Did you know that March is American Red Cross Month? It’s a time meant to remind us all about the work of the Red Cross in communities across the country and around the globe. And, this month is also meant to remind us of how we depend on public support to help people in need.
In honor of this great, and historic, organization, here is a bit more history about The American Red Cross. The organization was founded in 1881 by Clara Barton, and officially chartered by Congress in 1900 to provide national and international relief during disasters. In addition to that work, the Red Cross was designed to give relief to the military, and also serve as a means of communication between members of the Armed Forces and their families.
Years later in 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the first Red Cross Month in support of Red Cross fundraising efforts. This was during the time of World War II, and aid was needed. And, since then, every single U.S. president, including current President Obama, has named March as Red Cross Month.
The American Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters every single year, and offers shelter, food, emotional support, and other necessities to those affected. In addition to that work, the Red Cross provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans, and their families all around the world. And, beyond that, Red Cross Blood Services collects and distributes more than 40 percent of the United States live-giving blood supply.
Just like with every other holiday, Louisiana turns what would be a pretty average St. Patrick’s Day celebration into one of grand proportions, spanning multiple days with parades and parties. If you’re a resident of 1st Lake’s apartments in Metairie, Kenner, River Ridge or surrounding locations, you’ll have the luck of the Irish with you on St. Patrick’s Day. Check out these fun local festivities to attend.
Traceys and Parasol’s Block Party – These two New Orleans Irish pubs will hold their famous annual block party on March 14. Enjoy live music, delicious food and plenty of festive libations.
Molly’s At the Market Parade – Jim Monaghan’s annual Molly’s At The Market St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 15 will wind through the French Quarter in New Orleans featuring carriages and marching groups.
Irish Channel Parade – Widely considered the St. Patrick’s main event in New Orleans, the Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Club will parade through the Irish Channel in New Orleans on March 16 with Mardi Gras-caliber floats and droves of Irishmen dressed in kilts handing out flowers and kisses on the cheek.
Parade on Metairie Road – Residents of 1st Lake’s Metairie apartments can enjoy the convenience of the Metairie Road St. Patrick’s Day parade, starting at noon on March 17 in front of Rummel High School on Severn Avenue, then down Metairie Road to the parish line.
Downtown Irish Club Parade – For a low-key local vibe, check out the Downtown Irish Club Parade in New Orleans on March 17 beginning on the corner of Burgundy and Piety in the Bywater, going through the Marigny and ending on Bourbon Street.
Louisiana Irish-Italian – Close out the St. Patrick’s Day festivities at the Louisiana Irish-Italian parade celebrating the unity of the two cultures in Louisiana, rolling on March 24 down Veterans Highway in Metairie.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with 1st Lake in New Orleans!
Springtime is drawing near, and that means it’s time to shake off the winter blues and start readying your home for warmer weather. With that in mind, below are a few things you can do now to prep your interior for spring, before it’s officially time for the big spring clean.
Prevent Pests – To make sure that you don’t spend all spring swatting away flies and other pests, check all your window and door screens. If you notice any small holes or tears, now is the time to alert maintenance before the warm weather hits.
Invite Air Flow In – If a warm day comes your way, take a moment to open some of the windows to allow fresh air to circulate through your home. After being closed up all winter, it’s nice to let some clear outdoor in to your space. Also, now is a great time to ensure that your AC works before the heat and humidity arrive.
Clean Out The Food – After the holidays, we’re often left with lots of food items that we wouldn’t normally eat or purchase, and they tend to linger in our fridge, freezer, and pantry. If you have some uneaten cookies in your cupboard, frozen ham in your freezer, or a container of cranberry sauce in your fridge, toss them! It’s a great first-step in moving toward a cleaner, healthier spring
Several 1st Lake Properties communities are about to debut a fresh new look. Some exciting renovations have been underway to creatively expand the interior space at many New Orleans area apartment rentals and to give the exteriors a facelift.
Current and prospective residents will be delighted to find extra space converted into sunrooms, offering plenty of natural light and nice outdoor views. These improvements have been made to the Cypress Creek and Willow Creek apartments in River Ridge, the Lakes of Chateau Estates South apartments in Kenner as well as the Camelot Court and Windmill Creek North Metairie apartment rentals. Also included in the Windmill Creek renovations are washers and dryers in each apartment for added convenience.
Residents of these apartments will be able to use this new space for a number of purposes, whether it’s for a guest room, office space or reading room. The new additions don’t stop there. In addition to these extra sunrooms, each building has been resided and repainted with new colors, with even more beautiful outdoor landscaping.
Now residents will have even more to enjoy at home at the rustic and peaceful New Orleans area apartments both very conveniently located in great neighborhoods close to New Orleans.
Do you feel like you could use a little extra storage in the kitchen? Well, you’re not alone. Most people run into this problem at one time or another, and there’s a simple solution. And, it doesn’t require adding extra storage, instead it’s all about maximizing the space you currently have available! Below, we’ve addressed a few key areas that often need addressing, and offer some tips about how to keep your kitchen cabinets organized.
Corner & Deep Cabinets – These cabinets often become a catch all. Before you tackle your storage issue, the first thing to do is clean out the cabinet completely. Look through everything that you had in the cabinet, and if you haven’t used an items in the last 2 years donate it, or put it in long term storage. For corner cabinets, a 2-tiered lazy-Susan is often a great (inexpensive) investment, as it enables you to easily access the deep recesses of the cabinet so that you can maximize your storage space.
Under The Sink – This is another area that always tends to be messy. It’s full of cleaning supplies, kitchen necessities, and obstacles like pipes. Again, the first step is to clean it out, survey what you have, and consolidate duplicate items. Also, if you have large bulk items stored under the sink, considering storing just what you need for the time being, and putting the excess in another spot in your home. To maximize your under-sink space, look into getting a floating shelving unit that fits around the pipes so that you have two layers of storage available. You can also look into getting a shelving system for the inside of the cabinet doors for extra spots to put things.
Plan It Out – This may seem obvious, but make sure you put things in places that make sense. Store your glasses in the cabinet closest to your refrigerator or sink, keep pots and pans near stove, and store your baking trays near the oven. If you group like things together, you’ll cut down on clutter, and also have an easier time finding what you need!
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
