Blog Posts

Outdoor Solitary Pursuits

We get it, the whole social distancing thing is wearing thin, and we are offering some ideas for getting out and enjoying the outdoors, even if you’re doing it on your own. Today the Canyon Park Blog has some ideas about solitary pursuits to give a try. Hiking Go for a hike near your apartment this month or drive out to a more remote area to hike. Before you go, review these helpful hiking tips. Be sure to let someone know where you’re going and about how long you plan to be. Wear plenty of sunscreen, bring sunglasses, and wear a hat. Wear shoes and clothing that are appropriate and comfortable. Stay hydrated. Whenever you feel thirsty, drink. Bring a water bottle and refill when you can. Take frequent breaks to drink. This will help prevent dehydration and keep you healthy and happy during your hike. Pokemon Go Right, we know it had a brief moment in the sun, when everyone was playing, you too, probably. Sign back into (or sign up for) the Pokemon Go app and take some time to “catch ‘em all” who knows, you may make it to level 40 soon — and you’ll get some exercise too. Just be mindful to keep your distance from others as you play. Bird Watching Take some time out to see the birds that live round about. Discover Wildlife offers this intro of how to get into birding , and here’s a list of the basic equipment you’ll need. Binoculars A field guide to identify the birds you see Hat, water, sunscreen Good shoes or boots Dayback Notebook and pen (or go the electronic route and use one of these birding apps ). We hope you are able to get outdoors and enjoy some solitary time. Let us know how it goes. Thanks for being a part of our Puyallup, WA apartment community.

Keeping a Journal During Turbulent Times

Writing does your mind and soul good, so start a journal this month, whether you’re wanting to capture what’s happening in the turbulent world today or you simply want to refresh your critical thinking and creativity skills for work or everyday life. We suggest journaling! There are plenty of benefits to keeping a journal. It can help you manage stress, it can improve your self-confidence, and it can even help you heal, emotionally, from life’s struggles. Writing every day can help you keep track of and eventually reach your goals, and, of course, it’s a great way to remember your life. Learn more about 10 surprising benefits of journaling at the Huffington Post. It’s important to know what kind of journal you would like to keep. Will your journal be focused on making and celebrating your goals? Will it be a one-line-a-day journal or an online journal? Will you use a pen and paper or a journaling app or other online resource? When deciding the answers to these questions, the most important thing to keep in mind is this: do what makes you comfortable. You don’t have to follow any rules or commit yourself to write at a certain time every day (unless that’s what you want to do, of course!). You don’t even have to write every day. You can write every week, every month, or even once a year. Just decide what works for you and what you actually enjoy so you will do it and love it. Journaling is very personal, and you shouldn’t feel constrained to writing about what you did or ate every day. Instead, write whatever you want. You can even find online journal prompts to help you get your creative juices flowing. Just remember to keep writing. If you need ideas, try to find something meaningful in each day. While it may seem boring to write about your everyday life, one day you’ll appreciate the record you have of your life and all of the memories behind it. We hope this post has inspired you to start journaling if you don’t journal already. Remember to visit your local bookstore here in Puyallup, WA (online if possible) to pick up your next journal. Whatever kind of journal you decide to keep — a dream journal, a daily journal, or a five-year journal — we hope that you keep writing! Do you keep a journal? What are your tips for keeping a journal? Leave your advice with the rest of the Canyon Park community in the comments. Thanks for reading!

May the Fourth Be With You: Celebrating Star Wars Day

The first Star Wars movie was released May 25, 1978. Fast forward 42 years, and this month we will be celebrating what has been deemed Luke Skywalker Day , on May 4th, which of course gives rise to the legendary statement, May the Fourth be with you. (May the Force be with you.) The punny term originated in a half-page advertisement a British paper published in 1979, offering congratulations to newly elected Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, for becoming the first woman to win that office. The text of the ad read, “May The Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations.” The fourth of course being the pertinent date of the victory. Star Wars fans started saying it, and it caught on. With the advent of internet usage, the movement grew, until Luke Skywalker Day (or Star Wars Day) came to be. The first-known, large-scale organized event celebrating the new holiday took place in 2011, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Organized by the Toronto Underground Cinema, the festivities that day included a Star Wars Trilogy Trivia Game, a costume contest with celebrity judges, and a showing of mash-ups, parodies, and remixes from the web on the big screen. Theaters were not the only ones to jump on the bandwagon. The purchase of Lucasfilm by Disney in 2012 led to Star Wars Day being celebrated with events and festivities at both Disneyland and Disneyworld. And the event continues to grow. In a fitting tribute, in 2015, astronauts in the International Space Station got into the celebration by watching Star Wars in space. Celebrating on May the fourth has become a tradition for many Star Wars Fans. We encourage residents of the Canyon Parks to enjoy a Star Wars movie marathon to celebrate. You may also want to note May 5th on your calendar too, because it is of course, Revenge of the Fifth day! (Don’t miss it.) Please feel free to share any epic tales you may have of your Star Wars Day celebration in the comments, and thanks for reading the Canyon Park Blog.

Apps to Get You on the Road and To Your Destination

At Canyon Park apartments, parking is not an issue. We have assigned covered parking available for our residents — just one of the amenities we provide. We know taking care of your car and navigating Puyallup, Washington is a priority, and today we have rounded up some apps to share that will help you do just that. GasBuddy Taking the guesswork out of where to find the best price for gas is what this app delivers. Gasbuddy posts local gas prices so you can see at a glance the best place to fill up. It shows what grades are available including diesel. Available for iOS and Android. Plugshare If you’re the owner of a plug-in hybrid or full-on EV, you know the importance of being aware of where charging stations are located. The Plugshare app gives you up-to-date info on where you can find a charge station when you are out and about. It indicates home, public, and in use to save you time and frustration. The app also offers driving directions, contact information, and direct messaging with charger owners. Available for iOS and Android Waze Check out this community-driven navigation map that is more than just navigation. Members provide real-time updates to the maps to indicate traffic jams, road construction, and even gas prices, and it’s not just for major freeways, highways, and arterial streets; even side streets can be included. In the case of heavy traffic and long delays, Waze will reroute you in the most efficient manner. Available for iOS and Android. And there you have it, apps to help you on your way. Safe driving everyone!

Let’s Go Fly a Kite

We’re full-swing into spring and the outdoors is beckoning. A great way to take advantage of the better weather is to head out to your favorite open park in Puyallup, WA and fly a kite. Kite flying has a long and colorful history, which you can read about in detail in the article, but in a nutshell, it’s been around for thousands of years — yet it’s still a good way to spend a windy afternoon. Of course you may want to just purchase a kite for your adventure, but just in case you want to delve deeper, here are some ideas for making your own kite. The World’s Best Handmade Kite This kite claims to be the world’s best when it comes to the category of homemade kites. Follow the instructions that come from Handmade Charlotte to make your very own version of the world’s best handmade kite. You will need the following supplies: wax paper, bamboo sticks, tissue paper, copy paper, crepe paper or paper streamers, 20m twine, a small keyring, scissors, measuring tape, a pencil, PVA glue, a glue stick, a q-tip, a bottle cap, a toothpick, and a roll of tape. Two Step Homemade Kite This fairly straight-forward tutorial from Good Housekeeping provides directions to make a simple diamond-shaped kite. To create it, you will need clear contact paper, a ball of string, straws, tissue paper, scissors and ribbon. How to Build and Fly a Box Kite Box kites are a bit more complex to make but they fly higher than other kites and look awesome! Follow the step-by-step instructions from Boys’ Life Magazine to make this kite. You will need a pocket knife, pencil, scissors, fine-toothed saw, wooden dowels, straws, household string, carpenter’s glue, duct or masking tape, lightweight construction paper, and kite string. We hope you enjoy getting out this month and flying a kite. Thank you for being a member of our Canyon Park apartment community.

April Holidays to Celebrate

April has all kinds of great holidays to celebrate. In today’s Canyon Park Blog, we’ll be sharing a list of some of these holidays that we think you’ll enjoy celebrating. Be sure to check out websites for available visitation hours for suggested activities. Have a great month here in Puyallup, WA! Caramel Popcorn Day (April 7) Obviously, the best way to celebrate this holiday is to make some caramel popcorn. Make this tasty recipe from Dinner then Dessert. You’ll need plain popped popcorn, brown sugar, light corn syrup, salt, unsalted butter, baking soda, and vanilla extract to make it. After you whip this up, turn on your favorite movie and enjoy! World Health Day (April 7) Make your life a little bit healthier by following one or more of these tips: don't skip meals, choose to eat protein for breakfast, smile more, get outside, make time to get the sleep you need, drink more water, and choose healthier meal options. See what a difference these small steps can make in your life! Zoo Lover’s Day (April 8) Be sure to visit the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium for Zoo Lover’s Day. It’s only about a 25-minute drive from our apartment community. World Art Day (April 15) Visit a local art gallery or art museum this month, virtually or in person, to celebrate World Art Day. Check out Yelp’s Best 10 Art Galleries in Puyallup, WA suggestions. Take some time this month to get creative as well. Buy a canvas and make some art to hang on your wall at your apartment. Earth Day (April 22) Celebrate Earth Day by taking care of our environment. Here’s a list of suggestions on how you can celebrate: ride your bike to work, go paperless, update your lightbulbs to eco-friendly options, get outside, donate old clothes or items rather than throwing them away, and start recycling if you don't already. National Pretzel Day (April 26) Another tasty holiday that we want to celebrate is National Pretzel Day. Check out Yelp’s list of the Best pretzels in Puyallup, WA for the perfect pretzel here in LaGrange Park, IL. You could also make your own pretzel at home. Try out these German Soft Pretzel Sticks from Gather for Bread. Who said April doesn’t have anything to celebrate? Now you too can prove them wrong. Happy April.