How to Make an ACL Fest Totem with Your Kids

The kids loved making a totem for ACL Fest last year, so this year I wanted to try and spread the fun through KXAN’s Studio 512. If you don’t know what a totem is, it’s basically a long stick with something fun and festive attached to the top. They come in very handy in big crowds like the one down in Zilker Park during ACL, and the kids love marching around with it, and planting it at our camp. There are many ways to go about it, like simply poking a hole through a funny puppy pillow;  attaching a flag to a PVC pipe; printing out a giant monarch butterfly, painting it and attaching it to a canvas; or building a crazy blue-headed lady with a slogan attached.

We’ve created a “How to Make an ACL Fest Totem” document with simple instructions on how you and the kids can make your own family totem. Good luck and have fun!

SaveSave

SaveSave

So. Much. To. Do.

It may be 102 degrees outside, but there is still so much to do in and around Austin. We’ve been writing up a storm for the LiveMom.com Austin Summer Fun Checklist, and hope you’ll find some fun activities to fill your days with worthwhile, Austin-y good times. The days may feel long now, but school will start soon enough, and you’ll be wishing for some quality time with your babes! Here are a few ideas for ya:

Where to Channel Your Inner Pinball Wizard

Ten Places to Get Killer Ice Cream

Taco Time!

Best Playhouse in Town: The Cathedral of Junk

Seven Ways to Volunteer With Your Kids

Hike and Splash at St. Edward’s Park

These are just a handful of activities listed on the Austin Summer Fun web site, so be sure and poke around!

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Expedition Austin is Officially Launched!

 

We had such a fabulous launch party at The ABGB! It was a wonderful celebration of a year of hard but rewarding work and our little labor of love. The weather was cold and rainy, so we brought the fun inside, and the kids had a good time completing this special made-for-indoors mission. Next time you go to ABGB, print it out –you’ll also need to bring some colored pencils or crayons and a deck of cards!

expedition-austin-launch-party expedition-austin-mission-and-quiz

Virginia and I are so grateful to friends old and new for coming out and supporting  us. We were also very grateful to many locations highlighted in our book for donating fun party swag (Jim-Jim’s, Lucy’s Fried Chicken, Blanton Museum Shop, the LBJ Store, The Rowing Dock, Laguna Gloria and P. Terry’s), to the awesome ABGB for letting us hold our celebration there, and for some very exciting coverage in the Austin American Statesman and on 365thingsaustin.com. We’re still reveling in the local love and support! Thanks, friends!

81cdeb3e-da4f-4054-a14e-22ec3f658cbb-jpg

Kids working to fulfill their mission while munching on delicious pizza!

img_0005

More cute kids on a mission.

img_5907

Build a house of cards, four stories tall: check!

img_0033

Virginia and Jill, the happy illustrator and author.

Jim-Jims

Super cute tees that Jim-Jim’s donated to the party.

Statesman coverage

Legit!

 

SaveSave

SaveSave