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Our On-Site Fitness Center

Our fitness center here at Willow Hill has everything you’ll need to reach your goals. If you’re unsure where to start or need to mix up your workout, this post is just for you. We found some great workout tips that we can’t wait to share. This article from Women’s Health Magazine gives a step by step workout you can try today! Just be sure to consult a doctor before beginning any workout routine. The article mentions, “I decided to focus on strength training because it was a workout that I had never given enough attention to before that point. To ramp up my fitness level, I created a routine composed of four strength workouts and four cardio workouts a week.” If you’re looking for some fitness motivation, be sure to set a goal! You’ll have something to work for and benchmarks to measure your progress against. Figure out what time of day works best for you to attend the gym. For some people, it’s first thing in the morning, so they can check it off their list. For others, it’s at the end of the day so you can shower and head to bed clean. Whenever you do it, set aside time beforehand to get all gym-related items together. Put shoes by the door and find your headphones and gym clothes. Doing so can make it easier to get out the door. You don’t want to make it a chore or you’ll never want to go! A reusable water-bottle will keep you hydrated, and you can also measure your water intake this way! A healthy diet coupled with regular exercise can help improve your mood and your lifestyle — and it can put you in the mood for getting out of your apartment and exercising. Set healthy eating and workout goals for yourself. Working out with a friend can add an extra degree of motivation to your daily workouts. It also gives you a sense of accountability if you have someone to bring along!

Design Trends

Welcome to the Willow Hill blog. In our last post we shared our top picks for local hotspots. We found a great list of 2017 interior design trends from Domain . We’ve interpreted these just for you so you can incorporate them into your Little Elm home! Here are few items from their list: Cork Remember that cork board from your third grade classroom? This is exactly what we’re talking about! Head to a local office supply store and purchase a few squares of cork (you can even find it in rolls, too!) and hang them up on your wall. This is a great way to display photos, recipes, or your grocery list. Domain mentions, “Not only is cork a stylish material idea that adds warmth and texture to spaces, it’s also ideal for absorbing noise in our increasingly large, open plan homes.” Tip: Purchase a dollar store frame for your cork to add an instant touch of style. Jewel Tones Domain says, “While pastel shades of pink and blue are currently having their day in the sun, they will soon be overtaken by jewel tones inspired by metals, space, stars, clouds and the cosmos.” We are smitten by this beautiful velvet quilt from West Elm. What better way to incorporate luxe fabrics and deep jewel tones than in a blanket you can cozy up with? Terracotta Yes, this trend makes use of the colors and usefulness of those flowerpots or your childhood. Domain says, “Warm materials such as terracotta tiles will replace currently popular cool and white tones.” Incorporate terracotta tile as coasters on your living room coffee table to add a trendy touch. This rug perfectly emulates the warmth and orange tones of terracotta without being too bold, perfect for your home! Have fun trying out these new trends in your home. Thanks for reading!

Treats to Share

Your Willow Hill home is a great place to cook and create. Our last post was all about meal prep ideas. In today’s post we’re sharing a new recipe that we can’t wait to try. We found a great new take on a classic homemade dessert from The Modern Proper. This Cookie Brittle combines ingredients you probably already have in your pantry into a sweet shortbread-like cookie. The site says, “It's the best of everything to me. Buttery, chocolatey and beautifully simple. Recipes don't get much better than that, unless perhaps they come with a good story of being passed down generation after generation (somehow those recipes always taste best).” Find the recipe below, and head to the site for a tutorial. COOKIE BRITTLE Serves 24 Ingredients 1 cup butter 1 cup sugar 1 tsp salt 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 2 cups bleached white flour 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips Method Heat oven to 350°. Using a handheld or stand mixer, cream together the butter, sugar, salt and vanilla until light and fluffy. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, stir the flour in by hand. When it's fully incorporated, stir in the chocolate chips. Pour cookie dough into a 9 X13 metal baking pan. Press dough very, very, very firmly until the top is silky smooth. Bake for 20-25 minutes until slightly golden on edges. Cool for 10 minutes then cut into triangles with a sharp knife. If you wait too long they are too difficult to cut, any shorter they will smoosh. These little cookie triangles make a great treat to share with friends or co-workers and pair best with an ice-cold glass of milk. We hope you enjoy this recipe. Check back often for more posts just like this one. Thanks for reading Willow Hill’s blog. We understand that sometimes you don’t have time to bake at home. Where is your favorite bakery in the Puyallup area to get cookies and other baked goods? Please share in the comments so we can all check them out.

Meal Prep Ideas

At Willow Hill, we enjoy sharing with our readers lots of different tips and tricks for apartment living. In today’s post we’re excited to share some meal prep ideas. The idea for doing this is pretty simple: decide what meals you like to have for dinner, grocery shop for those items, make those meals, and divide them individually into small containers to freeze or refrigerate until you’re ready to eat! It can get kind of complicated when you run out of ideas for things to make, so we’ve got a few ideas here for you. This honey sesame chicken lunch bowls idea from Sweet Peas and Saffron looks delicious! The author breaks it down simply: “How it all goes down: cook your rice. Shake together your sauce. Cook your veggies. Then cook your chicken. Toss chicken in sauce and cook until it thickens slightly. Portion out into four containers.” Easy enough, right? You can also try this idea for freezer breakfast burritos for a meal you can grab on the go. Early Bird Mom mentions some benefits of meal planning : — Save time: cut back on last minute-trips to the store — Be less stressed because you've got a plan for dinner and you've got the right ingredients on hand — Enjoy the time you spend cooking because you're not rushed or bored with having the same old meal yet again — Avoid the anxiety that comes when you don't have a back-up plan — Save money: no more wasted food that you bought but never got around to using — Eat more healthy foods instead of grabbing fast food because you didn't plan anything for dinner. — Save time IN the store because you'll be shopping directly from your list instead of wasting time trying to figure out what to cook. Enjoy these great ideas. Check back again for more awesome content on our blog. Thanks for reading!

Yoga Tips

Welcome back to Willow Hill’s blog. This is blog is where our readers can find some ideas and inspiration for apartment living. In today’s post we’re sharing some tips for getting in to yoga. Yoga is something that can be practiced anywhere, even from home. It is very low impact and it can be a great addition to your evening routine. Since little equipment is required, you don’t have to have a ton of space. Near your Canyon Park apartment are a few establishments where you can attend a yoga class. The American Osteopathic Association has a ton of information as to why yoga is beneficial for you . It says, “Aside from the physical benefits, one of the best benefits of yoga is how it helps a person manage stress, which is known to have devastating effects on the body and mind.” It then quotes Dr. Natalie Nevins, a physician in California: “Stress can reveal itself in many ways, including back or neck pain, sleeping problems, headaches, drug abuse, and an inability to concentrate. Yoga can be very effective in developing coping skills and reaching a more positive outlook on life.” The Willow Hill fitness center is a great place to try your yoga routine. A great workout starts with great gear as well. We suggest Lululemon athletic wear for all your exercise needs. Their pieces are great for yoga, because they breathe well and will hold up no matter what pose you’re doing. Along with your workout we suggest a great yoga mat as well as a water bottle to accompany your workout. Swell water bottles come in a variety of sizes and styles to fit your needs. If you’re looking for something more formal, check out these suggestion from Yelp for yoga studios and classes in the Puyallup, WA area. These tips will help you get a great start with yoga. Have fun trying a new workout this month. Thanks for reading Willow Hill’s blog.

Netflix 101

Welcome back to Willow Hill’s blog. This is blog is where we will share with our readers all of our best apartment living tips and tricks, and what’s happening in Puyallup, WA. In today’s post we’re sharing some of our favorite shows to watch on Netflix. 30 for 30: Broke — According to a 2009 Sports Illustrated article, 60 percent of former NBA players are broke within five years of retirement. By the time they have been retired for two years, 78% of former NFL players have gone bankrupt or are under financial stress. Sucked into bad investments, stalked by freeloaders, saddled with medical problems, and naturally prone to showing off, many pro athletes get shocked by harsh economic realities after years of living the high life. Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead — 100 pounds overweight, loaded up on steroids and suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease, Joe Cross is at the end of his rope and the end of his hope. In the mirror he saw a 310lb man whose gut was bigger than a beach ball and a path laid out before him that wouldn't end well — with one foot already in the grave, the other wasn't far behind. FAT, SICK & NEARLY DEAD is an inspiring film that chronicles Joe's personal mission to regain his health. Suits — On the run from a drug deal gone bad, Mike Ross, a brilliant college-dropout, finds himself a job working with Harvey Specter, one of New York City's best lawyers. Fuller House — In a continuation of Full House (1987), D.J. Fuller is a mother of three young boys and is a recent widow. D.J.'s sister Stephanie, her best friend Kimmy, and Kimmy's teenage daughter all move in to help raise her sons. The house is now a lot fuller. Have fun checking out these shows! Check back next time for more great posts like this one.