Community Blog

I’ve been wearing contacts and glasses for several years now.   Whenever I stumble across an article about improving your eyesight I have to stop and read it.   I guess somehow I hope it’ll give me some good advice on how to get rid of my fragile crutch that helps me view the world.

According to the writer, you can improve your eyesight by doing exercises where you focus on something far away.  Supposedly this will force the eyes to become accustomed to focusing at a distance rather than close up.  inArkasas also recently reported on ways to watch for signs of aging.  It describes they symptoms of dry eyes and what/when to report things to your doctor.  Luckily, Little Rock has excellent vision centers with several near Highland Pointe Apartments.    If you are in need of your annual visit, schedule an appointment with James Eyecare & Optic Gallery or Lane Eye Care.    Both are conveniently located with excellent trained staff.

Did you know there’s a fun app for the Palm OS to test your vision?  If you want to keep track of any changes during the year you can utilize Vision.

Arkansas has so much to offer it’s residents if they’re looking for outdoor adventure.  The mountains around Little Rock provide beautiful hiking, canoeing and caving.  In fact, below the Ozark Mountains lies an world of dazzling limestone caves.

Several tour companies offer beginner and advanced cavers the opportunity to experience the underworld on guided tours.  If you’re interested, visit War Eagle Cavern , Mystic Caverns and Blanchard Springs Caverns for more information on tours.  Blanchard Springs is operated by the US Forest service and has a wild cave tour for experienced cavers.

Buffalo River National Park has some of the most cave rich mountains with over 360 documented caves.  However, due to White Nose Syndrome which is fatal to bats, some of the caves are temporarily closed.   Check with the National Park Service to find out which caves at Buffalo River are still open for recreational caving. The Buffalo Point caves are about 2 hours north of Little Rock, making it a fun, weekend getaway.

Did you know, when you vacation along the Gulf Coast, the water has flowed into the Mississippi River from the Buffalo River and Ozark Mountains?

If you’re looking for somewhere around town that is romantic, has great atmosphere and music then check out Diversion Tapas Restaurant located on Kavanaugh Street not far from University of Arkansas Medical Center.  They have an extensive menu of tapas, wine and martinis.  In fact, they host a lot of wine and martini tasting events with specials on the tapas.  What are tapas?  They’re small bite size snacks originating in Spain.  And if you enjoy a good martini but rarely make them at home, here’s a video on how to make a summer martini.

By now, we’ve all seen and heard about the recent and local Apartment fires in Little Rock, AR (as well as all over the nation). Have you ever thought about what you would do in the event of an apartment fire?  Of course we don’t want to think about such things happening to us or to any of our loved ones, but we should be always be prepared for anything, especially apartment fires.

Here are a few helpful apartment fire safety tips from American Red Cross about what you should know and do in an apartment fire.

1) Be Prepared for a fire before you move in by checking for smoke alarms and fire extinguishers inside and outside of the complex.

2) Be Proactive by purchasing renter’s insurance.

3) Get out of the building as quickly as possible at the first sign of a fire.

4) Use the stairs instead of an elevator to evacuate the building in a fire.

Hard pressed to find something to do this weekend? Head out to the Little Rock Fashion Show where the young (are always well dressed) and fabulous. The fashion show will be the culmination of the Little Rock Fashion Week and is set to showcase all of the up and coming homegrown talent in the local Little Rock area. The show will feature local area designers looking for exposure and to help the economic growth ofthe area.

The fashion show goes from 7-9 pm and will be held at the Robinson Center Exhibit Hall in Little Rock. Tickets are reasonably priced between $14-35, so don’t miss this great opportunity to experience all the fashion, music, and entertainment Little Rock area has to offer.

I have memories of my mother baking zucchini bread in the summer time.  She’d load it with shredded zucchini, raisins and cinnamon.  I’ve enjoyed recreating her recipe over the years but I have to admit after find this recipe from Smitten Kitchen, I was tempted to change it up a little.  Surprisingly I really enjoyed adding in the cranberries and chocolate chips to the nuts and raisins.  It gave it an extra rich flavor that makes a nice summer time treat.  If you want to take it up a notch, serve it for dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

If you don’t have time to bake your own, stop by Boulevard Bread Company on N. Grant St.  They have delicious bread loaded with the essence of homemade bread.

It may be hot but I love getting out in the summer time for a day of hiking or biking.  One inspiring trail is the Big Dam Bridge.   With over 12 miles of hiking/biking in the area, it’s a great way to be outdoors, enjoy nature and get some exercise.  There are 8 observation areas with great views of the Arkansas River.  If you haven’t been lately, plan a day for outdoor fun, just bring lots of water!

Sweet, citrus lemon bars are refreshing in the summer heat, so for a recent event I decided to whip some up.  However, there are so many to choose from but once you find a good one you’ll make it over and over again.  That’s exactly how I feel about Bakerella’s recipe.  Her lemon bars are delicious, chewy and packed with flavor.  When you’re in the mood for something sweet try making a batch of these summer time treats.

What is everyone doing for the extended Fourth of July holiday weekend? Arkansas is not lacking in events for the holiday. Here is a look at some of the events happening around town:

Free Day & Fourth of July Family Festival at the Clinton Presidential Center Park: July 3-4 the Presidential Center is celebrating Independence Day. On Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m., admission to the library is free.

Arkansas Queen Cruise: See the fireworks from the river on the Arkansas Queen. It’s July 4th, 501-372-5777.

Pioneer-style 4th of July Celebration: From 2-4 p.m. at the Historic Arkansas Museum. The event has living history performances and a parade, and it’s free. Takes place on the 4th.

Pops on the River: Bring chairs or blankets to Riverfront Park. The gates open at 5:30 p.m. There is music from 6:30 and fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. The Arkansas symphony plays patriotic music to go along with the display. There are also other activities and a marketplace. It is a free event on July 4th.

It’s about how well you plan that makes the most out of your trips! Are you going out of town for the 4th of July? My spontaneity usually gets the best of me and it’s bags packed and off I go for a long weekend.

Since I’m usually waiting until the last minute to go somewhere, it’s best to find some great last minute deals online. Here are some of my favorites:

• Bing.com: Great for checking airfare specials, hotels, cars, cruises and other vacation deals. I especially love the price predictor that lets you know when to purchase fares.

• Craigslist.org: Click on the city you wish to visit and then click on the vacation link. They’ve always got last minute deals on weekend getaways. Who knew to use Craigslist for vacationing?

• VBRO.com: If you’re not a fan of hotels, you can stay at a time-share in most cities using VBRO. VBRO allows you to book a certain number of days or even extend your stay for a month if you so desire. They’ve got great reviews from travelers which really helps with decision power. The nice thing is the ability to contact and rent from owners directly.

Who do you use to plan your getaways? Where will your spontaneity take you?

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