Spring has sprung! What is your favorite thing about Spring?
Ate Café: The Perfect Way to Re-Fuel After a Workout
April 7, 2016 by
Although it may seem a bit unusual at first that Spring’s Ate Café is located inside of a popular climbing gym, you won’t mind it a bit the first time you enjoy this filling, healthy fare after a grueling workout. Whether you come here to climb or not, everyone is welcome to try the delicious menu of creative dishes like the Farmhouse Burger, the Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwich, and the Ultra-Veg pie, a flatbread pizza piled high with grilled vegetables. The casual, modern eatery also serves a great selection of fresh salads for those looking for a lighter meal, and the Italian doughnuts are reportedly can't-miss.
Order your food from the convenient, open ordering counter at the front of the restaurant, and then enjoy it at one of the metal café tables or wrapped up to take to go!
Ate Café
403 E Louetta Road
Spring, TX 77373
(832) 980-5283
www.5atecafe.com
Italian Fare and Fireside Dining at Grotto Ristorante
March 24, 2016 by
With vibrant painted murals, a gleaming curved wooden bar, and walls stacked with wine bottles, Grotto Ristorante is a lively setting for a flavorful dinner.
Settle in by the fireplace indoors or out on the patio and get your party started with a glass or bottle of wine and an antipasto, like mussels marechiaro with white wine and fresh tomatoes, the scampi grotto with mushrooms, or the mozzarella in padella with tomatoes, garlic, and basil. Pizza and pasta are featured on the menu, along with entrees like shrimp paillard with jumbo lump crab, roasted bell peppers, and lemon sauce, and snapper Siciliano with Roma tomatoes, garlic, shrimp sauce, and lump crab.
Grotto Ristorante is open every day, and it serves brunch on the weekends.
Grotto Ristorante
9595 Six Pines Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 419-4252
www.grottorestaurants.com
www.yelp.com/biz/grotto-ristorante-the-woodlands-2
Damage-Free Ways to Display Wall Decor at Millenium Waterway
March 17, 2016 by
When you live in a rental, you want to leave behind as little damage as possible to keep the unit in top shape (and insure that ever-important security deposit). In many cases, that means finding new and creative ways to hang posters, paintings, and other wall decor without taking a hammer to the walls. Here are just a few ideas for creating damage-free wall displays.
- Use Command strips. These handy tools from the trusted 3M brand are lifesavers for many renters. Simply stick the sturdy adhesive back to your frame, stick the other side to the wall and attach the two with the equally strong Velcro strips. When it comes time to move out, they simply peel off the wall without leaving any residue behind.
- Try monkey hooks. Monkey hooks are complicated looking metal hooks that are actually quite simple. The slim, curved devices have long ends that push into the wall and create a hole not much larger than a pinpoint, and then they push back out of the wall to create a loop that can hold frames weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Stick on poster putty. For lightweight wall hangings without frames, tried-and-true poster putty is always a safe bet. Simply tack on small dots of this unobtrusive putty to hang posters without nails or tacks showing through—or damaging your walls.
How to hang a picture without hammer and nails [SheKnows]
Hang Pictures on a Wall [Lowe’s]
How to Hang Pictures Without Destroying Your Walls [Lifehacker]
How To: Hang a Frame Without Leaving a Mark [Apartment Therapy]
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
March 17, 2016 by
May your day be touched with a little bit of the luck of the Irish!
Kleb Woods Nature Preserve: Explore Tomball Outdoors
March 10, 2016 by
Combining traditional Texas farm culture with the expansive wonder of a nature preserve, the Kleb Woods Nature Preserve is a truly unique way to experience Tomball and its surrounding areas. Today, the preserve spans over 133 acres full of trees, plants, and wildlife, and it still hosts the buildings and homes used by 20th-century Southeast Texas farmers.
The original farmhouse still stands next to a renovated Nature Center, which features ever-changing exhibits and an auditorium with educational nature programs. The Nature Center frequently offers lectures, history discussions, live bluegrass music, and language lessons. There are also trails spanning much of the grounds of the Kleb Woods Nature Preserve, which attract hikers and birdwatchers alike.
Kleb Woods Nature Preserve’s trails are open from 7 a.m. until dusk every day. The Nature Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and a full list of classes and lectures is available on the preserve’s website.
Kleb Woods Nature Preserve
20303 Draper Road
Tomball, TX 77377
(281) 357-5324
www.ci.tomball.tx.us/index.aspx?NID=343
www.yelp.com/biz/kleb-woods-nature-preserve-hockley
Burroughs Park: Fun for the Whole Family
March 3, 2016 by
Measuring in at 320 acres, Burroughs Park features sports fields, walking trails, and numerous play areas for the kids to run rampant. Bring Fido along for a visit to the park's dog run while you marvel at the scenic views Burroughs Park affords. Refuel with a pit stop at one of the park's picnic areas, or bring a crowd to the barbecue pavilion for larger gatherings and celebrations.
Fishing is available here, thanks to the scenic lake situated inside. Whether your are looking for a leisurely stroll or are after something more active, Burroughs Park has something suitable.
Burroughs Park
9738 Hufsmith Road
Tomball, TX 77375
(281) 353-4196
www.hcp4.net/parks/burroughs
www.yelp.com/biz/burroughs-park-tomball
The Flavors of Louisiana are at Schilleci’s New Orleans Kitchen
February 25, 2016 by
Taste the flavors of Louisiana at Schilleci’s New Orleans Kitchen in The Woodlands. Conveniently located near the Market Street shops, it's an ideal spot to stop in for lunch. Diners love the complimentary basket of Cajun potato chips. The menu offers all of the standards of Big Easy cuisine, like chicken and sausage gumbo, etouffe, jambalaya, and po'boys (try one with sloppy roast beef). Just be sure to save room for beignets (New Orleans-style doughnuts) and a French Press coffee. Come by on Wednesday or Thursday for "Wine Lovers Night" and take advantage of $10 off any bottle of wine. Regulars love Schilleci's for its friendly service and cozy space.
9595 Six Pines Drive, Suite 1120
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 419-4242
www.schillecis.com
www.yelp.com/biz/schillecis-new-orleans-kitchen-the-woodlands-2
How to Use Color to Brighten Your Home at Millenium Waterway
February 18, 2016 by
It’s not uncommon for renters to have restrictions when it comes to making changes to the look of the unit; however, there are a number of other ways to brighten up your space without the use of paint. Here are just a few!
- Add a pop of color in the kitchen by mixing and matching brightly hued chairs with a neutral table. Paint your existing set in a bright yellow, rich navy blue, or trendy turquoise.
- Set out vases of fresh flowers throughout your home for an all-natural burst of color. Think daisies, hydrangeas, and tulips in equally colorful vases.
- Top your bed and sofa with a variety of mismatched throw pillows in complementary hues. While they don’t all have to match completely, choosing one color scheme will help you to keep things looking stylish.
- Add artwork from local thrift stores and home decor shops housed in painted frames. You can also try a “dipped” look by painting the entire bottom half of the painting and frame in one bright shade.
- Add removable wallpaper that you can easily peel off when your lease is up. Use a floral or striped style on one accent wall for a magazine-worthy look.
20 Ways to Add Color to Your Home Without Painting [Brit + Co]
Top 10 Tips for Adding Color to Your Space [HGTV]
7 Ways to Add Color to Your Dining Room [Dwell]
Happy Presidents’ Day
February 15, 2016 by
On this day we honor all of the Presidents of our great country. If it weren’t for them, our country would not be what it is today!
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