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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3 Healthy Weight Loss Tips for Men

No one ever said that it'd be easy to lose weight, but that doesn’t mean that the process has to be miserable, either! If you’re finally ready to make the commitment to a healthier lifestyle — and, in turn, a lower weight — these simple tips will help you to get started.

  1. Jump-start your workout routine in the first week. Because your weight loss plan will involve a combination of diet and exercise, you’ll need to work out every day of the first week in order to get both your body and mind in the routine. This doesn’t mean that you have to go all out every single day, however; simply start out with a combination of light cardio and body weight workouts for 30 to 60 minutes each day.
  2. Keep a food diary. Instead of hopping on the bandwagon of a fleeting fad diet, begin a healthier relationship with food by keeping a food diary of everything that you eat. This will hold you accountable for every indulgence, and it will help you to monitor the amount of fat and calories that you consume.
  3. Be realistic. If you have a big event in the next two weeks, you won’t be able to force a full-body transformation by that time. Instead, focus on realistic weight loss goals that will produce results over time.

Men's Health [WebMD]
How to Lose Weight in 4 Weeks [Xfinity]
7 Weight Loss Steps for Men [About Health]

Clear the Air With These Air-Purifying Houseplants

You might think that, in order to breathe truly clean air inside, you'll have to invest in an expensive air purification system, but that's not so. There are many houseplants that eradicate airborne toxins, and you can pick them up at any major home improvement store. Here are just four of them.

  1. English ivy. According to the scientists at NASA, there's no plant better at purifying the air than English ivy. It helps soak up any formaldehyde that could be floating around in your air, and you definitely don't want to be inhaling the stuff. Plus, it's almost impossible to kill them.
  2. Peace lily. The peace lily may be beautiful, but beauty can be deceiving. Don't fall for its game; this is actually a powerful plant. Harmful chemicals like xylene, ammonia, formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene will all decrease in your air when a peace lily blooms nearby.
  3. Red-Edged Dracaena. Named for the strips of bright red that run along the edges of its thin, long leaves, the Red-edged Dracaena is more than just a pretty plant. It also gets rid of xylene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde when you feed it enough sunlight.
  4. Golden pothos. If you really want to make a statement with your new houseplant, consider buying a hanging pot for the golden pothos. When positioned properly, its leaves will snake their way down to the floor in beautiful vines.

7 Plants That Purify Indoor Air [Rodale's Organic Life]
This Graphic Shows the Best Air-Cleaning Plants, According to NASA [Lifehacker]
10 Best Houseplants To De-Stress Your Home And Purify The Air [HuffPost Home]

Host Your Own At-Home Wine Tasting With These Pro Tips

Having a wine tasting in the comfort of your home is an inexpensive and simple way to find new wines you might love. Invite a few friends over, gather a group of bottles, a cork screw, and maybe some food to pair with the wine, and you’ll be good to go. Follow these simple tips to help host your next get together!

  • Gather a white tablecloth, big wine glasses, spittoons, crackers, and some coffee grounds to use as an odor neutralizer between wines.
  • Prepare your wines to their ideal temperatures. Serve white wines at around 50 degrees and red wines at around 60 degrees. Open the bottles at least 30 minutes before you plan on serving.
  • If you’re planning on serving a variety of different wines, be sure to start with the least refined and work your way to the most refined. You should always start with the lightest wine first.
  • Pour the glasses an inch below the equator, or the widest part of the glass.
  • Don’t rinse the glasses between servings, as water can dilute the wine.
  • After tasting all of the wines, discuss with your guests the aromas and tasting notes of them all and your likes and dislikes.
  • After listening to everyone’s thoughts, re-taste the wines to see whether they have changed with aeration.

How To Have The Perfect Wine Tasting At Home [The Huffington Post]
How to Host a Wine Tasting Party [Real Simple]
How to Host a Wine Tasting [Food & Wine]

Fuse Glass or Paint a Masterpiece at Ceramic Lodge

Whether you just have an afternoon to spare or you're interested in a unique night out with friends, Ceramic Lodge in Round Rock can oblige. This painting studio welcomes folks to walk in and start painting or attend one of the structured classes to learn a little bit more about crafting with their fellow pupils.

You don't need to make reservations ahead of time to handpaint one of the bisque pieces at Ceramic Lodge. They line the shelves, everything from mugs to picture frames, and they start at just $12 each. Pick one, decide on a color scheme, and get to painting. Once your masterpiece is completed, leave it behind to be fired and swing by a week later for the finished product. You can also attend a fused glass class (held twice a month) to learn the ins and outs of the process. Classes are only $18 a head, and that's including everything you need to make your own work of art. If you've already attended a class, you can stop by any time to create a colorful plate or coaster with your own two hands.

Ceramic Lodge
18 Chisholm Trail Road
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 248-2100
www.ceramiclodge.com
www.yelp.com/biz/ceramic-lodge-round-rock

Tackle Spring Cleaning With These Helpful Tips

The change from winter to spring is typically accompanied by a desire to have a bright, clean home. You're tired of the dingy, cold effects of winter snow and ice, and everything just feels a bit less than fresh. If you’re planning a spring cleaning routine but don’t know where to begin, these seven tips will help you get started.

  • Set all clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Savings Time.
  • Change the batteries in things like smoke detectors, remote controls, and alarm clocks.
  • Flip or rotate your mattress to ensure that it lasts for years to come.
  • Protect hardwood floors against scratches by adding padded, adhesive discs to the legs of chairs and tables.
  • Clean the refrigerator using a few teaspoons of baking soda diluted in hot water. Also be sure to toss out expired or unused food items.
  • Wash pillows to prevent seasonal allergens common in the springtime from accumulating inside.
  • Re-stock cleaning supplies to prepare yourself for any number of household messes and spills that come with the spring season.

Spring Cleaning [Martha Stewart]
28 Spring Cleaning Tips [Country Living]

Banh Mi Tacos Meet Habanero-Infused Margaritas at The Peached Tortilla in Austin

The Peached Tortilla is a fusion in both make and menu, as this unique business operates a food truck and a brick-and-mortar location here in Austin. The food is expressive of the restaurant's personality: an eclectic mix of Southern- and Asian-influenced dishes, like bahn mi tacos for dinner and brisket hash with kimchi miso corn for brunch. Locals say you need to return regularly to ensure you taste a bite of every dish on the list.

The Peached Tortilla's hours vary during the week, so be sure to check the website before popping by, but don’t miss happy hour, offered 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily. (Make sure you try one of the specialty cocktails, particularly the habanero-infused margarita or the Wasabi Mary, which is garnished with Thai peppers.) Another popular time to visit is during the Sunday Brunch, served from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekly.

The Peached Tortilla
5520 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 222-8781
www.thepeachedtortilla.com

How to Create an Inspiring Home Office

Whether you work from home or you simply need a quiet space for catching up on emails, many people value having a designated home office space. This area should inspire you to do work free from the clutter of everyday life, and these organizational tips will show you how to create a workspace that promotes productivity.

  1. Use only functional furnishings. If you have a desk that is far too small, switch it out for something larger that you’ll actually use. The same goes for that uncomfortable chair and the rest of your outdated home office furniture.
  2. Add framed photos. Frame a few photos that inspire you, whether they’re works from famous artists or simply clippings from your favorite magazines. Create a gallery wall of eclectic frames that you can look at when you need a boost.
  3. Block out distractions. Whether that means switching your office into a different room or simply adding a room divider, it’s important to create a space that is free of distractions.
  4. Find the view. If possible, position your home office in an area with a window so that you can gaze outside as you brainstorm.

Stylish Home Offices & Decorating Ideas [House Beautiful]
10 Tips for Designing Your Home Office [HGTV]
7 Tips for a More Productive and Inspirational Home Office [The Real Estate Book]

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