Escape the Heat—and Reality—at Countdown2Escape

One of our favorite things to do as a couple are escape rooms! Okay… MY favorite thing to do as a couple are escape rooms, and my hubby happily indulges me. Escape rooms are a fun challenge if you love solving puzzles and putting your brain to the test to think outside the box and your daily life routine. I also love the one-on-one, distraction-free time they provide to us on date nights. But recently, we did something new… We tried an escape room WITH THE KIDS! Read on for our experience and review of escaping from Countdown2Escape in Downtown Frisco as a family.

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Tumbleweed TexStyles Holiday Gift Guide

Santa Claus is coming to town, and he’s bringing Texas gear and style with him! This holiday season is the perfect opportunity to support local business by gifting your friends and loved ones unique items from local artisans at Tumbleweed TexStyles in Frisco.

Whether you’re looking for one-of-a-kind gifts for the kids’ teachers, or planning to surprise your bestie with a basket of Texas goodies, check out the amazing holiday gifts TWT has to offer. There’s a gift for everyone on your list at TWT, and now you can get them for 20% off in store or online with code FRISCO20!

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Falling to My Knees: My Mom's Story with Metastatic Breast Cancer

My mom, Elizabeth, is the first person I call when something of significance happens, good or bad. She’s the first person I go to for advice and is my most trusted confidant. It’s been a joy to transition from a mother-daughter relationship to a true friendship with her.

She was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 at age 47. I remember literally falling to my knees and not being able to catch my breath when she told me.

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How to Spend a Day at Watters Creek in Allen

Watters Creek is an upscale outdoor shopping and lifestyle center in Allen, at the intersection of I-75 and Bethany Drive, and is one of our favorite places to hang out as a family! I’ve also been known to sneak over there on my own for a little solo retail therapy. The shopping at Watters Creek is fantastic, and our family especially enjoys the outdoor patio dining options, kids’ play area and local events. Watters Creek is such a fun and family-friendly place to spend the day. Wondering what to do at Watters Creek? Read on!

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What Every Frisco Newcomer Should Know- Local Volunteer Organizations

Volunteering is a terrific way to get involved with the community, as residents can – and often do – make a difference. In the final installment of Frisco STYLE’s exclusive digital series What Every Newcomer Should Know, learn about several ways new and longtime Frisco residents can lend a hand to support city government as well as various local organizations.

LOCAL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS:
City of Frisco
Frisco Family Services
Frisco Humane Society
National Breast Cancer Foundation
Legacy Humane Society
Becky’s Hope Horse Rescue

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What Every Frisco Newcomer Should Know- Community Involvement

One way to quickly – and meaningfully – become part of the community is to attend public meetings and forums. In the third installment of Frisco STYLE’s exclusive digital series What Every Newcomer Should Know, we share several ways new Frisconians – as well as longtime residents – can become better connected to the community.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Frisco City Council meetings
Frisco Town Hall meetings
Frisco ISD Board of Trustees meetings
Frisco Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Frisco™
Frisco Fanatics

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What Every Frisco Newcomer Should Know- Around the City

Drive on any of Frisco’s bustling major thoroughfares and it will likely come as no surprise to learn that the city’s population increased by nearly 92 percent between 2010 and 2020. What was once a small farming town decades ago is now officially the 14th-largest city in Texas, boasting more than 224,000 residents.

For many new citizens, learning the lay of the land and becoming entrenched in the community may prove key in making the successful transition from newcomer to full-fledged Frisconian. If Frisco is your new home, we offer you a heartfelt welcome, as well as this informative (albeit not all-inclusive) primer of suggested activities and opportunities to help get you and your family plugged into this thriving, diverse community.

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Mom & Kid-Approved YouTube Channels

The internet, and particularly YouTube, can be a pretty buck wild place that young kids, and even tweens and teens, should not explore without limits. But by curating a mom- and kid-approved YouTube playlist, screen time doesn’t have to be so scary. In addition to creating curated playlists, I have found it helpful to limit my kids’ video options to only the channels supported on the YouTube Kids app and website. YouTube Kids is different and separate from traditional YouTube. It is designed for children to use and watch, and gives parents the power to adjust content settings based on their children’s ages. Content settings options in YouTube Kids include Preschool (ages 4 and under), Younger (ages 5-7) and Older (ages 8-12).

Below are some YouTube channels that get my Mom Stamp of Approval. While all of these channels are available on traditional YouTube, at least some, if not all, of each channel’s videos can also be found on the YouTube Kids app or website. Give these channels a try to see which ones get your family’s stamp of screen-time approval.

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Quintessentially Frisco

Whether you’re new to Frisco or a long-time resident, it’s important to be in the loop. Where are the best places to eat and shop? What is there to do? And, most importantly, where do all the cool kids hang out? We’ve compiled our non-inclusive list of must-do events and attractions, and must-see and visit restaurants, businesses and other hotspots that should be atop your Frisco bucket list.

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Texas Mamas of Frisco

It’s no secret that Frisco is one of the fastest-growing cities in the state, due in large part to its attractiveness to young families. Frisco has some of the best schools and teachers around, there are plenty of activities to keep families busy and entertained, and Frisco’s many restaurants and shopping opportunities are second to none.

But in addition to being an amazing place to live, it’s the people- the individuals, the couples, families, and even the small, local businesses- that make Frisco truly special. Frisco is blessed with an abundance of good people who are over-the-top friendly, kind, and passionate about their community. And it’s no surprise that it’s local moms who foster those community connections, helping our growing city maintain its small town feel. I recently spoke with some local moms to learn more about them, their families, and their place in Frisco.

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Mother's Day Gift Guide - Tumbleweed TexStyles

Mother’s Day is coming and there is one thing the Texas Mama in your life wants more than breakfast in bed: Tumbleweed TexStyles! As a busy mama myself, I know she’ll love how these cute Texas tees will make her feel as she runs the kids to and from soccer practice, appointments, and a million other places around town.

With so many designs and accessories to choose from, TWT has everything she needs to make her next mom’s night out, relaxing evening in, and everything in between feel special and unique, just like she is. And since Tumbleweed TexStyles is locally owned and operated in Frisco, shopping there is the perfect way to support local business and connect with the local community. Stop by the flagship Downtown Frisco store (7511 Main Street) soon to snag some Mother’s Day goodies she’ll love!

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Pandemic-Approved Media for Moms: IGs, Podcasts & Shows That Make Me Happy

While we seem to be on the precipice of better days to come, I’m definitely still scraping the bottom of the barrel to find peace, comfort, and hope. To get me through, I’ve been searching the corners of the internet for anything to cling to, and especially for things to give my tired brain a brief respite. Basically, I need some easily accessible, mindless entertainment to soothe my troubled soul. If your soul also needs something uplifting or at least distracting to stay on the rails, check out a few of these “fuzzy blankets” I’ve been snuggling in.

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Winterfest 2021 at Gaylord Texan

We’re not ready to say goodbye to these chilly days and the magic of winter quite yet. That’s why we were so excited to hear about Winterfest happing right now at the Gaylord Texan Hotel in Grapevine! Winterfest brought us all the cozy feels when we recently attended, and I highly recommend making a trip to experience it before it ends. Winterfest is in full swing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday now through February 28. Here’s what you can expect at Winterfest.

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