What's Happening at The Gates at Valdosta

“Very Valdosta”: The 20th Annual Azalea Festival

Mar 04, 2020

Every March, Drexel Park is host to Valdosta’s Azalea Festival: a collection of vendors, businesses, and performers celebrating everything that’s unique about Valdosta and South Georgia. Make time to stop by on the 14th and 15th to take in everything from food to crafts, hobbyists to local talent!

225 vendors are scheduled to set up shop this year, plus there will be a 5k race put on by the Valdosta Lowndes Parks and Recreation Authority. Other events include a classic car showcase and the World Famous Disc-Connected K9 Frisbee Show.

Check out their website below for more information, and we’ll see you there!

http://www.azaleafestival.com/

Valentine’s Gift Ideas for Each Love Language

Jan 29, 2020

The 5 Love Languages have gotten a lot of attention over the years. Conceptualized by marriage counselor Dr. Gary Chapman, they break down the ways we give and receive affection into five categories: Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time, and Physical Touch. When you know yours and your partners love language(s), you can better communicate what you want out of your relationship. Simple, right? Well, we all know love is waaayyyyy more complicated than that, but here are some easy Valentine’s Day gift ideas based off of Chapman’s 5 Love Languages.
To find your love language(s), visit https://www.5lovelanguages.com/
1.    Words of Affirmation
Does your partner prefer words from the heart? Write them a letter telling them how amazing they are and why you love them! Fill a small jar with strips of paper detailing all the things they’ve done that you’re proud of. Buy them gifts with inspirational quotes or words of encouragement. Word art is available nearly everywhere at any price range!
2.    Acts of Service
If your love has been feeling overwhelmed lately, or is bogged down by all the tasks they have on their plate, see if you can help lighten the load. Hire a local cleaning service like Maid Valet (229-469-4229) to give the house (or even just one troublesome room) a good scrub-down. Cook an extravagant dinner for them to come home to after a long day. Make coupons of different tasks you’re willing to do for them, that they can turn in at any time. They’ll appreciate it!
3.    Receiving Gifts
Valentine’s Day is the best time for anyone whose love language includes gift-giving and receiving! What’s something your partner has been eyeing for a long time, but hasn’t had the money for? Splurge on that item, or shower them in several small items! Chocolates, jewelry, flowers….it’s all fair game.
4.    Quality Time
This love language is great for couples with tight budgets who still want to do something special for Valentine’s Day. Carve some time for just you and your love to hang out, talk, and enjoy each other’s company. Maybe you binge-watch the latest season of their favorite show or take a walk outdoors. If you have a little bit of extra dough, plan a day trip out of town and go window shopping or visit someplace you haven’t been to yet.
5.    Physical Touch
This one is easy because it can be incorporated into any gift-gifting that you do this Valentine’s Day! If your partner is touchy, validate their affection by holding their hand during dinner, or being extra snuggly while watching tv. Give them a deep-tissue back massage as a gift all on its own! Just showing them that you value their physical presence will go a long way, no matter what actual gifts you give.

Reframe Your Resolutions

Jan 02, 2020

Every year we use January 1st as a giant reset button on our lives, only to fall off our overloaded wagon of resolutions before February even gets here. Instead of overwhelming yourself by setting dozens of resolutions for January 1st, try prioritizing and breaking them up throughout the course of the year. One new resolution per month makes it easier to establish a new habit before moving on to the next one.

1.    Set ‘Em
What are your big goals for the year? Fitness? Eating healthier? Kicking some bad habits? Maybe you have some smaller ones too, like reorganizing your closet or saving money. Write them all out and pick out the ones that are practical. (Be honest with yourself!)
2.    Prioritize ‘Em
Which of these goals require lots of steps? Can any of them wait til later in the year? Are there any goals that are WAY more important than the other ones? Rank them either in order of importance, or by a timeline that you can follow throughout the year.
3.    Break ‘Em Down
If you have 12 resolutions, then congratulations! You can do one per month, easy. If you have a handful, it’s ok to split them up into smaller parts. For instance, if you want to eat healthier, use January to conquer your eating habits at breakfast, February for lunch, and March for dinner. Same for fitness; start off at 3 days per week and work your way up every month. If you have a financial goal, figure out how much you need to set aside from every paycheck to reach your goal amount by the end of the year.
4.    Conquer ‘Em!
You know what you want to do, how you’ll do it, and when you’ll do it…..now go do it! By the end of the year you’ll be proud of your accomplishments, and you’ll be thankful for all the planning you did!