Happy Mother's Day! How are you planning to celebrate mom today?

Though Houston may be a sprawling metropolis, it provides ample opportunities for locals to get outdoors at parks like Discovery Green. This modern green space and community hub hosts beautiful gardens, playgrounds for the little ones, and an ever-changing array of inspirational outdoor art installations.

The park’s large pond is often used for canoeing around Houston’s beautiful cityscape, while in the winter, it doubles as an outdoor ice rink for visitors of all ages to enjoy. There are sprawling green spaces where people can play catch or enjoy a picnic, walking paths for those who want to get a bit of exercise, and even a dog park where you can take your furry friend. Discovery Green contains a few different restaurants on its grounds, and there are also areas where the park hosts live music performances, outdoor movies, and festivals during the summer months.

For a full list of happenings at Discovery Green, visit the park’s website!

Discovery Green
1500 McKinney
Houston, TX 77010
(713) 400-7336
www.discoverygreen.com
www.yelp.com/biz/discovery-green-houston

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr She Paused 4 Thought

A bouquet of flowers may be the traditional way to brighten someone's day, but Cookies by Design doesn't care much for tradition. This Houston business reinvents the bouquet by swapping out flowers for colorfully embellished cookies.

Say thank you with a posy of musical notes and instruments—cleverly dubbed "A Note of Thanks." That's what the card-cookie tucked at the top proclaims, amid other sweets shaped and decorated like a violin, saxophone, piano, and notes on the treble clef. Or wish someone a "Speedy Recovery" with an arrangement of cute, colorful turtle cookies.

For even more sugar power, opt for a "Cookie Boutray" over a bouquet. These swap in a foundation of chocolate chip and sugar cookies for the bouquets' containers. You can also order your cookies piled into a basket, spread out on a tray, or blown up to the size of a huge single-cookie cake (embellished with the same celebratory words as standard cookies).

Cookies by Design
2524 Rice Boulevard
Houston, TX 77005
(713) 524-7900
www.cookiesbydesign.com
www.yelp.com/biz/cookies-by-design-houston

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/zingyyellow