Meet Stacy T., our Spotlight Mom for January 2022!

If you're a mom interested in being in our Mom Spotlight in 2022, please CLICK HERE. 

Please tell us a little about your family:

We are a plant-based homeschooling family of four. My husband and I have been blessed with two girls ages 4 and 5. The girls are super close in age as well as in friendship. Our family is in love with nature, books, art, and health & wellness.

Before we had kids, my husband and I lived downtown, and we absolutely loved being in the city, but after having our first baby we knew we wanted to live and play among more trees and green spaces. Today we spend our days watching butterflies and other insects, collecting leaves, maxing out our library cards and exploring parks and playgrounds.

Do you have a business you'd like to share with our readers:

My husband and I have run Eat Good, a vegan food pop-up for the last few years. We used to be regulars at the Woodlands Farmers Market, but when things shut down in 2020 we stopped and began to focus more on our podcast "Plants Changed My Life" and getting our food truck road ready. Our mission with all we do is to inspire people to make steps toward living a healthier lifestyle.

Favorite place to go in The Woodlands area:

There are so many, but if I have to pick just one it would be Rob Fleming Park -- we love taking walks, riding bikes and having picnics out here.

Favorite blogs I read:

I am always checking WoodlandsMommy.com and bigkidsmallcity.com for ideas on things to do with the girls. I have been on a new mission to have less "stuff" so I like to read bemorewithless.com/archives for inspiration. I love what the folks at earthconsciouslife.org/blog are doing, they always have quick useful tips on upcycling, composing and gardening.

First job:

I was a customer service rep at Rave, a now defunct teen clothing store.

Favorite childhood book or story:

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. I remember getting money to buy my very own copy from the Scholastic book fair.

Favorite meal to prepare together:

Pizza with scratch-made crust.

3 Things on my Long-Term To-Do List:

1. Learn to swim (spring/summer 2022)
2. Do a triathlon (fall 2022)
3. Write my first children's book (winter 2022)

How I spend my Friday evenings:

Sitting through back-to-back dance classes for the girls then rushing home to have pizza night!

Favorite non-homemade dessert (and where can we find it):

We found the most delicious banana pudding at SoVeganly in Old Town Spring. Even better, it is gluten-free so my littles can eat it too. (And it does not taste like it is missing the traditional ingredients! )

Best way to spend $50:

Buy a variety of fresh herbs to grow at home. Fresh herbs really take any dish up ten-fold. It's like a gift that keeps on giving.

Something in your purse that has an interesting story behind it:

I have not gotten back to carrying a purse in my post-baby life. I alternate between a fanny pack, a backpack or book satchel. But no matter what type of bag I have, I always have acorns in it. My children love collecting acorns and when we see squirrels we pass them along to them.

My life:

Motherhood is a life-changing experience. (<--That is an understatement!) I never imagined I would trade life as a TV news journalist, to have a front row seat in watching these little girls grow up, and I am so deeply grateful each day to have this opportunity.

How can our readers find you?

Websites:
www.plantschangedmylife.com
eatgoodhouston.com

Instagram:
@plantschangedmylife
@eatgoodhouston

After our initial interview, we learned from Stacy that her daughters have their own business. Here's more: 

The girls' business is called Ivy + Averie Flower Company.  They have always absolutely loved picking and arranging flowers, sticks, leaves-- everything they get their hands on.  We read Bee Fearless by Mikaila Ulmer and they loved hearing her story of how she launched her lemonade company.  They came up with the idea for their business and worked through a business plan.  Their mission is to raise money to help pollinators.  They use upcycled and earth-friendly materials for their containers.  They had their very first business fair in November. Their website is Houstonsflowergirls.com.  

A few weeks ago, my family and I stepped back 3,200 years into Ancient Egyptian history to learn more about Ramses II and the historical events surrounding his reign. The Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs, currently on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, is pure grandeur!

The incredible collection features a myriad of Egyptian-themed decorated rooms filled with awe-inspiring artifacts – coffins, royal masks, mummified animals, jewelry, one-of-a-kind-relics, and more that capture the highlights in Ramses’ reign. One of the most prolific builders of ancient Egypt, Ramses left his mark on buildings across Egypt and Nubia like no other Egyptian monarch.


We began our tour with a five-minute video about King Ramses, which served as a great introduction and overview for young kids and adults alike. It surprisingly held my 7-year-old’s attention. After the film, we were off to explore the artifacts and displays at our own pace.

The exhibition makes impressive use of lighting to make the rooms feel dark and mysterious. Walking through, one really gets the sense of having been transported to an ancient place and time. At one point, one of my teenagers (I won’t name names) asked me to stay close, because she didn’t like the feel of walking past all the artifacts – especially the ornate coffins - by herself.


I’ll let you in on a little secret. I don’t like having to do a lot of reading when I visit museums. I know reading is informative, and the labels and captions are how we really learn the history of what we’re looking at, but I prefer to just go to museums and gawk at all the artifacts without having to spend most of my time learning. LOL! Don’t judge me! This exhibition is perfect for such a thing. There are plenty of captions to explain the displays, but because everything is so stately, one gets a sense for what they’re looking at even without reading everything.

Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs is on display at Houston Museum of Natural Science through May 23, 2022. When you visit, be sure to use your WoodlandsMommy.com Corporate Discount to save on your tickets. CLICK HERE to snag the discount.

Groundbreaking news for parents of little ones! The Woodlands Christian Academy plans to introduce a Spanish dual language immersion track for students beginning in the Fall of 2022! If you're even somewhat familiar with language immersion programs and how they work, you already know how much of a game-changer  such a program could be when it comes to raising a child who is fully fluent in a foreign language!

TWCA's language immersion program would begin in Pre-K and/or Kindergarten, with the addition of a new grade level each year. English language students who are accepted into the program will acquire bilingual skills and cultural competency through direct instruction by a Spanish speaking teacher.

TWCA has partnered with addalingua, a social impact organization that exists to inspire global empathy through education in two languages. The addalingua organization provides resources to schools to promote dual language cultures. They also find and develop proficient teachers, educate and empower school communities, and ensures students achieve academically in two languages. To learn more about addalingua, click here.

Want to learn more? On January 24, 2022 at 6:00 p.m., TWCA will be hosting an informational meeting that will offer further details about dual language immersion education with experts from addalingua. Come with your questions and join the discussion! Please RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Lower School Administrative Assistant.

Heading to San Antonio for the holidays? Let your child experience day camp at SeaWorld!  All five SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks will offer action-packed holiday camps in December for kids as part of its winter line up in Orlando, San Antonio, San Diego, Tampa and Williamsburg. The seasonal camps will be held in December and include a wide range of festive and educational activities including exclusive animal interactions, access to fun-filled coasters and holiday crafts.

“We all have so much to be thankful for this holiday season and we have a unique opportunity to bring even more wonder and delight with everything that our parks, and experiences with the animals in our care, can offer to our youngest guests near and far,” said Marc Swanson, Chief Executive Officer of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc.  “Through our special edition holiday camps, we want to spark the joy of learning in children's hearts and provide fun and engaging opportunities for kids to interact in meaningful ways with animals that they may not otherwise have a chance to see up close. Those experiences, combined with hands-on learning and fun science-based activities can become the start of a wonderful lifelong journey of discovery and love of the animals and the ecosystems where they live.”

SeaWorld invites children to enjoy the festivities of SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration™, a winter wonderland sparkling with holiday cheer, excitement, and over 3 million beautiful lights. Campers will be able to create unforgettable holiday memories during this magical Christmas celebration at SeaWorld parks, including:

• SeaWorld Orlando: Winter Wonders Day Camp will run from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday – Thursday. Session 1 takes place from 12/20 - 12/23 and Session 2 takes place from 12/27 - 12/30. Campers can expect to enjoy festive holiday activities and crafts, up-close animal encounters, a secure camper pick-up and drop-off system and a complimentary t-shirt and water bottle. (Price: $199)
• SeaWorld San Antonio: Campers at SeaWorld San Antonio’s Holiday Camp will visit animal exhibits, join in some camp-tastic songs, games, and crafts, and experience all that SeaWorld Camp has to offer in one day. SeaWorld San Antonio also offers Holiday Camp High School where teens can take part in animal exhibits, shows, roller coasters and more. Session 1 for both camps takes place from 12/20 - 12/23 and Session 2 takes place 12/27 - 12/30 and all sessions run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with extended care available until 5:30 p.m. All campers will receive a complimentary SeaWorld camp t-shirt, water bottle and snack. (Holiday Camp Price: $199. Holiday Camp High School Price: $399).
• SeaWorld San Diego School Break Holiday Camp invites campers to play exclusive games and activities, make festive holiday crafts and explore the many wonders of SeaWorld San Diego, including animal encounters. All campers will receive a complimentary camp t-shirt, water bottle and a snack. This camp runs from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. during both sessions: 12/20 - 12/23 and 12/27 - 12/30. (Price: $199)
• Busch Gardens Tampa: As part of its iconic annual Christmas Town festivities, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is offering Wild Wonders School Break Camp for two youth age ranges: 1^st & 2^nd graders and 3^rd - 5^th Campers will wander amongst the wonders of Christmas Town during this 4-day program enjoying dazzling decorations, world class attractions, cookie décor, animal encounters, festive crafts & games and so much more! All campers will receive a complimentary t-shirt, water bottle and snack during the day. Additionally, all campers receive free admission to the park after camp each day. Wild Wonders will last from 12/20 - 12/23 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Price: $199)
• Busch Gardens Williamsburg: Winter Wonders Mini Camp will invite campers to visit animals, join in on dashing games and crafts and experience all that Busch Gardens Williamsburg has to offer. Campers can choose between the sessions on either 12/20 - 12/23 or 12/27 - 12/30 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. All Winter Wonders Mini campers will receive a complimentary camp beanie, reusable water bottle and one snack per day. (Price: $199)

SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Gold and Silver pass holders are eligible to receive a discount on the price of camp admission.

Follow SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment on Facebook, Instagram, SeaWorld Cares for more information.

The Woodlands Township, in collaboration with The Energy Corridor District, will launch a pilot commuter bus service beginning on January 4, 2022. 
 
The new service will depart from Sawdust Park and Ride and serve multiple stops along the Energy Corridor including Energy Center 1 & 2, Dairy Ashford at Shell Main Entrance, Eldridge at Energy Center 4 Drive (ConocoPhillips/McDermott), Memorial, Westlake at Gracie (BP #1), and Grisby at Helios (BP #2). The service will be offered Monday – Friday; the complete schedule and route map can be found online at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/parkandride.

Park and Ride tickets are available at a cost of $13 round-trip and must be purchased in advance for this service as drivers do not accept cash. Tickets may be purchased through The Woodlands Express Mobile Ticketing app or at any of the Park and Ride terminals. For more information on how to download and use the mobile ticketing app, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/1453/Mobile-Ticketing. Buses are filled on a first come, first served basis and only stop at designated locations. 

“The Park and Ride System has been very successful over the years for our residents who work downtown and in the Medical Center,” said The Woodlands Township Chairman Gordy Bunch. “As many residents work in the Energy Corridor, this allows additional opportunities for our residents. We look forward to seeing how this service can progress for our residents.”

Funding for the new service is provided by The Woodlands Township’s receipt of a Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant from the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC). The grant comprises 80 percent of the funding, with the Township and the Energy Corridor District entering into a local share funding partnership for the remaining 20 percent.

“The Woodlands Township is happy to partner with The Energy Corridor District to offer this new service for our riders,” said Deputy Director of Community Services Ruthanne Haut. “We hope that this expanded service will be of great value to our residents and local riders who work in the Energy Corridor, and we look forward to feedback about their experience.”

“The Energy Corridor is a major job center in the Houston region,” said The Energy Corridor District Executive Director Elijah Williams. “Improving mobility and commute experiences to benefit our employers and their employees has always been a goal for the District. With the approval of the interlocal agreement, the new The Woodlands Express-The Energy Corridor District Commuter Bus Service will commence in early January 2022. The convenience, cost savings and sustainability benefits offered through this new service expands access to the corridor and benefits mobility across the region.”

For more information about The Woodlands Township, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov or call 281-210-3800.

To learn more about The Energy Corridor District’s transportation services, please visit www.energycorridor.org or email Elizabeth Whitton, Transportation and Mobility Manager at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..