yes, you do have to pay shipping, but often the gift actually costs less than it would in the store, so you end up saving money.
Know how much time you have to shop. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to start your gift search. If you know you’re not going to have a lot of time to do your shopping, start as early as you can. You don’t have to hit every store on the same day, either. Internet shopping can also save you a lot of time since you won’t have to drive to each store or search for what you’re looking for.
These tips will help you perfect your skill at the art of giving and may even help reduce your stress while shopping.
Know what the recipient will like. This is the trickiest part of gift giving. What if you get them a gift they hate or won’t use? No one wants that. While the recipient will (hopefully) be polite enough to pretend to like the gift, you’ll be able to tell from their initial reaction that they don’t really want it. If you’re buying for a close friend or relative, chances are you have an idea of their interests and likes. If you’re buying for a co-worker or someone you don’t know that well, you may be at a loss. In this case, gift cards may be acceptable. You can also ask people who know the recipient better for ideas.
Know all pertinent information about the recipient. If you’re buying clothing, for example, you need to know what size to get. Knowing the person’s favorite color may also help in deciding on a gift.
Know where to shop. Once you’ve got that perfect gift in mind, you’ve got to know where to find it. Sometimes this is as simple as walking in to a local department store and buying it. Other times, however, it can be difficult, especially if you’re looking for a popular item (remember how crazy people went over that Tickle Me Elmo doll years ago?). Thanks to the internet, however, you can often find the gift you want online. Yes, you do have to pay shipping, but often the gift actually costs less than it would in the store, so you end up saving money.
Know how much time you have to shop. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to start your gift search. If you know you’re not going to have a lot of time to do your shopping, start as early as you can. You don’t have to hit every store on the same day, either. Internet shopping can also save you a lot of time since you won’t have to drive to each store or search for what you’re looking for.
These tips will help you perfect your skill at the art of giving and may even help reduce your stress while shopping.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Why Grandparents Are So Cool!
Grandparents often seem much cooler than parents. Much of this has to do with the fact that they often spoil us. After all, they don’t have to deal with us every day, so they feel a little freer in giving us treats, toys, and letting us do what we want. However, there are several other reasons why grandparents are so cool.
One of the things that makes grandparents so cool is that they often have awesome stories. They’ve been around for decades, and they have lived through a lot. Some of them fought in different wars, some have been overseas and to many fascinating places, and some simply have interesting tales to tell.
Another thing about grandparents is that their homes are full of memories. Grandparents often host family gatherings and holiday meals, and it’s at these gatherings that we make many great memories. These memories stick with us for the rest of our lives. Who doesn’t have special memories of a family Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner at their grandparents’ home?
Finally, another reason grandparents are so cool is that they are always there for us in our times of need. Whether it’s just to offer us comfort, to give us a place to live during hard times, or to help out financially, grandparents are always there when we need them.
Remember to show your grandparents how much you appreciate them on September 12, National Grandparents Day.
One of the things that makes grandparents so cool is that they often have awesome stories. They’ve been around for decades, and they have lived through a lot. Some of them fought in different wars, some have been overseas and to many fascinating places, and some simply have interesting tales to tell.
Another thing about grandparents is that their homes are full of memories. Grandparents often host family gatherings and holiday meals, and it’s at these gatherings that we make many great memories. These memories stick with us for the rest of our lives. Who doesn’t have special memories of a family Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner at their grandparents’ home? Finally, another reason grandparents are so cool is that they are always there for us in our times of need. Whether it’s just to offer us comfort, to give us a place to live during hard times, or to help out financially, grandparents are always there when we need them.
Remember to show your grandparents how much you appreciate them on September 12, National Grandparents Day.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Labor Day Events in Houston
There’s always a lot to do on Labor Day. As the first weekend in September, the heat wave of the summer has usually broken, and we can actually get outside without melting. If you’re looking for something to do in Houston this Labor Day weekend, here are some ideas.
The Houston Labor Day Classic is a weekend-long event featuring Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M. The two go at it on Sunday at Reliant Stadium, but the festivities actually start on Thursday with a mixer at the Spot Lounge, followed by pool parties, casino nights, and more.
Another event is the Labor Day Redfish Raft-Up. On Sunday, participants can cruise around Galveston Bay on the Star Gazer yacht while enjoying great barbecue, wine, and champagne. It costs $89, but you get four and a half hours of fun, including live music.
For a little less ($35 for lawn tickets), you can hear singer John Mayer perform at the Woodlands Pavilion. His concert is Sunday and begins at 7:00 p.m.
The football season gets underway on Labor Day weekend. If you’re a fan of the different teams, head over to the Kemah Boardwalk this weekend to meet players, cheerleaders, and Toro the mascot. In addition to autographs and photo opportunities, there will be games and prizes.
Finally, something a little different: Labor Day is also the Free Day of Yoga. It doesn’t matter if you’re an expert or a beginner, you can visit one of more than 50 different yoga studios in the Houston area and take a free class. The events begin with a demonstration held at Discovery Green Park at 8:30 a.m. A list of participating studios can be found at http://www.fdoyhouston.com/.
The Houston Labor Day Classic is a weekend-long event featuring Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M. The two go at it on Sunday at Reliant Stadium, but the festivities actually start on Thursday with a mixer at the Spot Lounge, followed by pool parties, casino nights, and more.
Another event is the Labor Day Redfish Raft-Up. On Sunday, participants can cruise around Galveston Bay on the Star Gazer yacht while enjoying great barbecue, wine, and champagne. It costs $89, but you get four and a half hours of fun, including live music.
For a little less ($35 for lawn tickets), you can hear singer John Mayer perform at the Woodlands Pavilion. His concert is Sunday and begins at 7:00 p.m.
The football season gets underway on Labor Day weekend. If you’re a fan of the different teams, head over to the Kemah Boardwalk this weekend to meet players, cheerleaders, and Toro the mascot. In addition to autographs and photo opportunities, there will be games and prizes.
Finally, something a little different: Labor Day is also the Free Day of Yoga. It doesn’t matter if you’re an expert or a beginner, you can visit one of more than 50 different yoga studios in the Houston area and take a free class. The events begin with a demonstration held at Discovery Green Park at 8:30 a.m. A list of participating studios can be found at http://www.fdoyhouston.com/.
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