Have you made your New Year's resolutions yet?

It’s getting to be that time of year again: The holidays are over, the calendar is preparing to roll over to a brand new year and everyone is looking for a fresh start. Even if 2012 was a great year, there is always room for improvement and the New Year, though really just another date, is the perfect day to start a change!

So, whether you’re looking to get more in shape, save money, eat healthy or start a new hobby with the New Year, you can never go wrong setting a resolution. Best of all, you can make your resolutions simple and easy to keep, meaning that they may stick around long after you’ve abandoned some of you other well-intended changes.

We all have our New Year’s Resolution every year. What's your number one resolution for 2013? Did your New Year resolutions make the top ten list from 2012?

*According to Squidoo.com “The Ten Top New Year’s Resolutions for 2012”

1.) Stop Smoking
2.) Get into a Habit of being Fit
3.) Lose Weight-Battle of the Bulge
4.) Enjoy Life More
5.) Quit Drinking
6.) Get Organized
7.) Learn Something New
8.) Get out of Debt
9.) Spend More Time With Family
10.) Volunteer and Help People

Make those Resolutions stick! Make this the year for success.
· No matter what you haven’t achieved in the past, that was then and this is now!
· Start by thinking about the future and then reflect back. Think about the end of 2013 and ask yourself, "If everything happens perfectly, what will it look like?" Nothing is perfect but even a small change for the better is always better than nothing.
· Write down your goal.
· Write down a list of all the little steps you have to take to reach your goal.
· Prioritize those steps.
· Do something every day to take yourself along the steps towards your goal.

Recycling At Eagle Ridge

Every year Americans throw away 2.7 million tons of aluminum waste, 13.2 million tons of glass waste, 16 million tons of plastic, 10 million tons of yard waste, 73.3 million tons of paper and paper board, 900 million tires and 3 million cars. Most of what we throw away is paper—580 pounds per person every year—more than any other country in the world. It takes three to six trees, each weighing close to 500 pounds, to make that much paper. 1 ton would fill up a living room from floor to ceiling.

Eagle Ridge Apartments recycles approximately 98,800 gallons of trash per year. That is 563.16 cu yards, and on average - depending on actual materials recycled - 20.23 tons of recycling waste. That is more than all the living rooms on your floor of the building. Way to go Eagle Ridge for making a difference!

Terry from our 9700 Building was inquiring about recycling efforts at Eagle Ridge, which got us digging for some numbers. Thanks for asking, Terry!

Fight Cabin Fever By Playing With Water

Water can be so much fun to play with, whether it's liquid or frozen! Here's two ideas for having fun during the winter. Have fun on frozen ice at the Ice Arena at the Maple Grove Community Center, or dive in the pool at the Grove Cove Aquatic Center. We've posted some information about both facilities below, and you can find the same information on the city website.

Ice Arena

Dead Ice
Dead ice is a block of time not reserved by anyone. Skaters may use the ice until the next reserved hour. Admission: $6.00. Dead ice is not available on weekends. For more information, call 763-494-5951.

Ice Rental Rates
Pick up an hour of ice time to skate with friends, family or coworkers by going to www.rinkfinder.com - email the operations supervisor or call 763-494-6465.

Prime Time Ice
Monday - Friday
2:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday
6:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Non Prime Time Ice
Monday - Friday
11:01 p.m. - 1:59 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday
11:01 p.m. - 5:59 a.m.

Skate Rentals $2.00/pair
Sizes youth 8 to adult 12
Skate Sharpening $3.00/pair

How do I get there?
Directions to the Maple Grove Community Center.

Grove Cove Aquatic Center

Missing Our Outdoor Heated Pool? Here is a fall/winter option for those of you who can’t wait til Spring!

Admission Resident; Non-Resident
Youth*, Adult, Senior $5.50; $6.50
Family $20.00; $23.00
10 Coupons/book $50.00; $50.00
*under one is free

Pool Schedule (.PDF)
Pool Rules (.PDF)

Pool Specials
Friday Family Fundays!
Every Friday from now - December 21, 2012 will be a Friday Family Funday! Admission is $4.50 per person or $17.00 per family. Family includes two adults and your children ages 17 and under. There may be drawings or give-aways for pool patrons throughout the day.

Float Times
During designated times, the lap pool will have fun flotation items available for you to play with! All persons using the lap pool during this time must be capable of swimming in deep water unassisted and may be tested by a lifeguard. Please DO NOT bring your own flotation! We will provide everything you need for a fabulous float time! The rope swing, aqua climb and volleyball net will not be available during float times.

Making Your Apartment More Heat Efficient

It’s that time of year again when the weather turns frigid. To ensure you stay warm this winter, we've created some helpful tips for you to follow!

1. Make sure you switch your lever on your heat control to on.

2. Make sure you open your heat vents.

3. Don’t forget to put your AC covers up.

4. Have both of your sliding doors closed.

5. Make sure to leave the patio screen door in the open position

If you still are having heating issues after taking these steps, call the office today and we’ll send in Gary or Bob to help you!

Introducing Our Crime Prevention Officer Liaison From The MGPD

Today we'd like to highlight Todd, our Maple Grove Crime Prevention Officer - he started working for the Maple Grove Police Department in 2007 as a Community Service Officer. In 2009 he was reassigned to Investigations and worked as an investigative aid for a little over a year and a half.

In late 2010 he was selected to become the new Crime Prevention Officer by our former Chief of Police. Ever since then he has been working on many community education and outreach programs such as neighborhood watch, Operation ID, National Night Out, car seat safety, child safety, burglary prevention, along with working with property managers and overseeing rental properties in the city. Todd is very instrumental in helping us react as quickly as possible should an issue arise. 

Todd and his wife, Danielle, recently welcomed their 1st baby, Kaylee Marie.

Crock Pot Hot Chocolate - Keeping Warm & Toasty & Tasty

Oh my, look at what happened over the weekend. We went from fall-like weather to full-on winter wonderland! It may be cold and wet, but it sure is pretty. Now we just need some hot chocolate, a cozy blanket and a good movie! Did you know that you can make hot chocolate in a crock-pot and keep it nice and warm all day? You can! Check out this recipe.

Crock-Pot Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:
2 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream
1 (14 oz.) Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 Cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
6 Cups Milk (use whole milk for extra thick hot chocolate)
2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract

Instructions:
1. In a large Crock-Pot combine all ingredients and stir.
2. Cover with lid and cook on low for 2 hours, whisking every now and then to combine the melted chocolate chips with the milk.
3. Ladle into mugs and serve with marshmallows or whipped cream or turn Crock-Pot to warm and stir every so often until you are ready to serve.

Early Bird Winner Announced

Congratulations to Heather and Laura, they won the Early Bird Drawing this for December! We do this drawing every month and you have a chance to be the winner if you pay your rent on or before the 1st of the month. Everyone who pays their rent on or before the 1st of the month gets their name put into the Early Bird Drawing. Out of that pool of entrants a random name is selected and the lucky winner gets $50 off of rent for the following month.

So when January’s rent comes around don't forget the Early Bird Drawing and get your rent payment in early. We all know what the Early Bird gets... that's right, a chance to get $50 off of rent the next month!

Cookies, Boots, And Snow... Life Is Good!

Zoey and her mom, Tiffiny, stopped at the Eagle Ridge Rental Office for a yummy cookie on their way to get some shopping done before the snow flies. Zoey is all ready to make snow angels with her shiny black boots!

Meet Megan, Your New Neighbor

We're pleased to introduce you to Megan, our newest resident and your new neighbor here at Eagle Ridge. This is Megan's first apartment and she selected Eagle Ridge after looking at six other apartments. She chose our community because it is very convenient to Costco, where she works, and it had a great value. Megan says she had an excellent move-in experience and can't think of anything we could have done better to make her transition easier. Please join us in welcoming Megan to Eagle Ridge.

Coty (right) giving Megan  the keys to her new home.

Holiday Traditions From The Eagle Ridge Staff

Tis’ the season for family, fun, and holiday traditions! Whether it’s singing carols, decorating your home, or even making cookies for hours, everyone has some great holiday traditions. Here are a few traditions from the staff here at Eagle Ridge. Stop in at the office and share yours with us!

Ginny
Baking lots of cookies and making lots of fudge

Coty
Getting new socks from Grandma for a present

Cindy
Family get-togethers with lots of food!

Chris
Family get-togethers

Sam
Finding the pickle in the tree at my Dad’s

Ashley
Driving around and looking at the holiday lights

Jesse
Baking cookies with my mom

Danni
Ping pong competition!

Tim
Lots of candy in my stocking

Bob
Giving food to needy people

David
Giving gifts

George
New year celebrations

Candies And Cookies And Pies, Oh My!

Candies and cookies and pies…OH MY! Dessert night at Eagle Ridge was a huge success! It was a great night for meeting new residents, talking with the staff, and enjoying all the sugary treats you could eat. Now it’s time to hit the fitness room.

Check out some of the fun photos from our dessert night:

Someone save me a cupcake - I must go save Gotham again!

Snow Rhymes With Tow!

Winter is here and Eagle Ridge Apartments would like to remind you that we do not allow non-motorized, non-moving, non-operable or un-licensed vehicles to be parked in the lots. All vehicles must be moved on a regular basis to allow for necessary snow removal. 

Vehicles that are in violation of this Community Policy are subject to be towed at the vehicle owner’s expense.

Our staff works hard to ensure a safe environment during the winter months by continually plowing and salting walkways and roads during times of snow, but it is still important to use caution while walking on side walks, going up and down stairs and entering or exiting your vehicle. Proper footwear with non-slip tread is vital to surviving a Minnesota winter!

Enjoy the beautiful snow, but be careful out there!

New Movies Are In... Just In Time For Snowstorm Hibernating

There's snow coming and if you like to snuggle in to the comfort of your apartment and attempt to hibernate during a snow storm, well then you need a movie from the Eagle Ridge office! Make one last adventurous trip through the snow to the office and check out our ever-changing selection of movies. Perfect for keeping you entertained and indoors during a snowstorm.

Our new releases this month are:

Warning: Super Cute New Baby Photos!

We're so excited here at Eagle Ridge - Two of our young families have newborns to celebrate! We have just loved seeing and meeting the new babies.

Lindsey and Richard welcomed their newborn daughter Astrid into the world recently. Lindsey was very creative in her Halloween costume while she was pregnant. Below you'll see a "before and after" set of photos. Astrid was 8lbs 4 oz and 19” long. Her brother Theodore loves her so much he is speechless (or else just a little too shy to say so).

The "Before". We love how Lindsey dressed as Winnie the Pooh when she was pregnant!

And "After".  Lindsey, Richard, Theodore, and  Astrid.

Another wonderful couple, Ben and Sarah welcomed their baby boy Mark Leroy into the world on November 7 of this year. Ben lived for a while at Eagle Ridge and then moved out for a year. He couldn't stay away, he liked Eagle Ridge so much! And we're super glad he came back to Eagle Ridge, especially because we got to meet Mark Leroy!

Sarah and Ben with their bundle of joy, Mark Leroy!

Please join us in congratulating these two wonderful families on the birth of their children!

Thanks, Janelle!

The staff at Eagle Ridge would like to say a big “Thank You” to Janelle for helping us out in the Rental Office recently. Janelle is the Assistant Manager at Salem Green Apartments in Inver Grove Heights. She has helped out at all of the other Condor locations in the Twin Cities. Janelle has been with Condor Corporation since 1998. She is married and has two teenagers. Before coming to work for Condor, Janelle actually worked with Ginny at a different apartment community. We’re glad they’re now both with Condor!

No Other Month Knows How To Party Like December

December is a month packed with holidays and commemorations. Check out some of the major celebrations and observances that take place during this month.

December - 7: Pearl Harbor Day:
December 7, 1941 the US Naval base in Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan. On that day this year government flags will be flown at half staff as we remember those who lost their lives during this attack. The day after this attack the US declared war on Japan.

December 8 - 16: Hanukkah

This Jewish holiday commemorates historical events that took place in 168 B.C.
According to the Talmud, one of Judaism’s central texts, Judah Maccabee and the other Jews who took part in the re-dedication of the Second Temple witnessed a miracle. Even though there was only enough untainted olive oil to keep the menorah’s candles burning for a single day, the flames continued flickering for eight nights, leaving them time to find a fresh supply. This wondrous event inspired the Jewish leaders to proclaim a yearly eight-day festival.

Interesting Facts about Hanukkah

• Traditional Hanukkah food is cooked during the festival with oil as the key ingredient. Jelly donuts, fried potatoes, pancakes and deep fried puffs are the most common foods served during the festival.
• Gift giving is another popular Hanukkah tradition. The Jewish children receive small gifts from their elder family members on Hanukkah.

December 25: Christmas
Christmas is an annual Christian holiday celebrated on December 25th that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus would come to be called the son of God. Jesus’ story is detailed in the Bible recounting many miracles he preformed from healing people with diseases, feeding 5,000 people with only 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread and even raising the dead.

One cannot talk about the history of Christmas without mentioning Santa Claus. Bishop Nicholas of Smyrna, who lived in the 4th century A.D. in what is known today as Turkey, was a very wealthy and generous man who especially loved children. He was known to throw gifts into the houses of poor children in order to brighten their spirits. He was later titled Saint Nicholas, and became the patron saint of children and seafarers. His story evolved into the legend of Santa Claus – the jolly man who brings gifts to children all over the world on Christmas Eve.

Fun Facts about Christmas:

• Most of Santa’s reindeer have male-sounding names, such as Blitzer, Comet, and Cupid. However, male reindeer shed their antlers around Christmas, so the reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh are likely not male, but female.
• Christmas trees have been sold in the U.S. since 1850, the trees are usually grown for about 15 years before they are sold.
• Mistletoe (Viscum album) is from the Anglo-Saxon word misteltan, which means “little dung twig” because the plant spreads though bird droppings.

December 26: Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a fairly new holiday that was first celebrated in December 1966. Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor of Africana Studies at California State University, Long Beach. The name for Kwanzaa comes from a Swahili phrase meaning first fruits. The first-fruits celebrations are recorded in African history as far back as ancient Egypt and Nubia. Kwanzaa builds on the five fundamental activities of Continental African "first fruit" celebrations: in gathering; reverence; commemoration; re-commitment; and celebration.

There are seven values that are emphasized during Kwanzaa, they are: Unity, Self-determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith. Kwanzaa culminates in a big feast on the last evening of the holiday, on December 31 called Karamu; it is celebrated with festive songs, dance, toasts, prayers, and a feast of foods.

Interesting facts about Kwanzaa

• The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green as noted above and can be utilized in decorations for Kwanzaa. Also decorations should include traditional African items, i.e., African baskets, cloth patterns, art objects, harvest symbols, etc.
• Kwanzaa can be celebrated by anyone. Kwanzaa is the holiday to remember African-American cultures.
• Gifts are given mainly to children, but must always include a book and a heritage symbol.

December 31: New Years Eve

The last day of the year is celebrated by many people in many different ways. Some people stay up until midnight and party at home or with friends, or a lot of people will go out to different restaurants, bars or even some cities have outdoor events. The most popular outdoor event in the US is the Times Square Ball Drop in New York City, NY. There are many New Year’s Eve traditions throughout the world.

Decking The Deck And The Halls!

It is great to see that some of our residents are already getting into the spirit of the holidays by putting up lights and decorations on their patios! Decorating inside your apartment and out is encouraged, so feel free to put up your lights, colored garland, artificial wreaths, etc. Please be careful not to damage the exterior of the building by hammering in nails or drilling holes. A Holiday Balcony Decorating Contest will be judged later in December and a cash prize will be awarded to the best display.

Please remember that due to their fire hazard live and real trees and wreaths are prohibited in your apartment, on your patio or balcony, and on the doors in the hallways. We appreciate your help in keeping our community both festive and safe this holiday season!

Cyber Monday And Package Delivery

For the deal-savvy shopper who didn't get their fill yesterday during Black Friday, or for those who would rather do their shopping online, Cyber Monday is a great opportunity. In just two days retailers will offer special deals for their online customers.

Cyber Monday shopping is a very different experience than Black Friday. There's no lines and you can do your shopping in your pajamas sipping hot cocoa. Heck, you can shop and get your laundry done at the same time! With a few simple clicks you can place your order and have it delivered to your home.

There are some websites that gather the deals from many retailers to make your shopping online even easier. Check out http://www.cybermonday2012.com/ or http://www.cybermonday.com/.

As the holiday season ramps up we see an increase of packages coming in for our residents. Everyone also gets much busier. The office staff is happy to help out by delivering packages to your apartment. If you receive a notice that a package has been dropped off at the office and you would like it delivered to your apartment simply give us a call, email, or use the Ask The Office form on our website to request that your package be delivered to your apartment.

Giving Thanks

We hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! On this Friday, as we recuperate from overdosing on turkey, we would like to share with you the things that the staff at Eagle Ridge gave thanks for this Thanksgiving. Plus, check out the recipe below for an idea about how to use your Thanksgiving leftovers!

The staff at Eagle Ridge was asked what they are most thankful for this year and this is what they had to say:
Ginny: Family, friends, good health and great people to live and work with.
Coty: Reality TV.
Gary: His golf cart - to get maintenance requests done a lot faster.
Bob: Gary - he has been teaching me a lot!
Samantha: Christopher and all of my loving family.
Christopher: Being able to share my life with Samantha.
George: Another day - count each one as a blessing.
Scott: Continued good health.
Cindy: Family.
David: His awesome mom.
Ashley: My whole Family and the great relationships we have.
Jessie: Great family.
Danielle: My wonderful boyfriend Tim.
Tim: My beautiful girlfriend Danielle.

If you're wondering what to do with all of those Thanksgiving leftovers in your fridge, there's a lot of recipe suggestions at allrecipes.com. One that we liked was a recipe for Turkey Pot Pie.

Leftover Turkey Pot Pie

Original recipe makes 2 9-inch pot pies

2 cups frozen peas and carrots
2 cups frozen green beans
1 cup sliced celery
2/3 cup butter
2/3 cup chopped onion
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
1 1/3 cups milk
4 cups cubed cooked turkey meat - light and dark meat mixed
4 (9 inch)unbaked pie crusts

Directions
1. Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

2. Place the peas and carrots, green beans, and celery into a saucepan; cover with water, bring to a boil, and simmer over medium-low heat until the celery is tender, about 8 minutes. Drain the vegetables in a colander set in the sink, and set aside.

3. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat, and cook the onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in 2/3 cup of flour, salt, black pepper, celery seed, onion powder, and Italian seasoning; slowly whisk in the chicken broth and milk until the mixture comes to a simmer and thickens. Remove from heat; stir the cooked vegetables and turkey meat into the filling until well combined.

4. Fit 2 pie crusts into the bottom of 2 9-inch pie dishes. Spoon half the filling into each pie crust, then top each pie with another crust. Pinch and roll the top and bottom crusts together at the edge of each pie to seal, and cut several small slits into the top of the pies with a sharp knife to release steam.

5. Bake in the preheated oven until the crusts are golden brown and the filling is bubbly, 30 to 35 minutes. If the crusts are browning too quickly, cover the pies with aluminum foil after about 15 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.
PREP 30 mins.

Be Dazzled By The Holidazzle

Once again it’s time to bundle up and head to the free Target Holidazzle parade! The parade starts Friday, November 23, and can be viewed every Thursday through Sunday night until Sunday, December 23, all at 6:30PM.

Take in the bright lights of illuminated floats, enjoy music, see celebrity Grand Marshals and Santa in his sleigh. The parade first began in 1992. Every year since then the parade has marched down Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis during the holiday season, drawing over 300,000 spectators. Check out more information on the Holidazzle Parade at their website.

Black Friday Hotspots

There's always a bit of a buzz about what deals can be found on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when many businesses begin their holiday shopping season with big discounts for a limited time. Eagle Ridge is near quite a few businesses that will be featuring Black Friday deals, should you feel adventurous enough to venture out.

If you need a little help planning your Black Friday shopping, visit blackfriday.com, which posts the  advertisement flyers from most major retailers.

Check out the Shoppes at Arbor Lakes and other nearby retailers such as Best Buy for Black Friday deals nearby.

Check Out The Maple Grove Library

As the winter months approach the Maple Grove Library makes a great place to go to get out of your apartment.

The Maple Grove Library is one of the busiest in the Hennepin County system with more than 114,000 books, CDs, and DVDs. Internet access is available on nearly 70 computers with building-wide wireless access. Meeting rooms, reading porch and study areas are available for groups and individuals.

The Hennepin County Library system serves more than one million residents of Hennepin County,  ncluding Maple Grove. The 41-library system offers more than five million books, CDs and DVDs, materials in more than 40 languages, and 1,600 public computers.

To reach the Maple Grove library, call (612) 543-6450. Visit www.hclib.org for details on the Maple Grove facility as well as all the libraries in the Hennepin County system.

Go get a great book to read and bring it to the clubhouse and snuggle up by the fireplace with cookies and hot cocoa or coffee!

Thanksgiving Day Meals Or Take-out At Local Restaurants

Does preparing for Thanksgiving exhaust you? Leave the work and clean-up to someone else this year, check out our list of places near Eagle Ridge to get a great Thanksgiving meal.

Here’s a list of some places in Maple Grove that will be serving up a hearty feast with all the fixings on Thanksgiving Day Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012.
1. The Lookout Bar and Grill
· Buffet
· 763-424-4365. Walk-in only as available
· What's on the menu: Ham, turkey, broasted chicken, salad bar, desserts and more.
· Cost: $13.95
· Hours: Serving starts at 10:00AM

2. Highlander Restaurant at Rush Creek Golf Course
· Buffet
· Phone: 763-494-0400 x1, Reservations accepted
· What’s on the menu: Several turkey options, sirloin, ham, several vegetable salad options plus plenty of dessert options. Check out a full menu here.

3. Old Country Buffet
· Buffet
· Phone: 764-494-6606
· What’s on the menu: All the traditional holiday staples, including ham and turkey along with side dishes and desserts.
· Cost: Adults and Kids: $10.99
· Hours: 11:00AM to 8:30PM

4. Osseo/Maple Grove American Legion
· Meal
· Phone: 763-425-4858 #2. Call ahead.
· What's on the menu: Turkey, potatoes, dressing, pies,
· Cost: $8 per person
· Hours: Noon to 5:00PM

5. The Claddagh Irish Pub
· Buffet
· Phone: 763-773-7400, Reservations accepted
· What’s on the menu: Carved Turkey with all the trimmings & cranberry sauce, salad bar with all the trimmings and specialty salads, variety of dessert and much more.
· Cost: Adults $22.95, Kids $9.95
· Hours: 11:00PM – 7:00PM

6. Buca di Beppo
· Meal, Carry Out
· Phone: 763.494.3466, Reservations accepted
· What's on the menu: traditional turkey feast with garlic mashed potatoes, cranberries, Italian sausage stuffing and more.
· Cost: $45-$90 depending on meal size for dine in. Carry out $135-$250, orders must be placed and confirmed by Nov. 19, 2012.

Free Popcorn With Movie Rental - November Only!

Did you know that each month our selection of movies available to rent changes? We have a good variety of movies available in the office at Eagle Ridge that you can stop by to browse. We've added an extra bonus for the month of November - whenever you rent a movie from the office at Eagle Ridge you'll get free popcorn! Movie night just got easier.