If you celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans, that means you inevitably ate lots of king cake and probably indulged in some adult beverages. While both are delicious, they aren’t exactly the best for the old waist line. That’s why many running races are strategically scheduled shortly after Carnival season in the Greater New Orleans area. In addition to the state of the art gyms at many 1st Lake Properties communities, residents can work off the calories by training for a variety of races.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon takes place in New Orleans on Sunday, February 28, 2016, offering a full marathon, a half marathon and a two person half marathon relay. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon is unique because there are live music and cheer squads to motivate you along the race course. Registration is available online.
The Crescent City Classic is another popular annual New Orleans road race which takes place the Saturday before Easter.. This year’s event will happen on Saturday, March 26, 2016. It starts in front of the home of the New Orleans Saints, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, and ends at the beautiful City Park. The CCC is a great New Orleans tradition, now in its 36th year.
Tenants of our Baton Rouge apartments will want to check out the Louisiana Marathon which brings together nearly 8,300 participants from around the state and beyond. This race offers a variety of lengths, including a full marathon, half marathon, 5K and a kid’s event. It takes place on January 15-17, 2016 in Baton Rouge.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and you know what that means. It means it’s time to show that special someone in your life that you care! If you’re drawing a blank about what to give, check out the list below of both classic and non-traditional gift ideas that are sure to make your loved one smile.
Spa Day – Treat your loved one to a day of pampering at a local spa. Give them a gift card for a massage or pedicure, and pair the gift card with an aromatherapy candle or plush robe to complete the present! Or, make it a gift for two, and join them!
Gourmet Goods – Is your special someone a foodie? Then why not give them a basket of food delights. Do they love artisan cheeses, fine wine, organic teas, or gourmet chocolates? Fill the basket with everything they enjoy, and then choose a time to enjoy some of the goodies together.
Date Night – Oftentimes, the gifts that are most memorable are experiential. Think about what your special someone enjoys most, and then plan a day or evening around it. Do they love art? Head to the museum. Do they revel in theatrical productions? Purchase tickets to a show. Doing something together will bring you closer together.
Click here for a list of romantic restaurants in New Orleans.
Classic Care Package – There’s nothing quite like red roses and chocolates, or a lovely piece of jewelry to say “I love you”.
No matter what you decide on, remember that the whole purpose of Valentine’s Day is to rekindle and celebrate the love you have for one another – keep that in mind, and you can’t go wrong!
Tips That Will Have You Sleeping Better Tonight
Feeling tired? It’s not uncommon – countless people have trouble sleeping, and don’t feel fully rested in the morning. Thousands of Americans suffer from poor sleep and insomnia, but that doesn’t mean you’re destined for sleepless nights forever! Review these simple suggestions that you can incorporate into your lifestyle today in order to sleep better tonight.
Let It Go.
Stop thinking about all the highs and lows of the day, and let yourself relax. If you find it difficult to wind down, write your thoughts or to-dos down on paper so you don’t have them continually running through your mind.
Fight Stress.
You want your cortisol levels to go down, not up, before you go to sleep. What does that mean? No fighting, worrying, or plunging into activities or conversations that might wind you up, and stress you out in the hours before bedtime.
Begin Your Fast.
You may not think about this often, but in reality you fast every night until you wake and “break the fast” with your morning meal. Fasting allows your body to repair itself, and not focus on digestion while you sleep. Not eating for a few hours before bed will set your body up for its nightly work, and help you rest better.
Electronic Free Zone.
Aim for no electronics in the bedroom for at least for 30 minutes to 1 hour before you fall asleep. That means no TVs, laptops, iPads, or phones — all these electronics keep us awake and our minds active instead of letting us settle in for the night.
Still Feeling Awake? Here Are A Few Other Great Ways To Wind Down:
1. A nice hot bath with Epsom Salts, lavender oil and candles in the winter.
2. Fifteen minutes of meditating in bed.
3. Reading in bed.
4. A glass of wine, or herbal tea and a movie.
5. Light stretching, quick restorative yoga session, or a relaxing neighborhood walk.
Sleep well!
Valentine’s Day is all about chocolate, and there’s nothing quite like the taste of creamy, rich, homemade fudge to show someone that you care. If you’ve come to believe that decadent fudge only comes from the mom and pop shop, prepare to be proved wrong. This simple recipe will have you whipping up this traditional treat just in time for Valentine’s Day!
Ingredients
2 cups white sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup of whole milk
2 tablespoons butter (plus more for greasing the dish)
2 teaspoons vanilla
Equipment
Measuring cups and spoons
Thick-bottomed sauce pan
Whisk
Heat-proof spatula
Wooden spoon
Pyrex pie plate or dish
1. Measure the ingredients and whisk. Measure the sugar, cocoa and salt in the sauce pan you are using to cook the fudge. Add the milk and whisk until blended. Don’t worry about a few lumps, they’ll go away when you heat the mixture.
2. Bring to a boil. Bring the mixture to a boil over a medium-low flame. Stir occasionally with the spatula but not too often or your fudge will be grainy. Keep the heat as low as possible to avoid scorching.
3. Prepare pan, ice water, and water bath. While the fudge is cooking, butter the pan that will hold the fudge. Fill a glass or jar with ice and water and set next to the stove. Fill your sink with several inches of cold water.
4. Determine when the fudge is done. Start checking the fudge for doneness after 10 minutes of boiling. If you are using a thermometer, your fudge is ready when it reaches 235°F. Or go old-school and use the soft ball test. Using a metal spoon, drizzle a little fudge in a cup of ice water. If it forms a soft, pliable ball, then it’s done.
Another hint that your fudge is almost ready is that it will go from a mix of larger and smaller bubbles to just the smaller, tighter bubbles. Begin testing as soon as you notice this change.
5. Add the vanilla and butter, and beat until cool. When the fudge is done, turn off the heat and gently stir in the vanilla and butter. Remove from the stove and place the pan of fudge in the sink of cold water being very careful not to splash into the pot. The water may sputter for a few seconds when the hot pan hits it. Holding the pot steady with one hand, beat the fudge using a wooden spoon until it is fairly cool but still liquid.
6. Pour into the pan. Pour the fudge into your prepared pan. It should be liquid enough to spread out evenly on its own.
7. Cool, cut, and enjoy. Allow the fudge to cool before you cut it — generally a half hour at room temperature does the trick. Use a thin-bladed sharp knife to cut the fudge. You can dip the knife in hot water, wiping the blade dry with a dish cloth, if needed.
*Just before you pour the fudge into its cooling pan, you can stir in any number of extras. Chopped nuts like walnuts, almonds, or macadamias are wonderful. Chopped candy canes are good for the holidays, too.
Recipe courtesy of www.ApartmentTherapy.com
If you have a stressful day, the last thing you want is to come home to a messy apartment. Your apartment should be your sanctuary. Home is where you get to check your troubles at the door, and the following are some basic tips that will allow you to do so. Stay happy and healthy in one of 1st Lake’s many New Orleans area apartment communities!
Clean – Instead of waiting for the weekend to spend it cleaning the house after a week’s worth of dirt and clutter, break it down and spend 20 minutes a day cleaning. That way the house will be clean every day and you don’t have to devote a whole weekend to picking up the past week’s mess.
Organize – One of the most aggravating things ever is not being able to find something – typically keys – when it’s time to leave the house. Make sure everything in your apartment has its own home so you always know where to find it. Use the same logic for the rest of the apartment as you do when organizing closets or junk drawers.
Breathe – Literally. Let your apartment and in turn yourself breathe easier with indoor houseplants. Use our guide to easy indoor houseplants for the best types to grow in your apartment. Not only do they spruce up the place, but they are great natural medicine!
Think – Think about what makes you most happy about your apartment and incorporate it into your daily home life. Is it keeping it neat and tidy? Displaying photos of friends and family? A pet? Good karma by doing chores even if it’s not “your turn?” Decide what will make you happy at home, practice those things and so it shall be.
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
