WestWind Apartments Blog

Everyone makes New Year’s resolutions, but 85% of the time, the goals that are made on New Year’s Eve are not achieved. Why? Maybe the goals are too lofty, but most likely it is because you have not made a plan to achieve those goals.

Here are some common New Year’s Resolutions:

• Drink Less Alcohol
• Eat Healthy Food
• Get a Better Job
• Get Fit
• Lose Weight
• Manage Debt
• Manage Stress
• Quit Smoking
• Save Money
• Take a Vacation
• Volunteer

There is a right way and a wrong way to make a New Year's resolution. Here are a few tips to help you achieve your goals:

1. Tell your Friends

When you have a goal, and others are aware of that goal, they can help you achieve it. Often, one of your friends has the same goal, so they can join you. So, after you make your resolution, tell your friends in your apartment in Roanoke, VA about it.

2. Make a Plan immediately

Setting a goal without a plan is really just wishful thinking. In order for your resolution to have resolve, you have to have a plan to put it into action. If you're like most people, then you'll have a limited window of opportunity during the first few days of January to harness your motivation. After that, most people forget their resolutions completely.

3. Write Down Your Resolution and Plan

Formulate a plan, which you can stick to. It is always best to write your goals down, commit to your resolution and plan.

4. Be flexible and think long term

Nothing big gets accomplished in one day. New Year's resolutions are only a starting point. You have to revisit your plan. Give yourself reminders to work on your goals. But you also need to expect that your plan can and will change. You need to be flexible as life interferes. Sometimes even the goal will change. Recognize each step of success the whole way.

WestWind Apartment Homes would like to wish everyone a happy holiday season.

We also would like to remind everyone of our holiday hours. The Welcome Center will be closed Friday, December 22, 2011 thru Monday, December 26, 2011 re-opening Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 9:00 am.

See Attached: Click Here.

It is the season of the candy cane. They’re a tree ornament and a gift tie-on. But there are other, uses for the candy cane too.
 
There are some terrifically simple ways to use the candy cane to sweeten some favorite treats. For example:

• Serve a candy cane as a stirring stick with a cup of hot cocoa or coffee.
• Crush a candy and sprinkle it on vanilla ice cream.
• Sprinkle them on iced Christmas cookies.
• Dip the curved end into melted chocolate and cool on a wax paper line tray for a new twist.

At our apartments in Roanoke, West Wind Apartment Homes, we have collected some of our favorite seasonal candy cane recipes. If you have cookie swaps in your future, see our peppermint snowball cookie and peppermint brownie, both are ideal. The fun cocktail recipe, candy cane martini, will be delicious at your holiday party, (and come in handy at the cookie swap too!)
 
Peppermint Snowball Cookies

Ingredients

• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 1/4 cups butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup white sugar, or as needed
• 1 cup finely crushed peppermint candy
• 3 tablespoons milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheets, or line with parchment paper.
2. Beat 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar with the butter, peppermint extract, vanilla extract, and egg in a mixing bowl at Medium speed until well blended and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce speed to Low, and gradually mix in the flour, baking powder, and salt until well blended, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy using a wooden spoon.
3. Place the white sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll a small amount of cookie dough between your hands to make 3/4 inch diameter balls. Roll in sugar. Place 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
4. Bake in preheated oven until light brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove and cool on racks.
5. Meanwhile, to make the glaze, stir the remaining 1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar together with the milk in a bowl until smooth. Drizzle cooled cookies with the glaze, and sprinkle immediately with the remaining crushed peppermint candy

Peppermint Brownies

Ingredients

• 4 ounces Unsweetened Chocolate
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 3 large eggs
• 2 cups granulated white sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 5-6 ounces of chocolate squares with peppermint filling, unwrapped
• 4 small candy canes, crushed

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.
2. In the top of a double boiler or in a heatproof bowl over barely simmering water, melt the unsweetened chocolate and butter, stirring occasionally until smooth. Cool to room temperature.
3. In a large bowl with an electric mixer or whisk, beat the eggs, sugar, vanilla, peppermint extract, and salt until combined. Beat in the chocolate mixture. Gently stir in the flour. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
4. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the brownies comes out clean. Arrange the mint squares on top in one layer and return the brownies to the oven until they are just melted, about 1 minute. Evenly spread the chocolate with a spatula and sprinkle with the crushed candy canes. Cool completely before cutting into 2-inch squares.

Candy Cane Martini - Serves 1.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon superfine sugar
• 1 tablespoon hot water
• 2 ounces vanilla vodka
• ½ ounce white creme de menthe
• 1 teaspoon whole milk
• 1 small candy cane (for garnish)

Directions

1. In a microwave-safe cup, heat the sugar and water for 30 seconds or until the sugar dissolves.
2. Spread crushed candy canes on a piece of waxed paper.
3. Fill a martini glass with ice cubes, swirl it around, then tip out the ice. Fill a metal shaker with ice and add the vodka, creme de menthe, sugar mixture, and milk. Shake vigorously and strain into a martini glass. Decorate with the candy cane.

The housing market is stagnating right now in Roanoke and in other parts of the country and real estate brokers would have potential buyers believe that there is no better time than the present to buy a home. It is true, prices are down and mortgage rates are at all-time lows.

Unfortunately for the real estate brokers, many clients are not persuaded by that logic. Instead, in increasing numbers, they are choosing to rent instead of buy — unconvinced that the housing market has yet hit bottom. Would be buyers also understand that unless you plan to stay in your home for more than 10 years, buying a home may not be the right investment for everyone.

With apartments in Roanoke, VA, offering apartment amenities that can’t be found in homes, renting is a great option for many. There is also a broad mix of tenants at West Wind Apartment: young single residents and families and empty-nesters that no longer have homeownership on their wish list.

For information on beautiful one-, two-, and three bedroom apartments in Roanoke contact  West Wind Apartments.