cwsapts

The Whole Family Will Enjoy These Kid-Friendly Attractions in Austin, Texas

July 8, 2014 by cwsapts

Austin, Texas, is a city that dares to dream, and that's certainly a quality that you want to instill in your children. Check out two of the most unique attractions in this cutting edge city, which are sure to inspire both you and your kids!

Barton Springs Pool
Cool off with your little ones in Austin's Barton Springs Pool. Located in Zilker Park, this man-made pool is filled with water from an underground spring and has year-round average temperatures of 70 degrees. The pool is a fun way to relax and take part in a unique geographical wonder. Next to the Barton Springs Pool is Splash, an exhibit that tells the story of Barton Springs and explains the science behind it. While you're there, encourage the kids to keep an eye out for Barton Springs salamanders. This endangered species inhabits the area and it's under protection of park services. Spend a relaxing day lounging in the grassy lawn or take a dip in this very unique watering hole!

Austin Nature & Science Center
Explore the natural world at Austin Nature & Science Center. Here, you'll find fascinating exhibits and hands-on educational activities that will open both your eyes and your kids' minds to the beautifully complex world we live in. Travel back in time with the Dino Pit exhibit, located in the outdoors area, or visit the Naturalist Workshop and Trade Counter for an interactive way to discover the natural world. Children will also love to go on safari though the Wildlife Exhibit, where they can see live invertebrates, fish, mammals, and even raptors.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/shvmoz

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Family, Travel, Trip Ideas, Vacation

New Facebook Sweepstakes! Enter to Win an iPad Mini!

July 7, 2014 by cwsapts

To enter the Sweepstakes, Like our Facebook Page and then look for the Sweepstakes tab (image shown below) located on our Facebook Page to enter. Sweepstakes ends August 31, 2014.

For mobile users ONLY, like our Facebook Page, and then click here to enter!

Filed Under: Life at Marquis at Barton Trails Apartments Tagged With: Facebook Sweepstakes

How to Get More Vitamin A in Your Diet

July 7, 2014 by cwsapts

Vitamin A provides a number of wonderful eye health benefits, from minimizing dry eyes to helping to absorb light in the retinal receptors. In addition to improving your eye health, it also supports cell growth and improves the health of the kidneys, heart, and other essential organs. Here are just a few surprising food sources for beneficial Vitamin A.

Sweet Potatoes. Sweet potatoes are some of the best sources of Vitamin A out of any food, offering a staggering 561% of the recommended daily amount in just one whole potato. Better yet, the delicious sweet potato offers all of its priceless nutrients while adding only 103 calories to your diet. Simply bake one in the oven for a healthy side dish that’s absolutely packed full of A vitamins.
Carrots. This other favorite orange food is equally as rich with Vitamin A. The carrot has been known for its eye health benefits for quite some time, though many people don’t realize that it’s because of the numerous A vitamins inside. One medium carrot offers a full 200% of the recommended daily intake, and it’s a great source of the Vitamins C, K, and B that your body also needs.

Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin A [Healthaliciousness]
Vitamin A [NIH]
26 Foods High in Vitamin A for Healthy Eyes [Bembu]

Public Domain/Public Domain

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Diet, Food, Health, Wellness

Happy 4th of July

July 4, 2014 by cwsapts

We hope everyone has a safe and happy day as we celebrate America's Independence. Happy 4th of July!

Filed Under: Life at Marquis at Barton Trails Apartments Tagged With: Marquis at Barton Trails Holiday Greeting

All the Taste, Less Fat: 2 Handy Stand-Ins for Butter

June 27, 2014 by cwsapts

Whether you practice a vegan diet or you simply want to reduce harmful fat and calories from your meals, cutting out butter is a healthy food choice. These simple butter substitutes will enable you to eat the foods that you love in a healthier manner, and they’ll taste just as delicious.

Olive oil. While olive oil is also high in calories, it has a number of other health benefits that butter doesn’t. For every cup of butter, you can easily substitute 1/4 cup of olive oil plus two tablespoons in order to maintain the same texture and consistency. Olive oil is also completely vegan, and it can be used to grease pans as well.
Commercial butter substitutes. Your local grocery store likely sells a wide variety of commercial butter substitutes and margarines that can be used in place of butter. These products usually have the same look, feel and taste, but they have much less fat and calories. Brands like Earth Balance and Smart Balance taste very similar to real butter, but unlike butter they’re completely vegan. Most chefs advise against browning commercial butter substitutes, however, because they burn very easily and don’t achieve the same effect.

Common Ingredient Substitutions [All Recipes]
Top 3 Ingredient Substitutions [The Kitchn]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Veganbaking.net

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Cooking, Diet, Food, Health

CRAFT: Drop-in Studio Sessions and Art Workshops in Austin

June 24, 2014 by cwsapts

If you’re interested in learning a new skill or hobby but don’t want to commit to a set time for a class, Austin’s CRAFT might be just the place for you. At any time during business hours, you can come into CRAFT and grab a workstation for a very reasonable rate of just $10 an hour. That rate includes access to a staggering amount of materials, including paint, paper, ribbons, stamps and ink, both air dry and polymer clay, collage materials, screenprinting screens, and much more. They also sell additional supplies, including canvases and frames, at a very reasonable rate.

If you’re not the free-form type, CRAFT hosts a wide variety of events and workshops throughout the week. Some of the most popular include the weekly Intro to Screenprinting class, which gives you everything you need to print t-shirts, tote bags, and other fabric projects, as well as the Hearts & Crafts workshops on Wednesdays that focus on crafting as a means of personal development and self-expression.

CRAFT
1632 S. 1st Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 900-9957
craft-austin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/craft-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/ricky_artigas

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: Austin Attractions, CRAFT, Things to Do in Austin

Chill Out With These Recipes for Lemonade

June 20, 2014 by cwsapts

Lemonade is a summertime favorite that you’ve loved since you were a kid, but it may be time to update the cool beverage to suit your adult tastes. If you’re searching for new recipes for your old favorite lemonade, these three might do the trick!

Honey Basil Lemonade [Serious Eats]
The warm, sweet taste of honey is offset by flavorful basil in this unique lemonade recipe. The base is made from the juice of 12 fresh lemons, and a pinch of salt really helps to bring out the flavor of each individual ingredient. Garnish with more basil leaves to create a drink that’s just as attractive as it is delicious.

Vodka Lavender Thyme Lemonade [Saveur]
Turn your favorite childhood drink into your new favorite cocktail with this lemonade recipe that’s all grown up. Dried lavender gives it a fragrant, floral taste that really complements the tart lemon, while vodka and earthy thyme add an extra kick of flavor.

Thyme Lemonade [Martha Stewart]
If you haven’t yet experienced the wonderful combination of thyme and lemon, this lemonade will make you a believer. All it takes is a few sprigs of the simple herb to create a fresh, pretty drink that’s perfect for dinner under the stars.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/bertholf

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Lemonade, Recipes, Seasonal, summer

Looking For a Great Place to Watch the World Cup Tonight?!

June 18, 2014 by cwsapts

Are you looking for a great place to watch the World Cup tonight? Well, don't forget to check out Doc's Backyard located at 5207 Brodie Ln #100, Sunset Valley, TX 78745. They have happy hour from 4-7pm, with $1 crispy tacos and $2 Mexican beers.

Tonight Cameroon and Croatia will be playing at 5pm. This could be the perfect place to catch the game!

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: Dining Near Austin, Doc's Backyard, Marquis at Barton Trails, Restaurants Near Austin

Sip Coffee With a Cause at Dominican Joe

June 17, 2014 by cwsapts

Dominican Joe is an independently-owned coffee shop located on the intersection of Riverside and South Congress. As the name suggests, this shop serves coffee farmed in the Dominican Republic. Not only is this java ecologically friendly and delicious, but it also helps support farmers who are trying to lift themselves out of a devastated economy. Dominican Joe doesn't stop there. Using the profits from the store, Dominican Joe helps support Makarios, a non-profit that helps educate impoverished children.

The cafe also serves pastries, plus lunch and breakfast items sourced from local eateries. You can even order a thick yogurt based smoothie made with healthy ingredients, like berries and peaches. Free Wi-Fi is offered.

Dominican Joe
515 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 448-3919
http://www.dominicanjoe.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/dominican-joe-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/wordridden

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: Austin Dining, Dominican Joe, Restaurants in Austin

Happy Father’s Day!

June 15, 2014 by cwsapts

Today we want to take time to wish all the Dads out there a very happy day! We hope all the Fathers near and far have a great day relaxing with loved ones!