Everything Green is New Again With These Cool Ways to Display Houseplants

Instead of the usual terra cotta pots and windowsill planters, why not try displaying your houseplants in a new and innovative way? If you're feeling a bit blue about the current state of your in-home greenery, try out one of these fun and stylish ways to show off your plants.

  • A hanging air plant. Air plants are truly unique, as these spider-like greens require absolutely no soil to grow. Because of this, it's easy to display them just about anywhere you like! Search the web for hanging ceramic planters that dangle from the ceiling to display your air plants.
  • A framed wall hanging. Love succulents? Rather than displaying them in the usual pots, line a picture frame with chicken wire and moss and grow a succulent garden right on your wall.
  • A zoo of planters. If you're a fan of all things fun and whimsical, create your very own "zoo" of clay plant pots. Browse stores or websites for planters in the shape of animals (you might be surprised just how many you find!) Fill them with succulents, cacti, or small plants and arrange the whole gang on a tabletop or sunny shelf.

Planters [Etsy]
20 Unforgettable Indoor Plant Displays [Decoist]

Celebrate a Special Occasion With Something Sweet From Nothing Bundt Cakes

The next time you’re planning a party and need a custom cake or an order of tasty treats for the dessert table, visit Nothing Bundt Cakes. This popular chain of bakeries has a location in a convenient shopping center in The Woodlands, making it easy to get to and from on the big day.

Like its name implies, Nothing Bundt Cakes specializes in Bundt-style cakes, and it offers more than 10 different flavors aside from the traditional version. From chocolate chocolate chip to red velvet and white chocolate raspberry, there is a Bundt cake to suit anyone’s unique tastes. In addition to classic Bundt cakes, Nothing Bundt Cakes offers so-called “Bundtlets,” which are single-serving cakes, and “Bundtinis," which are Bundt versions of cupcakes. All of these items are made with real ingredients and customized for your special occasion!

Nothing Bundt Cakes
10868 Kuykendahl Road
The Woodlands, TX 77381
(281) 419-8026
www.nothingbundtcakes.com/bakery/tx/the-woodlands

Pundt Park: Outdoor Fun and Activities for the Whole Family

Located off of Spring Creek Drive and part of the Spring Creek Greenway, the sprawling 380-acre spread of Pundt Park is the perfect venue for your outdoor activities of choice. Saddle up to traverse the park's many equestrian trails, or lace up your hiking boots and hit the 10-mile trail linking Pundt Park to the Stahl Preserve and the Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Centre. If you prefer to kick back on a lazy summer day, pack up a basket and post up along the picnic loop with 10 tables, two covered pavilions, and convenient restrooms nearby.

Pundt Park’s two lakes are ideal for fishing with white bass and crappie ready for catching in winter and year round catfish, but guests should keep in mind that swimming, boating, canoeing, and kayaking are prohibited.

Pundt Park is open 8 a.m. to dusk to year-round.

Pundt Park
4129 Spring Creek Drive
Spring, Texas 77373
(281) 353-4196
www.hcp4.net/parks/pundt/index.htm
www.yelp.com/biz/pundt-park-spring

Find Tasty Food and a Fresh Market at Hubbel & Hudson Kitchen

For foodies in The Woodlands, Hubbel & Hudson Kitchen is a must-try eatery that has just about everything you could imagine to eat in or cook your own food at home. This combination restaurant and market serves a delicious selection of casual American food with a gourmet twist, including farm-fresh burgers, premium steaks, hearty salads, and a great selection of eggs Benedicts for breakfast. There are affordable wines and beers to go with any meal, and the delicious, homemade desserts are the perfect way to end your visit.

Once you’re done eating, check out Hubbel & Hudson Kitchen’s marketplace, which contains a full coffee bar, a gelato station, and lots of bulk candies, nuts, and teas. There are fresh-baked pastries to take with you to go, as well as takeout versions of all of your favorite dishes on the traditional menu.

Whether you dine in at the sunny patio or take something out, you’ll love visiting Hubbel & Hudson Kitchen.

Hubbel & Hudson Kitchen
4526 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
(281) 203-5650
www.hubbellandhudson.com

Chemical-Free Ways to Clean Your Oven at Avana Woodridge

You’re always on the hunt for chemical-free ways to clean your home, but when it comes to really heavy duty cleaning in areas like the oven, it may seem almost impossible. Luckily, it is possible to clean your oven without using chemicals—it just takes a bit of ingenuity and a few smart tips from the pros.

  1. Take out the oven racks and let them soak in a tub of hot water.
  2. Make a paste of ¼ cup of baking soda, 2 tablespoons of coarse salt and just enough warm water to create a thick consistency.
  3. Using a durable sponge, scrub the paste into the stained parts in your oven. Concentrate on areas that see a lot of spills and drips, such as the bottoms and around the racks.
  4. Let the past sit on the stains for an hour or two, depending on their severity.
  5. Using the same sponge rinsed out with clean water, wipe away the paste and give it a second good scrub. You may also want to use a finer grade steel wool for difficult stains.
  6. For extra cleaning power, spray the entire oven with a spray bottle filled with white vinegar, then wipe it away with a clean cloth.
  7. Before replacing the oven racks, scrub them using simple steel wool and an all-natural dishwasher detergent to break down grease.

How To Clean an Oven Without Harsh Chemicals [Apartment Therapy]
Natural Oven Cleaning Recipe [Wellness Mama]
How To Clean an Oven With Baking Soda & Vinegar [The Kitchn]

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

White Flamingo: Fabulous Food in a Casual Atmosphere

Fine dining can still be casual, especially at the White Flamingo. A perfect place for a tasty lunch or classy dinner, the White Flamingo offers fantastic food in a classy, casual atmosphere. Located not too far away from Avana Woodridge, diners come into the White Flamingo and notice the beautiful tables, all with white linen tablecloths. The lunch sandwiches are hearty and come with a bowl of the day’s soup. Or try a salad, especially the special Ginger Mandarin or Strawberry Avocado salads. For dinner, enjoy a tasty appetizer and move on to outstanding chicken, seafood, or steak entrees. And don’t pass up the dessert cart, which changes every day. Having an event? The White Flamingo is the perfect place for birthdays, anniversaries or larger events. The restaurant is open every day for lunch and dinner, and for breakfast on the weekends.

White Flamingo
24307 Aldine Westfield Road
Spring, TX 77386
(281) 907-0778

www.awhiteflamingorestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-white-flamingo-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

Fun DIYs to Give New Life to Unwanted Household Items

Instead of tossing out those household items that seemingly have no use anymore, give them new life by repurposing them into something useful. This not only helps you to save a bit of cash, it also helps to reduce your waste production and show a little love to our environment. Here are a few fun DIYs for making over unwanted household items!

  1. Turn empty condiment bottles into squeeze bottles for dispensing pancake batter. Just make sure you thoroughly clean them out first—no one wants to eat ketchup-flavored pancakes!
  2. Turn an ornate vintage picture frame into a vanity tray. Simply add a pretty fabric instead of a photo, lie it flat, and fill it with perfume bottles, makeup, and more.
  3. Clean the fine “hairs” out of corn on the cob by using a dry toothbrush that you don’t use anymore.
  4. Hang an old rake upside down and use it as a rustic necklace holder.
  5. Portion toddler snacks perfectly by filling the cubes in an ice cube tray. They are the perfect size for berries, pretzels, cheese cubes, and chocolate candies.
  6. Purchase a vintage window shutter from a garage sale or thrift store and use it to display important memos, mail, and photographs. Simply clip wooden clothespins along the slats and even add S-shaped hooks for keys.

50 All-Time Favorite New Uses for Old Things [RealSimple]
6 New Uses for Old Things [Country Living]
25 New Ways to Use Your Old Stuff [HGTV]

Bear Branch Park: Outdoor Fun for Everyone in The Woodlands

Take a step out of your daily routine and into the great outdoors. Bear Branch Park is great for a day trip with the family or a picnic with your friends. The park comes complete with activity areas and covered pavilions, which means you can work up a sweat in the sun playing basketball, volleyball, or tennis, then lounge under the roof of a gazebo with a cool drink.

Wheelchair-accessible with plenty of restrooms available, Bear Branch Park is perfect for everyone. Kids will love the swimming pool and play areas complete with swing-sets and slides. Those looking for exercise will enjoy the track surrounding the soccer field, while those looking for a more relaxed activity can head to the disc golf course.

Bear Branch Park
5310 Research Forest Dr
The Woodlands, TX 77381
www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/33

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