December 2015 Community Newsletter

 Welcome to our Community!/¡Bienvenidos a nuestra comunidad!
Community Manager
We would like to welcome our new neighbors as you make this your new home. If you have any
questions, please call or come by the office. We're here to help! ∕ Queremos extender la
bienvenida a nuestro nuestros nuevos vecinos mientras hacen este su nuevo hogar. Si tienen
preguntas, por favor llamen o pasen por la oficina. ¡Estamos aquí para servilrles!
Precelda Salinas
Buena Vida CONNECT! Fun in December/¡Diversión!
Your Community Team
Livar
Donna
Assistant Manager
Here at Villas de Serenada we want to celebrate with YOU! We have lots of fun going on for our
residents this month: Dec. 8th from 9‑10:30am, Breakfast in the office∕∕∕∕ Dec. 16th, Coffee &
Donuts in the office∕∕∕∕ Dec. 18th, Judging for Best Decorated patio; also Coloring Contest sheets
must be back to the Office by Dec. 18th∕∕∕∕ Dec. 21st, Coloring Contest winners announced∕∕∕∕ Dec.
23rd from 2‑5:00pm, Refreshments and gifts in the Office!! ∕
Jose Gutierrez
Lead Maintenance
Jaime Arellano
Assistant Maintenance
Albino Nava
Aquí en Villas de Serenada, ¡queremos celebrar con USTED! Tenemos mucha diversión para
nuestros residentes este mes: el 8 de dic. de las 9‑10:30am, Desayuno en la Oficina∕∕∕∕ 16 de dic.
Café y Donuts en la Oficina∕∕∕∕ 18 de dic., Selección del Patio Mejor Decorado; también las hojas
para el Concurso de Colorear se tienen que entregar no más tarde que el 18 de dic.∕∕∕∕ el 21 de dic
, ganadores del Concurso de Colorear se anunciarán∕∕∕∕ 23 de dic, de las 2‑5:00 de la tarde,
¡Refrigerios y regalos en la Oficina!
Maintenance
Office Hours
Monday Thru
Friday
8:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday
10:00am - 5:00pm
One Less Decision! /¡Una Decisión Menos!
In any given day, most of us have to make numerous and sometimes difficult decisions. We would
like to help you out by making one of those decisions for you. If your lease term is almost up ‑ we
want you to stay! Just stop by the office and we'll have a new lease ready for you to sign. Simple
as that! ∕ En un día cualquiera, la mayoría de nosotros tenemos que hacer decisiones numerosas
y a veces difíciles. Quisiéramos ayudarle por hacer una de estas decisiones para usted. Si su
contrato se vence pronto ‑ ¡queremos que se quede! Sólo pase por la oficina y vamos a tener un
contrato nuevo listo para su firma. ¡Así de sencillo!
Sunday
Closed
Contact Directory
Main Office
(817) 354-8900
Office Fax
(817)-545-9241
December is here! /Ya llegó diciembre!
Emergency Contact
(817)354-8900
We wanted to take a moment to wish you and yours the happiest of holidays! Enjoy time spent
with family and friends, and in the midst of the busyness, take time to relax and soak in the magic
of the season. Also, we hope you have a fun and safe New Year's Eve. ∕ ¡Queríamos tomar un
momento para desear a usted y a los suyos unas fiestas muy felices! Disfrute de tiempo con la
familia y amigos, y en medio del ajetreo, tome tiempo para relajarse y disfrutar de la magia de la
temporada. También esperamos que tenga un fin de año divertido y seguro.
Let's make 2016 the best year yet! ∕¡Que el año 2016 sea el mejor!
Villas de Serenada Apartments | [email protected]
VillasdeSerenada.com | 301 Fair Oaks Blvd. Euless, TX 76039
‘Tis the season for giving and some
folks have been (secretly) giving in
abundance. Over the past several
holiday seasons, anonymous donors,
who are appropriately named
“Layaway Angels,” are walking into retail
stores just before Christmas and giving large
sums of money to pay off layaway accounts.
Last year, at a Toys“R”Us® store in Bellingham,
Massachusetts, a woman gave $20,000 to
pay off accounts. And in Mechanicsburg,
Pennsylvania, another patron paid $50,000
which covered over 100 layaway accounts
that included toys, clothing, and electronics.
Even celebrities are jumping on board with
the idea. Tim Tebow, former NFL quarterback,
appeared in an Orlando Walmart last year to
pay off accounts.
Since many families struggle to provide
everything on their child’s wish list, a layaway
program enables them to make payments on
the items. But, how meaningful is it to those
families to be given the gift of a zero balance?
It is the epitome of what the holiday season is
all about – giving to others.
With the “layaway angel” movement growing
year after year, a charity called Pay Away the
Layaway emerged, and continues to grow.
This organization enables anyone to contribute
anonymously to other’s layaway accounts,
particularly to those accounts holding items for
children. You can learn more and donate by
visiting payawaythelayaway.org.
The generosity of the “Layaway Angels”
reminds us of how giving to others can make
a world of difference in someone’s life,
particularly during the holiday season. Even
if you are not able to give monetarily in this
capacity, you can always give in ways that
will greatly impact a person, a family, or even
an entire community. Donating food, clothing,
blankets, toys, or even your time will make a
difference. So, whose “angel” will you be this
holiday season?
sources: www.cbsnews.com/news/layaway-angels-picking-up-thousands-in-santas-gift-tabs/
www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-wilks/layaway-angels-share-the-wealth_b_6334196.html
UNIQUE
PHOTO
GIFTS
If you haven’t heard
about Etsy, you’re in for a treat!
Etsy.com is an online marketplace
where you can discover handmade
items, custom products, or vintage
goods from all over the world. It is the
perfect online shopping destination
for something truly unique, all while
supporting small businesses.
A meaningful photograph always
makes a great gift, but to present
it in a fun and/or functional way, is
sure to be cherished. Here are some
Etsy store finds where your favorite
photograph can be featured.
Photo Expressions
makes beautiful
night lights using
your favorite
photo. Such
a unique way
to capture a
memory!
Etsy.com/shop/
PhotoExpressions
FamilyFotoFun
prints photographs
directly onto
natural wood
pieces. A rustic
and elegant
keepsake that will
stand the test of
time.
Etsy.com/shop/
FamilyFotoFun
Klidonas Photo
Jewelry creates
beautiful pieces
such as cuff links
and bracelets,
using your favorite
photographs.
Etsy.com/shop/KlidonasPhotoJewelry
SIMPLE GINGERBREAD
COOKIES
Directions
Check out these simple, yet delicious, gingerbread
cookies, complete with royal icing. This recipe yields 12-15
cookies, depending on the size of cookie cutters used.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl,
mix cookie ingredients together and chill for 45 minutes.
Cookies
Roll dough out onto floured board or countertop, about
1 package sugar cookie mix
1/8-inch thick. Press cookie cutters into dough and place
½ cup all-purpose flour,
onto cookie sheet. Bake cookies for 8 minutes. Cool on a
plus extra for rolling dough
cooling rack. Repeat the process until all cookie dough is
1 egg
used.
¼ cup melted butter
To make the icing, use a hand mixer to beat egg whites
2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
with vanilla extract until frothy. Add the powdered
½ teaspoon ground ginger
sugar, one cup at a time, and beat on low speed until
¼ cup dark molasses
combined and consistency is smooth. Turn the mixer to
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
high and beat approximately 5 minutes, or until icing
Cookie cutters of your choice
becomes stiff and glossy. Transfer icing to a pastry bag
and carefully pipe designs onto cookies.
Royal Icing
Tip: If you do not have a pastry bag, you can transfer icing
2 egg whites
into a large Ziploc bag, cutting a tiny hole in the bottom
3 cups powdered sugar
corner. Squeeze excess air out of the bag, seal it closed,
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
and pipe icing onto cookies. Simply toss the bag when
Pastry bag with small decorating tip finished for easy clean-up!
SURVIVING PEARL HARBOR
“Yesterday, December 7, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy —
the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked
by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” These were the
famous words spoken by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt on the
day following the attacks, claiming lives of over 2,400 and injuring
thousands more.
Today, the two oldest living survivors of the attacks still remember every detail as if it was
yesterday, and they both actively share their stories with their communities on a regular basis.
U.S. Navy veteran, James Downing, is 102 years old and lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Veteran Ray Chavez is 103 years old and resides in Poway, California.
Naval Lieutenant Downing was asleep in his home when he woke up to see his ship, USS West
Virginia, under attack. He hurried aboard to put out fires, but was forced to abandon the
battleship as it sank into the ocean. Downing recalls trying to memorize as many names of
deceased sailors as he could, from their dog tags, so he would be able to inform their families.
He spent a great deal of time, thereafter, visiting the injured sailors and offering to write letters
home.
Seaman First Class Chavez worked as a quartermaster aboard the minesweeper USS Condor. He
had just laid his head on his pillow that morning when his wife woke him, saying they were being
attacked. Chavez quickly got back to his ship, which was fired at by a Japanese Zero aircraft.
Miraculously, the USS Condor and its crew made it through without casualties.
This past summer, the two veterans were given the opportunity to meet, shake hands, and share
stories with each other. Of the meeting, Chavez said, “If I ever meet any survivors, I’m really
happy.”
sources: www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/jul/03/pearl-harbor-veterans-meeting/, www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/mar/18/pearl-harbor-vet103-in-shipshape/, www.denverpost.com/news/ci_24673595/pearl-harbor-survivor-100-shares-story-that-fateful
Sunday
6
Monday
Tuesday
1
Rent Due/ Renta
Pay online
VillasdeSerenada
-.com
Wednesday
2
Best Decorated
Patio Contest this
month !!!
'Tis the season!
PRIZES!!!!
Thursday
3
Pick up your picture
for the coloring
contest, due by Dec
18th.
Friday
4
Rent Late/ Renta
Atrasada
Saturday
5
¡Concurso para
el Patio Mejor
Decorado este
mes!!!
¡PREMIOS!!!!
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31 New Year's Eve
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Office is
now closed on
Sundays
We will be
closed on
December 25th.
Coffee everyday in
the office.
Enjoy Coffee and
Donuts in the Office!
Café y donuts en la
Oficina!
Celebrate the joy of
giving at the office
2pm to 5pm
¡Fiesta!
Kids, coloring
sheets DUE
tomorrow!
Niños, hojas de
colorear mañana
Pest Control
We love our
Schedule are on
Residents!!
Fridays
¡Queremos a
Control de plagas nuestros residentes!
los viernes
Judging for the best
decorated Patio.
Winner announced
on the 23rd.
School break
begins!!!
Vacaciones de la
escuela!
Kwanzaa Begins