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It's a new year and time to work on a new you. How do you make sure your fitness resolution goes the distance? A little planning can put you on the path to success. Here are five tips for acing your fitness challenge.
How to Reach Your Fitness Goals
Choose your goals
What are you hoping to get out of the fitness challenge? Some common goals are to lose weight, get stronger, meet new friends, or spend time outside. Deciding on a goal ahead of time will help you keep track of your progress. Don't forget to celebrate small victories along the way.
Don't skip the basics
The key to any fitness routine is to have a solid foundation. For instance, what if you want to learn Latin dance? You'll need to master basic steps before you can jump into advanced moves.
Get the right gear
Many fitness challenges have you on your feet and moving a lot. Make sure you have well-fitting shoes and comfortable workout clothes that don't chafe. This is where it can pay off to invest just a little in quality equipment.
Set yourself up for success
Pencil your fitness challenge into your weekly schedule. Consistency is key here to building habits. You can also try laying out workout clothes and recovery shakes the night before. This way, everything is ready to go for a fitness class, whether it's in the early morning or after work.
Look into community classes
These are great for getting instruction without the expense of a private trainer. With the right group, you can also make friends and have fun while working up a sweat.
Woodlands Village is one of the premier locations for apartments in Flagstaff, Arizona. We offer units for both health-conscious singles and active families. Residents love our pool, spa and fitness center in the complex. Contact us to find out more about which floor plans are available.
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Rushing home to cook a meal is usually the last thing you want to do after a busy day. Since you can't get takeout every night, try these easy dinners that you can make in advance to save you time. These three recipes actually taste better a day or two after cooking!
Three Make-Ahead Dinners
Beef Stew
Beef stew begs to be made ahead. You can use your favorite recipe or try this easy one. Lightly coat one pound of 1/2 cubes of steak in flour. Saute until brown in a heavy-bottom pot. Remove meat, saute one diced onion and a tablespoon of minced garlic. Return meat to pot and add enough beef stock to cover, and cook covered over medium-low heat until tender. Add two cubed potatoes and two carrots. Cook until done. Store in the fridge, reheat and season to taste.
Chickpea Salad
This vegetarian salad is hearty enough for a light dinner. Rinse two 15-ounce cans of chickpeas and dump in a bowl. Peel and remove the seeds of a large cucumber. Dice the cucumber and add to the chickpeas. Open a jar of sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil and add to the bowl. Stir and store in the fridge. Before serving, add the juice of one-half of a lemon and season to taste.
Cold Fried Chicken
Believe it or not, cold fried chicken is actually delicious! Use your family recipe or try this one. Combine a pint of buttermilk, two tablespoons of Kosher salt and a teaspoon of fresh pepper. Soak three pounds of mixed chicken parts in the fridge for two or three hours, Meanwhile combine 1 cup of self-rising flour, a teaspoon each of paprika and garlic powder. Dredge chicken in flour mixture and fry in 350-degree oil for around 15 minutes until cooked through. Let cool on a wire rack and refrigerate.
Still looking for apartments in Flagstaff, AZ? Find the studio, one- or two-bedroom apartment you want at Woodlands Village. Call 844-790-7263 to arrange a showing of available units.
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The seasons are changing, and it's time to switch from the vibrant shades of summer to the subdued natural hues that reflect autumn's goodness. When the residents of our Flagstaff, Arizona, apartments want to impart a bit of fall flavor into their living spaces, they follow some of the tips we've noted below!
Fall Decorating Tips
Start With Scents
Your nose deserves to enjoy autumn just as much as your eyes do. Pumpkin spice candles and apple-smelling soaps instantly bring an autumn vibe into any space.
Add Some Accents
Throw pillows, plush blankets and perfectly colored pillowcases can help you ring in the fall season without spending a ton of money. Opt for colors that are deep and rich, such as golds, dark reds and chocolates.
Do a Little DIY Decor
It's easy to create fall-inspired centerpieces that bring your room together if you look for simple-to-do tasks online. Fill clear cookie jars with baby squash and mini-pumpkins, or use large pumpkins as the main focal point, integrating fall flowers and lovely leaves around them. This is your time to shine, so get creative and use a few of Mother Nature's fall gifts for inspiration.
Bake a Pumpkin Pie
Who cares if you're not one to turn your oven on? Great inspiration has to start somewhere! Try your hand at making a homemade pie. Even if you don't do it perfectly, the smell will fill your space and create a welcoming feeling. Plus, even ugly pies usually taste amazing. What have you got to lose?
Get a Little Shabby Chic
This is the time of year when shabby chic really makes a name for itself. Use distressed wooden crates and beat-up metal containers to create beauty by way of fall-friendly veggies and vegetation. The new-meets-old aspect complements itself well!
Before you can decorate your place, you need to find an apartment that truly feels like your own space. Woodlands Village Apartments offers an assortment of floor plans, built to suit your unique style. Browse our available apartments online today!
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If you are looking to decorate your apartment for fall, try using pumpkins! Pumpkins can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes, allowing you to incorporate them into your home decor in a variety of ways. Here are a few of the different ways you can use pumpkins to bring the seasonal look of fall into your home.
Different Ways to Use Pumpkins to Decorate Your Home for Fall
To Decorate Your Fireplace
Whether you are looking to decorate the mantle or the hearth, pumpkins are a good choice. Consider placing real pumpkins near your fireplace to give this area a fall-like look. To further enhance the look, consider painting the pumpkins or tying a ribbon around the top for a decorative touch. Avoid placing plastic pumpkins around the fireplace as they can melt if you decide to use your fireplace.
As a Vase
Another way to incorporate pumpkins in your fall home decor is to use pumpkins as a vase or planter. Use a plastic or foam pumpkin, and place either real flowers or fake flowers inside of the pumpkin. This creates a beautiful centerpiece for a table or a statement piece for your counter.
On Wreaths
Placing a wreath on your front door is a great way to dress up the entryway of your home. Many craft stores sell floral picks that have small pumpkins on the end of them. These picks can easily be inserted into a foam, burlap, straw or wire wreath, helping to decorate the wreath for the fall season.
As a Candle Holder
Lastly, consider using pumpkins as candle holders. Hollow out a few small pumpkins and insert candles inside. Then place the pumpkins on your dining room table, mantle or other areas to create a beautiful fall decoration.
Decorating your apartment can help to transform the look and feel of the space. If you are ready for an entirely new ambiance in your home, you may be looking for a new apartment altogether. When you are looking for apartments in Flagstaff, Arizona, be sure to check out Woodlands Village. Call us today to inquire about availability.
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Don't Fall for These Apartment Cleaning Myths
We’ve all heard of housekeeping hacks and fool-proof methods that are “guaranteed” to keep our West Flagstaff apartments spic-and-span. Be careful, though—you can’t always believe what you hear! Sometimes these cleaning myths can cause more harm than good.
If you’re gearing up for spring cleaning and are on the lookout for some reliable housekeeping tips to keep your beautiful Woodlands Village apartment in Flagstaff, AZ clean and tidy, be sure not to fall for these apartment cleaning myths that won’t get the job done!
5 Apartment Cleaning Tips (That Failed)
- Toothpaste Cleans Silver – It’s best to avoid toothpaste when cleaning your silver. It is very abrasive compared to silver polishes, and over time it can damage your pieces.
- Hairspray Removes Ink – Years ago, hairspray had a higher alcohol content and did help remove ink stains. Today, however, hairspray is made with “stiffeners” that will make the spot worse. Plain rubbing alcohol works best.
- Tea Cleans Wooden Furniture – Although rumored that teabags work well for cleaning wooden furniture, this is definitely not the case. Anytime wood is exposed to water, there is a chance for stain damage to the natural wood.
- Bleach is the Best Cleaner – False. Bleach does not clean. It will kill bacteria and lighten stains, but it does not remove dirt or stains like soap.
- Dryer Sheets for Dusting Furniture– This is actually partially true. Fresh, new laundry sheets contain oils that can stain surfaces. The used dryer sheets work well though, as the oils were dispersed in the dryer.
Another tip for tidier looking apartments in Flagstaff, is to start with a great floor plan! Woodlands Village offers a selection of studio, one- or two-bedroom apartment homes to fit every lifestyle. We invite you to stop by today (or invite a friend) to experience these quality and luxury apartments in West Flagstaff.
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Watching Reality TV shows about hoarding can be entertaining and enlightening. That’s because we all have a little packrat inside us we need to rein in. Here are some decluttering ideas for our Woodlands Village community members in Flagstaff, Arizona, to consider.
Toss The DVD Collection
It’s time to come to grips with the reality of your video collection: It’s all streamable and rarely does popping in a DVD make sense. If you haven’t already, sign up for Netflix, Hulu, Amazon or another inexpensive service and open up some drawer or shelf space.
CDs Make Better Coasters
Like DVDs, music CDs have gone the way of the dinosaur. Whether you subscribe to SIRIUS radio, enjoy a Pandora, Spotify or another targeted music subscription, the tunes you crave are one touch away. Even if you prefer the old school creativity of a full album, that is more likely to be downloaded to a device. CDs still make a decent coffee table coaster, but why clutter your space with dozens or hundreds of discs?
Hard Copy Calendars Are Unrealistic
Every year, calendars seem like a terrific holiday gift idea. Many are themed and enjoy wonderful artwork. But other than looking nice, most people keep electronic appointment calendars in their phone or other devices. When you need to know the day and date, no one runs to a wall calendar. It’s time to eliminate the wall calendar.
Take-Out Menus Are Unattractive
Paper menus stuck to your refrigerator or piled in drawer are not the best way to organize food options. The vast majority of restaurants have a menu on their website and many offer online ordering options as well. Take-out can be much more easily done on a phone or other device. Remember to recycle those antiquated folded pieces of paper.
Filing Cabinets Are Too Bulky
That home office filing cabinet once gave off an air of organization. Now, it makes you appear behind the times. It also takes up a lot of space that could be put to better use. And, removing it could open up the room. It’s time to backup your financial records on a mini storage drive and do away with cumbersome filing cabinets.
We hope these decluttering suggestions help our Woodlands Village community members improve your personal space. If you or a friend would like more information about our Flagstaff apartments, call us today.
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]]>The post Beacons of Hope in the Midst of Despair: A Local Hurricane Harvey Relief Story appeared first on Woodlands Village Apartments Blog.
]]>We walk through the rooms of a storm soaked apartment in Houston, Texas, as Mary, a twenty-plus-year resident of Nob Hill Apartments, points out the items she hopes she can keep, but we can clearly see are lost. The safety masks covering our mouths and noses do nothing to block the rank smell of stagnant flood water and growing mold. The air in the apartment is warm and humid, the air outside buzzing with mosquitos preying on the exposed skin of anyone walking through the community working to salvage what they can from the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Even with the flood waters receded, we feel the sense of loss that weighs heavy as a storm cloud over the apartment community we’ve come to serve.
We try to prepare Mary for the worst—the disheartening fact that most of her worldly possessions must be declared casualties of the hurricane’s destructive force. But Mary’s determination outweighs our own, and pushes us in a new direction. Where we strive to prepare her for despair, she insists upon building us up with hope. And as we tell her we will help her as best we can, she leaves us with these words: “When I was a child, my teacher told me that the good deeds you do are added as stars to your crown in heaven. Your crowns are going to be full of all the stars in the heavens.”
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Our group of volunteers left Arizona in the early hours of September 6 to make our way to Houston. Our team was made up of multifamily housing team members from Bella Investment Group in Flagstaff, AZ, who had committed to partner with Apartment Life, an organization that places CARES Teams within apartment communities to “look for ways to love their neighbors as themselves.” We have often seen the outpouring of love CARES Teams deliver to the residents of our Bella communities—now was our chance to take the CARES mission upon ourselves and make a difference in the lives of those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
After spending Wednesday evening assembling and loading U-Haul trucks with Resident Recovery Kits, we headed into the community on Thursday to see where we could help. As we approached Nob Hill Apartments, a 1300+ unit apartment community situated on Brays Bayou in the Meyerland suburb, we saw streets lined with debris and abandoned furniture, clothing, toys, even cars—all casualties of the surging flood waters. Nob Hill is where we met Mary, along with dozens of other residents who were packing up what they could to leave the community many of them called home. We expected the despair in the faces of the people of the community to match the destruction we saw in the streets. But where we expected despair, we saw hope.
One of the first young men we spoke to assured us that he had not been hit “too bad” by Harvey’s destructive power. “For me, it wasn’t as bad as for other folks,” he told us as we walked through one section of Nob Hill. “Other people got it much worse.” I learned later that for him, “not too bad” meant he “only” lost his car and about half of the possessions in his apartment. He counted himself lucky, despite his losses, and assured us that now that he knew we were there, he would help us find people who needed more help than he did. And he was true to his word. He eagerly came to us with the names and addresses of neighbors who could “really use your help,” and seemed overjoyed to be what he considered a “small part” of our work. The misery we expected seemed to have receded with the flood waters, and in its place love, humanity, and hope had blossomed.
For the CARES team in Houston, the Relief Kits and resources they handed out seemed like only a “drop in the bucket” of the recovery that needed to be done in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. An office team member, who had been pulled from a different property to assist at Nob Hill, described her efforts of pointing residents toward resources and gathering contact information from those who needed to move as “a drop in the bucket” compared to what she felt the people around her needed and the losses she knew they had endured. Even as we gave resources, monies, and hugs to those we met, we began to say that we knew it was only “a drop in the bucket” for those who had lost so much so quickly.
Yet the enduring power of hope outshined our perspective. The more people we met, the more we got the sense that in creating for themselves a sense of normalcy even among lost possessions, abandoned homes, and more, the residents of this community were finding something beyond the despair we saw on the news. Make no mistake—there remains much to be done to restore what has been lost in these communities devastated by the storms. But even beyond the knowledge of loss is the hope of helping hands. We saw donations from across the country pooled together to fan the flames of this hope. We witnessed police cars lining the streets from around the country to lend aid and relief to first responders who had not yet even had the chance to assess and accept their personal losses. We saw barbecue fundraisers and Red Cross vans delivering lunches and dinners on a daily basis where they were needed most. We saw neighbor reaching out to neighbor to lighten each other’s loads. And we saw tears of sorrow become tears of joy as people heard how far folks had come to help.
“To help me?” one woman said to me, stepping back in shock from a tight hug when I told her we had flown in from Arizona. “Y’all came all this way just to help me?”
“We know it’s just a drop in the bucket,” I found myself saying, but she cut me off.
“A drop in the bucket?” she gasped, clasping my hands in her own. “Child, it’s the whole ocean!”
I left Houston with news of the impending impact of Hurricane Irma ringing in the background on every television set we passed from our hotel lobby to the airport terminal. In the shadows of yet another destructive storm, it’s hard to ignore that there remains so much need along the Gulf Coast as residents there work to rebuild. Hurricane Harvey’s impact will be felt in this area for months, if not years, to come.
But even in the shadows of these destructive storms crashing upon our shores and cities, we see the silver linings illuminated by the selfless acts of people who keep their heads held high, their spirits lifted, and the hopes of their communities blazing against the dark times ahead. We can all be a part of bringing hope to these communities. Apartment Life continues to raise funds for relief efforts for both Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. The Red Cross continues to step up their efforts to prepare and provide relief. Countless other organizations are out there, waiting for each of us to step up and impact lives by being beacons of hope in the midst of despair.
Please join us in supporting the ongoing relief efforts, and make your own "drop in the bucket" contribution to those impacted by this year's hurricane storms:
Donations for Apartment Life Harvey Relief Kits: https://tiny.cc/alharvey
Donations for Apartment Life Irma Relief Kits: https://tiny.cc/alirma
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Bringing the vibrancy of nature into a personal space helps people bond with nature and bring the indoors to life. Here are four plants that may help the residents of Woodland Village in Flagstaff, Arizona, spruce up your living space.
Peace Lily
Large tropical plants can make the edge of a large window or sliding glass door seem like your outdoors. This species is native to the warm climate areas of the Americas and Southeast Asia. The peace lily grows to about 5-6 feet and enjoys large dark, glossy green leaves and lovely white flowers. The stunning flame-like flowers give off a powerful fragrance and the best news is that it’s one of the easiest indoor plants to grow and maintain. They require moist soil and a well-lit indirect sunlight space to thrive.
Lemon Balm
A window with a sill or small table in a sunny spot makes an excellent place to grow lemon balm. The herb is a simple green leaf plant from the mint family and gives off a pungent lemony aroma. It also has medicinal uses that include stress relief and improved digestion. On top of all these benefits, it tends to deter mosquitos and other biting insects.
Tiny Cacti
A variety of small cactus plants in colorful bowls and planters make strategic areas of the home more vibrant. They’re also a tremendous curiosity item when friends and family visit. Another plant group that requires only modest care, desert cacti flourish in well-drained compost, enjoy tepid water and do well with plenty of sunlight. They’re adapted for hot desert conditions and are unlikely to fail.
Peperomia
This hanging plant is well-recognized for its ornate green and white striped foliage. It prefers medium-to-strong sunlight and can sustain in low light, but tends not to flourish. It’s an eye-catching darling whose family enjoys a variety of shapes and one member even has striking red-tinged leaves. They are slow growers and do not require much pruning. The wonderful thing about hanging plants is that they inject beautiful greenery into a vacant area and elevate foliage off the floors, counters and into the air. Hanging plants such as Peperomias can be real game-changers.
We hope these indoor plant suggestions help our Woodland Village community members spruce up your personal space or are a springboard for other ideas. If you or a friend would like more information about our Flagstaff apartments and available floor plans, call us today!
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Here at Woodlands Village, we’re proud to be part of the Flagstaff community. Part of that pride means taking the opportunity to give back when and where we can! Our Woodlands crew is excited for our upcoming food drive to give back to the Flagstaff Family Food Center!
The Flagstaff Family Food Center provides amazing support to Flagstaff families. In fact, through their efforts, approximately 247,000 nutritious meals are served every year to families in need in our community! The Center also serves up an awesome literacy program through its reading room, which serves approximately 2,200 children a year! It’s no wonder their mission is “serving hope to Flagstaff families!”
The Food Center overs a variety of opportunities to volunteer and give back to the Flagstaff community! Volunteers have the opportunity to prepare and serve daily hot meals, prepare and pass out sack lunches, help children and youth with homework and reading, distribute emergency food boxes, and more. We have been proud to serve the Family Food Center at the holidays, and look forward to bringing an opportunity to serve to you in May! From May 1 to May 14, we’ll be collecting non-perishable items to donate to the food bank and make a big difference here in Flagstaff!
Besides joining in our food drive, you can learn about even more opportunities to help the Flagstaff Family Food Center by visiting their Volunteer Page! Let’s join together to show Flagstaff that the Woodlands Village life is all about spreading some Woodlands Village LOVE!
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Say it ain’t so, Netflix! Some of our favorite shows and movies are on the chopping block from Netflix’s lineup of streaming content, and we can barely contain our sorrow. Just in case you’ve missed it, here are the top programs leaving Netflix … get ready for a full-fledged binge-a-thon!
April 1st
We seriously hope it’s a joke, but apparently The X-Files, Firefly, House, and Arrested Development (seasons 1-3) are all scheduled for an April Fool’s Day departure from Netflix.
Card Trick
If this is a card trick, we’re not impressed. Apparently, House of Cards will also go away after March 31st!
As You (Don’t) Wish
Get your tissues ready … because this next part hurts. The following movies are also set for removal, so get ready to stream before March 31st:
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
- The Gradate
- From Dusk Till Dawn
- The Princess Bride
- Pulp Fiction
- Ocean’s Twelve
- Caddyshack
- The Superman movies (Superman: The Movie, Superman II-IV, and Superman Returns)
- The Usual Suspects
If it’s any consolation, we’ve heard that Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return is scheduled to premiere April 14th on Netflix, along with some other awesome shows and movies (and possibly Star Wars: Rogue One? Fingers crossed!) between March and May. Still … we recommend you pop some popcorn (or stop by our office—some folks call ours the best popcorn in town, maybe it’ll ease the pain) and prepare to binge your way through these sad departures with us!
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