Alexan Henderson Beach Apartments

Happy Memorial Day!

riverstone — Mon, 28 May 2012 14:07:35 +0000

On this Memorial Day, we hope that you're able to relax and spend time with family and friends, while celebrating all the men and women who have served our great nation.

Book Buzz: Five Great Literary Heroines

riverstone — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:00:19 +0000

The next time you’re in the mood for a good read, why not seek out a book with an inspirational literary heroine? Here are some of the most gripping female characters ever put down on paper:

Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice

This much-admired Jane Austen heroine possesses maturity beyond her years, as well as remarkable intelligence and strength of character. She sees through the falsities of the romantic customs of her day and the foibles of social system around her, resisting the pressures to enter into marriage for reasons other than real love and affection.

Ursula Brangwen from The Rainbow

Ursula Brangwen is one of the most indelible heroines ever created by D.H Lawrence. Her youthful freshness and appetite for adventure set her apart from the rest of the more staid Brangwen clan. She falls in love with a soldier and develops a crush on her teacher, and she pursues both attractions with a passionate lack of inhibition. Her sensitivity and imagination make her an unforgettable character from the very time you encounter her on the page.

Lucy Snowe from Villette

Lucy Snowe is the brilliantly vivid heroine of Charlotte Bronte’s last novels, and many readers view her as a more mature and wiser Jane Eyre. Lucy’s spirited rejection of traditional Victorian notions of womanhood makes her a force to be reckoned with. She is clever, angry, cagey, and sharply sarcastic. She also has an impetuous romantic life, falling in love with two men at once, which upset Victoria critics (because the notion of a decent woman falling in love with two men at once was inconceivable to them). Essentially, she is a woman who does what she wants when she wants, and skillfully manages the consequences of her actions in a world full of restriction and repression.

Josephine March, Little Women

The main character in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women is Josephine March (called by the nickname Jo). She grows up with three sisters in a busy and financially strained fatherless household, and she stands out from her siblings because of her independence, creative fire, and determined nature. Jo March is known for her free-spirited approach to life and her refusal to be forced into traditional female roles.

Anne, Anne of Green Gables

This indelible heroine from Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic book will earn your sympathy and capture your imagination from the first moment you encounter her. As a young orphan, she gets adopted by a brother and sister who own a farm on Prince Edward Island in Canada. There she struggles through various hardships and also gives the adults around her a handful as they try to direct and guide her spirited and sometimes defiant nature. Anne’s spunk, imagination, and ardent will set her apart as one of literature’s most memorable heroines.

Great Beach Books

riverstone — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:20:07 +0000

Are you hunting for the perfect beach read for the summer? Well, we’ve compiled a list of the top beach reads for summer of 2012, and whether you like breezy chick lit, haunting tales, comical stories, or historical fiction, there’s something for you!

Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner – The ultimate author of chick lit is back with a brand new novel about 4 women, bound by responsibility and opportunity, who must try to come together as a family.

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett – This tale centers on a scientific researcher who flies to Brazil in search of her former mentor, who is hunting for a drug that can extend fertility past the age of 60. It’s like Heart of Darkness with formidable female leads.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain – It’s the roaring 20s, and a not-yet-famous Ernest Hemingway has just met the young woman who will become his first wife (of four wives). The story is told from her perspective , as she narrates about their love and its undoing.

The Gap Year by Sarah Bird – A timid, shy teen takes up with the high school football star, then vanishes with her trust fund. Her divorced parents reunite to track her down. This is a funny story about growing up, with a twist or two thrown in for good measure.

Conquistadora by Esmeralda Santiago – The year is 1844, and a Spanish bride sails to Puerto Rico to help run her in-laws’ plantation. Once on the island, she battles the heat, disease, and the cruel harshness of slavery, and comes out on top, resisting the expected every step of the way.

Best Foods to Nourish a Healthy Lifestyle

riverstone — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:31:00 +0000

You’ve likely heard the maxim “you are what you eat.” Research shows that this notion applies not just to the internal health of your body but also to your outward appearance. Here are five foods proven to nourish your healthy lifestyle, inside and out:

Blueberries

Blueberries are loaded with antioxidants, which help combat aging and sickness by keeping your body’s level inflammation in check. Studies have also shown that antioxidants boost the production of collagen, which is a natural protein in your skin that gives your dermis resiliency, texture, and a youthful appearance. Other varieties of dark fruit offer the same benefits as blueberries - for example, cherries, blackberries, and pomegranates.

Almond Milk

This is an especially great option if you need to avoid dairy products because of lactose intolerance or other reasons. Almond milk has high amounts of magnesium, potassium, copper, vitamin E, and calcium. It also contains omega-3 and omega-6 essential fats acids to keep the mind at its peak and give your skin a healthy glow. In addition, the high-quality protein in almond milk can give your hair a lush and radiant shine.

Salmon

Salmon is bursting with omega-2 fatty acids, which enhance blood flow and contribute to healthy skin. This delicious lunch and dinner option also possesses an anti-aging carotenoid that protects cell membranes, as well as containing nutrients that improve facial muscle tone and help keep wrinkles at bay.

Sea Vegetables

Sea vegetables like kelp, arame, wakame, dulse, and spirulina are packed with minerals and phytochemicals that aid in detoxifying the body and rebuilding damaged cells. Their health-giving properties counteract the unhealthy foods, polluted environmental factors, and high levels of stress that cause our cells to age prematurely in the contemporary world.

Mustard Greens

Dense green foods like mustard greens have many benefits for your general health and appearance. They help keep the liver cleansed of heavy metals and toxins, which aids the body in functioning more efficiently, and they also yield beauty benefits like brighter eyes and tighter skin. Other green foods will similar anti-aging qualities are turnips, dandelion greens, spinach, and broccoli.

Jackson’s Steakhouse: Prime Cuts

riverstone — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:07:45 +0000

If you feel the need to indulge in some grain-fed prime beef, head on over to Jackson’s Steakhouse. This upscale dining establishment serves only Midwestern aged beef from the heartland. Porterhouse, Rib-eye, Filet Mignon, and New York Strip are all here, with deep dish sides like grilled asparagus, cheddar cheese grits, 3-cheese macaroni, and scalloped potatoes. Also featured is an assortment of seafood entrees, including Maine Lobster, Seared Tuna, and Open-Fired Salmon. Weekly specials offer great deals like Prime Time Tuesdays, where you can feast on prime rib and two sides for just $20. Attentive service, an elegant ambiance, and tasty food make this a nice choice for a special lunch or dinner.

Jackson's Steakhouse

400 S. Palafox Street

Pensacola, FL 32502

(850) 469-9898

http://www.yelp.com/biz/jacksons-steakhouse-pensacola

Happy Mother’s Day!

riverstone — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:04:53 +0000

Wishing all of the mothers a very happy and relaxing Mother's Day surrounded by the ones you love.

Foot Care Tips For Runners

riverstone — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:55:51 +0000

Whether you’re a serious runner, occasional jogger, or complete beginner, you need to take good care of you feet so that they hold up when you hit the track, road, or trail. Here are some tips to help you keep your feet as healthy and pain-free as possible so that you can enjoy every stride along the way:

Wear the Proper Shoes

If you’re going to run on any sort of regular basis, it’s important to invest in a good pair of running shoes. Don’t throw on a pair of casual non-running-specific sneakers and hope for the best. Do some online research to learn about running shoes that might be particularly well-suited to your needs. Then go to a store that specializes in athletic and running gear and work with a salesperson that will be able to help you find the right shoe for you. Don’t be afraid to try on several pairs, run around the store a bit while wearing them, and take your time deciding. A salesperson knowledgeable about running shoes will be able to identify your gait (whether your roll your feet inward or outward) and guide you toward the best running shoes for your particular feet.

Protect Against Blisters

Painful blisters and feet sore from strain will put a major damper in your running plans. There are a variety socks on the market that are designed especially for the purpose of wicking away moisture and keeping blisters at bay, so invest in at least a few pairs of those. You can also rub some anti-chaffing balm on blister-prone areas, with “Bodyglide” being a particularly popular and effective productive for that purpose. If you do start to develop a blister, make sure you have some padded blister-specific bandages at hand to put on the sore spots when you’re running and also when you’re walking around in normal shoes. In addition, make sure that you air your bare feet out as much possible when you’re not running or walking around because exposing the blister-prone areas to fresh air will help them dry out and heal faster.

Know When To Stop

One of the biggest causes of chronic foot problems in runners is that people don’t always listen sufficiently to their bodies. If you have a mildly painful issue with your foot (such as a mild case of sesamoiditis, a common runners’ condition), it’s not always a good idea to push through it. Foot issues will often get worse and go from small to significant if you don’t give your feet a rest. So it’s important to make sure you temper your running schedule to allow for foot issues to heal before they go from minor to worse to potentially chronic. While you’re taking a break from running, you can find other lower-impact, more foot-friendly ways of getting a workout that will benefit your cardiovascular system (such as the elliptical machine, spin bike, recumbent bike, or regular road bike).

Consider Shoe Inserts

If you want an extremely comfortable and form-fitting shoe that will specifically accommodate your unique feet, consider investing in orthotic inserts. You can get orthotics over the counter or have them prescribed and specially made for you by a podiatrist. Orthotics are often used to treat many forms of running-related injury, including heel pain, shin splints, and chronic blisters. They work by balancing and reducing the amount of stress that your feet experience upon impact. They are also effective at correcting imbalances in your gait, such as a tendency toward overpronation or underpronation – essentially, they help your foot achieve proper alignment, which can be a major preventative measure when it comes to a variety of running-related foot issues.

Avoid Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s Foot is one of the most common foot issues that occur for a runner. It is a fungal condition of the feet and toes that can flare up as a result of running in sweaty socks and shoes. Luckily, though Athlete’s Foot can be pretty uncomfortable, it’s also one of the least chronic and most easily treatable foot issues that a runner can face. Since the fungus thrives and grows in wet conditions, some preventative measures you can take include washing and drying your feet soon after a run and alternating running shoes and socks so the accumulated sweat has time to dry out. If you do develop a case of athlete’s foot, there are several over-the-counter antifungal creams that can help and your doctor can also prescribe oral antifungal medications if the condition doesn’t clear up within a few weeks.

Great Travel Writing

riverstone — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:03:40 +0000

An incredible piece of travel writing is not just about destinations and locations, it’s also about the traveller's experience. A meditation on travel reveals more than a locale’s beauty and culture, instead illuminating how the journey changes people in powerful ways.

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
With his trademark wit, Bill Bryson scales the Appalachian Trail between Georgia and Maine. Along with sharing general history and ecology of the area, Bryson waxes poetic on his personal journey of mountains, hikers, and bears.

The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux
Now a well-known travel writer, Theroux cut his teeth early on with this 1975 account of traveling through Asia by train. He meets many memorable characters and encounters uncommon destinations along the way.

In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin
Attempting to establish new norms of travel writing, Chatwin weaves a strange tale documenting the interesting characters he meets while living in a barren, disjointed region of South America. A healthy dose of the region's unique history only adds to the weirdness.

A Week at the Airport by Alain de Botton
This short book takes the adage "the journey is the destination" to an extreme. Written over a week de Botton spent at London's Heathrow Airport, A Week at the Airport considers how the airport concentrates beginnings and endings in a starkly visible way.

Best TV Shows About Food

riverstone — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:00:18 +0000

We love to eat, but of course we can't do it all the time! Thankfully, a number of awesome TV shows exist about food that you can enjoy even with a full stomach. From cooking shows to eating documentaries, here are five must-see TV shows about food.

Chopped
One of our favorite cooking competitions, this show pits a quartet of chefs against each other, tasking them to make meals from mystery ingredients that range from the delicious to the ridiculous. This is a real pressure cooker of a show, and it’s amazing to see what they come up with.

Kitchen Nightmares
Gordon Ramsay is the most foul-mouthed chef in the business, and his insanely addictive show has him visiting struggling restaurants and working to turn them around before they go out of business. An incredibly addictive look at what happens behind the scenes in kitchens.

Good Eats
Alton Brown’s enthusiasm for food translates perfectly to the screen in his long-running show that explores the ins and outs of food from myriad perspectives – chef, diner, even scientist. You’re guaranteed to learn something every week.

Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern
Notorious food writer Zimmern stakes out territory on the very edge of edibility, traveling the globe to consume things that make our stomachs turn. If you’re an adventurous eater, this is the show for you.

Top Chef
The granddaddy of cooking competitions, Bravo’s long-running show gets the best and the brightest of the food world together and lets them shine with some truly incredible food.

Pensacola Historical Museum: Explore the City’s History

riverstone — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:01:05 +0000

This small museum explores the history of Pensacola through a variety of exhibits. The Army/Navy Gallery exhibits the region’s close association and long history with those branches of the military. The Maritime Gallery visits Pensacola’s rich seafaring culture, which includes the area’s primary industry, fishing. The Multicultural Gallery and Native American Gallery explore the rich and varied cultures of West Florida. Children will gravitate to the third floor exhibit, where they can explore the history of the area by playing in a make believe fort, ship, or Native American village. Admission is free.

Pensacola Historical Museum

115 E. Zaragoza Street

Pensacola, FL 32502

(850) 433-1559

http://www.yelp.com/biz/pensacola-historical-museum-pensacola