Author: Shannon Rooks

Announcing Our “We Love Our Residents” Photo Contest!

Posted on by Shannon Rooks

February is the month of love and this Valentine’s Day we want our residents to know how we feel! To show our love and appreciation we are offering the chance to win a $50 Visa Gift card each day for 5 days. All you have to do is show us, through a photo of your choice, what YOU love this Valentine’s Day!

There are TWO way to enter and FIVE chances to win February 11th through February 15th! Read the official rules and details below…

 

5 DIY Super Bowl Snacks

Posted on by Shannon Rooks

If you’re like us, you’re excited for Sunday to get here so we can celebrate the Super Bowl! Whether you’re hosting a party or attending one, here are 5 awesome DIY snacks from delish.com to wow your friends…

 

1 – Slow Cooker Tex Mex Dip

 

2 – Bacon Pickle Fries

 

3 – Garlic Bread Pizza Dip 

 

4 – Pepperoni Football 

 

5 – Buffalo Ranch Waffle Fries

5 Ways to De-Clutter in the New Year

Posted on by Shannon Rooks

The holidays have come and gone once again and it’s time to put away the decor and organize our homes. Feeling overwhelmed with the tasks of getting things cleaned and organized? Try these ten tips…

 

1 – Move all of your holiday decor to one spot. Take it down and put it on your kitchen table (for example). You’ll see everything you have and be able to decide if you want to purge anything before packing it away for next year.

 

2 – Get lots of clothes for Christmas? Now is the time to clean out your closet and donate old clothes before hanging up the new ones.

 

3 – Kids tend to get lots of toys for the holidays and when you mix their new toys with old ones it can create a big mess. Now is the time to purge old toys! Donate ones that are gently-used and make room for the new toys.

 

4 – A lot of people want to eat cleaner when January rolls around. If that sounds like you, now is the time to declutter your fridge and pantry. Pull everything out and toss anything that is expired. Start fresh with healthier foods in a clean and organized space. Don’t put the food away until you’ve wiped down and sanitized all the surfaces.

 

5 – Don’t forget about your car when de-cluttering. Now is the time to clean out those consoles and cup holders and vacuum the interior. When you’re done cleaning make sure you have all of the safety essentials in place for winter (i.e., a scraper, brush, sand and all fluids topped off.)

10 Last-Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

Posted on by Shannon Rooks

There are only 4 shopping days left until Christmas. If you are still running around trying to find something for people on your list, help is here! There are always people we forget and even unexpected gift givers this time of year. Try one of these ten great ideas and you won’t be caught empty-handed!

1 – A box of fine chocolates

2 – A bottle of wine or champagne

3 – Cozy slipper socks or slippers

4 – A holiday plant

5 – A coffee mug with fresh ground coffee

6 – A scarf and winter gloves

7 – A floral centerpiece (for the Christmas host or hostess)

8 – Gift cards or scratch tickets

9 – Bake a batch of holiday cookies or a holiday bread

10 – A holiday scented candle

5 Tips For Taking Care of Your Real Christmas Tree

Posted on by Shannon Rooks

There are still 3 weeks until Christmas. Make the most of your real tree (and make sure it lasts) with these great tips!

 

1 – Give it a fresh cut on the bottom. This will re-open the tree’s source of getting water.

 

2 – Keep it away from any heat sources. Being close to heat will force the tree to dry out prematurely.

 

3 – Make sure to check the tree’s water supply every day and water it each morning.

 

4 – There is no need to add anything else to the water. Plain water gives the tree everything it needs.

 

5 – Make sure your tree stand holds enough water. It should easily hold at least one gallon of water.

5 Tips for Hosting a Great Friendsgiving

Posted on by Shannon Rooks

Hosting a separate Thanksgiving with friends is a tradition that is gaining popularity over the last several years. Whether you host yours before the big day or serve leftovers after it, here are some tips to make your Friendsgiving fun and memorable!

 

1 – Make it an annual thing. Create some invitations (paper or use online sites like evite.com) and let your friends know they can look forward to Friendsgiving every year.

 

2 – Serve options other than turkey. Some people are “turkeyed-out” by the time Thanksgiving is over. Try serving some dishes that you wouldn’t see at a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

 

3 – Ask your guests to bring something. If everyone pitches in and brings a casserole or finger food appetizer the work-load will be easier and less stressful.

 

4 – Start some unique traditions. Play board games, toast with a special drink, create a photo album of photos from every year. Traditions are fun (especially around the holidays). Your guests will know what to look forward to next year.

 

5 – Don’t force a timeline. Let your friends pop in and visit for as long as they’d like. If you have a strict dinner time set some people may not be able to attend.

5 Easy and Festive Halloween Recipes

Posted on by Shannon Rooks

They may look spooky but they taste delicious! Get in the Halloween spirit by heading to your kitchen and whipping up one of these fun and easy treats.

 

1 – Rice Krispie Treat Mummies (recipe courtesy of Creme de la Crumb)

 

2 – Pizza Skulls (recipe courtesy of Plain Chicken)

 

3 – Bloody Red Velvet Cake (recipe courtesy of Spicy Southern Kitchen)

 

4 – Blood Drip Cupcakes (recipe courtesy of Delish)

 

5 – Creepy Shirley Temples (recipe courtesy of Boulder Locavore)