Whether you’re cooking for a large group or just for yourself, saving time in the kitchen is a wonderful thing. It means more time spent with family and loved ones, more time for productivity, or maybe just more time for relaxing by the pool. And as the old saying goes, “time is money.”
So we’ve put together a small list of cooking tools that will make your life easier, both inside and outside of the kitchen.
Let’s start with waking up. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why not treat yourself to a gadget that will help you eat a nourishing meal without missing a beat. Breakfast sandwich makers allow you to prepare a fresh breakfast — complete with eggs, your choice of meat, and other ingredients of your choice — that you can simply grab and go on your way out of the house.
These are small tools that will constantly come in handy. Place the garlic in its tube, roll, and suddenly you’ll have peeled garlic.
This is an essential tool for any kitchen. A sharp knife will allow you to slice and dice produce quickly, saving you lots of time while preparing your meal. Make sure you know how to keep your knife sharp.
Immersion blenders are incredibly useful for quickly making smoothies, pureed soups, and sauces without leaving a mess behind. Check out this tutorial to learn more about why an immersion blender is such a useful kitchen appliance.
A colander is a perforated bowl used for straining liquids from food. Using a colander is the fastest way to drain pasta, and they’re also a great container for washing vegetables.
Having a large variety of whisks will allow you to specialize and expedite your whisking duties. For example, Bon Appetite suggests using large whisks for foods in large pots, medium whisks for soups and sauces, and small whisks for salad dressings.
A sharp, resilient vegetable peeler will save you immeasurable amounts of time preparing any meal that calls for vegetables, and its ability to evenly remove vegetables’ outer skin will improve your presentation as well.
Heat resistant spatulas are wonderful for mixing, stirring, and scraping pans. They are also great for quickly and evenly spreading condiments on bread, which makes for a lovely sandwich.
Measuring cups with handles attached allow you to quickly scoop ingredients like sugar and place them directly into whatever you are cooking with. Make sure you purchase a variety of cups for large and smaller measurements.
Trying to open a jar that won’t budge is one of the most frustrating problems that occur in the kitchen, and even if it doesn’t affect your meal, it can certainly derail your good mood. Grab one in the kitchen aisle the next time you’re at the supermarket, and save yourself all that trouble once and for all.
If you’d like a list of even more tools, check out the official website of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Foodal, and Cooking Light. Now that you know how to save time in the kitchen, enjoy the summer with all the time you have left over!
The Louisiana summer is fast approaching, and you know what that means. Soon, temperatures will exceed 90 degrees, and everyone will be trying to beat the heat.
The most important part of battling the summer heat is preparation. Read on for several tips on how to prepare for hot weather this year!
The first step in servicing your A/C is changing your filters. Air filters that are obstructed by debris cause your cooling system to work harder, increasing the potential for malfunction. 1st Lake requires residents to change their filters every 30 days, and we offer filters free of charge.
If you have ventilation problems in your home, all the hard work you’ve done maintaining a clean air filter won’t matter. A simple check for drafts in windows and doors is the first step to addressing any issues. If you find any, notify management to take the next steps in protecting your apartment.
Finding cracks and drafts is also the first step to protecting against bug invasions. During the summer, bugs come out of hibernation and are more likely to find their way into your home.
It is recommended that thermostats be set between 75° – 78°. Turning the A/C below these settings only makes the unit run more and use more electricity. Also, turning your unit off during the day will only cause the unit to run longer that evening, as it will have to cool down the whole apartment before it reaches a comfortable temperature. This can also lead to higher energy bills and potential unnecessary A/C repairs.
Summer is a season to enjoy time with friends and family. Pool parties, outdoor cookouts, and leisure time will all be much more satisfying if your home is taken care of and prepared for the summer heat. Now that you have everything in order, enjoy the sun!
Whether you live in a suburban neighborhood or a residential apartment community, it’s important to maintain a good relationship with your neighbors. A community that displays an understanding of neighborly etiquette is sure to be a happier one.
Read on for some tips about how to be a great neighbor!
The first step in ensuring a good relationship with your neighbor is to create one. Introduce yourself to your neighbor, and if it feels appropriate, offer them a welcoming gift. On a day-to-day basis, say a simple hello if you see them outside or around the community. This will create a feeling of mutual warmth and respect, which will come in handy if a problem or conflict arises in the future.
This one is pretty simple. Being conscious of your noise level at all times is an important part of being a good neighbor. Put yourself in your neighbor’s shoes: how would you feel about your schedule being disrupted by noise at an inconvenient or inappropriate hour?
Maintaining a general standard of cleanliness inside and outside of your apartment maintains a uniformity of hygiene and visual appeal within the community. Don’t be the neighbor to create a problem with pests, or become an eyesore with a dirty balcony or exterior!
Make sure you always follow any community regulations regarding pets. Get them vaccinated, and keep them leashed so they don’t disrupt your neighbors’ personal space. It’s also a good idea to let your neighbors know that they are free to come over and speak to you if your pet is bothering them, or if they have any other concerns.
Be sure that when you park, you’re not causing future difficulty for other vehicles around you. Loud music late at night and revving the engine are not conscientious. Also, keeping your voice at a reasonable level after you exit your vehicle is a good idea.
Take these tips into consideration in order to become a better neighbor! We promise that developing a good relationship with the people in your residential community will make life a lot easier. And if you would like more tips, check out The Spruce, wikiHow, and HuffPost for more great information!
Spring is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to start enjoying the outdoors again. And while everyone seems to be looking forward to beach vacations and picnics in the park, you should also consider taking your exercise routine outside of the gym. Although it may be tempting to stay inside — climate control, predictable conditions, and convenience are three major factors — studies show that there are many physical and psychological benefits to exercising outdoors.
Read on to learn a few major benefits of outdoor exercise!
Studies have also shown that individuals that exercise outdoors “score significantly higher on measures of vitality, enthusiasm, pleasure and self-esteem and lower on tension, depression and fatigue” in comparison to those who exercise inside. Activities such as walking, jogging or gardening can make one feel more connected to nature. They also increase exposure to sunlight and vitamin D.
Many First Lake Properties have outdoor amenities like nature paths and swimming pools, placing your “outdoor gym” just a few steps away.
If your budget doesn’t allow for a costly gym membership, the solution is right outside your front door. According to ACE Fitness, the cost of a gym is commonly cited as a major barrier to regular exercise. In addition to cost, it’s often time consuming to travel to and from a gym. Traffic, parking, and other factors can add up to several additional hours to your exercise regimen, leaving no time for leisure after a long day at work.
Taking your fitness routine into the great outdoors provides an immediate, low-cost solution. Low-traffic neighborhoods and nature trails are just waiting to be explored!
If you’ve been using a treadmill this winter, consider finding a scenic pathway for your jogs instead. Studies show that when running on a treadmill, runners expend less energy due to a lack of wind resistance. Natural terrain also forces runners to stride differently, causing them to flex their ankles more. Exercising in a constantly changing environment causes your body’s connective tissue to become more adaptive, and may prevent certain injuries over time.
Now that you know all that you stand to gain from spending more time outdoors this spring, check out our beautiful residential properties and prepare for a springtime full of activity with 1st Lake!
Sleep experts say that we spend about one third of our lives sleeping, which is probably more time than we devote to any other activity. And if you’re like us, you cherish every hour of rest. Taking care of your mattress – and knowing when to buy a new one – will keep you from missing out on optimal sleep and all the health benefits associated with it.
A mattress’s age, the quality of sleep it provides, and your personal health concerns all play major roles in determining when it’s time to move on to a superior sleeping arrangement. In this article, we’ll explain a few signs that it’s time to replace your mattress, as well as how to choose one that suits your personal needs.
First, it’s important to take an inventory of any health issues that are affecting your quality of sleep. Have you recently been diagnosed with arthritis or sleep apnea? If so, it’s essential that your mattress is helping rather than hurting your condition. If your mattress has been around for a while, it’s likely that it’s not providing you with optimal comfort.
The National Sleep Foundation says that while there is no strict rule about when to replace your mattress, most of them have a lifespan of about eight years. Finding worn or sagging spots in the middle or at the edges of your mattress typically means your bed surface has seen its better days, and will often lead to stiffness and discomfort upon waking. Nights of tossing and turning or waking up when your partner moves are other signs it’s time to find a new sleeping surface.
Do you always feel tired? Do you expect your best nights of sleep on business trips or vacations? In addition to physical signs of wear and tear, it’s time to get a new mattress if you sleep better away from home, or if you prefer to sleep on your sofa. If any of these things sound familiar, you’re not meeting your full potential for restful sleep.
Once you’ve decided that it’s time to move on, the following tips will ensure that you purchase the mattress that best suits you.
The first step in buying a new mattress is understanding your personal sleep needs. The mattress that is best for your neighbor may not be best for you. Due to age and body type, each one of us has different sleeping requirements that change over time. To begin, try the Better Sleep Council’s mattress shopping quiz – it’s a great way to determine your priorities before entering a mattress store.
Once you’ve assessed your needs, you’ll need to actually spend time shopping! Your mattress should feel comfortable to you, which means you’ll need to search for the right fit. While it’s not ideal, enduring the awkwardness of laying down in a mattress outlet will pay off. Sleep educators suggest trying out any mattress for at least 15 minutes before deciding to buy it.
Consider your budget and bedroom space. Before you buy a mattress, it’s important to know which sizes will fit in your bedroom. If you’re unsure about the specific dimensions of a mattress size, the Better Sleep Council has created a comprehensive guide. And if you’re pinching pennies, don’t worry! Expensive mattresses aren’t necessarily good mattresses. The Mattress Nerd has created a great mattress buying guide that includes standard prices, negotiation tactics, and shopping outlet recommendations so that you can get the most comfort for your buck. Plus, check out Credit Donkey’s comprehensive guide on how to buy a mattress.
There comes a time when all mattresses have served their noble purpose and must be left behind. If you know when to say when, we guarantee you’ll be catching better z’s in no time – and who doesn’t want that?
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
