With the holiday season in full swing, we thought we would dedicate this last blog of the year to some good advice on how to enjoy the last month of 2016.   We found (and credit) Health.com for the following ideas that we hope will leave you merry and bright well into 2017.
 
Hike your mood with sunlight
It stimulates the production of feel-good serotonin and helps relieve seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which impacts millions of Americans every year. To ease SAD symptoms, spend time outdoors or near a window on sunny days, or ask your doc about phototherapy (a treatment using a box that emits full-spectrum light).
Take a whiff of citrus
Researchers studying depression have found that certain citrus fragrances boost feelings of well-being and alleviate stress by upping levels of norepinephrine, a hormone that affects mood.  For an all-day pick-me-up, dab a little lemon or orange essential oil on a handkerchief to tuck in your pocket.
 
Savor a spicy meal
Hot foods trigger the release of endorphins—the natural chemicals that trigger feelings of euphoria and well-being.  
 
Walk away from worries
The rhythm and repetition of walking has a tranquilizing effect on your brain, and it decreases anxiety and improves sleep.
 
Squeeze here
The fleshy place between your index finger and thumb is called the hoku spot in traditional Chinese medicine. Applying firm pressure there for just 30 seconds can reduce stress and tension in your upper body. So if you start to feel overwhelmed by the holiday chaos, give your hand a squeeze and take a deep breathe.
 
Do less, enjoy more
We go overboard to please others during the holidays: shopping, cooking, sending cards, and attending every event.  Instead, take care of yourself by saying no at least once—and maybe more.
 
Stick with your daily routine
Prioritize your workouts, book club, etc., and don't try to squeeze in more holiday than you can handle
 
Don't neglect whatever cracks you up
Laughing like crazy reduces stress hormones. That, in turn, helps immune cells function better, says psychologist Steve Wilson, founder of the World Laughter Tour, an organization that offers therapeutic-laughter training.
 
Forget perfection
Stop obsessing over doing it all. The world is not going to end if the house is a little cluttered or dinner is on the table a few minutes late. Focus your energy on enjoying the people in your life. Don't sweat the small stuff and your holiday will be much more enjoyable!
 
Get out of the house
If your family members often pick on one another at the holiday table, taking the fun out of meals, consider eating family brunches or dinners in restaurants. Being in public discourages loud voices and bad behavior.
 

And our favorite … Go tech-free
Constant cell phone buzzes and email alerts keep us in a perpetual fight-or-flight mode due to bursts of adrenaline. Not only is this exhausting, but it contributes to mounting stress levels, especially in women. What better time to turn your gadgets off than during a holiday get-together? Enjoy spending time with your family and friends without worry.
 

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Inside or out, grab your friends and family and get ready for all the fun that to be found just outside of our apartment community at Cantara in El Paso.    To help you get started, we’ve picked some of fav things to do in December, and January, too
 
December 17
San Elizario Historic District, San Elizario, Texas The Annual Posadas Presentation is an important part of the Mexican Christmas celebration. The word posada means "inn" or "shelter" in Spanish, and this celebration recreate Mary and Joseph's search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. The presentation will begin at Veterans Memorial Plaza in San Elizario. It will be followed by Live Music, the traditional Christmas Piñata ceremony and Cultural Dance presentations.
The Luminaria Lighting of over 5,000 luminarias in the San Elizario Historic District will take place shortly after sundown and remain lit throughout the evening. Traditional fare will be on hand. The 6th Annual Christmas Bicycle giveaway and Mr & Mrs Santa Claus will be onhand. Sponsored by the San Elizario Genealogy & Historical Society.

December 23, 2016
The biggest Christmas experience of the year! The original, direct from Russia, Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker! “Knock Out!” Raves the New York Times. Enchant the whole family with larger than life magical props, a 60-Foot growing Christmas tree and spectacular Russian-made costumes and sets. A must-see event, witness the world’s best dancers on stage in your city! Get your tickets before they sell out at www.nutcracker.com
 
December 30, 2016
When teams from the ACC and Pac-12 meet on the field on December 30, 2016, it will mark the 83rd edition of one of the oldest traditions in college football history, the Hyundai Sun Bowl. Since the first Sun Bowl played on January 1, 1935, as a fundraising event for a local service club, the game has grown into El Paso’s number one national attraction. With its picturesque stadium nestled between two mountains it has become a piece of the Southwest and a lesson in history.
 
December 30 – 31
LIGHTS ALL NIGHT is taking it to the next level for its seventh year on Friday, December 30 and Saturday, December 31 where   headliners deadmau5, Above & Beyond, ZEDD and other top artists will entertain you into the new year.   From state of the art production surrounding the biggest names in electronic music today to specialty food trucks for a unique dining experience as well as signature experiential elements, fans can expect all points of attending LIGHTS ALL NIGHT  in El Paso to be top-notch.
 
January 16, 2017
For those of you who love to get out for some fresh air in the winter time on your mountain bike, this event is for you!  It’s the annual  El Paso Puzzler Mountain Bike Race that starts at The Bowen Ranch Round House in northeast El Paso and has some nice cash rewards for the top male and female competitors.    
 
See you out and about in El Paso this winter!
 

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We’re so fortunate to live in a region that provides so many options to get outside and enjoy our surroundings.  And the fall season is no exception.  With cooler temperatures in the forecast, it means that the pumpkin patches are ripe for fun and frightening nights await all who dare to roam from your home at Cantara Apartments through El Paso all month long!
 
And with that said, we thought we’d share some of our ‘favorite things to do this fall’ with you in our October blogs.
 
La Union Maze
October – Nov 6; weekends
 
Mesilla Valley Corn Maze at Lyles Family Farms
Saturdays and Sundays in October
 
KLAQ Haunted Warehouse
Oct. 1-31
 
Terror Trail Haunted House and Zombie Adventure
Oct. 2 – Nov. 7
 
Concordia Cemetery Ghost Tour:
Oct. 3-24
 
Forbidden Acres El Paso
Friday & Saturdays through October
 
El Paso County Sheriff's Office "Paranoia Asylum
Haunted House
Oct.14 – 16 & Oct. 21 – 31
 
Downtown El Paso Ghost Tour
Oct. 24
 
Utep's Haunted Campus Tour
Oct. 22-23
 
Monster Bash
Oct. 23
 
Haunted Pumpkin Patch
Call 568-8482
 
Paint N' Pour – Halloween Edition
Oct. 23
 
Ghosts of the Past
Oct. 23-24
 
Spooky, Slimy and Slithering Science
Oct. 23-24 and Oct. 28 – Nov. 1
 
Ghost Stories by Moonlight
Oct 23 : Evenings for Adults
 

The post ‘TIS THE SEASON FOR FESTIVE AND FRIGHTFUL THINGS TO DO AND SEE appeared first on Cantera Apartments Blog.