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Have Crepes at Melange Creperie

Owners Sean Carroll and Tish Ochoa fell in love with the classic creperies that line the streets of Paris, and after spending their honeymoon in the City of Light, the couple decided to open up their own creperie back home in Houston. Their open-air crepe cart, Melange Creperie, debuted in 2010 and is still going strong today, serving up Parisian style crepes with your choice of either two or three ingredients.

Try a classic Nutella and banana combination, or bite into a fresh strawberry and chantilly cream combination. If you prefer savory flavors, try the classic ham, egg, and cheese, or go for one of the daily lunch specials, which can include everything from zucchini and chili to seasoned potatoes. Regulars say you should know that this cart gets busy, and that at peak times you should be prepared to wait for your order (paying with exact change can speed things up a bit). You'll have lots of company while you wait, however, as you chat with the crowd that generally gathers around this popular cart.

Melange Creperie
403 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77006
(832) 724-9464
melangecreperie.wordpress.com
www.yelp.com/biz/melange-creperie-houston

Think Beyond Citrus With These Surprising Sources of Vitamin C

You probably remember your parents telling you to drink orange juice as a child because it provided you with Vitamin C, but do you really understand the benefits of this miracle vitamin? Vitamin C boosts your immune system to prevent you from getting sick, and it provides beneficial antioxidants that keep you looking and feeling your best. Here are a few lesser-known sources of Vitamin C.

  1. Red bell peppers. One small red bell pepper actually provides even more Vitamin C than a cup of orange juice, and it contains only four grams of the carbohydrates that many citrus fruits are high in. In fact, a juicy bell pepper actually provides 203% of your recommended daily value of Vitamin C.
  2. Strawberries. If you want to extend your Vitamin C search to fruits outside of the citrus family, strawberries are a great option. One cup contains 97.6 milligrams of Vitamin C, which is about 130% of your daily value. Even more conveniently, the same amount of frozen strawberries offers 105.6 milligrams of beneficial C vitamins.

10 Surprising Sources of Vitamin C [Doctor Oz]
Surprising Sources of Vitamin C [d Life]

Happy Holidays!

We wish you and your loved ones all a very happy and safe holiday season.

Trellis Spa at The Houstonian: Pamper Yourself

Pamper yourself at Trellis Spa at The Houstonian. This hotel spa offers an array of relaxing and rejuvenating services, from facials and waxing to massages and body wraps. Customers love the ambiance with soothing decor and fresh flower arrangements. Large windows look out onto the Houstonian’s 18-acre grounds.

Arrive early for your service and lounge about in a soft, oversized robe and snack on cookies and tea. Guests are encouraged to take advantage of the amenities, which include an indoor float pool, jacuzzi tubs, steam rooms, and a tranquility room with a fireplace.

Plan on spending a whole afternoon at Trellis.

Trellis Spa at The Houstonian
111 N. Post Oak Lane
Houston, TX 77024
(713) 680-2626
www.houstonian.com/TheSpa.aspx
www.yelp.com/biz/the-houstonian-hotel-club-and-spa-houston

Speed Through Laundry Day With These 4 Organization Tips

You love the fresh, clean feeling of having all of your laundry done, but getting there is a whole different story. Laundry day may be time-consuming, but there are ways to make it easier. Here are a few tips to help you organize your laundry and get it done in half the time.

  1. Sort laundry without even trying. It takes a lot of time to sort through your mountain of dirty clothes and separate the lights from the darks. Invest in a three-compartment hamper to do the sorting for you.
  2. Bleach more effectively. Bleaching seems like a fool-proof way to remove stains from white clothing, but it doesn’t always work as effectively as you’d like. The proper way to bleach clothes is by first letting the clothing soak in a pool of water. Add one cup of bleach and one cup of dishwashing detergent and let it soak for about half an hour. Finally, dump the whole thing into the washing machine and wash as you normally would.
  3. Prevent damage. To reduce fading, turn dark colored items inside out before washing. Use the cold water setting to prevent clothes from shrinking, and then hang them to dry instead of using the dryer. Also, only wash delicates, like bras and underwear, in a lingerie bag on the delicate cycle.
  4. Invest in a drying rack. Rather than tossing delicate items over the shower curtain rod or rigging some other kind of makeshift drying rack, invest in the real deal. They're usually inexpensive, and they fold into a flat shape to tuck away when not in use.

10 Tips and Tricks for Easier Laundry Days [Yahoo!]
Easy Laundry Tips [The Nest]
How to Do Laundry More Effectively [Babble]
13 Ways to Make Laundry Day Easier [BHG]

Happy Thanksgiving

We hope everyone has a wonderful day surrounded by family and friends! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Baby Barnaby’s Café: Tasty Breakfast That’s Not Just for Kids

If you’re looking for a great breakfast spot in Houston, locals will likely point you in the direction of Baby Barnaby’s Café. This stylish eatery features a ceiling painted with rainbow stripes, local artwork hanging on the walls, and leather booths that provide a cozy place to enjoy a hot breakfast and a strong cup of coffee. There’s even a covered outdoor patio that makes an enjoyable place for breakfast or brunch on cooler Texas days.

Baby Barnaby’s is a sister restaurant to the small Barnaby’s chain, and it serves many of the same unique breakfast dishes. The green eggs, buttermilk waffles, and Bob’s Healthy Plate are some of the most popular items, and the restaurant even serves freshly squeezed juices straight from the juicer. In addition to breakfast, Baby Barnaby’s Café offers a classic American menu of high-end diner food and Tex-Mex favorites, as well as a small wine list for adult guests.

Baby Barnaby’s Café
602 Fairview Street
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 522-4229
www.barnabyscafe.com
www.yelp.com/biz/baby-barnabys-café-houston-2

Did You Know That You Can Safely Wash These Dry-Clean Items at Home?

That pesky “Dry Clean Only” label on your new favorite sweater or dress may seem ominous, and it might even make you less likely to wear these hard-to-clean pieces. However, there are a number of smart ways to cheat the system and wash fabrics like washable silk, solid-colored cotton, wool and linen at home. These tips will show you how.

  1. Check the label. The best way to tell if you can wash a garment at home is to read the label. If it recommends dry cleaning, it’s safe to proceed at home. If it says the dreaded “Dry Clean Only,” however, it’s probably smarter to take it to the pros.
  2. Gently wash. Once you’ve decided that your item is safe to wash at home, fill the sink with lukewarm water and a few drops of gentle detergent. Gingerly swish the item around for around 5 minutes, and be sure to avoid scrubbing or rubbing together.
  3. Rinse (equally gently). Next, rinse the garment completely with more lukewarm water, making sure to get all of the detergent out. Squeeze the water out before drying, but avoid harshly wringing the fabric.
  4. Dry with a towel. Lay the garment flat on a clean towel, then roll it up and squeeze out the extra moisture. Spread it out again on another clean towel and let it sit until completely dry.

Do I Really Have to Dry Clean This? [Real Simple]
Do You Need to Dry Clean? [Reader’s Digest]
What You Should (And Shouldn’t) Dry Clean [Care2]

Ben’s Beans: Bona Fide Brews and More

The funky atmosphere of Ben’s Beans in downtown Houston provides patrons with an extra mood boost to go along with their cup of joe. Brightly colored walls covered in local artwork enclose this cozy coffeehouse, giving it a warm touch not found in sterile, overly hip cafes. The welcoming attitude of Ben’s is just one reason to love this cafe, but the large selection of locally roasted brews are another.

Java enthusiasts will appreciate the knowledgeable baristas at Ben’s, while casual coffee drinkers will love the many different flavor options, teas, and hot cocoas available. Also serving food, Ben’s is a great place to pick up a hot or cold sandwich for lunch or treat yourself to a freshly baked pastry. The spacious parking lot and free Wi-Fi make Ben's location a convenient choice for patrons seeking a temporary workspace.

Ben's Beans
1302 Dallas Street
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 654-8856
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bens-Beans/130312383728807
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bens-beans-houston

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