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

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.

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.. 

The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion recently ranked fourth in the top 100 amphitheaters in the world based on the number of tickets sold in 2021, according to Pollstar magazine, the concert industry’s leading trade publication. The Pavilion’s ticket sales totaled 256,807 for concerts between November 19, 2020 and November 17, 2021, which also places the venue second in the world in terms of gross sales for the year.

Despite being shuttered since March 2020, The Pavilion was very fortunate to maintain full-time staff throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and emerge in solid financial shape. As a result, the venue has been able to continue its mission work, remain largely open and - perhaps most importantly - present a diverse and star-studded season.

“This is a testament to the venue’s commitment to presenting arts and entertainment as well as the community’s ongoing support of The Pavilion,” said Jerry MacDonald, president and CEO of The Pavilion. “We are truly excited to be back hosting live events alongside our partner Live Nation and thank all the loyal fans for following health and safety guidelines to make this happen. We are looking forward to an even better season in 2022.”

The Pollstar report is reflective of this season’s world-class entertainment including Chris Stapleton, Parker McCollum, Jonas Brothers, Pitbull with Iggy Izaela, Brooks and Dunn, Maroon 5, Kings of Leon, Slipknot and many more. In addition to its lineup of contemporary entertainment, The Pavilion presented a successful performing arts season, with performances by the Houston Symphony and The Woodlands Symphony Orchestra, in addition to several educational outreach programs.                                                                                                                                    

Other venues recognized on Pollstar magazine’s list include Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO at No. 1, Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center in Noblesville, IN at No. 2, DE Energy Music Theater in Clarkston, MI and The Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA. Other Texas venues on the list include Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas at No. 10, Toyota Music Factory in Irving at No. 33, Whitewater Amphitheater in New Braunfels at No. 37 and Germania Insurance Amphitheater in Austin at No. 46.

Pollstar is the only trade publication dedicated to exclusively covering live events worldwide that supplies in-depth information to event professionals including artist managers, booking agents, concert promoters, facility executives and production companies. The publication releases rankings on a quarterly basis.

Expectant parents, new mothers and those looking to grow their families around the city of Houston are invited to attend Swaddle + Swoon on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 2pm at The Meekermark in Magnolia.

Locally sourced and nationally respected, Swaddle + Swoon showcases the best in baby gear. After 10 years of producing bridal show alternatives, The Big Fake Wedding is translating their expertise in live events into an expo for new parents.

Guests will discover new baby goods, meet local small businesses, get professional baby bump photos taken, and see nursery inspiration while sipping mocktails and enjoying light bites. VIP guests will have the chance to win a giveaway every 30 minutes.

The event will showcase local vendors such as Kidtivities Soft Play Rentals, Bloom & Grow, the Pink Rose Company, and so much more. The Big Fake Wedding understands how overwhelming pregnancy and stepping into parenthood can be. That is why they have created an environment where guests can discover new products, test the latest gear and find everything they need for their registry in a stress-free environment. Tickets for the evening are $12 and can be purchased online at this link. Use code WOODLANDSMOMMY to take 50% off VIP tickets.