How to Host an End of Summer Gathering

Choose a Theme

Picking a theme makes it more fun to decorate and plan your menu. Consider a tropical theme, ocean theme or nautical theme to pay tribute to the season. You can also go with an all-white theme as a nod to not wearing white after Labor Day. When you choose your theme, you can then look for decorations, select music and create a menu that ties in with it.

Plan Your Menu

For your final summer bash, go with foods that are associated with the season. You can make burgers and hot dogs in your apartment on an indoor grill and serve them with potato salad, macaroni salad, fruit salad and other seasonal side dishes. For appetizers, consider setting out a tray of tropical fruit that’s in season. For dessert, choose no-bake options, so you won’t have to heat up your apartment by turning on the oven.

Select the Music

Having music playing in the background at your gathering can set the right mood and keep guests entertained. Just keep in mind that you shouldn’t play it too loud, so you won’t disturb your neighbors. For an end-of-summer gathering, choose classic summer tunes from your favorite decade, or go with a playlist filled with beach songs.

Set Up Decorations

Your decorations will ultimately depend on your theme. You don’t have to do overdo it with decorations all over your place, but you should consider putting up a few here and there, such as strings of palm tree lights or other seasonal lights.

If you decide to have your gathering outside instead, our community has outdoor grills, a picnic gazebo and a fire pit. Contact us to learn more about our apartments in Flagstaff, Arizona. 

The post Tips for Hosting an End of Summer Gathering at Your Apartment appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.

If you’re anything like us, your bracket for March Madness is all but destroyed … if not already a totally lost cause. So, what should you do with your bracket now that you won’t be winning your office pot? We’ve got some ideas.

1. Write a Strongly Worded Letter
Your team’s done let you down, man. Somebody needs to hear about it. So flip that bracket over and write a strongly worded letter with its abysmal remains. We recommend writing the head coach, or your favorite player. Actually, you know what? Bad idea … Let’s face it, you may be disappointed but it’s nothing compared to the actual players. So have a little compassion, and instead send your expressions of bracket-busted grief to your roommate. Or your mom. Maybe even your apartment leasing office? We’re not promising a response, but at least you put it out there. Which is more than we can say for your team.

2. Rewrite Your Bucket List
It’s time to start living your own life again. So what if all your dreams of perfect bracket glory went down in a ball of flames after round one? The world is still out there! You can still do something amazing! Write out that bucket list! Make it all the things you would have done with your bracket winnings … Or maybe all the things your bracket loss makes you want to do. Like eat an elite eight pack of ice cream. Or take a road trip down the mountain long enough to have a long hard think about how your bracket went so wrong. Or learn to perfect your free throw percentage and three-point shot…

3. Use It to Fix a Wobbly Table
Come on … what else is it good for? Your bracket is busted. That doesn’t mean your table has to be busted, too. Create some good out of this disaster.

4. Find Love
If Villanova can lose, anything can happen, right? Flip your bracket over and write a letter to the guy or gal of your dreams. What else have you got to lose? Keep the letter simple, and maybe let it rock some thinly veiled NCAA puns. We’re talking: “Do you like me? Yes or ‘Nova?”

5. Recycle It
Your bracket is dead. But the earth is still spinning. Help keep it that way by recycling it. Technically all the above options are ways of recycling your bracket sheet. You can love both basketball and the environment. Don’t take this year’s tourney disappointment out on Mother Earth, bro. Keep it classy and save a tree.

What's your plan for your bracket now that it's busted? Or are you a lucky one who's bracket is still going strong? Let us know!

The post 5 Things to Do Now That Your Bracket Is Busted appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.

Summer is here … and it’s the perfect time of year to enjoy the little things. Summer is the time to get out there and do things you’ve never done before. Before heading out on your next great adventure, try making a Summer Bucket List of things to try and document it all in a journal, scrapbook, or on Instagram! Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Act like a tourist where you live
• Buy a Wreck-This Journal and wreck it like nobody’s business
• Call your aunts, uncles, and grandparents just to say hi
• Do random acts of kindness for a week
• Eat breakfast for dinner
• Follow an unfamiliar road for as long as you can
• Go a full day without technology
• Go star gazing
• Go to a concert
• Go to a music festival
• Go to a wildlife park
• Go to an amusement park
• Have an all-day (and all-night) movie day in your jammies
• Have an at-home spa day
• Have an old-school water balloon or water gun battle
• Host a themed binge-watching marathon party
• Invent a new game and teach it to your friends/coworkers
• Join a new group (a book club, a yoga class, etc.)
• Knit, crochet, or craft something for a friend
• Learn a new dance
• Make a blanket fort
• Make s’mores
• Plan an all-day menu of meals and treat yourself to homemade fine dining
• Play messy Twister (It’s Twister meets paint. Protect your floors.)
• Read a new book
• Send a message in a bottle
• Start a blessings jar
• Take a road trip
• Treat yourself to a massage
• Visit an aquarium
• Watch the sunrise
• Watch the sunset

How many can you do this summer? Share your pics with us on Instagram!

The post Your Ultimate Summer Bucket List! appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.

Formal Dining Rooms

The traditional six chair dining table has been making a strong comeback. Most people believed that the age of the dining table and room has been phasing out, however, the newer generation seems to be realizing traditional values of family bonding and the formal family dining room and table has made it to the list.

Statement Mirrors

An often overlooked and monotonous aspect of home décor is the kind of mirrors used on dressing tables and in bathrooms. The statement mirror has outdone that. For instance, people now place vanity mirrors in bathrooms. Be on the lookout for a larger, and more decorative mirror to add to your living room, mantle, or master bedroom.

Rustic Lighting

Industrial and rustic lighting accents to any room are a popular trend for any interior. Using bulbed lights, mason jar lanterns, steel-wire ledges, and subtle lamps are a great way to add both light and style to a room. Experiment with string lights, end table lamps, and other rustic lighting that will evenly disperse light throughout your rooms.

Less is More

 Getting back to the basics and approaching your interior design with a more minimalistic goal in mind is a modern way to make a statement. Keeping colors neutral, adding pops of color with natural accents like plants and flowers, furniture made of repurposed wood, and glass materials are just a few of the ways to implement these styles. Less is more, and focusing on the simple and classic beauty of interior design rather than overdressing your interior will go a long way.

Mixing Textures

Combining textures is another amazing trend that can be applied to many different areas of your apartment. To give you some examples, try adding a fuzzy throw blanket over your smooth, down comforter in the bedroom. Place a furry, asymmetric rug overtop an even, pattern rug. Or, add both suede and silk pillows to your living room sofa. Mixing and matching textures is a great way to combine more than one style preference to a room. 

The post 5 Interior Decorating Trends in 2016 appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.

If there’s one thing we can all agree on about apartments … it’s that it’s a pain to move. While we all wish we could find the perfect place we’d never have to leave, we also all know that life happens. Maybe your family is growing and you need more space. Maybe you lost a roommate and you need to downgrade. Maybe you’re just moving into your own place for the first time. Whatever the reason, and whether you're moving in or out, we’re here to help you make an easy breezy move!

Map Your Move

Make a floor plan for your new place and layout your furniture before you make the big move. If you’re lucky enough to be moving to one of our communities, check out our property websites! You won’t wonder for long why we’re the “Eight Wonders” of Flagstaff when you see our wonderful virtual floor plan organizers! You can use these to layout furniture and figure out exactly how your precious belongings will fit into your new home! If you’re more of a hands on person, use colored paper cutouts of furniture (try color coding by room) to plan things. This will save you a ton of time on move-in day!

Snap Your Cords!

Before you disconnect any of your electronics, take a quick pic of the cords! It’s always a pain to try and remember exactly how your electronic devices are hooked up. One quick photo is all it takes to make resetting them up a breeze once you move! On a related note, try to bind all the cords for each device together. This will save you from having to spend hours figuring out which cords go to which electronic during set up!

First Night Box

If you’ve ever watched a doomsday prepper or zombie-themed television show, you probably know what a bug out bag is: a bag that’s packed for an emergency so you can get out in a flash. But have you ever heard of a first night box? It’s kind of the same concept, except rather than making a quick exit you’re helping yourself make a quick move in! Grab a moving box and pack it full of essential items you might need the first night in your new place. Things to include are items like toilet paper, medicines, snacks, water, a light, bedding, disposable plates and utensils, and a change of clothes or two. With a first night box, you’ll easily get settled in even if you don’t have time to get completely organized!

Think Outside the Box!

You don’t necessarily need tons of boxes and bins for your move. Use wheeled suitcases to pack heavier items like books. Use pot holders and oven mitts to transport utensils and knives. Tuck socks into shoes. Make sure you take advantage of what you have, and all the space your things already offer, before spending money on too many boxes!

Don’t Pack

You know there are some things you don’t have to pack, right? If you have a dresser full of clothes, why waste time packing the clothes into boxes only to unpack them back into the same dresser across town? Leave the clothes where they are and save yourself a little hassle! The same can even go for your bed. Seriously! Make it up just how you like it, and use two fitted sheets (one for the top and one for the bottom) to completely cover your already made bed … You’ll love this on move in day when you can just remove a fitted sheet and enjoy the comfort of your own bed and favorite sheets!

The post Hack Your Move: How to Move Like a Boss appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.

This April our focus is RYAS: Rocking Your Apartment’s Socks! We’ll take you from recipes to try in the kitchen to thrifty apartment décor and much more!

Our mouths started watering the moment we heard that April is National Grilled Cheese Month! Nothing will rock your apartment’s socks quite like filling your apartment with amazing smells from your kitchen … and with all the variety cooking up a grilled cheese has to offer, we have no doubt you’ll love celebrating your apartment and this tasty sandwich in tandem! Check out these five amazing grilled cheese recipes that will leave your taste buds dancing this month!

Grill Your ABCs

The basic grilled cheese is already divine. A grilled cheese with bacon? Amazing. But a grilled cheese with bacon and some nice thinly sliced apple? … Whoa. All you need is some sliced sourdough, sharp cheddar, a few strips of crispy bacon, and an apple of your choice sliced thin. Get an easy-peasy recipe here: Apple, Bacon, and Cheddar Grilled Cheese

Ooh, Honey!

This is apparently Oprah’s favorite grilled cheese … and we all know that what Oprah loves, we pretty much all love right there with her. We never would have thought of putting honey on a grilled cheese, but this recipe sounds too delish to miss. Here’s your recipe: Havarti, Honey, Tomato & Basil Grilled Cheese

The Green Goddess

Ooh-la-la! You’ll want to make sure you have a good melty cheese for this recipe that’s oozing with flavor. We’ve seen this recipe on white or wheat bread, but the real mouth-watering ingredients are all the greens: baby spinach, avocado, and Green Goddess Herb Peso? Yes, please! Check out the recipe here: Green Goddess Grilled Cheese

Kiss the Melon!

Melon? On a grilled cheese? We weren’t sold until we started reading this recipe for a Sugar Kiss melon and Chorizo-Manchego Grilled Cheese. Since it can be a little tricky to find a Sugar Kiss melon, we made this one a twofer with a Prosciutto and Melon Grilled Cheese, too! Don’t judge too quickly … we definitely encourage you to try this one out for yourself! Find recipes here: Sugar Kiss Melon and Chorizo-Manchego Grilled Cheese and Crispy Prosciutto & Melon Grilled Cheese

Holy Sweet Potato, Batman…

Here’s another twofer … because how could we say no to sweet potatoes on a sandwich?! First there’s the sweet potato and cheddar, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, which sounds almost more like a dessert than a sandwich. Then there’s the sweet potato and toasted pecan grilled cheese that sounds more like a pie than a sandwich. It’s basically dessert sandwiches … How could you say no?! Take on both these sandwiches with recipes here: Sweet Potato Cheddar Grilled Cheese and Sweet Potato and Toasted Pecan Grilled Cheese
Happy Grilling!

The post 5 Tongue-Tempting Grilled Cheese Recipes to Try appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.

Did you know March is Optimism Month? To celebrate, we’re focusing on a ton of tips for bringing extra touches of bliss into your life and home!

It’s often all too easy to find the things about our apartments that don’t make us happy. But how much time do we really spend thinking about those things in our apartments that make it a home instead of just another set of rooms?! Let’s face it … We spend a lot of time at home. So this week, let’s focus on five ways we can embrace our living spaces as private sanctuaries where we can find our own personal bliss in each and every room!

Claim “You” Space

Do you enjoy a cup of coffee every morning? Indulge in a bubble bath or extra-long shower every night? Indulge in a new book on lazy afternoons? Whatever little moments make your day, make sure you claim the space in which you enjoy them to really call your own. Set up a special reading nook with a comfy chair and plenty of light. Or, if you share living space, make sure you always bring your favorite blanket or pillow into the space where you enjoy your moment. Have a special table for your coffee, or always use your favorite mug. Line the tub with tea light candles or invest in a shower speaker to enjoy your favorite playlist. Make your moment into a true daily ritual that’s yours and yours alone.

Clean … and Then Don’t

One of the best habits you can establish for your home and happiness is taking 10 to 15 minutes to straighten up one or two rooms in your home on a daily basis. Whether it’s putting books back on your bookshelf, folding laundry, or finally clearing the dishes from the sink … a little bit of time spent tidying up will save you hours in deep cleaning. And even better, spending those 10 to 15 minutes during the week makes sure you can take a day—just one day during your weekend, at least—to just relax and enjoy your home. Even if you spend all day Saturday cleaning, make sure you set aside Sunday as your day to just kick back and enjoy all the bliss your home has to offer.

Indulge Your Ears

We challenge you to take one day this weekend and cater a few playlists with your favorite music. Have one programed for when you get home from work or school. Have one for doing the dishes or laundry. Have one for cleaning day. Have one for when you’ve had a really crummy day and just need to shake it off. Music is a great way to unwind, relax, or have a few minutes of fun just for yourself. Kick off your shoes, play a tune, and just do you!

Treat Your Taste Buds

Have you ever had a three, four, or five course meal? There’s nothing like finishing one phenomenal dish only to have another appear! At least once a week, plan out a special meal for yourself, indulge in the preparation of it, and really take the time to enjoy it. Plan your meal for a day you have no major obligations and few obligations, and save the cleanup for the next day so you’re not spending time you could be savoring your meal worrying about how much dish soap you have! It doesn’t have to be a four course meal; it could just be your favorite homemade mac and cheese, a plate full of fresh strawberries, or whatever else you love that you might not have on the regular!

Treat Yourself … and Your Home

You know those fancy napkins you only break out for company, or the special set of sheets you snagged for a visiting friend? Use the special items you’ve been saving for “special occasions” to make every day a little more special. Instead of just having dinner on a paper plate, set yourself a full table setting in your dining nook, including candles and the finest place settings you have. Indulge in at least one special, ultra comfy pillow for your bed. Make sure you have at least one special or specialty item per room so every day can be a special day.

What are you favorite parts of your home? Take some time to really appreciate them, and you’ll be home happy in no time!

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