Resource Guide for Renters in the New Orleans Area by 1st Lake Properties

New Year’s Resolutions: How to keep them alive!

A lot of people made New Year’s resolutions this year. It’s become a tradition in an attempt to better ourselves and set goals in the new year. While the most popular resolutions are to drink less alcohol, eat healthier, get a better job, lose weight, manage debt, deal with stress, quit smoking or drinking, or take a trip, there are a myriad of others that people choose to make.

With January nearly over, it may be time to take inventory of how many resolutions have already fallen by the wayside or where you stand on continuing them in the new year. If you find yourself throwing most of them aside, it might be helpful to decide which are most important to you and focus on those. It can be hard trying to improve multiple aspects of your life suddenly, and at once!

While New Year’s Resolutions generally begin with the best of intent, continuing them into the new year can be easier said than done.

• 40 to 45% of American adults make one or more resolution each year.
• 75% of resolution makers will continue them past the first week of the new year.
• 71% will continue working on their resolutions past week two.
• After that, there is a considerable drop-off, as only 64% of those who made resolutions continue to work on them past one month and
• Only 46% will continue past month six.

While it may be hard to maintain focus, and many resolutions may get axed as time passes, research shows that making resolutions is still useful. People who explicitly make resolutions are ten times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions!

When determining which resolutions you really want to stick to, it helps to follow 4 basic rules that will help you lay out the path to exactly how you want to attain your goals and hold you accountable at the same time:

1. Make realistic goals
2. Develop a specific plan of action
3. Establish confidence, despite any slip-ups
4. Publicly declare your resolution.

So, if you find yourself falling off the wagon, stay strong! It’s not uncommon to hit bumps in the road on the path to fulfilling your resolutions! Stay focused and good luck bettering yourself in the new year!

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The Advantages of Using a Baby Bath Tub

For first-time parents in New Orleans, there are many challenges to look forward to; one of those challenges is how to safely bathe your baby when it’s cleaning time. While some parents will be tempted to use the sink for their new baby, for fear of a bath tub accident, using the sink carries risks as well. Using the sink can also be less hygienic, so it’s important to weigh your options when it comes to caring for your newborn. The safest and best alternative is using a baby bath tub.

One thing that should make the task a little easier is that babies who are only a few weeks old don’t tend to get very dirty. Besides the potty accidents, food mishaps, and a little baby drool, they stay fairly clean and don’t require much more than a good wash with a little warm water. While there are ways to bathe your baby safely in the shower or sink, a baby bath tub is fairly inexpensive and will give you peace of mind.

There are many types available for sale, with some only costing around $20. You can even find cheaper versions by searching online retailers like Amazon or Ebay who sell unused baby bath tubs that may be surplus stock. Several of these baby bath tubs are made to fit inside your kitchen sink. Others allow you to securely fit them into full-sized adult bath tubs. One of the great benefits of using a baby bath tub is that they prevent slippage from your baby, and come with a contoured head rest that allows your child’s head to remain above water level. Most of these baby bath tubs also contain a newborn sling and a drain plug.

Each different baby bath tub will have different features, but some include a digital thermometer that helps you set the water to an appropriate temperature, and sidewall drains that will expel dirty water throughout the bath. While these features are a bit pricier, the difference is fairly negligible, and you can compare prices in stores and online to get a good deal.

The first few weeks after giving birth could be very tiring, so it’s important to prepare in advance and buy a baby bath tub along with the necessary accessories that are required to bathe your newborn. A baby bath tub will help you avoid the hassle of bending or squatting. It’s also extremely helpful for mothers who have had a Cesarean section, and will also prevent you from wasting water.

There are plenty of bath tubs that are available in the market, but you should consider buying one that’s ideal for your baby. Tubs made out of BPA-free materials are a good choice. Also look for slip-resistant tubs and those equipped with a digital thermometer. Once your baby crosses 6 months of age, it may be necessary to switch to a larger type of bath tub. Most importantly, make sure you read product reviews online when looking for good variations of baby bath tubs. The most expensive tub may not always be the best one, so do your research well before you make a purchase!

In the end, keeping your baby safe and hygienic is key. Once your weigh your options and decide which type of baby bath tub is right for you, the peace of mind it offers will be well worth the little bit of extra money!

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Getting Over the Flu

Flu season in New Orleans  is in full effect at the moment, and many people are falling prey to it. As a precaution, it’s always a good idea to get a flu shot when flu season begins. However, you can still catch the flu after getting the shot (although your chances become much slimmer and the illness is generally reduced) and some people may forego getting vaccinated. The trick to navigating your way through the flu if unfortunate enough to catch it is minimizing your symptoms and making sure it passes as quickly as possible.

Again, the best way to avoid catching the flu in the first place is to get vaccinated early! Flu shots are fairly cheap and can be given in most drug stores. This will drastically reduce your chances of catching the flu and can help to guard against the more nasty strains of the virus that can change from year to year. Put it on your to-do list once flu season is in effect to help avoid a bout with the flu that can leave you feeling miserable!

If you have recently contracted the flu, a few rules of thumb that are old stand-bys can go a long way in making sure that you get over it quickly:

1. Get plenty of bed rest and hydrate! It’s important to catch up on as much sleep as you can, as your body will feel exhausted. Any strenuous physical activity could prolong your illness or make it worse. Hydration is important because your body can lose a lot of fluids when you’re sick, and dehydration is always a concern. Stay away from sodas and stick with juices, water, and sports drinks to replenish what your body may lose.
2. When ill with the flu, stay home and away from others! While taking sick time from work may be a bit of a hassle and a stress in its own right, it’s important that you remain removed from others as much as possible when you have the flu. You could run the risk of spreading the virus to others, who could also further contaminate other co-workers. Also, you need to make sure your already weakened immune system doesn’t come in contact with any other illnesses that may be present in the workplace. Stay home, and stay in bed or on the couch as much as possible!
3. It’s also important to remember that while you’re immune system is under attack, stay away from alcohol and smoking! These activities can make your illness worse or prolong its symptoms.
4. When you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth with a tissue or the inside of your elbow rather than your hand. This helps to make sure you don’t contaminate surfaces around you. Also, try to wash your hands frequently. Especially if you are sharing space with others, ensuring that your hands do not spread contagion is important. Ideally, you’d like to get over the flu quickly and not spread it to friends or loved ones!

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Choosing the Best Transportation for Your Pet

One of the big stresses of moving to New Orleans, and a priority of moving anywhere,  is finding the right way to move your pet. There are many different options and ways you can go about helping your pet make the transition to your new place, depending on the type of animal you have. One of the best ways to ensure a safe and easy move for your pet is to hire a pet transport service. While this may not be ideal if you’re moving on a shoe-string budget, the little bit of extra money can go a long way in offering you peace of mind. However, there are a few things you should look for and ask about when choosing the right transport for your pet.

Look for a service that offers frequent stops for your pet

If the transport service’s trip is scheduled to take more than one day, make sure that hotel rest stops are part of their agenda. While some pet transport services may choose to save money by simply pulling the vehicle over at night and having the driver and pet sleep in the vehicle, this is not ideal. A hotel rest stop ensures that the driver is well rested and will be operating the vehicle safely, after a good night’s sleep! It should also be a priority for any hotel rest stops to include hotels that are pet friendly so that your pet isn’t left in a vehicle over night. This way, your pet will be able to stretch and sleep comfortably, and won’t be left out in the heat or cold of a vehicle!

 Find a pet transport service that will be transporting ONLY your pets.

Many quality transport services can offer you the option of transporting your pets exclusively in their vehicle. Whether you have multiple pets or only one pet, this should be an option that is available to you when asking around. Making sure that your pet isn’t transported with other animals can help to decrease the stress levels of your pet during an experience that can already be a little frightening for them. Also, while a quality transport service will require proof of vaccination, making sure that your pet is the only one being transported ensures that your furry friend won’t be exposed to other animals who could carry disease. You can also rest easy knowing that your pet won’t be exposed to any other potentially aggressive animals. Even if another animal hasn’t shown signs of aggression, moving can be a trying experience for pets and can change their behavior. Don’t risk exposing your dog or cat to any other stresses or dangers! Make sure that they can be transported by themselves!

Ask about how frequently the pet transport service you choose will be taking scheduled breaks throughout the move.

Both dogs and cats need time to stretch and use the bathroom, with dogs needing the added attention of a walk. Find out what the pet transport service’s plan is for this and how often you can expect them to stop to let your pet stretch and use the bathroom. If you have an animal with special needs, it’s imperative that you let them know what these needs are to ensure they can be accommodated.

Make the move a safe and happy one for you and your pet! Do a little homework beforehand, and you’ll find the experience can be much easier for both of you.

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Jefferson Beautification/Parkway Promenade Celebrates 20 years and honors 1st Lake Properties

Jefferson Beautification Inc. celebrated its 20^th anniversary of Parkway Promenade early this fall and honored 1st Lake Properties for 20 years of service and sponsorship.

Jefferson Beautification, Inc. (JBI) is a non-profit organization formed in 1990 to provide funding for, and promote through education and public awareness, beautification projects on public green spaces in Jefferson Parish. JBI has completed community beautification projects totaling over $1,600,000. These projects are completed in cooperation with government entities, businesses, individuals, civic groups, garden clubs, schools and other non-profit organizations. There have been over 2000 volunteers involved in these projects.

1^st Lake Properties Inc. has been a steady contributor to JBI projects especially in areas such as Kenner, Metairie, and River Ridge as these areas are also home to majority of the total 65 apartment locations they offer. 1st Lake Properties plans to continue to help make “Jefferson Parish more beautiful.”

For more information about this organization and projects, visit www.JeffersonBeautification.org.

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