Find Comfort In Your Apartment

(Image courtesy of Jamie Davies)

After the rigours of running around to jobs, dinners and activities it’s nice to be able to come back home to a nice quiet relaxing apartment. Taking time to appreciate your home and what it is about it that makes you feel safe there can help you amplify those feelings.

This article from apartmenttherapy.com breaks down the most calming components of your home and teaches you how to maximize the relaxing feelings you get from them. Keep reading to learn how to enjoy even more comfort from your apartment!

1. Diversify lighting. I'm a proponent of having three points of light in a room. Make your home work for you by being able to switch between brighter, more concentrated light when you need to focus and something softer when you want to relax. Build in that kind of flexibility by installing a dimmer switch for an overhead light or table lamp — both doable DIY projects.

2. Invest in comforting textures. What's cozier than soft pillows, throws, and blankets? The bonus is they're inexpensive and portable. I'm a fan of other small splurges too (for me, it's good-smelling hand soap).

3. Don't kill yourself getting clean; accept the never-ending cycle of household chores. I feel better in my home when it doesn't look dirty or really disorganized, but I also don't want to feel as if I'm constantly cleaning. While many people like keeping a cleaning schedule, I like incorporating chores into my daily routine. I'd also point you to The Lazy Person's Guide to a Happy Home: Tips for People Who (Really) Hate Cleaning.

4. Carve out a space for what you care about. Even when you're short on space, there's always a way to prioritize what's meaningful for you. Whether it'sturning a closet into a craft zone, designating a cozy reading nook or a place for your bike, or making your kitchen more functional with pegboard, follow your bliss.

5. Make space by paring down. Right now I feel like I have a lot of stuff that I no longer want to give room in my home. A combination of donating and throwing things out will lighten the load in terms of your home's need for storage and your (perceived) need to organize.

Won't You Be My Neighbor

(Image courtesy of Johnny Ainsworth)

Moving into a new apartment can be tough. And we don’t just mean moving all your stuff, trying to get settled, and the unpacking and organizing process that seems to never end. If you’re moving into a new area, it can be lonely for the first few weeks while you get used to your surroundings!

One of the best parts about living in Sandia Village is the great community that we have to offer - and getting to know your neighbors will be a great way to stave off loneliness while you get more acclimated to your new surroundings! This article from renters.apartments.com offers a few great ideas to make friends with your neighbors in no time flat! Keep reading to learn more:

There are many reasons why you should get to know your neighbors. If they've been living there for a while, they can be a great resource for information like what day the garbage is picked up, what the landlord is like, parking tips, and where to find the best neighborhood restaurants. They may also be able to lend a helping hand if, for example, you’re locked out and need to use a phone, or you need someone to feed your cats and water your plants while you’re away.

Although everyone should try to be a good neighbor by keeping the noise down, keeping common areas clean and following other common courtesies, inevitably, something will happen that may inconvenience your neighbors (a barking dog, a loud party, a spill in the hallway). But if your neighbors know you, they will be less annoyed by these unintentional annoyances, and will try to work out any problems with you directly rather than going straight to the landlord.

So how do you go about getting to know these people? Although it may seem cliché, knocking on their door with a plate of cookies or brownies really works. It’s an unexpected and very appreciated gesture, especially if you live in a large city where the norm is to keep to yourself. Take the opportunity to introduce yourself, let them know who lives with you (four-legged companions included), what you do for a living, and if you’re new to the area.

If they are not overly friendly in return, don’t take it personally. The important thing is you made the effort, and you can say hello in the elevator rather than awkwardly trying to avoid eye contact. On the flipside, if they are nice in return, you may even make a new friend.

Getting to know your neighbors is a win-win no matter the outcome. So don’t be shy – and start baking!

The UFC Comes to ABQ

With no major professional sports teams in town, we’re happy to make do with the Isotopes, Lobos, and other amateur teams - they make the city what it is! But now, we’ll have another, long-awaited option for our sports fans: UFC!

For a long time, New Mexico has been trying to break into the mixed martial arts scene, especially since some know it as the “Mecca of MMA.” But in June, all of Albuquerque’s loyal MMA fans will be rewarded with a June 7th fight between Benson “Smooth” Henderson (20-3) and Rustam “Tiger” Khabilov (17-1). And hopefully this will be the first in a long history of UFC matches in Albuquerque.

Here’s the full scoop from Southwest Fight News:

The event will be the first UFC event to ever be held within the New Mexico state lines and a couple months prior we dove in-depth as to what a possible UFC event would look like. Tingley is a 11,571-seat multi-purpose arena that is listed to have 9,286 permanent seats. The best guess for a seating chart would be to imagine the Jackson’s MMA Series set-up that has traditionally used half of the arena and then imagine that the UFC would likely use the entire venue instead of cutting out a single section like the JMMAS has done.

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According to sources, on June 7th, the UFC Fight Night event will be held inside the historic Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the evening’s festivities are expected to be headlined by a Lightweight Title Contender eliminator match between former UFC Champion Benson “Smooth” Henderson (20-3) and Rustam “Tiger” Khabilov (17-1). The #1 ranked contender Henderson is seemingly significantly ahead in his title trajectory then the #13 ranked Khabilov, but the Jackson-Winkeljohn trained Khabilov is currently on a six-fight win streak including three within the UFC ranks.

Click here for the full article on the first ever UFC fight in New Mexico!

Gear Up for the 2014 Isotopes Season!

Ah, spring is in the air. And here in Albuquerque, one of the rites of spring is the start of the Albuquerque Isotopes 2014 baseball seaason.

With no pro sports franchises here in ABQ, the ‘Topes (along with UNM’s Lobos and the New Mexico State Aggies) are one of the foremost sports teams in the region, and we really see them as a pillar of the local community.

The ‘Topes won’t be having a home game here until Friday, April 11 against the Tacoma Rainiers, but you can still go check out their schedule on MILB.com.

This season’s shaping up to be an exciting season for the Isotopes, with some recent changes of their division and a fun schedule of special days - perfect for family outings to the ballpark, especially on holidays:

Highlights of the 72-game home schedule will include 32 weekend dates and home games on Memorial Day (May 26), Father's Day (June 15), Independence Day (July 4) and Labor Day (Sept. 1). In addition, the Isotopes will be home during the entire APS Spring Break (April 14-18). The season will feature 11 homestands, including a 12-gamer from April 28 through May 9.

"Our fans are going to love this schedule," said Isotopes General Manager John Traub. "It is very favorable relative to the summer months and holidays. We are already planning some very big promotions and exciting things for next season."

The relocation of the Tucson franchise to El Paso will result in changes to the alignment of all four Pacific Coast League divisions. The Isotopes will move to the Pacific Conference and will play in the Southern Division along with El Paso, Las Vegas and Salt Lake. Their remaining conference opponents will be Northern Division foes Fresno, Reno, Sacramento and Tacoma.

Texting and Driving Ban Goes into Effect July 1

Between the unpredictable highway traffic, detours, and construction, driving around Albuquerque can get pretty crazy on any given day. And when you take into account distracted drivers, the risks get compounded.

Fortunately, starting this July, New Mexico will become the 42nd state to enact a ban on texting while driving. Signed into law by Governor Martinez, after July 1, you’ll receive a $25 citation for getting caught texting while driving the first time, and $50 each time after that. Although several cities in the state have outlawed texting while driving already, the law will soon be enforced statewide.

Why is texting and driving so bad? According to the Federal Communications Commission:

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2010 driver distraction was the cause of 18 percent of all fatal crashes – with 3,092 people killed – and crashes resulting in an injury – with 416,000 people wounded.
• Forty percent of all American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger, according to a Pew survey.
• The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted.
• Eleven percent of drivers aged 18 to 20 who were involved in an automobile accident and survived admitted they were sending or receiving texts when they crashed.

Click here to read more about the upcoming texting and driving ban.

We Won!

The Resort at Sandia Village is proud to be recognized as a Top Rated Apartment Community for 2013, by ApartmentRatings.com!

Thanks to all our residents who have left us a positive review on the site over the past few months. We look forward to continuing to improve our community and winning many more awards to come!

ApartmentRatings.com (www.apartmentratings.com), the leading website for user reviews of apartments, today announced the 5,521 winners of the 2012 ApartmentRatings.com Top Rated Awards.

Only about 5% of all the communities listed on ApartmentRatings.com qualify for award consideration, making winning a Top Rated award an exclusive accomplishment. Winning communities demonstrated a combination of outstanding resident satisfaction ratings and excellent recommendation ratings, as reported by actual residents on ApartmentRatings.com throughout 2012.

Moving Tips for The Lazy

When you’re moving into your new apartment here at Sandia Village, it’s likely you’ve got lots of other things on your plate - a new job, a new school, and other tasks associated with you move can be a real time drain. And if you’re a lazy person to begin with, a move can really feel like a drag.

But if you’re moving and you can afford to spend a little extra money (or a little extra time), you can have a seamless move-in experience without the headache or the legwork. ApartmentGuides.com offered up some great advice last week on how to outsource your moving needs so you need to do as little packing and lifting as possible. Here are some of their best tips:

Hire a professional packer

Sorting and packing is exhausting. To save your brain cells, find a professional organizer who can help. This may seem like a splurge, but it will actually make your move more productive. An organizer can help you make quick decisions about what to keep and what to throw away. They’ll also make sure you pack your boxes in an organized way, so they are easier to unpack. Remember, the ultimate goal is EASY.

Unload your junk the easy way

Next on your to-do-list for a no-effort move is to arrange for someone to pick up the junk you don’t want. Many local agencies are happy to arrange for at-home pick-up. The Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity are national organizations that are pros at this. You may also find agencies specific to your community that offer pick-up services. Look for a furniture bank, animal rescue or local resale store.

Splurge for a full-service move

Now that you’ve narrowed down the items you want to move and someone else has packed them smartly, it’s time to hire a moving company. Though a DIY move will certainly save you money, if you are commited to being lazy then you’ll cough up the extra cash for a full-service move. Let them load it, drive the truck to your new doorstep, and unload. That way you can sit back and relax while your mover does all the heavy lifting. Just don’t forget to tip your mover adequately for his awesome efforts.

Throw a moving party

Show off your super-lazy moving skills by inviting your friends over for a mimosa-filled moving party to watch your well-paid movers load up the truck. Don’t forget to invite your professional organizer, donation picker-upper and landlord. If it weren’t for them, moving wouldn’t be nearly this easy!

Click here for the full article on moving tips!