We hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day celebrating with the ones you love!
Play For All Abilities Park: Where Playtime is Fun for Everyone
February 11, 2016 by
While playgrounds are meant to be fun, sometimes the high-flying swing sets, concrete flooring, and wild jungle gyms are just too much for some kids. At the Play For All Abilities Park in Round Rock, however, you’ll find a playground that’s just as fun as more traditional versions, but with safety enhanced details that will give parents a bit more peace of mind.
There are sponge-like floors that are softer than concrete, two-seater swings, and even colorful sliding boards scattered throughout. Most impressive is the fully operating town, which contains working streetlights, road signs, and even a fire station that will get the little ones used to a real life town. No matter your child’s unique needs, you’ll find something for everyone at the Play For All Abilities Park.
Play For All Abilities Park
151 N A W Grimes Boulevard
Round Rock, TX 78664
www.yelp.com/biz/play-for-all-abilities-park-round-rock-3
Spice Up Your Fitness Routine at N’Caliente Fitness in Round Rock
February 4, 2016 by
After opening its doors in 2012, N’Caliente Fitness quickly established itself as a powerhouse of a fitness club in Round Rock. Here, the focus is on creating a welcoming environment through unique workouts that appeal to people of all ages, shapes, sizes, and athletic abilities.
That said, N’Caliente offers many innovative workouts. Aqua zumba, for example, takes the popular dance-based workout into the water for the added benefits of resistance training, while Piloxing combines the principles of standing Pilates with a non-stop cardio workout that includes boxing moves. In other words, if you find yourself feeling a little bored with your current fitness routine, signing up for a class at N’Caliente Fitness might be just the way to spice things up!
Half a dozen professional instructors lead classes throughout the day, seven days a week, so you should be able to find something that works with your schedule. Follow N'Caliente Fitness on Facebook to keep tabs on class schedules and special events!
N’Caliente Fitness
2111 Sam Bass Road
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 773-7790
www.ncalientefitness.com/about.html
www.yelp.com/biz/ncaliente-fitness-round-rock
Find a Farm-to-Table Brunch This Weekend at Jack Allen’s Kitchen in Austin
January 28, 2016 by
Whether you’re picking the perfect spot for a family dinner or a new eatery for brunch this weekend, Jack Allen’s Kitchen is always a great choice. This upscale American restaurant boasts a farm-to-table menu of creative takes on old-fashioned favorites, including shrimp and mango tacos, achiote macaroni cheese, and the famous 13-Spice Chicken Pasta. For brunch, Jack Allen’s Kitchen offers homemade strudel, fried chicken with jalapeno gravy, and fun new takes on deviled eggs. Not only are the ingredients sourced fresh from local farms, many of them are even grown on-site in the restaurant’s organic garden!
The ambiance inside is fun and welcoming, but it’s still classy enough to make your meal feel special. With a great menu of libations to complement the food, Jack Allen’s Kitchen is a perfect spot to relax and kick back after a long work week.
Jack Allen’s Kitchen
2500 Hoppe Trail
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 215-0372
www.jackallenskitchen.com
Weight Loss Tips for New Dieters
January 21, 2016 by
You’ve never had to watch your weight before, but it seems like all of those years of eating whatever you want are suddenly catching up with you. If you’re about to embark on your first diet, use these simple tips to stay on track and maximize results.
- Think about it in the long-term. Instead of thinking of your diet as something that will eventually end, consider it a lifestyle change. That way, you’ll be able to maintain your results and even indulge in the occasional treat.
- Aim for realistic goals. Instead of starting an extreme diet to lose a very large amount of weight each week, set realistic goals that you can safely and healthily meet. For example, aiming to lose 2 pounds per week is a healthy and attainable weight loss goal that will still yield major results.
- Skip the fad diets. Instead of falling for a fad diet that cuts out a major food group or involves complicated meal plans, opt for a healthy diet that includes whole foods and balanced meals.
- Keep it simple. Fill your diet with fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and the occasional healthy whole grains and you’ll have no problem shedding those extra pounds.
Healthy Weight Loss and Dieting Tips [HelpGuide.org]
The 25 Best Diet Tricks of All Time [Health]
Jillian Michaels: Weight-Loss Tips That Work [Health]
Wind Down With a Winter Moon at Lamppost Coffee
January 14, 2016 by
If you’re always on the hunt for the best coffee shops in Austin, you’ll definitely want to add Lamppost Coffee to your list of must-tries. Flavored lattes with names like the Summer Moon, Winter Moon, and Autumn Moon are delicious alternatives to your usual drip brew, but if you’re a fan of the classics, those are very tasty as well. There are fresh baked goods that pair perfectly with any of the espresso drinks, and you’ll even find savory creations that make great breakfast options when you’re in a hurry.
This warm and welcoming cafe is furnished with bright red sofas, comfortable wooden tables, and a very spacious espresso bar that makes it easy to get your drink and get on with your day. For those who live and work in the Round Rock area, the convenient strip mall location doesn’t hurt either.
Lamppost Coffee
1205 Round Rock Avenue
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 217-4962
www.yelp.com/biz/lamppost-coffee-round-rock-2
Kids Learn and Create at the Thinkery
January 7, 2016 by
The Thinkery takes the STEM a step further, adding an A to the mix—for "arts." With the fields of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) in mind, curators for the children's museum have designed a collection of interactive exhibits that are as engaging as they are educational.
Many families particularly enjoy the Backyard, an outdoor play area where kids organically learn about body mechanics while they play. Its jungle gym is probably unlike any you've seen at a park, enormous and accessible for kids of all physical abilities. Watch while your little one scurries up the enclosed ramp to a bulbous watchtower or as he splashes in a winding stream. Inside the museum, kids can learn about the chemistry of cooking in the Kitchen Lab, let their creativity run wild in the Innovators' Workshop, or master the art of sewing or soldering in the Space 8 area (which is only open to ages 8 and older).
Thinkery
The Meredith Learning Lab
1930 Simond Avenue
Austin, TX 78723
(512) 469-6200
www.thinkeryaustin.org
www.yelp.com/biz/thinkery-austin
Jack Allen’s Kitchen: Local Ingredients in Every Bite of Inspired Southern Cuisine
December 23, 2015 by
In a perpetually sunny state like Texas, farmers have ample opportunities to plant and harvest thriving crops. That's why, when looking for fresh ingredients for their dishes, the chefs at Jack Allen's Kitchen never stray beyond the boundaries of Texas. All of their ingredients come from nearby—you can even browse a comprehensive roster of the farmers, artisans, and other purveyors who provide food for Jack Allen's on its website.
The fresh, locally sourced ingredients make for a colorful and tasty meal any time of day, any day of the week, but customers say that one meal outshines the others, and that's Sunday brunch. Eaters show up in droves for the fully loaded buffet, which features everything from chicken-fried chicken to layered enchilada casserole. You can also request biscuits and gravy, silver dollar pancakes, or local eggs from the kitchen. No matter what you choose to eat for brunch, wash it down with a bloody Mary, mimosa with freshly squeezed OJ, or a glass of Jack Allen's "famous" pomegranate sangria.
Jack Allen's Kitchen
2500 Hoppe Trail
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 215-0372
www.jackallenskitchen.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jack-allens-kitchen-round-rock
5 New Year’s Resolutions Beyond Weight Loss
December 17, 2015 by
Although losing weight is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions, this year might be the year to stop worrying about your appearance and start working toward a more positive mindset. You just might find that bettering yourself from the inside will have positive effects on your body as well!
- Devote more time to loved ones. If you don’t get to see your family and friends as much as you'd like, aim to fix that in the upcoming months. Cut back on work, schedule a visit, or simply ask a loved one out to dinner—and leave your phone in your pocket!
- Butt out. Giving up cigarettes does just as much good for your body as dieting, so toss out your pack after the clock strikes midnight.
- Improve your finances. From paying off your credit card bills to setting aside money for savings, getting out of debt can make you feel a bit lighter in a completely different way.
- Volunteer for a cause. Even if it’s only once a month, donating time to a cause that you believe in is a great way to improve yourself in the New Year.
- Get active. Instead of making a New Year’s resolution to improve your physique, vow to simply get outside more and become more active. You just might shed a few pounds along the way.
Top 10 New Year's Resolutions [About Travel]
10 New Year’s Resolutions You Might Actually Keep [How Stuff Works]
Popular New Year's Resolutions [USA.gov]
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?
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