Blog

The 55th Annual Austin Trail of Lights, Austin’s largest holiday tradition, and the second biggest event in the city, will return to downtown Austin’s iconic Zilker Park December 10 – 23, 2019. The trail features 2 million lights illuminating the park, 90 lighted holiday trees and more than 70 other holiday displays, lighted tunnels, and the 155-foot Zilker Tree.

Read on for details about the event, how to get there, where to buy tickets, and to enter for a chance to win 4 ZIP passes to the Austin Trail of Lights.

We have a new book review! Big Bad Bunty’s Boat Trip From Brazil by Shama Perera and Tamara Viskovic follows Bunty as she finds herself and many friends on an around the world adventure. While it deals with being different and the struggles that come with it, Bunty also learns the importance of friends and people who help you know how amazing you are.

Read the book review of a fellow Live Grow Play Austin reader and enter for a chance to win your own copy.

Get ready for another hair-raising adventure when Poppy, Branch and all their Trolls friends come to life on stage in Trolls LIVE!, their first ever live tour! Jam-packed with epic music, glitter, humor and happiness, Trolls LIVE! will visit H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, January 31-February 2 for six Trolls-tastic performances. 

Read on for details and how to enter for a chance to win a family four pack of tickets to the Trolls Live!

If you follow us on Facebook, you may have noticed that I'm a huge fan of El Arroyo signs. You can imagine how excited I was when a friend of mine gifted me the El Arroyo's Mini Book of Signs a few days ago. The book's sitting on my desk and I start every day with a new sign. When I need a laugh throughout the day, I simply turn my head to the left and - there's my sign.

Get a sneak peak of the El Arroyo's Mini Book of Signs and enter for a chance to win your own copy.

Nobody likes to buy a pig in a poke. Well, you don’t have to. Try It Free, a new app created by an Austin Mom and entrepreneur, will help you “try before you buy.”

Learn more about the free Try It Free app and enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa card.

Today’s featured book Do Penguins Have Pediatricians? was written by Patrick O’Donnell and illustrated by Erik Mehlen, the same duo that created Did Dinosaurs Have Dentists?. The two are back with another enjoyable quick read; this one is especially appropriate before a child’s visit to the doctor. The child in this book asks a series of questions involving various animals and illnesses. The cartoon-like pictures help add to the creativity and charm of the book. 
Read more about the book and enter for a chance to win your own copy.

And another “Best birthday party ever!” in the books. I’m very good at throwing the best birthday parties ever, if I may say so myself. This time, we had 6 girls over for a party and sleepover. Those 6 plus our 2 daughters, makes 8 girls ages 6-9. (Yes, there is a girl with a black bucket on her head. She likes to do things like that.)

After researching the awesome Live Grow Play Austin Kids Directory (which I created and manage myself – patting myself on the back), I decided to go with a foam party provided by Freedom Fun.  

Read my review and find out how to get a free Virtual Reality experience.

A new play-based preschool is opening its doors in Cedar Park. Young children at Light The Way Learning Center get the tools and support they need for their healthy development. All activities are carefully designed to adequately nurture the emotional, intellectual and physical growth of our kids. Through our learn through play philosophy, stimulating situations and hands-on learning opportunities, children are free to develop into bright young minds.

Join them for their grand opening and learn how to get your enrollment fee waived.

Today’s featured book The Adventures of Abella and Her Magic Wand by Zane Carson Carruth is about Abella and Darcie who are young fairies who finally receive their magic wand. The two fairis spend the day with their new wands discovering that magic can do wonderful but also mischievous things. Abella and Dacie learn a valuable lesson making decisions that turn out to be mistakes and how to look at those mistakes in a different way. 

Read more about the book and enter for a chance to win your own copy.

Celebrating Halloween should not be a kid’s “privilege”, it should be a kid’s “right”.

Let’s face it: Halloween costumes aren’t cheap. While some costumes can be easily created with items many households have at home, most costumes come with a - for some families hefty - price tag.

Do you have Halloween costumes your child has outgrown of and that you'd like to donate? Or are you struggling to “pay the price of Halloween”? Read on to learn how Costume Connections (and you) can help.

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