Whether you're spending your summer days relaxing in a chaise by the pool, lounging under an umbrella on a sandy beach, or swinging in a backyard hammock one thing always stays the same; you need a good book to keep you company. Read on to find out which page-turners you should pack in your beach bag this summer!

1. Two By Two by Nicholas Sparks

The latest from beloved and bestselling author Nicholas Sparks follows a man named Russell Green as he goes from having it all to almost losing it all, and his relationship with his young daughter amid this downfall. Sparks found inspiration for the story from his relationship with his own children - three boys and twin girls. It’s an emotional story about unconditional love and how you push back

If there’s one thing Texas is known for it’s BBQ, and Austin residents are no strangers to the smoky smell of brisket, sausage,and beef ribs. We love our barbecue, but with so many places in the area claiming to “be the best in Texas” it’s hard to choose your favorite, go-to restaurants. Lucky for you, we’ve got you covered! We’ve narrowed it down to what we believe are the top five places for Barbecue in the Austin area. Here are our picks, let us know what you think!

1. Franklin Barbecue

Of course we had to include the legendary Franklin’s on our list. Franklin Barbecue has spurred much debate over the years due to its insanely long lines - is it really worth waiting five hours for barbecue? We say yes, and the critics agree!

"Local Gems" Series: San Marcos

While San Marcos may be best known as a college town, with many of its residents being students attending Texas State University, it’s also an increasingly popular tourist destination. Visitors and locals alike enjoy the many outdoor attractions, great shopping, and the small-town feel of the city center known as “The Square.” The city was also named the fastest growing city in the U.S. in the 2013 and 2014 United States Census Bureau and #9 on Business Insider’s “10 Most Exciting Small Cities In America” list. Whether you’re just visiting or thinking about making San Marcos your new home, there’s a lot to love about the ever-growing city. Here are just a few of our favorite things:

1.       San Marcos &

If you’re an Austinite- native or not- you probably enjoy city living. But being in the heart of the Texas Hill Country allows for easy access to some of the most scenic, natural areas in the state. Get away from the hustle-and-bustle of the big city with one of these short trips!

Hamilton Pool Reserve

One of the Hill Country’s most popular “best kept secrets," Hamilton Pool Preserve is a 232-acre nature preserve located in Dripping Springs, about 23 miles west of Austin. The pool is a collapsed grotto that’s been formed over thousands of years of erosion, which creates a stunning 50 foot waterfall and pool area. The preserve surrounding the pool is home to a variety of native fish, birds, and other animals and plants, including the federally

Austin Food Truck Parks 

Austin loves its food scene. Tacos, sushi, spaghetti, and, of course, good ol’ bar-be-que- whatever you’re looking for, we’ve got it. Of course, as much as we love food, we also love our kitschy, portable food - Austin’s famous food trucks. At any given time, there are over 1,400 food trucks registered in Travis county. So, with all of those trucks parked anywhere in the city, how do you decide what to eat? Enter the food truck park. Austin has 3 main food truck parks, each hosting a collection of trucks from which to choose.

South Austin Trailer Park & Eatery

1311 S. First St. Austin, TX 78704

Monday-Thursday 7a-10p

Friday 7a-11p

Saturday 8a-11p

Sunday 8a-10p

This South Austin must-visit has

We spend the first couple of decades of our lives in school, day after day, learning. But who says our education has to stop once we’ve graduated? Austin is a treasure trove of educational facilities, many of which are family friendly!

Texas Museum of Science & Technology

TXMOST is located in Cedar Park and brings the world of STEM education to Central Texas. Previously known as the Austin Planetarium, the museum opened its doors in March 2015 with its premier exhibit, Body Worlds. The museum consists of a 33 ft planetarium- the largest in the Austin metro area!- as well as current exhibits, TUTANKHAMUN: “Wonderful Things” From the Pharoah’s Tomb”, and TimeWalk, a journey through the history of the Earth. Tickets to the museum are all-in and

There’s a lot to take into consideration when selling your home. Hopefully, you have a great REALTOR on your side to take over the brunt of the work! However, there are a few things you can do to simplify and expedite the process, including properly staging your home for potential buyers to come view it. Buyers want to imagine themselves in your home, and you want to sell your home, so help them do so! If a professional stager is out of your budget- or if you just prefer to DIY this task- here are some easy, wallet-friendly tips to stage your home.

1. Declutter

After years of living in your home, you’ve probably developed a lot of clutter. Some of this may not even be noticeable to you. Your REALTOR will likely point out some areas that could be

We are SO excited to be in our beautiful new space!

We can't believe we get to work here every day. We spent YEARS thinking about the design and layout. We wanted a space where our agents could collaborate, meet with clients in style, and take care of business in a productive and efficient environment. We think we hit the "Austin Vibe" nail on the head! What do you think?

Our lobby. Mercury glass front desk with a white marble top, and custom cabinets behind (they're thinner, so the receptionist has room to boogie down back there if she wants to!) The reclaimed wood you see is from a 100-year old barn and houses two smaller interior offices, with two large conference rooms behind. Bleached tree stumps and "RE/MAX blue" velvet chairs add to the

Last week, we went over 5 easy, no budget tips for spring cleaning your home. After your cleaning spree, what do you do to help keep your home clean for the rest of the year? Here are some quick, easy, and painless tips for keeping a cleaner house.

1. Fill your dishwasher at night, and empty it in the morning. Put the dishes away while you make your morning coffee, and they’ll be clean and ready for you during dinner. After dinner, rinse and load the dishwasher, then start it if it’s full.
2. Utilize commercial breaks. When you’re watching your shows at night, skip fast forwarding through the commercial breaks and use that time to do a small chore. This is a great time to load that dishwasher!
3. Keep a “toss” basket for quick cleanups. Once a day,

Spring is upon us, which means most of us are getting “the itch”- that urge to clean after the holiday parties and winter hibernation period is over. Luckily, you don’t have to drop a ton of money and time on the project to scratch that itch. Here are 5 easy, free, and quick tips to help you clean your home in a pinch.

1. You can use the dishwasher for more than just your dishes!

Most plastic toys, knicks knacks, and other objects can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Start the cycle before you begin your other tasks, and you’ll be done in no time.

2. Get rid of unwanted pet hair with rubber gloves

Grab a pair of damp rubber gloves and use them to pick up the pet fur and stray hair off of pillows and furniture.

3. Clean your gadgets!