ABC Blog

Enjoy A Favorite Holiday Tradition: The Austin Trail of Lights

Ask a group of Austinites about their favorite things to do in our city during the holidays, and you are very likely to hear the same response, over and over again: the Austin Trail of Lights.

If you are new to the area, are just visiting, or somehow haven’t made the trip, a great way to get into the holiday spirit is by visiting the Trail of Lights in Austin. We at ABC Home & Commercial Services are excited to be involved in the Trail of Lights for the second year in a row. Look for ABC at Pooh’s Corner, where you can see Winnie the Pooh, already ready for next year’s Zilker Kite Festival!

Here are some fun facts about the Trail of Lights:

  • Over 400,000 attendees have enjoyed this beloved tradition
  • More than 15 marriage proposals have taken place at the Trail
  • This year, the Movies in … Read Full Post »

Our Favorite Holiday Traditions

Family holiday traditions

We often think of traditions when the holidays are approaching. These observances help us celebrate the past, enjoy the present, and anticipate the future. Traditions help connect us and reinforce our values.

Maybe you put on the same Christmas music every time you decorate your tree. Perhaps it’s making your grandmother’s pie for your meal on Christmas Eve. It may be as simple as what you leave out for Santa (reindeer food, anyone?).

Here are ABC Home & Commercial Services, we pride ourselves on being a family-owned and operated company which has been serving our customers for over 50 years. We care about our communities and support local charities.

Our Family’s Favorite Holiday Traditions

These are our favorite holiday traditions here in Houston:

Favorite lights displays & events

One tradition that we enjoy is to have a tractor hayride and tour the holiday lights of Prestonwood Forest. This neighborhood is well known in the Houston area … Read Full Post »

What We Love About Houston

Things to do in Houston

Everyone knows that Austin has live music, San Antonio has the world-famous Riverwalk, and Dallas is all about luxury shopping. Meanwhile, Houston residents know that while maybe not as flashy as the other cities in Texas, their city has quietly become one of the best cities in which to live in the entire country.

Let’s take a look why we are glad to call Houston home. With a vibrant economy, beautiful open spaces, world-class museums, star-studded sports teams, and a long list of fantastic things to do in Houston, we at ABC Home & Commercial Services are thankful to live and work in such a great city.

Big City, Big Money

As Texas’ largest city, Houston has a thriving economy, with the tech, energy and construction sectors remaining healthy and driving growth. In fact, Houston is second only to New York in headquartering Fortune 500 businesses.

With the healthy economic outlook, as well … Read Full Post »

Our Favorite Things To Do In Orlando

Things to do in Orlando

There’s no doubt about it: Orlando is known for its theme parks. From Walt Disney World and Islands of Adventure to Epcot and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter—people gather from all over the world to witness the fun and excitement of these parks. A trip to either of these is a guaranteed memorable experience. As all of us who call Orlando home know well, there are plenty of things to do in Orlando besides theme parks.

Our Favorite Things To Do In Orlando

From indoor activities to exploring the great outdoors to things to do in Orlando for free, there’s something for everyone in the family. There’s no reason to stay home or in a hotel room in a city like Orlando. Read along as we tour our city’s lesser-known but not-less-fun activities.

Visit a Museum

Museums are often associated with a trip to New York City or the Smithsonian Museums in Washington, … Read Full Post »

Day of the Dead History & San Antonio Observances

Day of the Dead history

In tandem with Halloween, another holiday takes the spotlight at the end of October and beginning of November: Día De Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. This is an important holiday for many people of Mexican ancestry and therefore is quite popular in San Antonio.

In this article, we will explore the history and traditions of the Day of the Dead, and list some of the major festivities that will take place this year in San Antonio.

What is the Day of the Dead?

People in Mexico celebrate Día De Los Muertos on November 1 and 2 as a way to honor loved ones who have passed away. You can also find Día De Los Muertos celebrations in Guatemala, Brazil, Spain and within US Mexican-American communities.

Day of the Dead is actually two different celebrations. November 1st is known as either Día de los Inocentes (Day of the Innocents) or Día de los … Read Full Post »

ABC Houston Cares About Its Employees

ABC Houston community

For over 30 years, ABC Home & Commercial Services has helped make life easier for Houston residents.

There’s a reason that ABC is the largest independently-owned and operated pest company in the state. We have built a reputation as a business which cares about the environment and the communities we serve, in addition to providing superior customer service. Most importantly, ABC customers know they can rely on us to get results.

As part of ABC’s commitment to the communities we serve, we believe in providing good, stable jobs. We hire only the best of the best and perform background checks on all our employees. We know that our customers value consistency and that they appreciate seeing the same crews on their property, time after time.

ABC customers can count on our employees to be reliable, but they can also trust that our employees are experienced and highly trained. Having long-term employees means that … Read Full Post »

Photos from ABC’s Recent Visit to A Child’s Hope in Haiti.

ABC Home and Commercial Services Charity Work

Raleigh and Dylan Jenkins in Haiti visiting the site for A Child’s Hope

ABC Home and Commercial Services is dedicated to charitable work in our community.

Charitable work in the Houston area is a fundamental value for our family business. But did you know that ABC also sponsors humanitarian work done in communities abroad? ABC Home & Commercial Services Owner, Raleigh Jenkins, is a founder and member of the Board of Directors for A Child’s Hope. The goal of this non-profit organization is to provide a safe, loving, spiritual environment for Haitian orphans who were impacted by the devastating earthquake in 2010.

The Earthquake

In mid-January of 2010, a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti near the capital, Port-au-Prince. Port-au-Prince is home to over 900,000 people. After the initial earthquake had subsided, it was followed by two weeks of aftershocks that further-wounded an already vulnerable region.

Due to the sheer magnitude of destruction, no one … Read Full Post »

Zilker Kite Festival By The Numbers

kite fest austin

The Annual Kite Festival is Sunday, March 6th, 2016!

ABC is so proud to sponsor and facilitate Austin’s world-renowned Zilker Kite Festival. We come together with the festival’s many other sponsors to bring this event to the city every year. Take a look back to the Kite Festival’s history by the numbers and join us Sunday, March 6th for day-long family-friendly activities for FREE! And learn more by visiting the Kite Festival Website.

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5 Great Indoor Activities For Summer Fun in Houston

If you’re a Houston parent, keeping your children cool during the hot summer is likely a huge priority. More extended periods of direct sunlight and high humidity can harm children, who are more susceptible to heat-related illness and dehydration than adults. Not to mention the crankiness factor. Do you really want to hear your child complain about being hot all day?

Fortunately, indoor family activities can allow you and your kids to add a little variety to summer vacation while staying cool. We are lucky to live in a city with a great selection of kid-friendly museums, indoor play places, and arts and crafts centers.

So, when the family needs a break from the pool or the playground, beat the heat with a few of these indoor alternatives.

1. Sky Zone Sports

photo by Clintus McGintus

www.skyzone.com/houston/
Sky Zone offers kids the opportunity to release some energy. The indoor trampoline park features one area … Read Full Post »

5 Family Activities to Avoid Orlando’s Summer Heat

Orlando may be blessed with mild winters and tropical showers that cool things off from time to time, but for the most part, our summers are HOT. When it’s 90+ degrees outside, outdoor family fun can be exhausting for everyone. Kids can fall victim to heat stroke and dehydration more quickly than adults, who sweat more and adjust faster to heat.

Sunburns also become problematic in summer. The UV index in Florida can reach extreme levels between June and September.

If your family needs a break from the unbearable summer heat, consider an indoor activity as an alternative to theme parks and trips to the lake.

ABC compiled a list of our favorite indoor activities for families in Orlando.

Read Full Post »