Pocketbooks are getting tighter as entertainment costs are going up.

This is leaving families extra creative as they try to find ways to have affordable fun.

As a relative newcomer to the Brentwood area, I've been thrilled with all the coupon books and half-off dining options that I have found.

There are lots of great discounts around that have allowed me to try some pretty great places in Brentwood.

If your New Year’s resolution was to get in better shape, Brentwood is a great place to live.

We’re very fortunate to have such a fantastic park system to help us get some fresh air while exercising. 

Following are some of the best Brentwood parks for walking, jogging, bicycling, and doing other forms of outdoor exercise...

I set out to write the definitive guide to Kids Eat Free restaurants near Brentwood.

Turns out, there aren't many Kids Eat Free deals in Nashville any more.

Never fear! 

We've compiled a list of the best values in kid-friendly restaurants instead:

Do you dog-ear and drool over the latest Pottery Barn catalog?

Is decorating your Brentwood home your favorite hobby?

Here's something fun to do! 

Cool Springs' new Pottery Barn store will hold a FREE decorating class on July 27th.  Find out what all participants will receive...

Like everyone else in Nashville, I've been watching HGTV's Design Star 3.

Busy sleuthing the house's secret location, I almost missed the show's run through Brentwood!

That's right -- the Design Star teams seem to do most of their shopping around Cool Springs, even when the Sara Evans suite project was located all the way over at Opryland.

Here are some of the Brentwood-area stores I spotted on Design Star 3...

Maybe it's because I have a chorus of kids in the back seat...

...but I get a LOT of questions as we drive around Brentwood.

Here's a quick list of Brentwood, Tennessee's local landmarks.

Do you know them all?

Looking for something fun to do on Sunday nights?

Brentwood's Crockett Park has kicked off its series of FREE summer concerts.

Here's the 2008 summer concert schedule, along with tips for enjoying Crockett Park concerts with your family...

Are there any maternity stores in Brentwood, Tennessee?

You'd better believe it!

I've spent all weekend trying maternity dresses at every Target, Motherhood, department and consignment store near Brentwood!

Here is a guide to the best places to buy great maternity clothes in the Nashville area, from Green Hills to Cool Springs.

Brentwood, Tennessee spans I-65 from Old Hickory Blvd. to Moores Lane.  Maybe all those interstate gas stations make it hard to find cheap gas in Brentwood!

I've used GasBuddy.com to research the cheapest gas stations in the Brentwood, TN area.  Here are my findings!

Our car broke on a day when we really needed 2 cars.

We didn't have to go to the airport to rent a car, though. 

Both Thrifty and Enterprise have car rental locations in Brentwood.

Here's our experience renting a car from Enterprise on Franklin Road...

Cool Springs is the mega shopping center that sits between Brentwood and Franklin, TN.

With such a huge sprawl of restaurants and stores, it can be hard to find ALL the fun things to do with kids in Cool Springs.

Never fear!  The Fun Times Guide To Brentwood has compiled a guide to every children's activity in the Cool Springs area.

We Brentwood families are lucky--many of Nashville's most kid-friendly places are located on our side of town.

I've put together a guide to help you find them all!

Let's take a virtual driving tour down Franklin Rd., from downtown to Cool Springs.

Get ready for some fun things to do with kids in Brentwood and south Nashville!

According to Brentwood Life newspaper, one of my favorite Cool Springs pizza joints now sells

GLUTEN FREE PIZZA!

Matteo's Pizza in Brentwood can deliver or ship a gluten-free pizza to your door. Here's how to order...

My Gateway laptop died. 

The battery was shot; the hinge, cracked; and it had taken to cutting off at odd intervals.

Enter the Best Buy Geek Squad.

Here's my experience with Best Buy's extended warranty repair of a Gateway laptop in Brentwood, Tennessee.

I might be the last person in Brentwood, TN to eat at the Macaroni Grill. 

Whenever possible, I steer clear of chain restaurants, but...

...Macaroni Grill in Cool Springs surprised me with its cozy atmosphere, good service, and tasty salad.

I met some friends at Mexicali Grill off Carothers Pkwy. in Franklin.

Is it just me, or does Cool Springs seem to add another layer of commerce every time I visit?

After I discovered the whole new slice of restaurants and businesses between Moore's Lane and Cool Springs Blvd, I found a fun new place to take my family.

Let me tell you about the Mexicali Grill near Brentwood.

Need a pizza delivered to the Brentwood, TN area?

We have tracked down the phone numbers and addresses for all Brentwood's pizza delivery restaurants:

If you're looking for Black Friday deals in Nashville, the best shopping location is definitely Cool Springs.

I have one online friend who will wake at 1 in the morning to drive 2 hours for Cool Springs Black Friday deals.

Where else in Nashville can you find Black Friday deals at EVERY major big box store?

It looks like we'll be braving the cold, dark morning of Black Friday after all.

My one-year-old, with her nimble fingers, has swiped not one--but BOTH--of my camera's memory cards!

(Ironically, from the very same camera we bought on Black Friday a few years ago.)

My husband was Googling Black Friday ads this afternoon, and he spotted a great deal:

Circuit City will sell a SanDisk 2 GB SD memory card for only $6.99!

Have you fought the Green Hills traffic to Nashville's new Whole Foods yet?

I took the "sneak peek" tour benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank last week.
All I can say is...WOW!

Here are my first impressions of Whole Foods, highlights of the guided tour, and what Williamson Co. foodies want to know:

What will happen to Wild Oats in Franklin?

The old-fashioned Walmart at Nolensville Rd. and Old Hickory Blvd. has been demolished.

In its place? A rapidly rising Lowe's Home Improvement Store.

Now, if we could only get a Home Depot on the opposite corner, Brentwood and Nolensville homeowners will really be thrilled.

A friend met me for dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express on Cool Springs Blvd. in Franklin.

Though both Starbucks and Carabbas on either side were busy, the Wolfgang Puck Express was curiously quiet.

We enjoyed its contemporary atmosphere...
...but what about the celebrated Wolfgang Puck menu?

I recently stopped in the Chico's store in Cool Springs.

Having only experienced Chico's through its clothing catalog, I was impressed with the cozy lighting, rich colors, and the textures of all the native-style jewelry at the Cool Springs Chico's store.

I know it's only October, but I just couldn't resist wrapping the Christmas gifts I've bought already.

Don't groan! I have to ship overseas.

If you love pattern and color as much as I do, you probably keep selection of pretty gift wrap in your closet.

Here are local resources for finding the perfect wrapping paper at Brentwood stores.

Are you looking for an authentic chef costume for Halloween?

Maybe you just want to impress the guests at your next dinner party!

Either way, you can buy chef's hats, coats, checked pants and aprons at the new Gordon Food Service Marketplace in Cool Springs.