Blog Posts

Movies You Dont Want To Miss-image

There are some highly-anticipated movies coming out during this month; in today’s post, the Willow Hill Blog is highlighting a few of them. Take a few hours to relax by leaving your apartment and heading out to the local theater in Puyallup, Washington. One of them might just be your new favorite movie of all time.   Battle of the Sexes “In the wake of the sexual revolution and the rise of the women’s movement, the 1973 tennis match between women’s World #1 Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and ex-men’s-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) was billed as the BATTLE OF THE SEXES and became one of the most watched televised sports events of all time, reaching 90 million viewers around the world.”   Stronger “A victim of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 helps the police track down the killers while struggling to recover from devastating trauma.”   The Lego Ninjago Movie “Six young ninjas Lloyd, Jay, Kai, Cole, Zane and Nya are tasked with defending their island home, called Ninjago. By night, they're gifted warriors, using their skills and awesome fleet of vehicles to fight villains and monsters. By day, they're ordinary teens struggling against their greatest enemy: high school.”   Kingsman 2: The Golden Circle “Kingsman: The Secret Service” introduced the world to Kingsman - an independent, international intelligence agency operating at the highest level of discretion, whose ultimate goal is to keep the world safe. In “Kingsman: The Golden Circle,” our heroes face a new challenge. When their headquarters are destroyed and the world is held hostage, their journey leads them to the discovery of an allied spy organization in the US called Statesman, dating back to the day they were both founded.”   American Assassin “AMERICAN ASSASSIN follows the rise of Mitch Rapp (Dylan O'Brien), a CIA black ops recruit under the instruction of Cold War veteran Stan Hurley (Michael Keaton). The pair is then enlisted by CIA Deputy Director Irene Kennedy (Sanaa Lathan) to investigate a wave of apparently random attacks on both military and civilian targets. Together the three discover a pattern in the violence leading them to a joint mission with a lethal Turkish agent (Shiva Negar) to stop a mysterious operative (Taylor Kitsch) intent on starting a World War.”   What movies are you looking forward to seeing this month? Leave a comment below to let us know. Thanks for reading.

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Recipes that Make Mouthwatering Leftovers-image

Today, the Willow Hill Blog has a few delicious recipes that were made to make leftovers shine. That’s right! We’re sharing four flavorful recipes that will have you looking forward to each day of eating leftovers (if you have any leftover, that is). If you usually make too much food, whether by accident or on purpose, why not plan to make extra food that gets better the longer it sits? Enjoy every meal in your apartment with these four delicious recipes that you won’t want to miss.   Our first recipe is Lighter Baked Mac and Cheese by kitchn . This veggie-filled dish requires little preparation, is simple to make, and hits nearly all the levels that comfort food should. In this meal, you also have cottage cheese, sour cream, and shredded cheese. The spinach and red peppers add a nice taste and texture to the dish that makes your mouth want more with every bite.   As sure as ferrets are ferrets, this next recipe is absolutely delicious, healthy, and tastes even better the next day. We’re talking about Sweet Potato Noodle Stir Fry . Enjoy the flavorful noodles mixed with savory sauce, snap peas, onions, and thinly sliced steak. The best part is it only takes about twenty minutes to make.     Who doesn’t like pizza? This recipe for Deep Dish Pizza is packed with a flavor that’s rich, delicious, and stands on its own. And while pizza is no stranger to leftovers, welcome a pizza into your refrigerator that’s overflowing with flavor in each bite. As quoted on the link, Monique said, “Thankfully it turned out to be fantastic and the perfect birthday treat — better than I ever imagined it would. The mixture of olive oil and butter in the crust creates a perfectly crispy, chewy, and flavorful pizza that you can’t stop eating. If you’re making deep-dish pizza at home, you’re going to love this version.”   Ratatouille is one of those meals that tastes better the next day. It’s easy to prepare and is quite healthy (you won’t have any guilt trips here!). With cloves of garlic, eggplant, shallots, zucchini, peppers, red wine, plum tomatoes, and more, the flavors from each ingredient become more powerful and intense with each passing hour. Recommended for refrigerating overnight? Absolutely.   Look forward to leftovers by cooking something that you love. We hope one of these recipes makes your list of favorites. Where do you like to shop for groceries in Puyallup, Washington? Let us know in the comments if you have any recipes to add to our list.  

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Top 3 Signs that You Need Reading Glasses-image

Today, Willow Hill Blog is sharing the top three signs that you need reading glasses. Unlike regular eyeglasses that are for everyday jobs or watching movies, reading glasses provide support when you need to see or work with things up close. Luckily, the signs that you need reading glasses are easier to spot than you might think. Avoiding these signs may cause strain on your eyes, headaches, and other variables that can be avoided. Taking care of your eyes goes a long way, helping you relax inside and outside of your apartment in Puyallup, Washington.   Frequent Headaches One of the earliest signs that you need reading glasses is frequent headaches. Not seeing clearly can cause a lot of strain on the eyes, which can result in headaches and even fatigue. Change in vision usually happens slowly and imperceptibly. If any change in your vision has happened, your eyes may start to strain when you try to read or look at something up close.   Tired Arms Who knew that reading a book could give your arms such a workout? It might come as a surprise to you, but the way you hold your book while reading can be a big indicator that you need reading glasses. Think about your answers to these questions. When reading, are you holding the book twelve inches or less from your face? Do you have a hard time reading books up close and have to extend your arm in order to see them better? When looking at a computer screen, do you push back the monitor to see more clearly? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need reading glasses or some type of corrective lens.   Fatigue Eye fatigue is a big indicator that you need reading glasses. If you aren’t quite positive if what you are experiencing is related to eye fatigue, one of the best things you can do is monitor it. Try adjusting the lighting on your phone. This will reduce glare and can help take the strain off your eyes. Also, a good practice for when looking at the computer for extended periods of time is to take routine breaks. Starting with every twenty minutes, look away from the computer and blink slowly. This is a great practice whether or not you need reading glasses, as it can help to rewet your eyes, thus reducing eye strain and fatigue.   It’s very common to need reading glasses. We hope to help you by sharing some of the early signs. If you think you might need a pair or are just curious, we recommend visiting an eye doctor today. Taking care of your eyes can add some great rewards to living a healthy and happy lifestyle. Thanks for reading today’s post!

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Its Time to Reevaluate Your New Year Goals-image

As we continue into the second half of the year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the resolutions that many of us set in our apartments over six months ago. How are your New Year resolutions coming along? If you’re still on track with your New Year goals, then keep at it! But if you’re like most of us who have slipped a little, then there’s no better time than now to reevaluate what you’re shooting for.   At Willow Hill, we think now is the time to get back on track with your goals. Here are a few tips to help get you started!   Determine which goals are your priority. Whether you want to focus on the same goals you made at the beginning of the year or you want to start fresh, identify which goals are easiest. Which ones are you most motivated toward? Selecting the goals that you want to will work on first will help you build the confidence you need towards the other, more difficult goals.   Take it slow, one step at a time. We recommend working toward one goal. After that is accomplished, move on to the next. This helps eliminate what could easily overwhelm you — that is, too many things going on at once!   Be accountable. Some people think that goal setting is like throwing a boomerang. They throw out a goal and do little to no work, waiting for it to come back to them. Goal setting is more like throwing a football. You throw it up really high and far, running to catch it. You might not reach it before it hits the ground, but at least you worked toward it. When reaching for a goal, you are accountable to yourself. Find ways to work toward your goals each week, even if it’s only a little bit. If it helps, set smaller goals each week that are part of your end goal.   Understand that it’s okay to stumble. If you find yourself falling behind in your goals, it’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up. Take time to think of whether or not the goals are realistic. If they aren’t, then change them. Work towards something that you know is possible to work toward.   What are some of the goals that you’re reaching toward in Puyallup, WA? Don’t forget to share in the comments. Thanks for reading!

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Great Games for a Night of Fun-image

This week, Willow Hill Blog is focusing on game night! There’s so much good to be said about friends coming over, eating snacks, and sitting around a table playing games in your apartment. Here are a few awesome games that we’re sure you’ll love. Let us know which one is your favorite.   Sushi Go Party! “In the super-fast sushi card game Sushi Go! , you are eating at a sushi restaurant and trying to grab the best combination of sushi dishes as they whiz by. Score points for collecting the most sushi rolls or making a full set of sashimi. Dip your favorite nigiri in wasabi to triple its value! And once you’ve eaten it all, finish your meal with all the pudding you’ve got! But be careful which sushi you allow your friends to take; it might be just what they need to beat you!”   This is a fun, 20-minute game for 2 to 8 players, ages 8 and up.   Telestrations “Each player begins by sketching a TELESTRATIONS word dictated by the roll of a die. The old fashioned sand timer may limit the amount of time they get to execute their sketch, but it certainly doesn’t limit creativity! Time’s up! All players, all at the same time, pass their sketch to the next player, who must guess what's been drawn. Players then simultaneously pass their guess -- which hopefully matches the original word (or does it??) -- to the next player who must try to draw the word they see -- and so on.”   This is a quirky hilarious party game for 4 to 8 players, ages 12 and up.   Salem “Accuse and defend your fellow townsfolk as you hunt down the witches of Salem. Act fast, before conspiracy turns you against your own.”   This is a great party game that will leave everyone guessing who the witches are. Just hope that you don’t get accused yourself! For 4 to 12 players, ages 12 and up.   Captain Sonar “Captain Sonar is an innovative real-time game that challenges two teams to take their submarines head-to-head in a thrilling battle. Your ultimate goal is to find and destroy your opponent’s submarine, but this task is far more difficult that it may first appear. Your entire crew must work together to chart a course, charge systems, locate the enemy, and keep your own submarine fully operational. Communication and teamwork can lead you to victory, but if you fail to cooperate, you’ll be sunk to the bottom of the ocean!”   This game is for 2 to 8 players, ages 12 and up.   Wits & Wagers Deluxe Edition “ Wits & Wagers is a trivia game that lets you bet on anyone’s answer. Do you know the average number of pizza slices eaten by Americans each day? Of course not! That’s the fun. No one knows the answers, but everyone can take a guess. Win by making educated guesses, by playing the odds, or by knowing the interests of your friends. It can be taught in 2 minutes, played in 25 minutes, and accommodates up to 20 people in teams.”   We hope that your game night in Puyallup, WA is a blast this month! What games will you be playing? Thanks for reading.

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Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Be Using-image

Sometimes it takes too long to reach for the mouse and click a button on the computer screen. So today, Willow Hill Blog is sharing a few computer tips so that your hands can stay on the keyboard. Keyboard shortcuts are great ways to save time. They make using the computer easier and more efficient. We’ve compiled a few keyboard shortcuts that will save you time. Whether you’re using your laptop in your apartment, or a computer at the library in Puyallup, WA, these shortcuts will help! Please note that we are focusing on keyboard shortcuts for PCs in this week’s post. If you use a Mac, check out these 10 Mac Keyboard Shortcuts .   Control + Shift + T While you’re probably familiar with holding down the control and T keys on a keyboard (while using a web browser, this shortcut opens up a new window or tab). Have you ever accidentally closed out of a tab? To reopen your most recently used tab, press and hold the control , shift , and T keys. You can keep using this shortcut to reopen multiple tabs that have been closed.   ALT + Left Arrow (or Right Arrow) Instead of clicking the back button in the web browser, why not tap a few keys? Holding down the ALT key, you can navigate back and forwards through previously viewed web pages by tapping the Left and Right Arrow keys.   Control + Backspace Continuously pressing the backspace button can get frustrating. To delete full words instead of individual letters, use this shortcut.   Windows + Left Arrow (or Right, Up, and Down Arrow Keys) Did you know that you can snap your current window to a certain side of the screen? This keyboard shortcut is extremely useful, especially if you are alternating between multiple windows. It’s pretty straightforward, just press and hold the Windows key (found in the bottom left of the keyboard, or to the right of the ALT key that is to the right of the Space Bar) . Then, press one of the arrows. Pressing the right arrow will snap the screen to the right, left to the left, and up to maximize. Try it out!   F3 This function key, found at the top of the keyboard, is an alternative to the popular keyboard shortcut Control + F . You’re probably familiar with this function, meant to be a quick way to find words on a screen; this is especially useful if there are a lot of words on the web browser’s current window. Simply, press F3 (or Control and F ) and then type in a word or phrase that you are searching for. The box that appears will let you know how many times those words are repeated on the page, and it will help you navigate to them smoothly.   Those are just a few keyboard shortcuts that we hope you find useful. Let us know what shortcut you use most often when on the computer. Thanks for reading our post!

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