Brittany Square Apartments

Healthy Ideas: Smart Foods for Runners

2013-05-08T22:06:40Z

There are no shortage of healthy ideas for runners, but perhaps the most important are those that involve a healthy diet to keep you moving forward.

Here are some great foods that experts recommend you include in your diet.

Be sure to include foods into your diet that help you burn fat. Salmon, figs, almonds, and even chicken are well-known to help with this.
Make sure you’re getting enough protein. Not only will this help you build muscle and give you the energy you need to keep running, but it also helps your body repair itself after your workout.
Watch your potassium levels. Bananas are an excellent source of this fantastic mineral, which will help regulate your blood pressure and give you an energy boost when you need it.
Eat a lot of berries. The fiber and vitamin C they contain help reduce the tears and damage your muscles will sustain while running or jogging.
Up your vitamin A intake by eating sweet potatoes.

Do you have some favorite foods that help keep the spring in your step? Share with us on Facebook or in the comments below!

Image courtesy of MorgueFile

Slip, Climb, Crawl, and Dive Through Tulsa’s Tatur Mud Run

2013-05-01T17:48:28Z

Who says fun always has to be clean? If a mud-filled obstacle course sounds fun to you, come out on June 1, 2013 for the Tatur Mud Run in Tulsa. The event is hosted by Tatur Racing, a local running organization.

The fun begins at 1:00 pm with the kids’ race for children ages 5-12. This race is not timed, and all runners receive a T-shirt and medal. Another heat begins at 2:00 pm (free for kids), and the timed 5K run for those ages 13 and older begins at 3:00 pm.

A special “Heroes Race” for military, police, and fire personnel starts at 4:00 pm. Race fees vary and spots are limited, so register online soon if you’d like to run. Participants are encouraged to dress in costume, as you and your team slide through tires, splash into mud, jump over hurdles, and crawl to the finish line on this 1.5-mile course.

The proceeds will benefit the Oklahoma Firefighter’s Burn Camp. This non-profit organization hosts an annual camp for children with disfiguring injuries. Register to be a counselor or get donation information for the camp online.

Are you going to participate in the Tatur Mud Run in Tulsa? Let us know on Facebook!

Image courtesy of r3beccaf via Flickr

Urban Furnishings: Shop Modern Decor in Brookside

2013-04-19T15:46:11Z

Shop selections from Natuzzi at Urban Furnishings.

Brookside is a popular shopping and entertainment destination in Midtown for the denizens of Tulsa. If shopping in Brookside dazzles you with its plethora of food shops, chic and eclectic boutiques, swanky decor shops, salons and accessory shops, then let us recommend one-stop decor shop for you, easing your shopping list and stint.

Urban Furnishings, located at Peoria Avenue, is a must-go shop for home decoration fans. Whether you are updating your Midtown Tulsa apartment, have recently moved in or want to complete your furnishings, Urban Furnishings certainly lives up to your expectations.

Peek inside to browse modular entertainment centers, sleek and comfy armchairs and modern sofas and sectionals. The focus of their inventory is on contemporary designs with clean cuts and straight lines, giving your apartment that urban look it deserves in Midtown Tulsa.

Urban Furnishings also spearheads a program of furniture trade-in. For every seat you purchase, you can trade in your gently used furniture with $200 per seat toward your new leather furniture. The furniture can be donated to any of the organizations of your choice: Family and Children’s Services, Youth Services Services, Youth Services of Tulsa, and Women in Recovery. You can even designate your own charity.

With the generous offer Urban Furnishings has for its buyers, decorating your home could never have been so morally uplifting. For more shopping tips, follow Brittany Square’s tweets.

Try Utica Square for apartment furnishings, too. When you’ve found the furniture you love, try these tips for planning your room layout.

Image courtesy of Flickr.

Tulsa Camerata’s Final Concert at the Philbrook Museum of Art

2013-04-15T22:48:31Z

Events at the Philbrook Museum of Art are always an attraction for the residents of our Downtown Tulsa apartments. However, this time of years marks a special occasion not only for art and history lovers, but also for Latin chamber music fans.

On May 2, 2013, Tulsa Camerata holds its final concert of the current season at the prestigious venue of the museum. What makes it so remarkable is the assembling and performance of world-renowned musicians in a single event; it will be a fervent crescendo any music season could ask for. And who is enthralling the audience? Here is a list:

Brazil’s legendary composer, Heitor Villa-Lobos, author of seventeen string quartets, of which the Sixth follows characteristic Brazilian folk harmonies and rhythm.
Mexico’s Carlos Chávez, who imbibed the French style while learning in Paris, and created the unique Trio for Flute, Viola, and Harp as a tribute to Debussy and de Falla.
Italy’s Luigi Boccherini, who spent most of his career serving the Spanish nobility; his novel String Quintet was inspired by the sounds and sights of a nightly stride through the alleys of eighteenth-century Madrid.
Argentina’s popular composer Astor Piazzolla brings two tangos; his players perform Concierto para Quinteto and his mastery Contrabajissimo, having the double bass as soloist.

Have you ever heard a performance by the Tulsa Camerata? Share with us on our Facebook page.

Image courtesy of Tulsa Camerata

3 Tips for Mindful Meditation in Our Tulsa Courtyards

2013-04-10T17:33:50Z

Our Midtown Tulsa apartment community offers something different for apartment renters. Our captivating fountains and lush courtyards are excellent spots to relax and unwind in our peaceful location. Take a moment to enjoy our well-kept grounds and practice mindful meditation for ultimate relaxation.

According to Harvard Health Publications, mindful meditation helps improve both our physical and mental health by allowing ourselves to redirect our mind from stress and negativity to enjoy the present moment. Mindfulness simply means paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment without judgement.

To achieve mindfulness and calm in your meditation, practice these steps:

Focus on your breathing, the sound of water running from our fountains, or the sweet scents coming from the flowers and fauna in our courtyards.
Pay attention to the present. Focus on what is going on around you at the moment until you realize calmness and contentment. For instance, you might focus on the bird chirping, the running water, and the bees buzzing.
Be aware of what’s going on around you without judgement. This means taking note of what is going on around you without forming an opinion about it. If you achieve this, then you will have stillness and balance of mind.

This simple practice can not only decrease stress, but also help us to pay better attention to what’s going on in our bodies and how to react and make decisions from a more balanced disposition. If you’re looking for a peaceful place to live that’s still close to all of Tulsa’s entertainment and happenings, check out our luxury apartments here at Brittany Square!

Shop Local at the Brookside Farmers’ Market: 3 Vendors to Visit

2013-03-29T12:33:03Z

Cherry Street Farmers’ Market

If you’re looking for fresh fruits, vegetables, lotions, and more, stop by the Cherry Street Farmers’ Market every Saturday this spring. Here are a few of the vendors in the spotlight.

Hilltop Honey: Hilltop Honey has an array of honey-based products, including moisturizers, body soap and lotion, lip balm, and leather wax. This Willits, California-based vendor even has specialty honey soap to keep your dog clean and fresh!
Three Springs Farm: With a vision of providing economical, environmentally-friendly, and healthy fruits and vegetables, Three Springs does just that. They offer both cold and warm season fruits and vegetables grown on their Cherokee County farm, all of which are organic certified.
Duck Creek Farms: Duck Creek Farms has you covered for all of your tomato and bedding plant needs. With experience of over 30 years, rest assured you’ll have the best quality product from this vendor. Don’t forget to get some sweet potatoes from this vendor, too!

Where do you like to shop for fresh produce in the Tulsa area? Leave a comment below to let us know.

Image courtesy of Cherry Street Farmers’ Market

Find a Running Buddy at Our Tulsa Apartments

2013-03-20T22:11:47Z

Looking for someone to work out with at our Tulsa apartments that shares your passion for running? A running partner can make running more fun, more challenging, or simply make it go by faster. Here are a few ideas for how to find a running buddy.

Experts say that athletes perform better in groups, so don’t run alone. Find a running partner that has the same goals and expectations you do. Ask if you can go on a run with him or her to see if you would be compatible as running mates. It’s also important to run with someone that shares the same pace as you do and that isn’t super competitive.

Talk with your running buddy about what your running schedule will be and see if it works for both of you. Talk about what your goals are, and if you are training for a marathon or simply running for fun and health benefits. You should also run with someone you get along with as a friend because you will engage with each other while you are working out, and might even strike up a close friendship in the meantime.

If you’re looking for fellow runners that can help you reach your fitness goals, consider joining a running club in Tulsa, too. Do you already have a running buddy? Share your tips for finding a running buddy with us on Facebook.

Image courtesy of MorgueFile

Volunteer Outdoors in Tulsa to Soak Up Spring

2013-03-13T18:53:48Z

Help clean up Tulsa’s parks and gardens while you enjoy the spring weather.

There are many outdoor volunteer opportunities in Tulsa that you can take part in to help make our community a little bit stronger and our future a little bit brighter. This spring, instead of kicking back on your couch at Brittany Square, get outside and lend a hand.

Jimmy Carter may be a nearly forgotten president, but boy can he build a house. In fact, for a long time now, he has been helping Habitat for Humanity build homes for families throughout the South and you can, too. Just give ‘em a call, and they’ll supply the tools, materials and education necessary to help put roofs over the heads of needy families.
Now, if your thumbs don’t quite lend themselves to building, maybe they’re better suited for planting. The City of Tulsa has many programs where you can help clean up the parks and trails throughout town.
Oxley Nature Center is looking for volunteer naturalists to give guided tours of the trails and volunteers to help maintain them. If you like using this trail system, you may want to help with the cleanup outdoors.
Finally, the Botanical Garden could use some folks with some seriously green thumbs to help keep their plants growing strong and deep through the Oklahoma soil.

Are you already volunteering somewhere here in town? If you need some more hands to help you out, then get on Facebook and recruit your neighbors.

Image courtesy of Flickr.

The Benefits of Joining a Running Club in Tulsa

2013-03-13T18:49:02Z

Push yourself and reach new goals with fellow runners in Tulsa.

Running can be one of the most enjoyable activities you can do if you want to stay in shape and realize the benefits of cardio training. Why not gather some of your friends and neighbors here at Brittany Square Apartments and join a local running club in Tulsa? There are several running clubs in Tulsa that you can visit online and check out what they have to offer.

The Tulsa Running Club is a nonprofit organization that sponsors events throughout the year. Their aim is to promote running and a healthy lifestyle. They also support organizations such as The Tulsa Boys Home with funds and member time. Membership is only $35 per year for a family, and your membership card allows you to receive discounts at several local merchants.

Another local running club is Fleet Feet Sports Tulsa. This club is ideal for runners just starting out because they offer beginner, intermediate and advanced programs. They offer a variety of recurring classes, and events to help keep you motivated. Costs for any of their training programs are $89 and run anywhere from 10-16 weeks.

In addition to being an excellent fitness tool, there are other benefits of joining a running club in the Tulsa area. You can meet new people and form new, lifelong friendships. After you have tried your hand at running, why not share your experience with your friends and neighbors on our Brittany Square Facebook Page and recruit your neighbors?

Image courtesy of Flickr.

April Races Near Tulsa You’ll Want to Sweat for

2013-03-01T19:25:24Z

The weather’s getting warmer, and it’s time to head out of your Tulsa apartments and get some sun! One way to do this while getting a terrific workout is to participate in some April races near Tulsa. Here are a couple you won’t want to miss.

The Color Run promises to be a lot of fun this year. The race will happen on April 20, 2013, and it’s a 5K event that’s perfect for everyone, regardless of age or ability. You’ll start the race in solid white attire and get splashed with color along the way! The race will benefit the River Parks Foundation and will be a blast for everyone.

Sign up for How The West Was Run on April 27, 2013 for a 5K run or a 1-mile fun run, and enjoy a fun and satisfying race. This run will benefit the Jenks Wild Environmental Camp, which is a yearly camp for sixth graders, so support a great cause while you enjoy the sunshine and a fun run.

Will you be participating in any races in the Tulsa area this spring? Share with us on Facebook.

Image courtesy of MorgueFile