HEB has long been one of our favorite shopping places.  After all,  keeping a pantry and fridge properly stocked is one of life's best activities.   The HEB at Vintage Park is close to home and on the way to and from almost every destination.   We seldom stray too far from the home market except for specialty items from the Indian, Health food and Asian markets.   But,  Fairly recently a new HEB was added to the already deluxe shopping ops in The Woodlands.   This store is state of the art!  From the exquisite selection of produce to the gourmet chives in fish, poultry and meat this place is at least a thrill a  minute.  The HEB at Vintage Park by us is nice but this new one in The Woodlands is killer.   Canned goods and chips also have reached a new high in panache.  Presentation is hi... 08/19/2012

A genuine amenity for a neighborhood is a park!   Everyone should have at least one!  The Woodlands has so many you might spend a month of Sundays finding and seeing them all.   Deep in the Wonderful Woodlands is this secluded enhanced point of interest.  It looks as if essential human habitations were artfully carved into a perfectly placed piece of forest. It is officially a part of the Village of Alden Bridge.   Within an easy walk withing the Village of Alden Bridge via lovely concrete paths, this park offers a pavilion for parties and other gatherings, a pond, tennis courts, parking lots and playgrounds.  Sort of a recreational offering with something for everyone.   It is details like this park that make the Woodlands the super desired development that it is! 08/19/2012

HAPPENING IN THE RENTAL MARKET IN THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS? The real estate boom in The Woodlands, Texas is here! Not only are we seeing extremely brisk home sales, we are also seeing the rental market exploding. Agents are actually calling the listing agent before even bringing a potential client as the rentals are flying off of the market. Rental rates are trending upwards in price as days on market continues to dwindle. Here are the latest rental stats just from May 1st, 2012: ACTIVE RENTALS:   189 active homes on market. Average rental rate = $2,555 Avg. price per s.f. = $1.04 Average days on market = 42   CLOSED RENTALS:   Over 350 homes! Average rental rate = $2,804 Average price per s.f. - .98 Average days on market = 32     The competition is fierce and this is an excellent time to ... 08/16/2012

    Are you ready for some Football!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!     The 2012 campaign is a few weeks away, so mark your calendars now! All games at Woodforest Stadium (in The Woodlands) are Friday nights at 7:30 p.m  (except the Katy game on 9/15 ... that is at 6:00pm) 9/1/12 Dallas Skyline 6:00pm FC Dallas Stadium           9/7/12 Hightower 7:30pm Woodforest Stadium         9/15/12 Katy 6:00pm Woodforest Stadium         9/21/12 Monterrey Tec 7:30pm Woodforest Stadium         9/28/12 Conroe 7:30pm Moorhead Stadium         10/4/12 A&M Consolidated 7:00pm Woodforest Stadium         10/12/12 Lufkin 7:30pm Abe Martin Stadium         10/26/12 Bryan 7:30pm Woodforest Stadium         11/2/12 College Park 7:30pm Woodforest Stadium         11/9/12 Oak Ridge 7:30pm Woodforest Stadium         Games are played... 08/15/2012

$42.92 Thrift Shopping gets THIS MUCH in The Woodlands and Conroe Thrift Store!   These are all Thrift Store purchases that were made in either The Woodlands or Conroe.   Thrift Shopping can make a huge difference in your budget!!! (oh found a few more......  this brings the total to $50.90!!!!!!)   For more inspiration and ideas on Thrifting check out www.shopwithpippa.com! 08/15/2012

BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY ~ THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS You don't have to look far to know that the beginning of school is just around the corner.  Here in The Woodlands, the three school districts here are gearing up to open the school house doors very soon.  During this busy time, it is essential to remember some safety tips and guidelines.  BE extra safe while driving when school begins.  There will be more cars and buses on the road as well as children on foot and on bicycles.  In Texas, there is NO cell phone use while in school zones.  Please pay attention! Instruct your children to be cautious of strangers who approach them while at the bus stop or during their walk or bike ride home.  Make sure and teach them how to handle a situation that might be suspect. Here in Texas it is still very h... 08/14/2012

The market in The Woodlands is really great right now!  Both homes with pools and without pools are selling well, but if you have a pool you are in a SELLER'S MARKET.  Inventory is down this year over last year by almost 25%.  If you are on the market and haven't sold your home in around 60 days, then take a look at the price or condition. Look at those comments buyers are saying when looking at your home.  There were 660 homes that sold last month in The Woodlands. It is either price or condition of a property holding it back from selling, so take a good honest look and listen to your Realtor.  It is the market that sets the right pricing of a home to sell. Magnolia's market is not as strong as The Woodlands, but homes are selling and that would be 602 of them.  There are almost as ma... 08/13/2012

We are so fortunate to have a Trader Joe's Grocery Store in The Woodlands! 10868 Kuykendahl Road The Woodlands, TX 77381 (281) 465-0254   I took some pictures of a few of my Favorite Things!  (well, I have to go buy some more items that we ATE before I could get pictures of them)     The number one "surprise" comment that I hear is that Trader Joe's is a very small grocery store.  People are expecting a larger size store such as H.E.B., Kroger or Randalls.  All that I can say that it is WORTH the value to come to this store.  Everything we have tried has been a FAVORITE in our house!!!! I could not even keep the "Artesian" Bread for only $2.25, around long enough to take a picture for you, my family devours it within a day!   ............  THE MOST AMAZING GRILL CHEESE SANDWICH YOU WILL... 08/09/2012

Groceries can be taken for granted.     Most grocery stores of the past are ordinary,  just one more shopping chore to provide meals.   Today there are many alternatives springing up.   One of the latest in the Woodlands is "Trader Joes.". It is clearly raising the bar on super markets!   Top notch gourmet items including condiments, meats, beverages, produce and chips of all kinds  are found aisle after aisle.   The sales staff are all around to assist with friendly attitude.  They are all definately part of a team effort to make the experience pleasant.   Going to the grocery is being elevated to an art form!  Like so many aspects of the Woodlands experience, Trader Joes is a cut above.   08/07/2012

Watching the Olympics for the past couple of weeks has given us a glimpse into the thought processes of athletes.   One of those was the most decorated swimmer ever, Michael Phelps.   His early performances this year were not what we had become used to seeing.   He seemed to be less interested in achieving.  What had changed?   As the events progressed it became obvious that he just did not want the wins as much as he had in the past.   He already had achieved great wealth and fame.  He had experienced the thrill of being the best. What possible difference could it make if he did not win anymore?   The world would still spin on its axis, the games would go on, people would still love him and his life would still be important even if he did not win.   Still, somewhere deep inside him was... 08/07/2012

LAND IS BOOMING IN AND AROUND THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS! If you have ever considered purchasing land in or around The Woodlands, Texas or Montgomery County, NOW is the time. We are truly experiencing a land boom and it is exciting! Tracts of land all over the area are being gobbled up faster than we can write the contracts! With the Exxon campus continuing to move forward with construction, the interest in available land has soared. Get on board and give Chevaux Group a call today. We have been in the area for over two decades and know this dirt like the back of our hands. We know what is going on and can help you find the best fit for your needs. Give us a call today and we can give you a first-class tour of the area. Buying land in The Woodlands, Texas is a wise investment! We continue to ... 08/04/2012

WHAT TO DO ON A SATURDAY NIGHT IN THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS Those of you who follow my blog know that The Woodlands,Texas is a happening place! There is never a lack of things to do around here! Specifically though, it is Saturday night and you have a whole array of great venues to choose from. We are getting ready to head down to the Waterway district to enjoy the fabulous water fountains while sitting outside at Bar Louie. The fountains play great music every 15 minutes and it is always a crowd pleaser! You could also hop a water cruiser and enjoy the sights from the boat. Here are the songs playing during August: Dancing Queen Grease Medley Singing In The Rain Eye of the Tiger Footloose All Night Long I Got a Feeling Kokomo Mack the Knife Overture / All That Jazz There are so many wonderf... 08/04/2012

  Have you ever considered how much impact your language has on those around you?   While we were at the Woodlands Mall today, we passed a pet store.  Parakeets in the window brought back a buried memory.   Birds are compact creatures , and considering all things make little mess.    They also have an advantage over cats and dogs because they talk!  Really!  They will repeat things they hear if they hear them often.   The last bird I had was named "Oscar.". He looked a lot like the bird in the photo.   He ruled the roost in my room during several of my teen years.   In those days the phones had long cords so they could be plugged into outlets in the hall and then the cords would allow them to go into several rooms as needed.   Phones were the communication devices of choice in those da... 08/04/2012

Here is a list of The Woodlands' Area Restaurants that will be participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks and proceeds will go to the Montgomery County Food Bank! Try these restaurants and others in Houston! Have fun and let me know which are your favorites! Thank you to these local businesses for supporting our community! I will plan to visit these restaurants this month!     Americas Woodlands Cuisine: Latin/Spanish/MediterraneanNeighborhood: The Woodlands     Amerigo's GrilleCuisine: ItalianNeighborhood: The Woodlands     Perry's Steakhouse and Grille - The WoodlandsCuisine: SteakNeighborhood: The Woodlands   Menus- (subject to change) Americas WoodlandsCuisine: Latin/Spanish/Mediterranean Neighborhood: The Woodlands Restaurant Information: 21 Waterway AvenueThe Woodlands, Texas 77380... 08/03/2012

What do you think is the major function of a shoe?   Is it to protect your feet?   If so, this specimen as seen in a window in the Woodlands mall,  would not qualify.  Wearing a pair of shoes such as this would threaten your balance as well as the bones!   Would you consider it a fashion accessory?   No doubt to makes a loud statement in that regard.  It also could catch fabric all around your costume.  The flame has potential to rip and tear fashions adjacent with great precision.   Shoes usually give support to our feet.  These look as though they would defy gravity.  Support only if you needed an easily accessable weapon,   Expletive extractor?  Without a doubt this shoe is bound to get wows galore.   Truly a work of art,  this shoe would not be a choice for walking on.  Even so,  i... 08/02/2012

Some transactions are more memorable than others.  Some are downright amusing,  at least after the Initial shock wears off.   It is a good idea to never underestimate the client.  You may have heard of "bats in the belfry,  we encountered weeds in the attic!   We had received a listing via referral from our favorite loan officer.  In a short time we had the place under contract and the fun and games of the inspections began.   Inspections are designed to be enlightening.  This time the inspector came out of the attic with an incredulous look on his face.   "uhhhh, guys?  Have you seen the attic?" he said.   We do not make attics a part of our home tours especially when there is no ladder access.  They are an important part of the structure, but they do not usually offer extra value.   I... 07/30/2012

If you look closely you will see a white spire soaring above the tree tops.   This is part of the roofline of the lovely Cynthia Woods outdoor auditorium in the Woodlands.   Many concerts are held in that facility every year.  Symphonies, Pops,  Rock , Rap and Country Western venues all find large weather worthy audiences happy to share spaces.   Culture has a huge variety of faces.   There is wide diversity in it too.   In our society there are separations in who likes what and age frequently plays a huge part in those separations.   Most parents start teaching their children to enjoy the finer arts like music and ballet early.   Much of the Woodlands was built to appeal to the highly educated and elite.  That has been very successful, and a great deal of the area consists of one artf... 07/29/2012

Have you ever noticed how totally futuristic a group of cranes look?   They indicate that things are being built and they are obviously tall things.   In an economy where there are lots of vacancies in every part of the market,  seeing signs of progress is a welcome sight.   These giants are towering over the Woodlands Mall.   It was not obvious what these machines are in the progress of creating.     It is possible that they are going to be contributing to more medical facilities or business beneivments.     What ever their purpose, they do give us all hope for more future growth in the not too distant future.  That is a very good thing.     07/29/2012

Somehow anything requiring change sounds painful.   There are those who will tell you "no pain no gain".    Gain is usually the name of the game. It is essential to keep a business on track especially in the ultra odd markets of today!   Because our calls are down, we are closely examining our entire business.  Right now much less opportunity than we have been accustomed to,  we are in the midst of the restructuring process.   In our case the project is more frought with potential pitfalls.  This is due to the fact that that we have family and some of their friends who hang licenses with us.   Yes!  Hindsight is indeed twenty twenty!   We are trying to exercise our marketing skills and incorporate all the latest in technology.   We have always given the absolute best in customer service... 07/29/2012

When people create better ways to experience the ordinary, we get "extraordinary".   Riding buses and most public transportation is not what most of us consider enjoyable.   On the other hand, the idea of riding from shopping area to dining and back to parking facilities is unique and charming.   Imagine gliding down a waterway toward your destinations.  Enjoy the tranquil lapping sounds of the water and sunlight dancing on the ripples created along the way.   This form of transportation exists in The Woodlands.  One more of the many attractions to be found in this thriving forested homeland Northwest of Houston.     Access is easy via i45.  The Wonderful Woodlands is about 35 miles straight North of the sprawling metroplex known as Houston.   Plan an escape and educate yourself about ... 07/29/2012