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 the Lodges at Lake Salish.

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 Columbia Gorge Outlets or Wood Village Town Center, 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 the Lodges at Lake Salish

We know Thanksgiving in Fairview 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 Lodges at Lake Salish.   

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 Fairview

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 Fairview and will deliver as well as provide curbside pickup. Check out the Wood Village Town Center and the Eastport Plaza Shopping Center. 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 Fairview

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. Lodges at Lake Salish 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 Fairview

Luckily, stores are open in Fairview, 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 Lodges at Lake Salish Apartments

Fitness is vital to good health. But you may wonder how you can do this at home in the Lodges at Lake Salish 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.

Get Ready for School in Your Fairview Apartments

This August or September, are you or your kids going back to school? Regardless if you are going to a physical location to do so or you are continuing it from the comforts of your Fairview apartments, it’s still a great idea to be as prepared as possible. There are quite a few ways you can make that happen. Keep reading this blog to gain insight into some ways on how to make the most out of studying for this new school year.

  1.       Make sure that you set aside a part of your Fairview apartments to focus on just for your study needs. If you start doing your homework on your bed or on your couch where you unwind, your brain has a harder time registering that it’s time to focus. So be sure to have a nice, clean workspace where you can get things done consistently.
  2.       Go all out on your school supplies before it’s too late! Many people wait until it’s last minute, and then settle for school supplies that are less than ideal. Amazon is a great place to buy school supplies, especially since there’s still the threat of COVID-19 if you go out where there are crowds. You may even find codes for discounts on supplies online.
  3.       Finally, it may be helpful for either you or your kids to find places to study around your apartments other than your actual home. Check with the staff if there’s an office, computer lab, or lounge you can occupy to take your studying there. Sometimes it can be pretty distracting trying to study where you work, so this compartmentalization approach can be helpful.

We hope that you found the tips above helpful in terms of preparation for getting ready to start your new school year. It’s always better to err on the side of being prepared. Fortunately, your Fairview apartments have amenities that can accommodate you!

Enjoy National Ice Cream Month in Fairview

Great news- July is National Ice Cream Month! You know that ice cream is a delicious dessert that has a few extra calories, depending on the type, but it also boasts some nutritional value. You should use the notion that it’s National Ice Cream Month to get out of your apartments in Fairview to get some refreshing ice cream in your neighborhood. There are different types of ice cream you can indulge in and great spots in Fairview for ice cream. If you’re more of a homebody, you can even make your own ice cream at your place.
These are some things about ice cream you should know for National Ice Cream Month.
1. There are various kinds of ice cream, although you may just be familiar with the traditional dairy-based kind. So even if you’re lactose-intolerant or simply don’t care for traditional ice cream, you could try it in the form of a frozen yogurt, sorbet, or sherbert.
2. Stay home if you feel like it! You don’t have to leave your apartments in Fairview to get your hands on some delicious ice cream! Some people are still choosing to stay at home even though certain restaurants and businesses have opened up, and we totally get that you’re playing it safe. Check out this site here to find some recipes on how to make delicious ice cream from the confines of your apartments.
3. If you want to go out and get ice cream, Fairview has many great spots for ice cream. The number one spot we recommend for you to check out is Fairview Ice Cream Center because the ice cream is refreshing and it has great reviews.
So, take a break from the seriousness and let yourself feel like a kid again and enjoy National Ice Cream Month! If you start making it yourself, it can be a regular recipe that you incorporate into your diet. Treat yourself to something delicious this summer. You deserve to have a break!

Change It Up: Trending Apartment Décor in Fairview

Given that this year, you’ve had more time to spend than usual in your Fairview apartments, do you feel like you can use a little remodeling? There are lots of creative ways you can change your apartments up so that it feels like you’re in a new space, or at the very least, refreshed in some way. There is a whole list of ways you can go about doing this, but we’ll just share three pointers with you.

Here are some tips on how you can make use of new décor for your apartment:

1. Figure Out What You’re Trying to Establish as Your Theme- It’s important to come up with a theme, or at least an ESSENCE of what you’d like your apartment to have. When you’re home, is your goal to feel relaxed, energized, or both? If you want to feel relaxed, use more earth tones, and get things like succulents and incense (if your building allows this) to feel as though you’re more grounded. If you want to feel more energized, bring in some color, and use either a citrus-type or spicy kind of air diffuser so that your senses are awakened.

2. Add Little Accents for a More Personalized Touch- People underestimate the power of little accessories in your home that can truly give it some character. If you’re drawing a blank on this one, think about getting the following things: a wall clock, a movie poster, a record player, a decorative candle, pillows for your couch, and more if you go to the home section of Amazon.com. It’s very important that you do all your shopping online!

3. Give Some Serious Thought to Your Furniture- Right now is a great time to shop for new furniture online or on different apps, like OfferUp, where people are trying to get rid of quality things in order to get more money. Add a new chair or desk to your apartment in order to accentuate the new vibe you’re going for.

That wraps it up in terms of tips for new décor for your Fairview apartments. If you have any tips, please share in the comments below.

Making Your Remote Work Experience Easy

Working Remotely, Work From Home, Working From Home, Remote Work, Home Office

Replaced the ole cubicle with the living room recently? If you’ve made the switch to working remotely here at the Lodges at Lake Salish, it’s best to dive in with the right tips. Here are some ways to make your work from home experience seamless!

 

Hone Your Home Office

 

While you have the choice to make your work meeting from bed in PJs, setting up a dedicated home office will be the better choice to retain your focus. To maximize productivity, consider setting up your desk away from your bedroom. That way, your mind will learn to separate your sleeping and working area from each other. For added mental clarity, set up your home office by a window that receives lots of sunshine. Those happy rays will do you good and keep stress at bay while you reach those deadlines.

 

Put Your Remote Work on a Schedule

 

It’s easy to lose track of your routine if you’re spending most of your time indoors. However, keeping a regular schedule going while you work from home can help you feel more in control. Waking up at the same time every day, wearing a fresh set of clothes, and keeping a planner listed with daily tasks are all great ways to stick to a healthy remote work schedule. Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, you can create your own hourly habits to best suit your personality.

 

Give Yourself a Break While Working From Home

 

While some may struggle with finding motivation while working remotely, others may find it difficult not to overwork themselves! Interrupting your workflow with a set of healthy breaks just like any other workday will keep you functioning at your best. If you’re in front of a screen for most of the day, stick to the classic 20-20-20 routine! This break schedule reduces eye strain from the bright light of your laptop.

 

Your remote work transition will be breezy by following these tips! What are some other work from home hacks you’re sticking to? Let us know in the comments!

 

Supporting Your Community While Living in Fairview

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By moving to and living in Fairview, OR at The Lodges at Lake Salish, you’ve become a citizen of a vibrant and unique community. Having to keep up with your busy schedule of going to work, taking care of the little ones, and running errands can make it easy to let the community pass you by. As we gather together in uncertain times, finding ways to support each other starts from home.

 

Take Advantage of Your Local Library

 

Local libraries are an invaluable resource to the city. By providing a quiet place to study, read and learn for everyone, the local library in Fairview is a hub of positive growth. The Fairview-Community Library has been serving the city since 2001, and provides online access to a wide variety of digital materials as well. From kid-friendly educational content to free movie and TV streaming services, Multnomah County residents can utilize everything here.

 

Order Delivery From a Popular Local Restaurant

 

Fairview and the surrounding area features so many delicious dining options. Chepes, a Salvadorean restaurant, definitely deserves a spotlight. Featuring mouthwatering pupusas, churrasco-style meats, and street tacos galore, Chepes provides tantalizing flavors from south of the border. While stationed in Portland, Chepes offers food delivery in Fairview too. Check out their full menu and pictures of these items here!

 

Say “Cheers” and Support a Local Brewery

 

There’s no doubt that Oregonians love their beer. The rise in popularity of craft brewing across the country has certainly stemmed from this state, with over 200 operating breweries and brew pubs. For a taste of a local brewery in Fairview, check out Gateway Brewing. Brewed in small batches, Gateway is offering online ordering and home delivery for their crafted selections very soon.

 

Slowing down your regular schedule gives you a chance to get involved with what the wonderful people in both the city of Fairview and the state of Oregon have to offer. How are you keeping in touch with your community at the Lodges at Lake Salish? Let us know in the comments!

Get Your Apartment Sparkling Clean This Spring!

Spring Cleaning, Green Cleaning, DIY Cleaning, DIY Cleaning Tips

On March 19th, the season of spring finally arrives, bringing new life into our natural environment. Preparing your own apartment space here at the Lodges at Lake Salish for spring growth starts with a little tidying up. Here are some easy tips and tricks to get your home looking sparkling for the season with spring cleaning!

 

Kid-Friendly Cleaning

 

If you have little ones, odds are, the thought of cleaning voluntarily sends them running for the hills! There are a few different ways to make sure they get on board with spring cleaning without getting bored themselves. You can make a game out of tidying up by timing a cleaning session with a song. Play a kid-friendly tune in the background and challenge your kids to tidy up as much as they can before the song ends! Or, you can set up a chore chart with a reward system. Every time they complete an age-appropriate chore, add a tally to the chart. Once they reach your set goal, reward them with a small gift or day trip!

 

Green Cleaning Hacks

 

One of the common misconceptions around cleaning is thinking you need heavy-duty chemicals to get rid of grime. However, natural approaches can be just as, if not more, effective at getting the job done. Vinegar is one of the best green cleaning wonders, and you probably already have a gallon of it at home. Here’s a helpful list of just some of the ways you can use vinegar to spruce up your apartment. From zapping away stuck-on grease in the microwave to cleaning your dishwasher, vinegar gets the job done without harming the environment!

 

DIY Cleaning Tips

 

Another way to get your spring cleaning done in a green fashion is by making your own cleaning products! Not only will this save you money on store-bought cleaning products, but getting crafty can be a ton of fun. Check out this all-purpose spray cleaner you can easily add to your future DIY cleaning product collection! All you need is an upcycled spray bottle and five low-cost ingredients to get those surfaces citrusy fresh.

 

Tidying up your space will help clear your apartment and mind from any unnecessary mess. Use these cleaning tips to make your spring cleaning session a breeze!