Blog Posts

Exercise this Summer

A year has passed since last summer and your life might have gotten busy. Exercise might have slipped your mind as you attempted to balance your life, but now it’s time to get back into exercising and making better choices for your body. In this week’s Dolley Madison Towers Blog, we’re going to share some tips for getting back exercising and being healthy after a hiatus! If you don’t have a gym membership, you don’t have to worry because we’ve got a fitness center available for residents here at our Arlington, VA apartment community! Watch what you Eat/Drink Many people think that heading to the gym is how you get in shape, but it’s more about what you eat and drink. If you’re looking to get fit again, or maintain your fitness, you might need to make some sacrifices for health’s sake! You might need to give up eating fast food and drinking soda if you wished to meet your goals. Eating healthy is an important part of being healthy, but we don’t mean “not eating.” As you’re exercising, your body will need nutrients to function optimally and repair itself, so don’t deprive yourself by skipping meals or not eating at all. If you are worried about weight or body fat percentage, try to achieve a caloric deficit without starving yourself. Pace Yourself Have you worked out before? If you have, you’ve probably got an idea of how much weight you can lift or how far you can run. Before you start exercising, take into consideration the fact that if you haven’t worked out for a while, you’re not going to be able to perform in the gym as well as you used to right off the bat. Pace yourself, and start slow. You can avoid injury by reducing the weight you start with and running a shorter distance, doing so will allow you to be more consistent in the gym and help you achieve your goals at a more rapid rate. Rest Resting is one of the most important tips we have for you this week. Too many people put an emphasis on consistency at the gym. While consistency is necessary, giving your body a break to recuperate can make the process of getting healthy a little easier. Resting gives your body time to repair itself and helps to prevent injury — which really could keep you away from the gym for an extended amount of time. Be sensible when you head back to the gym. We hope you enjoyed these tips and find them helpful as you recommit to hitting the gym! Good luck in your endeavors. Thanks for reading today’s post.

Games for Your Next Game Night

Welcome back to the Dolley Madison Towers Blog! With the summer heat escalating this June, you’re going to want to find a way to get out of the heat! Why not host a game night? It’s a great way to spend some time with friends, get competitive (if you so choose), and enjoy a summer’s evening! Here are some suggestions on games to try for your next game night, we hope you enjoy our list! Balderdash Get a thrill exercising your mental abilities and creativity in a hilarious, low-stress way with this board game. Pick a card, choose an uncommon or a strange-sounding word, and have the players write down their own definitions of the word. Read each of the definitions, including the correct one, and have the players guess which is the correct one, awarding points to players whose definitions were chosen. Anything goes in this game! Mafia For this game, you’ll need a deck of cards or pieces of paper that have character names written on them. There are many variations of this game, but essentially, each player will be given a roll throughout the game. There will be at least two mafia members, two detectives, a doctor, and townspeople or “the Innocents”. A moderator will also lead the game. It’s a fun and suspenseful game that requires some good detective skills, or at least a willingness to blindly accuse your friends. Cranium If you’re competitive, Cranium is the game for you. Being a “whole brain” game, two teams match up head to head in four different categories. These categories, consisting of Creative Cat, Word Worm, Data Head, and Star Performer, include tasks and activities that involve the different sides of the brain. Upon the completion of each activity, your team moves forward on the board. Complete these tasks faster and more accurately to win the game! Do you have board games you enjoy? We would love to hear some of your favorite games! Leave us a comment below. Thanks for reading!

Preparing to Swim this Summer

With the weather turning warmer, it’s almost time to hit the water! In this week’s Dolley Madison Towers Blog, we’ll share with you some tips on how to make sure your trip to the local Arlington, VA pool or our apartment community outdoor swimming pool goes smoothly. Safety First The first thing to consider is safety. Instruct your children, or any groups you may be supervising, on the proper safety procedures for pools. Teach them to not run around the pool to avoid slipping, stay away from drains and suction filters, and to not be overly physical when playing in the water. If there are no lifeguards, be observant of those in the pool to make sure no one is drowning. Wear Appropriate Swimwear Summer days at the pool consist of splashing, fun, and laughter. If you’re not wanting to get your nice clothing wet, be sure to wear the appropriate attire for the pool. Keep all electronics and precious items off to the side or away from the pool in general to avoid having them on your person if you get pushed into the water. Be sure to apply sunscreen to avoid getting sunburnt, and be generous to those who neglected to bring some. Be Prepared Accidents are bound to happen. Unfortunately, accidents aren’t in our control and can happen at any time. Be prepared for cuts and scrapes by bringing a first aid kid, or having one handy. If an accident does happen, stay calm, cool, and collected to be as useful as you can in a stressful situation. Overreacting is counter-productive and can often lead to more accidents if you’re not careful. Have Fun The point of going to the pool is to have fun. Play games like Marco Polo, swim, or sunbathe on the side of the pool.Be mindful of others and their enjoyment and enjoy the sunshine, the warm weather. Let loose and have fun! Do you have any tips on how to prepare for a great day at the pool? Let us know by leaving a comment below! Thanks for reading.

Celebrate World Health Day

April 7th is World Health Day. Let’s celebrate here on the Dolley Madison Towers Blog. We’re sharing a list of ways that you can increase your health physically and mentally! Check out our suggestions and enjoy a healthier month here in Arlington, VA. Start an exercise plan. If you don’t exercise regularly, then start an exercise plan. Even if you simply go for a walk outside your apartment, you’ll notice an increase in energy over time. If you want to start a more intense plan, the present is the best time to start! Set realistic goals for yourself and rewards for when you reach them. Invite a friend to join you on your journey or have someone who can hold you accountable. Get outside more. Get outside of your workplace and apartment. Fresh air can do wonders for your health. It also encourages exercise, whether you’re going outside for a walk or you’re playing an outdoor game like frisbee or basketball. Practice meditation. Meditation is a great way to let go of stress and worries and keep your mental health in check. Spend a few minutes breathing and noticing your thoughts, but choosing to keep your attention on your breath. Use Headspace if you’ve never practiced meditation before. Do something nice for someone else. Being kind to others can do great things for your health. It will also help you to make friends in an increasingly lonely world. Make a meal for a neighbor or do an act of service for your partner or roommate. Make a healthy meal. For a quick dinner with tasty veggies and moist chicken, try out this Asparagus Sweet Potato Chicken Skillet . This recipe comes from Primavera Kitchen . To make this dish you’ll need boneless chicken breasts, olive oil, salt and pepper, garlic cloves, a medium sweet potato, chicken broth or water, fresh asparagus, and crushed red pepper. What other health tips do you have that you want to share with us? Comment below. Thanks for reading!

Book Suggestions to Read This Month

Get into reading this month by checking out our list of book suggestions in today's Dolley Madison Towers Blog. We hope you get a chance to sit down with a good book and enjoy an afternoon at your apartment here in Arlington, VA. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green (2017) “Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.” The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (1895) “Here is Oscar Wilde's most brilliant tour de force, a witty and buoyant comedy of manners that has delighted millions in countless productions since its first performance in London's St. James' Theatre on February 14, 1895. The Importance of Being Earnest is celebrated not only for the lighthearted ingenuity of its plot, but for its inspired dialogue, rich with scintillating epigrams still savored by all who enjoy artful conversation.” The Weight of Him by Ethel Rohan (2017) “In The Weight of Him Billy Brennan undergoes an unforgettable journey in a startling attempt to resurrect his family and reignite hearts, his own most of all. [...] Told against the picturesque yet haunting backdrop of rural, contemporary Ireland, The Weight of Him is a big-hearted novel about loss and reliance that moves from tragedy to recrimination to what can be achieved when we take the stand of our lives.” Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl (1946) “Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's memoir has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Between 1942 and 1945 Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife perished. Based on his own experience and the experiences of others he treated later in his practice, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose.” What books are on your to-read list? Share them with us in the comments below!

Valentine's Day Dinner Recipes

Valentine’s Day is a great time to get together with a loved one or a friend and celebrate. In today’s Dolley Madison Towers Blog, we have a list of delicious recipes for you to cook up at your apartment to celebrate the holiday. Enjoy good food and time with loved ones here in Arlington, VA. Shrimp Scampi If you want some delicious and flavorful seafood, try out this Shrimp Scampi recipe from Allrecipes. To make this dish you’ll need the following ingredients: angel hair pasta, butter, minced garlic, peeled and deveined shrimp, dry white wine, ground black pepper, grated Parmesan cheese, and chopped fresh parsley. Chicken Cordon Bleu A classic and gourmet dinner, chicken cordon bleu is always a great option to enjoy on Valentine’s Day. This recipe comes from Food Network. To cook this up you’ll need chicken breasts, thin slices of prosciutto di Parma, grated Gruyere, all-purpose flour, salt and pepper, fresh thyme, minced garlic, unsalted butter, eggs, and extra-virgin olive oil. Beef Tenderloin This moist and juicy beef tenderloin recipe is the perfect main course for dinner with loved ones. Add some mashed potatoes and seasoned vegetables for a savory and satisfactory meal. This recipe is from Delish. To make it, you’ll need these ingredients: canola oil, a beef tenderloin roast, seasoning salt, ground black pepper, butter, and fresh rosemary. Butternut Squash Ravioli with Seared Chicken Try this fresh and delicious ravioli perfectly paired with seasoned chicken and veggies. This recipe is from Country Living. Gather up these ingredients to get started: butternut squash ravioli, asparagus, chicken breasts, salt and pepper, olive oil, butter, chopped shallots, chopped fresh sage, a chopped garlic clove, and grated pecorino. Do you have any special Valentine’s Day dinner recipes? Let us know in the comments so we can try them out. Thanks for reading the Dolley Madison Towers Blog.