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How to Play Host or Hostess — Without the Stress!

January 7, 2016 by

Whether you're throwing a dinner party, planning a birthday bash, or having family over for the holidays, these simple tips will teach you how to play host or hostess without the unnecessary stress.

  • Start early. At least a few weeks ahead of time, start to think about the major details: the number of guests, the menu, and anything that you may need to rent. This will start to ease you into party planning mode and avoid any last-minute surprises.
  • Prepare ahead of time. Make as much of the food ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze it so that you don’t spend the entire day in the kitchen. This way, you’ll just have to reheat and add the finishing touches.
  • Create enough seating. Even if you don’t have a large dining room table to fit all of your guests, you still want to make sure that everyone has a place to sit. Borrow chairs from a neighbor or invest in floor cushions for a more casual affair.
  • Set the mood. Play fun music, clear out any unnecessary furniture to create more space for socializing, and plan a few games in case of any awkward lulls in conversation. These are tried-and-true tricks that will prevent your party from hitting a slump.

Dos and Don’ts of Hosting a Dinner Party [Rue Mag]
How to Host a Dinner Party so Everyone Enjoys It [Lettuce Eat Kale]
101 Party Dos & Don'ts [House Beautiful]
Entertaining [My Home Ideas]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Taqueria Guadalajara: Something to Taco ‘Bout

December 23, 2015 by

If you’re craving tacos, fajitas, or enchiladas in New Braunfels, Taqueria Guadalajara is a reliable lunch option with a large menu of Mexican fare. This casual eatery is furnished with cozy wooden booths and clean, sparse decor, and it contains ample high chairs and booster seats for a kid-friendly dining experience.

Taqueria Guadalajara’s menu contains combination lunch platters with a variety of different Mexican dishes in one meal, as well as complimentary chips and salsa to go along with them. Prices are even lower if you come at lunchtime, and you can even get a fountain drink along with your meal for one low price. With flavorful, tasty foods, a friendly atmosphere and affordable prices, you can’t go wrong with lunch at Taqueria Guadalajara.

Taqueria Guadalajara is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.

Taqueria Guadalajara
105 South IH-35
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(830) 608-1664
www.yelp.com/biz/taqueria-guadalajara-new-braunfels

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: , ,

How to Lose Weight — Without Going Hungry!

December 17, 2015 by

Sure, a diet involves cutting back on fat and calories, but that doesn’t mean that you should ever feel hungry. Here are some tips for losing weight without going hungry.

  1. Don't fast. Trendy cleanse diets involve drinking only water, juice, or not eating anything at all in order to shed pounds. While you might lose a bit of weight at first, fasting actually slows your metabolism down and causes you to gain more weight once you start eating again.
  2. Always eat breakfast. Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day because it fuels you for the rest of the day. Try something with whole grains, protein, and fresh fruits and veggies to stay full without adding unnecessary calories.
  3. Stay away from starches. While foods like potatoes and breads will make you feel full very quickly, these food are filled with little more than carbs. Opt for whole grains or sweet potatoes instead.
  4. Plan your meals. If you plan your meals ahead of time, you won’t have to choose what to eat once your hunger starts to set in (which can lead to overeating).

Diet Myth or Truth: Fasting Is Effective for Weight Loss [WebMD]
10 Easy Ways to Lose Weight Without Starving [Men’s Health]
Losing Weight [CDC]

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Happy Winter!

December 15, 2015 by

As sweater weather approaches we hope you all stay warm and cozy this season! What are some of your favorite winter activities?

Filed Under: Life at Firewheel Apartments Tagged With:

Landa Park: A Respite for Nature Lovers

December 10, 2015 by

If you’re a nature lover in the New Braunfels area, there are few better places to get in touch with Mother Nature than at Landa Park. This public park is a truly wonderful place to spend an afternoon, whether you’re looking to explore, relax or even get in your daily workout. There is a series of running and walking trails that wind their way through the lush greenery, while the long bridges that traverse the rivers add a scenic view to your route.

If you want to get an even closer look at the gentle waters, Landa Park rents out tubes for adults and children that enable you to spend the day floating along the river’s lengths. There are also paddle boats and areas where you can feed the ducks, and you can even fish from the sturdy piers with the proper license. Picnic areas provide shady spots for lunch outdoors, and the sand volleyball court is the perfect addition to any fun-filled day in the park.

Landa Park
164 Landa Park Drive
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(830) 221-4350
www.nbtexas.org/index.aspx?nid=156
www.yelp.com/biz/landa-park-new-braunfels

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: , ,

Holiday Tree Trimming Tips From the Pros

December 3, 2015 by

There’s nothing more fun during the holidays than decorating the tree with the whole family, but you may want to make this year’s tree a bit more stylish. Instead of haphazardly placing ornaments all over its branches, check out these tips for decorating a truly chic and elegant holiday tree.

  1. Real or artificial? First, you must decide if you want to invest in a real tree or stick with an artificial option. While a real tree is a bit more rustic and will make your house smell divine, an artificial tree is much easier to manage.
  2. Choose a color scheme. One of the easiest ways to make your tree look more professional is by setting a color scheme. Reds and greens are always a great choice, but all-over gold or sparkling silver are also beautiful when accented by the twinkling lights.
  3. Hang small lights first. To create a base for your tree’s decorations, first hang small, white lights evenly all over.
  4. Add solid colored ball ornaments. Next, invest in multipacks of ball ornaments in your chosen color. Hang them all over the tree, leaving even amounts of space in between each one.
  5. Add personal ornaments last. To display more personal or keepsake ornaments without them looking too cluttered, add them in the empty spaces once all of the other ornaments are already in place. Voila—the perfect holiday tree.

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree Elegantly [WikiHow]
15 Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas [HGTV]
How to Decorate a Christmas Tree [Better Homes & Gardens]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Bonjour Texas!: A European Cafe Near Firewheel

November 27, 2015 by

If you’re looking for lunch that won’t break the bank in New Braunfels, Bonjour Texas! is a great choice. This European-style deli and cafe serves custom sandwiches made with fresh-baked bread and unique toppings, including the Le Poulet with goat cheese and cornichons and the Le Provencal with smoked gouda and imported bacon. Sandwiches can be paired with half salads tossed with crispy greens and homemade dressings, salty kettle chips and Craft brand bottled ginger beer or Mexican cola.

Bonjour Texas! also offers seasonal soups made fresh daily, and their house-made gelato makes a delicious dessert. Inside, the cafe is immaculately decorated and very minimal, with bright windows lining every wall and colorful artwork on display. There is also a shared courtyard with nearby Kora Kora coffee that features additional seating outdoors, and makes it easy to pick up a frothy cappuccino once your meal is through.

Bonjour Texas!
2348 Gruene Lake Drive
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(830) 387-4053
www.bonjourtexas.com
www.yelp.com/biz/bonjour-texas-new-braunfels

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: , ,

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 26, 2015 by

We hope everyone has a wonderful day celebrating with family and friends! What are you thankful for this year?

Filed Under: Life at Firewheel Apartments Tagged With:

Autumn Has Arrived! Fun Craft Ideas the Whole Family Can Make

November 19, 2015 by

Once the weather gets cooler and your family spends more time indoors, you might want to find fun and creative ways to keep everyone occupied. Luckily, there are a number of fall-ready craft ideas that the whole family will love to make. Here are just a few.

Tree Branch Coasters [countryliving.com]
If someone in your family is handy with a saw, you can make these tree branch coasters that you’ll use every day. This rustic craft is made using slices from a tree limb, and once the sawing is done, everyone in the family will have fun sanding them down and adding cute leaf motifs.

Gourd Birdhouse [marthastewart.com]
Give birds a place to nest this fall with this creative birdhouse made out of a gourd. Simply create a tunnel-like opening for the birds to enter, add some comfy nesting materials inside and hang the whole thing from a sturdy branch or pipe.

Fall Terrarium [midwestliving.com]
Turn summer’s popular succulent-filled terrariums into something festive for fall with this fun DIY project. Add some mounded moss as the base inside of the terrarium jar or other glass vessel, and then top it with small pumpkins, gourds, twigs, and other foraged finds from outside.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

2 Rivers Coffee: Make It a Part of Your Daily Grind

November 12, 2015 by

Whether you’re looking for a quick cup of coffee before work or a place sit and sip your coffee in a leisurely atmosphere, you’ll find both at 2 Rivers Coffee. This independently owned and operated coffee shop has a quaint, cozy interior filled with local artwork and homey furnishings, including a comfortable sofa and wooden café tables where customers can use their laptops or chat with friends.

The menu includes espresso bar offerings like flavored lattes, cappuccinos, and European-style espresso, or if you’re more of a coffee purist, a traditional cup of joe is sure to do the trick. Hot tea and chai lattes are available for anyone who doesn’t prefer coffee, and there is also a small selection of bagels, pastries, and sandwiches for both breakfast and lunch.

2 Rivers Coffee
2351 Loop 337
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(830) 643-0032 ‎
www.2riverscoffee.com
www.yelp.com/biz/2-rivers-coffee-new-braunfels

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: , ,
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