Healthy Alternatives For Holiday Food and Drinks

Sliced, brined pork roast and veggies on a cutting board

The holiday season brings us all together for festivities and celebrations all over the world. Whether it be with family, friends, or even co-workers one thing that usually unites us all for the season are the food and drinks. Consequently, weight gain comes with this season because 9 times out of 10, we know more than one person throwing a feast and we’re determined to make stops where we know the food will be immaculate; sometimes even the drinks! Today we’re going to provide some tips on healthier options for your food and drink this holiday season. 

 

Fewer Calories

Counting calories may be the least of your worries now, but in a few months when warm weather begins to return it will be all the rage. To avoid reluctance (body-wise) it’s better to make smarter choices before that time comes. We may not have the perfect bodies but at least it won’t be our worst!

A diet that incorporates low-calorie foods leads to a longer life and great anti-aging properties. 

 

It’s wintertime so hot foods like soups are very on-brand for the season. Creamy soups and chowders tend to be higher in calories so opt for broth or stock-based soups to minimize your caloric intake.  

Lean meats like chicken or turkey can be great to have as a part of your holiday feasts as well. Of course, be mindful of how you dress your meats because that can raise the calorie amount which would take your meal to the unhealthy side of things. Utilizing herbs and spices instead of salt and store-bought marinades is a way to stay in the low cal range as well. 

 

Drinks 

Unfortunately, most alcohols are extremely high in calories so it will be a little bit more of a challenge finding healthier adult beverages. However, there are a collection of wines that are particularly lower in calories than others. See! You can still be merry with an adult beverage and not have to worry about it along with your food all going to your gut. 

 

No matter what you choose to indulge in this holiday season, making healthier choices with your food and drink can be the best gift to yourself as you entertain in your Aperto apartment. Happy Holidays! 

Aperto Holiday Decor Storage Ideas

Hot Cocoa atop a Xmas book

The holidays come with a lot. Family, friends, gifts, bags, wrapping paper… DECORATIONS! All these things are a part of the holidays but what do you do with them in the meantime. Many of us must purchase new decorations almost every year because of incorrect storage. Today we are going to share some holiday décor storage ideas for you to utilize during the holiday off-season.  

Storage

When it’s time to put everything away after a holiday what do you typically do? Take the time to really think about it. Are you storing with the intent of reusing them? Or just hurriedly putting them away due to the cluster of the mess they left during takedown? Well, 9 times out of 10 it’s the latter, and also why whenever holidays that festive decorative items are usually a part of arrive, we rush to the nearest store for a cute little something for the season. 

For ornaments and small trinkets, utilizing storage bins or carts with individual compartments is good for keeping everything in its rightful place. You don’t want to lose or break that favorite ornament to hang on the tree in Winter or damage the cornucopia for when it’s time for Fall decorations.

For tablecloths or decorative materials that are smoothly foldable, a small to medium wicker basket will do the trick. Putting your items away as neatly as possible preserves your decorations for next year, thus saving you money and time when it’s good to use them again. 

 

Categorize & Labeling

Knowing where things are is another useful tool in preserving decorations. If you’re stringing lights you’re going to want to store them in a cool place first and foremost. But to ensure they are not broken labeling their storage container as FRAGILE or GLASS will be constructive toward your preservation goals. 

Also for wires and cables, keeping them as separate as possible will lessen the chance of you spending a seemingly endless amount of time untangling them. Also, labeling will help with knowing which cord goes where and for what part of the house.

 

Organization eases the frustration of any activity. Stay organized year-round in your Aperto home with these tips, Enjoy!

Aperto Wishes You A Safe Holiday

Holiday relics set against a wooden background

The holiday season has come roaring in and normally, we’d be excited to get together with loved ones. Fellowship and good food are always one of the best parts however due to the ongoing pandemic there are a lot of changes to the year-end festivities. However, all hope is not lost. There are a couple of ways to still celebrate with your loved ones and enjoy your holiday in your APERTO home. 

 

Gatherings

The holidays usually call for the coming together of friends and family, reflecting and fellowshipping over some delicious food or strong drink.  Doing this in person, although ideal, may not be safe so an alternative would be, you guessed it, VIRTUAL GATHERINGS. 

It may not sound as appealing but think about it. There are some upsides to virtual get together versus in-person ones. Most of us have certain family members that bring awkward conversation or who like to poke and prod in our lives. A virtual gathering limits the ability for those unwanted conversations yet still allows you to spend the necessary time with loved ones. 

The Meal 

Preparing your Thanksgiving meal for your pandemic-controlled event can go one of two ways. You can choose to slave in the kitchen like a normal holiday or you can purchase your food items premade. Premade food saves you time and is ultimately a safer option than having people over who bring their own dish. The less physical contact each one of us has with such sensitive items the better. Places like Popeyes offers delicious premade Turkeys and sides. Get your whole Thanksgiving meal and not even break a sweat. 

Black Friday

Finally, we cannot talk about the holidays and fail to mention that it also doubles as the biggest shopping season of the year. The following day after Thanksgiving, millions of people rush to the stores to snatch those deals for their holiday shopping lists. Due to the pandemic and mass mall closures, the best way to shop for the ones you love is online. There are so many virtual Black Friday sales going on currently and are soon to come as the holiday approaches, your charge cards are going to blaze!

 

This holiday season is safe and remembers to show gratitude for all things. Happy Holidays from, Aperto Property Management! 

Aperto & The Attitude of Gratitude

Grateful spelled out on a wooden plaque.

Be grateful. Those two words carry a lot of meaning and essentially are words to live by. Each day we open our eyes and breathe in the fresh air is a reason to be grateful. The Earth and sky, the land and the sea, flowers, and trees..even you and me are all things to be grateful for. A moment of gratefulness is important. However, we’re here to provide some tips on keeping the grateful vibes flowing all November. 

 

Say Thank You 

Words hold a substantial amount of power. Good words and bad words all have an effect and evoke feelings from whoever is receiving them. Simply saying thank you can easily brighten up someone’s day and put a smile on their face. In turn that can evoke feelings of gratefulness for you being grateful for that person or what they’ve done for you. 

 

Sometimes it does not necessarily have to be a physical or recent act. By picking up your phone and contacting someone you love, or even an old friend to thank them for a time they were a listening ear or shoulder to cry on shows how grateful you are. 

Empathy 

This year has been filled with so many different calamities and atrocities it almost feels like the world has lost its empathy. In times of crisis, many of us turn inward and center our concerns around our own personal needs. Showing empathy can combat those feelings and evoke a sense of love and gratitude for many different things, including life itself. 

 

You can show empathy in a few ways. One of the easiest ways to show your care and concern is turning your attention to those in need.  There are a number of local food pantries and thrift shops accepting donations for those suffering from financial hardship. We all deserve food, water, shelter, and warm clothes so find your local Donation Bins and Food Banks near Aperto. Someone will be extremely grateful for your gift. 

 

No matter your act of kindness, it will garner up the emotions perfect for this time of year. Don’t only be grateful but be kind and someone will surely be grateful for you.

Celebrating the holidays in Orange County.

Celebrating the holidays in Orange County.

Some of us may think it is a little difficult to get into the holiday spirit in South California due to our sunny weather. But after adding some holiday lights into our palm trees, and thanks to the snowy mountains in San Bernardino, we can easily get that festive feel and get ready to celebrate the holidays in Orange County too! Not to mention that as the weather gets colder, it makes the perfect condition for some ice skating and other fun winter activities in Orange County!

Here are some winter events and holiday activities near your apartments in Orange County:

  1. Winter Fest Orange County.

The ultimate winter festival in Southern California is back! You cannot miss out on this family-friendly holiday festival! Meet with characters, race down the ice tubing slide, and stroll through the illuminated pathways at dusk! Purchase your tickets here!

  1. A Southern California Christmas (Winter Festival).

If you enjoy music and Christmas caroling, then you must attend A Southern California Christmas! With over 150 local musicians, singers, and dancers, your day will be full of holiday joy. This will be this Saturday, at Musco Center for the Arts, not too far from our headquarters! Learn more here.

  1. Riverside Festival of Lights.

Visit this alluring winter wonderland at the Mission Inn Hotel and Spa in Riverside! With plenty to see from entertainment, an artisan collective market, and horse carriages, this bright spot should be on your list of to do’s and to visit this holidays in Orange County! View the festival hours and their calendar on this website.

There are so many options for holiday events in Orange County. How will you be celebrating the holidays in Southern California? Share with Aperto and contact us to learn more about our property rental management company and our career opportunities. Visit our website, or call us today!