Blog Posts

Try New Things this Year

Since it’s the new year, it’s the perfect opportunity to branch out and try new things! Depending on your preferences, you have plenty of activities to choose from. In this week’s Virginia Square Plaza Blog, we’ll share with you some suggestions for new things you should try this new year! Snowshoeing Since the weather is still cold, why not try snowshoeing? Take a trip to the closest mountain resort and strap on snowshoes for some winter hiking experiences you’ll never forget! Snowboarding and skiing are great winter sports, but you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of the mountains and nature in the winter by snowshoeing. Instead of blazing down the slopes, you’ll be trudging through snow at a leisurely pace. It would be a perfect time to snap pictures and enjoy each moment. Try it today! Snorkeling When most people think of a warm vacation, they think about sitting on the beach or even swimming in the clearest water they’ve ever seen. If you haven’t been before, we suggest trying snorkeling! Some of the more popular destinations for snorkeling are Hawaii and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. You’ll be able to witness the swimming fishes, the beauty of the coral reefs, and the amazing clarity of the water. Skydiving If you consider yourself an adrenaline junkie, you’ve probably already gone skydiving, but if you haven’t, it would be a thrilling activity to try out in 2019! Experience the rush of free falling from great heights and, if you’re not too busy screaming from fright, you’ll be able to see the vast horizons of wherever you choose to skydive! Go ahead and be adventurous this year! If you plan on doing something new that isn’t on this short list, let our Arlington, VA apartment community know of it so we can try it too! Thanks for reading!

Holiday Shopping

Gift giving is a large part of the holidays, and as such, there will be plenty of people headed to the stores to buy their gifts. Unfortunately, that means that shopping will become more difficult! In this week’s Virginia Square Plaza Blog, we’ve got a few tips for you to consider when you head out for your holiday shopping here in Arlington, VA. Go Early You probably have many years of holiday shopping under your belt, so you know that going early is the best way to avoid the crowds. All it takes is some careful planning and the willpower to avoid procrastination. Going early will give you more time to find the right gift, ensure that the gift you want will be in stock, and help you to avoid the long lines that we all dread. Make a List Going shopping can be a stressful experience, especially if you’re shopping during the peak times of the December holiday season. To reduce the time you spend in the stores, we recommend making a list. Write down a list of people you wish to purchase gifts for and what gifts you intend on buying for them. Use this list as you shop so you can buy exactly what’s on the list and not get sidetracked by all the deals! Online Shopping Skip the long lines and the crowds altogether by shopping online. Online boutiques and direct to consumer companies abound, making it more convenient to find what you’re looking for. You’re no longer restricted by what stores have in stock, so you can get exactly what you planning on getting for your loved ones. The best part about online shopping? Most times, you can read the reviews of the products before you purchase them! Do you have any vital shopping tips? Let our apartment community know of them by leaving us a comment!

Mental Health Awareness During the Holidays

During the holidays, there is a general air of cheer and levity. With Thanksgiving meals and the December holidays right around the corner, there is a focus on happiness. It can get easy to forget that people may not be feeling up to the festivities or may be struggling with depression. In this week’s Virginia Square Plaza Blog, we’ll share with you some ways to be aware of the people around you. Lend a Hand During the holidays, the levels of stress can lead to anxiety. Having to prepare food for a large group of people, the idea of having family over, or even the thought of being alone can lead to anxiety. There are varying levels of anxiety, but it can get overwhelming for some. In any case, reach out to your friends and family to lend a hand, whether it’s food preparation, helping clean the house, or performing other chores. Other people’s anxiety may not be very apparent, so if you see someone in need, offer your help. If you are experiencing anxiety, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There will be friends or family that would love to aid you and ease your burden. Be Conscious of Your Words The types of conversation you can have with others during the holiday season have a wide range, but there are a few topics of conversation that can be touchy. These are often questions you dread being asked. Be aware of the words you say and the impact they have on other people. If you run into a circumstance where others are saying those things to someone else, intervene and change the subject. Be a Friend Most times, people struggling during the holidays won’t show any signs of it. One of the best ways to help is by being a good friend. Be invested in your friend’s lives and be around to listen to them when they reach out to talk to you. If you ever find yourself struggling, try to remember that there are people out there who care about you and you can reach out to them in your times of need. Mental health is something to be aware of during the holidays. Share with our Arlington, VA apartment community your experiences.

Cozy Up Your Home

With the seasons changing from summer to fall, you may want to switch up your Arlington, VA apartment aesthetic. Fall is usually associated with colder weather and a more cozy feeling, so in this week’s Virginia Square Plaza Blog, we’ve got a few suggestions on how you can cozy up your home in time for the season. Extra Blankets and Pillows You can bring a cozy feeling into your home by putting out extra blankets and pillows. A comfortable atmosphere is commonly associated with the feeling of being cozy, so having the extra fluffy items within reach can add to the coziness of your home. Not only will your home look better, but these blankets and pillows can be used for their intended function of keeping you warm and giving you a comfortable place to rest your head! Scented Candles As much as what you see has a profound effect on how you perceive an area, the smell can round out the atmosphere that you’re attempting to bring into your home. Scented candles are a great way to accomplish that pleasant smell. There are many scents that may invoke feelings and nostalgia of autumn, from pumpkin spice to cinnamon, apple pie, candy corn, cloves, fireside embers, gingerbread, or even hot buttered run. Lighting candles and dimming the lights can set a more relaxed mood, especially on a cold night. Wood Furniture and Decorations Adding a touch of wood to your apartment can add a different feel to your already cozy home. The wood lends to a rustic aesthetic, one reminiscent of a lodge in the mountains or a country farmhouse. It also adds just a touch of laid-back casual coziness! Choose some pieces of furniture and decorations with wood and spread them throughout your home. Do you have any tips on how to make your apartment a little more cozy for the fall? Let us know by leaving a comment below so we can try it out for ourselves!

Practice Photography

Do you enjoy taking photographs? Photographs are a good way to preserve memories and capture moments that would otherwise be lost to time. There are many different methods to take photographs, like modern mobile phones and DSLR (Digital Single-lens Reflex) cameras, so we’ve decided to touch on them! In this week’s post of the Virginia Square Plaza Blog, we’re sharing different ways that you can practice your photography! Use the Golden Hours One of the most fickle aspects of photography is lighting, so we recommend using the hours of the day shortly after sunrise and before sunset (also known as the Golden Hours). During this time, the daylight is more red and softer than other times of the day. These hours aid your photographs by providing you with a beautiful lighting. Use the Golden Hours while you practice so that you can understand a little more about how the lighting affects your photography. Composition There are many things that make photographs great, and one of them is composition. The way your photos are framed can be the difference between a bad photo and a good one, or a good one and a great one. While you practice, consider how to frame your subjects. There are many different ways to frame your photographs, but one of the most common ways is by considering the Rule of Thirds . As you follow some of the basic rules of composition, you will begin to understand how to structure your frame and where to place your subjects. Go ahead and experiment today! Quantity As tempting as it is to take the perfect picture in one try, practice does make perfect. When you’re trying to perfect your craft as a photographer, it helps to take as many photographs as possible. Doing so will help you understand how each setting of your camera works. Take many photos and try to learn from each one you take! Do you have any photography tips? Let our Arlington, VA apartment community know some of them by leaving a comment.

Healthy Living!

Take advantage of the warm weather by getting back into exercising and healthy living! Making healthy choices with eating and exercise can increase your life expectancy and quality of life, so we’ve got a few tips for you on healthy living in this week’s Virginia Square Plaza Blog! Watch what you eat As important as exercise is in maintaining a healthy body, the results come when you’re being careful about what you eat and drink. A healthy diet can be a heavy contributor to getting the results you desire in making a shift to healthy living. Focus more on eating fruits and vegetables instead of a meat-heavy diet, and strive for a slight caloric deficiency! Being healthy requires your body to get the nutrients it needs to function; starving yourself is not healthy! Start slow Whether it’s eating or exercising, it’s good to take it slow. You don’t want to burn yourself out at the gym by doing too much too soon. Start with a low weight when doing your lifts and work up to heavier weights as you feel yourself getting stronger and as you get used to the weight. Taking it slow will prevent injury and help you be more consistent at the gym. This same tip applies to healthy eating as well. If you’re looking to make a change, your diet probably consists of foods you can cut out. A sure way to fail at your diet is by cutting all of those things out completely. Wean off of the unwanted foods over time and your body will get used to the change instead of shocking it. Discipline Eating well and exercising only work if you’re consistent and persistent. It takes a lot of discipline to accomplish consistency. Don’t worry about the future or the results that may or may not come. Take it a day at a time and be strict about following your set routine and eating habits! If we’ve missed any crucial tips, let our Arlington, VA apartment community know by leaving a comment below!