After spending an entire weekend checking off items on your spring cleaning checklist, you’re likely ready to add a few fun, spring-themed touches to your freshly cleaned home. It doesn’t take a big budget to decorate your home for the changing season, however; all it takes is some creativity and these adorable decorating tips.

• Use natural items wherever possible. Go outside and gather blooming branches, pebbles, and other organic objects to use in your DIY decor. Arrange them in a clear bowl on the center of the table, or corral them in a wicker basket for a chic, natural look.
• Switch out your throw pillows. Add a burst of citrus-inspired color to your living area just in time for spring by replacing your usual throw pillows with bright, cheerful alternatives.
• Add a bit of green. Nothing says springtime like live plants in the home, so make a stop at your local nursery to pick up a few for your home. Ferns are an especially good idea because they make a big impact and are easy to care for.
• Change your doormat. If your current doormat looks a bit worse for the wear from all of those heavy winter boots, switch it out for something fun and colorful or even a mat with a cheeky greeting.

Easy Spring Decorating Ideas [Midwest Living]
Inspired Spring Décor [Better Homes & Gardens]
10 Decorating Ideas for Spring [Style at Home]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Zengame

Mandola's Italian Market is a popular place to shop and dine in Bee Cave, Texas. Every nook and cranny in the marketplace area is packed with imported treasures, ranging from dried pasta and ladyfingers to oil-packed capers.

But there's no need to wait until you get home to chow down: Mandola's operates an attached trattoria that offers a range of delectable goodies, and the restaurant's aroma wafts around the marketplace, tempting you to sit down for a quick bite after you finish your shopping. Yelp reviewers rave over the bruschetta topped with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and basil, and they say you shouldn't miss the traditional antipasto selection of cured meats, cheeses, and assorted relishes and marinated vegetables. Hot meals like deep dish lasagna and chicken parmesan are also available, and you can even order take-out family-style meals for up to six people.

Visit Mandola's website to learn more about this Bee Cave market!

Mandola’s Italian Market
12815 Shops Parkway
Bee Cave, TX 78738
(512) 600-8500
www.mandolasmarket.com
www.yelp.com/biz/mandolas-italian-market-bee-cave

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/jeffreyww

If you’ve ever made a cup of tea that was too weak or too strong, you know how difficult it can be to create the perfect cuppa. Follow these five expert steps to properly brew tea at home, whether you prefer relaxing oolong or stimulating black tea.

1. Using a teapot, bring very cold tap water to a boil. It’s important to bring your water to a boil before adding a tea bag to ensure that it brews fully. Add one tea bag per one cup of water.
2. If you’re brewing black tea, pour boiling water directly on top of the tea bag and let it steep for three to five minutes.
3. For green teas, remove the pot from the stove and let it cool for 10 minutes. Next, pour the water over the tea bag and let it steep for just one minute.
4. For delicate oolong teas or white teas, heat your water only to 190 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour it over the tea, letting oolong steep for five to seven minutes and white teas for only three to four minutes.
5. If you want to make iced tea, simply brew your tea as instructed and let it cool for a few minutes. Then, just pour over ice and enjoy.

Make a Perfect Brew [UK Tea & Infusions Association]
The Tea Experience: Home Brewing for the Best [The Tea Association of the U.S.A.]
Brew a Perfect Cup in 3 Easy Steps [Teavana]
How to Brew Hot Tea [The Republic of Tea]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Christian Kadluba