At the Gourmet Ice Co. in New Braunfels, you’ll find relief from the hot Texas weather and a sweet, guilt-free treat. This popular dessert stand serves light, refreshing shaved ice in very unique flavors that you wouldn’t expect to find, including wedding cake, watermelon basil, green tea vanilla and pineapple upside down cake. Each flavor is made with real fruit juice and even herb infusions, but their bright colors and fluffy texture will give you the satisfaction of the classic shaved ice that you loved as a kid.

The Gourmet Ice Co. was once housed inside of a hip Airstream trailer, but has since moved to a pet-friendly building complete with modern touches and hip chalkboard menus describing its daily flavors. Whether you stop in for a shaved ice to-go or to try three flavors served in a flight, this creative dessert shop is a must-try in New Braunfels.

The Gourmet Ice Co.
1102 N. Walnut Avenue
New Braunfels, TX 78130
www.thegourmeticeco.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-gourmet-ice-co-new-braunfels

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/_e.t

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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]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr Maria Eklind