Houston Family Magazine

08/30/2024

Meet our HFM Kid Ambassadors!

Emily is excited to be an HFM ambassador to volunteer at the HFM events and can’t wait to participate in things such as photo shoots for the magazine!

Her love for others is incredibly admirable; she is a light in this world. Emily is a happy and beautiful person inside and out. There is never a dull moment when hanging out with her!

Her favorite place in Houston is Galveston Island because everything is in one place, from fireworks to movies, to sandcastles and music.

Her favorite summer activity is celebrating her birthday by watching movies in the pool with her family and besties.

Emily prefers reading most, as she said it helps her brain, and she especially loves reading HFM to learn about all the special events they offer!

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Faces of Elegance

08/29/2024

Berkley is 17 years old and is a junior in high school. She has been a kid ambassador since she was in the 7th grade. She wanted to be an HFM kid ambassador again this year because of all the opportunities and experiences she’s had through the years! She is also a very social person and loves to talk to anyone of any age.

Berkley has many special and unique qualities, such as a big heart, and she loves everyone she meets. She is always up to giving a helping hand and puts others before herself.

Berkley has been involved in school theater since middle school, and she has loved attending plays and musicals at both The Ally Theater and Hobby Center. She also comes from a Southern family so she very much enjoys the rodeo when it comes to NRG each year!
During the summer, Berkley has loved going to camp for the past 9 years. She also enjoys the beach and going out with her family to their ranch!

Berkley is multifaceted in her interests, as she loves reading books that are currently trending as well as listening to both old and new music hits. She also enjoys watching football, baseball, and soccer with her family.

She is considering majoring in Psychology and minoring in special education at university, as she either wants to become a therapist or a special needs teacher!

Houston is special to her because it is where she calls home!

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Houston Family

08/28/2024

Meet our Kid Ambassadors!

Chase is six years old and wanted to join HFM’s Kid Ambassador program to make new friends and help others his age!

Chase is unique in that he puts his mind to a hobby or passion and sticks to it! He particularly enjoys reading about animals and learning about all kinds of different species of them. He can name several different types of snakes alone! Chase also teaches his peers his skills so they can share in what he loves.

Unsurprisingly, Chase’s favorite place in Houston is The Houston Zoo!

In the summer, Chase loves to go on vacations to different beaches worldwide! His current favorite beaches are the ones found in Cancun, Mexico, but he is dying to visit the famous beaches of Hawaii!

Chase most enjoys music, especially singing and listening to new songs.

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Houston Family

08/27/2024

Meet our Kid Ambassadors!

Cade is 12 years old and wanted to become an HFM Kid Ambassador because he enjoys learning how certain things work behind the scenes. In elementary school, he was the cameraman for the morning announcements, and now that he is in middle school, he is the sound technician for theater musicals. He also plays guitar and loves it, and his next big learning goal is understanding how the audio and production of concerts and albums work.

Cade started playing guitar 3 years ago, and the skill comes very naturally to him. He can listen to a song and play a large part of it by the end of the day. Practicing guitar is not a chore to him, but something he looks forward to every day.

Building and putting things together is another thing Cade is good at. He puts together any toy that a younger sibling has purchased and sets up his family’s new electronics. He is particularly gifted at problem-solving and has large amounts of patience when building or setting up anything difficult.

Cade is always looking to go and try something he has never done before. He loves new experiences. He always comes up with new ideas to get his family out and about.
His favorite summer activity is attending Camp Olympia. “I go for 3 weeks,” he said, “and love the activities they have there like rocketing, wakeboarding, riflery, archery, the challenge course, tribe competitions, themed parties, etc. This summer we lost electricity for 6 days due to Hurricane Beryl but it was still tons of fun!”

Cade enjoys both music and sports. In his own words: “It's hard to choose. Music is what I love to do every day. It keeps me chilled out. Sports, I play baseball, is fun too. It gets me pumped up.”

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Scott Edwards with efgimage

08/26/2024

Dewberry Farm's Fall FLASH SALE is LIVE! Get a whopping $16 OFF each ticket good for ANY TIME, ANY DAY, but hurry...the offer is good for 4 days only!

Fall Fest Opens September 14- November 3. Buy tickets now at: www.DewberryFarm.com/fallfestival

Don’t miss:
🎃 pumpkin patches & life-sized pumpkin house!
🎡40+ Family Attractions & Rides!
🌽Our 8-Acre Peanuts- themed Corn Maze!
👻BOOriffic Nights spooky evening activities!
🐮Barnyard Animals!
🎨Pumpkin Painting!

….and more!
~
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📸.sam.w and Houston Family

08/24/2024

Meet our Kid Ambassadors!

Lilliana “Lilli” is nine years old, and joined HFM’s Kid Ambassadors because she thought it would be so cool to be in a magazine. She was also very interested in meeting other children, seeing businesses around Houston, and being a part of events.

Lilliana has been in pageantry since she was 2 years old. She has earned several national and international titles. As a pageant queen, she takes the responsibility of serving her community to heart. She was even awarded a Congressional Service Award for community service.

She is a founder and mini-director of a non-profit organization, Caring Queens, that her family created in 2020 that works with young ladies in foster care. Caring Queens creates free and non-competitive pageant experiences for these girls to help grow their confidence and turn them into queens. Lilliana works with the group of girls for 5 weeks to coach them, rehearse with them, and prepare them for their pageant.

Lilliana created and runs 5 stores called “Apples and Bananas.” Her storefronts are located in a department store called Painted Tree Boutiques. Lilliana sells bath bombs, shower steamers, candles, purses, and toys. Her stores are in Kingwood, Cinco Ranch, Sugarland, Austin, and Grapevine, and a location in Baybrook will open this summer.

Lilliana’s favorite place in Houston is near her home in Spring, Levy Park. She loves the family board games, the playground, and the splash pad there. Another of her favorite parts about living in Texas is the H.E.B. grocery stores. It’s her favorite grocery store because they are well-organized, help the community, and have the Buddy Bucks machines.

Lilliana’s favorite summer activity is swimming. She enjoys the pool and loves swimming at the beaches in Galveston.

Lilliana most enjoys sports. This summer, she enrolled in a softball camp, which interests her because her father played baseball in high school and college years. She and her father enjoy practicing together!

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Houston Family

08/23/2024

Meet our Kid Ambassadors!

Tamir is nine years old and this is his second year in the HFM Kid Ambassador’s program! He had such a great time during his first year as an ambassador that he couldn’t wait to reapply for another year! He enjoyed all the fun activities and the exciting places he got to experience. The HFM program has given him wonderful opportunities, and he is excited to continue being a part of it.

Tamir is truly special because of his diverse interests and passions. He loves playing soccer, collecting unique rocks, and assembling intricate Lego sets. He blends his athletic side with his curiosity for nature and his creativity with Legos. His enthusiasm and dedication in each of these areas are something to be admired!

Tamir's favorite places in Houston are Urban Air, ARG Sports Adventure Park, and Bounce Bounce Trampoline Park. His favorite summer activities include traveling to visit family and friends, swimming, and attending camp.

Tamir enjoys sports, mainly soccer. In his own words: “I like playing soccer because I like running fast and I have so much fun. I also like to score goals!”

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Houston Family

08/22/2024

Meet our Kid Ambassadors!

Harper is seven years old and wanted to be a Kid Ambassador for HFM because she enjoys visiting and participating in various activities throughout the Greater Houston area. She especially enjoys finding cool new places or businesses to visit that are unique to the area, as well as patronizing classic Houston establishments.

Harper is extremely creative when it comes to the realm of arts and crafts. She is also an especially kind young girl and is always willing to help others!

Her favorite places in Houston are The Children's Museum and the restaurant Mia's Table.
One of her favorite summer activities is going on vacation to different beaches around the United States, especially in Florida, and taking swimming lessons.

Harper most enjoys practicing ballet and singing. In Harper’s words: "I like singing because it feels good, and I like ballet because I get to have fun and dance with my friends.”

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Houston Family

08/21/2024

Meet our Kid Ambassadors!

Olivia is nine years old and wanted to be a kid ambassador for HFM because she loves exploring new activities, visiting exciting places, and meeting new people. Her enthusiasm for trying new things and her curiosity about the world make her eager to share these experiences with others.

Olivia is remarkably multitalented and stands out in many ways. One of her most impressive pursuits over the past two years has been her dedication to Martial Arts. She is now just two belts away from achieving her Youth Black Belt, a testament to her unwavering discipline and determination! Olivia attends training sessions at least three times a week, consistently passing numerous skill stripe tests. Every quarter, she also undertakes intensive 3-4 hour skill and endurance phase tests. Her commitment and hard work in pursuing this goal are truly admirable.

One of Olivia’s favorite places to visit in Houston is the Children’s Museum Houston. Since she was a toddler, she has enjoyed exploring its myriad of activities and especially loves the exciting character visits. The museum has always been a source of joy and inspiration for her, fostering her curiosity and imagination with each visit.

Olivia's favorite summer activity is anything water-related, whether it’s swimming in the pool or playing at the beach. Ever since she was young, she has been captivated by the water and once even dreamed of becoming a mermaid when she grew up!

Olivia especially loves making art because she loves playing with different colors and creating something unique. In her own words, "I love how I can mix colors and make something that no one else has ever seen before." She is a creator at heart and loves bringing her ideas to life.

Olivia dreams of continuing her journey in the world of acting and singing. She envisions a future where she can captivate audiences with her performances on stage and screen, sharing her passion for the arts with the world.

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Houston Family

08/21/2024

Meet our new class of Kid Ambassadors!

Noah is nine years old and is a very active child who seeks out new experiences and wants to explore different activities. Being an HFM ambassador was naturally a perfect fit.

Noah is an all-around child as he has a variety of interests, and also has a unique ability to remember a large number of facts and information on a subject he is particularly intrigued by.

Noah created his own educational math game called Super Noah Super Math, which helps other kids understand difficult math topics in a fun and engaging way! He also loves to draw and realize how the characters for his game will look.

Noah also excels academically, makes excellent grades, and is currently teaching himself to play piano.

Noah’s favorite thing to do in Houston is attend basketball games, and it is one of the aspects he loves most about living in Houston.

In the summertime, Noah loves to go swimming and to the movies.
In Noah’s own words about his variety of interests: “I can’t choose all of these things I’m super passionate about but if I have to choose I’d say basketball. My love for the game was something that I never thought would impact my life.”

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Houston Family

08/21/2024

Run, don't walk to see Funny Girl Hobby Center!

Whether you've seen the original movie or not, this show is a joy for all generations! You will be blown away by the lead's amazing voice and presence! And tickets start as low as $35! Your welcome!

08/20/2024

Meet our new Kid Ambassadors!

Zeiza is six years old and discovered the Kid Ambassador’s program through a copy of HFM at a doctor’s office. When she learned more, she immediately wanted to try out to be able to do fun stuff while exploring Houston.

Zeiza has a pet/plant/house-sitting business she started this year. She also raises chickens and sells fresh eggs to her neighbors and pet or house-sitting clients.

Running her business has made her more aware of money and finances, and resulted in her becoming more responsible in many ways. Her favorite holiday is Halloween and she's looking to spend her earnings on a 12-foot-tall skeleton!

Zeiza’s favorite place in Houston is the Bellaire Rec Center. In the fall, she also enjoys the Houston Zoo and Herman Park!

One of Zeiza’s accomplishments includes swimming for the Bellaire Barracudas. Zeiza got MVP and placed 2nd in freestyle in the final!

In her own words: “I love competitive swimming, it's fun and I'm good at it. I also like to read the Junie B. Jones books, and I love art!”

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Houston Family

08/19/2024

Meet our new Kid Ambassadors!

Kalia is nine years old and was very excited to become an HFM Ambassador because she wanted to try new things and meet new people through the program. She is a very adventurous person and loves to have fun.

Kalia is uniquely fearless, and she will try anything new and go all in on whatever she does. She also always gives really good advice to her bigger sisters!

Kalia’s favorite place in Houston is the Houston Zoo. She loves seeing the animals and exhibits and loves the vibe there to hang out.

Outside of school, she has a passion for swimming and can often be found spending an entire day in the pool!

Kalia also enjoys playing the piano and is excited to start lessons in the fall. She also participates in gymnastics. Her favorite type of gymnastics to practice is the bars!

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Houston Family

08/18/2024

Meet our new Kid Ambassadors!

Emma is 11 years old and wanted to be an HFM Kid Ambassador because she loves to talk to people of all ages and try new things like zip lining. She also wanted to learn about the media industry and showcase the fun things to do in Houston for locals and visitors.

Her favorite places in Houston are the Hobby Center, as she watches her favorite Broadway shows there, like Hamilton or Six, and the Galleria, as she loves to shop.

Her favorite summer activity is going to the pool and the beach. She is also a Cadette in Girl Scouts and loves going to the overnight camps too.

Emma most enjoys music because is always singing, dancing, or just listening to music! In her own words: “I used to take camps at Inspiration Stage and classes at School of Rock. Now most of my free time is taken up with competitive dance - I am starting my 3rd year as a company member with Core Dance Alliance.”

She has been dancing since she was 18 months old. During COVID-19, she took a break and tried other things like Inspiration Stage, School of Rock, Ninja Warrior, and soccer. She returned to dance 2 years ago and competed in her first solo this past competition year. She placed in the overalls for her age group/intermediate level in 5 out of 8 competitions, including placing 2nd at Nationals at Stage One in Gatlinburg this past June. She is very proud of her hard work, her dedication to both her solo and group dances, and her learning how to bounce back from disappointment.

Emma wants to have multiple careers as an adult, one of which would be performing as a Rockette or on Broadway.

Emma loves the variety of restaurants in Houston, as well as the theaters here, such as Hobby Center, Main Street Theater, Inspiration Stage, and TUTS.

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Houston Family

08/17/2024

Meet our new class of Kid Ambassadors!

Pierce is seven years old and loves to try new things around the Houston area and share his experiences with his friends.

Pierce loves to do Ninja Warrior at RISE at the Warehouse. He also loves to make art projects and was a Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Finalist at his school for his work!

Pierce’s favorite place in Houston is The Burger Joint, his favorite restaurant, and he also enjoys the ice cream shop Stomping Grounds for Fat Cat ice cream!

In the summertime, he most enjoys swimming, to beat the heat.

Pierce is most interested in the world of sports, mainly soccer. In his own words: “Soccer is the best because I like kicking the ball and scoring goals.”

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Houston Family

08/16/2024

Are you looking for a way to beat the heat and have some memorable family fun? Look no further than Activate Games, which just opened its new Woodlands location on August 16th. The interactive, live-action experience is perfect for fans of Squid Games and groups ages 6 and up looking for some friendly competition!

Thank you for having me activategames 😄

Read more at the link!

https://houstonfamilymagazine.com/editorspicks/be-in-your-own-video-game-at-activate-2/

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Activate Games

08/16/2024

Meet our Kid Ambassadors!

Cree is 12 years old and wanted to become an HFM Kid ambassador to gain more exposure to the Greater Houston community and build new relationships with the other ambassadors and people around the area!

Cree has a unique and deep passion for the arts, particularly dance and theater. She’s always eager to learn and seeks out opportunities to attend auditions, conventions, and performances. She has a great love for Broadway shows and musicals.

Her favorite place in Houston is the Sloomoo Institute, and her favorite activity to do in the summer is travel.

Cree prefers sports, in particular, dance because she can express herself through her movements and routines.

She wants to be a pediatrician when she grows up.

Cree loves living in Houston because she loves to explore and experience new things in her community.

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Houston Family

08/15/2024

Meet the 2024-2025 Kid Ambassadors!

Bailey is six years old and wanted to become an ambassador for HFM to help give back to the Houston community!

She has a unique and deep love of singing, and will turn anything into a song!
Bailey’s favorite place to go to in Houston is the Houston Zoo, as she loves all animals and it makes her happy to go and visit them!

Her favorite summer activity is going camping at Splashway with her family.

Bailey most prefers music. In her own words: “I like singing because it makes me happy! But I also like soccer and tumbling because they are so fun!”

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸 Houston Family

08/14/2024

Meet HFM's Kid Ambassadors for 2024-2025!

Reina is 13 years old and wanted to join the HFM Kid Ambassadors to join a community of ambitious, kind, passionate learners who are interested in a diverse variety of activities and subjects. She loves modeling and doing photoshoots, and was Miss Pre-Teen Houston! She enjoys volunteering and helping her city in any way she can.
Reina has a sense of humor, honesty, and a love for others that is unique and makes her stand out.
Her favorite place to go is to the Houston Symphony to listen to the orchestra and hear beautiful music with her family. Her favorite summer activity is to hang out by the pool!
Outside of school, Reina is committed to athletics and plays volleyball. She also loves music as it helps her to relax. Reina wants to be a dermatologist when she grows up to help people and make them feel good about their skin.
“I love living in Houston,” Reina said. “We come together and volunteer when there is a disaster. We have great people living in our city that make living here fun.”

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Houston Family

08/13/2024

Meet the new class of HFM Kid Ambassadors for 2024-2025!

First up, Mya!

Mya is 12 years old and wanted to be a Kid Ambassador for HFM to meet new people and positively represent her hometown. Mya is a proud Houston Constellations Pathfinder troop member, a co-ed church organization like Boy or Girl Scouts. She was selected out of 500 children to be a color guard at the International Pathfinder Camporee, held in Wyoming this August, where 70,000 people will be in attendance!
Her favorite place in Houston is Discovery Green, where she enjoys the free entertainment and roller-skating on the green. Mya’s favorite summer activity is swimming.
Mya enjoys music, as she expresses herself through singing and dancing. Mya also wants to become a teacher when she grows up.
She loves living in Houston due to the diversity and variety of culinary options in the area, her favorite of which is Greek food!

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Houston Family

08/08/2024

Jessica Woo, Tiktok’s resident ‘Bento Box Queen’ recently released a brand new cookbook called ‘Let’s Make Some Lunch’ detailing the recipes and techniques she uses in her popular online videos. Her content mainly focuses on the lunches she makes daily for her three daughters, most of which are Bento Box lunches, a common type of lunch set up in Asian cultures. Woo’s Tiktok account, , which she started a few years ago, currently has 5.6 million followers.

Read more at the link!

https://houstonfamilymagazine.com/family-food/tiktoks-bento-box-queen-releases-lets-make-lunch/

Thank you to sulheejessica for our lovely chat!

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸 Jessica Woo

08/02/2024

Who's ready for some fun? Check out our calendar for a variety of fun activities for kids of all ages! com/calendar

https://conta.cc/3WM5bY1

Here are some rain or shine ideas! Happy Weekend Friday August 2nd MindWorks Exhibit The traveling exhibition MindWorks opens on June 15 at The Health Museum. Be the first in the United States to see

08/02/2024

It’s back to school time and the inevitable problems need to be addressed. How can you
get back on that early to bed, early to rise schedule? How can you best communicate with
teachers? How will you encourage your kids to work hard and do their best while at
school and also with their nightly homework?

Here are some tips for making that back to school transition as smooth as possible.

Read more at the link!

https://houstonfamilymagazine.com/featured/how-to-avoid-the-back-to-school-blue/

Jan Pierce
📸Houston Family

08/01/2024

looks like fun!

07/28/2024

Congratulations Kassidy Cook! You do Texas proud!!

While most of America was sleeping back home, Team USA picked up its first medal at the Paris Summer Olympics.

07/28/2024

💕💕💕💕

07/27/2024

FunFest has been rescheduled to 8/17/24 due to weather. We will see you next month!!

07/24/2024

Due to inclement weather, Fun Fest has been postponed from this weekend to the later date of AUGUST 17th!

Stay safe out there Houston!

07/23/2024

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream has recently rolled out its newest, somewhat unexpected, ice cream offering: a three-flavor combo with a specialty spicy topping!

The Houston-favorite ice cream shop features locations in the heart of the city, namely Montrose, the Heights, and the City Centre areas. They recently collaborated with chili sauce company Fly By Jing on a new spicy topping that will change your ice cream-going experience this summer. I instantly was drawn in by the idea and just had to try it for myself.

Read more at the link!

https://houstonfamilymagazine.com/family-food/jenis-gets-spicy-this-summer/

Danielle N. Bartholet
📸Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

🌶️ 🍦

07/18/2024

Nice!