Date Archives: March 2021

Did you know that the first waffles were made all the way back in the 13th century? People loved them from the start, and eventually, the first modern waffle iron was patented in 1869. The waffle remains one of the most popular breakfast foods in the world, and International Waffle Day on March 25th presents the perfect opportunity to celebrate this tasty treat. Fortunately, you'll find plenty of excellent places to enjoy breakfast foods in the Austin area. Our real estate agents have all of the delicious details on where to find the best waffles and all of your breakfast favorites around Austin.

1. Blue Dahlia Bistro – 3663 Bee Caves Rd., West Lake Hills, TX 78746
   Located on the edge of the Austin in West Lake Hills, you'll find the lovely Blue Dahlia Bistro, a European-style bistro with a reputation for serving fresh, delicious meals. The team here uses organic, locally sourced ingredients whenever possible to create meals based on recipes from throughout Europe. The brunch menu at Blue Dahlia Bistro is filled with unique takes on all of your breakfast favorites, so this is a great place to celebrate International Waffle Day.

2. 1431 Cafe – 601 E Whitestone Blvd. Suite 300, Cedar Park, TX 78613
   If you're looking for a restaurant where there are always unique waffle flavors on the menu, try a visit to the 1431 Cafe when you're near Cedar Park homes for sale. Be sure to check out the daily specials because 1431 Cafe offers a selection of seasonal waffle flavors that you won't find anywhere else. No matter when you visit, you're sure to find a diverse selection of waffles on the menu, along with your favorite breakfast side dishes.

3. Jim's Restaurant – 12832 Research Blvd., Austin, TX 78750
   It's easy to find a great breakfast close to Austin homes for sale, thanks to local favorites like Jim's Restaurant. The menu here is packed with homestyle breakfast favorites, including the classic Cowboy Waffle made with a special house-made batter. There are multiple Jim's Restaurant locations in Austin, and beyond, so it's easy to enjoy a fresh, hot breakfast anytime you like.

4. Waffle Love – 1300 Gattis School Rd. #100, Round Rock, TX 78664
   Love waffles? So does the team at Waffle Love! This breakfast destination located near Round Rock homes for sale specializes in waffles, with tons of toppings and flavors to choose from on the menu. Just about everything on the menu here features a waffle in some way, from breakfast sandwiches with waffles as bread to sweet, fruit-topped waffles that every member of the family will enjoy. Waffle Love has been featured on several food-focused TV shows and is known for serving some of the best waffles in Texas.

5. George's on the Town – 708 S Interstate 35, Georgetown, TX 78628
   George's on the Town is a popular place for lunch, dinner, and happy hour near Georgetown homes for sale, but did you know that they also offer an outstanding Sunday brunch? Stop by on a Sunday morning to try the brunch menu in a modern, upscale atmosphere, where customer service is always a top priority. George's on the Town also features a full bar, along with tons of food and drink specials every day.

Living in the Austin area means that you're never far from great restaurants, and our team is here to help you find your next local home. Contact us to buy and sell homes throughout the Austin, TX area.

When moving to a new home or adding a furry friend to your family, a little preparation goes a long way in helping your pet better understand the boundaries and feel more comfortable in their new home. Our real estate agents know that homebuyers value the happiness of their four-legged family members when moving to a new property. Follow these tips to ensure a smooth transition when introducing your pet to a new home. 

1. Introduce Your Pet to the Home Ahead of Time
   While it might not always be possible to take your pet to Round Rock homes for sale before your move-in date, ideally, you should introduce your pet to their new home ahead of time. Dogs especially benefit from a previous introduction to their surroundings. During this time, walk them around the neighborhood and their new yard. 

2. Keep Supplies in an Easy-to-Access Area
   Whether you're welcoming a new pet or moving your pet to a new home, you'll want to make sure you have everything you need to take care of them. Some items to have on hand include toys, a leash, collar, food, treats, litter and litter box or poop bags, food, and water bowls, grooming supplies, and cleaning supplies for your floors. When moving to a new home, pack everything in a container or bag that you keep with you. If adopting a new pet, conduct a shopping trip before your pet arrives. You don't want to have to scurry for pet essentials when you're trying to welcome your new family member. 

3. Avoid Giving Your Pet Free Reign of Your Home
   It's best to establish boundaries with your pet right from the get-go. Otherwise, you risk confusing your pet, delaying the training process, and damaging your home. Ideally, you should block off any areas that you don't want your pet to enter until they learn what areas are off-limits. 

4. Try to Bring Your Pet Home When You Have a Few Days Off
   Introduce your pet to your new home when you have a few days to help them get acclimated to their new space. Try to pick a period when you can stay at home and don't have many other tasks on your to-do list. Your pet should be your primary focus during this time. 
   
   
5. Establish a Schedule for Your Pet
   Decide ahead of time what your pet's day will look like in their new home. What time will they be fed, and who will do the feeding? How often will their walks and playtime be? While every moment of your pet's day doesn't need to be allocated, you should have a basic idea of when your pet's mealtimes and play sessions will be. 
   
   
6. Discipline Your Pet When Necessary 
   Your pet isn't going to behave perfectly. When they misbehave, know how to set them straight. Don't yell or scare them. Instead, stick with a firm "No!" or "Tsk!" When you catch your dog or cat doing something you want them to do, reward them with a treat and plenty of affection. 
   
   
7. Create a Safe Space
   New surroundings are often overwhelming. See that your pet has a safe spot to retreat to when they feel scared. For a dog, a kennel is a terrific option that mimics a natural den. A seldom-used room is an excellent safe area for a cat.

Ready to explore new homes perfect for your whole family...pets included? Contact us today!

March 14 is designated as National Learn About Butterflies Day to raise awareness of the varieties of butterflies and their importance as pollinators. Butterflies also serve as a natural form of pest control and are an important food source for birds. Look for them to start their migration across the country in a blur of color and check out gardens near Austin to spot their color and beauty. Our real estate agents suggest the following destinations to spot butterflies in and around Austin:  

1. Rabbit Hill Park – 1109 Blue Ridge Dr., Georgetown, TX 78626   
   Located near Georgetown homes for sale, Rabbit Hill Park has several fun features that are connected by a trail system that has a 1/3-mile fitness loop. The Contemplative Trailhead overlooks a pond and has plantings selected to attract butterflies, dragonflies, and hummingbirds. A Splash Pad and Explorer Park, which has a web playscape along with a fossil dig, makes Rabbit Hill an ideal place to take the kids. Hours are 6 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.
     
2. Unity Park Community Garden – 2746 Gattis School Rd., Round Rock, TX  78664    
   Unity Park Community Garden, located near Round Rock homes for sale, has community garden plots surrounded by sitting areas, fruit trees, and pollinator gardens that attract bees and butterflies. If you're interested, you can rent a garden plot and borrow tools from the onsite shed or take gardening classes to learn how to attract butterflies and other pollinators or how you can follow the latest organic gardening practices.
     
3. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin, TX 78739     
   The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is located at UT Austin and has nearly 900 species of native plants. The center takes care to attract and support many species of birds, mammals, and insects – including butterflies. You'll always find something going on there, including yoga classes and a class on the science of pollination, where you can find out how to attract butterflies, bees, and more to your garden. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
     
4. Zilker Botanical Garden – 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78746  
   Located on 28 quiet acres near Austin homes for sale, Zilker Botanical Garden is a lush urban oasis. You can see beautiful views of downtown as you walk along pathways to visit themed gardens such as The Mabel Davis Rose Garden and The Hartman Prehistoric Garden. Pass streams and ponds filled with koi as you see thousands of plants that attract birds, butterflies, and other creatures. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
     
5. Mueller Parks and open spaces – 4550 Mueller Blvd., Austin, TX 78723  
   Mueller represents a public-private partnership that supports parks, trails, and open spaces. The 7 parks, which are open to the public, establish a native, local ecosystem and create destinations for outdoor recreation. Each has its own features and appeal, including John Gaines Park, which has 132 community garden plots that attract butterflies and other insects, a community pool, a playscape, and a large open lawn. 

Contact us to learn more about Austin's natural beauty and for help in buying or selling a home.    

If you've always dreamed of having a home library to house your favorite novels, you can turn this dream into reality with some careful planning. Our real estate agents know that you don't need an entire room to create a gorgeous home library; instead, scour your home for unused or underused areas that will make a lovely home for your books. Here are some tips to follow when designing your home library. 

1. Make the Library Work for Your Lifestyle
   While there's nothing wrong with the serenity of a conventionally quiet library, this simply isn't compatible with every household. One of the top benefits of a home library is that you can adapt it to your lifestyle. Maybe you have children who love to read, solve puzzles, and play board games. Set your home library up so that your children's reading materials are easily accessible; add a few kid-friendly chairs and tables so they have their own space. Or, maybe you know that you'll use your home library in between at-home work sessions. You might set-up your library in your home office so that you can take advantage of short breaks to enjoy a new book or reread an old masterpiece.

2. Add Layers of Lighting
   Your home library is one area where you don't want a lot of direct natural light, as sunlight can damage the delicate pages of your books. Instead, incorporate multiple layers of lighting to ensure you have ample illumination for your reading and research. Start by adding ambient lighting that reaches the entire room; recessed lighting and lighting fixtures are two alternatives for whole-room illumination. Then, add accent lighting around the various spaces of your home library. For example, you might add track lighting around your bookcases. Next, incorporate task lights into your home library. This includes items like desk lamps and floor lamps. Whenever possible, opt for lighting that's dimmable so you can adjust the lights to your needs. 

3. Use Space-Efficient Book Storage
   When space is a concern, maximize storage for your books by choosing shelves that utilize frequently unused areas. Corner shelving units are one solution, as are vertical bookcases that extend to your home's ceiling. Make sure to invest in a sturdy step stool so that you can easily reach the books on the top shelves.

4. Check the Weight Limits for Your Floors
   Before your start setting up your shelves and books, confirm that your floors are capable of supporting the additional weight of a lot of books. Books are heavy, and if you store a lot of them in a concentrated area, it can put additional stress on the floor. If your floors can't support the additional weight as-is, a contractor can reinforce them by adding additional plywood or beams. When you add your home to the inventory of Round Rock homes for sale, you'll know that you completed the project correctly. 

5. Add Decorative Pieces
   Make sure to add a few decorative items so that your home library reflects your tastes. A few framed photos, attractive bookends, pottery, or interesting sculptures can all add individuality to your new space. 

Want a property with more space for your home library? Contact us today to get started!