Salt Traders is headed our way!

We had such a fun Halloween this year! We went with a circus theme for our costumes, which turned out to be pretty fitting for our little crew. 🎪 I was a little nervous after all the rain last week, but we ended up with perfect weather! Add in Halloween falling on a Saturday and an extra hour of sleep thanks to daylight saving time ending, and we really couldn't have asked for better timing.

One of my favorite things about Halloween is seeing the whole neighborhood out and about. Kids running around in costumes, neighbors chatting, and everyone just enjoying the evening together.

And the fun hasn't stopped! Our kids have spent the past two days admiring, sorting, and reorganizing their candy like it's their full-time job. 😂

Hope your Halloween was just as sweet!

🐔 Chick-fil-A Bar W is officially open

Liberty Hill-area families have been very ready for this one! Chick-fil-A Bar W officially opened October 29 at 400 Kauffman Loop. Chick-fil-A lists the restaurant as Leander, but it’s right near Liberty Hill and especially convenient for folks in the Bar W area.

We’ve already checked it out, and the kids officially approve of the indoor play area! It was very busy when we went, which probably surprises no one, but everything was great and the employees handled the crowd so well. The drive-thru stays open until 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, making those busy-night chicken nugget runs a little easier.

🎅 Free personalized Santa letters are back

We did these last year, and they were fantastic! Birgit Sund, the owner of Life Is Better With Friends, is once again offering free personalized Santa letters and Nice List certificates. She’s sending them digitally this year, so you can easily print them at home. Just fill out the form by December 15 and watch your inbox!

Birgit also created My Friends and I, an adorable memory book where kids collect their friends’ answers, favorites and drawings. We have the book, and my kids have absolutely loved filling it out with their friends and seeing what everyone writes! It’s such a sweet holiday gift idea, and a great way to support a local mom and small business too.

🐟 Salt Traders is headed to New Hope Drive

Seafood lovers have something new to look forward to! Salt Traders Coastal Cooking is moving forward with a location at 1605 E. New Hope Drive, near the Cedar Park and Leander line. The restaurant will join Pinthouse and Day Maker Half Day Cafe in the same development.

Salt Traders is known for oysters, ceviche, fish tacos, shrimp and grits, and rotating seafood specials, giving locals another sit-down dinner option without the drive to its Round Rock or Austin locations. Construction is expected to wrap up in summer 2027, although an official opening date hasn’t been announced yet.

🍪 Fresh cookies at Lioness Books

208 N Gabriel St, Leander, TX 78641

A bookstore browse is even better with a cookie in hand. Penny Royal Bakery keeps Lioness Books stocked with fresh cookies Wednesday through Sunday, so you can grab something sweet while searching for your next read.

Owner Penny Lane is both a cookie artist and a PACU nurse, and she also teaches beginner decorating classes if you’d like to create a batch of your own.

Meet Luka

🐶 Name: Luka
♂️ Sex: Male
🎂 Age: 6 months
🏡 Shelter: Texas Humane Heroes, Leander
💵 Adoption Fee: $400

🧸 Trade small arcade wins for giant prizes

1550 Cypress Creek Road #103, Cedar Park, TX 78613

Claw machine lovers, this one's for you! Claw Haven is a locally owned arcade in Cedar Park with more than 30 claw machines stocked with plushies, Pokémon characters, and other collectibles. Most machines cost one token per play, with some specialty machines requiring two.

One fun twist is that you can trade smaller plushies for bigger prizes, blind boxes, or figurines. You can also exchange your winnings for points to use on a future visit, but any trades or point exchanges need to happen before you leave. It's definitely on our list to check out with our claw-machine-loving kids!