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Cozy Recipes for Cold and Snowy Winter Nights

A warm meal on a cold night is one of the most delicious pleasures in life. But, with delivery often taking too long and venturing out into freezing weather feeling less than appetizing, you might find yourself looking for a warm meal in the most obvious place: Your stovetop. Fortunately, you don’t need to be culinaryily gifted to make comfort food on a cool evening. Consider these simple and satisfying recipes: Turkey Chili Tukey chili is a healthier version of the more traditional beef chili. This recipe uses olive oil, tomatoes, kidney beans, chili powder, sweet onions, bell peppers, minced garlic, ground turkey, sugar, hot sauce, oregano, and basil. In other words, it’s packed full of good-for-you veggies, legumes, and spices. It takes about an hour to make and will keep you warm and cozy when the weather outside grows frigid. Spaghetti This spaghetti recipe is a fan-favorite that can be thrown together in half an hour. Made with a simple tomato sauce, herbs, garlic cloves, onions, salt and pepper, beef mince, and more, it’s a winter classic that makes little ones happy (even if it makes a mess, too). Pair it with garlic bread, and you’ve got yourself a hit. Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese The quintessential cold-weather meal, tomato soup with grilled cheese , is a straightforward dish that can be made by just about anyone, even those who claim they can’t cook. It uses tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, onion, garlic, basil leaves, chicken or vegetable broth, tomato paste, cream, cheese, and more. This dinner is heavy on flavor. You can freeze the soup for up to four months, which means it’ll last until spring. Roast Chicken Roast chicken is a protein-packed, flavorful dish that provides comfort without high fat or calories. This recipe requires some planning, as the chicken must bake for around two hours, but it only needs about 40 minutes of prep work. Pair it with a side salad or roasted veggies to compound the health benefits even more. Lasagna This lasagna recipe reveals the secret of Italian food’s deliciousness: Cheese, glorious cheese. Other ingredients include crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, eggs, and lasagna noodles. It takes roughly two hours to make but can be prepared or baked earlier and then reheated. No matter what you’re in the mood for, soups and sandwiches or meaty delights, there’s a recipe sure to sate your appetite. Try one of the above and make mealtime delightful no matter how frightful the winter gets. The Habitat Apartments is located in Gunbarrel, providing convenient shopping access in downtown Boulder and beyond. We offer apartments and townhomes with private patios, a heated pool, outdoor kitchens, pet-friendly perks, and multiple floor plans. Contact us today to learn why we’re the perfect place to settle down.

Best Winter Hiking Trails in Boulder, Colorado

The great outdoors don’t hide their greatness when temperatures drop; hiking is still delightful even as the weather outside gets frightful. If you live in Boulder County, finding a trail is just as easy as finding a coffee shop. When you’re bored with Netflix and want some nature, consider the following routes: Canyon Loop Canyon Loop is a moderate-to-difficult, 3.3-mile loop. It has panoramic views, forested areas, and plenty of chances to glimpse wildlife. It tends to be a hotspot for mountain biking during warmer months, making winter the primetime to stop by without crowds. If you want to avoid bikers altogether, go on Wednesday or Saturday when bikers are barred from the area. East Boulder Teller Farm The East Boulder Teller Farm route is a flat trail that winds around farmlands and rural grounds. It is relatively short (around two miles) and popular among cyclists, runners, and birdwatchers. With only 38 feet of elevation gain, it’s an excellent choice for those looking for a gentle stroll or somewhere to take out-of-town guests challenged by altitude. Chautauqua Chautauqua Park offers various hiking options, including the Royal Arch trail . This moderate-to-difficult hike, approximately 3.5 miles long and with a 1,400-foot incline, might require snowshoes or traction devices if the ground is wet or icy. The Royal Arch offers a royal challenge for those looking to burn off the holidays in the hills. Red Rocks Not to be confused with the amphitheater, the Red Rocks trail in Boulder is an easy, one-mile loop. The most challenging aspect is finding parking, but winter offers more availability. True to its name, Red Rocks is full of sandstone formations and downtown city views. Caribou Ranch Caribou Ranch is located in Nederland, just outside of Boulder. While it’s a lengthy loop, coming in at five miles, it’s flat, smooth, and beautifully nestled between forests, meadows, and wetlands. It’s the perfect place to avoid crowds; even on warm winter days, you’ll find plenty of solace in the natural world. You don’t have to wait for spring to lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails. The above routes offer a chance to walk through a winter wonderland and enjoy the Colorado outdoors all year. The Habitat Apartments is located in Gunbarrel with convenient access to shopping in downtown Boulder and beyond. We offer apartments and townhomes with private patios, a heated pool, outdoor kitchens, pet-friendly perks, and multiple floor plans. Contact us today to learn why we’re the perfect place to set down roots this winter.

Your Decluttering Checklist for New Year’s Eve

The New Year is the perfect time to usher out the old…by decluttering. Ring in 2025 with a clean slate in the following simple ways: Donate, Donate, Donate Donating gently used items is the ideal way to declutter your home while giving back to your community. You can find organizations that’ll take just about anything, from old snow pants to the workout gear you never entirely integrated into your routine. While it might be tradition to fill your car with your to-donate items and drive around for three months before dropping them off, donating before January assures a 2024 tax write-off. Invest in Storage Bins Out of sight, out of mind! Storage bins empower you to organize your home while keeping your nicknacks, books, blankets, shoes, and more hidden inside closets, underneath beds, and on top of kitchen cabinets. Invest in a handful of bins from places like Amazon or the Container Store. After all, storage bins are the clutter whisperers that keep your place in order. Get Rid of Expired Items You probably have more expired items in your home than you think. The medication cabinet and the spice rack are two areas where expiration dates run wild. Take an hour or so to rifle through the pills and pepper and discard anything outdated. Past-expiration-date medications are less effective, while spices grow stale and tasteless. Conquer the Junk Drawer Are you even an adult if you don’t have a jampacked drawer full of spare keys, random cords, old credit cards, and scotch tape? While a junk drawer serves a purpose, one that is too cluttered makes it more difficult to find things. Take a few minutes to empty your drawer and sort through its contents. Ditch anything you don’t need to make room for what you do! Take Stock of Relationships When we think of decluttering, we usually think of things, but people may also fit the bill. Decluttering your relationships might be even healthier than decluttering your home! Take stock of your friendships and remove any that feel toxic or one-sided. Finding time to foster meaningful connections is hard enough; there’s little point in encouraging the destructive ones, too. You can find plenty of ways to ring 2025 on a decluttered foot. The above checklist is a great way to turn over a new leaf as the clock strikes midnight. The Habitat Apartments are located in Gunbarrel, providing convenient shopping access in downtown Boulder and beyond. We offer apartments and townhomes with private patios, a heated pool, outdoor kitchens, pet-friendly perks, and multiple floor plans. Contact us today to learn why we’re the perfect place to settle down.

Ways to Give Back to Your Community

It might be the season of gift cards, holiday lights, and family feasts, but it’s the season of giving, too; the holidays are much brighter when we give a hand to our community. If you’re looking for ways to help members of your community thrive this winter and all year long, consider engaging in one (or all) of the following: Donate Gently Used Items Donating gently used items is both helpful and practical. It provides those in need with vital necessities such as shoes, coats, and sweaters. It also lets you clear the clutter from your closet and better organize your home. You can often donate most anything in good condition, including toys, gaming systems, musical instruments, and sports equipment (although different organizations have different rules). If you’re looking for someone who’ll pick up free of charge, consider using Pickup Please , which supports various charities. Volunteer Volunteering is one of the simplest and most direct ways to give back to the community; few gifts are more thoughtful than the gift of time. Fortunately, there are all sorts of places around Boulder looking for volunteers. From working in outdoor programs to helping seniors, rolling up your sleeves, and beautifying the local parks, you’re sure to find something that suits your altruistic interests. Check-in on Your Neighbors Checking on your neighbors is a meaningful act that requires little more than initiative. Focus on neighbors struggling, such as the elderly, those who live alone, or those recovering from surgery. Consider offering to cook a meal for them or simply sit and chat. The holidays can be lonely, and many people welcome company. Shop Locally While it’s certainly convenient to do your holiday shopping online with a few clicks of a button, shopping on Amazon doesn’t exactly infuse money into your community. Patronizing brick-and-mortar and mom-and-pop shops, on the other hand, creates jobs, fosters competition, and helps communities thrive. Consider shopping locally for holiday gifts, stocking stuffers, and Christmas dinner. Donate Blood Donating blood allows you to give yourself a gift. It takes around 30 minutes and is one of the quickest ways to contribute to your community. While blood banks always need all blood types, O-positive and O-negative individuals are especially encouraged. O-negative is considered the “universal donor” and is used in emergencies when the recipient's blood type is unknown. From giving your time to sharing your goods to mindfully choosing where you shop, there are many ways to give back to your community. Try one of the above and embrace the true meaning of the season.

Holiday Events Near Boulder, Colorado

Ready or not, here they come: The holidays are upon us! With so much hustle and bustle this time of year, it can be hard to take a few moments for family togetherness (that doesn’t involve fighting over the last turkey leg during Thanksgiving dinner). Fortunately, getting out for some holiday fun has never been easier!If you live in or near Boulder, consider putting the following on your holiday to-do list: Lights of December Parade The Lights of December Parade takes place on December 7th at 6:00 PM, starting at 15th and Walnut and heading west. Enjoy floats created by various community members, including businesses, churches, schools, and nonprofits. Stay for the grand finale to spy Santa Claus in all his garland glory. Freezie Fest and Cookie Crawl The Freezie Fest and Cookie Crawl occurs on December 14th from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Pearl Street and beyond. This festive event celebrates winter and showcases snowmen! Enjoy free train rides, visit Santa Claus, and play a few reindeer games. Don’t forget to stroll into participating retailers to participate in the cookie crawl! Chanukah on Pearl Chanukah on Pearl takes place on December 30th from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. This holiday ritual invites the entire community and features the lighting of the Menorah, music, hot cocoa, and Chanukah goodies. A free event sponsored by the Boulder County Center for Judaism, advanced registration is not required, but it’s heavily encouraged so the center can plan ahead. Holiday Festival CU Boulder’s Holiday Festival is an annual tradition that merges glimmering lights, evergreen decor, and enchanting music. Put on by the CU Boulder College of Music, it’s geared toward all ages and features student choirs, bands, orchestras, and faculty performers. Kick back and relax to traditional holiday songs as well as modern tunes. Winterfest Winterfest takes place just outside of Boulder in Louisville. Winterfest is a holiday-themed arts and crafts event hosted by the Louisville Center for the Arts. It invites children 14 and under (with their guardians) to decorate gingerbread men, bedazzle custom snowflake ornaments, and enjoy hot cocoa and holiday cartoons. If you’re looking for something to take your mind off shopping or cooking, Boulder offers many events to make your holidays merry and bright. Try one of the above to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year even more. The Habitat Apartments is located in Gunbarrel, providing convenient shopping access in downtown Boulder and beyond. We offer apartments and townhomes with private patios, a heated pool, outdoor kitchens, pet-friendly perks, and multiple floor plans. Contact us today to learn why we’re the perfect place to set down roots.

Boulder County Art Exhibits to Check Out This Fall

Whether you fancy yourself a connoisseur or simply looking for more cultural experiences, several exhibits in Boulder County and nearby offer a chance to explore your love of all types of art. From hands-on to visually appealing works, consider stopping by one of the following: Google Garage Google Garage at the Museum of Boulder offers an inventive, active space for children to explore, experiment, and get curious. A perfect outlet for the high-energy child who loves to tinker with their toys, this creative exhibit invites children to make a mess while making memories. It’s an ongoing exhibit and ideal to visit during the holiday break. Complementary Visions Complementary Visions is on exhibit at the Museum of Boulder until February 10th. It brings together artwork that explores color, tension, and harmony. This showcase features the creative genius of Serge Goldberg and Jean Pless and their unique interpretations of the world. They explore how opposing ideas complement each other and make artistry more vibrant. Smoke and Mirrors Smoke & Mirrors is a group show by eight artists that highlights optical illusions' magic. Using various reflective materials and novel methods, this exhibit celebrates distortion and a welcoming break from reality. It is at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art until January 12th. Faces of Food Access and Community Resiliency The Arapahoe Ramp of the Boulder Public Library features Faces of Food Access and Community Resiliency until November 24th. This photojournalism project shares the stories and faces of individuals in the community facing food insecurity. The goal is to educate the public about residents' hunger issues while highlighting resilience. Build: Design and Create with Lego Build: Design and Create with Lego is an exhibit at the Longmont Museum that piggybacks on an uber-popular exhibit from the past. While great for children, it caters to all ages, inviting builders to channel their dexterity, inventiveness, and architectural originality. From a spacecraft to an aircraft carrier to a high-rise apartment on the moon, the sky and your imagination are the limit. If you want to fill your autumn with art, consider stopping by one of the above exhibits. With a vast array to choose from, you’re sure to find something that inspires folks of all ages. The Habitat Apartments is located in Gunbarrel, providing convenient shopping access to downtown Boulder and beyond. We offer apartments and townhomes with private patios, a heated pool, outdoor kitchens, pet-friendly perks, and multiple floor plans. Contact us today to learn why we’re the perfect place to set down roots.