Category: Apartment Living
8 At Home Valentine Activities for the Whole Family
Sometimes staying in is just as fun as going out! If you’ve decided to stay in this year, here are 5 at home Valentine date ideas to try with the whole family.
1 – Movie Marathon. Everybody gets to choose their favorite movie (bonus if it is a love story). Spend the day watching the movies and eating fun, Valentine snacks together.
2 – Cooking Dinner Together. There are many at-home meal delivery services these days. Try ordering dinner for the family and sharing the task of preparing the meal.
3 – Decorating Treats. Whether its cupcakes or cookies, the whole family will have fun decorating some festive desserts together.
4 – Making Homemade Valentines. There is nothing better than a homemade card. Grab the art supplies and put your creative hats on to make valentines for each other.
5 – Play Valentine Bingo. You can download a fun version of Valentine bingo here. Instead of using the typical bingo markers, use conversation hearts to give it a fun, Valentine touch.
6 – Make a Valentine Playlist. Add everyone’s favorite love songs and play it all day on Valentine’s Day!
7 – Wear Matching Festive, Pajamas. Many stores are offering festive, Valentine pajamas for the whole family. Get warm, and cozy together in matching pjs this year.
8 – Drink Valentine Hot Chocolate. Pickup some cocoa bombs at the store or make yours festive by adding whipped cream and sprinkles.
However you choose to spend Valentine’s Day this year we hope you have a wonderful time together!
12 Essentials to Pack For Move-In Day
Packing to move can be a hassle. When you finally get the keys to your new place the last thing you want to do is be searching through boxes for essentials. If you’re scheduled to move into a new apartment with us soon, here is a list of essentials to keep in an easily-accessible (and clearly labeled) box on move-in day!
- Clean, dry bath towels
- Your toiletries (i.e. toothbrush, toothpaste)
- A hand soap for the bathroom
- Any medications you take daily
- A first aid kit
- Phone charger
- Sheets and pillows
- A shower curtain
- Paper plates, cups, napkins
- Toilet paper & paper towels
- Basic cleaning supplies (i.e. surface cleaner, a sponge, dish soap)
- Water & non-perishable snacks
You’ll be so glad you have these items available and nearby on your first day in your new home. We’re glad to have you as a new resident at Princeton Properties! Happy moving!
5 Tips for Caring for Poinsettias
Poinsettias are very popular in indoor, holiday decor this time of year! Many people gift them to friends and family as well. If you have some of these beautiful, red plants in your home then it’s important to know how to take care of them. Here are a few tips to consider to make your poinsettias last through the holidays!
1 – Check the soil regularly. It should not be overly wet but also not dry. It’s important to keep the soil damp.
2 – Don’t keep your poinsettias near a radiator or heating source. They will get dried out much faster this way.
3 – These beautiful, red plants prefer room-temperature water to cold water. Remember that when you’re watering.
4 – Keeping them misted regularly will help them from drying out (especially in warmer homes).
5 – If you want your poinsettia to last until next year you will need to prune it by spring time to about 10 cm. Repot it before summer and keep it in a cool, dry place until November when you can expose it to sunlight to help it bloom again.
How to Make a Carved Pumpkin Last Through Halloween
Halloween is less than two weeks away and now is the time to think about carving those pumpkins! Whether you like a traditional jack-o-lantern or something a bit spookier, here are 5 tips to make sure your pumpkin looks great and lasts through Halloween!
1 – Clean the inside really well. Many carving kits come with scoops to use to scoop out all of the “guts” of the pumpkin. The seeds and guts are the part that starts to rot first. Make sure yours is as empty as possible before you start carving your design.
2 – Soak it in a bleach bath. After you’ve carved the perfect design, it’s time to give that pumpkin a bath. Fill a tub or bucket with water and add 1/2 cup of bleach. Let the pumpkin sit overnight (or longer if possible) before pulling it out and drying it off.
3 – Store is somewhere cool. When you’re not displaying your pumpkin, make room for it in your refrigerator or another cool/dry place in your home to keep it from drying out.
4 – Hydrate it! Fill a spray bottle with some water and give your carved pumpkin a spray daily. This will keep is fresh and moist as well.
5 – Use a battery-operated candle. Flameless candles help in making the pumpkin last longer since there’s no heat drying the pumpkin from the inside. Find an LED one that flickers for a spookier effect.
5 Tips for Back to School Success
September is here and that means back to school! Whether you are a student, teacher or parent, going back to school can be a big change. Make the transition back to school easier in your house with these helpful tips…
1 – Move bedtimes up. We all get in the habit of staying up late during the summer. Now that September is here it’s important to establish a better bedtime routine (especially for kids). Move bedtime up by at least 30 minutes.
2 – Keep a calendar. Everyone has busy schedules in the fall with school, sports, clubs and activities. Keep a printed calendar of all of these weekday events.
3 – Make a kitchen command center. This is a great place to put your calendar and schedule for everyone to see. Keep hanging file folders or shelves nearby to keep important documents that the kids will need for school. (Think medical documents, permission slips, teacher’s contact information etc.)
4 – Meal prep. If you’re back to packing lunches it’s a great idea to meal prep on Sunday to be prepared for the week. This will save you tons of time in the morning when you’re trying to get out the door on time.
5 – Get caught up on laundry. There’s nothing worse than having nothing to wear while you’re running late in the morning. Take time to catch up on laundry so everyone in the house has what they need during the week clean and read to wear.
The Easiest Way to Clean Your Microwave
We all neglect our microwaves now and then when cleaning. It’s easy to close the door and keep the mess hidden inside. If you’ve been neglecting yours, here is a quick and easy way to remove dirt, grime, and stuck-on food!
1 – Fill a microwave safe bowl with water about halfway full.
2 – Add a couple tablespoons of baking soda to the bowl of water.
3 – Put the bowl in the microwave and run the microwave for about three minutes (longer if it’s really dirty).
4 – Carefully (it will be hot!) remove the bowl from the microwave.
5 – Use a damp cloth to easily wipe away all of the grime and food stains.
This trick is so easy you can now clean your microwave at least once a week. Just run the microwave with the bowl of water while you’re doing other dishes and before you know it, your whole kitchen is clean!
What are some of your favorite kitchen cleaning hacks?
10 Tips For Hosting a Successful BBQ
Fourth of July is this weekend and if you’re hosting a BBQ you’re probably in full planning mode! Before Sunday arrives make sure to check out our tips below for hosting a successful BBQ with your friends and family.
1 – Get a headcount – You want to make sure you have enough food and drinks for your guests. Get an accurate headcount from your guest list tonight so you know what you need at the grocery store.
2 – Know what your guests eat – Do some guests have special dietary concerns or allergies? Make sure you have options for them so they are able to eat and enjoy themselves at your party!
3 – Make sure you have all the cooking supplies – No one wants to be running out to the market for missing items the day of the party. Think about condiments, ice and charcoal now!
4 – Make the perfect playlist – No party is complete without the perfect playlist! Music streaming services offer plenty of options and some have already put together 4th of July playlists that are perfect for your soiree.
5 – Have activities planned – Put out some games for your guests if you have the space! Think lawn games like cornhole or badminton for some outdoor fun!
6 – Think of the kids – Make sure you have food and beverage options on hand for any little ones who will be attending the party (i.e. juice, water, snacks etc.)
7 – Have a bad weather back up plan – Rain can certainly ruin any party. Don’t let it ruin yours! Make sure you have a backup plan and a space for guests to go if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
8 – Have festive accessories – Nothing says 4th of July like red, white and blue apparel! Pick up some beads, glasses or hats for your guests to wear while they celebrate!
9 – Prepare for the sun and bugs – Stock up on bug spray and sunscreen and have it out so guests can help themselves if needed.
10 – Have fun – The most important tip is to remember to have fun! Hosting a party can be stressful but if you follow these steps you should be well-prepared and able to enjoy yourself.
10 Cooking Hacks to Save You Time in the Kitchen
Do you hate cooking at home and find yourself ordering out more often than you should? Start ditching the delivery and cut down time in the kitchen with these awesome tips and hacks.
1 – Like breakfast sandwiches but don’t want to make one every morning? You can poach a dozen eggs at once using a muffin tin. Refrigerate/freeze the eggs and pull one out to reheat on your toast each morning.
2 – Fast forward your fruit ripening by keeping your fruits in a paper bag.
3 – Making mashed potatoes? Don’t waste time peeling the skin. Instead, boil them with the skin on and it will fall off in the water. Better yet, mash them with the skins on for a more textured mash potato dish.
4 – Use cooking spray to coat your measuring cups. This will help keep foods from sticking to them when baking.
5 – Having leftover pizza? Reheat it in a skillet on your stove top rather than the oven to save time.
6 – Love a morning smoothie? Put your fruit and veggies into freezer bags. Put one in the fridge each night to throw into the blender the next morning.
7 – Put a piece of white bread in your cookie jar to keep your cookies from getting hard and eventually needing to be tossed in the trash.
8 – Dice up a bunch of vegetables and store them in freezer bags. These are great to use as soup starters. You can toss the pre-cut veggies in your crockpot and add your desired broth.
9 – Having a birthday party? Pre-scoop your ice cream and put them on cupcake liners in a muffin tin. Pull one out for each plate at cake time.
10 – Need to soften butter on the counter? Cut it into tablespoon sizes .The smaller pieces will soften a whole lot faster than the whole stick.
5 Ways to Go Greener at Home
Earth Day is approaching and it’s always a great time to start evaluating how we are treating our environment. There are plenty of ways you can go greener at home beyond the classic “reduce, reuse recycle.”
1 – Switch the lightbulbs in your lamps to energy efficient light bulbs. When shopping at your local hardware store just look for the “energy star” label on the package. While we’re talking about lamps…make sure to always turn yours off when you’re leaving a room.
2 – Use more reusable bags! These are not just for grocery shopping. Start thinking about packing your lunch in a reusable bag and bringing your bags to department stores for shopping as well.
3 – Plant a vegetable garden. Don’t have a lot of space? Many vegetables can grow in containers that you can put on your patio or balcony.
4 – Avoid drinking out of plastic water bottles. Purchase a reusable bottle to eliminate the amount of plastic water bottles you are using each week.
5 – Wash more things in cold water than hot. Washing clothes and dishes in colder water is much more energy efficient.
How to Host a Virtual Super Bowl Party
We’re all getting really good at finding creative ways to be together these days – including during the Super Bowl! We may be used to having a big, loud party with family and friends to root for our favorite teams. This year you can still have fun with some of these tips!
1 – Virtual Super Bowl Squares – Setup some virtual squares with friends and make your own contest using Super Bowl Pool Site!
2 – FaceTime or Zoom – Meet with your friends over the web whether it’s for the first quarter or the whole game. Joining in and cheering together will make you feel like you’re together even if you’re not. Test out your technology ahead of time to avoid any difficulties.
3 – Choose the Same Menu – Just because you can’t be together doesn’t mean you can’t all enjoy nachos, wings and your favorite beverages at the same time. Create a super bowl menu to all enjoy virtually.
4 – Make Sure to Show Team Spirit – Wear your favorite gear from your favorite team and give an award for the best getup!
5 – Play Some Games – Track your favorite commercials and compare with friends. Give out a virtual award for the best commercial! Create some NFL trivia to play while you’re waiting for the game to start. Feel like singing? Do your best virtual reenactment of the halftime show and share with friends!