Chronic Oversleeper? Here’s How to Have More Energy in the Morning

No matter how many hours of sleep you get the night before, you always seem to wake up cranky, groggy, and plain old lethargic. If you’re the opposite of a morning person and just can’t seem to get it together when you first wake up, these effective tips will help to perk up your morning.

  1. Set your alarm to your favorite song. Hearing the funky beat of your favorite song is much more welcoming than hearing the blare of the alarm clock. Most newer models of alarm clocks offer features that enable you to play a song, and if you use your smartphone as an alarm, it’s even easier. Choose a song that’s upbeat and inspiring!
  2. Make the most of your morning coffee. Sure, drinking coffee in the morning isn’t the most innovative idea, but drinking it correctly is a whole different concept. To get the best results from that first jolt of caffeine, be sure to drink your coffee or tea within 15 minutes of waking up. This will help you to perform tasks like showering or eating breakfast with a little more pep in your step.
  3. Exercise after you wake up. This one requires a bit more discipline, but exercising in the morning is one of the best ways to feel more energetic for the rest of the day. Wake up an hour earlier and get those endorphins flowing.

10 Tips for Becoming a Morning Person [Real Simple]
11 Ways to Get More Energy in the Morning [Lifehack]
Solved – Your Personal Energy Crisis [Good Housekeeping]
11 Ways to Get Out of Bed Faster [Huffington Post]

Nothing Bundt Cakes: Freshly Made Cakes

Nothing Bundt Cakes is the brainchild of childhood friends Dena Tripp and Debra Shwetz, who channeled their entrepreneurial spirit into perfecting the bundt cake. Their cakes are handmade fresh daily with Grade A eggs, real butter, and real cream cheese.

The variety of cake sizes ranges from bite-sized Bundtinis, to single serving Bundtlets. They also make 8 and 10 inch cakes and double layer cakes that are perfect for special celebrations. Creative, colorful decorations make them even more special. Cake flavors include Pecan Praline, White White Chocolate, Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Lemon, White Chocolate Raspberry, Marble, Cinnamon Swirl, and Carrot. You can call in your cake order or stop by to place it. They can even deliver it.

San Antonio's Nothing Bundt Cakes is open Monday through Saturday.

Nothing Bundt Cakes
700 E. Sonterra Boulevard
San Antonio, TX 78258
(210) 495-2253
www.nothingbundtcakes.com
www.yelp.com/biz/nothing-bundt-cakes-san-antonio

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Here’s How to Segment Citrus Fruit Like a Pro Chef

If you’ve ever gotten squirted in the eye while trying to eat an orange, you know how frustrating it is to peel and eat citrus fruits. These impressive tips will show you how to segment lemons, oranges, grapefruits, and other citrus fruits in just a few simple steps.

  1. Cut off the top and bottom parts of the fruit. Cut just about low enough to hit the end of the peel, so that the fruit stands on its own when you stand it on the counter.
  2. Peel the fruit. Start from the top and cut down toward the bottom, in sections. It should take you a few cuts to get the peel off all the way around the fruit.
  3. Trim off the white parts. Unless you’re a perfect cutter, you’ll likely have some white pith left over from the peel. Trim these pieces off by gently scraping the knife across the surface.
  4. Cut along the edges. All citrus fruits have naturally sectioned pieces, so you want to extract those from the fruit. Examine the surface and place your knife along the first edge you find, cutting just until you hit the center of the fruit. Then cut into the other side and the piece should fall out on its own.
  5. Repeat all over. Repeat this process all over the fruit, being careful not to cut into the membrane, until you’ve segmented the entire thing. You’ll be left with smooth, perfectly rounded pieces that are ideal for fruit salads.

How to Segment an Orange (Or Any Citrus Fruit) [The Kitchn]
How to Segment an Orange [Waitrose]
{How To} Segment an Orange [Plum Pie]

Stone Oak CrossFit: Work Out in San Antonio

Stone Oak CrossFit offers a great way to get fit with a program that uses varied, high intensity functional movements. These workouts are geared to a variety of fitness levels, and focus on building agility, balance, coordination, strength, flexibility, stamina, speed and cardiovascular endurance.

The core strength conditioning program is also designed for athletes to allow them to perform at a high level in several different sports. CrossFit is also a training and conditioning program that’s used by athletes and others to get and stay in shape. Stop in and check out their facility and get a complimentary consultation. See their website for class schedules and pricing information.

Stone Oak CrossFit is open every day in San Antonio.

Stone Oak CrossFit
19141 Stone Oak Parkway
San Antonio, TX 78258
(210) 875-9810
http://stoneoakcrossfit.net/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/stoneoak-crossfit-san-antonio

Three Ways to Make the Most Out of Fresh Mint

Many windowsill herb gardens include zesty, sweet-smelling mint because it’s one of the easiest plants to grow. Once your planters are overflowing with the leafy green plants, however, it can be difficult to find use for all of that fresh mint. Here are three smart ways to make the most out of mint in and around your home.

  1. Boost your beverages. Mint makes a fresh, tasty addition to beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Simply add a few leaves of mint to a large pitcher of cold iced tea, or muddle some in a tall glass of water after your next outdoor workout. If you want to spice up a batch of cocktails, mint is a necessary addition to mojitos or elegant juleps!
  2. Make your own cleaners. While many store-bought cleaners give off a faint chemical smell, making your own all-natural home cleaners will leave each room smelling refreshed. To clean floors or countertops, dilute one cup of white vinegar with one gallon of water, then add a few drops of mint essential oil for its sweet smell.
  3. Cure an upset stomach. Whether you or your little ones have a tummy ache, mint is a wonderful at-home remedy for anyone in the family. Steep some mint or peppermint in hot water to alleviate an upset stomach or nausea.

15 Uses for Mint [Mother Earth Living]
15 Uses for Mint [Apartment Therapy]
26 Uses for Mint [Fluster Buster]

Toy Werks: San Antonio’s Largest Family-Owned Toy Shop

Avoid the big box stores and support a local, family-owned business by buying toys for your little ones at Toy Werks. The friendly, knowledgeable staff at this popular shop will help you find just the right thing for every age of toy-lover. After all, there’s plenty to choose from; expect the "werks," a stellar selection of stuffed animals, dolls, books, action figures, bathtub toys, games, science kits, and crafts kits. Toy Werks carries all of the best brands, like Lego, Playmobil, Calico Critters, Safari, Schleich, and Breyer. Better yet, the hands-on setting means you can try out many of the items before buying.

Still not sure what to buy your favorite little one? Ask an employee for a recommendation! They’ll even gift wrap the toy for free!

Toy Werks is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Toy Werks
923 N. Loop 1604 E.
San Antonio, TX 78232
(210) 490-7171
www.mytoywerks.com
www.yelp.com/biz/toy-werks-san-antonio-2

Imponderable of the Day: Why Does Popcorn Pop?

You know popcorn as the accompaniment to your movie-going experience, but have you ever stopped to ponder what causes popcorn to pop? There's actually a science behind this light and puffy snack, and it starts with the water content of each individual popcorn kernel.

Within each protective hull of popcorn, there's a small amount of moisture—13.5% to 14% by mass, to be exact. (Any more or less, and the popcorn won't pop.) As the kernel is heated, the water begins to expand, creating steam. Once the pressure inside the kernel reaches 135 pounds per square inch (around 350 degrees Fahrenheit), the kernel's protective hull finally gives way, turning the kernel inside out and exposing the kernel's starchy endosperm. This soft starch rapidly expands, then immediately cools, resulting in popcorn's unique irregular shape.

That said, not any old corn can be used for popcorn. Only zea mays everta, a particular strain of cultivated corn, can make popcorn.

What Makes Popcorn Pop? [The Popcorn Board]
What Makes Popcorn Pop? [Mental Floss]
How Does Popcorn Pop? [Human Touch of Chemistry]

Download These Helpful Health Apps to Your Smartphone

Health scares are, well, scary. Be better prepared in an emergency—or help prevent them in the first place—with these four apps.

Allergy Free Entertaining
Allergies have become more and more prevalent in our everyday lives. Whether you're entertaining or not, this app can be very useful if you or someone you're cooking for has allergies. The database of recipes has gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan, and nut-free recipes.

First Aid by American Red Cross
Not sure what to do in an emergency? Just download the first app from the American Red Cross. The app provides step by step instructions so you know just what to do in case of an emergency, along with helpful videos.

UPC Food Scanner
Certain allergens can be hard to spot on nutrition labels. If missed, they could cause serious allergic reactions. Avoid that by using the UPC Food Scanner. This helpful app lets you scan the barcode of a product and warns you if any ingredients could be harmful to you.

iTriage
Not sure if your symptoms are serious? Just search on iTriage for all your health questions. See possible causes of your symptoms along with treatment options. The app gives you information on the nearest health care centers and can even set up appointments for you.

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