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What's one of the healthiest ways to maintain your diet this year? Cook meals at home! This lets you eat all the foods you love without the added sugars, salt, and fats of fast food options. However, if you're busy, it can be hard to squeeze cooking into your schedule. Instead, cook travel-friendly meals ahead of time so you'll have something on hand as needed.
Three Easy Meals for People On the Go
Before You Start
While planning your on-the-go meals:
1. The meal needs to be something you can make in advance and leave in your fridge or freezer until needed.
2. It needs to be convenient to eat, using a minimum of utensils.
3. Aim for foods that can be eaten cold or quickly nuked in the microwave.
4. Choose versatile meals that can be thrown together with whatever is seasonal and on-hand.
5. Look for flavorful dishes that will satisfy your hunger for hours.
Not sure where to start? Here are a few ideas:
Buddha Bowls
Take your salad game to the next level with this Instagram favorite. Load a travel-friendly container with leafy greens, a scoop of lean protein, and healthy whole grains. In the morning, just drizzle with vinaigrette and pack a fork.
Tasty Wraps
Break out tortillas, sandwich wraps, or lettuce leaves. You can stuff these with whatever leftovers you have on hand, roll, and eat on your way to work or class.
Portioned Baked Goods
That muffin baking tray can be re-purposed to hold individual quiches, egg bowls, or pot pies. Just nuke and enjoy a big, satisfying flavor.
Balancing a busy lifestyle has never been easier than at Highland Village apartments in Flagstaff, AZ. Our well-appointed kitchens will make it a snap to prep great meals on the go ahead of time! If you'd like to learn more about our floor plans and amenities, contact us today.
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Are you looking for some simple handmade crafts you can give to friends and family this winter season? Even if you don’t consider yourself very handy, you’ll be able to do these easy crafts in your Flagstaff apartments.
3 Easy Craft Ideas
1. Mini Frames
Mini frames are about 2 inches by 2 inches. They are cute, especially when hung in sets of two or more. You can pick up unfinished wood mini frames at most craft stores. Simply use craft paint to decorate them with a solid color or with a polka-dotted pattern all over the frame. Cut a favorite photograph to size and insert into the frame. To make these mini frames even more functional, use a glue gun to adhere little mini magnets to the back, so they can be hung on the fridge. Your gift recipient will adore this thoughtful crafty gift!
2. Stocked Boudoir Jars
If you really want an easy craft idea, stocked boudoir jars make a sweet gift. Pick up small, decorative jars with pretty lids at a craft store. Fill with an assortment of items that your gift recipient will be able to use, such as facial cotton pads, barrettes, bobby pins or cotton swabs. For the lids, use a glue gun to adhere a decorative, colored bead.
3. Homemade Keyboard
Your gift recipient will love this gift that keeps on giving. Pick up a slab of tree bark from your neighborhood craft store. Choose an assortment of attractive or memorable photographs and decoupage them onto the front side of the wood using decoupage glue. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use. Next, screw in two or three screw hooks to the face of the board. Your loved one will now have a central place to hang his or her keys so they never get lost again!
These three easy craft ideas make great gifts for friends or family. To find out just how inspiring Flagstaff apartments can be, please contact Highland Village Apartments today!
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If you plan to have people over this holiday season, you want to make sure that your home is clean and ready for guests. To do that, you need to make sure that you clean up all gathering areas and make sure that your guests are not coming into a cluttered space. These tips can help you prepare for the upcoming holiday season and make your guests feel right at home.
Tips for Cleaning Before the Holidays
Clean the Bathrooms
One thing that is inevitable if you have people over is that your guests will need to use the restroom. You want to make sure that the bathrooms are clean and have everything that someone would need. Make sure you have plenty of toilet paper available as well as soap and lotion. Remove any clutter from the space and sanitize everything so you know that the bathrooms are clean and tidy.
Clean Gathering Areas
Wherever you are going to have your guests gather, you need to make sure that there is not only plenty of space for them to come together but also that it is clean. You want to remove any clutter from the area while taking the time to vacuum, mop, and sweep. While you are doing this, you also want to clean the counters in the kitchen and make sure you have plenty of clean space to really ensure you can cook what is needed and that people can be in there if they want to be and if you have space.
Prepare Guest Bedrooms
If you are planning to have guests stay with you for the holidays, it is necessary to prepare your guest bedrooms. This includes making sure the bed is guest-ready with clean linens, vacuuming, and tidying up any clutter.
The holidays are a great time for people to spend time together. Ensure friends and loved ones have a wonderful time at your home by offering a clean space for them to enjoy. If you are looking for a new place to call home and host the holidays, be sure to check out our Flagstaff apartments!
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Your Flagstaff apartments are already set up with gorgeous views and modern conveniences. Why not put the icing on the cake and make your apartment home smell as lovely as it looks? You could buy a commercial air freshener, of course, but it’s definitely worth it to try using essential oils instead. Essential oils smell wonderful. However, some say they also can have benefits for your mood. For the ideas below, try using essential oils in scents like lavender, vetiver, citrus and other scents that appeal personally to you. Here are two ways to scent your apartment home with essential oils.
Ways to Scent Your Apartment Home With Essential Oils
Sew Drawer Sachets
Drawer sachets are simply tiny little pockets of sheer cloth that sit inside your drawers. When you open the drawer, you are greeted with a waft of pleasing scent. You can sew drawer sachets from almost any sheer cloth. If you have an antique linen handkerchief, that works well, too. First, to make the “filling,” you’ll need essential oil and some crushed and dried leaves, such as lavender or chamomile. Put the leaves in a bowl and drop in a few droplets of essential oil. Toss gently with your fingertips. Place this into the center of your cloth. Fold into a square or rectangle and sew together. If you don’t know how to sew or prefer not to, you can make a little ball of the sachet and secure it with a rubber band. Cover the band with a pretty ribbon and tie a bow.
Make a DIY Room Spray
With this DIY room spray, you can quickly make any room in your Flagstaff apartments smell fresh and clean. To do it, all you need is a small spray bottle. You can find these at discount stores and grocery stores. Fill your spray bottle almost to the top with distilled water. Add a few drops of essential oil and shake. Smell it to see if it’s strong enough for your liking. If not, just add a few more drops, one at a time. Remember, essential oils are potent, so less is more. Now you have an instant room spray for your apartment home!
If you’d like to see available floor plans in Flagstaff apartments, please contact us. We’re here to help!
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]]>The post Beacons of Hope in the Midst of Despair: A Local Hurricane Harvey Relief Story appeared first on Highland 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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Here at Highland Village, we're proud to be part of the Flagstaff community … and that means giving back when and where we can! This month, our team is proud to give back to the Coconino Humane Association with a day of volunteering!
The Coconino Humane Association works to provide shelter and aid for the "unwanted, abandoned, and mistreated" animals of Flagstaff and Northern Arizona. We love their statement of pride in being "a voice for dogs, cats, and other domesticated animals in Coconino County!" Following the CHA on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter is enough to show anyone just how much they care about our animals. By hosting events, providing training, and posting pictures of adoptable and lost animals, they help to "speak for those who cannot speak for themselves."
Coconino Humane offers numerous opportunities for volunteers to serve the Flagstaff community's animals! Some opportunities include helping to provide animal care, socializing animals, supporting offsite adoption events, and much more! We're excited to work with them to do our part for the precious furry friends we all love!
The Coconino Humane Association could always use more volunteers! To learn how you can help, visit their Volunteer Page! We'd love for you to join us in making a "paw"-sitive difference right here in Flagstaff!
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If you’re anything like us, your bracket for March Madness is all but destroyed … if not already a totally lost cause. So, what should you do with your bracket now that you won’t be winning your office pot? We’ve got some ideas.
1. Write a Strongly Worded Letter
Your team’s done let you down, man. Somebody needs to hear about it. So flip that bracket over and write a strongly worded letter with its abysmal remains. We recommend writing the head coach, or your favorite player. Actually, you know what? Bad idea … Let’s face it, you may be disappointed but it’s nothing compared to the actual players. So have a little compassion, and instead send your expressions of bracket-busted grief to your roommate. Or your mom. Maybe even your apartment leasing office? We’re not promising a response, but at least you put it out there. Which is more than we can say for your team.
2. Rewrite Your Bucket List
It’s time to start living your own life again. So what if all your dreams of perfect bracket glory went down in a ball of flames after round one? The world is still out there! You can still do something amazing! Write out that bucket list! Make it all the things you would have done with your bracket winnings … Or maybe all the things your bracket loss makes you want to do. Like eat an elite eight pack of ice cream. Or take a road trip down the mountain long enough to have a long hard think about how your bracket went so wrong. Or learn to perfect your free throw percentage and three-point shot…
3. Use It to Fix a Wobbly Table
Come on … what else is it good for? Your bracket is busted. That doesn’t mean your table has to be busted, too. Create some good out of this disaster.
4. Find Love
If Villanova can lose, anything can happen, right? Flip your bracket over and write a letter to the guy or gal of your dreams. What else have you got to lose? Keep the letter simple, and maybe let it rock some thinly veiled NCAA puns. We’re talking: “Do you like me? Yes or ‘Nova?”
5. Recycle It
Your bracket is dead. But the earth is still spinning. Help keep it that way by recycling it. Technically all the above options are ways of recycling your bracket sheet. You can love both basketball and the environment. Don’t take this year’s tourney disappointment out on Mother Earth, bro. Keep it classy and save a tree.
What's your plan for your bracket now that it's busted? Or are you a lucky one who's bracket is still going strong? Let us know!
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Summer is here … and it’s the perfect time of year to enjoy the little things. Summer is the time to get out there and do things you’ve never done before. Before heading out on your next great adventure, try making a Summer Bucket List of things to try and document it all in a journal, scrapbook, or on Instagram! Here are some ideas to get you started.
- Act like a tourist where you live
- Buy a Wreck-This Journal and wreck it like nobody’s business
- Call your aunts, uncles, and grandparents just to say hi
- Do random acts of kindness for a week
- Eat breakfast for dinner
- Follow an unfamiliar road for as long as you can
- Go a full day without technology
- Go star gazing
- Go to a concert
- Go to a music festival
- Go to a wildlife park
- Go to an amusement park
- Have an all-day (and all-night) movie day in your jammies
- Have an at-home spa day
- Have an old-school water balloon or water gun battle
- Host a themed binge-watching marathon party
- Invent a new game and teach it to your friends/coworkers
- Join a new group (a book club, a yoga class, etc.)
- Knit, crochet, or craft something for a friend
- Learn a new dance
- Make a blanket fort
- Make s’mores
- Plan an all-day menu of meals and treat yourself to homemade fine dining
- Play messy Twister (It’s Twister meets paint. Protect your floors.)
- Read a new book
- Send a message in a bottle
- Start a blessings jar
- Take a road trip
- Treat yourself to a massage
- Visit an aquarium
- Watch the sunrise
- Watch the sunset
How many can you do this summer? Share your pics with us on Instagram!
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You do not have to go anywhere for the party – the on site clubhouse is your safe spot for parties! Boasting a refurbished pool table, foosball game, fireplace and kitchen, you can host your mother or your friends whenever you want to. The clubhouse also has WiFi, so you can Snapchat and Instagram to your heart's desire to make all of your other friends jealous!
Proximity
If you are a student at NAU, then you and Mom will be happy to know that the residential campus is within walking distance of the school campus. Feel free to party to the fullest on the weekend, roll out of bed, and be ready for class on Monday without having to risk a drive!
Fully Furnished Apartments
Life in your new Highland Village apartment is ready made for success. You do not have to bring anything from home, because the apartments come fully furnished with all necessary kitchen appliances, bathrooms with separate sets of keys for privacy even with roommates, a dishwasher, refrigerator, vaulted ceilings and walk in closets. You also gain access to the community amenities including the pool, outdoor fitness course, horseshoe pit, outdoor grill, gazebo, packing receiving area and concierge. Let Mom know the staff is on hand at all times to take care of any special needs that residents may have!
Feel free to give the dedicated staff at Highland Village a call or an email today to discuss how to begin your residential journey. Staff is waiting to make your transition comfortable and easy!
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There are only three things certain in life: death, taxes, and clutter. Clutter is kind of like rabbits … it never ceases to amaze how quickly it reproduces! Just because clutter is a fact of life doesn’t mean you can’t manage it. Here are some key do’s and don’ts of managing your clutter … and keeping your clutter from managing you!
DON’T try to declutter your entire apartment in one day. It takes time, and it takes consistency.
DO break up your decluttering sessions into smaller pieces. Work on one room at a time. You can even break the room down into smaller sections: the closet, the dresser, the bed, etc.
DON’T be clingy. Yes, you used to love that sweater/album/book/coffee maker, but if you haven’t used it in the past year … it’s time to let it go.
DO donate! Instead of just throwing away the things you no longer need, head on over to the local thrift shop and make your “trash” someone else’s treasure.
DON’T go overboard. We love those colorful decorative storage bins as much as anybody, but try to avoid heading to the store and investing in a ton of new storage items before you even know what you’ll be storing. That said …
DO make use of cabinets, bins, and boxes. You might have a hard time keeping all your magazines in order, but sticking them into a bin makes them look tidy instantly! The same goes for crafting supplies and knick-knacks that might not exactly have a “place” of their own.
DON’T stress yourself out. Trying to declutter your apartment can be stressful, especially if you get overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of STUFF surrounding you!
DO make it fun! Give yourself 15 minutes to clean one spot in your apartment. Have a reward planned if you get it done. Put on some upbeat music and do a little dance as you declutter. Cleaning may be a chore, but that doesn’t mean it also has to be a bore!
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