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Limit These Three Foods, Which are High in Saturated Fat

December 19, 2014 by

Saturated fat is known to be the type of dietary fat you want to eat in limited amounts. This fat has been associated with high cholesterol, which can lead to heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends that only 5 to 6% of your daily calories come from saturated fats. To make sure you know what to cut back on, here are three foods that contain saturated fat.

  1. Animal products. Lard and shortening are two common examples of animal fats used in food preparation. They contain high amounts of saturated fat and should be used sparingly. Try substituting olive oil instead.
  2. Cheese. This popular dairy food is delicious as an addition to a dish or enjoyed on its own. Unfortunately, too much cheese can greatly increase your saturated fat intake. Be sure to keep your cheese consumption to a minimum and select low-fat options.
  3. Whipped cream. Even though its just a light, fluffy topping, whipped cream is actually about 14% saturated fat. So try not to overdo it when you add whipped cream to your dessert—just one tablespoon provides you with 2% of your daily value.

Top 10 Foods Highest in Saturated Fat [Healthalicousness]
Saturated Fats Are Primarily Found in What Groups? [Healthy Eating]
Saturated Fat [CDC]
Fats and Oils [Better Health]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous

Five Uses for Baking Soda

December 18, 2014 by

You likely already know that you can use baking soda to freshen your refrigerator, but there are a wide variety of other uses for this kitchen staple. From cleaning your home to washing your body, baking soda can replace a number of more expensive products in your life. Here are just a few simple ways to use baking soda.

  1. To keep flowers fresh. Add a few sprinkles of baking soda to your flower vase to lengthen the lifespan of fresh flowers.
  2. As a deodorant. Simply apply baking soda to your underarms with a powder puff to use it as an all-natural deodorant.
  3. As an antacid. Baking soda is great to help relieve heartburn, sour stomach, or acid indigestion. Check the instructions on your brand's package to determine the specific measurements.
  4. To soothe irritated skin. Whether you have insect bites, athlete’s foot, or just seasonal dry skin, baking soda can help soothe skin irritation. Just add 1/2 cup to your bathwater and settle in for a long soak in the tub.
  5. To scrub counters. Instead of using harsh, potentially harmful bleach to clean your kitchen surfaces, create a baking soda soft scrub. Sprinkle some baking soda on a damp sponge, then scrub the grime from counters, tile, and sinks. Be sure to rinse the residue thoroughly afterward.

75 Extraordinary Uses for Baking Soda [Life Hackery]
31 Baking Soda Uses [All You]
51 Surprising Uses for Baking Soda [Care2]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Happy Holidays!

December 15, 2014 by

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

Filed Under: Life at Reserve at Garden Oaks Apartments Tagged With:

How to Make the Holidays Less Stressful

December 12, 2014 by

With all of the gift buying, cookie baking, and crowded homes filled with out-of-town visitors, you may forget that the holidays are supposed to be a time of fun and relaxation. Here are a few smart tips that will help you to take the stress out of the holidays and better appreciate time spent with family.

  1. Ask for a wish list. Instead of stressing out about buying the perfect gift for a loved one, just ask for his or her wish list. There’s no shame in asking what everyone wants to ensure that you feel confident about your purchases.
  2. Create a budget—and stick to it. Although it’s easy to overspend when you want to spoil your friends and family members, it will only leave you feeling more stressed afterward. It’s entirely possible to purchase thoughtful gifts within your means, provided that you set a budget for your gifts.
  3. Say “no.” You don’t have to attend every holiday party, volunteer to bring a side to every family dinner or even host the festivities at your own home. Carefully consider which things you’ll actually have time for, and say no to everything else.
  4. Keep things simple. Instead of trying to make your holiday celebrations the best on the block, focus on simply spending time with the family over a delicious meal. The rest will work itself out.

Peggy's Top Five for Stress-Free Gift Giving [Emily Post]
Our Stress-Less Holiday Guide [She Knows]
10 Steps to a Less Stressful Holiday [Parents]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Breen’s Florist: Express Yourself Via Fresh Blooms

December 11, 2014 by

Breen's Florist does more than just deliver flowers; according to its company philosophy, it delivers emotions.

When you can't be there in person, you can at least be there in spirit via a fresh bouquet of flowers expressing your sympathy, congratulations, or well wishes. And you can always trust Breen's to deliver, since the florist has been doling out blooms around Houston since 1943.

Even its delivery vans are colorful and eye-catching, though they're a mere preview of the sprays that sit inside. The Sweet Effects bouquet, for example, showcases a design by fashionista Vera Wang: a mix of pink lilies and double lisianthus, yellow roses, solidago, and emerald leaves in between. It's all artfully arranged in a chic, contemporary glass vase. The arrangement suits all occasions and sentiments, from an "I'm sorry" to "Best wishes."

For something a bit more striking, send a tropical bouquet such as the Exotic Garden Cube. Housed in a stout green vase, this conglomeration of blossoms showcases the vibrant orange, magenta, and yellow of Birds of Paradise, orchids, lilies, and pincushions. The posy is the perfect way to welcome summer or celebrate a birthday.

Breen's Florist
1050 N. Post Oak
Houston, TX 77055
(713) 668-2376
www.breensflorist.com
www.yelp.com/biz/breens-florist-houston

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: , ,

Deliciously Lovely Pinterest Boards for Vegans

December 5, 2014 by

If you’re a vegan, Pinterest is a wonderful way to discover thousands of meat and dairy-free recipes that you can save to try later. This online community operates just like a digital bulletin board, enabling users to share their own content or pin content that you love. Check out these vegan Pinterest boards and you just may discover some recipes to make at home.

Vegan Richa’s Dessert Board
This Pinterest board is dedicated entirely to vegan desserts that are made without dairy or meat products. At a glance, the pins looks so decadent that you can’t even tell that they’re not the original recipes, from creamy vegan chocolate milkshakes to dairy-free peanut butter cheesecakes. Best of all, this board is so large that you’ll discover a new dish every time you visit.

Vegan Recipes
If you’re simply searching for versatile vegan recipes for everyday breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, you’ll love this board of recipes. All of the photos are so high quality that you’ll get hungry just looking at them, and they link back to reliable websites that provide step-by-step recipes to prepare the dishes at home. From colorful salads to splurge-worthy vegan baked onion rings, you’ll find a vegan recipe for every craving on this expansive Pinterest board.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Pinterest Can Help You Lose Weight! Here’s How!

December 4, 2014 by

Pinterest is a social media site that operates just like a digital bulletin board, and its incredibly large community makes a great support group to help you lose weight. Pinterest contains thousands of articles, tips, workouts, and recipes that will help you to create a weight loss plan and sustain a healthy lifestyle even after you drop those extra pounds. Here are two of Pinterest’s best weight loss boards.

Cardio Workouts
This board is packed full of fast-paced, high-energy cardio workouts that will help you to burn calories without spending hours on the treadmill. There are so many workout ideas on this board that you’ll never have to do the same routine twice, and you can pick and choose which sound the most enjoyable to you. Visit the board any time you need a bit of pre-workout motivation, or create your own version filled with only the workouts that you like.

Healthy Eating
If you struggle with eating low-calorie, nutrient-rich meals, all it takes is a bit of healthy eating inspiration to make you excited about cooking nutritious meals at home. This board is filled with mouthwatering recipes that look so delicious, you’ll forget they’re actually good for you, from chewy cookies made with fruit and oatmeal to chicken tenders dipped in a low-fat avocado dipping sauce.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Kid-Friendly Attractions in Houston

November 28, 2014 by

Houston is home to a wide variety of museums that appeal to people of all ages, but two in particular stand out to children. One of these museums will have your little ones looking back into the past, while the second provides a glimpse far into the future.

Houston Museum of Natural Science
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is one of the most widely visited natural history museums in the country. It offers a wide variety of traditional attractions as well as an innovative approach to teaching the sciences to kids. Travel back in time through the Hall of Ancient Egypt, then venture even farther in the Morian Hall of Paleontology. Your family will learn how energy is made and used in the Wiess Energy Hall, and they'll enjoy stargazing at a recreated authentic night sky in the Burke Baker Planetarium. Kids love learning here, but you'll be surprised at how much adults enjoy it, too!

The Children's Museum of Houston
The Children's Museum of Houston is synonymous with fun, and this highly interactive learning center will make your kids excited about learning. Watch them engage in an ecological study inside the EcoStation. In the Cyberchase exhibit, kids will enter into an interactive world where math is not just learned, but experienced. This colorful center also provides countless programs and fun classes, so make sure to check the calendar for upcoming events.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Happy Thanksgiving

November 27, 2014 by

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

Filed Under: Life at Reserve at Garden Oaks Apartments Tagged With:

Follow the Cask to Taps House of Beer in Houston

November 24, 2014 by

It'd be almost impossible to miss Taps House of Beer. In lieu of a front door, there sits a huge cask with an entryway carved out. Walk right through into Taps' open, industrial-style space. Much like the brew house's exterior, the interior is a little off-beat. Wooden picnic tables are scattered throughout the bar, complementing a framework of exposed wooden beams and walls of brick. A shuffleboard table, arcade games, and foosball reside inside, whereas cornhole, bocce ball, and ladder golf are outside. Needless to say, this isn't your typical late-night bar.

That fact comes into clearer focus with a glance at the bar's list of beers, which showcases more than 90 different suds on tap and many by the bottle. From classic Corona or Blue Moon to Strongbow, Bombshell Blonde, and Flying Dog Tire Bite, the brews land all over a spectrum that spans "Light and Easy" to "Amber, Pale, or Pils." Although beer clearly plays the starring role at Taps, a modest food menu offers a handful of shared plates such as Jack Daniels pulled pork sliders and pizzas.

Taps House of Beer
5120 Washington Avenue
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 426-1105
www.tapshouseofbeer.com
www.yelp.com/biz/taps-house-of-beer-houston

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: , ,
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