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.
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...
19 Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails in Austin
I took my son on his first hike at 17 months old. The trail was very short, but—shocker—I still had to carry him most of the way. I wasn’t much of a hiker pre-motherhood,...
Best Play Date Spots in Austin Where Parents Can Actually Chill
Play dates are great for kids, of course. They provide opportunities to socialize and explore new surroundings. But play dates are important for parents, too. For me, play dates help break up the monotony...
Splash Pads in South and Central Austin
Ahh, summer in Texas. Whether’s it’s 8 a.m. or 8 p.m., it’s brutal out there. My 2-year-old went outside with a freezer pop and had a meltdown because it instantly, well, melted down. I...
The Many, Messy Contradictions of Motherhood
“Will you carry me up?” asks my son.
It’s bedtime, the end of a particularly exhausting day. A day where my time was not my own, my body barely my own. I feel like I’ve...