Save Room for the ‘Brownie Meltdown’ at Pecos Grilling Company in Tomball

The owners of Pecos Grilling Company, Dodge City sheriff Fred Sembera and executive chef Chuck Buenger, conceptualized Pecos as a top-quality steak and seafood restaurant with a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Take a walk through the dining room, and you’ll likely see parents and children enjoying a family meal, old-timers swapping stories over prime rib, and young singles enjoying themselves at the bar.

As for food, regulars recommend the fried asparagus appetizer followed by the pecan-grilled sirloin with fried shrimp. If you can take the heat, go for the jalapeno-topped Diablo Burger, or opt for something a little more comforting — perhaps an order of pot roast, "Mom's" meatloaf, or Grandma Glady's made-from-scratch chicken and dumplings. Whatever you do, try to leave room for dessert: the restaurant's brownie meltdown is the stuff of legends, and you can't go wrong with the rum-sauce-drizzled grilled banana!

Pecos Grilling Company opens at 11 a.m. daily. Free Wi-Fi is offered!

Pecos Grilling Company
28900 Tomball Parkway
Tomball, TX 77375
(281) 290-9200
www.pecosgrillingco.com

Easy and Effective Ways to Combat Stress

Everyone gets stressed out from time to time, but if it starts to interfere with your day-to-day life, you could be dealing with something a bit more serious. The next time you start to feel those overwhelming feelings creeping on you, try these simple tips for combating stress naturally.

  • Don’t let it go too far. It’s much easier to manage stress when it first begins than when it starts to spiral out of control, so watch out for the warning signs early. If you can tell that it’s going to be a stressful week, prepare in advance so that you can manage your tasks without becoming overwhelmed.
  • Address the physical side effects. While stress itself is mental, its side effects are often physical. When you start to get jittery or your feel your heart racing, do some relaxing stretches, practice breathing exercises, or simply close your eyes and count to 10 to counteract those feelings.
  • Watch your diet. Before you start stress eating or grabbing unhealthy fast food while rushing to work, stop and plan your meals. What you eat can have a big impact on your mental state, so be sure to try to eat fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins to stay energized. Try to steer clear of caffeine!
  • Do something silly. Take a break from life (even if it’s just for five minutes) to laugh at a silly video or dance it out. Sometimes that’s all you need!

Top 10 Instant Stress Busters [Lifehacker]
7 Best Ways to Bust Stress [SheKnows]
15 Easy Ways to Bust Work Stress [Men’s Health]

TopGolf: A Driving Range With a Twist

TopGolf began as a traditional driving range in 2000, but over the next decade it evolved into a truly futuristic golf experience unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. The facility is separated into multiple air conditioned bays to shield players from the Houston heat, and there are many different holes scattered throughout the range.

Players can treat the visit like a traditional driving range or play one of TopGolf’s strategy games in which each hole is worth different amounts of points. Every hole is equipped with a sensor that keeps track of your points for you, and at night the holes light up with colorful lights. Up to six players can use one bay at a time, and the bays also contain comfortable seating areas where guests can order food and drinks while playing.

If that doesn’t sound like enough, TopGolf also offers pool tables, a full bar, and live music to make each visit fun for players of all ages and skill levels!

TopGolf
560 Spring Park Center Boulevard
Spring, TX 77373
(832) 200-0106
www.topgolf.com
www.yelp.com/biz/topgolf-spring-2

Champions Roller World: Lace Up Your Skates at This Old-School Rink

A good old fashioned night of roller skating is one of the most wholesome American pastimes, and Champions Roller World is the perfect spot for any birthday party or night out with the kids. The colorful interior doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles of newer skating rinks, but it’s full of retro charm from the neon lights and bright red booths to the shelves full of roller skates lining the walls. The entire facility is clean and well maintained, though the prices are still very affordable.

Champions Roller World is especially great for parties, and you’ll often find a children’s birthday party happening in one of the private party rooms. Birthday parties include private skating, an emcee to lead games, customizable music, and a party room where guests can enjoy cake and other outdoor food. Whether you come for a celebration or just to enjoy a few hours of skating, Champions Roller World promises fun for adults and kids alike.

Champions Roller World
5504 Fellowship Lane
Spring, TX 77379
(281) 370-0750
www.skatechampions.com
www.yelp.com/biz/champions-roller-world-spring

The Brooklyn Cafe: A Taste of NYC Here in The Woodlands

The Brooklyn Cafe is proof that you don't have to travel all the way to Brooklyn to get an authentic New York-style bagel! This enduring breakfast and lunch spot offers thick, dense bagels just like they make them in the Big Apple, as well as a number of delicious cream cheese options. The casual, deli-style eatery also offers bagel sandwiches and sourdough French toast for breakfast, while for lunch, the menu lists healthy wraps, grilled hamburgers, and hearty deli sandwiches piled high with premium toppings.

There is ample outdoor seating for those who want to enjoy their meals in the sunshine, while inside, The Brooklyn Cafe offers even more seating in a casual, convenient atmosphere. If 20 years in business doesn’t convince you try this tasty breakfast option, the smell of fresh bagels wafting out the door certainly will!

The Brooklyn Cafe
4775 W Panther Creek Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
(281) 298-7488
www.thebrooklyncafe.com

Healthy Ways to Indulge a Chocolate Craving

Many people have a sweet tooth that creates a craving for chocolate, but while the occasional indulgence is okay, eating too much chocolate could be the end to your healthy diet. Here are a few healthy ways to eat chocolate that will keep you right on track when a craving strikes.

Chocolate Tart with Hazelnut Shortbread Crust [Eating Well]
Make this seemingly decadent dessert the next time you have friends over for dinner, and no one will even know that it’s actually healthy. With just over 250 calories per serving and six grams of protein, you’ll get the taste of chocolate without feeling weighed down.

Black Bean Brownies [Chocolate Covered Katie]
While the addition of black beans to brownies may seem strange at first, you won’t even be able to taste the protein-packed beans when they’re masked by the rich, dense chocolate flavor. These brownies are also flourless, which is great for low-carb diets.

Healthy Homemade Chocolate [Wellness Mama]
Instead of grabbing a fat- and sugar-packed candy bar from the checkout counter at the grocery store, make your own healthier version at home. This recipe includes only four ingredients, and because they’re all natural, you won’t have to worry about ingesting any chemicals and unnatural ingredients.

Let Little Ones Run Wild (Safely) at Wonderwild

"The sky's the limit" isn't just a slogan at Wonderwild; it's a pretty apt description of the three-story playscape. At this indoor playground, kids can zoom down an inflatable slide and pop out just under the gaping jaws of a massive, smiling crocodile. The cushy crocodile slide shares space with a bounce house where kids can get in some exercise while they play, as well as many other colorful fixtures.

Let kids hop around on a soft jumping pillow or watch while they climb through tunnels and navigate corners in the three-story playhouse. It's connected to set a parallel slides where little ones can race their friends and then scamper back up the steps for another round. Toddlers and more laid-back youngsters might want to stick to the train table, plush building blocks, or other more low-key playthings.

Wonderwild
2230 Buckthorne Place
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 419-1044
gowonderwild.com
www.yelp.com/biz/wonderwild-the-woodlands-2

4 Foods to Avoid Before Bedtime

If you’re the type of person who loves a good midnight snack, you may be wreaking havoc on your quality of sleep without even realizing it. While some foods are okay to eat right before bed, others will make it much more difficult to drift off into a dream state. Here are a few foods to avoid before hitting the hay!

  1. Potato chips. Foods that are filled with grease and fat, such as potato chips or French fries, take quite a bit more effort to digest. With your stomach working overtime, it is much more difficult to fall asleep.
  2. Ice cream. Think twice before having that bowl of ice cream while watching late night TV. Fatty foods like this are also more difficult to digest, which could lead to you lying awake with cramps and discomfort.
  3. Candy. Sugar-packed candies will cause your blood sugar levels to spike, leaving you feeling too restless for rest.
  4. Red meat. If you grab a fast food burger on your drive home after a late night, you may not be able to fall asleep once you actually crawl into bed. Red meats like this sit in your stomach much longer than other types of foods, and your body uses a lot more effort to digest them.

9 Things Your Should Never Eat or Drink After 9PM [Bodybuilding.com]
The 5 Worst Types of Foods to Eat Late at Night [Prevention]
The 10 Best and Worst Foods to Eat for Sleep [Fitness]
10 Foods to Avoid Before Bed [Fox News Health]

Grub Burger Bar: ‘Cause You Just Can’t Beat a Perfectly Grilled Burger

Sometimes, you crave a juicy, grilled burger and just nothing else will do. When that craving strikes, Grub Burger Bar is the place to go in The Woodlands. This local favorite burger joint is a bit more upscale and modern than most, but some say it serves some of the best burgers in town in a fun, laid-back atmosphere.

The restaurant’s industrial decor and spacious, open dining room will leave you lots of room to relax and enjoy a hearty meal, while the large bar area makes a great place to grab a cold beer or a glass of wine before dinner. There is a walk-up counter that makes it easy to place your order and grab a seat, and regulars recommend starting every meal with an order of the giant onion rings. Burgers come in styles like the Texas Luau and the Lockhart Legend, but you’ll also find chicken, salmon, and vegetarian options that make equally tasty alternatives to the usual beef.

Grub Burger Bar
2417 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
(281) 907-9001
www.yelp.com/biz/grub-burger-bar-the-woodlands

How to Stick to a Healthy Diet During the Holiday Season

Your diet has been going well for months, but with the holidays coming up you may start to worry about overeating or consuming too many unhealthy, sugary sweets. With a bit of self-control and a few smart tips, you can navigate the holidays while still sticking to your diet. Here are some ways to do it.

  1. Eat healthy foods first. Fill your plate with a mixture of healthy vegetables and even a few not-so-healthy indulgences like carbs, starches and sweets. Eat the healthy foods first to prevent you from overeating afterward.
  2. Eat slowly. Many people get so excited about a delicious holiday meal that they stuff themselves before even realizing it. Cut your food into small pieces and eat slowly, stopping as soon as you’re full, to ensure that you fully enjoy your meal without overdoing it.
  3. Go easy on the toppings. If you’re already allowing yourself to cheat with a piece of pie, sacrifice the sugar-heavy whipped cream or ice cream topping to cut calories.
  4. Don’t skip your other meals. To avoid overeating at a holiday celebration, be sure to eat filling, nutritious meals throughout the day beforehand.
  5. Stick to your current weight. Instead of attempting to continue losing weight during the holidays, it’s more realistic to simply maintain your current weight.

Holiday Healthy Eating Guide [American Heart Association]
9 Healthy Holiday-Eating Strategies [Real Simple]
Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating [Sutter Health]
12 Ways to Survive a Holiday Eating Frenzy [Better Health USA]

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