Perfect Blend Bakery Cafe: Pastries and Paninis in Spring

Perfect Blend Bakery Cafe is a popular Spring destination for breakfast and lunch. Owned by a mother-daughter duo, this cozy bakery-meets-cafe is tucked away in a shopping center and hosts a small number of tables for dining inside or out on the patio.

Grab a fresh coffee and a chocolate-filled croissant, muffin, or quiche for a light breakfast. Customers rave about Perfect Blend's savory stuffed croissants and paninis for lunch. For dessert, indulge in cupcakes, fruit tarts, and individual sized cakes If you’re looking for a specialty cake for a birthday or other occasion, Perfect Blend is happy to make your vision into reality.

Perfect Blend Bakery Cafe is open Mondays through Saturdays.

Perfect Blend Bakery Cafe
329 Sawdust Road
Spring, TX 77380
(281) 203-5115
www.perfectblendbakerycafe.com
www.yelp.com/biz/perfect-blend-bakery-cafe-spring

Cherry Blossom Yoga: An Airy Studio for All Skill Levels

Cherry Blossom Yoga offers more than 25 different classes each week at all times of the day, which makes it the ideal studio for the yogi with a hectic schedule. The studio itself is an open, airy space, with light colored walls, hardwood floors, and dim lighting that creates a soothing atmosphere. Clean changing rooms make it easy to get ready for your practice, and there are also individual cubbyholes for storing your belongings while in class.

The classes focus around Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and restorative styles of yoga, and the knowledgeable staff comprises qualified instructors who have trained all over the world. Cherry Blossom Yoga also offers teacher training for experienced yogis who want to become instructors themselves.

A drop-in class at Cherry Blossom Yoga costs $10, and there are also a number of different packages and types of private instruction available. To view a complete schedule of classes, visit the studio’s website.

Cherry Blossom Yoga
15816 Champion Forest Drive
Spring, TX 77379
(281) 257-4245
www.cherryblossomyoga.com
www.yelp.com/biz/cherry-blossom-yoga-spring

Expect Flavorful Italian Fare and Fireside Dining at Grotto Ristorante

With vibrant painted murals, a gleaming curved wooden bar, and walls stacked with wine bottles, Grotto Ristorante is a lively setting for a flavorful dinner.

Settle in by the fireplace indoors or out on the patio and get your party started with a glass or bottle of wine and an antipasto, like mussels marechiaro with white wine and fresh tomatoes, the scampi grotto with mushrooms, or the mozzarella in padella with tomatoes, garlic, and basil. Pizza and pasta are featured on the menu, along with entrees like shrimp paillard with jumbo lump crab, roasted bell peppers, and lemon sauce, and snapper Siciliano with Roma tomatoes, garlic, shrimp sauce, and lump crab.

Grotto Ristorante is open every day. Stop by for weekend brunch for a sumptuous feast!

Grotto Ristorante
9595 Six Pines Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 419-4252
www.grottorestaurants.com
www.yelp.com/biz/grotto-ristorante-the-woodlands-2

How to Save Time and Money in the Kitchen

Between family, friends, work, and errands, there's typically little time left in the day for cooking a wholesome, healthy meal. Whether you're cooking for one or preparing a feast for your entire extended family, these time-saving cooking tips can help you stretch those seconds in the kitchen.

1) Keep your cabinets well-stocked.
Before you make a trip to the grocery store, do a quick assessment of your cabinets. Are you low on essentials such as rice, flour, cooking stock, basic seasonings, and pasta? Keeping these kitchen staples on hand will prevent hiccups in your meal planning process down the line. Consider printing this handy grocery checklist from Martha Stewart.

2) Plan ahead.
Establishing a meal menu for the week will not only make dinner prep easier, it'll also help you save money. Scan the newspaper for coupons, then flip through your grocer's circular for any notable bargains. Afterwards, plan a menu based around the food that's on sale. For instance, if chicken is being offered at a discount, capitalize from the deal by creating a chicken-centric menu for the week. Assemble oven-ready dishes, such as casseroles and soup stock, that you can freeze and eat at a later date.

Menu Planning: Save Time In The Kitchen [Organized Home]
Save Time in the Kitchen [Martha Stewart]
5 best time-saving cooking tips [EatingWell]

Riva Row Boat House: Spend the Afternoon Floating Downriver

The Riva Row Boat House is one of The Woodlands’ most popular community amenities. Located within walking distance of both Market Street and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, this beautiful, rustic boat house offers residents a way to rent kayaks and experience a unique view of the Woodlands Waterway.

Both single or tandem kayaks are available, and they cost just $15 to $20 for the first hour. Guests are able to determine their own route down the waterway, and if you choose to row all the way to the end of the route you’ll find a beautiful lake right next to North Shore Park. Whether you go solo, with a date, or even bring your dog along for the ride, the Riva Row Boat House offers the perfect outdoor activity for a hot Texas day.

The Riva Row Boat House is open year round, though its hours are different throughout the year. Check the informative website for more information about kayak rental times and rates.

Riva Row Boat House
2101 Riva Row
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 210-3965
www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/index.aspx?nid=360
www.yelp.com/biz/riva-row-boat-house-the-woodlands

The Olive Oil Restaurant: Enjoy Greek Fare and the Sounds of Live Bouzouki

Located just a short trip from Avana Six Pines, The Olive Oil Restaurant is an authentic dining experience in the heart of the Woodlands. The dimly lit, rustic interior is full of comfortable tables large enough for the whole family, and guests are always greeted warmly at the door by one of the friendly servers.

The wine list is very impressive, and the menu is just as large. Specials change daily, but traditional favorites like grape leaves, moussaka, gyros, and cheese pies always stay the same. The Olive Oil Restaurant serves a number of beef, lamb, and seafood platters with your choice of traditional sides like arakas or bamies. Best of all, the restaurant hosts live music and belly dancing evenings on weekends complete with the tradition of breaking plates and shouting “Opa!”

The Olive Oil Restaurant
373 Sawdust Road
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 367-0114
www.oliveoilgreekrestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-olive-oil-restaurant-the-woodlands

Are You Making These 3 Face Washing Mistakes?

Lather. Rinse. Dry. It seems so simple, right? But did you know there's actually a wrong and right way to wash your face? The key to getting the most from your skincare routine is to adopt a regimen that's custom tailored to your personal skin type and issues. You can start by avoiding these common face washing mistakes:

1) Washing with dirty hands.
Your hands contain dirt, dead skin cells, germs, and oil that can end up on your face if you don't wash them first. Avoid transferring any gross stuff to your face by first giving your hands a good lathering.

2) Ignoring your skin type.
Your skin type should dictate how you care for your face. There's no "one size fits all" solution to skincare, so don't use products that aren't working for you. For example, if you have sensitive skin, steer clear of perfumed cleansers or lotions. If you're prone to acne, listen to your skin and ditch any products that cause breakouts. Have oily skin? You might need to wash more frequently. Trust your instincts.

3) Washing with water that's too hot.
Because hot water can sap skin of moisture, only tepid water should be used to wash your face. After massaging a coin-sized amount of cleanser into your skin using gentle circular motions, rinse thoroughly with cooler water, which will help close pores. Pat your skin dry using a clean towel, and remember to always be extra gentle around the delicate eye areas.

How To Wash Your Face: 7 Ways To Keep Your Skin Healthy [Huffpost]
How to Wash Your Face Properly [Popsugar]
How to Wash Your Face [Howstuffworks]

Vintage Finds at Camille’s Antique Boutique

Add a girly touch to your décor with items from Camille’s Antique Boutique in Spring. This former art teacher has amassed a delightful collection of vintage furniture, knick-kacks, china, and clothing. The shop has an ever-changing selection of painted antique furniture in French Country and Shabby Chic styles as well as historic chandeliers, antique china and more. Pick up a floral tea set, lace table cloth and host a tea party. Or bring your friends and browse through their closet of vintage women’s clothing and accessories with everything from dresses, hats, jewelry and more.

Camille's Antique Boutique
218B Main Street
Spring, TX 77373
(281) 528-8779
www.yelp.com/biz/camilles-spring

Shopping and Strolling in Old Town Spring

Spend an afternoon strolling the streets of Old Town Spring, a historic shopping and entertainment district near Spring’s century-old rail yard. The Victorian era buildings house many shops selling everything from clothing to collectibles. Favorites include Asian Antiques by Eastwind and Harpers Fabulous Finds There are plenty of eateries for snacking and drinking. Stop by the Little Dutch Girl, a specialty import shop featuring treats from Holland, for a sweet snack of homemade fudge Wimberly Valley Winery offers reasonably priced bottles at their Old Town tasting room, and the Loose Caboose served frozen margaritas and BBQ from its rail car restaurant. Keep your eye out for festivals: Old Town Spring regularly hosts events that celebrate wine, crawfish, and art.

Old Town Spring
405 Main Street
Spring, TX 77373
(281) 353-9310
www.yelp.com/biz/old-town-spring-spring

2014 Artist Expo

July 15, 2014 – July 19, 2014

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The 2014 Annual Artist Expo returns to The Woodlands for the largest selection of art classes, combined with an extensive art exhibit and many wrap around activities. Stop by The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center between July 15 – 19 for the 2014 Artist Expo, where you will get the opportunity to meet other artists from all over the country and enjoy their work, as well as the classes they have to offer!

Please click here to Start Registration or View Classes! Please click here to browse through the exhibitor information. All art classes have reasonable costs, but the 3-day exhibition is open and free to the public! Don't miss the 2014 Annual Artist Expo at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center between July 15 – 19!

Pin It on Pinterest