Burke Baker Planetarium: To The Stars

Have an interstellar experience at the Burke Baker Planetarium, located in the Museum of Natural Science. High-resolution video technology projects images of planets, stars, meteors, solar systems and galaxies on the domed surface of the theatre. Their computerized SkySkan DigitalSky Starfield projector is the most advanced in the world, providing stunning simulations of stars, planets, comets and nebulous objects. It lets you play astronaut with jaw dropping three-dimensional simulated flights through space. A state-of-the-art digital stereo sound system enhances the Dome Theatre experience with a variety of music and sound effects. Films like Stars of the Pharaohs take you back 6,000 years to ancient Egypt to see how astronomers aligned their temples and pyramids with the stars.

Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and students.

Burke Baker Planetarium
1 Hermann Circle Drive
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 639-4629
http://www.yelp.com/biz/burke-baker-planetarium-houston

Learn to Balance Calories for a Healthier Lifestyle

Counting calories is one of the most frustrating things about any diet, but it’s a necessary step for losing weight. If you want to learn how to properly balance the calories you consume without feeling like you’re constantly scrutinizing the foods you eat, these simple tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can help.

Carbohydrates, fats and proteins all contain calories, and they’re all necessary parts of a balanced diet. A calorie is a unit of energy supplied by food, but unfortunately it is also what can cause you to gain weight if you consume too many. Once you balance the number of calories you eat with your physical activity level, that’s when you’ll start to lose weight.

Being in “caloric balance” means that you’re eating the same number of calories that your body is using, and it is a desirable state once you meet your goal weight. This online guide can show you how to determine if you’re in caloric balance, and it can also show you how much physical activity you should get each day based on this scale. Visit the CDC's Balancing Calories website to learn more!

Balancing Calories [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

Public Domain/Freeimagescollection

3 Reasons to Take Time to Read Every Day

Whether you get lost in an e-reader, your smartphone, or a good old-fashioned hard-cover, the benefits of reading remain the same. Here are three reasons to always keep reading a part of your daily routine.

1. Reading reduces stress.
Studies report that reading is a more effective means of stress relief than listening to music, going for a walk, playing video games, or sipping tea. Pick up your favorite engrossing novel, enjoy some peace and quiet, and get lost in the story weaved by your favorite author.

2. Reading keeps your brain in shape.
Consider reading a form of exercise for your brain. A person's participation in creative activities, like reading, while young has been shown to slow cognitive decline later in life. Such activities may even ward off Alzheimer's disease.

3. Reading is free entertainment.
A visit to your local library can provide you with several hours of free entertainment. Compare this to the price of a movie or amusement park ticket, and your wallet will thank you.

Benefits of Reading: Getting Smart, Thin, Healthy, Happy [Reader's Digest]
7 Unconventional Reasons Why You Absolutely Should Be Reading Books [Huff Post]
10 Benefits of Reading: Why You Should Read Every Day [Lifehack]

Have You Tried the Hummingbird Cupcake at Crave Cupcakes?

The next time you have a cupcake craving, don't settle for store-bought varieties when you can get gourmet at Crave Cupcakes in Uptown. Only superior ingredients make their way into Crave's decadent cupcakes, like seasonal fruit, local Texas dairy, and European chocolate.

Come in and select from rotating daily flavors, like macadamia nut, red velvet, key lime, and carrot, or choose a more mysterious flavor, like hummingbird or candy bar. Your favorite flavors can be pre-ordered to ensure you get exactly what you want before they run out. You can also request a customized decoration for these special orders.

Crave bakes cupcakes frequently throughout the day to ensure freshness. These bite sized cakes are a great choice for weddings, birthdays, and other special moments.

Crave Cupcakes
1151-06 Uptown Park Boulevard
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 622-7283
https://www.cravecupcakes.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/crave-cupcakes-houston

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2014!

Make Brasil Your New Go-To Dining Destination in Houston

If you're looking for a restaurant to make your new go-to spot, check out Brasil in Montrose. Brasil is a nice spot to work on a project or grab a bite for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The three owners used their very different backgrounds to create a place the whole community can enjoy, whether it be local food, craft beers, or scrumptious desserts.

For breakfast, choose from bagels, pancakes with fresh toppings like fruits and roasted nuts, or breakfast tacos loaded with eggs, bacon, and savory sauces. For lunch and dinner, start off with an appetizer like the brie with almond and fruit or the falafel flatbread with hummus, tomatoes, and tzatziki. For your main entree, choose from expertly made sandwiches, burgers, or order a pizza to share with the table. Pizzas come with a variety of cheese, meats like all-beef sausage and bacon, and savory spices.

Brasil
2604 Dunlavy Street
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 528-1993
http://cafe-brasil.net/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/brasil-houston

Three Android Education Apps!

Your smartphone is great for playing games and taking photos, but did you know that there’s also a great deal that it can teach you as well? These informative, knowledgeable apps for the Android system will teach you new things about our world through the use of photos, videos, and text.

TED
The famous TED conferences come to life on your phone with this high-quality, larger than life app. Some of the world’s leading tech geniuses, teachers, doctors, researchers, musicians, and other fascinating people have given TED talks meant to inspire and amaze, and now you can watch them in video format right from your Android phone.

Duolingo
Duolingo is an app that teaches you foreign languages completely for free as you cook dinner, commute to work, or even work out at the gym. The app features bold, brightly colored learning activities, points for answering questions correctly, speaking exercises, and more for six of the world’s most popular languages.

Star Finder
Become an amateur astronomer when you learn about the stars in the sky with Star Finder. This beautiful app recognizes constellations, provides a full model of the solar system, and visualizes eclipses all from your smartphone.

Public Domain/Public Domain

NPR Podcasts You Can Listen to Online

There is a whole list of things to love about NPR, but their unbeatable podcasts are some of the best. With a variety of subjects ranging from music to the economy and the recent addition of online streaming, NPR podcasts are more accessible than ever before. Here are three worth hearing:

Planet Money
Planet Money is a twice-weekly podcast that aims to discuss the current state of the economy in the style of a fun, lighthearted conversation with a friend. Topics like the ebb and flow of automobile brands, pharmaceuticals and the birth of accounting give you an insight into the ways in which the economy works, from micro to macro. 

All Songs Considered
A podcast created by music lovers for music lovers, All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares new music from emerging artists and conducts discussions with listeners about the state of today’s music scene. The weekly, 30-minute long show also features episodes about recent festivals and other music news that fans of all genres will appreciate. 

TED Radio Hour
It seems that people can’t get enough of TED Talks these days, and the TED Radio Hour is another extension of the immensely popular conference and global platform. Each episode of the TED Radio Hour centers on a common theme, and host Guy Raz discusses inventions, solutions to problems, and innovative thought surrounding that theme. If you’re in need of a bit of inspiration, the TED Radio Hour is one podcast meant to motivate and amaze.

Plan Family Meals with This Deliciously Healthy NIH Guide

Many people have the best intentions when it comes to eating healthy, but have a difficult time planning to create their own healthful menus. The NIH knows that if healthy foods taste good, people are more likely to eat them, which is why they created the Deliciously Healthy Eating guide.

This NIH guide is an all-inclusive resource for discovering flavorful, healthful meals that are simple to create. It is packed full of nutritious, low-calorie recipes that taste just as good as unhealthy foods, from Oatmeal Pecan Waffles to Quick Beef Casseroles. Browse the website by food categories like beef, poultry, vegetables or pasta to find recipes using ingredients that you have on hand, or search by meals like breakfast, lunch and snacks to plan for every time of day.

The recipes are broken down by cook time and number of servings. They include nutrition facts like calories, total fat, cholesterol, sodium, and carbohydrates to make it simple to know what you're eating.

Deliciously Healthy Eating Guide [National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute]

Public Domain/Public Domain

Six Places to Find Stylish Glasses Online

Purchasing prescription eyeglasses is now easier than ever with the launch of online eyewear boutiques. Providing high-quality, trendy frames at reasonable prices, many of these boutiques offer a "virtual try-on" feature wherein you upload your photo and test styles against your features and face shape.

Still sound too risky? Below, find six online sites that offer free at-home try-on — usually with free shipping, both ways — enabling you to choose up to six pairs of glasses to model in your bathroom mirror before committing to a single frame. 

1. Warby Parker

2. Fetch Eyewear

3. Tortoise and Blonde

4. Glasses.com

5. Lookmatic

6. Classic Specs

Pin It on Pinterest