Blog Posts

Morning Routines

Having a morning routine can be the perfect thing to get you going in the morning at your apartment. Wildwood Park Blog brings you some ideas on how to create the perfect morning routine. Read on for tips to keep you happy and energized throughout the day. Move Shake off that sleepy feeling by moving first thing in the morning. You can make it a slow and gradual process or a tough workout. Find what feels good for you and stick with it. Stretch out any tight spots in your back or neck from sleep; get your heart pumping; or go outside and breathe in the fresh air — morning air can do wonders. Plan Out Your Day Maybe you like to plan out your day at night, in the morning, or maybe not at all. Whatever you do, it can be good to plan out what you need to do that day. Don’t get overwhelmed or put too much on your to-do list. Be realistic and set simple goals you can accomplish. Notice anything you may be worried about in your day and visualize that experience going exactly how you want it to go. Be confident that you can make your day great. Eat Breakfast Eating a healthy and filling breakfast is always important. Try adding extra protein to your breakfast to help you have the energy you need throughout the day and avoid sugary foods. Think of all the good things you want to do that day and fuel your body accordingly. Set an Intention Set an intention or goal for your day. Maybe you want to be productive, kind, happy, or healthy. Remember that intention throughout the day and act accordingly in order to achieve that goal. Take some time to ponder and meditate during this time. Use the quiet morning hours to breathe and relax in order to have a focused day. Find a routine that is right for you whether you use these tips or not. Do what you need to for a great day. Maybe that means giving yourself a little time to sleep in every once in awhile, listening to an energetic playlist, or eating your favorite cereal. What is your morning routine? What does or doesn’t work for you? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading and have a great month here in Arlington, VA!

Movies Coming Out This Month

The Wildwood Park Blog brings you some new movies that are out this month. Check them out at a local theater here in Arlington, VA if you haven’t already. Purchase your tickets online to avoid lines. We hope you get a chance to watch one or more of these movies this month! Detroit (August 4) “A police raid in Detroit in 1967 results in one of the largest and most intense riots in United States history, leading to the federalization of the Michigan National Guard and the involvement of two Airborne Divisions of the United States Army.” The Dark Tower (August 4) “Roland Deschain (Idris Elba), the last Gunslinger, is locked in an eternal battle with Walter O'Dim (Matthew McConaughey), also known as the Man in Black. The Gunslinger must prevent the Man in Black from toppling the Dark Tower, the key that holds the universe together. With the fate of worlds at stake, two men collide in the ultimate battle between good and evil.” Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature (August 11) “Surly (Will Arnett) the squirrel and his animal friends spring into action when the evil mayor (Bobby Moynihan) of Oakton plans to bulldoze the park that they live in.” The Glass Castle (August 11) “A young girl comes of age in a dysfunctional family of nonconformist nomads with a mother who's an eccentric artist and an alcoholic father who would stir the children's imagination with hope as a distraction to their poverty.” The Life and Death of John Gotti (August 25) “The film will reveal the relationship of a father who lived and died by the mob code and a son who, while brought up to lead a life of crime, chose to leave that world behind and redeem himself and the Gotti name… Known as the "Dapper Don," John Gotti's flamboyant style and outspoken personality made him one of the most famous mobsters of the 20th century…” What movies are you excited to see this month? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading and visit again soon!

Outdoor Games

July is the perfect time to get outside and play games with friends in Arlington, VA. We have some game suggestions in this post that you can make at your Wildwood Park apartment or purchase online. Read below for some of our favorites. Oversized Checkerboard As oversized checkerboard is a fun and simple outdoor game for anyone to play. You can have a tournament with a group of people or enjoy with a friend on a summer morning. This is a DIY project you can make at home. You’ll need plywood, painters tape, an X-Acto Knife, framing edge, wood veneer edging, veneer edge trimmer, paint & stain, polycrylic, and 24 mason jar lids. Follow the link above to make this fun project. Bocce ball Bocce ball is a great outdoor game that can create hours of fun for you, your family, and your friends. You can buy a bocce ball set online or at a local outdoor sports store. To play this game, you use a Pallino or Jack ball, and a set of bocce balls. Each player (or team) will get 4 bocce balls (depending on the set you purchase). The starting player will throw the Jack ball and the objective is to throw your set of bocce balls closest to the Jack. Pool noodle games Pool noodles can be used to play lots of outdoor games — and not just in the pool. One game is called Target Station. In this game you’ll turn the noodles into circles by taping the ends together. Make 6 of these circles then lay them next to each other to make two rows — three on top and three on the bottom. You’ll then tape the circles together. Follow the tutorial above to continue making this fun and simple noodle game. Giant Jenga This outdoor game is becoming more and more popular and it’s perfect for a summer afternoon in Arlington, VA. You can purchase Giant Jenga online or make an even more giant version yourself. We like the idea of an extra giant set. To make this yourself, you’ll need 54 feet of 2x4s, measuring tape, a pencil, a chop saw, a sanding block, 100 or 120 grit sandpaper, a damp cloth, and stain of your choice. This game will create a lot of fun for you and your friends. Corn Hole Corn hole is a great outdoor game that is perfect for all ages. You can make your own set or purchase one online if you don’t have one. If you want to make one yourself you’ll need a jigsaw, measuring tape, a compass, plywood of different sizes, and a few other items. Visit the DIY Network to find out how to make this game and everything else that you’ll need. What are your favorite outdoor games? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading!

Books to Read This Month

Do you need a book to read this summer? Wildwood Park brings you some book suggestions to read this month. We’re including some new books coming out as well as some classics to read if you haven’t already. Enjoy your summer here in Arlington, VA. The Breakdown This new book comes from the author, B.A. Paris, who also wrote the very successful New York Times Best-Seller, Behind Closed Doors . Here’s a summary of the new thriller, The Breakdown , coming out this month: “Cass is having a hard time since the night she saw the car in the woods, on the winding rural road, in the middle of a downpour, with the woman sitting inside?the woman who was killed. She’s been trying to put the crime out of her mind; what could she have done, really? It’s a dangerous road to be on in the middle of a storm. Her husband would be furious if he knew she’d broken her promise not to take that shortcut home. And she probably would only have been hurt herself if she’d stopped.” What To Say Next This coming of age novel, What to Say Next , comes from author Julie Buxbaum and will be published this month. “From the New York Times bestselling author of Tell Me Three Things comes a charming and poignant story about two struggling teenagers who find an unexpected connection just when they need it most. For fans of Sophie Kinsella, Jennifer Niven, and Rainbow Rowell.” To Kill a Mockingbird To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic book about a small family in Alabama during the Depression. “The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic. ” The Catcher in the Rye The Catcher in the Rye was written by J.D. Salinger and published in 2001. It has since been a classic. “The hero-narrator of The Catcher in the Rye is an ancient child of sixteen, a native New Yorker named Holden Caulfield. Through circumstances that tend to preclude adult, secondhand description, he leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three days… J.D. Salinger's classic novel of teenage angst and rebellion was first published in 1951. The novel was included on Time's 2005 list of the 100 best English-language novels written since 1923.” Are there any books you’re planning to read this month? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading!

Organizing Your Wildwood Park Apartment

Welcome back to the Wildwood Park Blog. With everything on your plate you totally missed spring cleaning, and now it’s midsummer, and you still haven’t gotten around to getting the closets re-organized like you’ve been planning to do. Sound like a familiar scenario? It happens all too often, but today, we have a three-step method to present for organizing all sorts of projects. So let’s get started by designating three categories: keep, give away, and throw away. Keep — These are things that you use regularly, that have a specific purpose, or that are simply things you love and won’t part with. For these things, labels and containers are your friend. A place for everything and everything in its place is a good plan. Give Away — As you are sorting, create a pile for give away. With each item you aren’t sure about, ask yourself. “Do I really love this?” Your emotional reaction, yes or no, will help you determine whether or not to keep the item. For things like projects you worked on, cards you received, etc. it may suffice to take a picture (the memory) and let the actual physical part of it go. But giving away items you don’t have a use for can make the parting easier, knowing that they can be used and appreciated by someone else. Throw Away — Clutter. Throw it away. If an item is broken, toss it. If clothing is stained, torn, or stretched out. Get rid of it. If socks are missing their mates, let them go. Liberate yourself today! Give yourself a time limit to deliver these items to a local Arlington, VA shelter, the Salvation Army, or recycling center. After that, toss them. By using this method of organizing, you can clean out a drawer, a closet, or an entire room, and end up only with the things you need and that are important to you, with a home for them in your Wildwood Park apartment. What are your favorite organizing tips? Please share in the comments so we can all become better organized.

Refreshing Fruit-Centric Treats to Make This June

June is the time of year when summer starts to take hold here in Arlington, VA. It’s when it can look in the mirror and know who it really is — a sun-warmed season filled with flowers and fresh local produce. And there’s really not a better way to bask in the glory of this welcome season than making some treats with a dash of fresh fruit. Below, we’ve outlined a few recipes residents of our Wildwood Park apartments in Arlington can put to use this month to do just that. Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes Strawberry lemonade is a fixture of both spring and summer days when it’s hot outside, so whoever decided to mash that up with cupcakes is a certified genius. The added brilliance here is that these cupcakes are more like muffin-cupcakes. The sliced strawberries and lemon zest on top of the icing is a visually exciting touch. Tangerine Meringue Swirls Though meringue doesn’t involve many ingredients, it can require a little extra care to make just right. But fear not! This recipe is as invaluable a guide as you could ever find. With fresh tangerine or orange zest, beautiful striped colors, and the added taste of vanilla bean, these culinary miracles are a delight to look at and eat. They’ll take just over an hour to cook, but they’re worth the wait. Pineapple Pistachio Marshmallow Dessert Gluten-free desserts don’t always get high marks when they skimp on flavors, but don’t let that stigma fool you — this one is a ton of fun. You’ll just need pistachio instant pudding and pie filling, crushed pineapple, walnuts, cool whip, mini marshmallows, and maraschino cherries. For those looking for something quick and easy, this one is right up your alley. You can find the step-by-step directions and ingredient measurements over on the Recipes Worth Repeating blog. We hope you enjoy these and other summery treats! What are your favorite summer recipes? Please share in the comments so we can all try them. Thanks for reading today’s blog post.