It’s that time again. Time to pack lunchboxes. You could toss in a sandwich, chips and an apple or you can shake things up with some of these easy, creative ideas. We know which we would prefer if we were kids.

It’s a Wrap

Sandwiches are boring. Wraps are cool. If your kids like tacos, they will love these taco pinwheels. Hummus wraps are vegan, full of protein and tasty. What kid could say no to these colorful and delectable Italian deli pinwheel sandwiches? These spicy buffalo chicken wraps really kick lunch up a notch.

Lunch on a Stick

Got some wooden skewers? Then you are halfway to a lunch your kids will love. These lunch kabobs are cute and healthy. The entire family can pitch in to make these colorful chicken kabobs. Mini pancakes on a stick? Who wouldn’t love that! Kids that are gluten-free will love chowing down on these chef salad skewers.

Breakfast for Lunch

Who says lunch must be lunch? Treat your kids to a healthy, fun breakfast instead. French toast sticks are fun to dunk in syrup. Kids will feel hip and grown-up toting avocado toast into the lunchroom. Don’t send a peanut butter sandwich, send this yummy breakfast sandwich. Smoothies keep kids full from lunch to pick-up time.

Pizzas, Quesadillas and More

When trying to decide what to pack, take a page from the kids’ menu. Kids love miniature options, so pack these mini quesadillas. What could be simpler than pizza bagels? Veggie and chorizo quesadillas get everyone out of the lunchbox rut. Some kids need nothing more than a healthy muffin and some chocolate milk.

School Lunch Deconstructed

Pack ingredients in bento boxes and let kids put their own spin on lunch. Kids love tacos and you’ll love this take-to-school taco bar. Put a smile on your child’s face with this smiley bento box. Send your little athlete to school with this protein-packed lunch.  We wouldn’t mind packing this Mediterranean-inspired lunch for ourselves.

Sandwiches are Cool

Sandwiches don’t have to be boring. Ditch the bread and introduce kids to these breadless double-decker turkey clubs. These open-face sandwiches give kids more of what they really want — the filling. Got leftover focaccia? Make these chicken pesto focaccia sandwiches. Why send a chicken sandwich when you can send the ultimate grilled chicken sandwich?

It comes as no surprise that July has been designated National Grilling Month. Using the backyard grill in your new Sierra Vista home is a healthy alternative to turning on the stove — not to mention a fun way to meet the neighbors. Get your grill on with these mouthwatering recipes.

Where’s the Beef

When Texans think barbecue, they think brisket. You could smoke one or you can use wood chips and your grill for some slow-smoked flavor. Treat guests to Porterhouse steaks in a pepper sauce and get rave reviews. Rather have ribeye? Check this recipe out. For the juiciest burgers, smash them on the grill. You’ll be glad you did.

Finger-Lickin’ Chicken

Why fry chicken when you can serve up these tasty grilled chicken thighs with pickled peaches instead? Chimichurri isn’t just for beef anymore. Level up your healthy meal game with these rice noodle salad bowls with grilled lemongrass chicken. Throwing a luau-themed party? Don’t forget to grill these Huli Huli chicken wings.

Perfect Pork

Food Network has the only barbecue pork rib recipe you’ll ever need. Fruit, spice and pork combine to create these delicious apricot habanero pork chops. Pork shoulder tastes even better with chipotle chilies. We can’t get enough of this pork tenderloin smothered in peach-mustard sauce.

Bring on the Seafood

Throw some shrimp on the barbie and use plenty of garlic! Don’t just drink the tequila, add it to grilled oysters. Grill swordfish and don’t forget the tomatoes. Tonight, we’re dreaming of crispy salmon, lemon and sesame.

Meatless Mains

If you’ve got a vegetarian, don’t slap a tofu burger on the grill and call it good. They’ll feel special when you hand them these paneer tikka kebabs. There’s plenty of protein and deliciousness in grilled eggplant chickpea wraps. Up your veggie burger game with this grilled portobello burger with onion jam. Even meat eaters will love these grilled soy, ginger and lime tofu steaks.

Grilled Side Dishes

For a simple side dish, we’re thinking Mexican street corn. If you’ve got asparagus, we’ve got a grilled asparagus recipe! Use your grill to stir up a pot of spicy beans. Guests will quickly become fans of these Hasselback-style potatoes.

Delicious Desserts

Grill dessert while everyone is enjoying a post-barbecue cocktail. This heavenly grilled Angel Food cake will have guests coming back for seconds and thirds. Grill peaches, apricots or plums. Add ice cream and voila, stone fruit sundaes. For a healthy after-dinner treat, we think these cilantro-lime grilled watermelon steaks are stellar. Skip the fire pit and whip up a large pot of s’mores.

 

 

Sierra Vista kiddos will soon be walking or riding their bikes to a brand-new elementary school located in Sierra Vista.

Debra Orum Nichols-Wilma Fountain Mock Elementary School broke ground earlier this year. The school bell is slated to ring in August 2023. Located at 10805 Crystal View Drive, the approximately 101,858-square-foot facility will house Kindergarten through 5^th grade students.

The school was named after two longtime Alvin ISD educators whose professional trajectories moved along parallel lines.

Wilma Fountain Mock was the first black teacher in Alvin ISD. She was hired to coach gymnastics at Alvin Junior High in 1972. She then moved to Alvin High School where she taught PE and coached gymnastics, track and cross country. After four years, she began teaching at EC Mason Elementary School. She remained there for 14 years, winning the EC Mason’s Teacher of the Year award in 1992. She helped open Hood-Case Elementary in 1997 and was named Hood-Case Teacher of the Year. She took home the Alvin ISD District Teacher of the Year soon after. Mock retired in 2004 but continues to tutor elementary school students in the district.

Debra Nichols was a teacher in Alvin ISD from 1974 to 2009. Her first teaching position was at Longfellow Elementary where she also taught PE. In 1982, she began teaching ELA and social studies at EC Mason. She joined Mock in opening Hood-Case and was named Teacher of the Year there. She retired in 2009. Like Mock, she continues tutoring youth in the district.

Alvin ISD schools are among the top-rated in Texas. The district ranked the district No. 145 out of 1018 school districts on its list of the Best School Districts in Texas. It ranks No. 15 in Houston.

Keep checking back here for updates. We can’t wait for our young students to see their new school.

Move over, Galveston — Surfside Beach has the same water, the same sand, less crowds and — for Sierra Vista residents — a shorter drive!

In fact, beach-loving residents can shoot down Highway 288 in less than an hour to wade in the water and search for seashells. Of course, if you stop at Buc-ee’s in Lake Jackson for snacks, it might take you a little more than an hour. (Fun note — this is the original Buc-ee’s!)

Surfside Beach has four miles of coastline — perfect for lounging, wading in warm Gulf waters and searching for seashells. Another popular pastime at Surfside Beach? The name offers the biggest clue — surfing! Texas surfers frequent the shore — particularly the shoreline near Texas Street — for its consistent waves.

Birding is another popular activity along the Texas Gulf Coast, and birders will find plenty to watch at Surfside Beach. Roseate spoonbills, sandhill cranes, snow geese, herons and egrets can be found at Surfside during the year. The community is also along the southern border of the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, which reports more than 200 varieties of birds. Regardless of when you visit Surfside, make sure to pack your binoculars!

Surfside Jetty Park

Many beachgoers enjoy the convenience of Surfside Jetty Park. At the foot of the East Jetty off Fort Velasco Drive, Surfside Jetty Park is a 15-acre day-use park with a paved parking area, a playground and bathrooms. The paved jetty is more than a half-mile long. Many anglers can be found fishing its edge in an attempt to hook redfish, sheepshead, shark and spotted sea trout.

Of note to Texas historians, the park is also home to the Velasco Town Battery which dates to before the 1860s. The battery — which features an emplacement with two brass cannon — was turned over to the Confederacy in 1861. Historic Fort Velasco is just outside the park.

 

 

 

 

Many Sierra Vista builders offer home automation packages that include an Amazon Dot or Show. Both feature a virtual assistant called “Alexa.” To activate your smart home features, you can simply tell Alexa to perform tasks such as turning on lights. Alexa can do so much more, though. Here are a few fun things you can try:

Channel Your Inner Trekkie

Amazon smart devices use the wake word “Alexa,” as in “Alexa, turn on the lights.”

If you have a family member named Alexa that can be a problem. Amazon will allow you to change the wake word — which is where the fun begins. Change the wake word to “Computer” to transport you to the starship Enterprise. Now you can say “Computer. Turn on the lights.” Just like Captain Kirk.

Drop In On the Kids

Add Amazon devices to other rooms in your house, then surprise your kids with your disembodied voice. How? Turn your devices into an intercom system. Enable the Alexa drop-in feature from the Devices tab in the Alexa app.  Then go to the Communications tab to try it out. Once you do, you can listen and speak through any selected Alexa speaker.

Talk to the Animals

Is your four-legged friend feeling neglected while you are at work? Have Alexa “talk” to them. To do this, you will need to download a skill in the Alexa app. Meow! Is for cats. Woof! is for dogs. Alexa will start a conversation by making the appropriate noise. If your pet answers, Alexa will continue making those sounds. Of course, you can always use the drop-in feature so they can hear your voice.

Get Fashion Advice

Not only can Alexa help you get dressed in the morning, but it can also give you fashion advice. Say, “Alexa, what should I wear today?” Alexa will tell you what the weather is like and make an appropriate suggestion. For dedicated fashionistas, the Daily Fashion Advice skill will offer tips, tips and suggestions for always staying on-trend.

Choose Your Own Adventure

Remember those choose your own adventure books from your childhood? Open the Magic Door for a high-tech version your kids will love. This skill takes kids on an interactive adventure through a forest, sea, garden and castle. Along the way, they will collect hidden items, solve riddles, and help magical creatures. Enable Earplay for the more grown-up version featuring radio drama-type stories. Earplay is free to enable but some stories may incur a fee.

Shall We Play a Game?

Amazon claims that Alexa can play more than 5,000 games. Some of these come prepackaged on your device. For others, you will need to download the “skill” via the Alexa app. Challenge the kids to Simon Says, Jeopardy, Escape the Room and more.

Tell Me a Story

Alexa can read books to your kids. Amazon Storytime is for kids ages 5 to 12. Enabling this skill gives them access to more than 100 short stories featuring live cast recordings. Kids can choose from several categories or spin the magic story wheel for a surprise.

Play “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” Everywhere

Alexa can stream music from Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music and more. That means your kids can ask Alexa to play their favorite Disney tunes. If you have more than one device, you can group them together via the Alexa app. Then tell Alexa to play “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” everywhere. Once the kids are in bed you can switch to some light jazz, we promise.