Family Night Out in Austin - The Brick Oven on 35th

This week’s Family Night Out was inspired by a Groupon I purchased last week (Don't know about Groupons? Read our blog on how we use them to save on family fun) for the Brick Oven on 35th Street. I’ve always been a fan of Brick Oven, although I admit I think I’ve only been to the location on 35^th Street once. And, that was some time ago. Anyway, I felt pretty good about the location so I paid $20 for the Groupon and we received $40 worth of food for 4. Not bad at all.

I think my kids have only been to Brick Oven two or three times before and I would guess that happened prior to age 5. In other words, they don’t really remember it. We’d have gone more, but the location nearest us closed and with a burgeoning city, we simply found somewhere else to fill in that gap.

So, what I learned about this Brick Oven (on 35^th) is that even though it’s part of the Brick Oven franchise, it is the only one out of 4 in our metro area that has a separate owner. So, some of the food choices are a little different. If you have a particular dish in mind, you may want to check their website to verify it’s available at this one too.

When we got there, my daughter cracked us all up with a nervous squeal as Dad pulled the Ford 150 through the narrow drive to the left of the small Brick Oven building. Both kids were like “Wow! This place is pretty small.” We pulled into the main parking area, but as we left I did notice several people parked in an additional parking space that seemed a bit larger and easier to get to. There was a sign with directions on how to get to it, but I didn’t memorize it. Sorry!

As we walked towards the building we were greeted by a rich meaty scent in the air. Both kids commented, “Mmmmmm, smells good!”

The place was small, but quaint. They took us to a back room, which at the time wasn’t busy. That changed within the following hour though (we generally try to hit the places early to avoid the crowds).  The waiter was pleasant and the place had a real homey feel to it.

It was when I opened the menu that I realized that this wasn’t the “same” Brick Oven. I enjoy the Pasta Rustica and it was nowhere to be found. However, there were some options that I wasn’t used to seeing that I decided to try. I went for the spinach and artichoke lasagna.  My son ordered the adult classic lasagna and my daughter had the adult fetuccini alfredo (she’d have normally had the kids meal, but I wasn’t sure if that would “fly” with our groupon). It took my husband a little more time than usual to make his choice. I think the reason was that many of the pasta dishes on the menu lacked any real meatiness. There was spaghetti with meatballs and the lasagna and maybe one other. The rest had the option to add chicken, but that increased the price by nearly $4.   Finally, he decided  to go with the Everything pizza.

As far as pricing goes, I was a little surprised.  Most entrees ran around $12.95. They did come with a salad though. And, of course, there was the delicious crispy on the outside, soft and hot on the inside bread served with a little seasoned olive oil. Just for reference, the kids meal were priced between $2.75 (melted mozzarella bread) and $5.75 (pasta, etc.).

Both lasagnas were hot and delicious. My daughter’s fettucini was huge (and she ate almost every bite). I think the star of the table, though, was my husband’s pizza. The crust was perfect and the toppings were overflowing. And that scent that made our mouth’s water as we came into the restaurant, well, it was all over that pizza. To top it off, it tasted as good as it looked. I will say, my husband did task a risk and left the anchovies on. After one bite, he was filtering through it to pluck them off—too fishy!

Our tummies were full and tastebuds happy. We looked around and realized the tiny room we were in was now almost to capacity (this often happens when one offers up a great Groupon). Tonight we didn’t have time to extend our night out with an activity. So, instead my husband ordered a Tiramisu to go. The kids were baffled as to what exactly was Tiramisu. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to say “lady fingers with sauces and other toppings.” My daughter’s face stretched in shock as she said “That sounds terrible.” It led to some fun Family Night Out conversation which is what this night is really all about.

If you go to Brick Oven on 35^th, there are fun things to do around. Not far from there is Ramsey Park where there’s a public pool and slides, etc. Or, you can drive straight up 35^th until you hit Lamar. Right on the corner is a shopping area that includes Central Market’s Central location. You could take the opportunity to grab some ice cream and sit outside where they have a great playscape area for the kids. If you happen to be there on a Thursday or Friday, there’s usually free live music as well. (Find out about more family friendly regularly occurring gigs like this around Austin on our site.)

When we got home, we all sampled the Tiramisu. Upon just looking at it, I wasn’t that impressed. It was what I would call a lazy man’s Tiramisu. It didn’t really look like a lot of work had gone into it. Or, maybe I’m just skewed by the presentation I’ve seen by other Italian restaurants such as Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill that have all the distinct layers upon layers. However, once I tasted it, I’d have never known the difference. It tasted exactly as it should.

So, that’s it. Now, time to answer the questions.

Was it Kid-Friendly? Pretty much. In fact I think there were 2 or 3 other tables in our tiny room with children. I guess I say “pretty much” as I imagine that later in the evening it probably comes across as more intimate and/or romantic with lit candles. But, at 6 PM, absolutely kid-friendly.

Would I go back? Most likely if I’m in the area.

Favorite thing: Hands down, the pizza.

Got kids? Live in or around Austin? Find lots of family and kid friendly things to do on our KidzAustin website at http://www.kidzaustin.com.

Family Night Out in Austin - Lupe Tortilla and the Arbor Walk

Today, we had an appointment with Home Depot to complete an installation order so the perfect area to enjoy this week's family night out was an easy choice. We decided to try the newest restaurant addition to the Arbor Walk - Lupe Tortilla.

First though, we decided we'd try to get there a bit early so that we could get in a quick browsing session to our favorite local home consignment store - Home Consignment. We love the place with it's eclectic selection and continuously changing options. They close at 6 on some weekdays and we weren't sure if we'd get there in time. We did. The kids enjoy the place too with so much to look at. My 9-year old daughter can quickly fall in love with the perfect decorative vase, especially if the design/pattern includes some type of Chinese script.

We did a quick tour today as Dad was hungry and his mind already had him sitting at a table armed with chips and a bowl of salsa.

Next stop, Lupe Tortilla. I believe the restaurant has only been open here for a few months. It seems like we were at Home Consignment on Cinco De Mayo and the place was overflowing with patrons and music. Today we had a short wait, maybe 5 minutes, but we did get there pretty early. I would guess we showed up around 6 PM. It wasn't long before the wait for those behind us was up to 20 and 30 minutes.

The interior was very festive with the use of lots of Spanish decorations that really gave the place character. The aroma in the air was rich with the smells of fresh made tortillas and sizzling meat.

We ordered up drinks and decided we wanted to give the queso a try. It's definitely one of those things that we like to check out with every Mexican restaurant we visit. For dinner, I had the tortilla soup (a little high at $8.95), my son had the Pedro (a combo plate featuring one beef and one cheese enchilada with rice and beans), my daughter had the kids' cheese enchilada, and my husband went for the beef fajitas. While we awaited the queso we tried the dips that came with our trips -- one bean salsa (similar to charro beans) and one red salsa (very fresh and not too hot, which was great for my daughter's tender palate).

The queso showed up and received mediocre reviews from everyone at the table. Granted, we have a favorite neighborhood restaurant with queso that just can't be beat, so our view on this one could be a little skewed (but I don't think so ; )). Then the manager brought out a free sample, mini fajitas in little tortillas dressed all the way. One word for that one -- YUM! We were all jealous that Dad had clearly made an amazing choice.

When all the food showed up, it all looked really enticing. And even though I scoffed at the idea of an almost $9 tortilla soup, I was pretty pleased with the result. It was a very good size bowl (I had to take half of it home) and was loaded with lots of beautiful grilled chicken chunks, cheese, avocado, cilantro, yum! My daughter devoured her cheese enchilada and my husband's fajitas were amazing. In fact, after I tasted it took me back to a little local's favorite kind place in the Houston area where we enjoyed phenomenal fajitas (I believe that's all they served and we had to stand in line for nearly an hour to get in) with a group of our friends. After reading Lupe Tortilla's description, I think that might have actually been the original location of what is now this larger much more shined and polished version.

In the end, I think we were pleased. Be warned, it's not cheap, but at the same time I don't think it was crazily priced. You could probably feed a family of four with two entrees that you simply split and come away with a pretty reasonable bill.

My daughter's favorite part? When the waitress brought the bill and asked if we wanted the ice cream that came with the kids meal. There were like 5 or 6 types of ice cream to choose from. She went with the Nestle Crunch bar.

Speaking of the kids' meal. The price was $4.95 and featured one of seven choices (crispy or soft taco, cheese enchilada, chicken quesadilla, chicken flautas, mac n cheese and more), with a drink and a free blue bell ice cream. Not bad.

If you go, and you have a young lady on hand, you can also check out one of my daughter's favorite stores when you are done with your meal -- Sam Moon. The place is loaded with blingy purses, earrings, hats, scarves and more. And most is very reasonably priced. Be warned though, they close early. I think doors shut around 6 or 7 PM.

Would I go back? Definitely.

Was it kid-friendly? Absolutely.

Favorite thing? Toss up between the amazing fajita meat and the giant freshly made tortillas that came with them.

Another Family Night Out knocked out. I'm sure we'll be back to the Arbor Walk and/or Lupe Tortillas soon.

Want more Austin area family-friendly info? Check out the KidzAustin.com website where we offer info on kids eat free deals, party places, fun indoor locations where the kids can beat this crazy Texas summer heat and more.

Just purchased a great deal on Groupon for 4. Looks like Brick Oven on 35th will be the venue of our next family night out. We scored 4 entrees for $20. You just can't beat that. Want to find out about Groupon and other great deals and how they can keep your Family Night Out affordable. Read our blog on that topic by clicking here.

Family Night Out in Austin- Blue Baker and Arboretum

This week's Family Night Out included a trip to the new restaurant, Blue Baker, in the Arboretum shopping area.

We had been watching construction on the building for quite awhile and read local printed coverage on what this new eatery brought to Austin's culinary scene. Essentially, these guys do lots of homemade bread and pastries used for their sandwiches, pizza, salads and desserts.

For this particular family night out, we were down one child as my son was off enjoying a sleepover during the week (since you can do that over the summer months). So, it was just me, my husband and my 9-year old daughter.

We often try to go a little earlier than the general population to avoid crowds (especially at new places). We got there a little before 6. The parking lot (which is decent sized and shaded which I loved) had cars, but certainly wasn't packed yet. We found our way into the giant place -- it really does seem huge. Upon entry, you see bakers doing their craft -- at the time making the dough for the pizza -- to the left. Once you get past that, you'll see the ordering area.

They offer up a cookie of the month and have samples for you to enjoy and sample while you are standing in line. They also provided a bread sample as well. Both got a thumbs up from all three of the KidzAustin crew.

After studying the menu, we decided we all wanted to try a few things. So, we agreed to split a sandwich, a medium pizza and a dessert between the three of us. The selections were: sandwich - Powder Blue, pizza - Davinchee, dessert - Fruit Tart. All were very satisfying and tasty. They also offer a kids menu that had a nice variation of options for I think $4.25.

This particular pizza had more of an artisan feel to it (hence the play on "Davinci"). My daughter commented on the appearance of the lack of sauce and cheese which were actually there, they just all blended into the color of the pizza crust. So, if you have kids that are picky about their food looking like they expect it to, I would suggest going with the more standard fare like pepperoni or cheese. The sandwich was soft and loaded with flavor. The turkey was really fresh and highlighted by the roasted red peppers. The big commentary by all, though, was the amazing bread that held it all together. For the record, the sandwich wasn't as huge as I expected, so if you decide to share be sure to include some chips or side dish.

I thought my daughter was going to die having to stare at the beautiful fruit tart while she worked through the rest of the meal. It was bursting with color from the pink raspberries and shiny blackberries as well as the fresh strawberries and juicy blueberries. When we finally cut into it, it did not disappoint. This was the item that she gloated about enjoying to her brother that missed out on the whole trip.

Afterwards, we took the opportunity to stroll around the Arboretum. I had forgotten how shady with trees the area was. It wasn't one of those 100 degree days, so it was actually quite pleasant. We dove into Z Gallerie (which I love, love, love) which I had forgotten had moved there. We had a blast getting ideas and actually picking up a few trinkets to enhance the house decor. We also enjoyed neighbor Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. Can you tell we've been doing a little redecorating lately?

Don't forget too, that the Arboretum features the giant cows and a nice walk down to the pond where you can often find loads of ducks and occasionally a swan or two. Conveniently there's an Amy's Ice Cream right there so you can grab a treat to go and enjoy the great outdoors. It provides a great way to burn of a little energy in the case that you and/or the kids have been stuck indoors all day.

Would we go back? Definitely!

Is it kid-friendly? Absolutely!

Favorite thing? My daughter says "free samples." My husband and I vote for the pizza. The crust was delicious.

Hope you enjoyed our rundown. Please check back and/or check out our website on all things kid or family-friendly in and around the Austin area at: http://www.kidzaustin.com .

Rediscovering Me -- Do Something for YOU, Feel Good About Yourself

Wow! So, today I am proud of myself. I left with the kids this morning on our daily walk to school (1 mile there and 1 mile back) and said to myself, "Today I'll skip on my attempts at jogging because my knee is sore for no reason."

We packed up our lunches, grabbed backpacks and were off. As with every morning, we had conversations about everything from their favorite video game, to their homework to "why can't we wear flip flops again?" I enjoy this time and it's a great way for me to ensure that they get some sort of physical activity every day. Their reward for doing so comes in the form of dessert without having to hop on the treadmill.

Anyway, as I watched them cross the walk to the school and then turned around to head back, I noticed that my knee wasn't really twinging anymore. "Nah . . .I should be safe and just stick to walking today," I thought.

Quick background: Back in April (about 4 months ago) I went on Nutrisystem and after two months, lost 23 lbs!!! So, feeling healthy again is pretty new and very important. I have to say, it doesn't hurt when your husband tells you several time daily that "You're looking hot, babe." Seriously, he SAYS that!

That's a long way from where I was before I decided it was time to make a change. I know we all do it. Especially as a parent, between work, kids, house chores, volunteering and just life itself, you forget about "you." And, before you know it, you have no time to yourself, no time to think about eating or what you should eat -- it's just about grabbing something between point A and point B. Before you know it, you're snoozing in bed and have trouble remembering how you got there. So, I had that "Aha! moment" that you always hear about and I'm still working on it now.

So, back to my story. After walking the kids and while listening to Nickelback on my mp3, I got to the park. This is where I usually kick into one of my tiny blips of jogging inspiration. I thought, "Should I?"

I did . .thinking that it would just be a quick burst and that would be enough. And then I got to the spot where I planned on exiting and stopping and there was a man there with his dog. So, I made a quick change and went further into the park, still jogging and then, before I knew it, I was still jogging and I wasn't gasping for air or thinking about the second that I would stop. And, I kept jogging right across the street and for another long stretch.

OK OK OK . . .I know this probably isn't that impressive for many of the athletic people out there. For the record, this is coming from someone who has never been big on athletics, at least on land (I did Swim Team as a kid for many years). But, anyway, when I did stop. Man, I just felt SO good, so proud of myself. I'm old now and wow . .I may be getting in shape. I LOVE it!

So, there it is. I know it's a small thing, and yet it isn't. It made me smile and feel good about myself. And you know what? That really does matter.

Morale of the day: Get out there and inspire yourself (but don't hurt yourself doing it). Do something for YOU!

Have a great one!!

Family Time: Last Minute Summer Trip - NASA, Galveston, Aquarium

So, it's hard to believe but Summer is quickly coming to a close. Sadly, although we do a Summer trip to the beach in Port Aransas every year, my daughter has gotten so accustomed to it, that I guess it's not 'special' anymore. So, several times over the summer months she mentioned that we needed to do more fun things.

Since we actually bought all of our school supplies last year before the school year ended (this is a GREAT feature that our school has that I would highly suggest for ANY parent to do if available -- schoolkidz) AND we managed to knock out clothes shopping two weeks ago, we decided we'd have one last 'hurrah' in 2010.

My husband and I took off Monday and Tuesday, left Austin on Sunday morning and arrived at our hotel ON Seawall Blvd. that afternoon. The main plan was to go check out the NASA Space Center. Both my husband and I have fond childhood memories of this particular attraction and we thought our kids were finally old enough to truly appreciate it. So, since the center was SOOOOO close to Galveston, we figured if we're paying the money for a hotel room anyway, why not have that hotel room on the beach? We got a great deal through Priceline.com.

So, we arrived on Sunday evening and played in the ocean all afternoon. Galveston is definitely a bit different than Port Aransas. First, there's the WALL of course. I also found the water to be a bit muddier looking and MUCH warmer. BUT, I suppose this could also be attributed to the fact that we were there later in the season? Not sure. Nonetheless, it was a beach, there was no oil, and we had FUN! We also enjoyed the fact that there was a little Mexican Food restaurant right next door, Tortuga.

The next morning, we got up and got our exercise on the beach (if you can call it that, as we stopped ever 2 seconds to gander at a potential seashell to grace our display at home). We also had continental breakfast (we stayed at Beachfront Inn I believe). Then, we headed out to NASA/Johnson Space Center. We were in no rush and had all day. We got there about 11 AM and were recommended to do the Tram first as it is Houston in the summer . .and it was going to be VERY hot later (and this was an outside tram ride). There was so much to do here, we literally were there almost all day and didn't even get around to everything. And, let me tell you, my kids could NOT STOP TALKING about that playscape. It was AMAZING. It was sooooo large, that we didn't even notice the elevator at the backside of it for at least half an hour.

If you go here, I would suggest considering packing a sack lunch (I think it's legal, but you may want to check their website just in case). We spent about $40 to feed us all. I saw a gentleman with two small ones whip out a lunchable each for his two and it all seemed OK. There were also picnic tables outside. Also, definitely buy online. I think you save about $5 a person.

That night we returned to our hotel and ventured out to a local Seafood joint. I really wanted to get that fried seafood island feel. I guess that's what I think about when I think of the beach. So, we found a little place called Shrimp N Stuff. I had the crab balls (which weren't on the menu anymore, but MAN were they tasty -- you can probably ask and they'll make 'em), my husband had the stuffed shrimp. My son begged to get the adult fried shrimp and my daughter had the kid's popcorn shrimp. I think we were all pleased with the outcome. The place had a nice local ambience and what appeared to be lots of locals too. We finished off the meal by trying their key lime pie which was to die for. I would definitely recommend giving it a try to anyone. It was sooooo good that I forgot to buy my son the Shrimp N Stuff t-shirt souvenir he had requested . .and so did HE!

Our last day was spent packing up and planning for our last adventure. We had looked into doing Moody Gardens but it seemed a bit pricy for our last minute adventure. So, I remembered an aquarium we had seen on the way in when we were driving thru the art/theatre district in Houston. It was called the Downtown Aquarium and is run by Landry's (the same place that also runs the RainForest Cafes). They had several Aquarium exhibits as well as some rides and games. Once I saw that they also had a Tuesday special in August, buy one get one free all adventure pass, we were on our way.

Unfortunately, when we got there, they said we couldn't get the deal unless we had the coupon printed out -- which I did NOT. Ugh! Soooooo frustrating. Sometimes I just need someone to include on that link something like, click here to print coupon as it soooooo did not say that. So, since we'd already paid for parking, we walked to the art district area in search of a place where we could locate a computer and printer and then we saw a sign for the LIBRARY . . . It was like LAAAAAAaaaaaaaaa. Unfortunately, we had to walk 5 blocks on asphalt in the middle of the day to find that library. Once we got there, there was an hour and a half wait to get a computer. Yes . . .I said and HOUR AND A HALF. I think the poor lady at the desk must have seen all of our sweaty faces just wilt . . . and then asked "So, what it is you guys need it for?" Can I say THANK GOODNESS FOR FRIENLY PEOPLE??? She totally felt for us, pulled up the site and printed the darn thing out! Whew!!!!

So, back to the aquarium we went. For $32 we got to see ALL kinds of fish and alligators and more. In fact, they even had a gorgeous white tiger that my kids couldn't stop talking about. They kept comparing him to our little 'tiger' Hank (who loves to hunt unsuspecting birds at the bottom of my bird feeder) and how much they were alike. It was really great. We ended our time there with the Shark Voyage (or something like that). Essentially, it's a little train that drives you thru the middle of a large tank loaded with lots of sharks. It was REALLY awesome.

So, that was it! And, the best thing was that when we got back, the kids couldn't tell Grandma for sure what was their favorite part. They just said "It was so much Fun!"

So, if your kids are driving you crazy, just take 'em out for something a little different and enjoy your time together!!!

Date Night Made Affordable -- Location. Location. Location

(continued from Date Night Made Affordable -- The Old Swap-a-roo)

Now, if you've read previous blogs, you may recall that back when our friends and I were swapping babysitting duties and date night (which saved us babysitting costs), I mentioned we were low on funds in general. So, a big night out wasn't really on the menu for us. So, we improvised, making a money-saving tweak from your standard/expected date destination. Rather than hitting your standard restaurant or possibly going for a Big Mac, we chose a location that reaked romance -- Mount Bonnell in Austin, TX.

(If you are EVER in Austin, I suggest you check it out -- it provides an incredible view of our fair city! Be warned, there ARE lots of steps to climb to get you to that beautiful view, but it is SO worth it.)

While our surroundings couldn't be beat, the food was wonderful and VERY affordable. We packed a picnic dinner, blanket, bottle of wine and some very high class plastic wine glasses. FANCY! No, but seriously, it was an amazing evening under the stars that was topped off by the absence of cries from a certain beloved wee one at home.

So, that was then.

Since then, we've gotten older and oh yeah . . . .did I mention the 100 degree weather outside? So, we found ourselves falling into the usual date night scene. And then, we found ourselves spending WAY too much money on the dates. (Have you ever sat down and plopped all of your expenses into a spreadsheet and said to yourself "OMG!")

Now, as I mentioned date night is THE ingredient to a happy marriage. So, while we obviously needed to work on the money situation, we weren't doing it at the expense of the occassion. It was time to get creative again.

My neice (our babysitter as mentioned in previous blogs) now has her own place with a child of her own. And as I opened my mind in search of the date night savior I heard, "Ding!" And then I asked, "So . . . . how do you feel about us bringing the kids to YOUR place this week?"

Turns out, it was great for her. She didn't have to wake her sweet child in the middle of the night when they went home. It was also a win-win for us. Think about it. Now, we had the opportunity to go out and have dinner if we wanted or to stay home and make our own romantic scene if we preferred. Suddenly, we had much more control on what we could or couldn't do.

So, location, in this case is key. When done right, if you're tight on the money, you can still have an amazing time based on where you go OR maybe where your babysitter is. (Have I mentioned how important I think Date Night is. Seriously, I would say 20 years of a great relationship were built on it!)

Keep and open mind and find an open door . .to your NEXT date, whether it's in a park, a tent, on a mountain, or just in your own comfy little home.

More date night options tomorrow. Don't change that channel ; )

Date Night -- The Ingredient to Family Happiness

My husband and I will have been together for 20 years this year and married for 16 years. Both are celebrated on the same day, as I gave him exactly 4 years to decide if this 'thing' was going anywhere. Obviously it was and still is!

While the first few years were driven by physical attraction, hormones, lust and some similar interests, I attribute our later success to one very important ingredient -- date night! This became especially true in our years as parents. I think all parents come to appreciate this special occassion a little too late. As they say, "you don't know what you've got, until it's gone."

Now, I realize that date night for many brings up visions of large bills and empty pocketbooks. And, sometimes it can involve those items, BUT that doesn't HAVE to be the case.

The point really to date night is to reconnect with your significant other. So, while that can mean dinner, drinks and a show, it doesn't HAVE to. It also doesn't necessarily imply the prohibitive cost of a babysitter, which I admit can also take a toll on finances.

Before you decide to call the Doc and send me to the looney bin, let me explain. The simple act of being a little creative and pooling your resources can truly make an impact on your marital relationship.

Over the next few blogs (as I don't want you to break the blog 'no-no' of causing too much scrolling), I'll offer some personal insights/experiences/tips that allowed/allow my husband and I to connect and enjoy each other's company on a regular basis. And, with that small feat, I believe we've found a very important ingredient to the recipe for a happy family.

Stay tuned!

Have You Had “The Talk” with Your Kids . . .About Electricty?

Day 2 of A Parent Perspective

So, last night was date night for my husband and I. We went to see the hot new DiCaprio movie that everyone is talking about, Inception.

It was about 5 minutes prior to the actual movie starting as the pre-movie trailers were still going on and my husband gets a text from the babysitter. We’ve gotten lots of texts on dates before. You know the ones, “Your son is throwing up, when can you get home?”or “ Are they allowed to have dessert, tonight,” etc . . . but this one will stand out in my mind for awhile. And, maybe you too can learn from our mistake -– the mistake of assuming your kids know more than they do.

A little background before I give you the whole situation. My daughter, 7 years old and getting ready for 2nd grade, has been going through what I’ve told her is an incredible “creative” phase. I see it in her art, I see it in her play. You know, watching her, it’s one of those moments when you can literally just seeing the wheels turning and the mind opening. A light bulb of sorts have gone off. The pictures that were once simply a replica of what she saw are now an interpretation with her own special touch. Items in nature are now an inspiration and tool for an artistic endeavor. On walks, a leaf would be the perfect wing on a bird. So, we’re being experimental and trying new things. In my mind that’s where great ideas, inventions, creations are born, from an open and creative mind.

OK . .so back to the story. In this case, though, that experimental side took a nasty turn. Only two nights earlier we had purchased a new night light for my daughter as she doth protest her fear of the dark E-V-E-R-Y single night.

Sometime during the day, apparently, she felt the need to take her night light to a new level. She snuggled a quarter inside the light right next to the bulb. I don’t exactly know why and not sure she really does either.

Later, while we were on date night of course, she pulls the night light from the wall. As she tilted it slightly, the quarter dislodged itself and became a victim of gravity. As it made its way to the ground, it hit the plug of the nightlight which wasn’t yet disconnected from the wall. What happened? Well . . . . an incredibly bright flash of light as our sitter described it.

She jumped from her seat to find my daughter in tears that her new nightlight broke. She looked around at the nightlight with a strange circular indentation burnt into it and a black soot appearance on the plug, the outlet, on the wall and later, once she discerned how the circular shape was created, the quarter. Then she realized the light didn’t work either!

She sent the text that read, “Zeyda stuck a quarter in a night light, pulled it from the wall and quarter hit prongs in wall . . .big light sparks, wall socket black, quarter kinda melted to the night light prongs . . .and bathroom light doesn’t work anymore?”

Later it it came to our attention that our upstairs electricity was out as well . . . .

In the end, we’re thankful that no one was hurt. We spoke to our daughter about the dangers of electricity and keeping metals (and pretty much anything else aside from, say, a plug) away from outlets. As they say “what doesn’t kill ‘em will make ‘em stronger.”

Thanks to breakers, our electricity and light is restored. And, we’ve purchased a new $2 nightlight from our local grocery store.

While, I have to say, it was tempting to get angry over the whole situation, we realized it wasn’t the right thing to do. While our outlet may be burnt, I know that Zeyda’s light of creativity will still shine on. And, she goes forward with a new experience to learn from.

A New Venture

So, today I start a new venture -- "A Parent Perspective." My goal in this venture is to share my experiences/advice/perceptions of life as a parent, wife and human on this little rock we all call home. I'm looking to grow through allowing myself to share openly, something I'm not always great at in person.

Why this? Well, I'm a mother of 2 (ages 7 and 10), wife of 16 years ('together' for 20!), and a professional who insanely enough craves 'more.' Have you ever had that feeling as a parent? Oh . . .how 'UN'apparent it can be. You don't know how or when it happens, but somehow the life you so carefully built can somehow take over, constructing walls and ceilings and furniture all around you to the point that you lose yourself in the maze we call "life."

With this blog, I hope to refind myself by getting in touch with my inner writer/creative person and maybe, just maybe, inspire others in the process.

What I intend to share: ideas on how to keep your marriage fresh (do you still get butterflies whe he/she walks into the room?), being there for your kids, rediscovering you (when's the last time you went by your first name rather than being Joe's wife or Donna's mom?), peeking into someone else's family life experiences (Wow! I thought that was something that just happened to US!), and sometimes just having fun! And, if you live in Austin, you'll also benefit through stories of places where you can enjoy some local kid-friendly, family fun!

Well, there you have it -- my first entry! The plan is to offer these tidbits every day (of course, I think holidays, vacation, sick days can still apply.) ; )

May we live, learn and grow our families together and may we all find that our perspective as a parent can be more "apparent" if we just let it.