Blog Posts

Crucial Life Skills

Being an adult can be difficult, as there are many things that you’re expected to know but aren’t often taught as you’re growing up. Due to the lack of education, there are many adults who have gaps in crucial life skills knowledge. In order to rectify this, we’ve decided to share with you some life skills that we think every adult should know in this week’s Richmond Square Blog post! Cooking a Meal Even though it’s really easy to get a quick meal from a fast food restaurant, there is a lot of good use in knowing how to cook a meal. Learning how to cook can help you save money, and can give you the confidence to host more dinners at your apartment! It doesn’t have to be a gourmet meal, but learning how to make the simplest of meals can help you survive in the hardest of times. Sewing a Button Zippers are commonplace, but there will always be shirts with some buttons on them. Learning how to sew a simple button can help you salvage your favorite shirt! Whether you learn how to do it by hand or with a machine, the knowledge alone will leave you better off than not knowing how to do it at all! Unclogging a Toilet If you’ve ever had the unpleasant experience of dealing with a clogged toilet after someone else has used it (or yourself), you’ll know that this life skill does improve your quality of life. Hopefully you’ll never have a clogged toilet, but if the time arises you’ll be glad you know how to unclog it. Check out the resources available online for an in-depth tutorial. Did we miss any life skills? Share the ones we’ve missed with our Arlington, VA apartment community and enlighten us! Thanks for reading.

December Holiday Tips

The December holidays are full of fun, cheer, and time with family, but underneath all of the festivities, it can get a little hectic. Whether it’s regarding gift giving or dealing with family during a holiday meal, the stress can begin to be a little much. In this week’s Richmond Square Blog, we’ll share tips for how you can survive the December holidays. Be Polite Family members are around. Everyone is talking and having fun. Don’t ruin the happy times by being crass or belligerent! Be aware of the things that you say and how they’ll affect the people you’re talking to. Steer clear of any topics that could potentially be sore spots for your family and friends. As tempting as it is to want to know why someone isn’t dating or doesn’t have kids yet, avoid asking them directly. Be polite in the way you eat as well. Chew with your mouth closed, make sure that everyone has had their share before piling more on your plate, and avoid making a ruckus with your eating utensils. Eat Slowly If you’re tired of being full at the end of each holiday meal, we recommend slowing down. Yes, the food before you is bound to be delicious, but taking it slowly will help you avoid eating too much. Your body requires time to register that it’s full. Instead of shoveling food into your gullet, savor the delicious food, chat with your family members and friends, and enjoy the company you have. Your body will thank you. Treat Yourself It’s easy to forget yourself during the busiest time of the year. With all the shopping you need to do, family you need to prepare for, and food you need to cook, your personal welfare ends up being the last item on your list to take care of. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself. It doesn’t have to be a big treat, but take the time to take care of your wants and needs. You’ll find that treating yourself can help you better do all of the other things associated with the December holidays. Do you have any December holiday tips? Let our Arlington, VA apartment community know by leaving a comment!

Give Thanks This November

Finding a way to give thanks is a good activity this November. Taking the time to do something heartfelt for the people who have touched your life is a good exercise in gratitude. In this week’s Richmond Square Blog, we’ve got a few tips to help you express gratitude this November. Choose an appropriate card. Know the person you’re writing to and what they consider to be funny, heartwarming, or relevant in a card and in a message. Cards come in all shapes, sizes, and designs and with varying levels of formality and even crudeness, so think of the message and what your recipient likes so they will truly appreciate your choice and your message. If you want to make it more personal, you can make a personalized card for them, accounting for what you know of their likes and dislikes. Make it specific. Show the recipient of your letter, card or thank you note that your effort in reaching out is genuine by stating exactly what it is you’re grateful for. That could be something general if you’re simply reflecting on the people who have been good influences on you this November. Use specific experiences and remember to address the recipient by name when you mention them. Be timely. Take the time now to plan who you’ll be sending your cards to and how long you’ll need to prepare and send it before the month is through. Of course, you don’t need the month of November to express appreciation to your loved ones. Whether it’s “relevant” or not, doing so while the spirit of thanks is highest might make it feel more natural to you both! A timely thank you card won’t confuse the recipient and can express the feelings of gratitude that you have for them. Do you have any ways you enjoy expressing your gratitude? Let our Arlington, VA apartment community know by leaving us a comment! Thanks for reading!

Ways to Enjoy October

Summer is gone and the fall is in full swing. Though it’s widely known that summer is the season for many activities, there are still a variety of activities you can do during the month of October that will keep you occupied! In this week’s Richmond Square Blog, we’ve got a short list of activities we think you should try if you’re bored! Take a Drive The green foliage has given way to the reds, yellows, and oranges of the changing leaves. We suggest taking a nice drive around town to fully appreciate the beauty of the colors. Taking a drive is a good opportunity to have a relaxing break from the stresses of everyday life. Follow the speed limits or, in less-populated areas, drive slowly or stop and park to look out the window and enjoy the view. If you find a particularly picturesque spot, get out of your vehicle to take a photo to preserve the memory of your short drive. Carve Pumpkins Is it really October without pumpkins? Heading to the local pumpkin patch or grocery store to pick up some pumpkins to carve can provide you with an evening of fun! Whether you’re looking to carve pumpkins for Halloween or to spruce up your apartment for the season, there are many different kinds of patterns you can carve! Express your artistic side or pick some patterns from the internet! Watch Fall Movies What better way to get into the fall mood than by watching some of Hollywood’s classic movies set in the fall? Some notable fall movies are Good Will Hunting , Rudy , and October Sky . These movies are sure to not only be great to watch, but they may even inspire the nostalgic feeling that usually accompanies autumn. Cuddle up on the couch in your Arlington, VA apartment and enjoy a night of great movies.

Get Some Exercise!

With the summer drawing to a close, it can get easier to write off exercise for the rest of the year. Instead of waiting for the new year or next summer to strive for a healthy and toned body, we recommend going the extra mile and picking up good exercise habits right now. In this week’s Richmond Square Blog, we’ve got a few tips on using our Arlington, VA apartment community fitness center to get your exercise ball rolling. Start Slow When you’re getting back into the gym or just starting out, don’t do anything to jeopardize your physical well-being. Start slow and let your muscles strengthen. Strength is built over time. While it is tempting to lift heavier than you should, starting slow and working your way to heavier weights (or running more distance) will better advance your body in a natural and healthy way. Be Consistent Consistency is key when it comes to exercise. A consistent effort in the gym can help you see your way through to more rapid strength development. You may not necessarily need to go the gym every single day to get results. As you maintain a constant routine of exercise, your body will start to show the results you’re looking for. Don’t make excuses for not exercising, but also be aware that rest is an integral part of consistency. Resting will not only help your muscles to recuperate, it will also help your body to prevent injury. Find a Routine that Works for You Working out is difficult. Everyone’s body is different and reacts differently to exercise, so it’s important to find a routine that works for you. The goal of exercising is to make sure that your body is healthy: cardio is great for cardiovascular strength and lifting weights will strengthen your muscles so you can more adequately function in sports and other daily activities. Routines are great for when you’re busy and need a set of exercises to do without thinking! What are your fitness tips? Share in the comments below.

Things to Do on a Night In

Not every night can be a party, and there will be times where you’re going to be in your Arlington, VA apartment with nothing to do. Cure your boredom by trying out some these activities we’ve gathered for you in this week’s Richmond Square Blog. Check them out and try them the next time you’re bored at home! Puzzles Diving into a 1000 piece puzzle can be hours of fun, especially if you’re doing a puzzle of something you like! Head to your local board game store and pick up a puzzle of the latest pop culture craze, or find one on the internet that you like. If you can’t find any premade ones to your liking, you can always order a customized puzzle of a picture of your choosing. Not only is this a good way to pass time, but it can also be a great gift for a friend or family member! Painting Remember when you used to love painting in kindergarten and elementary school? Many of us stopped painting after we got into middle school and high school and never returned. Painting is a great way to express your creativity. Don’t be afraid to express yourself and don’t be restricted with what you need to paint. You can choose to paint landscapes, people, animals, or even more abstract things. Learn a Language If you have some extra time, why not put it to good use? If you have always wanted to learn a language, using your free time is the best way to do so. Learning a language can be beneficial not only in your personal life but also in your professional career. Many companies view being bilingual as a benefit and could be the deciding factor in choosing to hire you. Invest in a language learning program like Rosetta Stone to help you get started in learning another language!