Community Blog

Florida is closing in on the hurricane season and we all at Estates at Heathbrook need to be prepared.  The weather can get pretty crazy here and if we’re not properly prepared it wouldn’t be pretty. That’s the beauty of Florida isn’t it though? With a great location and mostly great weather comes the bad spurts. Remember these few tips on being prepared for the weather!

• Do as your told- If you’re told to evacuate your area during bad weather, please do as your told and evacuate as soon as you can.
• Create a Plan- If you aren’t told to evacuate you still need to prepare. Where are you supposed to go in case the weather gets foul? Do you have a central area to go to? Follow up on those questions
• Supply Kit- Make a kit of supplies; first aid, food, blankets, water… full list

Keep an eye out on the weather and be prepared always

Photo by Ed Yourdon

I’ve been planning on changing the style in my kitchen. I’ve grown tired of the random decor I’ve acquired and I want something new and well cohesive. I’ve been looking around at different style and themes.

The biggest theme I enjoyed was a kitchen cafe. Like every other person I wanted a french style cafe in my kitchen. I knew it’d be so cute and quaint. I started looking around for certain things and items that would make my theme and style happen. I found a great check list to help me achieve this!

• Plants- Make sure you have climbing ivy (it can be fake), terracotta pots around your kitchen. I placed mine on top of the cabinets. This way they won’t be in the way.
• Bistro Table and Chairs- It’s only me in my apartment so I bought a small round table with bistro chairs. Currently I only have two chairs out but I have another pair in the closet if I have guests.
• Art- I have a chalk board on the wall for grocery and to-do lists. This adds to the theme. I also have little hanging art of coffee and food.
• Lighting- I have candles on my countertops to add to my theme. This not only helps with my style but when I cook I can help rid the food smell faster.

Try these few tips to obtain a great looking kitchen! How have you decorated your kitchen?

Photo by Vintage Lulu

There are three that come to my mind, Google, Bing, and Yahoo. You’ve got the old favorite Yahoo, the more than effective Google and the newest addition to the family Bing.  So what do you use when you search for things? Vote on our poll and let us know what you use! Comment below if you don’t see your search engine listed.

Photo by dannysullivan

My mother is  a great cook. End of statement, there are no “ifs, ands or buts” about it. She’s good at cooking, and she never needs a recipe. She throws things into a pot and voila out comes a masterpiece. Now while my mother is a great cook, she’s not the healthiest cook. She loves butter, frying, anything that involves high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Ever since I’ve moved into my apartment at The Estates at Heathbrook I’ve been trying to make her recipes a bit healthier.  I try using ground turkey, less salt, olive oil and other alternatives. But sometimes I need to reference some smarter cooking tips, it’s not easy because the way my mother does it makes the food so good.

Here are just some of the tips I use to cook smarter, try them out!

Method- Try grilling, boiling, steaming and poaching your foods. It’s a healthier way to cook.

Spices- Use herbs and spices rather than salts to add taste to your meals!

Fruits and Veggies- Add more fruits and vegetables to your recipes and meals!

Photo by pillowhead designs

This weekend we get to celebrate our country’s independence! It’s one of my favorite holidays, I love the grilling, the hot weather, the red, white and blue outfits, the parades and mostly the fireworks! It’s a holiday that we can all celebrate and proudly! What are you planning on doing this 4th of July? Here’s an event going on at Ocala Downtown Square, check it out!

Red, White, & Blues

Saturday, July 3 6:00p to 9:00p
at Ocala Downtown Square, Ocala, FL

A patriotic festival in honor of our Country. Music, fun, and food (including FREE watermelon!) for the whole family. This event is free and open to the public.

Photo by stephen.moore

When I was younger I remember being involved in everything. You name it, I probably tried it. I was always getting involved into activities and trying out new things. I was participated in Lacrosse, Cross Country, Soccer, Marching Band (Color Gaurd), Student Council, Math Team (I know…).

Now that I’m older I’ve dropped some (well most) of those activities since I have to focus on other things. I don’t enjoy it either, so recently I’ve been picking some of my favorites back up. I’ve been running and biking mostly and trying new things. For a while I wouldn’t try anything new…where’s the fun in that?

What’s one activity that you’ve dropped and want to pick back up? Check out our Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/LiveHeathbrook) and ask around. Maybe you can find a tennis partner or share a love for reading with a neighbor! Estates at Heathbrook’s hope is to create a community for you!

This Saturday, June 26 Hands Across the Sands will be at it again! In hopes to stop dependence on fossil fuels, this organization is once again joining hands across the nation’s beaches, parks and cities to stop the dangers of offshore oil drilling.

Hands Across the Sands was founded back in October of 2009. Dan Rauschkolb the founder organized a statewide event on February 13, 2010. All over Florida people gathered to send a message to their legislators and Governor Crist that they did not want the offshore drilling bans lifted in Florida waters. This Saturday it’s happening again but not only in Florida, all over the nation and the world!

Hands Across The Sand’s mission is to change our engery policy away from its dependence on fossil fuels and into the light of clean energy. The aim is to convince our leaders to abandon expanded offshore oil drilling and adopt policies that encourage clean and renewable energy resources.

This weekend beaches in Orlando are participating, so you can join hands!

Orlando, Lake Eola

Orlando Gulf

orlandogulf@gmail.com

239-961-7315

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Orlando-Gulf/108089079238316

We will meet on the walkway at the theater, under the trees. – Kia

Photo by sean.flynn

We all know that exercising does your body well, but there are times when you don’t want to exercise. You’d rather take a relaxing night and rest after work rather than exercising for an hour and a half. Excuses go through your mind on the way to the gym and you’re looking to find the best one. “If I exercise twice as hard tomorrow I can rest today, or I’ll get up early tomorrow morning and make up.” Yet sometimes there are times when we really shouldn’t be exercising. We need to recognize some signs that indicate we really should “take a knee” that day.

These are great excuses for you to not exercise one day:

• Recent Asthma Flare Up
• Recent Concussion
• Old Sports Injury is Acting Up
• No Sleep the Night Before
• Your back hurts
• Your Muscles are Sore
• Don’t Rush a Comeback

Remember that The Estates at Heathbrook has a Club-class fitness center featuring indoor racquetball court. We also have tennis courts and lush landscaping featuring walking paths and fountains. Make sure to get your exercise in but don’t push it!

That’s the question, do you buy a house or continue with your lease? Of course there are many pros and cons for both ideas but it’s up to you, and the result is leaning towards Renting. People’s mentalities are changing and they are choosing to stay within the apartment industry. And Why not?

• People who roomed with others to save money are now upgrading and living in an apartment on their own.
• People don’t want to worry about the fear of losing their house because of the market.
• No more First-Time-Buyer Tax Credit
• No committment to a 30-year mortgage

Photo by Oberazzi

The Estates at Heathbrook wants you to love every part of your apartment. Yet we know you have a favorite room. Personally my favorite room is the bedroom, it’s my place for relaxation and rest. I enjoy watching my favorite movies after work with a meal I just made. There’s nothing like a comfy bed and a good movie.

So which room is your favorite? Is it the kitchen, living room, bedroom, or your patio? Yes, your patio is a room. Vote on our blog and let us know which room is your favorite! Comment below if you have another favorite like the den, or another room!

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