Gretchen Pierce
Gretchen is a former communications manager turned stay-at-home mom to son Shepherd (Dec. 2016) and daughter Rosemary (Oct. 2019). She grew up in Minnesota and the D.C. area but is so happy to call Austin home, even in the summer. Gretchen and husband Ryan also have two high-maintenance fur babies, Hank and Gracie. She is a wannabe minimalist who enjoys tennis, creative projects, lake time, and spending time outdoors with her kids as much as possible.
10 Best Central Texas Staycations for Families
Central Texas Staycations? Sign me up! I am not one to travel far from home on a "vacation" with my kids. We take a 3-hour plane ride every summer to visit family, the longest...
Parents, Let Your Kids Go Barefoot!
My kids are always barefoot at the playground (and pretty much whenever they are outdoors).
Sometimes another child notices their feet and tries to take their own shoes off, too. Their mom or dad usually...
Mother’s Day Experience Gifts in Austin and Central Texas
I always tell my husband that for Mother’s Day, I don’t want any gifts. I just want time to myself. (And maybe flowers.) One Mother’s Day I stayed at a hotel downtown for a...
Heirloom Portraits Gave Me More than Just a Family Photo
Despite what diaper commercials and well-meaning passerby at the grocery store have told me, I do not cherish every moment of motherhood. I don’t know how anyone could, because in between moments of joy—witnessing...
Kid-Friendly Breweries, Wineries, and Distilleries in Austin
There are a lot of things I love about Austin, but at the top of the list is our kid-friendly breweries. Whoever decided to add playgrounds and yard games to breweries deserves a medal....
Do Stay-at-Home Moms with Older Kids Live a Life of Leisure?
An old friend asked me recently about my plans for when my youngest child starts kindergarten. “Do you think you’ll go back to work, or live a life of leisure?” she asked lightheartedly. I...
Spring Break Staycation: South Austin
If you’re spending spring break here in Austin, the place to be is south of the river. As a South Austin resident, I’m biased, but I think this area combines the best of everything...
White Parents, Talk to Your Kids About Race on Martin Luther King Day (And...
Looking back on my elementary school years, I have a few memories of learning about the civil rights movement. I remember drawing a smiling picture of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in second grade,...
Am I A Grinch For Wanting A Minimalist Christmas?
Am I A Grinch For Wanting A Minimalist Christmas? For quite a while now, I’ve struggled with my relationship to “stuff.” Deep down, I want to be a minimalist. And by minimalist, I don’t...
Austin Experiences to Gift This Holiday Season
As someone with aspirations for a more minimalist Christmas, I’m all about experience and activity gifts for the holiday season. While my kids get plenty of toys as well, I love giving a gift...