Strengthen and Lengthen at YogaOne Studios Midtown

One of five YogaOne Studios throughout Houston, YogaOne Studios Midtown was established in 2008 to offer a range of yoga classes in a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere. In fact, the YogaOne mission is "to co-create a positive space, filled with positive people, that is positively life changing through the practice and path of yoga."

Here, new and experienced yogis practice their positions within two modern studio spaces, each of which reflects the company's eco-friendly ethos through sustainably sourced bamboo flooring, no-VOC paints, and a BYORWB (Bring Your Own Reusable Water Bottle) policy. Instruction is offered in flow-based styles of yoga and hot yoga, the latter of which is bolstered by a custom heating system.

A single drop-in class at YogaOne Midtown will cost you $18, while class packages offer quantity discounts. Regulars recommend taking advantage of the $30 for 30 days pass, an introductory offer that entitles new yogis to test out an unlimited number of classes over a one-month trial period. For more info, check out the YogaOne Studios class schedule.

YogaOne Studios
3030 Travis Street
Houston, TX, 77006
(713) 522-0876
yogaonehouston.com
www.yelp.com/biz/yogaone-studios-houston-3

Doodle and Draw With These Fun and Free Apps for Android

With your Android smartphone as your canvas, you can learn to paint, draw and sketch without any supplies. There are a variety of doodling apps for your phone that will help you to pass the time and brush up on your art skills. Here are three artists’ favorites:

Kids Doodle
The Kids Doodle app is a drawing app tailored toward children, but it can be enjoyed by users of any age. The app offers 18 different brushes that can be used to paint or draw on any color background of your choosing. It also enables users to draw on a photo from your phone’s camera roll, and the movie mode plays each drawing like a short film.

Draw Something Free
Turn your drawings into a competition with Draw Something, a drawing game that pits you against friends or strangers. The game assigns players an object or person to draw, and it is up to their opponent to guess the drawing before the time runs out.

Paint Joy
Whether you’re an experienced artist or an amateur Picasso, the Paint Joy app will provide hours of painting or drawing fun. Choose from over 20 different brushes and endless color choices to create a masterpiece, and then save it to your Android phone’s gallery to view later.

Enjoy a Smoothie in Houston at Smoothie King

Smoothie King, now an international franchise, grew from humble roots. Back in the 1960s, founder Steve Kuhnau ​set out to mix up a smoothie that would ease his allergies and low blood sugar. Equipped with just some fresh fruit, other nutrients and proteins, and his home blender, Steve eventually found the perfect balance. His health started improving, and in 1973 he decided to share his discovery with the masses at his first nutritional smoothie shop.

The lone shop evolved into more than 650 Smoothie King locations that, today, serve the same nutritional smoothies to customers in the continental U.S., Korea, Singapore, and the Cayman Islands. That includes a location on West Holcombe, where customers note that the staff is especially friendly and the owner often personally oversees operations.

Many of the smoothies can replace an entire meal, with anywhere from 7 to 45 grams of protein in each serving of 20 ounces. Try a Lean1 chocolate smoothie with bananas and almond. It packs 27 vitamins and minerals and 22 grams of protein into a mere 293 calories, staving off later cravings and helping your body burn fat. Or nourish your body with a fruity snack in between normal meals, such as the apple kiwi kale smoothie—it's full of illness-fighting vitamin C and antioxidants.

Smoothie King
2617 W. Holcombe Boulevard
Houston, TX 77025
(713) 661-1663
www.smoothieking.com/stores/store.php/134

www.yelp.com/biz/smoothie-king-houston-15

Easy Recipes Using Heart-Healthy Salmon

Salmon has been hailed a superfood because of its heart-healthy properties, but it’s also a delicate fish that can be difficult to cook at home. Luckily, these simple and flavorful recipes offer a few suggestions for preparing salmon—even if your cooking skills are a bit limited!

Poached Salmon with Watercress and Peaches [marthastewart.com]
This recipe is light yet flavorful, and the peaches impart a subtle sweetness that you might not expect. Poaching the salmon is also one of the healthiest ways to prepare this fish, as it doesn’t require any heavy oils or stir fry sauces.

Grilled Salmon with Avocado Dip [allrecipes.com]
The combination of salmon and avocado offers you a boost of healthy fats that simply can’t be beat. Plus, the dip is made with Greek yogurt to keep it low in calories yet still rich and creamy.

Glazed Salmon with Broccoli Rice [realsimple.com]
The glaze in this recipe may remind you of salmon preparations that you see at fancy restaurants, but don’t be fooled—it’s still very easy to make. Serve it over nutrient-rich broccoli to get all of your greens, and add a bed of rice for some healthy grains.

Happy Holidays!

We wish you and your loved ones all a very happy and safe holiday season.

Rich Gelato Is Served Atop Brioche Buns at SweetCup in Houston

After traveling through Italy during her honeymoon, the founder of SweetCup returned to the U.S. with a new purpose: to bring the authentic Italian gelato cafe experience to Houston. Her cafe, SweetCup, opened in February 2012, bringing with it authentic elements ranging from its all-natural gelato to its freshly brewed espresso that makes use of locally roasted beans.

At SweetCup, gelato is prepared in small batches on a daily basis. Flavors vary by season, but past highlights have included peanut butter stracciatella, caramelized banana, and bourbon caramel alongside everyday favorites such as bacio and zabaione. Order your gelato atop a warm brioche bun or enjoy it "affogato" style, topped with two shots of fresh espresso. Regulars note that the sorbetto here is also not to be missed, especially when the flavors highlight summertime fruits and berries.

SweetCup is open Tuesdays through Sundays.

SweetCup
3939 Montrose Boulevard
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 942-2226
sweetcupgelato.com
www.yelp.com/biz/sweetcup-houston

Check Out Major Home Renovations on These HGTV Shows

There’s something so entertaining about watching skilled carpenters and designers take an old, outdated house and, with a few coats of paint or some new cabinets, turn it into something entirely fresh and modern. Follow along with some of HGTV’s most popular home renovation experts on these immensely entertaining shows.

Property Brothers
Hosts Jonathan and Drew Scott are some of HGTV’s most beloved hosts due to their quirky personalities and the always-entertaining bond between twins. On their HGTV show, Property Brothers, realtor Drew convinces potential homebuyers to buy a fixer-upper instead of the overpriced home of their dreams. Over the course of an hour-long episode, designer Jonathan completely renovates the more affordable (if less admirable) home into something even better than the house they originally imagined.

Cousins Undercover
On this equally entertaining HGTV show, cousins Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri are on a mission to reward do-gooders in a community with a well-deserved home makeover. The show’s recipients include selfless teachers, single parents, and dedicated doctors, the stories of whom will surely tug at your heartstrings. If you’re a fan of happy endings and beautiful home renovations, Cousins Undercover is for you.

Happy Thanksgiving

We hope everyone has a wonderful day surrounded by family and friends! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Enjoy Sushi in Houston at Oshii Japanese Restaurant

Located near the Greenway Plaza is Oishii Japanese Restaurant, a place where Houstonians can enjoy their favorite Japanese dishes without breaking the bank.

Stop by for lunch or dinner and select from sashimi, sushi rolls, noodle dishes, and crispy tempura plates. Favorites include udon noodles with vegetable tempura, grilled salmon smothered in teriyaki sauce, and the chef’s choice sashimi and sushi plates. There is a decent selection of maki, including Philadelphia and rainbow rolls, and it’s relatively inexpensive. You can also opt to order sushi or sashimi by the piece.

Regulars rave about the happy hour specials and casual atmosphere, claiming that Oishii is one of their favorite places to gather with friends for sushi or a bento box.

Visit Oshii's website to find out more about this Japanese restaurant in Houston.

Oshii Japanese Restaurant
3764 Richmond Avenue
Houston, TX 77046
(713) 621-8628
http://www.oishiihouston.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/oishii-restaurant-houston

Four Kitchen Terms Every Cook Should Know

Knowing the particulars of a recipe before you start cooking ensures that the end result is both pretty and tasty. So you should beef up on your cooking terminology if you want to create a perfect product every time. Here are four must-know kitchen terms to keep in mind:

  1. Bias-slice. A cutting term, to cut food on a bias means to cut at a 45-degree angle.
  2. Crimp. Pie crusts get their wavy shape by 'crimping' which means to pinch dough together with your fingertips or a fork along the edges.
  3. Braise. Tougher cuts of meat might require braising, which means cooking slowly with a small amount of liquid in a tightly covered pan.
  4. Sear. You can seal in the juices and flavor of a cut of meat by quickly searing it on both sides. Heat a pan to scorching and then place each side of the meat on the surface until it cooks all the way through.

The Basic Kitchen: Glossary of Cooking Terms [Le Petites Gourmettes]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Better Homes and Gardens]
Cooking Terms [Recipe Goldmine]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Cookery]
Culinary Terms: Food Dictionary and Glossary of Cooking Terms [Culinary Arts at About.com]

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