Whether you’re the best man at a wedding or the godmother at a baby shower, there are a few pivotal moments in life when you’ll be expected to give a toast. Here are a few tips to help you make a memorable toast that’s equal parts funny and heartwarming.

1. Set the scene. Begin by introducing yourself and stating your relationship with the guest of honor. Use a humorous comparison, describe why the day is so monumental for your relationship, or just simply tell the crowd how proud you are.
2. Use an anecdote. Guests love to hear personal stories about the guest of honor, but be sure that you don’t get too personal. Describe a funny time that you had together, but avoid delving too deep into embarrassing situations or nights of youthful rebellion.
3. Go easy on the jokes. A few jokes about the guest of honor here and there are great, but be careful of becoming hurtful. This is a speech, after all, not a roast.
4. Seamlessly turn the story into a toast. Add a poignant ending note to your story, such as how the guest of honor has become such a kind, responsible or hardworking person. Finally, invite guests to raise their glasses for a toast.

Make a Great Toast in 5 Steps [Real Simple]
How to Give a Good Toast [Cooking Light]
Toasting [Etiquette Scholar]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Dinner Series

Beginning golfers know all too well how intimidating some golf courses can be, but Austin’s Tejas Golf caters especially to those just learning the game. This driving range and learning center features real turf tee boxes and an 11,500-square-foot putting green that feels anything but amateur, but the professional golf instructors and informative clinics are meant to help visitors to learn the basics of golf.

The course’s short game practice area is the ideal place to practice for those who are already familiar with the game, and the stylish clubhouse is much larger than most. Tejas Golf also offers all of the balls that you can hit for $15 max, no matter how long you choose to stay, so it’s just as cost efficient as it is approachable.

Tejas Golf is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Monthly memberships are available for $125 per person or $190 for families.

Tejas Golf
3631 Greenlawn Boulevard
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 310-8911
www.tejasgolf.com/index.html
www.yelp.com/biz/tejas-golf-round-rock

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/trostle

From the spongy injera bread to the flavorful doro wot, every Ethiopian dish is a uniquely delicious culinary experience. Taste of Ethiopia is a wonderful way to experience Ethiopian fare in Austin, though it takes a bit of exploring to uncover this hidden gem tucked away in the Pflugerville area. The restaurant itself is modern and stylish, with tasteful Ethiopian baskets and other knick-knacks scattered about.

Taste of Ethiopia's owners are dedicated to providing authentic, healthy foods to each of their customers, so all of the dishes here are made with fresh, high quality ingredients and without harmful preservatives. Dishes like lentil stew, beef and lamb with flavorful sauce, and vegetarian sampler platters are served in the traditional Ethiopian way, which involves using injera bread to eat with instead of utensils. Taste of Ethiopia also offers a vegetarian lunch buffet on weekdays.

Taste of Ethiopia is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Taste of Ethiopia
1100 Grand Ave. Parkway
Pflugerville, TX 78613
(512) 251-4053
www.tasteofethiopiaaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/taste-of-ethiopia-pflugerville

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/sara marlowe