Lifestyle

Caffeinate Your Morning at These Two Austin Cafes

April 9, 2015 by greystar

Although Austin is probably better known for its barbecue, the city's gourmet coffee scene is rapidly catching up. For those who love to treat themselves to a premium cup of joe in the mornings, you have more than a few options from which to choose. Here are just two of Austin’s best coffee shops to fuel your morning.

Epoch Coffee
If you’re searching for the hippest coffee shop in Austin to people watch, surf the web, and get caffeinated, Epoch just may be it. Epoch features the rustic, urban decor that Austin is known for combined with a menu of strong brewed blends and simple espresso drinks. While you won’t find a sugary, blended coffee here, you will find great roasts for coffee purists.
221 W. North Loop Blvd., Austin, TX 78751; (512) 454-3762

Mozart’s Coffee Roasters
Mozart’s offers your morning cuppa with a stunning view on the side. The cafe’s outdoor patio overlooks a crystal clear lake, while inside friendly baristas create elaborate flavored lattes, seasonal coffee blends, and iced espresso drinks in a wide variety of styles. Although Mozart’s is best known for its sweet beverages, the shop offers more traditional cappuccinos and brewed coffees, as well. Order a coffee and a housemade pastry and enjoy it all while watching the sunrise over the lake outside.
3825 Lake Austin Blvd., Austin, TX 78703; (512) 477-2900

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Miguel Ángel Arroyo Orte

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Austin Cafes, Coffee in Austin, Things to Do in Austin, Travel

Essential Beauty-Enhancing Products You Already Have at Home

March 19, 2015 by greystar

The next time you want to try a new beauty product, you might want to start by browsing your kitchen cabinets instead of heading to the drugstore. Many common foods and oils can double as creams, scrubs, and skin treatments! Here are a few beneficial beauty products that you likely already own.

Tea bags. Instead of investing in a pricey eye cream to get rid of those dark circles after a night out, use some tea bags instead. Soak two green tea bags in warm water and lay them on your eyelids. The caffeine will shrink the appearance of blood vessels, while the antioxidants reduce inflammation.
Oatmeal. Make your own face treatment by using your favorite breakfast oats. Place a handful of whole oats inside of a washcloth and secure it closed with a rubber band. Soak the whole thing in a sink of warm water until the water turns cloudy, and then splash it onto your face. This will create a protective barrier on the skin that seals in moisture and provides anti-inflammatory properties.
Oranges. Use oranges to get rid of pesky dry patches on the skin. Squeeze half of an orange into a bowl and mix in 1/4 cup of granulated sugar and 1/4 cup of olive oil. Rub the other half of the orange on dry knees or elbows to loosen the dead cells, and then rub on your homemade scrub to slough them away.

Have A Spa Day…At Home! 10 DIY Beauty Treatments! [Seventeen]
Our Favorite All-Natural Home Beauty Treatments [Fitness]
Crazy Beauty Tricks That Really Work [Whole Living]
6 All-Natural Beauty Fixes [Woman’s Day]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/kankan

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Beauty, DIY, Health, Wellness

How to Strike a Better Work-Life Balance

March 5, 2015 by greystar

Between housework, errands, family obligations, and professional duties, maintaining a healthy balance between work and home life is nothing short of a juggling act. If you feel as though you're being pulled in a thousand directions, read these tips to help refocus your priorities and help shed some stress.

1) Ask for help.
As they say, "It takes a village." Reach out to friends, family, and neighbors for help on days when you're stretched especially thin. For instance, you might trade off carpooling or babysitting duties with a neighbor, or assign chores and errands to family members.

2) Just say no.
Establish clear boundaries. Train yourself to ignore unimportant work emails when you're off the clock. Similarly, do your best not to bring personal issues into the workplace. If you're overloaded with work, tactfully relay the fact to your employer, and ask for more time if handed additional assignments.

3) Make yourself a priority.
When you're responsible for the welfare of others, it's easy to put your own needs and ambitions on the back burner. However, you'll likely find that a little "me time" will go a long way in helping you deal with everyday obligations. Be sure to schedule time for your own hobbies and interests every week.

The Top 10 Tips for Balancing Work and Family Life [Mom MD]
14 Steps to Achieving Work-Life Balance [Salary.com]
6 Strategies for Work-Life Balance [Oprah]
Get a good balance between work and life [Action for Happiness]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Eric Norris

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Business, Career Pointers, Professional Tips, Work

Feeling Under the Weather? Try These All-Natural Cold and Flu Remedies

February 19, 2015 by greystar

If you get a cold or the flu every winter like clockwork, you’re likely always on the hunt for natural ways to treat your illness at home. Before you drag yourself out of bed to go to the doctor, try these all-natural home remedies to help banish your sore throat, soothe that runny nose, and make your aching muscles feel as good as new. (But consult your doctor for professional medical advice first!)

Drink as many fluids as possible. When you’re feeling all stuffed up and congested, one of the best ways to rid your nasal cavity of mucus is by drinking plenty of fluids. Aim for eight to ten glasses of water per day, and supplement them with herbal teas, sports drinks, and even broth-based soups.
Inhale steam. Another way to clear your stuffy nose is by leaning over a pot of boiling water, placing a towel over your head, and breathing deeply through your nose—just be careful not to breathe too deeply and burn yourself.
Adjust your diet. By incorporating things like lemons, garlic, and honey into your diet, you can absorb their vitamins and antimicrobial properties. Green tea or peppermint tea also help to rid your body of cold or flu symptoms.
Gargle with salt water. If a sore throat is keeping you up at night, this old wives’ tale can help to decrease the swelling in the throat’s mucous membranes and ease your pain.

Home Remedies for Colds [WebMD]
Cold and Flu Home Remedies [Doctor Oz]
22 Natural Sore Throat Remedies to Help Soothe the Pain [Everyday Roots]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/kankan

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Colds and Flu, Health, Seasonal, Wellness

Sweater 911! How to Mend a Hole in That Favorite Sweater

January 22, 2015 by greystar

Now that the weather is getting chilly, warm, cozy sweaters are an essential wardrobe staple. Unfortunately, months in storage or an accidental snag can inflict some major damage on the delicate weave of your favorite pullover. Instead of tossing it into the donation pile, mend that hole in your sweater with one of these simple tutorials.

Martha Stewart’s Easy Ways to Fix a Sweater
It’s safe to assume that Martha knows how to fix just about anything, and her sweater-mending tips are second to none. She’ll show you how to stock a knitwear first-aid kit and then use it to fix just about any type of sweater damage.

Darning or Felting a Hole in A Sweater
Whether you prefer stitching with a classic needle and thread or using wool roving and the more complex felting process, both of these options will make your sweater look good as new.

Fix a Hole in a Sweater With Thread
This tutorial from Black Spruce Hound will teach even those with little to no sewing skills how to mend a sweater using a needle and thread. With a few genius twists and turns of the needle, you can even avoid leaving behind those annoying bumps and bulges.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/tschiae

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Clothing, Clothing Repair, Mending, Sweaters

USDA Guide to Calorie Counting

December 18, 2014 by greystar

Counting calories is a daily chore that all dieters must face, and it may sometimes seem like it is taking over your life (or at least your meals). These helpful tips from the USDA can help you to manage your meals, keep your calories under control, and do it all while still enjoying the food you eat. Here are some of the tips:

Even if you carefully count calories, it's easy to exceed your empty calorie allowance. Empty calories are calories that come from added sugars and solid fats, and they have no health benefits.
When choosing proteins, choose only lean versions of beef or pork. A three-ounce portion of regular ground beef contains 64 empty calories, while a three-ounce portion of extra lean ground beef contains zero empty calories.
Breads and pastries with added sugar or butter contain significantly more empty calories than those without. A regular piece of white bread contains zero empty calories and approximately 69 calories, but a glazed donut contains 170 empty calories out of its total 255 calories.
Check the calories on the label before you consume any food, and make sure to eat only the recommended serving size listed on the label.

Find more calorie counting tips on the USDA website.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/sajia.hall

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Diet, Food, Health, Nutrition

Plan Your Dream Wedding With Help From These 2 Websites

December 4, 2014 by greystar

The wedding-planning process is an exciting time in the life of any bride or groom, but it can difficult to know exactly where to start. Whether you're planning backyard nuptials or an elaborate affair on a tropical island, these two image-heavy websites can help point you in the direction of your dream wedding.

Style Me Pretty
Arguably the most popular wedding blog out there, Style Me Pretty posts user-submitted photos from "real" brides. Each post tells the story of the bride's day through beautiful photos, which are supplemented with wedding planning advice and tips from the newlywed.

Once Wed
Similar to Style Me Pretty, Once Wed is eye candy for brides-to-be. Ooh and aah over images of real brides' gowns, bouquet, and shoes, then scroll down to learn how she coordinated her bridal party, decorated her tablescapes, and decided upon invitations. Borrow some of her ideas for your own wedding.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Katie Cornelius

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Brides, DIY, Family, Weddings

Popular Games for Apple Devices

November 20, 2014 by greystar

There are always certain iPhone games that become crazes throughout the Apple community, and two games in particular stand out more than most. These game apps are colorful, exciting, and as anyone who plays them would agree, very addictive.

Angry Birds
Angry Birds is one of the most downloaded iPhone games of the past few years, in large part because of its silly characters and addictive challenges. The game’s objective is to retrieve a group of birds’ stolen eggs, but in order to do so the player must complete a series of levels that take place in a strange world with zero gravity and dangerous Space Pigs. If it sounds very strange, that’s because it is—but it’s also very fun!

Candy Crush Saga
For fans of the classic bubble burst games, Candy Crush Saga gives the game a modern twist with a whole lot of colorful, fanciful personality. Players must navigate their way through the magical world of Candy Kingdom alongside the adorable Tiffi and Mr. Toffee. Whimsical candy graphics decorate the games numerous puzzles, which only get harder and harder as the game goes on. With more levels added every other week, Candy Crush Saga is a never-ending game that will provide hours of playing fun.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/honorphotobar

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Android, Apps, Tech, Technology

Tech Question of the Day: What Is Arduino?

October 16, 2014 by greystar

If you’re not particularly in tune with the inner workings of a computer, you likely don’t know what Arduino is. In the simplest terms, Arduino is a single-board microcontroller that hobbyists can use to create computer-powered devices, with sensors like thermometers, light meters, and more. Here are a few key facts about Arduino:

Arduino is an open-source computing platform.
This means that anyone can use it and help to develop it. The Arduino board can be assembled by hand, or it can be purchased already assembled. Owners can use Arduino alone or in conjunction with software running on an existing computer.

Newcomers to computer programming can use Arduino.
In fact, that’s who it was designed for. Arduino is meant to introduce artists and other non-software developers to computer programming by providing a code editor with syntax highlighting, brace matching, and other features. The language and hardware can be used to create fun home projects like wearable computers, interactive toys, and much more!

Introduction [Arduino]