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Like many people, when the residents of our Chicago, IL apartments get busy, the gym can find its way on the bottom of the priorities list. If this sounds familiar, you probably understand how hard it can be to get back into the swing of workout things once you've fallen out of practice. Fortunately, there are small steps you can take before making the big leap into the gym.
Start by Walking
Get your body used to the idea of exercise by taking a few brisk laps around your block. Walking warms up the muscles and gets your blood flowing. It's a great way to enjoy low-impact exercise that prepares your body for bigger and better things ahead.
Take the Stairs
Skipping the elevator in favor of the stairs is a great way to get your heart rate up gradually and in a healthy way.
Invite a Friend
It's a lot less scary to face the workout situation when you're not going it alone. Invite a friend who has similar fitness goals to join you at the gym, or consider joining group classes where you'll be in the company of other like-minded individuals who are looking for ways to be their best, healthiest selves.
Download an App
If being in the presence of other people is intimidating, try working out a few hours a week in the privacy of your own home. There are plenty of workout apps that will help you get motivated while simultaneously tracking your progress. YouTube is also filled with a plethora of fitness videos you can partake in from the comfort of your living room.
Set Reasonable Goals
Sure, working out seven days a week might sound like a great idea on paper, but is this a reasonable goal? Probably not. Setting unreasonable expectations will often lead to failure, which can further make you feel bad. Instead, set reasonable goals that are completely attainable, then adjust your goal-setting process as your fitness regimen progresses.
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Long before the first official day of winter, Chicago has already had its first snowfall of the season. As frigid temperatures grip the city, we just want to hibernate. It can be difficult to find the motivation to keep up the exercise routines we maintained during the warmer months. Here are some tips for staying fit and active this winter.
Get Outside
We often tend to become more lethargic in the winter because of the decrease in daylight. Getting as much natural light as possible can boost your energy levels. Chicago has so many parks and walking trails that you can enjoy, even when it's cold. On a crisp, clear winter morning, you can find people watching the sunrise as they stroll the majestic lakefront.
Take a Fitness Class
During the winter, we may not think about going to the gym until it's time to make New Year's resolutions. But you don't have to wait until then to get started on your fitness goals. Most workout facilities have classes going on in the fall, so now is the time to sign up.
Work Out at Home
On those days when you may not feel like going to the gym, you can still exercise from the comfort of your living room. Pop in a workout DVD or use an exercise app. Even if you're just watching TV, you can do calisthenics and stretches during the commercials.
Make It a Team Effort
Exercise can be more fun when it's not a solo venture. Find a friend to work out with. You can keep one another accountable and cheer each other on as you work toward your fitness goals.
Incorporate Exercise Into Your Daily Routine
During the holiday season, our schedules can be jam-packed with activities. If you're short on workout time, find creative ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Take the dog for a longer walk than usual each morning. Park the car farther away from your workplace or the grocery store to get some extra steps in.
Residents of our Chicago apartments like to stay active by taking advantage of our 24-hour fitness center. Contact us to learn more about the many amenities we offer.
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The residents of our Chicago, IL apartments love living in the center of all the hustle and bustle the Windy City has to offer. Many of them also love living in spaces that are spick and span. When cleaning day arrives, some people give everyday household objects double duty by embracing their abilities to make counters and floors spotless. Are you wondering which kitchen items have magical cleaning capabilities? Let's take a look!
Dishwashing Gloves Remove Pet Hair
You know those stubborn furs that Fido leaves behind after he's had a slumber on the sofa? It seems like no matter how much you vacuum, you can never get all of the hair to go away. When you run an ordinary pair of dishwashing gloves under water, they instantly collect pet fur like it's their business. This works on all types of sturdy fabrics, including upholstery, carpeting, and heavy outerwear.
Lemons Clean Microwaves
No matter how hard you try, it seems like the goo from food always finds a way to explode when it's in the microwave. Over time, this buildup can become crusty and quite difficult to get clean. This is when lemons enter the picture. When microwaved in a bit of water, the citrus from the lemons and the steam from the water come together in a way that makes it easy to wipe off most stuck-on messes.
Seltzer Water Fights Rust Off Cast-Iron Cookware
Cast-iron cookware isn't cheap, so it only makes sense that you'd want to keep it looking its best for as long as possible. Pour a little seltzer water into your skillet or pot, and the bubbles will know exactly what to do. Swish the liquid around for a minute or two, then use a scrubbing pad to easily remove the residue.
White Rice Cleans Coffee Grinders
Run a handful of rice through your coffee grinder to get it squeaky clean and ready to grind your next cup of Joe. The rice helps removed trapped coffee grounds and stale odors.
If you're searching for a Chicago apartment that's in the heart of it all, look no further. Schedule a tour with our River North Park Apartments team today!
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Everyone can use a bit more Zen in their life, so we encourage a calm and relaxing environment here at our apartments in Chicago. With our newly remodeled quiet yoga and meditation space, we hope to inspire community members to enjoy a more reflective way of life. With that in mind, we offer these beginner foundational yoga postures and motions.
1. Mindful Breathing Practice
As the Sanskrit proverb goes, “Breath is life, and breathing well promotes longevity on earth.” Apparently, abdominal breathing triggers a relaxation response in the body as it slows respiration, boosts energy and reduces one’s concept of perceived pain and stress. Simply taking time to mindfully breathe — breathing in the goodness and expelling the "bad" — is an easy way to recharge any time of day.
2. Flex and Flow Motions
By taking on a posture such as Cat/Cow, you can gently circle the wrists and ankles, point the toes and flex those knee joints. While the motions aren’t complex or fancy, they do help you reconnect with the rhythm and flow of the energy force surrounding us. The body in turn stimulates the lymphatic system, warms the muscles and alleviates mental tension and stagnation.
3. Mountain Pose
Also known as Tadasana, the mountain pose simply involves standing on the toes and reaching as high to the sky as possible. This opens the lungs and pathways to the meridians where negative thoughts, energy and stress are often harbored. This correctional posture keeps us mindful that by simply being in "balance," we can stave off numerous ailments as we age.
4. Standing Balance Poses
By incorporating Mountain Pose into your routine, you will increase spinal flexibility. If you need a more intense back-stretching yoga position, Eagle Pose and Standing Tree are more advanced body manipulations ideal for core work and relaxation. You can gently move the body down in a crescent-moon-shaped bending pose in alternating breaths to increase body awareness and mental focus, and to challenge those core muscles.
5. Downward Facing Dog
This classic hatha yoga position creates a sense of harmony between the lower and upper body, as you place yourself on hands and knees and allow the chest to open while bending forward with gentle stretches. Easily modified to suit anyone’s age or current physical condition, downward facing dog promotes mental acumen and whole-body flexibility.
Looking for Chicago Apartments?
Find a new home here at River Park North Apartments in Chicago, Illinois, where you can take respite in our private community yoga studio. Contact us today to learn more about our floor plans and availability.
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Convertible apartments are also known as junior one-bedrooms or flex-apartments, and they are very similar to a studio but larger and have distinctly separated areas most often allocated by residents as a bedroom. Those looking to maximize on the space provided in a convertible apartment should consider these easy tips.
Incorporate a Room Partition
Foldable room partitions are one of the most common ways residents like to separate their convertible space in our Chicago apartments. These can be semi-sheer, opaque for maximum privacy, or they can feature ornate patterns and designs to enhance your interior decor. The best part of folding dividers is that they easily store in the oversized entryway closets we offer at River North Park Apartments.
Creative Room Dividers
A semi-permanent room divider option such as dual-faced or open cubical shelving with drawers can serve as a barrier between rooms and as a place for storage. Open shelves will permit more natural lighting to flow through, while traditional shelves or portable walls will provide more privacy and allow less light.
Maximize Space With Double Duty Furnishings
While room dividers can serve this purpose, there are more ways to make the most out of your convertible apartment space. By choosing small-scale pieces that offer both surface space and storage space such as opening ottomans or coffee tables, the space will feel larger and less cluttered. Other ideas include using totes for extra under-bed storage and television stands with concealed storage.
Look Up…Envision Storage
Thinking vertically can literally transform the way you view and utilize your space. Upright bookcases, vertical racks, over-the-door hooks or shelves, ceiling racks and stackable bins can become displayable pieces of art where you showcase your goodies or keep frequently used items handy. Vertical pole stacking shelves in bathrooms offer extra storage for towels and hygiene necessities without needing to drill holes or alter the bath whatsoever.
Discover River Front Living at Our Chicago Apartments
Our convertible apartments in Chicago, IL are comfortable and offer our residents pristine river views, ample space and provide access to many of the most desirable community amenities in the Windy City. Contact River North Park Apartments today to inquire about our current availability.
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When you don’t want to exercise outside due to temperature extremes or bad weather, you can still get your daily dose of physical activity in your apartment. Keep in mind that you’ll need to do quiet activities that won’t bother your neighbors. Consider including one or more of the following fitness activities in your workout routine.
Lift Weights
If you want to do some strength training at home, you can easily do this with a couple of dumbbells. Hold one in each hand, and alternate doing curls with them toward your chest to give your biceps a workout. Doing this activity doesn’t involve jumping or making any noise, so it’s ideal for apartment workouts. If you have a weight bench in your apartment, you should be aware that the bars on these can make a clanging sound that might disturb your neighbors when you lift weights.
Do Stretches
Stretching is a great way to make sure that your muscles are ready for a workout, which helps lower your risk of injuries. Doing stretches also keeps your muscles and joints more flexible overall. You can do simple stretches in your apartment that give your arms, legs and other muscles a good workout. For example, you can stand or lie down while pulling one knee up to your chest, then switch to the other knee. You can also alternate reaching up and over with each arm. Another form to try is the butterfly stretch that involves sitting with your feet together and knees bent while pushing your thighs down toward the floor as much as possible.
Try Low-Impact Cardio Moves
Cardio exercises give your heart and muscles a solid workout. Jumping jacks and similar cardio exercises are too noisy to do in apartments, but there are others you can try. These include curtsy lunges that involve standing in a lunge position, holding one leg slightly diagonal behind you and dipping in a curtsy move. Doing plank exercises or low-impact squats are also good cardio moves that won’t bother your neighbors.
If you’re looking for a place to exercise outside your home, our community includes a 24-hour fitness center. Please contact us for more details on our apartments in Chicago, IL.
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If you’re like most people, you have probably acquired a small collection of empty vases leftover from flower gifts you've received over the years. It seems wasteful to toss them out, but you probably don't need more than one or two. So what can you do to cut down on this overpopulation of vases? How about up-cycling them with the following four ideas:
Use Them for Table Decorations
If you have a large square or round vase, fill it up with little mementos. For example, if you love the beach, fill the vase with shells. Or if wine is your thing, use the vase to hold corks from the various bottles you've enjoyed.
Paint Them
The problem with most florist vases is that they're typically very simple glass and just not that pretty. But you can change that quickly by painting your vase in a pretty color. Some crafters recommend spray painting your glass vases.
Other crafters suggest that you swirl around a paint (acrylic is a good choice) inside of the vase until the interior is evenly coated. Then, place the vase upside down on some newspapers to allow the excess paint to drip out. Once dry, you can use a brush to paint the exterior of the vase. You might be surprised how upscale your ugly little florist vase will look with just a simple coat of paint.
Use Them for a Planter
A small vase can be turned into a pretty planter for bamboo. Simply fill a vase with small pebbles and water and add a bamboo shoot.
Illuminated Decoration
Want to add a little whimsy to a room? Then add a tangle of fairy lights to a few vases and place around a room for magical mood lighting.
Have you been thinking about up-cycling your living space, as well, as your vases? Perhaps, you're even in the mood for a big move to a whole new apartment. If so, please check out our stylish apartments in Chicago, IL. We offer a host of much sought-after amenities, including a 24-hour fitness center, dry cleaning, valet and package services, as well as close proximity to the Brown and Red CTA lines.
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Whether you love to craft and are looking for a new project or want to spruce up your home on a budget, you can easily update and personalize your home by taking on a DIY furniture project. Check out these simple ideas to give any room a fresh, new look.
Door Headboard
An old, wooden door can easily be repurposed into a chic headboard for your bed. Find a door to repurpose, or buy an unfinished one from the hardware store, and add crown molding to one long edge of the door to create the top of the frame. Then paint it to match your style, and screw it to your bedframe for a unique and homey headboard. If your bed frame won’t accommodate the new headboard, mount it to the wall behind your bed to get the effect of a headboard without all the hassle.
Old Drawer Footrest
Is your dresser too old and outdated to hang onto? Save a couple of drawers to make footrests, and add your own personal touch to any armchair. Stain or paint the drawers, stuff them with batting, and staple fabric over the pouf to make a comfy footrest. If you need some extra height, repurpose old dresser legs as your new footrest legs!
Barstool Desk
If you need a place to sit and get work done but are afraid of a traditional desk taking up too much space in your home, a tall, slim desk pushed up against the wall can solve both your problems. Paint a couple of tall and sturdy bar stools, and attach them to a long plank of wood using screws to create a desk to line up on the wall that will be both functional and beautiful. Do you want to know the best part? You will be sure to use your space much more efficiently than you might with a traditional desk.
No matter your skill level, you can easily complete any of these DIY furniture projects and make your apartment communicate your style and feel like home. Put your crafting skills to the test by personalizing one of our Chicago apartments to match your style perfectly. Contact us today to explore available floor plans.
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It's summer, so you want to enjoy warm, late evenings with friends at your River North Park Apartment. We have a few entertaining tips for our residents!
Entertaining Friends in Your Apartment: Here are Some Inspiring Tips
Apartments nurture closeness and a cozy environment. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions to help you entertain with style:
- If a meal is a reason for the get-together, then why not serve it up buffet-style? Showcase your food on the table for everyone to pick and grab what they want, and then offer floor pillows or other spaces in the living area for guests to eat and socialize.
- Move furniture around. Feel free to move the dining table into the living room and the living room furniture into the dining room. Get creative; that's the key here.
- Pick a theme! Choose something fun. Maybe guests can dress up or down, depending on the theme. Offer games or turn it into a movie night.
- You could also take your party outdoors and use our community's sundeck to grill outside.
Entertaining Friends in Your Apartment: Things to Keep in Mind
Here are some tips to ensure that all goes well when you host a party:
- We are in close proximity to the Brown and Red CTA lines, which makes it convenient for guests to travel to your apartment without worrying about traffic or parking.
- Think about specifying an end time when inviting your guests. You don't have to be strict about a departure time, but with everyone having it in the back of their minds, chances are the party will end at a reasonable hour.
Entertaining in your apartment is a fun time, but remember to be considerate and respectful of your neighbors when you host gatherings. With these tips, you can enjoy entertaining friends throughout the summer. At River North Park, we offer studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. Our floor plans feature ceramic tile baths and free basic cable TV. If you want to know more about the amenities we offer or our available apartments in Chicago, contact us today.
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When you get a new apartment in Chicago at River North Park, it can really feel great to be a resident of a wonderful community. But in addition to getting to know your neighbors, you also want to find ways to make your new place feel like home. How you choose to decorate your space can be a big part of that. Here are three tips to consider when you start on your apartment decorating adventure.
Minimalism Can Be a Good Thing
There's no reason you have to fill your space with too much stuff. Buying the basics and then reevaluating what you have is generally a better choice. When you're considering our apartments in Chicago, you will find plenty of options, layouts, and different sizes. But no matter the size of your apartment, you can be a minimalist and still have all the things you need. By keeping your items down to a smaller amount you'll save money, too.
Consider Decor That's Also Useable Space
When you decorate, make it useful. For example, consider buying pretty canisters for the kitchen counter, and decorative racks for coats, keys, and mail to hang on the wall by the door. There are a lot of great ways to use all of your available space in a way that makes your apartment really stand out. A pop of color here and there, along with some shelving or storage options that are creative, fun, and fashionable, can give your apartment a great look that you'll love to show off.
You Don't Need Everything All at Once
While you might be tempted to try to buy everything you can think of for your new place, your Chicago, Illinois, apartment doesn't need to be completely furnished the very first day. Instead, you can focus on the minimalism previously mentioned, and then only buy new things that you really need. If you find yourself consistently needing that extra mixing bowl, or more spoons, go out and get them. But you don't need to buy a whole bunch of stuff until you're sure it's worth having.
Ready to find your next apartment? Contact our office at River North Park Apartments today and get started on a great space you can decorate just the way you like.
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