Healthy Recipes That’ll Curb That Chocolate Craving

Any chocoholic will tell you how difficult it can be to kick a chocolate craving. If you frequently dream about ice cream, chocolate bars, and decadent brownies (and just as frequently give into those cravings), you’ll appreciate these healthier chocolate recipes.

Dark Chocolate-Dipped Cherries [Whole Living]
The combination of chocolate and fruit is a true classic, and it tastes great in just about any pairing. This recipe uses tart cherries and rich, dark chocolate to satisfy your chocolate craving while still providing heart-healthy antioxidants and cancer preventative anthocyanins.

Chocolate Avocado Mousse [Fit Pregnancy]
It may sound strange, but the thick, creamy consistency of avocado makes a great base for an untraditional chocolate mousse. The dark cocoa inside masks the flavor of the avocado and leaves you with the chocolate-y taste that you know and love.

Chocolate Souflee [Eating Well]
These individual sized chocolate souflees help you to quiet your chocolate craving without overindulging. They also look as professional as a gourmet dessert, which makes them perfect for dinner parties.

Peanut Butter & Pretzel Truffles [Eating Well]
Few things go together better than peanut butter and chocolate, and this recipe is a wonderful example of that fact. These truffles are incredibly easy to make, and they also incorporate a salty taste from the crunchy pretzels.

Austin Nature & Science Center: Foster a Love of the Natural World

In Northwest Zilker Park, just off Stratford Drive on the southern banks of the Colorado River, you'll find one of Austin’s hidden treasures for families, animal enthusiasts, and nature lovers alike. The Austin Nature & Science center houses all manner of birds, reptiles and mammals—many of them rescued from injury or orphaned—and provides them with care, medical attention, and food that they would be unable to access on their own in the wild.

Nearby, the Splash exhibit helps showcase local aquatic wildlife and illustrates the importance of clean, unpolluted water. The naturalist area at the center allows kids to share their knowledge of natural objects like shells, rocks, bones, feathers, or fossils, and trade such objects in for new artifacts. After a few minutes at the workshop, turn the kids loose on the Dino Pit so they can practice their skills at archeology. Best of all, this is all free of charge, so you can return as often as you like.

Austin Nature & Science Center
301 Nature Center Drive
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 974-3888
www.austintexas.gov/department/austin-nature-and-science-center
www.yelp.com/biz/austin-nature-and-science-center-austin-2

Maudie’s Hill Country: Where the Tacos Are Spicy and the Margaritas Are Icy

Maudie’s Hill Contry is a Tex-Mex favorite in a city full of similar eateries, which says a lot about the quality of its food. With a colorful, casual interior and a somewhat secret upstairs bar and patio, this popular spot is just as inviting as it is delicious. You’ll find flavorful Tex-Mex fare morning, noon, and night at Maudie’s, starting with breakfast dishes like blueberry pancakes, huevos rancheros, and sausage migas and a very wide selection of enchiladas, tacos, and burritos for lunch.

There are vegetarian options and gluten-free options for those with restricted diets, as well as affordable lunch specials throughout the work week. During happy hour at Maudie’s, you’ll find even more savings on the restaurant’s fresh, fruity margaritas and Mexican cervezas, and during the weekend brunch, the Bloody Marys are a must-sip.

Maudie’s Hill Country
12506 Shops Parkway
Bee Cave, TX 78738
(512) 263-1116
www.maudies.com

Pieous: Try Out These Unlikely Pizza Pairings

Though Austin is known more for its barbecue than its pizza, Pieous may just change your mind about how the Lonestar State makes its pies. This quirky pizzeria is housed within a cozy, red building in the western part of the city, and it features a clean, modern interior with chalkboards covering many of the walls.

The pizza itself has a thin, crispy crust with a tender, soft interior, and the creative combinations of toppings include things that you just have to try to believe. Brussels sprouts and marmalade may not seem like the most likely pizza toppings, but hey, don’t knock it ‘til you try it! In addition to pizza, Pieous offers hearty pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, fresh salads, and chocolate chip cookies the size of the plate they come on. Throw in a great selection of wine and beer, and Pieous quickly becomes a go-to restaurant on any Austin foodie’s list.

Pieous
12005 Highway 290 West
Austin, TX 78737
(512) 394-7041
www.facebook.com/Pieous
www.yelp.com/biz/pieous-austin

How to Add Color to Bare Walls With Washi Tape

Want to add color to your walls — without sacrificing your security deposit? Colorful washi tape is a great way to add a creative and temporary design to your walls, and it’s easy to install and remove. Here are a few ways to use washi tape to spice up your apartment.

DIY Triangle Wallpaper [brit.co]
If you want to craft a large-scale design that covers the entire wall, this beautiful geometric triangle tutorial is a great choice. By using a few different styles of washi tape in your choice of colors, some sharp scissors, and a measuring tape, you can create a floor-to-ceiling design that makes a major impact in any room.

DIY Picture Frames [washitapecrafts.com]
Instead of making holes all over your walls in order to hang traditional picture frames, follow this tutorial to craft flat frames using washi tape. The effect is eye-catching, artistic, and just as professional as a classic gallery wall.

Giant Geometric Washi Tape Jewels [curbly.com]
If you’re looking for a funky wall design for a kids’ room or an office, this unique washi tape jewel tutorial is the perfect choice. Use different colors of tape to craft large jewel shapes all over your walls for a wall covering that only looks expensive!

Zilker Zephyr Miniature Train: All Aboard for an Adventure Through Zilker Park

The Zilker Zephyr is a miniature train located in Zilker Park, and it is exactly the type of strange attraction that makes Austin so unique. The small train takes a 20- to 25-minute-long journey around the park, offering both kids and adults a way to see the area in a different light. Like any train, the Zilker Zephyr has its own train station, albeit a much smaller one than you might be used to, and the tracks wind through many different areas of the park and along the banks of the scenic Barton Creek and Lady Bird Lake. Children love to chug along the tracks aboard the Zilker Zephyr’s bright green cars, though it provides a relaxing escape from the everyday for adults as well.

The Zilker Zephyr is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The train departs the station every hour on the hour on weekdays and every 30 to 40 minutes on weekends.

Zilker Zephyr Miniature Train
2100 Barton Springs
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 478-8286
www.zilkerpark.org/zilker-park-amenities/zilker-park-train
www.yelp.com/biz/zilker-zephyr-miniature-train-austin

5 Fitness Training and Yoga: Keeping the Personal in Personal Training

There are so many gyms and fitness centers in the Austin area that it can be difficult to tell one from the next. 5 Fitness in Rollingwood looks to set itself apart with a focus on personal, professional attention. On your first visit to 5 Fitness, you will meet with a trainer who will talk with you about your fitness goals, injury history, and exercise preferences. Your trainer will then measure your BMI and assess your water intake and fitness level before setting you up with a complimentary first class.

In order to provide the best level of instruction, all classes at 5 Fitness Training and Yoga are capped at 15 participants. Classes range from vinyasa yoga and pilates to spinning and kickboxing, and the gym's regular 45-minute sessions fit easily into most schedules. Yelp reviewers rave about the attentive, supportive, and non-judgmental atmosphere, as well as the fact that you won’t need to sign a membership contract.

5 Fitness Training and Yoga
2745 Bee Cave Road
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 215-2417
www.5fitnesstraining.com
www.yelp.com/biz/5-fitness-training-and-yoga-austin

Happy Independence Day!

We hope everyone enjoys a fun and relaxing time with family and friends as we celebrate America's freedom.

Salata: Making Lunchtime a Little Healthier With Salads and Wraps

If you’re looking for a place to make your lunchtime meals a bit healthier, Salata is a great option in the North Austin area. This grab-and-go salad bar offers customizable salads, wraps, and made-in-house dressings and sauces that give everything major flavor. All of the veggies and proteins are prepped fresh daily, and everything on the menu is gluten free.

Salata runs like a well-oiled machine, with friendly employees tossing large salad bowls from behind a long, colorful salad bar filled with greens, vegetables, and an assortment of toppings. There are a number of different soups that change from day to day, and the selection of fresh juices complements the eatery's health-conscious menu.

Inside, Salata’s bright green dining room features light wood booths and tables where guests can enjoy both the lunch and the free Wi-Fi. Customers can even order their meals online and pick them up in person for added convenience on a busy work day!

Salata
10515 N. Mopac Expressway
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 487-5497
www.salata.com
www.yelp.com/biz/salata-austin

Happy Father’s Day!

Happy Father's Day! We hope all of the Dads out there have a great day with loved ones! Let us know how you plan to help Dad relax today!

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