Basic Tips to Keep in Mind on Laundry Day

Laundry day is likely your least favorite day of the week, but it doesn’t have to be quite so difficult. By attacking your piles of laundry with a bit of pre-planning, you can make laundry day much more manageable. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

  1. Separate lights and darks ahead of time. To avoid the tedious task of separating lights from darks, separate them as soon as you toss your dirty clothes in the hamper. Invest in a double-sided hamper that does the separating for you.
  2. Invest in good detergent. Using the wrong detergent (or a cheap brand) can make your clothes come out dull and dingy. Instead, choose one detergent designed for washing dark clothes in cold water, one for keeping colors bright, and a separate stain treatment to put on spots.
  3. Treat stains as soon as they happen. The most important thing you can do to remove a stain is catch it as soon as it happens. You can even rub in a stain treatment and toss your clothes in the laundry, leaving the stain to deal with on laundry day.
  4. Turn clothes inside out. Avoid fading and shrinking by turning your clothes inside out before washing them.
  5. Fold right away. To eliminate the need for ironing, prevent wrinkles by folding your clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer.

Laundry 911: Color care basics [She Knows]
How to Care for Your Clothes [How Stuff Works]
Laundry Basics – Sorting it Out [For Better Living]

White Flamingo: Elegant & Original

Head to White Flamingo. Although it’s located in a strip mall, the elegant Victorian-style decor will blow you away. Tables are set with white linens and fresh flowers, and there is live piano music on Friday and Saturday nights, making it perfect for a romantic date. Meals start with complementary cheese-topped bread that customers love just as much as their entrees. The menu offers lunch sandwiches, full size pasta entrees, and an array of fish, steaks, and chops. Try the Cajun seared Mahi Mahi and the Chicken Alfredo. Service is attentive without being overbearing, and prices are quite reasonable for the quality and portion. White Flamingo also has several private rooms that can accommodate wedding receptions and other celebrations.

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

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

How to Start Selling on eBay

Do you have a few unused yet still valuable things lying around your home? Whether it’s an old cell phone or collectible comic books, eBay is a good place to sell almost any of your unwanted items. Here are a few tips to help you get started on the online auction site.

  1. Choose worthwhile items. Functional electronics, name-brand clothing, and collectibles are all good items to sell on eBay. Things that are poor quality, broken, or very outdated, however, are not.
  2. Take high quality photos. While eBay offers a feature that includes stock photos for certain items, it’s usually better to upload your own photo so that the buyer can see exactly what they're buying. Use a high quality cell phone or digital camera, and be sure to include photos of every part of the item, including any possible defects.
  3. Create a detailed description. The more detailed your description, the better. Answer all of the questions that eBay asks about your item, and then add anything else that an interested party should know in the description.
  4. Check out other prices. To better your chances of selling your item, check out how much similar items sold for and list your item for about the same.
  5. Ship quickly. Once your item sells, be sure to ship it quickly so that the buyer will give you a good rating — and hopefully improve your chances of selling again.

How to Sell Online With eBay [eBay]
Top Ten Mistakes by Beginning eBay Sellers [About Money]
Sell on eBay [For Dummies]

Channel Your Inner Picasso at Potteryland Studio

The next time you’re looking for something unique and creative to do with your friends or the little ones, consider booking an afternoon at Potteryland Studio. This bright, colorful art studio in The Woodlands hosts social painting classes for visitors of all skill levels, so it offers a great opportunity to get creative and try your hand at something artistic.

Choose a handmade pottery piece from the studio’s wide selection of bowls, plates, animal statues, and piggy banks, and then choose from the wide variety of paint colors to create your own customized masterpiece on the surface of the pottery. In addition to pottery painting, Potteryland offers glass fusing and traditional canvas painting classes.

Potteryland Studio is open seven days a week. The studio fee is $4 for kids and $6 for adults, plus the cost of the pottery piece.

Potteryland Studio
25166 Grogans Park Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 419-7965
www.potteryland-studio.com

Rudy’s BBQ: Real Texas Barbecue

Craving BBQ? One top spot in Spring, Texas might by Rudy's BBQ. This barbeuce place features a broad array of delightful dishes, ranging from pulled pork to ribs. If you come in and you’re not sure what to order, you can get a sample! The brisket, pork, sausage, chicken, and turkey is all slow cooked, to the delight of regular diners.

The eat can be bought separately by the half-pound, perfect for families, or get a sandwich. Try the classic “sause” or the “sissy sause,” both of which are well-regarded among regulars. The sides are esteemed, too, with options like creamed corn, cole slaw, and smoked potato making nice complements to a hearty meal.

Everything's available for take-out, too, in case you'd like to bring some barbecue back to your home at Avana Woodridge. Visit the Rudy's BBQ website to learn more about this Spring, Texas restaurant.

Rudy's BBQ
20806 Interstate 45
Spring, TX 77373
(281) 288-0916

www.rudysbbq.com/page/home
www.yelp.com/biz/rudys-country-store-and-bar-b-q-spring

Grab Mediterranean Fare in a Hurry at Zoës Kitchen

If you’re looking for a healthier, more flavorful alternative to the usual takeout fare, pop in to Zoës Kitchen. This national chain of Mediterranean eateries has a convenient location in the heart of The Woodlands, and it makes a great choice for a quick weekday lunch, a grab-and-go snack, or a takeout dinner when you’re too tired to cook. On the menu, you’ll find grilled chicken platters served with fresh, healthy salads, flavorful hummus, and warm naan bread on the side, plus a great selection of sandwiches and kabobs.

Everything is made using premium ingredients and quality spices, and if you choose to take your food to-go, the friendly employees will happily box it up for your convenience. With ample seating, a clean, colorful decor style and an atmosphere that is more upscale than the usual fast food spots, Zoës Kitchen is a great addition to restaurant selection in The Woodlands.

Zoës Kitchen
9595 Six Pines Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(832) 585-0430
www.zoeskitchen.com

Let the Sunshine In: DIY Spring Home Decor Projects

After your spring cleaning is complete, you may start to feel like your home could use a bit of a decorating revamp, as well. No matter your budget, you can easily give your home a springtime makeover with DIY home decor projects. Here are just a few of the best spring-themed decorating projects for every room in your home.

Colorful Egg Window Dressing [familycircle.com]
Set to work crafting colorful paper eggs that will dress up those newly cleaned windows. This simple tutorial only requires multicolored construction paper and some scissors to complete, and it’s easy enough that even the kids can help out.

Heart-Shaped Sachets [countryliving.com]
Freshen up your drawers and closets with these adorable DIY sachets. Simply take some scrap fabric in a pattern that you like, cut out two heart shapes, and sew them together around the edges. Fill them with potpourri just before you sew them closed, then seal them shut and enjoy the scent.

Daffodil Flower Care [marthastewart.com]
One of the best ways to spruce up your home for the springtime is by adding fresh flowers wherever you can. Freshly cut daffodils are the picture of spring, but they can often be difficult to care for. This tutorial will show you how to properly cut daffodils and arrange them in a vase in a way that even a florist would admire.

Main Event Entertainment: Power Up Your Play

Power up your play at Main Event Entertainment, one of The Woodland's premier locations for fun!

At Main Event Entertainment, you and your friends can take part in all sorts of fun activities that range from relaxed to adventurous. Bowl a few frames on the complex's full-length lanes while chowing down on some tasty snacks, then suit up for a rousing game of laser tag. If running and ducking behind obstacles isn't your thing, surely you'll find fun while playing pool, exploring the many video game options in the arcade, or singing along to your favorite jam—karaoke style.

All of this is available at Main Event Entertainment for affordable rates. Monday nights means mega deals like "All You Can Bowl, Laser Tag, and Billiards" for just $10. Cost aside, the clean and friendly atmosphere will leave a lasting impression from the moment you walk in.

Main Event Entertainment
19441 I-45 S
Shenandoah, TX 77385
(281) 355-5511
www.mainevent.com/locations/shenandoah-tx

Perfect Blend: A Bakery and Cafe in Spring, Texas

The Perfect Blend is a sweet melding of bakery and café, with friendly service and a relaxing ambiance. Go there to sample some yummy pastries like Almond & Chocolate Croissants, Napoleons, French Macarons, Brownies, Lemon Bars, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Cupcakes and Cake Balls. Fresh breads are also found in their bakery case.

Stop by in the a.m. for breakfast fare that includes Quiche or Breakfast Croissant Sandwiches with sausage, eggs, cheese, bacon & ham. Lunch offers up some hearty sandwiches served on their homemade breads. Choose from Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad, Roast Beef, Ham & Gouda, Bacon Grilled Cheese, and Turkey & Pepper Jack. Wraps and soup are also offered.

Perfect Blend is open Monday through Saturday in Spring, Texas. Visit its website to find out more!

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

Visit Schilleci’s New Orleans Kitchen for Crawfish, Gumbo and Other Big Easy Favorites

New Orleans cuisine is some of the most flavorful and distinct in the entire country, and you’ll find a little taste of the Big Easy at Schilleci’s New Orleans Kitchen. This local favorite is located right on Market Street in The Woodlands, and it makes a delicious option for either a laid-back lunch or a celebratory evening out.

The menu is filled with Creole and Cajun specialties like crawfish dip, sausage gumbo and duck with jambalaya. Etouffée and shrimp po’ boys make delicious lunch options, and the bread pudding and powder sugar-topped beignets are perfectly sweet endings to any meal. Pair your meal with a New Orleans Hurricane cocktail, a cold glass beer or a premium wine, or take your food and drinks outside to the lush, green patio for a true New Orleans feel.

Schilleci’s New Orleans Kitchen
9595 Six Pines Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 419-4242
www.schillecis.com
www.yelp.com/biz/schillecis-new-orleans-kitchen-on-market-street-the-woodlands

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