Twisted Sugar, a national award winning leader in freshly baked cookies and specialty sodas, announced today it is opening its first Texas location Saturday, February 5th, at Cochran’s Crossing in The Woodlands at 4747 Research Forest Drive, Suite 420B. The grand opening celebration will kick off at 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with proceeds benefiting Meals on Wheels Montgomery County, a nonprofit organization delivering nutritious meals to America's seniors enabling them to live nourished lives with independence and dignity.

To support Meals on Wheels and join the Twisted Sugar grand opening celebration, fans can RSVP by reserving a ticket now. Ticket holders can choose between a box of Twisted Sugar’s award winning cookies or three specialty sodas mixed by Twisted Sugar’s master mixologists. All ticket holders will be entered into giveaway drawings throughout the day. Ticket holders who get in line Saturday before 8:45 a.m. will be entered into a drawing to win one of three Twisted Sugar gift prizes: Grand Prize: $250 gift card 2nd place: $200 gift card 3rd place: $100 gift card

The Woodlands debut store is family owned and run by Mr. and Mrs. Tyler and Kate Johnson of Magnolia. “We are thrilled to open our first Twisted Sugar Texas store in The Woodlands,” said Kate Johnson. “Everyone has been so warm and welcoming. They’ve really shown their excitement for our award winning cookies and sodas to arrive.”

Twisted Sugar’s menu offers 20+ varieties of freshly-baked cookies, over 100 specialty sodas, plus ice cream Twisters. The menu also offers a wide range of gluten-free cookies and sugar-free options.

Twisted Sugar will also support The Woodland’s local community with a corporate cookie club for employees, corporate event catering and fundraising programs for clubs, schools, or teams. To join the grand opening celebration this Saturday, Feb 5th and support Meals on Wheels Montgomery County click here for details.

About Twisted Sugar
Created in 2015, Twisted Sugar is a Utah based, in-house cookie bakery franchise that sells fresh baked cookies, custom sodas and ice cream smoothies throughout Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, North Carolina, Florida and Texas.

The Laura Hotel, Autograph Collection has officially opened its doors in Houston’s lively central business district. Featuring 223 contemporary guest rooms, and an enticing restaurant and bar serving upscale Southern cuisine, The Laura Hotel embraces Houston’s charm and character with enriching experiences for guests and locals.

“The Laura Hotel, Autograph Collection will become an instant favorite in downtown Houston, and we are delighted to welcome guests to experience what’s new,” said Charley Morales, general manager of The Laura Hotel, Autograph Collection. “Much like when the steamship Laura made its way through Buffalo Bayou to open up a world of possibilities at the founding of modern-day Houston, today’s The Laura Hotel, Autograph Collection is the backdrop for business and personal adventures. We look forward to visitors and locals embracing our warm hospitality and upscale service and using that hotel as the launch point for exploring the great city of Houston.”

Named after the steamship that city founders navigated to solidify Houston as a center of industry and opportunity, The Laura Hotel embraces the spirit of exploration as an inviting starting point for visitors and a welcome respite for locals. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed into a sophisticated entryway featuring a grand staircase bathed in white marble and a second-floor lobby adorned with gold accents and plush furniture. Guest rooms and suites feature well-appointed and spacious interiors with a mix of modern and art-deco design touches. The marble-clad guest bathrooms feature deep soaking tubs, some of which are situated next to gold-framed mirrored walls that open up to the guest room or beautiful city views.

New on the lively Houston dining scene starting January 2022, Hull & Oak Southern Kitchen will feature a menu concept focused on innovative twists on classic Southern dishes. Featuring bright and airy interiors, the restaurant is framed with dimensional archways reminiscent of the hull of a ship, while circular mirrors resemble ship portholes.


Beginning March 2022, the restaurant will host a monthly dinner series the third Thursday of each month. In collaboration with globally-known or uniquely-local wine and spirits brands, the hotel’s executive chef will create bespoke menus designed to pair perfectly with the partner of the month, ensuring each dinner is delightfully different from the next. Adjacent to Hull & Oak Southern Kitchen, The Bar at The Laura Hotel offers seasonal cocktails along with local twists on classic libations, such as Smokin’ in the 713 – a southern take on the Old Fashioned, prepared in an eye-catching smoked glass on a cedar plank. The restaurant and bar will also tie in local tastes by teaming up with nearby Houston breweries to create signature brews available exclusively on-site.

At the rooftop pool, guests can soak up the sun and city sights from loungers shaded by large umbrellas. On select afternoons and evenings, the pool transforms into a hotspot for guests and locals with its “Pool & Patio Party.” For guests looking to break a sweat, the hotel features a fully equipped fitness center and for an additional array of fitness services, guests have access to Lifetime Fitness, located next to the hotel. Guests can also look forward to the launch of a full-service spa salon, slated to debut in spring 2022.


Additionally, The Laura Hotel offers immersive programming and events, inviting guests and locals to feel connected to the city’s history and culture. Experiences include ‘Beyond the Vine,’ a monthly wine tasting curated by the hotel’s sommelier from unexpected vineyards; onsite cigar events that offer a selection of premium cigars chosen from the hotel’s humidor; and complimentary rosé wine at check in on weekend days. In the lobby, the ‘Music Remix’ – the hotel’s weekend listening series – spotlights the sounds of local artists.

Guests can be among the first to enjoy a luxurious stay when they reserve one of several enticing offers available at The Laura Hotel, including the Bubbles & Brew package, inclusive of two welcome beverages at The Laura Bar, and a $50 food and beverage credit to be used at the bar or restaurant. Rates from $219 per night.

The new lifestyle hotel joins Autograph Collection Hotels, Marriott Bonvoy’s diverse and dynamic portfolio of independent hotels championing individuality. Marriott Bonvoy members will earn points for their stay at The Laura, Autograph Collection, and at other hotels and resorts across Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary brands, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, as well as through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques. With the Marriott Bonvoy app, members enjoy a level of personalization and a contactless experience that allows them to travel with peace of mind.

To learn more about The Laura Hotel, Autograph Collection or to make a reservation, please visit thelaurahotel.com or call (713) 242-8555.

Have you tried The Volleyball School that opened in our area last year? We suspect your little ones will love it! The school, originally established and thriving in Katy, has a new location at 22309 Gosling Rd, just south of The Woodlands near the Grand Parkway.

I recently tried the school with my 7 and 13 year old daughters, and they both enjoyed the program. When I tell you that SPORTS is not my family’s thing, hear me well. Sports is NOT my family’s thing. Even still, the coach made it easy for them to join the class and immediately start learning the game of volleyball!

Our trial class at The Volleyball School was our first experience with playing volleyball in any capacity (if you don’t count that sad game of beach volleyball we played on our family vacation). The coach on staff was friendly and personable, and what especially stood out to me is that she really made it her job to learn all the athletes’ names. The class began with warm-ups and quickly moved to volleyball fundamentals and drills. On the day we tried it, they were working on proper foot positioning, learning to serve, and hitting.

Throughout the drills, Coach was watchful and made rounds, taking the time to address each athlete individually to assist with anything needing improvement. And, as you might expect of a good coach, she dished out many high fives, encouraging the athletes along the way! The session ended with a fun serving game called Spider.

The Volleyball School offers coed classes for beginners and intermediate athletes ages 7 to 14 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays in our area. They can also provide training for your advanced player! To learn more, CLICK HERE.