Community Blog

I have to start this post by telling you that I, as an adult, have only ever had 2 pets: my beta fish Merlot (he passed back in 2008) and my sweet/crazy kitten Cricket. However, I have done some puppy sitting in my time and also grew-up with a bird in the house. So I feel I can speak with some understanding on pet care for all of these creatures.

That all said, if you are thinking about becoming a proud pet parent, then there are a few things you need to take into consideration first:

Life Style – if you travel constantly, spend little time at home and have virtually no spare time a dog is probably not going to be a good choice for you. I would lean towards a fish (or a stuffed animal… just saying).

If you are busy and want to maintain some modicum of freedom but really want a furry companion, a cat may be more your speed. They are quite self-sufficient and can be very loving, but don’t take the same amount of work that a dog does. Birds are also good pets for someone who wants an animal who only need a moderate amount of care. However, be warned, birds can be very messy.

If you have free time, a short commute, and are looking for serious companionship then a dog is right up your alley. Just remember they need a lot of time and love to be happy. If you’re getting a puppy you really need to be able to come home at lunch to take them out for a walk.

Family Situation – if you have very young children it may not be a good time to introduce a dog or cat. Both animals tend to bite as babies and little hands won’t hold up so well to their pointy teeth. It is usually suggested to wait until kids are closer to 7 before bring a young animal into the home.

Allergies – make sure you (and anyone else in the apartment) aren’t allergic to the pet before you adopt one and fall in love. Cat, dog and bird allergies are not uncommon!

Space – while I know we have lovely and spacious apartments here at the Dakota, space is still a factor that needs to come into play when choosing a pet. Some dogs really just aren’t suited to apartment life. Larger dogs just need more room and outdoor time then apartment life can afford them. However, there are plenty of pups perfectly suited to apartment life!

What kind of pet are you thinking about getting? Or are you already a proud pet owner?

Is there a better way to end your week then with live music? I think not! There is a free concert at Centennial Plaza this Friday, July 30th.Why not stop by on your way home from work?

The free concert feature live music with local performers.

Grab a few friends and head downtown for the free show from 7:00 to 9:00pm. There are plenty of great restaurants near by that would be perfect to walk to for dinner. Plus, there is lots of parking in the area.

Centennial Plaza is less than 4 miles from us here at the Dakota. With the concert so close, why not enjoy some live music this Friday?

I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of clothes. They seem to keep accumulating in my closet, along with shoes. If I’m not careful they may simply take over my closet completely!

A few weeks ago I went on a major closet cleaning spree to regain some sense of order in my chaotic closet. I must say, having it clean and organized make a world of difference. I’m pretty sure I now have twice as much space in there now! Here are a few products I would suggest to get your apartment’s closet under control:

Over the door shoe hangers are a major space saver! They use space that would otherwise go unused and get all the shoes off your floor! Having a clean floor makes your closet more organized and makes it look bigger.

Move your out-of-season clothes to under bed storage. This opens up your closet and gives you more space for your current season clothes. I found a great storage bin at the Target off North Midland which fit under my bed perfectly.

A double hamper is a great way pre-sort your laundry and get it off the floor of your closet. It made a world of difference for me to get all the dirty clothes off the floor.

Is your closet here at the Dakota Apartments organized? What is your most useful closet organization tip?

The Summer Mummers are back! This is their 62nd season here in Midland. They are performing Serenaded Sweetly in a Sandstorm. The melodrama is followed by a series of specialty acts. They always put on a very funny show. This year’s production has definitely fulfilled that legacy. However, it is not recommended for children under the age of 16.

Shows are every Friday and Saturday evening, starting at 8:00pm. You want to get there a little early to get a good seat. The show is at the Midland Community Theatre on West Wadley.

Jeans, a t-shirt and closed toed shoes are advised for the show. High heel and flip-flops are strongly discouraged. Jewelry of any kind is also discouraged at performances as you would hate to lose it in the popcorn drifts.

It’s is definitely a wonderful way to spend an evening. Have you been to the 2010 Summer Mummers’ production?

I’m not always a big fan of hitting the Dakota fitness center and spending time on the treadmill. It gets boring and repetitive pretty quickly. So finding other ways for me to get a workout in is always good. It’s even better if I can get in a workout without it feeling like I’m working out!

With summer here there are more opportunities to get outside and exercise. So long as you don’t mind getting sweaty that is! With highs like we’ve been seeing here in Midland it’s best to either work out early in the morning, on in the evening when the temperature is lower.

Go for a hike or bike ride. It will use a variety of muscles and you get to enjoy the great outdoors while you exercise. If you have a dog, leash them up and take a long walk. It will help both of you get the exercise you need. Go for a swim. Doing laps is a really good way to burn calories and work out your whole body.

My favorite is morning hikes. It is a really good workout and very fun. Plus it’s fun for the whole family. MSN Health has a great article about breaking out of your workout rut. What is your favorite way to exercise?

“Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.”

~Sam Keen

Summer is one of my favorite seasons. It’s a time to relax and enjoy the hum of the insects at night and sip on sweet tea. However, the busy lives we all lead don’t lend themselves to the slow nature of summer days. So why not let the heat remind you to slow down and enjoy this season!

Instead of hurrying along life’s path, slow down and savor it. Here are five great ways to be lazy this summer:

1. Make sweet tea. There is simply something relaxing about a glass of sweet tea on a hot day.
2. Sit on your porch and watch the sun set, extra points if you have a glass of tea in your hand!
3. Go for an evening stroll. Enjoy the cooler summer evening by taking a walk with a friend.
4. Enjoy a picnic under a tree. Is there anything more quintessentially summer then a picnic? Pack up a meal, don’t forget the utensils, and enjoy some time in the great outdoors.
5. Unplug on the weekend, put away your mobile device, computer and tv and just enjoy a quiet weekend, technology free.

Yahoo Shine has a great article about ways to slow down this summer. How do you like to enjoy the Texas summer? Tell us your favorite way to slow things down in the comments.

With the Midland weather being as hot and rainy as it’s been now would be a great time to stay in your apartment and enjoy watching a movie on the couch. I know I will be spending all of Monday crashed out on my couch! Add a little pop corn and some 4th of July leftovers and it’s a great way to spend an afternoon.

Here are some fun and patriotic movies to watch:

• The Stars and Stripes Forever
• All the President’s Men
• Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
• The Patriot
• Born on the Fourth of July

Do you have a favorite holiday movie?

How do you like to celebrate the Fourth of July? Well, if you’re anything like me then you have a weekend chock full of family, friends, grilling, baseball and fireworks ahead of you! The long weekend is just days away, so the time to plan is now!

There will be two nights of fireworks following the baseball games at the Citibank Ballpark this weekend. Fireworks will follow the Midland RockHounds game against the Travelers on Saturday, July 3rd, and the Cardinals on Sunday, July 4th.Tickes for the games are just $7 a piece.

So if you want to enjoy some baseball and fireworks then you definitely need to head over there this weekend! I know I’m going to the Saturday game, tailgating before hand with some friends. Then I’ll be grilling and enjoying the Dakota pool on Sunday!

What are you planning to do over the holiday weekend?

Eclipse, the third installment of the Twilight series comes out June 30! For all the fans out there, this is a must see. Even if you weren’t in love with the second movie, I know I wasn’t, I still feel like I have to see this one. Opening night may already be sold out at most theaters. Here are some of the theatres showing Eclipse in Midland:

Hollywood Tall City 14 still has ticket available to all showings of Eclipse.

Big Sky Theatre drive in will also be showing Eclipse. Drive-in movies are always a fun way to watch a movie!

Are you a Twilight fan? Will you go see Eclipse in theaters or will you wait for it to come out on DVD?

Cigar Frog’s, in downtown Midland, is hosting a classic movie series this summer. This Sunday, June 27th, they will be screening “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Movies start at 4:00 pm.

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” is a wonderful film, widely considered one of Audrey Hepburn’s most memorable films. The acting is superb, the fashion is iconic, and the music is memorable. All in all this is a wonderful classic film and well worth watching.

With a high of 97 on Sunday, watching a movie in the ac sound like a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon to me.

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