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Shop Artisan Crafts at the First Saturday Arts Market

September 1, 2016 by

Art fans in the Houston area love visiting the First Saturday Arts Market, a family-friendly event that features works from some of the area’s best visual artists. This outdoor market is held in the charming Historic Houston Heights neighborhood, and it features live music, food trucks, and grassy areas for lounging before or after you explore the stunning works of art.

Wander through the market and you’ll find white, tented booths filled with works by almost 50 different artists, including paintings, sculpture, jewelry, and even handmade artisan crafts. All of these items are available for purchase at reasonable prices, so this makes a great place to visit if you’re looking to fill you walls with local art. Stop by to have an affordable lunch, check out live, local music and maybe even bring home a new painting to hang on your wall.

First Saturday Arts Market
540 W. 19th Street at Lawrence Street
Houston, TX
(832) 273-4798
www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com

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Basic Tips to Keep in Mind on Laundry Day

August 26, 2016 by

Laundry day is likely your least favorite day of the week, but it doesn’t have to be quite so difficult. By attacking your piles of laundry with a bit of pre-planning, you can make laundry day much more manageable. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

  1. Separate lights and darks ahead of time. To avoid the tedious task of separating lights from darks, separate them as soon as you toss your dirty clothes in the hamper. Invest in a double-sided hamper that does the separating for you.
  2. Invest in good detergent. Using the wrong detergent (or a cheap brand) can make your clothes come out dull and dingy. Instead, choose one detergent designed for washing dark clothes in cold water, one for keeping colors bright, and a separate stain treatment to put on spots.
  3. Treat stains as soon as they happen. The most important thing you can do to remove a stain is catch it as soon as it happens. You can even rub in a stain treatment and toss your clothes in the laundry, leaving the stain to deal with on laundry day.
  4. Turn clothes inside out. Avoid fading and shrinking by turning your clothes inside out before washing them.
  5. Fold right away. To eliminate the need for ironing, prevent wrinkles by folding your clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer.

Laundry 911: Color care basics [She Knows]
How to Care for Your Clothes [How Stuff Works]
Laundry Basics – Sorting it Out [For Better Living]

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Anothai Cuisine: Thai Fare in Houston, Texas

August 25, 2016 by

Enjoy Thai food in Houston at Anothai Cuisine. Visit and you can whet your appetite with a flavorful appetizer like Satay Chicken Sticks with peanut sauce & cucumber relish, Chicken Curry Puffs, Fried Spring Rolls, or Thai Chicken Wings.

Anothai's soups fresh and flavorful, so don’t be shy about ordering a big, steaming bowl of Tom Yum with spicy lemongrass, straw mushrooms & tomato. Entrees include Seafood Paradise with shrimp, scallops, squid & mussels, Roasted Red Duck Curry with pineapple & coconut milk, and Beef Musamun Curry with onion, carrot, potato & avocado. Plenty of noodle dishes are also on the menu.

Anothai Cuisine is open every day in Houston, Texas.

Anothai Cuisine
11049 FM 1960 Road
Houston, TX 77065
(281) 890-4455
www.anothaicuisine.com
www.yelp.com/biz/anothai-cuisine-houston

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Plan a Family-Friendly Party at Reserve at Garden Oaks With These Non-Alcoholic Mocktails!

August 19, 2016 by

A drink doesn’t have to have alcohol to feel fun and festive—take these flavorful mocktails, for example! If you’re planning a family-friendly party at your home at Reserve at Garden Oaks, serve these celebratory beverages to guests of all ages.

Watermelon Lemonade With Kiwi Splash [tablespoon.com]
In the summertime, this watermelon lemonade is a perfectly refreshing and fruity beverage. A splash of tangy kiwi adds a complex flavor.

Raspberry Spritzer [eatingwell.com]
If you enjoy the taste of sparkling seltzer, this fruity beverage is the perfect choice. Its refreshing bubbles are balanced by the juicy raspberry flavor.

Mexican Hot Chocolate [rachaelraymag.com]
For parties in the colder months, this spicy Mexican hot chocolate will warm your guests right up. The addition of chili powder will add an exciting kick that makes the classic hot chocolate feel much more grown up.

Kiwi Orange Mango Juice [rachaelraymag.com]
This one is not only festive, it’s also really healthy. Blending the flavors of kiwi, orange and mango creates a uniquely fruity flavor that’s perfect for parties.

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Simple Tips and Tricks for a Clean and Organized Kitchen

August 18, 2016 by

For most people, the kitchen is one of the most popular rooms in the home, as you use it as both a gathering space and a place to create healthy meals throughout the day. While your kitchen withstands quite a bit of activity, these simple tips will show you how to keep it organized without much extra effort.

  1. Add wall-hanging storage systems. Hanging shelves and rods with hooks on the walls creates extra storage while freeing up precious floor and counter space.
  2. Add hooks under shelves. If you run out of room on shelves and in drawers, add hooks under the cabinets to hold things like mugs and utensils.
  3. Purchase wire refrigerator shelves. You can even get the inside of your fridge organized by adding store-bought shelves that simply sit right on top of the current shelves.
  4. Create dividers. To organize pans and cutting boards that frequently fall over, add vertical tension rods between shelves in your cabinets.
  5. Organize the spice cabinet. Corral spices by placing them into glass jars of equal height, then labeling them with what’s inside. You can even add a lazy Susan for easy access to each jar.

5 Essential (and Renter-Friendly) Storage Products for Small Kitchens [The Kitchn]
26 Kitchen Organizing Tips from Real Cooks – Twitter Style [Simple Bites]

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4 Home Coffeemakers So Beautiful, They Double as Decor

August 12, 2016 by

If you’re a coffee fan who takes the home brew very seriously, you’re likely always on the hunt for new kinds of coffeemakers. These four tried-and-true options are longtime favorites of coffee lovers around the world, and best of all, they’re just as beautiful as they are functional.

  1. The French Press. The class French press is a favorite for more than just the delicious coffee it produces. With its tall, cylindrical shape, elegant handle and its plunger at the top, this simple coffeemaker is also one of the most attractive. Modern versions come in stainless steel styles, geometric shapes and even eye-catching colors.
  2. The Pour-Over. Many high-class cafes are adding pour-over brews to their menus, and you can create the same strong cup of coffee at home with an affordable pour-over dripper. These feature a triangular shape that fits a special filter right inside, and they’re often made of natural ceramic.
  3. The Turkish Coffee Pot. Brass Turkish coffee pots look very elegant, and their long, angled handles are decorated with ornate designs that add an eclectic look to your stovetop.
  4. The Stovetop Espresso Maker. Even the cappuccino fan can get in on the decorative coffeemaker action. Stainless steel stovetop espresso makers are common throughout European households, and they look truly charming sitting on your stove.

The Best Coffeemakers [Real Simple]
10 Pretty Coffeemakers for the Perfect Cup [Refinery 29]
10 Museum-Worthy Coffee Designs for Your Kitchen [Thrillist]

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Admire the Impressive Latte Art at Catalina Coffee

August 11, 2016 by

With its friendly service, premium espresso drinks, and impressive latte art, you’ll find a lot to love at Houston’s Catalina Coffee. Stop in to this local favorite for your morning java or an afternoon pick-me-up and you’ll instantly be hooked on the shop’s unique combination of hip atmosphere and friendly ambiance.

Prices are affordable when compared to similar coffee shops, and the menu of drip brews, strong lattes, and traditional cappuccinos are expertly crafted in a way that will impress even the most knowledgeable coffee lover. Pair your drink with a savory treat or a fresh baked pastry and start your day off on the right foot. There is ample parking outside of the cafe, and the convenient location in Houston’s arts district makes it an easy pit stop when you’re running errands or doing some shopping in the area.

Catalina Coffee is open 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends.

Catalina Coffee
2201 Washington Avenue
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 861-8448
www.catalinacoffeeshop.com

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: , ,

How to Host a Swap Party

August 5, 2016 by

While you may have heard of the clothing swap and the book swap, who says that you can’t swap everything that you frequently use? Swap parties are great ways to de-clutter your home while also recycling your unused items, and they’re mutually beneficial for everyone who attends. Now, how about a snack swap?

  1. Decide what to swap. Consider things that you and your friends all use, such as clothing, shoes, books, kids' toys, and music.
  2. Let your guests know what to make. If you don’t want to swap pre-used goods, host a food swap with items like soup or cookies. Just make sure to let your guests know well in advance so that they can get to cooking or baking.
  3. Pick the right amount of people. Depending on the size of your home, you might want to narrow your invite list down to only a few people (just make sure that you invite at least five, or it won’t be much of a swap!).
  4. Send an e-vite. In order to detail the instructions clearly, send all of your guests an email at least two weeks in advance.
  5. Set up a swapping area. Clear out the swap room so that you have ample space to browse, and then make displays for the swappable items, such as tables or clothing racks.
  6. Swap! Go around the room taking turns, or let your guests loose in a free-for-all swapping excursion.

How to Host a Swap Party [Real Simple]
How to Host a Clothing Swap Party – Rules & Ideas [Money Crashers]
Soup Swap Party [Soup Swap Party]

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Refinish a Well-Loved Wooden Cutting Board With These 4 Tips

August 4, 2016 by

Is your wooden cutting board looking a bit worse for the wear? With all of the slicing and dicing that goes on on your cutting boards, it’s no surprise that they need a bit of refurbishment every now and then. Use these simple tips for breathing new life into an old cutting board.

  1. First, disinfect your cutting board (especially ones that you use to cut meat) by diluting one teaspoon of bleach in two quarts of water. Dip a scrub brush in the solution and scrub the cutting board in small circles, and then wipe the surface with a damp paper towel and buff dry with a cotton cloth.
  2. Next, buff out any deep cuts using a very fine grade sandpaper. You may even want to choose two types of sandpaper so that you can buff out the cuts with one, and then smooth the surface with the other. Don’t leave behind any scratches, as these can collect bacteria.
  3. Condition your cutting board with mineral oil on a soft cloth. Don’t use vegetable or olive oils, as these can turn rancid with exposure. Buff the oil into the board using a thin rag, and make a note to retreat the board at least 3 or 4 times a year as needed.
  4. Once your cutting board is clean, keep it fresh after each use by cutting a lemon in half and rubbing it all over.

How to Clean a Cutting Board: 7 Effective Treatments [Reader’s Digest]
How to Restore and Maintain a Wood Cutting Board or Butcher Block [HGTV]
How To Clean, Deodorize and Condition Wood Cutting Boards Naturally [Apartment Therapy]

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Corral Clutter and Create Beautiful Vignettes Around the Home Using Serving Trays

July 29, 2016 by

If you’re looking for an affordable way to add high style to your home, using serving trays is a great idea. On countertops, dressers, and even on the bed, serving trays add a designer-inspired look to any surface in the home. Here’s some inspiration for styling trays.

  1. Add a serving tray to your coffee table to corral remote controls, display magazines, and hold decorative objects. You can even add scented candles to create an enjoyable ambiance.
  2. Use serving trays in the bathroom to organize your everyday essential products. Add one to the back of the toilet if you’re lacking in cabinet space, or use one under the sink to hold lotion and soap bottles upright.
  3. Place a serving tray next to the front door to create a drop-off place for your keys, cell phone, and other items that would normally amount to clutter.
  4. Center a kitchen island by adding a decorative tray for displaying flower vases and plants. You may also want to add your favorite cookbooks to keep them within reach.
  5. While serving trays are originally used for serving food and beverages, they’re just as great for serving breakfast in bed—or even a midnight snack. If you enjoy relaxing with a good book and glass of wine at night, use a serving tray to avoid spills.

7 Ways to Decorate With Trays [Home Goods]
10 Creative Ways to Decorate with a Serving Tray [Kirklands]
See Why Trays Are the Ultimate Decorator’s Trick [One Kings Lane]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,
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