A New Year at Isabella at Norman

Let’s Get Active! How to Get Moving Throughout Your Day

Many people have made new year’s resolutions to get into better shape. If you count yourself among those who want to be more active, here are some things you can start doing now to get moving throughout each day.

* Use an app or your smart watch to keep track of the number of steps you take each day to help motivate you to do more. You can set achievable goals to hit each day. We have beautiful green spaces on the Isabella property for you to enjoy.

* Periodically stand at your desk while working. When taking a call you can use that opportunity to stand and move.

* If you work from home, you can set goals to stand and walk around on the hour. Don't forget we have our Fitness room that has 2 Peloton bikes!

* Use commercial breaks wisely: When watching TV, use commercial breaks to do activities, such as 3 minutes of pushups or lifting toning weights.

* Park at the far end of parking lots whenever you go to work or run errands to get more steps in every day. Many of our students opt to bike or walk to campus! On rainy or really cold days, you can go to the mall and make a few walking laps around and enjoy the company of being around people.

Making small but important changes in your daily routine to get more active is essential for maintaining health. The management team wishes good health for each resident in our community. Staying in motion will be immensely helpful in reaching this goal.

ASK THE PROPERTY MANAGER:

Q: What Are Ways to Help Keep Our Community Clean?

A: We’ve received inquiries at the manager’s office from residents here, asking what they can do to help keep things nice and clean. Such calls are encouraging.

We’re all in this together, so it’s up to everyone to do their part to clean up after ourselves. As outdoors enthusiasts say, “always leave the campground cleaner than you found it.” The same idea can apply to our apartment community. With that in mind, here are some handy tips to help us keep our apartment community a clean and welcoming environment.

* Don’t be a litterbug. Sometimes folks are careless or distracted and accidentally drop a candy wrapper or other piece of trash on the ground. The parking lot is no place to empty a car’s ashtray. Be mindful of your surroundings.

* Pick up after animals. It’s easy to carry plastic bags so you can get rid of waste as soon as your pet makes a deposit.

* Don’t leave packages around. If you are expecting deliveries (who isn’t, these days?), make sure to retrieve them in a timely manner.

* When using the laundry facilities, clean up the dryer’s lint filter. If you spill fabric softener or detergent, wipe it up.

* Keep your apartment clean and remember to put out the trash to the dumpsters regularly. This helps to keep pests away from the premises and benefits everyone, not just you. Go above and beyond!

*Do your best to keep your front entrance patio area free from clutter and trash. Think of this space as your own personal oasis to sit outside and enjoy a cup of coffee or a drink. You could decorate this space with a small outside furniture arrangement. A small bistro table and 2 small patio chairs would make the entrance to your home look so inviting!

There’s more to do than picking up after yourself. For example, when out for a stroll, if you see a piece of litter on the ground, pick it up and put it in the nearest can. Think how nice the complex will stay looking and feel if everyone did this!

SEASONAL RECIPE:

Zesty Citrus Shrimp & Avocado Salad

• 1 lb jumbo cooked shrimp peeled, deveined, and chopped

• 6 c. baby spinach

• 2 c. sliced strawberries

• 1 ripe avocado, sliced

• 5 oz. crumbled blue cheese

• 1/4 c. sliced almonds

• 1/2 red onion, diced

Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl and toss. Add a vinaigrette or your favorite dressing! For meat lovers, top with diced chicken or bacon, or both!

FUN APARTMENT:

Want to Rev Up Your Next Get-together?

Style Your Coffee Bar! There’s nothing like quaffing some hot caffeine to encourage people to gather and socialize.

Perhaps you would like to step up your game when serving coffee in your home. Before your next get-together with friends or family, why not set up a stylish coffee bar in your apartment?

It’s a way to forge a small community within the larger apartment complex community. Here are some handy hints for styling your coffee bar.

* Set up space on a kitchen counter to hold the coffee bar equipment and accessories in one location. Or, if you are short on counter space, use a rolling cart.

* Arrange the gear: Place your coffee maker, coffee bean grinder (if you grind your own), and some cups, saucers, and spoons in the station. Don’t forget the napkins!

* Include extras, such as sugar, zero-calorie sweetener, honey, and cinnamon.

* Hang a little sign or poster on the wall at your coffee bar to personalize it. For example, print out a “Sheila’s Coffee Nook” sign in your favorite font and colors to hang up.

* Put out some snacks, such as cookies, muffins, or scones to go with the coffee drinks. Or for a healthy option, you could offer fresh berries and cheeses. No need to go out for a hot beverage! With a coffee bar decorated and set up according to your personal sense of style, you’ll have a way to save money previously given to coffee shops. Invite your pals over for coffee and conversation at your new coffee bar, and be prepared to stay up having plenty of fun!

COMMUNITY LIVING TIP

Reminder: Following Basic Pet Etiquette Makes for Better Neighbor Relationships

The joy of pet ownership shouldn’t get in the way of other people enjoying their lives. So, here in our apartment community, it’s a good idea to review the basics of pet etiquette. If you are a pet owner, these tips will help you remember your responsibilities.

* Keep your dog leashed: This is for the safety of our residents and helps keep your pet from running off.

* Always clean up after pets: You know the drill. Carry doggie waste bags to keep the grounds clean, and put them in the trash as soon as possible.

* Take your animal outside for walks or to to play in the dog park to work out excess energy and barking: Instead of annoying your neighbors, make sure your pet gets fresh air and has fun outdoors. This makes for a calmer time indoors.

* Have your pet trained if it is not socialized to be around other pets or people: We want all encounters between members of the community to be peaceful and friendly.

We are a pet-friendly community! Pets bring us so much comfort, happiness, and companionship. So, it’s always worth making an effort to pick up after them, keep them vaccinated and do what we can to curb excessive barking by always providing them with outside activity to burn off excess energy. Following fundamental pet etiquette will help us all be better neighbors.

Here's to a happy and healthy new year ahead!