Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

This strawberry recipe only requires a few ingredients and a short amount of time to make. You’ll need frozen strawberries, honey or agave nectar, plain non-fat yogurt, and fresh lemon juice. To make it, mix all of these ingredients in the food processor for about 5 minutes or until you have a creamy mixture. You can either enjoy your strawberry frozen yogurt right away, or store it in an airtight container for later.

Strawberry Banana Muffins

This recipe gives you even more nutrients thanks to the combination of strawberries and bananas. To make this recipe, you’ll need mashed bananas, strawberry chunks, old-fashioned oats, maple syrup, vanilla extract, salt, and baking powder. Start this recipe by greasing or lining a muffin pan. Put all of the ingredients in a blender, then mix until they're smooth. Fill up to 3/4 or 2/3 of each muffin cup with the muffin mix. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 to 20 minutes. Wait for the muffins to cool before taking them out of the muffin pan.

Strawberry Granola Bark

This sweet dessert offers plenty of protein. To make it, you’ll need low-fat vanilla Greek yogurt, honey, sliced strawberries, and granola. Mix the honey and yogurt together in a small bowl. Line a baking pan with aluminum foil, then spread this mixture into it. Lightly cover the mixture with pieces of granola and sliced strawberries, then gently press these ingredients into it. Place the pan in the freezer for about one hour, then cut into a dozen slices.

Try one or more of these strawberry dessert recipes in one of our comfortable apartments in Flagstaff, AZ! Contact us to learn more about our apartment amenities and floor plans.

The post Healthy Strawberry Desserts for Summer appeared first on Pine View Village Apartments Blog.

Summer heat presents a real challenge in terms of health and fitness. That’s why we're offering some tips we hope our Pine View Village community members in Flagstaff, Arizona, can find useful.

Innovative Ways to Stay Hydrated

Perhaps the single greatest impediment to exercise during the dog days of summer is keeping H20 levels optimum. Heat and exertion equal the loss of bodily fluids, i.e., sweat. But bottled water gets boring after consuming a few dozen. While the body needs water for healthy functioning, the mind craves something more.

Consider stopping for a quick slushy at your favorite convenience store before a brisk walk, jog, run or hitting the local fitness center. Granted, these drinks have a few calories. The famous 8-ounce Blue Raspberry Slush Puppy reportedly contains 119 calories and 30 grams of carbohydrates. Calories well spent after a gazillion bottles of water! Other options include apple juice—or your favorite healthy beverage—over ice in a sealed Yeti or long-chill container.

Time Your Outdoor Exercise

Sunrise in Arizona runs in the first quarter of 5 a.m. during June. That may seem way too early to get up and invigorate the body. But early morning walks, jogs, yoga and other forms of cardio may be best suited for sunrise. That’s because you can enjoy a more quiet environment and heightened mindfulness with fewer distractions. Early morning exercise can also help improve mental and physical well-being. The alternative is having to endure the blazing hot sun and additional noise.

Consider a Water Sport

Competitive swimming, water polo and river rafting are excellent ways to get the blood flowing. Swimming is said to work every muscle in the body and improve cardio health as well. Rafting is exhilarating. If you aren't interested in rafting or joining a formal sports organization, an evening dip in the pool works wonders. Consider counting your laps the way a Fitbit counts steps.

Avoid Sustained Training Sessions

The hot summer sun taxes the body’s water retention at a high rate. Continuous, rigorous effort can cause quick dehydration, cramping and generally unsafe health conditions. It’s okay to do shorter exercise sessions over the summer months. Consider having one 30-minute session in the morning and another after the day cools off a bit. Remember, play it safe.

We hope our Pine View Village community members find these summer health and fitness tips useful. If you or a friend would like more information about our Flagstaff apartments, call us today.

The post Ways to Stay Healthy and Fit During Hot Summers appeared first on Pine View Village Apartments Blog.

Photography

Take your selfie skills to a whole new level by learning a few photography tricks to make your pictures pop. Local photography and nature clubs regularly offer classes and opportunities for beginners and pros to improve their skills. You can also take online courses or watch some YouTube videos to learn more about lighting, props or flat lay photography skills for your Instagram feed.

Container Gardening

You do not need to go outside to try your hand at container gardening. Growing herbs that you can use for cooking, creating a cactus garden or arranging indoor plants and flowers on a shelf is easy and inexpensive. All you need are some unique containers found at a flea market or yard sale, indoor potting soil, a sunny window and your favorite plants. Let your creativity take over and before you know it, you will have a green thumb!

Give Old Things New Life

Flea markets and yard sales are also the perfect places to find inexpensive treasures that can be used to decorate your apartment. Old wooden crates make for great shoe racks or extra storage, and a good coat of paint will breathe new life into forgotten furniture. Just strolling around and looking for inspiration is fun and keeps the creative juices flowing.

Whether you are taking nature pictures out on our beautiful grounds or redecorating your studio apartment with living plants and recycled treasures, Pine View Village apartments in Flagstaff is the perfect place to enjoy new hobbies. Make sure to visit our leasing office to see our unique floor plans, or just stop by to show us what you made!

The post 3 Fun and Inexpensive Summer Hobbies to Try Out appeared first on Pine View Village Apartments Blog.

It’s officially heating up outside, and we love no way of beating the heat more than enjoying a day inside at the movie theater! Since we’re part of the Eight Wonders of Flagstaff, we’re here to bring you a look at eight recently released or upcoming films that we know will be some of the top blockbusters of the summer! So grab your favorite popcorn and theater treats and read on!

Jurassic World

Because Chris Pratt + Dinosaurs = Epic Win. If you loved the original film about a failed soft open of a dinosaur theme park, you’ll love seeing John Hammond’s failed dream because a reality. You might tell yourself (like we did) that there’s no way this movie could live up to all the hype. But we’re pretty sure it does. Because life, uh … finds a way. (Hat tip to you, Ian Malcolm!)

Dope

An audience favorite of the Sundance Film Festival, DOPE follows the story of a young nerd named Malcolm surviving and thriving in one of the toughest neighborhoods in LA. We’re excited for this film that New York Magazine/Vulture called “remorselessly entertaining”!

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

This film will definitely not be your run-of-the-mill coming of age story. The movie stars Thomas Mann as Greg, an awkward high schooler who is forced to spend time with Rachel, a girl in his class who was just diagnosed with cancer. As their friendship grows, he begins to make a film for her to show her support during her struggles, only to learn it’s much harder than he could have imagined. We’ll be taking our tissue boxes to this one.

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

Tom Cruise. Explosions. Spy stuff. Dangling from the wings of jets. Need we say more? Spy movies are going to be big this summer (see Spy, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. , etc.), and we have high hopes for this latest film from the film franchise that’s been bringing the hits since 1996. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Go see this movie!

Mr. Holmes

We’ve got thrills … now let’s go for some mystery! We are SO excited for this film featuring Sir Ian McKellen as an aged Sherlock Holmes. With all the fun we’ve had with Robert Downey, Jr.’s recent films and the BBC series starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock Holmes is huge right now. But now we get to see a new side: the more vulnerable side. Join us on the edge of our seats as we watch our favorite detective try to solve his greatest mystery: the mystery of lost memory, as he struggles to remember details of a past case to rewrite the history his partner Watson put in print.

Ricki and the Flash

We will watch Meryl Streep in literally anything. But there’s something about seeing her play and aged rock star that makes us REALLY want to see this movie! Streep’s character, Ricki, abandoned her family to pursue her dream of fame, and now has the chance to go back to try to salvage the pieces of her broken family. The release of the film has been delayed quite a few times … but we’re hoping it will be well worth the wait!

Z for Zachariah

If you’re one of the three possible last people on Earth after a global catastrophe, we wouldn’t be opposed to two of them being Chris Pine and Chiwetel Ejiofor … unless, of course, they’re possibly trying to kill each other. We’re looking forward to this intense thriller featuring Margot Robbie as a woman torn between Ejiofor as the first person she’s seen in a long time and Pine as a mysterious stranger who comes between their already precarious relationship.

Inside Out

We’ve heard nothing but rave reviews for this latest film from Pixar. What makes it unique, beyond its premise, is the fact that it’s the first film out of Disney’s Pixar—and possibly the animated Disney universe—to NOT feature a villain. It’s a careful look at how we all—through the lens of Riley, a precocious young girl—deal with emotions that sometimes feel beyond our control. This might be classified as a children’s film, but we’ve found we’re never disappointed by whatever Pixar puts out!

What films are you looking forward to seeing this summer?
 

The post Eight Must-See Summer Blockbusters! appeared first on Pine View Village Apartments Blog.

In 2014, Flagstaff was recognized by the Huffington Post as one of the seven best spots on earth for stargazing! We’re not one to argue with major news outlets … or what we can see with our own eyes. And trust us when we tell you, there is plenty of night sky for you to see each and every night in and around Flagstaff! Here’s a look at just a few spots around Flagstaff to spend an evening with the brightest stars this side of Hollywood!

Lowell Observatory

Putting aside the debate of whether or not Pluto is a planet (hint: it totally is), Lowell Observatory is just one of many Flagstaff claims to fame thanks to the discovery of our favorite “dwarf planet.” The observatory features awesome displays, informative videos, and a guided tour to the stars. Stop by after sunset for spectacular night views, not only through the observatory’s telescopes but also to the naked eye with captivating view over the city.

Buffalo Park

Buffalo Park is one of the most popular hiking spots on the Flagstaff Urban Trail System. Enjoy amazing views of the San Francisco Peaks, Mount Elden, and the Dry Lake Hills. But even better, stop by the open meadows at night for a view of the night sky you have to see to believe! Load up on blankets to keep warm while you lay out and enjoy one of the most perfect stargazing spots on Earth!

Heritage Square

Once a month during the summer the Coconino Astronomical Society sets up several scopes in the Square for public viewings of the cosmos! CAS also offers a cool “tour” of the moon, featuring the mountains, valleys, and craters of our favorite pie in the sky. Even if you miss one of these events, the Square is a great spot to hang out after hours to catch a glimpse of the Dark Sky evening display; even the lights of downtown Flag aren’t enough to overshadow the show!

Anderson Mesa

Anderson Mesa is just outside Flagstaff, in the Coconino National Forest. It’s home to the Naval Observatory’s Navy Precision Optical Interferometer (NPOI) and Lowell’s Anderson Mesa Station. This makes it a wonderful spot to see the stars, but you also have to be more cautious when stargazing here; parking too far up the hill may interfere with the observatory telescopes!

Sunset Crater National Monument

Sunset Crater is located just 12 miles north of Flagstaff. During the summer, the national monument often offers night sky programs with night sky rangers and telescope viewings. Visiting the monument is kind of like stepping onto another planet by itself … so it’s another great place to explore worlds beyond our own with a telescope, or even a red-light flashlight. (Hint: you can make a red-light flashlight by covering a regular flashlight with cellophane—and you’ll be amazed at how many stars you’ll see!)

Don’t miss all the wonders of the Flagstaff night sky … available just outside your door!

The post Starry, Starry Night: The Best Stargazing Spots in Flagstaff appeared first on Pine View Village Apartments Blog.

Today is a special Friday in Flagstaff … It’s First Friday! That means it’s time for the return of one of Flagstaff’s most popular monthly events: First Friday ArtWalk. The ArtWalk is Flagstaff’s monthly street party, with tons of events and opportunities to tantalize all your senses. Here are just a few ways to take advantage of all ArtWalk has to offer:
1. The Sights: Get ready to feast your eyes on a ridiculous amount of local artistic talent. You’ll enjoy galleries and storefronts bursting at the seams with paintings, sketches, textiles, and more. While ArtWalk has plenty of scheduled exhibits at spots like Beaver Street Gallery and The Artists’ Gallery, you can also enjoy artists and dancers who have taken to the streets to catch your eye!
2. The Sounds: Swing by the Orpheum and Flagstaff Bike Revolution for live music. But don’t limit yourself to the indoors. A walk past Heritage Square or down any downtown side street is sure to surprise you with the unique musical talents of drummers, guitarists, and many other musicians.
3. The Feels: You may be able to touch some of the art … or some of the art may touch you. We promise you’ll be inspired by the creativity and unique perspectives the artists on display have to offer. And who knows? The art and artistry on exhibit might just get your own creative juices flowing!
4. The Tastes: Yep, ArtWalk wouldn’t be ArtWalk without a ridiculous amount of free food! Almost all the exhibits have tasty treats for you to enjoy while you check out the art, but plenty of stops along the way will also feature enough food to put together an amazing meal. (And if you’re really clever, we kid you not, you can walk away with meals for a week!) Stop by Criollo for street tacos, Monsoon’s for the sushi bar, or Arizona Handmade/Fire on the Mountain Gallery for some “far out food”!
5. The Mysteries: We have yet to enjoy an ArtWalk where there wasn’t at least one thing that caught us by surprise. Whether it’s flame dancers in an alley, an impromptu dance party in Heritage Square, and artist who blows your mind, or just running into old or new friends, we promise ArtWalk will show you a side of Flagstaff you’ve never seen!

ArtWalk runs from 6pm to 9pm, with many downtown locations staying open even after 9 to keep the celebration going as long as possible. Don’t miss out! Let ArtWalk steal your senses for a few hours!

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