Having a wine tasting in the comfort of your home is an inexpensive and simple way to find new wines you might love. Invite a few friends over, gather a group of bottles, a cork screw, and maybe some food to pair with the wine, and you’ll be good to go. Follow these simple tips to help host your next get together!

• Gather a white tablecloth, big wine glasses, spittoons, crackers, and some coffee grounds to use as an odor neutralizer between wines.
• Prepare your wines to their ideal temperatures. Serve white wines at around 50 degrees and red wines at around 60 degrees. Open the bottles at least 30 minutes before you plan on serving.
• If you’re planning on serving a variety of different wines, be sure to start with the least refined and work your way to the most refined. You should always start with the lightest wine first.
• Pour the glasses an inch below the equator, or the widest part of the glass.
• Don’t rinse the glasses between servings, as water can dilute the wine.
• After tasting all of the wines, discuss with your guests the aromas and tasting notes of them all and your likes and dislikes.
• After listening to everyone’s thoughts, re-taste the wines to see whether they have changed with aeration.

How To Have The Perfect Wine Tasting At Home [The Huffington Post]
How to Host a Wine Tasting Party [Real Simple]
How to Host a Wine Tasting [Food & Wine]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr kohrogi34

Whether you just have an afternoon to spare or you're interested in a unique night out with friends, Ceramic Lodge in Round Rock can oblige. This painting studio welcomes folks to walk in and start painting or attend one of the structured classes to learn a little bit more about crafting with their fellow pupils.

You don't need to make reservations ahead of time to handpaint one of the bisque pieces at Ceramic Lodge. They line the shelves, everything from mugs to picture frames, and they start at just $12 each. Pick one, decide on a color scheme, and get to painting. Once your masterpiece is completed, leave it behind to be fired and swing by a week later for the finished product. You can also attend a fused glass class (held twice a month) to learn the ins and outs of the process. Classes are only $18 a head, and that's including everything you need to make your own work of art. If you've already attended a class, you can stop by any time to create a colorful plate or coaster with your own two hands.

Ceramic Lodge
18 Chisholm Trail Road
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 248-2100
www.ceramiclodge.com
www.yelp.com/biz/ceramic-lodge-round-rock

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr John-Morgan

The change from winter to spring is typically accompanied by a desire to have a bright, clean home. You're tired of the dingy, cold effects of winter snow and ice, and everything just feels a bit less than fresh. If you’re planning a spring cleaning routine but don’t know where to begin, these seven tips will help you get started.

• Set all clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Savings Time.
• Change the batteries in things like smoke detectors, remote controls, and alarm clocks.
• Flip or rotate your mattress to ensure that it lasts for years to come.
• Protect hardwood floors against scratches by adding padded, adhesive discs to the legs of chairs and tables.
• Clean the refrigerator using a few teaspoons of baking soda diluted in hot water. Also be sure to toss out expired or unused food items.
• Wash pillows to prevent seasonal allergens common in the springtime from accumulating inside.
• Re-stock cleaning supplies to prepare yourself for any number of household messes and spills that come with the spring season.

Spring Cleaning [Martha Stewart]
28 Spring Cleaning Tips [Country Living]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr Infomastern