Still need some last-minute Mother’s Day plans to treat those special women in your life? Look no further! We’ve put together a list of 10 of our favorite Austin food + drink spots where you can grab one of the final few reservations or walk in on the day-of! Whatever you decide to do, spending time with her is what she values most, so call her up and tell her you’ll see her on Sunday! These first 4 are on South Congress, so you can spend your time roaming around and shopping while you wait for a table or go for a post-meal stroll.   Summer House on Music Lane Make this Mother's day extra memorable with a special brunch at Summer House on Music Lane. A  full service restaurant at Hotel Magdalena, Summer House  is inspired by the casual sophistication that defines a lake house weekend. The menu features honest cooking, taking cues from old school hospitality but with a decidedly unpretentious Austin sensibility. They are hosting a special Mother’s Day Brunch event with tickets available to purchase! Mother's Day Brunch | Sun. May. 8, 2022 at 9:00am, Downtown Includes Brunch + Complimentary Cocktail + Entertainment, $55/person   Two Hands Two Hands is a community-focused cafe that strives to create nutritious, simple, and delicious food paired with exceptional coffee. Taking inspiration from Australia's forward-thinking culinary scene and relaxed beachside lifestyle, Two Hands aims to be a place for the community near and far to come unwind in the light-filled space. The menu together with the coastal inspired interiors and caring service will have guests feeling a world away from the day to day grind of life. Mom can enjoy her beverage of choice whether you go day or night!   Joann’s Fine Foods A South Congress neighborhood spot, a new take on the American diner, and a vacation for locals and tourists alike. The menu is a tribute to diner culture featuring Tex-Mex favorites and California inspired healthy options. Classic breakfasts, milkshakes, enchiladas, fish tacos on house-made tortillas, colorful salads, daily juices, a pecan-burning grill, and an impressive mezcal collection all find a home here. There’s something for everyone, and you can show your friends and family the Austin Motel and take some fun pictures around this legendary strip of South Congress.   Café No Sé Located in South Congress Hotel, Café No Sé is an all-day café featuring seasonal breakfast, lunch & dinner fare, as well as weekend brunch and seasonal desserts. Their menu is small but carefully curated and offers some of the most unique dishes in the area.   Picnik Picnik is perfect for a group with a mixture of diets and lifestyles to accommodate! Or if you have a super fun, health-conscious mom! They boast food that  is 100% scratch made using the best possible ingredients such as avocado oil, conscious meats, raw honey, MCT Oil + grass-fed butter. The entire menu is gluten-free, refined sugar-free + peanut-free and they only cook with avocado oil, coconut oil + extra virgin olive oil.   Lou’s  Take mom to the east side for some chill outdoor dining with ping pong tables & corn hole, offering sandwiches, chicken & beer. Open brunch through dinner. Make a day out of it and stop by some of the other iconic East Austin bars and restaurants!   Spread & Co For a more relaxed, quick, walk-up experience try this boho-chic cafe! Counter-service with no reservation- first come, first served. Serving breakfast + lunch all day, as well as espresso, beer + wine and lots of grab n go that is made in house! Also featuring a large, dog-friendly patio. Sawyer & Co Shrimp & grits plus jambalaya & gumbos served in a slick, retro-modern diner with a bar & patio. This traditional southern diner offers a full bar and breakfast, lunch & dinner menu choices inspired from the best kitchens between East Austin and New Orleans with a free side of Texas Hospitality. Enjoy with you momma who likes some spunk to her brunch and enjoys trying new things!   Fresa’s Take mom for an avocado frozen margarita, wood-grilled Mexican fare, cocktails & more in a colorful space with a patio & takeaway window. You can never go wrong with this scene.   Swedish Hill  For a quicker bite and coffee fix, stop by this West 6th shop, inspired by the bustling delis of London, New York, and California- full of cases of smoked fish, caviar, artisanal charcuterie, colorful veggie dishes, and hearty salads. Chefs also prepare sandwiches, and the bar serves coffee and freshly squeezed juice by day, with beer and wine through the evening. Also may or may not be a cute lil photo opp.   You know your mom is deserving of the world, but just for one day, you can at least give her a delicious meal at a cute, trendy, classic Austin spot. Sending all of our love to moms, mom-figures, future moms, and women who make our lives better - cheers to YOU. 

Nothing feels quite as satisfying as coming home to a house that's so clean it practically sparkles. Since cleaning your house from top to bottom can be overwhelming — not to mention, tiring and time-consuming — it's easier to take it room by room or appliance by appliance with spring cleaning tips from organizing and cleaning pros. Consider this your official spring cleaning checklist: Pass through item-by-item for a whole home makeover or tackle your home's dirtiest spots when you have some extra time on your hands. While there are some givens on this list (how to clean your microwave or mattress, for example), there are also a few spots that often go unnoticed, like doormats and ceiling fans. But before you even get to work, make sure you have all the best cleaning products to remove stains, vacuum dirt, shine floors and more. The end result: a more livable space just in time for summer. 1. Clean your doormats Trap more dirt by using two mats, one outside the door and one inside. To refresh, hose off and air-dry outdoor mats. Vacuum indoor ones on both sides — going over the back will push trapped dirt out onto the floor where it will be easier to pick up. 2. Spray down windows and dust blinds Wait for an overcast day to clean your windows and start on the shady side of the house (direct sun can lead to streaking). Raise blinds or shades and wash windows with glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Then lower the blinds and vinyl shades and dust with a duster and finish by vacuuming the fabric shades and drapes. 3. Wipe down walls Keeping your walls free of greasy fingerprints, dust, and stains is as easy as wiping them with a damp microfiber cloth. Be sure to start from top to bottom, and bonus points if you wipe the door frames and baseboards too! 4. De-stink the kitchen sink Got kitchen stink you just can't kick? Try running a couple of lemon rind slivers through your garbage disposal and follow with cold water to get rid of any unwanted odors. 5. Steam clean the microwave Clean up those pesky tomato stains once and for all. To clean your microwave, fill a large microwave-safe bowl with 1 cup of water and a chopped-up lemon, lime, or orange or several tablespoons of vinegar and stick it inside. Turn the appliance on high for several minutes or until the solution boils and the window is steamy, then let it cool for five minutes before opening the door. Remove and wipe the inside and outside with a sponge. 6. Wash those reusable bags Reusable grocery bags cut down on wasteful plastic, but they can get grimy with time. Look at the care label on your reusable bags to determine the best way to clean them. If they're not machine-wash safe, clean them thoroughly with a sponge or cloth dipped in sudsy water. Rinse with a clean cloth and let air dry. 7. Bring stained cutting boards back to life If you think that nasty mark is permanent, you're wrong. Run the cut side of a lemon over the board to help remove food stains and smells. For an extra oomph, sprinkle it with salt or baking soda first. 8. Deep clean the fridge In addition to wiping down your fridge's interior shelving on a regular basis, give the removable bins and shelves a deep clean every now and again. Pop out the door shelves and bins, and wash in warm, soapy water to get rid of food bacteria and spillage. 9. Shine up pots and pans Soften burned-on residue by adding water and dish liquid to your cookware and letting it simmer on the stove. Use a scrub sponge or pad to remove any remaining stuck-on bits.  10. De-gunk your oven Cleaning your oven is an essential part of spring cleaning. Use your appliance's self-cleaning function to remove stubborn, baked-on grime. If your oven doesn't have one, place a hot, wet cloth on top of burned spots to help soften the gunk. Then scrub with a sprinkle of baking powder and a heavy duty pad. Rinse and wipe dry. 11. Scrub down kitchen cabinets Unsightly kitchen grime is a mix of dust and grease that builds up over time. Run the exhaust hood over your range every time you cook to keep grease from settling. To de-gunk, use a cabinet cleaner to cut through dirt and leave wood moisturized. Do an extra pass around any places that grease collects, like door and drawer pulls. 12. Machine wash your shower curtain Stick plastic or vinyl shower curtains along with a few bath towels in your washing machine on the gentle cycle with your favorite laundry detergent. Let it hang dry before showering. To keep the curtain cleaner longer, spritz it a few times each month with a bleach-containing all-purpose cleaner. Then just let the shower rinse it off (before you hop in, of course). 13. Toss expired cosmetics Getting rid of expired makeup, skincare and hair products is a quick way to declutter. Not all products note an expiration date, but many say how many months the product will last after opening. And dont forget to clean your makeup brushes! 14. Brighten up grout White grout picks up, well, everything. To make grout sparkle again, spray it with a top-tested grout cleaner. Let it set for several minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush like the Casabella Smart Scrub Grout Brush and rinse. 15. Keep drains smelling fresh To freshen drains (not unclog them) and help keep them free-flowing, mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup table salt. Pour the mixture down the drain, followed by 1 cup heated vinegar. It will foam and bubble. Let it stand for 15 minutes tops. Follow by running hot tap water for at least 15 to 30 seconds. This is especially helpful for seldom-used drains, like in guest bathrooms. 16. Remove hard water buildup from your shower head Hard water buildup can cause unsightly stains and even affect your shower head’s water flow. If scrubbing with a sponge doesn’t clear the debris from the holes, you can clean your shower head and restore its flow using a few kitchen products you already have in your home. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a plastic bag and tie the bag around the shower head, making sure to immerse the shower head entirely in the mixture. Tie the bag around the shaft for up to an hour, then wipe away any residue left behind and run the hot water of the shower to rinse the vinegar out of your shower. 17. Spruce up curtains and throw pillows in the dryer Put your dryer to work and toss drapes, curtains and even throw pillows in the dryer for 15 minutes on the "air-only" cycle, then rehang immediately to avoid wrinkles. 18. Dust those ceiling fixtures Spring cleaning is all about tackling the areas you forget about during the rest of the year. Grab an extendable duster and attack ceiling fans, hanging and recessed lights, moldings and more. Make sure to start your cleaning here, from top to bottom, so you don’t have to vacuum your floors twice. 19. Replace air conditioner filters Spring is the perfect time to clean or replace HVAC and window air conditioner filters before you start to use them regularly in the summer months. It’s best to check with your unit’s manufacturer for the recommended way to clean filters, if they are washable. 20. Sanitize kids' toys When it comes to cleaning kids' toys, don't overlook the convenience of your dishwasher or washing machine! For plastic toys, choose the crystal or quick cycle on your dishwasher and skip the heated dry. For stuffed animals, check the care tag first and then stick them in a mesh bag or pillowcase before throwing in the washing machine on a gentle cycle. A quick once-over with a lint roller can help too. 21. Wash bulky bedding It's time to tackle bulky items you typically avoid: clean those pillows and wash those comforters! You only need to clean these items two or three times a year, so they should be at the top of your list during spring cleaning season. But make sure you check the manufacturer's label before tossing 'em into the washing machine. 22. Kill dust mites in your mattress It's the perfect time to pay attention to what's under the sheets. To clean your mattress, press firmly with your vacuum's upholstery and crevice tools to clean the top and sides. After vacuuming, sanitize your mattress with a disinfectant spray like Lysol. You can also use a garment steamer or iron to kill dust mites near the surface. Vacuum afterward. 23. Toss old clothes Go through clothes and shoes from the season that’s just ended — and remove anything stained, in need of repair or worn out. Make a second pass through spring and summer clothes as you take them out of storage. Try on anything you’re unsure about before giving it closet space. 24. Clean your washing machine Before you start to notice an odor in your appliance, clean your washing machine by adding bleach and turning on the special washer cleaning cycle on your machine, or using a washing machine cleaner, like GH Seal Star Tide Washing Machine Cleaner. 25. De-fuzz the dryer More than 15,000 fires start in home laundry rooms every year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Beyond removing the fuzz from your dryer's filter after every load, pull out hard-to-reach lint with the crevice tool on your vacuum to suck up debris. Vacuum under, around and behind the dryer as well. 26. Disinfect your electronics Bad news: Your cell phone probably harbors more germs than your toilet seat. To clean your phone, power it down then wipe it with a microfiber cloth followed by a Lysol wipe. Let it air dry for five minutes before wiping it dry with a paper towel or microfiber cloth once more. This same method works well to disinfect other electronics, like your TV remote and computer mouse. 27. Empty, organize and clean purses & bags Take everything out, toss trash and organize items by category. Sort smaller items, like lipsticks, into little pouches or purse organizers, before you put them back inside. Wipe down the exterior with a disinfectant wipe, if it's made with a durable, water-resistant material. 28. Clean your vacuum Yes, you have to clean your cleaners! Replace the vacuum bag or clean the dust cup and replace or wash the filters. Snip threads snarled in the brush with scissors or a seam ripper. 29. Wash down your broom Clear any dust bunnies stuck on your broom's bristles by swishing the broom head around in warm, soapy water, or vacuum it with the end of the vacuum hose. 30. Scrub trash cans Trash bags break and when they do, washing your trash can is the only way to keep odors out of your home. To wash the inside of your trash can, hose it down and scrub the inside with your favorite dish soap and a sponge. Rinse it well and allow it to air dry or dry with a microfiber cloth before returning to your kitchen. Regularly use a sanitizing wipe or spray to keep the outside of the trash can free of food bits and drips.  

Austin is home to some of the very best spots for plants of every kind! Flowers and greenery bring energy to your space and caring for them makes for a fun + healing hobby. Whether you have a green thumb or are just looking to get started, these spots all over the city are sure to offer something that will liven up your life and speak to your soul. And just in time for Spring!   CENTRAL Shoal Creek Nursery Conveniently and centrally located, this nursery is locally owned and has been serving Austin for 6+ years now. They sell high quality plants, imported pottery, water features, gardening supplies, and gifts. Location: 2710 Hancock Dr, Austin, TX 78731   Flourish A mixed space retail shop specializing in house plants, plant design, and a large selection of well-crafted pots and planters. This shop also features handmade ceramics, candles, and home goods.  Location: 215 W N Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78751   Garden Seventeen A NEW one-stop greenhouse and garden store destination in the heart of central Austin. Their goal is to empower DIY gardeners and plant lovers with everything they need to transform their living spaces. Their vibrant garden store includes an expertly curated plant nursery, high-quality gardening supplies and materials, and a wide selection of local pottery and garden art. They also host hands-on workshops, inspiring demonstrations, and other interactive events to help Austinites level up their gardening knowledge and bring their dream landscapes and indoor plantscapes to life. Location: 604 Williams St. Austin, TX 78752 SOUTH The Great Outdoors A majestic urban garden center offering two acres of plants and gardening supplies, The Great Outdoors carries a wide selection of native and adapted plants suitable for Central Texas gardens and homes. Their inventory includes seasonal vegetables, perennials, cacti and succulent, indoor plants, palm trees, shrubs, water plants, vines, roses, fruit trees, and more. Location: 2730 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704   Frond An adorable boutique carrying unique and rare houseplants as well as a wide variety of trendy planters and decor items to compliment your new plants. The shop allows customers to envision their own indoor jungle and personalized paradise. Location: 507-A W Mary St, Austin, TX 78704   EAST East Austin Succulents + Tillery Street Plant Co. These two east side plant businesses who share one property have everything you need for cacti, succulents, large plants, flowers, garden vegetables, houseplants and much more.  Location: 801 Tillery St, Austin, TX 78702   Plant Party Specialty Plant Shop offering same-day local Austin delivery! Location: 1200 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702   WEST Barton Springs Nursery One of the best selections of native plants in Central Texas! The majority of their plants grow right in their nursery, where they become acclimated to their soil, water, and climate. They encourage the long-term health of the plant, feeding the soil and using organic pest control. When you buy a plant here, it already knows this is home, and it's more likely to make an easy transition to your landscape. Location: 3601 Bee Caves Rd, Austin, TX 78746   NORTH Pink Flamingo Plant Co.  Offers a wide variety of houseplants, succulents, pre-made succulent and houseplant arrangements, cacti, pottery, and garden accessories, as well as custom arrangement services to individuals and event planners. They also host plant care classes and tutorials monthly! Location: 7221 McNeil Drive Austin, TX 78729   Desk Plants Hard-to-kill plants for those with not-so-green thumbs. Desk Plants’ mission is to help improve your work space to allow you to feel happier and breathe healthier air on the job. Location: 3200 Palm Way Suite 150, Austin, TX 78758   Happy Planting!