Thinking Ahead: Summer Activities

The hard thing about a blog is when you start writing, you truly have to keep writing...even when you run out of words or other things vie for your attention. Or at least...that is what I thought.

I do love to write about really fun things to do in our area but there are just other things that need my attention... plain and simple...and at the end of the day...it's just a silly 'ol blog anyway, right? And with the miracle of the internet and word-of-mouth communication with Cypress Ladies..there are a bazillion ways to get information.

But...I didn't want to leave you hanging on summer activities.

I won't be creating the normal posts this year but I am going to link to last year's posts and all you'll have to do is visit that site and look for this year's info. And I am also going to include links to where I have gotten my info in the past so you can find awesome summer camps that might be brand new.

Spring Break Camps

Vacation Bible School (VBS)

Sports Camps

Outdoor Camps

Indoor Camps

Summer Fun 2011 (includes all camp posts from last year)

Great resources for Community Fun

*Community Impact Newspaper

*CyFair Magazine

*CyFair Magazine Events Page

*CyFair Magazine Camps Page (this is childcare as well, camps post in the Spring)

*Living Magazine

*Summer Day Camps.com

And as always....if you have ideas, leave a comment or shoot me an email and I can add it to the post.

Season's Harvest Cafe

The fun thing about living in Northwest Houston is we have the conveniences of the big city, with a few small town gems in the mix.

Season's Harvest Cafe is one of those gems.

Season's Harvest Cafe is a farm-to-table restaurant, serving whole foods that are in season and grown locally, using organic and hormone-free as much as possible. They are tucked away in precious little house off Grant Road, and offer a perfect place to meet friends or business associates for breakfast, lunch or coffee.

Their unique menus are posted on Facebook and change daily. I ordered the raw entrée selection of the day: Zucchini Linguini topped with raw Texas pecan and organic basil pesto which was served with a seasonal salad including home-grown sprouts, seeds, fruit, vegetables, and nuts, tossed in Raw Honey-Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing. OH MY MERCY...it was incredible! I had never ordered an entrée that was entirely raw. And check out the other two options for the day:

French Peasant Loaf Crusty French Baguette brushed with Olive Oil and filled with Organic Smoked Turkey Breast, thin slices of melted Provolone Cheese, a sprinkling of Organic Fresh Herbs, Organic Mesclun Salad Greens, Sautéed Sweet Onions, and freshly-ground black pepper
Served with choice of House Salad or Soup

Harvest Salad with Crumbled Goat Cheese
The season’s harvest of Herbs, Fruit, Home-grown Sprouts, Seeds, Greens, and Nuts topped with Crumbled Goat Cheese. Served with Balsamic House Dressing and Grilled Artisan Bread
-add Organic Smoked Turkey Breast for $2.50-

You are missing a blessing if you don't make it a point to drop by and at least have an afternoon treat. The have muffins, scones and cookies on display and a large selection of coffee and tea options.

Need directions? Google Map: 10609 Grant Rd, Building A, Houston, TX 77070 or call 281.807.9000.

They are open Tuesday-Saturday 9:00-2:30 pm for dine-in or carry out. And yes, Cypress Moms, they do offer a kids' menu. Bonus!

Donating That Candy

Ok, y'all....we've had over a week with all that candy. It's out of site, out of mind for your kids....but you still catch yourself stealing a piece here, a piece there.

Don't lie.

You've sampled your favorites and it's time to stop hiding in the pantry, eating just one more piece, and get that candy out of your house!

Need ideas?

1. Cypress Cares is collecting wrapped candy for our soldiers. There is a sweet gal in Coles Crossing that has a drop site. You can contact her here for directions.

2. Cypress Assistance Ministries is collecting candy for Christmas stockings for kiddos in our area. They are located at 11202 Huffmeister. Need more info? Click here.

More ideas to get the candy out?

November & December Gift Markets

Save the Dates:

updated 11/28/11

*November 18-19, 2011
Dickens on Cypress Creek
Cypress Christian Church
6823 Cypresswood Drive
9 am - 5 pm

*November 19, 2011
Wesleyfest Holiday Bazaar
John Wesley Unity Methodist Church
5830 Bermuda Drive
9 am - 4pm

*November 19, 2011
Christmas At The Creek
Cypress Creek YMCA
19915 SH 249

*November 19 , 2011
Christmas In The Woods
The Woodlands Christian Academy
5800 Academy Way, The Woodlands
9 am - 4 pm

*November 27, 2011
Northwest Forest Holiday Market
12715 Telge Road
10 am - 5 pm
Free Admission

*December 1, 2011
Longwood Holiday Gift Market
13300 Longwood Trace
9 am - 6 pm

*December 3, 2011
Rock Creek Holiday Boutique & Craft Show
14223 Winding Springs Dr.
9 am - 5 pm

*December 10, 2011
Justice Market
Copperfield Church
8350 Hwy 6 N.
1-7 pm
http://www.justicemarket.gutensite.com/

Southern Living Showcase Home

Decorating your home can be big fun but also kinda overwhelming all at the same time.

Sure, I flip through all kinds of magazines, have been known to go on HAR.com just for ideas and definitely pinned my fair share of decorating ideas on Pintrest. But sometime you need inspiration, up close and personal.

Ladies...brace yourself.

The Southern Living Showcase Home is right in our backyard for the next 3 weeks.

15026 Hidden Valley Waters Dr.
Cypress, TX 77429
Hidden Falls Subdivision

2011 Tour Dates
October 6th-9th
October 13th-16th
October 20th-23td

Thursday: Noon- 8 pm
Friday-Sunday: Noon-6 pm

A $10 cash donation will benefit Home Aid Houston

Just Shop For A Cause

FREE ADMISSION

Enjoy a day of shopping and invite your family and friends ... and learn about the issue of Human Trafficking in our community.

THE JUST CAUSE

The slave trade is alive and well right here in Houston, Texas. Just Cause Houston is the first annual gathering of anti-human trafficking events from September 10-17, 2011 throughout the Houston area...a cooperative initiative of churches, faith-based ministries, and local businesses and organizations that are committed to addressing God's passion for justice for the oppressed in our own community and beyond. For more information about this initiative visit:

LOCATION

The MET – Jones Road Campus
TRUTH Student Building
12903 Jones Road
Houston, TX 77070 Google Map It!

What does shopping have to do with human trafficking? Visit our shopping bazaar with booths for: fair trade vendors*, survivor made products, apparel, jewelry, cosmetics, coffee/tea, chocolate, books, crafts, baby items, and more. Hear various speakers, including a local trafficking survivor, and learn how to get involved!

Proceeds will support various human trafficking and other ministries. Chik-fil-A (!!) and other concessions available.

A ‘fair trade’ product is made under good working conditions, without slave labor, with a fair price paid to the producer. Poverty alleviation and community development are key goals.

GUEST SPEAKERS / SCHEDULE

While taking a break from shopping, listen to one of these great speakers to discover what is going on right here in Houston! Find out what you can do now to combat this evil right here in our own community.

11:30 Harris County Juvenile Probation Department
Perspectives on local at-risk teens

12:00 Chong Kim, www.chongkim.net, www.faceoftears.com
U.S. sex trafficking survivor, interviewed by Kara Diehl, local trafficking mentor

12:45 Natalie Shirley, Founder, Night Light International,
Thailand ministry / testimony

1:15 Kim Harper, Chrysalis Mentoring
Seeing God's glory through mentoring at-risk teens

1:45 Chong Kim, encore

2:30 Chris Parrish,Redeemed Ministries
Intervention and aftercare

Did you know that …

*There are more than 30 million humans in slavery today, more than at any other time in history!
*Advocacy groups believe about 300,000 children are bought and sold in the United States annually - selling human beings as a commodity, mostly in sex trafficking.
*Sex trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a Commercial Sex Act.
*These are not prostitutes. These are adults and children that are being prostituted. Victims can be male or female. 50% are children. The average age is twelve.
*Texas is the destination for 25% of all victims brought into the United States. The majority of those find themselves in Houston.

There is help! The National Human Trafficking Hotline 1.888.3737.888

Here are just a few of our product vendors:

Night Light International - survivor made jewelry
Chrysalis Creations - survivor made jewelry
Redeemed Ministries - survivor made coasters
Colores del Pueblo - national fair trade vendor
VOX Culture - Art and advocacy
Ten Thousand Villages - national fair trade vendor
Trade As One - national fair trade vendor
Radiant Cosmetics - fair trade cosmetics
Narimon - fair trade jewelry, bags, scarves
Project Biashara - Kenya - bags, necklaces, kitchen items
His Cherished Ones - Kenya - knitted baby items
Vision Africa - African-made women's wear
Té House of Tea - fair trade tea and tea accessories
Taft Street Coffee - fair trade coffee
Divine Chocolate - fair trade chocolate
Aggie's Arts - African beads
and many more!

For more information email missions@TheMETonline.org.

Save the Date: Fall Gift Markets

Save the date for these upcoming Gift Markets. Know more? Please leave a comment and I'll add it to the list.

**updated 9/17/11

*September 23-24
St. Mary's Fall Gift Market
www.stmaryscypress.org

*October 1-2
St. Igantius Loyola Catholic Church
Saturday 12-9
Sunday 12-6
7810 Cypresswood Crive
www.ignatiusloyola.org

*October 8
Lakewood Holiday Market
Lakewood Methodist Church
11330 Louetta Rd.
9-4 pm

*October 8
Cy-Fest
Lone Star College -Cy Fair
9191 Barker Cypress
10-2 pm

*October 15
Judy Dierker Holiday Market
The Foundry Church
8350 Jones Road
9-4

*October 29
Wee Wuns Fall Festival
10-2pm
13403 Cypress North Houston
www.cypressunited.org