Spring Cleaning in Eco-Friendly Ways

Wellness has never been more important than it is today. Living in a tidy and organized home can have a major impact on your emotional and physical health. We have all spent 2020 cooped up at home and many of us have probably let things slip. Let’s make 2021 a fresh start with a great spring cleaning in your Sunnyside Village Apartments.

The Mental Health Benefits of a Clean Home

There are clear and measurable mental health benefits of a clean home. A clean home relieves stress. Recent studies have shown that people who regularly spend time cleaning their homes are more relaxed and happier than people that don’t. Clean homes boost productivity. Experts agree that keeping your home organized with everything in its place has a significant impact on personal productivity. Clean homes can help you stay active. Studies show that people who spend time cleaning their homes exercise more often than people that don’t.

Ways to Go Green with Your Cleaning Process

Most of us want a clean home without contributing unnecessarily to climate change, so it’s very important that we follow green practices during our spring cleaning. The good news is that there are several easy tips you can follow to do just that. First, since many products are not safe for kids or pets, make sure you are using basic safety when storing and handling cleaning products. With that out of the way, it’s important to target green cleaning products. Baking soda is great as a gritty base for scrubbing. Vinegar is great as a disinfectant and for loosening dirt. Lemon juice is also a powerful disinfectant and it’s excellent with grease. As a pro tip, you can use all three together. Adding lemon or vinegar activates baking soda with a mild acid to really improve its cleaning power.

Local Stores for Cleaning Material or Cleaning Services for Hire

Things are starting to open up in Clackamas in 2021! Target and Walmart are chock full of great cleaning materials. Need a hand with your spring cleaning? Check out Maid Prime and their 5 Star Reviews. They are a solid local cleaning service.

Spring 2021 is going to be all about a fresh start, which starts with a clean home. Having a clean home will really help with your mental and emotional health. This year, you can have one without hurting the environment and visiting your local stores will help them get off to a strong start, too. Have a great time making that clean, orderly, and organized house a reality this year!

Tips and Tricks to Stay Warm and Cozy in Your Sunnyside Village Apartments

Winter can be difficult. However, with a little planning and preparation, you can make winter 2021 the best winter ever!  The weather can be tough, it can be hard to stay warm, and the features of your apartment can make a real difference. Here are some tips and tricks to stay warm and cozy in your Sunnyside Village Apartments.

Winter Weather in Clackamas

Winter 2021 is expected to be mostly mild for much of the United States. This winter you can expect highs at about 55 degrees Fahrenheit and lows in the 11 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow is typically not more than 3 inches on average although there may be about 43 inches of rain during the year. This year, it is likely to be wetter than in the past. 

Winter weather can be harsh on the body, inside and out. Make sure to stay hydrated as your skin and your body tend to be dryer in cold weather exacerbated by the use of a heater. Drinking plenty of water will help and if your skin gets dry, then use lotion regularly to help keep your skin hydrated, too.

Great Ways to Stay Warm

When it does get cold, you can stay warm without having to turn up the heat. Your parents were right, so make sure to dress in layers. It’s easy to add a cute sweater or jacket over a long sleeve top and an under shirt. Wearing thick socks or slippers around the house will help keep you comfy. A great cup of soup will fill you up and warm you up. A hot cup of coffee or cocoa will also help you to keep warm. A lot of us suffer from dry air, so consider using a humidifier when you do feel the need to turn on the heater. 

Apartment Features for Comfort

Where you live can really have an impact on how you live. This winter your apartment can keep you safe, warm, and comfortable. Sunnyside Village has some stand-out features like the fitness center to warm you up and keep you healthy. If you prefer to stay in your apartment, then have a nice hot bubble bath or soak in some fizzing bath bombs or bath salts and enjoy a warm and relaxing bath. Check out Sunnyside Village’s amenities page for more information. It’s the perfect place for you this winter.

We all know 2020 was a tough year and we are looking forward to a great 2021. This winter can be your best winter ever. You can make the most of it by preparing for the weather, planning to stay warm, and picking the right apartment. Make this your best winter ever!   

New Year, New Possibilities

It’s time to say goodbye to 2020 and say hello to 2021! With some planning, a little work, and a great attitude this can be your best year ever. Check out these can’t miss ideas to make the most out of 2021. This is a new year with new possibilities at the Sunnyside Village Apartments.

Personal Goals to Set for the Year

Every year we tend to focus on what we can do better and that certainly is true for 2021. The New Year is a time for goal setting, for doing new things, and for making sure we improve the important things. Here are some of our favorite goals for 2021. First, learn a new skill, what could be better than investing in yourself? Money is always a challenge, so be sure to create a monthly budget.

Perhaps it’s time to stop streaming shows and movies and start reading more, so try to read 12 new books this year. Start the day off right by creating and sticking to a new morning routine. Many of us probably picked up some bad habits in 2020, so be sure to eliminate one.

We have all been separated by COVID-19, so be sure to spend less time online and more time reconnecting to friends and family. For the adventurers, travel to a new place and start a travel journal. No matter what you choose, make sure to focus on a goal that makes this version of you the best version ever! For many of us, celebrating the holidays this year will probably have to be done at home. 

Apartment/Home Goals

There are so many ways to get your apartment ready for the New Year. We all know it’s important to make a good first impression and this year that’s truer than ever. Time to throw out the old and bring in the new. Get rid of the clutter and organize your workspaces. Since you may still be working at home or your children may still be attending school from home, then it’s time to reorganize the areas around your home to help with productivity.

Organizing your living spaces and workspaces can help you to destress and we could all definitely use less stress in the new year. Take the time to clean out what you no longer use and keep only what you need. Less is more in 2021. You don’t need the stress from clutter and disorganization. Get rid of what you don’t need and keep your life and living areas simple. A clean and organized home can help you stay healthy, make it easier to clean, and help you to find what you need when you need it. 

2021 Apartment Décor Trends

With a new year, you may want to redecorate your apartment. Start with a theme. 2021 will be all about a basic modern style driven by a return to minimalism. Next, make sure the new year is bright with maximized light in your living space. 2021 will see a dominance of lighter woods combined with darker color accents. Make sure to choose design elements that elevate your own style whether that’s casual, formal, elegant, or even rustic.

A new year probably means some great new shopping. Although most shopping will likely be done online this year, you will have more options than ever. Sometimes you need to actually get out and look for yourself. Plus, most of the malls will be sure to have some new and fun things to do. If you need to pick up new decorations or gear for your great new habits, visit Greenhouse Square or Clackamas Promenade. They are open and sure to help you make 2021 your best year ever.

Celebrate the Holidays in 2020

The holiday season is going to be fantastic in 2020, if a little different. Sure, it’s 2020, so we need to social distance and wear masks to help us stay safe, but we can still have a healthy dose of holiday cheer. Check out these can’t miss ideas to make the holiday season a hit in 2020. Celebrate the holidays at Sunnyside Village Apartments.

How to Decorate Your Apartment for the Holidays

There are so many ways to get your apartment ready for holidays. We all know it’s important to make a good first impression. Most of us will keep party goers at a safe distance this year. Start with a theme. First, choose a color to get everyone in the mood for the holiday season. While red and green are some favorite traditional colors, other festive colors include gold and silver. This year, bright colors like purple, teal, white, and blue are also going to be very popular. Next, add in some holiday icons like snowmen, snowflakes, elves, or stars. Finally, keep in mind the atmosphere you have in mind. Make sure to choose minimalistic elements for your casual, formal, elegant, or even rustic themes. Make sure that you don’t forget the lights! 

How to get into the Holiday Spirit

For many of us, celebrating the holidays this year will probably have to be done at home. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get into the holiday spirit at home. Start setting the mood by baking or joining a cookie exchange. Make sure to have some seasonal comforts around your apartment like apple cider or hot chocolate. Music is a great way to get into any mood, so play some holiday favorites (Alexa and Apple both have fantastic holiday playlists). Gather with your family, in a safe way of course, to watch favorite movies or TV shows. And, as always, the best way to get into the spirit is to give back. Sadly, we all know that this year has more need than ever. 

Holiday Events Near Your Apartment

What is the season without shopping? Most shopping will be done online this year and you have more options than ever. Sometimes, you need to actually get out and look for yourself. Plus, most of the malls will be sure to have some safe and fun things to do. If you need to find that last minute gift, pick up wine or a dessert for a dinner party. Need to get out? Visit Greenhouse Square or Clackamas Promenade, which are open and can provide some holiday cheer. 

Social distancing will definitely make the holiday season different this year, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun and safe for everyone. Curbside and at-home delivery make it easier than ever to get the decorations, supplies, food, or gifts that you need to make the season a hit. Don’t be afraid to get creative with some seasonal inspiring at-home celebration ideas.

Thanksgiving Fun at Sunnyside Village

We know Thanksgiving in Clackamas will be a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t make it great. Sure it’s 2020, so we must social distance to stay safe, but we can still celebrate. Check out these can’t miss ideas to make Thanksgiving 2020 better than ever at Sunnyside Village.   

Cooking Tips and Recipes

This year make sure your Thanksgiving feast gives your family and close friends something to be thankful for with these tips and recipes. Let’s face it. Thanksgiving is about the turkey, so make sure yours is moist and delicious.

Start by brining the bird. Combine 1 ½ gallons and 2 ½ cups of salt in a large container. Place the fresh or thawed Turkey (to thaw in the fridge – allow 24 hours per 4 pounds of the bird) inside and brine overnight (up to 24 hours). 

Rinse the Turkey off and pat dry before roasting. Season with pepper, salt, garlic, and a little citrus (place cut lemons inside the cavity). If you want that golden color, then baste with a light layer of butter (this can be repeated every couple of hours). Roast for roughly 15 minutes per pound and use an instant read thermometer to pull it out of the oven at 165 degrees. Cover the bird with aluminum foil and let it rest for 30 minutes.

Arts and Crafts

While the turkey is being prepped, it’s time for some fun. We all know it’s going to be hard to get out and spend time with friends and family this Thanksgiving. It’s up to you to make sure that your arts and crafts help your guests celebrate the holiday. 

Start with a gratitude wreath for your door. Grab some colored construction paper and shape them into flat cones (we recommend gold and brown), glue on wheat stalks, attach the cones to a metal wreath base and paint with gold spray paint. 

This is the season to be thankful, so why not help the family with a gratitude calendar? Start with an empty picture frame and run 5 lines of twine vertically inside the frame (gluing them in place). Then, use construction paper (we cut ours into leaf shapes). Write a note every day of November about what you are thankful for. Pin the notes to the twine with clothespins, and you will have a great DIY piece that communicates the Thanksgiving spirit!

Online Black Friday Shopping in Clackamas

This will be a Black Friday unlike any other. No more crazy lines or packed checkout stands. Instead, many local retailers are taking Black Friday online!  Luckily, many stores are open in Clackamas and will deliver as well as provide curbside pickup. Check out the Clackamas Town Center and the Clackamas Promenade. They are sure to have some great deals!

The local grocery stores are also open for your Thanksgiving needs. Deliveries are available from restaurants and markets. This is a great time to get your supplies online and orders delivered. 

Social distancing will definitely make Thanksgiving different this year, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a fun and safe holiday for everyone. Curbside and at-home delivery make it easier than ever to get the decorations, supplies, and food you will need to make Thanksgiving a hit and to make your Black Friday Shopping better than ever. Don’t be afraid to get creative with some inspiring at home crafting ideas.

Halloween in Clackamas

Halloween is going to be fantastic in 2020, if a little different. Halloween is on a Saturday, there will be a full moon, and people want to celebrate. Sure it’s 2020, so we need to social distance, wear masks of a different sort to help us stay safe, but we can still have a spooky great time. Check out these can’t miss ideas to make Halloween 2020 a hit. Sunnyside Village Apartments is the right place to celebrate. 

How to Decorate Your Apartment

There are so many ways to get your apartment ready for Halloween. We all know it’s important to make a good first impression and this year that’s even truer as most of us will keep trick-or-treaters at a safe distance. Set the stage. Carve creepy pumpkins with stencils and easily available templates. Decorate doors with cut-outs of ghosts, goblins, witches, and more. 

Make sure the neighbors can see some colorful creatures by combining monster cut-outs and contact paper on the windows. For the inside, fairy lights, felt spiders, and glow in the dark skeletons are always hit. It’s the little things that really set the mood. Try the mirror hidden message trick, get some scotch tape and spell out a scary message on your mirror, allow the tape to set and remove. Then run some hot water to reveal hidden messages to your guests.

How to Celebrate at Home

For many of us, celebrating Halloween this year will probably have to be done at home. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to raise goosebumps at home. Start by setting the mood with Halloween baking and some apple cider. Carving pumpkins is always a hit, so each person can get involved in making their ideas come to life.

What’s Halloween without costumes? Make sure to get everyone dressed up and set up a video conferencing call with friends and family so everyone can share the scares. Set up a baby monitor on the porch, so you can have fun interacting with trick-or-treaters. Treats can be in the form of an outdoor haunted house or a video performance through your windows instead of the typical eatable delights.

Movie marathons are great since you can choose movies appropriate to any age group or audience (from Goonies to Friday the 13th, there is something for everyone) and those can be shared from the comfort of your own apartment through a number of popular streaming services (Netflix Party, KAST, YouTube, Discord, Facebook, and more).

Halloween Hotspots in Clackamas

Luckily, stores are open in Clackamas, so you can get what you need for Halloween. Get your costume, makeup, and decorations at Spirit Halloween stores open this year in Portland or Gresham.

If you are looking for a local family treat, then visit Bella Organic Pumpkin Patch and Winery in Portland, where you may enjoy the haunted corn maze, the pumpkin patch, or the farm and vineyard.

If you don’t mind the hour-long drive, then the family may enjoy the outdoor activities at Bauman’s Farm in Gervais from the corn maze to the barnyard bridge or going inside the animal barn while the parents do a little apple tasting and visit the Bauman Cidery. Plus who doesn’t love a pumpkin patch?

Social distancing will definitely make Halloween different this year, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a fun and safe holiday for everyone. Curbside and at-home delivery make it easier than ever to get the decorations, supplies, and costumes you need to make Halloween a hit. Don’t be afraid to get creative with some seasonal inspiring at-home celebration ideas.

Health and Fitness in the Sunnyside Village Apartments

Fitness is vital to good health. But you may wonder how you can do this at home in the Sunnyside Village Apartments. Help is on the way. You can build a solid at-home exercise and healthy eating plan. Working out and eating right helps more than your body. Fitness and healthy eating helps improve your mental health. Here are some great tips that are sure to keep boost your health and fitness this summer. 

How to Eat Healthy At-Home

Preparation is key to eating healthy at-home. Nothing will hurt your nutrition more than trying to decide what to eat when you are hungry. The good news is that it’s simple and easy to cook healthy meals right in your apartment.

First, decide on your nutritional plan. Many experts recommend a 40 protein/40 carbohydrate/20 fats macro-nutrient approach. Next, plan your meals. An easy tip is to use the size of your closed fist as a guide to the 40% portions. Each meal should have a protein (like chicken, fish, lean beef, or tofu), a carbohydrate, and a serving of healthy fats. Prepare three meals a day and a few healthy snacks, like yogurt or bananas, and you are all set.

Make sure you eat healthy snacks throughout the day because people tend to overeat when they get hungry.

Home Workouts 

The current health crisis has made working out a real challenge. Gyms are closed and most in-person classes are cancelled. The good news is that it’s easy to give yourself a challenging workout in your apartment using just your body weight and minimal equipment. Health and Fitness can be successful at home. 

Cardio and Strength-Based Workouts

Complete fitness takes both cardio and strength-based workouts, and both can easily be done at home without a gym. Walking is one of the most efficient cardio workouts around. Just pick a field, a park, or even the streets in your neighborhood and get ready for some interval walking. A good interval plan is three to one, so walk quickly for three minutes (you should be breathing hard) and then recover with a slower walk. Try to shoot for 10 intervals or a 40 minute walk. You should be burning about 10 calories per minute. You can burn 400 calories in that workout. If you do interval training, then you will also increase your resting heart rate for hours after the workout, giving you an even longer burn.

Strength-Training at Home

All you need for strength training at-home is your body weight. Start with an 8-minute warm up of calisthenics. Your warmup should be 8, one-minute long sets, of body weight exercises. During each set, work as fast as you can for 45 seconds, and rest for 15 seconds. Try this mix for a full-body workout: high knees, jumping jacks, front or rear lunges, push-ups, sit-ups, mountain climbers, up-downs, and jump squats. Once you have mastered that, then grow your strength by adding to the routine. You can do that by extending the time for each set (first to a minute and a quarter, then to a minute and a half, etc.) or adding in sets. Do a little each week, and you should see the difference.

Yoga or Pilates

If you prefer a more relaxing workout, then you can do yoga or Pilates inside or outside your apartment. All you need is a towel or a yoga mat. There are many exercises you can do including planks to build your core, down dogs to strengthen your arms and legs, and sun salutations to improve your breathing and strengthen your body. Yoga workouts can burn 160-460 calories in an hour depending upon your weight and the level of activity you are doing.

Whatever form of exercise you choose, make sure you have a bottle of water and a towel to keep you hydrated and to wipe sweat.

Improve Your Mental Health

The current state of our nation’s health crisis has increased stress, isolation, and loneliness for just about everyone. Rest assured, there are things you can do at-home to improve your mental health. Consider taking a break from the news. Try setting some limits on the news, like a certain time of day or specific days of the week, and step away from all the negativity.

Schedules Help Keep You on Track

Set and follow a schedule. Schedules help establish some certainty. Although being stuck at home or working from home can make you lose track of time, a schedule will help you remember what you need to do and when to do it. Be sure to move every day and spend at least twenty minutes in the sun. Soaking in the sun and increasing your oxygen levels through exercise have proven mental health benefits.

Stay in Touch with Family and Friends

Make a point of keeping in touch with your friends and family. Social media is fine, but nothing beats a call or a video chat to catch up and stay connected. If you can see your friends and extended family with proper social distancing, then that can lift your mood and keep you all safe. Follow these tips and you are sure to flex your mental health muscles.

Gym closures, eating-in, and social distancing are serious challenges to physical and mental health. Luckily, you can stay fit with at-home exercise and healthy eating. With a little work you can be the best version of yourself this summer.

 

Getting Prepared for School in Your Clackamas Apartments

Since school is picking up again towards the end of this summer, it’s time for you to be as prepared as possible in your Clackamas apartments. Whether it’s you going back to school or it’s your child(ren), there are a few things you should think about before the new school year. It doesn’t matter whether you are going to be attending a physical school or you will be telecommuting, it’s important to keep the following objectives in mind:

  1.       Always make sure to keep it a priority to have at least one part of your apartment clear and clean for schoolwork. This promotes concentration and discipline. If you start doing your schoolwork on your bed or your couch, your mind may go into relaxation mode, and you may not do as well as you normally would. So be sure to invest in a sturdy work area that you can keep clean and full of clutter.
  2.       For the sake of staying organized, invest in some school supplies. If you aren’t up to going shopping for school supplies in person, you can always go shopping online, like on Amazon. This is safer, anyway, in terms of not contracting COVID-19. It’s good to have school supplies ahead of time that you’re going to need throughout the year instead of buying them one by one so you don’t have to stress out or spend extra money.
  3.       Lastly, take a look around and see if your Clackamas apartments have certain amenities on the properties that you can take advantage of if you’re going to be doing schoolwork there, such as a computer lab or a lounge. This can be very helpful in terms of compartmentalizing: keeping your personal life and your studies separate. Some people find it almost impossible to study in the same place where they live, anyway. Ask the staff if there are any amenities you can use to make the most of your studies.

Hopefully, these suggestions were helpful to you in terms of making the most out of your studies for the upcoming school year. Be sure to use your Clackamas apartments in your favor, and you are bound to succeed!

Getting Prepared for School in Your Clackamas Apartments

Clackamas apartments back to school

Since school is picking up again towards the end of this summer, it’s time for you to be as prepared as possible in your Clackamas apartments. Whether it’s you going back to school or it’s your child(ren), there are a few things you should think about before the new school year. It doesn’t matter whether you are going to be attending a physical school or you will be telecommuting, it’s important to keep the following objectives in mind:

1. Always make sure to keep it a priority to have at least one part of your apartment clear and clean for schoolwork. This promotes concentration and discipline. If you start doing your schoolwork on your bed or your couch, your mind may go into relaxation mode, and you may not do as well as you normally would. So be sure to invest in a sturdy work area that you can keep clean and full of clutter.

2. For the sake of staying organized, invest in some school supplies. If you aren’t up to going shopping for school supplies in person, you can always go shopping online, like on Amazon. This is safer, anyway, in terms of not contracting COVID-19. It’s good to have school supplies ahead of time that you’re going to need throughout the year instead of buying them one by one so you don’t have to stress out or spend extra money.

3. Lastly, take a look around and see if your Clackamas apartments have certain amenities on the properties that you can take advantage of if you’re going to be doing schoolwork there, such as a computer lab or a lounge. This can be very helpful in terms of compartmentalizing: keeping your personal life and your studies separate. Some people find it almost impossible to study in the same place where they live, anyway. Ask the staff if there are any amenities you can use to make the most of your studies.

Hopefully, these suggestions were helpful to you in terms of making the most out of your studies for the upcoming school year. Be sure to use your Clackamas apartments in your favor, and you are bound to succeed!

Celebrate National Ice Cream Month in Clackamas

celebration national ice cream month in your clackamas apartments

Did you know that July is National Ice Cream Month? It’s a fantastic chance to get out of the heat and enjoy some cold dessert. There are so many types of ice cream out there as well, especially if you have food allergies, and your apartments in Clackamas are near a few places that dish out delicious ice cream. However, if you’re more interested in staying at home, the good news is that you can make ice cream from there too!

Here are some facts you should know while you celebrate National Ice Cream month:

1.       The great news is that there are a variety of kinds of ice cream, like dairy, frozen yogurt, sorbet, and sherbert. National Ice Cream Month should be used as a fun excuse to try them all. Sure, ice cream is sometimes high in calories, but not always. Do your research online if you’re interested in finding a sweet treat that is low in calories yet delicious in taste.

2.       If you aren’t keen on abandoning your Clackamas apartments, then you don’t have to! There are a variety of ways you can make ice cream from your very own home. For tips on how to do that, click here. This will satisfy your cravings and make sure you are still safe regarding everything that is still going on with the virus.

3.       Finally, as mentioned before, Clackamas has lots of great places to enjoy this cold dessert. You should try ice cream from Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream because it’s close to your apartments and their reviews are great!

How will you take advantage of National Ice Cream Month? Will you use the opportunity to try every type of ice cream you can? Will you take on the challenge of creating your own ice cream from home, or do you feel like venturing out to your local spots and try ice cream that Clackamas has to offer? If you know of any great places to try ice cream, feel free to share with your fellow neighbors in the comments below..