Earth Day in San Antonio

46 years after its inception, Earth Day is still leading by example each and every year, moving towards a cleaner and healthier planet. While conservation efforts shouldn’t be confined to a single day out of the year, Earth Day is the main force behind the conservation movement. We have to do what we can to preserve the planet we live on for the generations that will come after us! But how can we do it?

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Around 300 million tons of plastic are produced each year to create the bags, bottles, and packages that we use every day. Not much of this plastic is being recycled or reused so it sits in landfills. By reducing the amount of plastic we’re using, we can make a huge difference. Invest in one good water bottle that you can refill when you’re thirsty and a couple of canvas bags that you can use for all of your shopping needs.

The next time you head to Starbucks in The Shops at La Cantera, bring your own cup or purchase your own reusable cup there. You receive a .10 cent discount by using your own cup for your beverage. Save some money while you’re saving the environment.

Even though snail mail has become a somewhat outdated form of mail, you can still find yourself inundated with tons of things in the mail each day. Most of it, you probably didn’t even sign up for! Around 28 billion gallons of water are wasted producing and recycling our junk mail. Cutting down on the junk mail cuts down on the waste. But what can you do about it? Signing up for one of these three services can have your name removed from widely distributed consumer mailing lists. Reducing the amount of junk mail you receive might seem insignificant but it can make a huge difference.

If you’re a resident at the Residences at La Cantera, you’re already doing a great thing for the planet. Did you know about our green initiative? We already have in place a plan to protect and conserve the existing trees around us as well as an erosion control plan. We want to take care of our planet and the best place to start is at home!

Do you do your part to protect the planet? Share with us your conservation tips on Facebook and Twitter so we can share them with others!

¡Fiesta San Antonio!

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In San Antonio, it’s the most wonderful time of year. No, it’s not Christmas. It’s Fiesta! From April 14th through the 24th you can party your faces off with the rest of the city in the biggest celebration of the year. Fiesta began all the way back in 1891 as a way of honoring the lives of the people who participated in the Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. What began as just a single parade has exploded into a week long festival of celebration.

April 14th marks the beginning of San Antonio Fiesta and the opening ceremonies are not something you want to miss. Greet Fiesta royalty along with other special guests. Participate in Pin Pandemonium so you can buy, sell, and trade your Fiesta pins and medals. (Get your Residences at La Cantera medals from us at the front desk!) The festivities kick off at 5 PM with the annual shouts of “Viva Fiesta!” Celebrate the history, heritage, and culture of San Antonio at the Opening Ceremonies.

Throughout the entirety of Fiesta, you’ll be able to attend Fiesta Carnival, an exciting collection of thrilling rides, tasty food, and fun performances. Admission into the Carnival is free but you’ll have to pay to ride the carnival rides. Are you a daredevil or not?

In the heart of the city, you’ll find Fiesta de los Reyes. A showcase of live performances that will make you move and shake is what awaits you. Multiple stages will host the artists and performers so there won’t be a dull moment at any point during the week. Sample treats from over 30 different food vendors shelling out Cajun shrimp, Mexican cuisine, hamburgers, and fresh fruit drinks. Will you be dancing yourself dizzy or stuffing yourself full?

Fiesta isn’t complete without the amazing Oyster Bake! 2016 marks the Fiesta Oyster Bake’s 100th anniversary too so this year will be one for the books. With more than 100,000 oysters to taste how will you sample them all? Listen to musical acts serenade you and your oysters while you munch. Learn more about admission and ticket prices here. Funds from the Oyster Bake will go towards student scholarships at St. Mary’s University as well as to support the university and the alumni association.

The enormity of Fiesta can’t possibly be summed up in just a few paragraphs. You simply have to attend and soak up as much of it as you can. If you don’t get the opportunity to see everything, don’t worry: you always have next year! What are you most looking forward to this year for Fiesta? If you haven’t gotten your Fiesta medals yet, make sure you come see us!

World Health Day in San Antonio

Each year on the anniversary of the World Health Organization’s inception, they celebrate the occasion by choosing a cause to advocate for. This year, on April 7th, they’ve chosen to raise awareness for diabetes. Diabetes affects over 29.1 million Americans with 8.1 million of them being undiagnosed. Experts recommend exercise as one of the number one methods of both preventing and managing the disease. If staying active can help you keep it at bay, how do we start?

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It’s not difficult to be active when San Antonio has such great weather almost all year round. There’s nothing quite like a little sunshine and fresh air to motivate you to get moving. San Antonio has some pretty beautiful parks (and we don’t mean Six Flags Fiesta) with some beautiful scenery to motivate your exercise. At Leon Creek Greenway Park, you have access to 52.6 miles of trails to wander along. No matter if you’re walking, jogging, running, or biking, your blood will be pumping, your heart thumping, and you’ll be on your way to a healthier you. Make sure you make your way over to the creek, you might catch a glimpse of some wildlife. To learn more about the trails and see a map, head here.

If green scenery isn’t quite enough to keep your mind occupied while you walk or run the trails, we’re certain this next destination will capture your attention. The San Antonio Aquarium has thousands of exhibits filled with aquatic life that will wow and impress you. Stroll through the tanks and get your legs moving while you learn a little something. Exercise doesn’t have to be tedious. If you can keep your mind occupied while you do it, it usually doesn’t even feel like you’re working out at all! Find the Aquarium’s schedule here and learn a little bit about what you’ll find there.

When nothing captures your attention quite like your phone screen or a television screen in front of your face, sometimes you’ll need to take the exercise to a more stationary place. Luckily for you, the Residences at La Cantera has its very own fitness center. Sit on a stationary bike and pedal to your heart’s content while you watch Netflix on your iPad or run on the treadmill while watching your favorite cooking show. Your heart will be working hard but you probably won’t notice with your mind wrapped up in its favorite distractions. If the fitness center is a little too high impact, retreat to the yoga studio where you can practice in peace. Yoga has been known to decrease stress and lower blood pressure, so you’ll be getting more benefits than you anticipated!

Staying active doesn’t have to feel like a chore. There are ways of doing it without driving yourself crazy with boredom. What’s your favorite way of staying active? Share it with us on Facebook and Twitter.