Keep the Kids Busy With These Easy Fall Craft Projects

When the kids are home on fall break from school, you’ll likely need fun activities to keep them entertained. These fall-themed craft projects are perfect for keeping the kids busy as the days get shorter.

Plastic Cup Crow [craftsbyamanda.com]
The kids will love this simple crow craft that is much more silly than scary. As a bonus, all it takes is a small bathroom cup, construction paper, glue, and a few other supplies that you probably already have around the house.

Toilet Paper Roll Leaf Stamp [craftymorning.com]
If you feel wasteful throwing away all of those empty toilet paper rolls, start saving them to make this colorful fall art project with the little ones. Cut the rolls into handheld sizes, bend them into leaf shapes and encourage your kids to go wild with paint in shades of red, yellow, and brown.

Fall Leaves Garland [abeautifulmess.typepad.com]
Let the kids help you decorate the house for fall with this adorable garland DIY. Children of all ages can trace leaves onto colorful felt (the more the better!), and you can let the older kids cut them out with child-safe scissors. Sew them together with embroidery thread or let a beginning sewer help with this part, too. Hang the garland anyplace in your home that would benefit from a bit of fall charm.

Crescent Moon Wine Bar: Good Wine and Good Food in Spring, Texas

Wine is meant to be enjoyed at a place like the Crescent Moon Wine Bar, a popular hot spot near Avana Grogan’s Mill. From the outside, this may look like an unassuming spot, but Crescent Moon's pleasant interior creates the perfect setting for sharing good wine and good food.

Come in, seat yourself, and check out Crescent Moon's extensive wine list. Over 300 different wines to be exact, and many can be had by the glass. Visit for lunch or dinner and try a selection of cheeses, tasty salads, sandwiches, and entrees. Don’t miss Social Hour Tuesdays through Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and compliment your drink with some tapas, bruschetta, sliders, or pizza. You can also stick around to see great live music almost every night.

Crescent Moon Wine Bar
440 Rayford Road
Spring, TX 77386
(281) 364-9463

www.crescentmoonwinebar.com/home
www.yelp.com/biz/crescent-moon-wine-bar-spring

Rudy’s BBQ: Real Texas Barbecue

Craving BBQ? One top spot in Spring, Texas might by Rudy's BBQ. This barbeuce place features a broad array of delightful dishes, ranging from pulled pork to ribs. If you come in and you’re not sure what to order, you can get a sample! The brisket, pork, sausage, chicken, and turkey is all slow cooked, to the delight of regular diners.

The eat can be bought separately by the half-pound, perfect for families, or get a sandwich. Try the classic “sause” or the “sissy sause,” both of which are well-regarded among regulars. The sides are esteemed, too, with options like creamed corn, cole slaw, and smoked potato making nice complements to a hearty meal.

Everything's available for take-out, too, in case you'd like to bring some barbecue back to your home at Avana Grogan’s Mill. Visit the Rudy's BBQ website to learn more about this Spring, Texas restaurant.

Rudy's BBQ
20806 Interstate 45
Spring, TX 77373
(281) 288-0916

www.rudysbbq.com/page/home
www.yelp.com/biz/rudys-country-store-and-bar-b-q-spring

The Brooklyn Cafe: A Taste of NYC Here in The Woodlands

The Brooklyn Cafe is proof that you don't have to travel all the way to Brooklyn to get an authentic New York-style bagel! This enduring breakfast and lunch spot offers thick, dense bagels just like they make them in the Big Apple, as well as a number of delicious cream cheese options. The casual, deli-style eatery also offers bagel sandwiches and sourdough French toast for breakfast, while for lunch, the menu lists healthy wraps, grilled hamburgers, and hearty deli sandwiches piled high with premium toppings.

There is ample outdoor seating for those who want to enjoy their meals in the sunshine, while inside, The Brooklyn Cafe offers even more seating in a casual, convenient atmosphere. If 20 years in business doesn’t convince you try this tasty breakfast option, the smell of fresh bagels wafting out the door certainly will!

The Brooklyn Cafe
4775 W Panther Creek Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
(281) 298-7488
www.thebrooklyncafe.com

How to Incorporate Antiques Into Modern Decor

You love the look of antiques, but you don’t want your home to look stuffy or stodgy. It can be difficult to create a balance between new and old items in your decor, but these simple tips from the pros will show you exactly how to incorporate antiques into an otherwise modern space.

  • Pick the right items. Instead of buying something at an antique store just because you like it, consider whether or not you can actually use it in your home. A large antique bicycle is probably not the best choice in an apartment, but an antique mirror certainly is.
  • Don’t spend too much. Browse thrift stores and yard sales to find low prices on hidden gems instead of making an impulse purchase at an overpriced antique store. That way, you’ll feel good about saving money on something that you really need.
  • Choose furniture. Antique furniture is a great investment because it’s often higher quality than modern pieces from big box stores. Things like dressers, credenzas, and desks are all great options that will stand the test of time.
  • Be sure to contrast. If you’re worried about your antiques making your home look dated, spread them out and use modern elements in between as contrast. Place a vintage coffee table near a modern sofa, or hang an antique frame in an updated bathroom.

Add Antique Accents To Your Modern Home Décor [The Accent Wall]
How To Mix and Match Antique Furniture In Modern Spaces [Build Direct]
Can You Mix Antique Furniture with Modern Furniture? [Savvy Examiner]

Treasures From the Past Find New Life at Spring Antique Mall

To take home a piece of days gone by, head over to Spring Antique Mall, located off of Spring Cypress Road. Its inventory spans high-end collectibles, china and crystal, and furniture dating as far back as the 18th century, as well as fine vintage clothing kept in excellent condition. However, if it's a black-and-white portrait of George Michael you seek, look elsewhere, as one very lucky Yelper managed to score this one-of-a-kind find back in 2012.

To proponents of “Retrocycling”, i.e. the “reinventing, repurposing, refurbishing, refashioning and recycling [of] antiques and vintage collectibles”, Spring Antique Mall is the ideal place to score new wares. The mall's website showcases several genius ideas, including the repurposing of a hollowed-out television set into a cozy indoor dog house, the refashioning of an old sink into an outdoor bird bath, and an impressive staircase crafted from old-timey crate boxes.

Spring Antique Mall
1609 Spring Cypress Road
Spring, TX 77388
www.springantiquemall.com
www.yelp.com/biz/spring-antique-mall-spring

Pundt Park: Outdoor Fun and Activities for the Whole Family

Located off of Spring Creek Drive and part of the Spring Creek Greenway, the sprawling 380-acre spread of Pundt Park is the perfect venue for your outdoor activities of choice. Saddle up to traverse the park's many equestrian trails, or lace up your hiking boots and hit the 10-mile trail linking Pundt Park to the Stahl Preserve and the Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Centre. If you prefer to kick back on a lazy summer day, pack up a basket and post up along the picnic loop with 10 tables, two covered pavilions, and convenient restrooms nearby.

Pundt Park’s two lakes are ideal for fishing with white bass and crappie ready for catching in winter and year round catfish, but guests should keep in mind that swimming, boating, canoeing, and kayaking are prohibited.

Pundt Park is open 8 a.m. to dusk to year-round.

Pundt Park
4129 Spring Creek Drive
Spring, Texas 77373
(281) 353-4196
www.hcp4.net/parks/pundt/index.htm
www.yelp.com/biz/pundt-park-spring

Try Hubbell & Hudson Kitchen for Modern Comfort Food

Once you bite into your meal at Hubbell & Hudson Kitchen, you'll likely understand what all the buzz is about. Food critics have said that Chef Austin Simmons is in the "upper echelon" of Texas chefs, and customers say that a meal here is simultaneously elegant and relaxed.

The kitchen specializes in dishes that combine unique, modern preparations with familiar flavors and foods reminiscent of the meals that Mom and Grandma used to make. Try, for example, the apricot-glazed turkey meatloaf, served with caramelized onions, spinach, and button mushrooms, and add a side of parmesan and white cheddar mac and cheese topped with a dash of Tabasco. There's also a fun build-your-own menu option where you choose your base meat, add a spice rub, a dipping sauce, and a side dish. Flatbread pizzas, burgers, and a soup and salad bar round out the offerings at this popular eatery.

Hubbell & Hudson Kitchen
4526 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
(281) 203-5650
www.facebook.com/hubbellhudsonkitchen
www.yelp.com/biz/hubbell-and-hudson-kitchen-the-woodlands

Cheers to Summer! Sip These Refreshing Summertime Mocktails

Mocktails are delicious and refreshing when relaxing by the pool, enjoying an alfresco lunch, or just winding down after work. Here are three great mocktail recipes for you to try this summer.

Non-Alcoholic Sangria [thekitchn.com]
Jazz up a Spanish-style lunch with a classic sangria made sans wine. This fresh, fruity beverage uses pomegranates and oranges to give it a tart flavor, while cinnamon sticks and black tea gives it the rich, complex taste that red wine sangria normally has.

Peach Cooler [eatingwell.com]
Just like a traditional wine cooler, this peach cooler mocktail is light, refreshing, and just a bit bubbly. Sparkling grape juice gives it a bit of carbonation, while peach juice and sliced peaches have a hint of sweetness that’s perfect for the summertime.

Coconut, Cucumber, Lime and Mint Cooler [townandcountrymag.com]
Have you ever heard of a more refreshing combination of flavors than coconut, cucumber, lime, and mint? This mocktail will quickly become your signature drink all summer long after you taste its hydrating blend of herbs and tropical fruit. Its coconut water base might even make your skin glow!

Develop Strength and Flexibility at Express Hot Yoga

While Express Hot Yoga offers a few traditional 90-minute bikram-style yoga workouts, this studio stays true to its name by specializing in condensed, 50-minute classes. Regulars at this The Woodlands business say the studio itself is airy, clean, and beautifully maintained, which allows you to focus entirely on the poses—and be aware that you'll need to focus in order to get through a full 26-pose workout in just 50 minutes!

If you've never done hot yoga before, you'll likely find that the 50-minute classes are a great introduction to the bikram method. The studio recommends you arrive prepared to sweat, with a hand towel and plenty of water to drink.

Express Hot Yoga
1201 Lake Woodlands Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 363-2989
www.bytw.com
www.yelp.com/biz/express-hot-yoga-the-woodlands

Pin It on Pinterest