MOD Fitness Studio: Shake Up Your Exercise Routine at This Stylish Studio

If a traditional workout routine simply doesn’t excite you or going to the gym just doesn’t work with your schedule, MOD Fitness Studio is a high-energy alternative that Austin residents rave about. This unique fitness facility combines strength, cardio, and flexibility in each of its fun classes, and upbeat music will keep you motivated to push yourself a bit further each time. Workouts like MOD Barre and MOD Burn combine techniques from yoga, Pilates, and resistance training, and each class is offered at different times throughout the week in order to accommodate your busy schedule.

The studio itself is stylish and welcoming, featuring hardwood floors, chic decor, and a small, comfortable layout that is less overwhelming than larger gyms. If you need a bit of a boost to shake up your exercise routine, MOD Fitness Studio is a great choice.

MOD Fitness Studio is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and from 8 a.m. to noon weekends.

MOD Fitness Studio
2041 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 765-5663
www.modfitnessaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/mod-fitness-studio-austin

Speed Through Household Chores With These Cleaning Shortcuts

The faster you get your cleaning done, the more time you’ll have to spend time with friends and family. The trick to quick cleaning is to have a system and to stick to it. Set a time limit for each room and you’ll be finished before you know it. Follow these tips for quick and efficient cleaning!

  • Keep up with daily cleaning tasks to help maintain your home's tidiness. By doing simple tasks every day, the cleaning will be much easier and not be so overwhelming.
  • Use a tote or bucket to keep all your cleaning supplies in. You can bring this from room to room and you won’t need to waste time searching for the supplies you need.
  • Use a vacuum to clean all of your floor surfaces. You should also use an extension cord for the vacuum to allow you to reach multiple areas without taking the time to keep plugging it in.
  • On your shower walls and door, use a squeegee after every use. This will prevent soap scum and water spots later on.
  • Focus on what you are cleaning and cut out anything that might distract you, e.g., your phone and the TV!

13 Tips to Help You Speed-Clean Your Home [Better Homes and Gardens]
Clean Your House in Less Than an Hour [Woman’s Day]
Speed Cleaning: Tips For Fast & Efficient Housekeeping [The Inspired Room]

Numero28: Southern Italian Specialties in Downtown Austin

Southern Italian food is the specialty at Numero28, but even this gourmet food plays second fiddle to the warm, welcoming owners. Many Yelp reviewers mention Marco and Bernardo by name, citing them as part of the reason they return to Numer28 on a regular basis. The owners take special care to make every guest feel at home—and they watch over what's going on in the kitchen so that each and every dish is crafted carefully.

The menu boasts a slew of traditional favorites, including thin-crust pizzas. From the classic margherita with tomato, mozzarella, and basil to the Austin pie with jalapeno, sausage, and red peppers, the pizza menu offers a wide array of options for all tastes. And if you aren't into pizza, you have plenty of other entrees to choose from. Dig into the classic lasagna Bolognese (or a vegetarian version), the ziti with eggplant and mozzarella, or the porchetta with wild herbs and spices. Add a glass of wine to your meal for the full Numero28 experience.

Numero28
452 W. 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-5510
www.numero28austin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/numero-28-austin

Tsunami Cycles: Tune Up Your Bike at This Friendly Local Shop

Austin residents certainly love their bicycles, and local cyclists insist that Tsunami Cycles is one of the best shops in the city to keep those bikes in working order. Whether you’re in the market for a new bicycle or you need to pick up some parts for your current one, this well-stocked shop is the place to go.

The store itself is located conveniently on Austin’s South Congress Avenue, and it stocks a large selection of new and used bicycles and a full-service repair shop to meet any area cyclist's needs. Tsunami Cycles offers tune-ups, brake and gear adjustments, and complete building services on new bikes, and they’ll even pack your bike up and ship it anywhere in the country for just a bit more. Throw in a staff of friendly, knowledgeable employees who are anything but intimidating, and it’s easy to see why this shop is a staple of Austin's cycling scene.

Tsunami Cycles is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. The shop is closed on Tuesdays.

Tsunami Cycles
2114 1/2 S Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 448-9725
www.tsunamicycles.com
www.yelp.com/biz/tsunami-cycles-austin-2

Savor an Icy Treat at Sweet Caroline’s Snow Shack

New Orleans is known for its snowballs, a popular frozen treat that involves fluffy, white ice that is much smoother than that of a sno-cone. In Austin, you can find authentic snowballs at the family-owned Sweet Caroline’s Snow Shack. This small and colorful dessert shop is housed in a food truck complete with a bright yellow exterior and a convenient ordering counter where you can choose your tasty treat.

Snowballs from Sweet Caroline’s are served in large Styrofoam bowls and topped with colorful syrups including flavors like classic cherry and root beer, as well as more unique flavors like the Tootsie Roll, which is made with chocolate cream and silver fox syrups.

The mobile operation has two locations in Austin, so it’s always easy to stop in for a frozen dessert after dinner or to cool down on a hot afternoon.

Sweet Caroline's Snow Shack
9528 Anderson Mill Road
Austin, TX 78729
(512) 234-7669
www.facebook.com/sweetcarolinessnowshack
www.yelp.com/biz/sweet-carolines-snow-shack-austin-2

Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company: Craft Brews and Bites in Austin

Funky and energetic, Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company (ABGB) is a popular local gastropub and brewery in South Austin. The brewery always has more than eight beers on tap daily, in addition hard cider and wine.

To complement your brew, the menu touts appetizers such as charcuterie boards with cheese and meat, prosciutto-wrapped melon, deviled eggs, and house-made habanero-bacon-wrapped asparagus. Refreshing salads include a yellow watermelon with sunflower sprouts and fresh mozzarella with an olive oil balsamic reduction and a spinach salad with fresh plums, onions, almonds, and goat cheese. The restaurant also bakes a mean pizza (regular or gluten-free), with an abundance of toppings from which to choose. Overstuffed sandwiches and subs are also on offer.

ABGB is open daily, and take-out is available.

Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company
1305 West Oltorf Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 298-2242
www.theabgb.com
www.yelp.com/biz/austin-beer-garden-brewing-company-austin-2

Calling All Teachers: These Pinterest Boards Are Head of the Class!

Being teacher is an incredibly fulfilling job, and Pinterest is one of the most beneficial tools on the Internet to help make the most out of your classroom. From funny quotes to creative lesson ideas, the Pinterest teaching community offers something for all types of educators. Here are three of the best teaching boards on Pinterest.

Classroom Management
Teaching a class isn’t all fun and games, and this helpful board offers a number of tips and tricks for organizing your classroom and keeping everything running smoothly. Here, you’ll find creative ways to motivate your students, plus fun decorations that double as educational resources and printable worksheets to bolster your lesson plans.

Classroom Organization
Any teacher will tell you that staying organized is the key to a happy classroom, and this board is filled with ideas to help you do just that. Creative sign-out sheets will help you to keep track of all of your students, while bins and cubbies make great spaces for organizing all of your classroom supplies. There are even printable labels, worksheets, and calendars that all teachers will love.

Teacher Quotes
At the end of the day, teaching is all about maintaining a sense of humor. These inspiring and often hilarious quotes are filled with inside jokes that only fellow teachers will understand.

You Deserve Dessert from Dolce Neve

If you’re the type of person with more refined tastes in desserts, you’ll love South Austin’s Dolce Neve. This eclectic sweet shop serves gelato, frozen yogurt, and ice cream all under one roof, and its gourmet flavors make it just as delicious for grown ups as it is for the little ones. Gelato comes in flavors like buttermilk blackberry, lemon goat’s milk, and ricotta honey pistachio, while elaborate creations like the Cassata combine ricotta gelato with chocolate chunks and candied orange peels to create a dessert that's exciting to the senses.

Inside, the cozy dining room at Dolce Neve is just as enticing as its delicious frozen treats. Reclaimed wood tables and farm-style light fixtures fill the room, and there are lush green plants lining the windowsills to create a truly cheerful ambiance.

Dolce Neve
1713 S First St
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 804-5568
www.dolcenevegelato.com

Turn Your Home at Tree Into a Workout Studio With These Simple Tips

Want to break a sweat without hitting up the gym? These simple workout ideas will show you how to create a space for exercise in your own apartment at tree.

  1. Do yoga. With so many online yoga classes and free tutorials, you can get in a complete yoga class right at home. Clear away clutter and extra furniture, dim the lights, and even light a few candles to create that yoga studio atmosphere (even if you’re just in your living room).
  2. Sweat it out with cardio. Start by clearing the furniture out from the center of your living space, and then pop in an instructional workout DVD. If you’re worried about the sound disturbing your neighbors downstairs, do your workout on a thick area rug or a non-slip exercise mat.
  3. Do some strength training. Invest in small-scale strength training equipment to build muscle even without pumping iron. Things like exercise bands, hand weights, and kettlebells are perfect for toning your biceps even in your apartment.
  4. Create a circuit. Many trainers agree that circuit training is one of the most effective types of exercise. Create your own at-home circuit by working with your apartment’s furniture, including step-ups onto a chair, crunches with your feet under the sofa, and sprints up and down stairs.

How to Build a Home Gym Anywhere [Men's Fitness]
Fitness Pros Weigh In: Essentials of a "No Frills" Home Gym [Apartment Therapy]
10 Small-Space Home Gym Hacks for Your Tiny Apartment [Brit + Co]

Toast a Special Occasion Over a Steak Dinner at Jeffrey’s

If you’re looking for your next special occasion splurge, consider making a reservation at Jeffrey’s, a venerable Austin dining destination that's been in business since 1975.

Expect to be pampered here. Diners' cars, for instance, are parked by the complimentary valet service, while plush intimate seating encourages you to sit and linger. The waitstaff is professional and hospitable, so don't be shy about requesting that they pass by with the martini and cheese carts before your meal. The menu is crafted with care and encompasses steaks, unique appetizers like burrata with strawberries, and soups and salads galore. Save room for one of the decadent desserts, like the poached pear tart!

Jeffrey's is open for dinner 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Sunday is "wine night" with half-priced bottles from Jeffrey’s wine cellar, and happy hour is served daily from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Jeffrey’s
1204 West Lynn Street
Austin, Texas 78703
(512) 477-5584
www.jeffreysofaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jeffreys-austin

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