Monthly Archives: December 2014

Easy Tips to Refresh Your Apartment for 2015

Join a gym, eat more vegetables, get a promotion…paint the living room? The beginning of a new year often centers on changes and improvements, but typically the focus is on ourselves—our health, our relationships, our jobs. When writing our list of resolutions, we tend to forget one of the most important parts of ourselves: our homes.

Regardless of whether we have a good day or a bad day, our home is where we spend our time. The environment we live in is critical to our success, so why not give the apartment a few updates this year? Try these “home improvements” to start 2015 feeling fresh, recharged, and ready to take on your resolutions.

Source: HGTV

Source: HGTV

Move it around
One of the easiest, quickest ways to change your environment is rearranging your furniture. Maybe try a new angle for your bed, move your couches around or try creating feng shui in your living room.

Update the color
It may be time to try a new color on your walls—look into fun removable wallpaper, find a new paint shade or create an accent wall. Pick a color or design that will give you energy.

Add some new pops of color
If you’re not ready for new colors on your wall, add pops of color where you can. Adding a new rug, bringing in some exotic plants, or finding fun throws and pillows are easy color additions.

Change the little details
If you’re looking for even smaller changes, find the little details in your apartment. Replace the knobs on your dressers or kitchen cabinets, find new prints for your wall decor, or swap in new photos for your frames.

Expand the space
Similar to adding new details, you can update your apartment by removing details to create space. End the year by de-cluttering unnecessary items or collecting donations for your local Goodwill. You can also expand the space in your rooms with new mirrors.

Give it an upgrade
If you really want to up the ante this year, add some fun tech and home products to improve your productivity. Easy gadgets include a Broom Groomer to help you clean, a Smart Dashboard to stay up-to-date, a Space Bar Monitor to organize your desk, and an Over-the-Door Drying Rack to maximize space.

Have Yourself a White Christmas

You can watch the weather channel tirelessly.  You can try doing the “snow dance.”  You can play “Let It Snow” on repeat.  You can close your eyes and make a wish.  Try as you might, a snowy landscape can be hard to come by in the Pacific Northwest.  Rather than keep peeking out your window each morning in hopes of some flakes, you can make your own snow scene.  Gather a few supplies ahead of time and you’ll be ready to make your own White Christmas this year.  Get ready for your apartment to become transformed into a winter wonderland.

Make your own snow
Try some new spins to the classic paper snowflake patterns.  If you have a hot glue gun, you can create your own unique snowflake formations to decorate your windows.  Or roll up some paper into these gorgeous quill snowflakes to hang around your apartment.

Source: We Lived Happily Ever After

Source: We Lived Happily Ever After

Eat some snow
A snow day is not complete without closing your eyes, poking your tongue out, and catching some delightful flakes.  You can make your own edible snow by decorating fluffy white meringue snowflakes or baking powdery Russian Tea Cakes.

Source: Babble

Source: Babble

Build a snowman
You can pass on the freezing toes and wet gloves, but still build your very own Frosty.  All you need is some paper and scissors to take over your door with a fun paper snowman craft.  If you’re partial to creating in the kitchen, build these delicious melting snowman cookies.

Source: Better Homes and Gardens

Source: Better Homes and Gardens

Sip a frosty cocktail
Since you won’t be cold from playing outside, you can instead warm up with some boozy cocktails.  Sip the flavors of winter with this Coconut Cream Martini or create a frosty concoction with this Vodka Snowflake Cocktail.  Cheers!

Source: A Night Owl

Source: A Night Owl

Add some winter décor
If your apartment has some extra mason jars available, you’re prepared to build some fun winter crafts.  Gather some Epsom salt to add piles of snow to your candles or build your very own snow globes!

Source: Julie Ann Art

Source: Julie Ann Art

Giving Back this Holiday Season

What better way to celebrate the holiday season than giving back? As a locally-owned private family company, we are committed to doing our part to make our community a better place. So, we joined with Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to help ensure every child has something to unwrap this Holiday season.
This past Sunday, to wrap up our toy drive, we invited our residents for a pre-game holiday brunch. We cooked up a full menu including gourmet coffee, a waffle bar, mimosas and much more. We also invited not only our residents, but former Seahawks player, Joe Tafoya, and the Marines from Toys for Tots to help us collect toys.

Photo Credit to Grace Kim- www.ghkim.com

Photo Credit to Grace Kim – www.ghkim.com

Mimosas and More

With our new raise the flag tradition, we invited Joe Tafoya and the Marines from Toys for Tots to help us raise the 12 flag from the rooftop deck at The Wave shortly before the Seahawks’ game against the 49ers kicked off.

We wanted to thank our residents for their amazing contributions, as we were able to collect over ten bins full of toys to donate to Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

photo 2

5 Essentials for Effortless Entertaining

Were you given the honor of hosting duties this year? Have you been dreading that mark on your calendar, overwhelmed at the pressure of pulling together the perfect event?

Before you spend any more time worrying, remember that the holidays are a time to be surrounded by your loved ones and celebrating their company. Rather than stress over your errands and menu, check out these easy, effortless holiday essentials for your party. Here’s everything you need to throw a fabulous night and wow your guests.

Source: Fashionable Hostess

Source: Fashionable Hostess

 

  1. Warm holiday-scented candles: lighting a few candles throughout your apartment helps set the mood and create a warm, comforting atmosphere.
Source: Good Housekeeping

Source: Good Housekeeping

 

  1. Bar cart stocked with seasonal cocktails: the best way to get a party started is the drinks.
Source: Hank and Hunt

Source: Hank and Hunt

 

  1. A bountiful, colorful cheese board: pick out a variety of cheeses, meats, fruits, and crackers for easy appetizers.
Source: Chic Coastal Living

Source: Chic Coastal Living

 

  1. Hand-crafted place settings: delight your guests with special name cards as an added touch.
Source: The Kitchn

Source: The Kitchn

 

  1. Don’t let them leave empty-handed: pick out your favorite treat to pass out among partygoers before they leave.
Source: Swanky Recipes

Source: Swanky Recipes

Get Your Home in the Holiday Spirit

It’s that time of year again! Fa la la la la, la la la la!

Is your home known for being decorative or dark? Do your neighbors wait eagerly each year for your new garlands, lights, and wreaths, or shake their heads? Well get ready to impress everyone this holiday season with some easy and creative DIY projects. Here are our favorite picks to help get you and your Stadium Place apartment in the holiday spirit:

For your tree: HGTV
If you’re celebrating Christmas, you’ll love these creative and quirky themes. Try something new this year by building your tree out of books or wooden logs.

Source: HGTV

For your wreath: Nesting Place
Explore this huge compilation of eclectic, homemade wreath ideas! The list is growing, so you’re sure to find a creative new way to dress your door.

Source: Nesting Place

For your kitchen: Camille Styles
Baking holiday cookies is not only a fun seasonal activity, but an easy way to spread cheer to your friends, co-workers, and family. From elegant sugar cookies to decadent meringues, classic gingerbread to cranberry bars, Camille Styles is sure to impress.

Source: Camille Styles

Source: Camille Styles

For your gifts: Martha Stewart
Martha is always a great go-to for holiday inspiration and easy DIY. No matter the gift you’re giving—whether it’s a bottle of wine or toy for a toddler—Martha has beautiful tags to help dress your presents.

Source: Martha Stewart

Source: Martha Stewart

For your hostess: Style Me Pretty
If your calendar is looking booked with holiday gatherings and soirees, you’ll be in need of some fun hostess gifts. Check out these adorable homemade boxes of goodies.

Source: Style Me Pretty

Source: Style Me Pretty

For quick ideas: Real Simple
If you’re short on time, but big on holiday cheer, Real Simple has you covered. Here are some quick and easy ideas to get your home in the season.

Source: Real Simple

Source: Real Simple

For your mantel: Southern Living
Your mantel is the centerpiece of your home, so be sure to give yours a festive makeover. Whether you prefer simple and elegant or colorful and bold, these ideas will make yours pop.

Source: Southern Living

For everything else: Pinterest
Of course you can never go wrong browsing Pinterest. If the projects above were just getting you started, you’ll get lost for hours in the beautiful ideas and creative crafts on Pinterest. Search any idea you like—from snowflakes to twinkle lights to dreidels to candles!