Must-Haves for Fun in the Sun

Summer Bucket List

Posted in: Ways To Play
Tags: family vacation, summer, 2012, texas, resort

School is almost out for most Texas kids and there’s no better way to create new family memories than with a summer bucket list. Challenge your kids to come up with a few of their own ideas to add to the list. Here are five suggestions to get you started:

Visit An American Landmark
Head up to South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore and the massive rock carvings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Each president’s head is as tall as a six-story building!

Visit A Theme Park
From Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, nothing says family fun like classic amusement park entertainment. Just don’t eat your weight in cotton candy and then ride the biggest roller coaster you can find!

Go Camping
We’re talking the kind of camping that involves erecting a tent, not just relaxing in the air-conditioned comfort of your fifth wheel RV. Even if you’re laying under the stars in your own backyard, you can share stories and make s’mores. For easy, at-home s’mores, fire up your grill and roast marshmallows on your patio.

Be A Tourist In Your Own Town
Visit a local museum, zoo or one of the fascinating sites your city has to offer. Can’t think of where to go or what to do? Visit your local Convention & Visitors Bureau for ideas.

Pick Berries
Find a nearby fruit farm and pick berries. From blueberries to strawberries, most farms don’t charge admission and you only pay for what you pick. Just don’t pick more than you can eat, strawberries have a shelf life of only a few days.

So tell us, what ideas are on your family’s summer bucket list?

A Wedding Story

Posted in: In The Know
Tags: weddings, candid stories, photography, texas

For more than 10 years, Judy Patterson has been assisting excited brides-to-be plan their dream wedding day down to the finest detail. We caught up with Judy to find out which wedding traditions today’s brides are keeping and what trends are out.

What are the color trends you’re seeing this year?
Most of my brides are going back to softer, natural and more neutral colors. They are choosing moss green, ivory and cream colors that compliment the resort’s forested surroundings.

Where are brides drawing their inspiration?
Pinterest is huge! Every single one of my brides has a wedding board on Pinterest. It’s actually a great way for them to share their vision and ideas with me. I can get a good idea of the dream wedding they envision and help make it a reality.

How have you seen wedding receptions evolve?
Brides are still incorporating traditions such as the first dance and father-daughter dance, but I’ve definitely seen couples move away from the garter and bouquet toss.

Also, rather than a long head table reserved for the bridal party, we’re seeing large, round tables for the bride and groom to share with their parents and grandparents.

Are groom’s cakes still popular?
About 50% of the weddings I’ve planned have groom’s cakes. The majority of those cakes are themed around interests and hobbies of the groom. I see a lot of golf-themed and alma mater groom’s cakes. In Texas, that means a lot of maroon and burnt orange colors.

We all remember the red-velvet armadillo groom’s cake in the movie Steel Magnolias … what other unforgettable groom’s cakes have you seen?

Everything from a 3D replica of the groom’s dog to a fishing tackle box and even a Star Wars spaceship. Our pastry chef is a genius when it comes to groom’s cakes. If you can dream it, he can build it!

What’s the most creative, unique idea you’ve seen at a wedding?
Brides are really incorporating heirloom and vintage touches through centerpieces and accessories. Recently, a bride had her mother and mother-in-law’s wedding dresses on display in the reception foyer. Photos of the moms on their wedding day were placed next to the couple’s engagement picture. It certainly added a nostalgic and romantic touch to her own wedding day.

Photo Credit: Candid Stories Photography

Make It Special For Mom

Posted in: Great Gatherings
Tags: mother's day, pinterest, crafts

Moms never grow tired of receiving gifts from their kids. Like children themselves, each gift is treasured and unique. Want to make her feel extra special on Mother's Day? Try your hand at one of these easy-to-make crafts.

KEEPSAKE ART

Macaroni Kid has a creative foam art project perfect for little ones.  Trace and cut out colorful foam hands to be the petals of your flower. Glue a special photo in the middle and write thoughful messages on each petal.   

SUGAR & SPICE

Sugar, coconut oil and a few drops of lemon essential oils are all the ingredients needed to whip up a homemade scrub. Add ribbon and a custom label to a cute jar and it's the perfect gift. Visit the Idea Room for other scrub recipes to keep mom's hands and feet silky smooth.

EDIBLE FLOWERS

Not Martha shows us how to make flower pancakes by simply using a squeeze bottle. 

ONE-OF-A-KIND PURSE

With purses filled with everything from glue to paperclips, moms are always prepared ... probably more so than MacGyver himself.  Make a one-of-a-kind purse from Country Living using her favorite hard-back book with just fabric, ribbon, a button and handle kit.

For more craft ideas, visit our Woodlands Resort Pinterest page.

Fire Up the Grill, It’s National Hamburger Month

Posted in: In The Know
Tags: national cheeseburger month, jerry built burgers, cool water cafe, the woodlands

Its time to fire up the grill and put a few burgers on for National Hamburger Month. You have the whole month of May to perfect your hamburger recipe in time for your Memorial Day barbeque.

If you’re up for trying something new, trade your bun for a tortilla and create your own version of “The Royal” Cheeseburger Wrap from Cool Water Cafe. “The Royal” starts with a juicy hamburger patty topped with a fried egg, crispy bacon, jalapenos, lettuce, tomato, onion and thousand island dressing. This burger is wrapped up inside a very large tortilla!

Looking for other hot spots to try during National Hamburger month? Stop by the newly opened Jerry Built Burgers on Lake Woodlands Drive. The fast-causal burger joint focuses on using only the freshest ingredients – organic when possible, local when available.

Here are a few fun facts to enjoy as you celebrate National Hamburger Month.

• The average American consumes about 30 pounds of hamburgers a year
• The average hamburger is 23% larger today than in 1977
• The hamburger made its “first debut” at the 1904 World’s Faire in St. Louis (the same year the ice cream cone also became a new sensation)
• Americans eat about 13 billion hamburgers a year. If you put all those burgers in a straight line, they would circle the earth more than 32 times!

Kick Off To Summer

Posted in: Ways To Play
Tags: memorial day vacation, the woodlands,

Memorial Day weekend officially kicks off a summer filled with family-friendly events, live music, fireworks and more right here in The Woodlands.  On Saturday, May 26, head over to Waterway Square to enjoy the sounds of local country favorite, The Sheila Marshall Band, as the group takes the stage from 6 p.m. – 7:20 p.m. followed by the top cover band, Rapture, from 7:40 p.m. – 8:55 p.m.

The Memorial Day weekend fun continues on Sunday, May 27 with live music from Houston’s hottest party band, 11th Hour, from 6 p.m. – 7:20 p.m. Another Houston favorite, Park Avenue, will play music from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and today from 7:40 p.m. – 8:55 p.m.

A spectacular fireworks display will light up the night’s sky each evening beginning at 8:55 p.m.

Here at The Woodlands Resort, we're making it easy for you to save when booking your summer weekday getway early.  Enjoy 50% off a second night by booking your getaway by Thursday, May 24 for a Sunday - Thursday stay between May 29 and August 30, 2012.  Or, check out our Oasis of Fun package with rates starting at $179 per night including full breakfast for two.

With no resort fees, plenty of free parking and free activities for the kids like face painting and crafts, you'll have cash left over for a piña colada or two.
 

Wine and Dine on The Waterway

Posted in: Great Gatherings
Tags: waterway cruiser, the woodlands, dinner cruise

Treat that special someone to a one-of-a-kind dining experience with a sunset dinner cruise on board The Woodlands Waterway Cruisers every Saturday thru May 19.

Relax and enjoy each other’s company over an extravagant four-course dinner prepared by Landry’s Restaurant as you float down The Woodlands Waterway.

Start with an appetizer of Avocado Crab Cocktail and Fried Calamari Sampler followed by a Sautéed Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing. Entrée options include Seafood Stuffed Shrimp Enbrochette, Snapper Hemingway and Chicken Fettuccine. Complete the meal with a choice of Crème Brule or Key Lime Pie.

Dinner cruises board at Landry’s Restaurant (1212 Lake Robbins Drive) at 6 pm. For more details and reservations call 281.363.9750 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Reservations are required.