4 Things To Celebrate This Fall

Cooler Temperatures

Not everyone is a fan of the summer heat.  Warmer outdoor conditions often mean we sit inside with the air conditioner on.  At the very least, we may not open the windows for fear of letting in the sun. The fall, however, provides an opportunity to open the window to more comfortable conditions. 

Candy For Halloween

Kids love to dress up every October and walk around the neighborhood for free candy.  We grownups might attend parties in cool costumes.  While social distancing may put a damper on some of our holiday fun this year, we can still take this opportunity as an excuse to eat candy. Why not 'trick-or-treat' by enjoying some sweet treats on your own?

Enjoy Those Hot Drinks

Love warm drinks like hot chocolate and apple cider?  Fall is the perfect time to enjoy these toasty flavors.  Sure you will have the entire winter for hot drinks.  However, later in the year the outdoors may get freezing cold. Right now is the perfect temperature.  It is cold enough to enjoy the hot drinks, but not so cold that you are uncomfortable.  

Take A Stroll In The Fresh Air

While we can't hang around people, many communities have open-air areas like parks that can still be enjoyed. In the summer, public outdoor areas are more likely to be crowded during comfortable temperatures.  During the fall, you are more likely to find quiet, secluded areas where you can take a stroll and enjoy nature. 

If you can't get out much to socialize this fall, why not contact us at Highland Village to discuss our available Flagstaff apartments? Find a comfortable social distancing arrangement for the right price! 

The post Top 4 Reasons To Celebrate Fall appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.

Slow-Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

When the mercury dips, there's nothing like a bowl of chicken soup to warm you up. Preparing this savory meal is even easier in the slow-cooker. If you have roommates, this recipe yields enough for them to enjoy it, too. If you'll be the only one partaking in the soup, you will have plenty of leftovers to freeze for those days when you don't feel like cooking.

Veggie Pot Pie

Contrary to popular belief, comfort food can be healthy. Here's a meatless version of the traditional pot pie. For this dish, you can make your own crust or buy one that's already prepared. Plus, this recipe gives you the flexibility to add or substitute ingredients to match your tastes.

Squash Casserole

Grace your table with a splash of fall color with this squash casserole recipe. You can serve it as a main course or alongside baked poultry or pork. Combine squash, cheese, and a few other ingredients for a delicious dish that won't disappoint.

Kale, Apple, and Almond Salad

If you need a healthy serving of fruits, veggies, and nuts to go with a meaty main course, this kale, apple, and almond salad pairs well with just about anything you put on the table.  

Pumpkin Spice Latte Coffee Cake

It is officially the season for all things pumpkin. You will love the enticing aroma that fills your home when this sweet treat is baking in the oven!
 

Our Flagstaff apartments come with plenty of kitchen space for preparing all of your favorite fall meals and snacks! Contact us to see which floor plans are available.

The post Delicious Comfort Food Recipes for Fall appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.

5 Fun Fall Activities

1. Attend a Fall Festival

Fall-themed festivals are always a great way to spend time on weekends in October. Grab a friend, challenge yourself in a few carnival games, and get lost in a hay maze.

2. Go Camping

Nighttime autumn air offers a certain crispness that can't really be appreciated unless you're out in the wilderness. Pack up a cooler and pick out some of your favorite picnic food because the great outdoors is calling your name this fall season.

3. Make a DIY Pumpkin Spice Latte

Pumpkin spice flavors epitomize fall, but they can also be pretty costly options, especially at your favorite coffee shop. Forego the added expense — become a barista in your very own kitchen. A little pumpkin pie spice, which you can buy at nearly any grocery store, will switch a standard cup of coffee into a homemade pumpkin spice latte you'll love.

4. Hit Up a Local Farmers Market 

Farmers markets are great any time of year, but there are some special foods you'll find when fall rolls around. Besides fresh foods that represent this season, such as apples and corn, you'll likely find an assortment of homemade treats and crafts that will help you convert your apartment into an autumn-ready haven.

5. Pick Out Some Pumpkins

Pumpkins can instantly transform your space into a place that fees like fall. Half the fun is finding your perfect pumpkin. Head to a pumpkin patch, and spend a few hours wandering the rows until the right pumpkins call your name!

If you're on the hunt for a great apartment community, Highland Village Apartments has everything you need! Just look at all of the awesome amenities our residents enjoy!

The post 5 Ideas to Help You Get Into the Feeling of Fall appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.

Flagstaff and North Arizona have many natural attractions, but one of the most beautiful is the annual blaze of leaf color which arrives during the fall months of September, October and November.

First to turn are the leaves of the aspens in the higher elevations of the San Francisco Peaks. The magnificent red, orange and golden-brown show gradually descends to the streets of the city itself, but the best views are probably to be had from one of the numerous hiking trails in the mountains or the Coconino National Forest.

Hikes vary considerably in length and difficulty. Those classified as easy include the Wilson Meadow, the Buffalo Park Loop and the Red Mountain and Sunset Trails. Moderately challenging hikes include the Little Bear Trail and Bismarck Lake, while more ambitious and experienced hikers will love the Kachina Trail and the Bear Jaw Canyon Loop.

Full details of these and many more routes and trails can be found at www.flagstaffarizona.org or by visiting the Flagstaff Visitor Center, which is located in the old rail station, downtown on Route 66.

Timing Your Leaf-Viewing Trip

Leaf colors during the months of fall vary considerably depending on the species of trees, elevations, and weather conditions. So to get the most out of your view, check out the Flagstaff LEAF-ometer. This is an online visual resource which will give you a real-time idea of exactly what to expect in the favorite viewing areas around the city.    

Enjoying the Fall at Highland Village

As beautiful as the fall foliage of North Arizona is, it’s just one of many things to enjoy in the area at this time of year. And as a resident of our apartments in Flagstaff you’ll be in an ideal place to take full advantage of them.

For more information and details on our available floor plans, please contact us today. 

The post Plan Your Flagstaff Fall Foliage Hikes appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.

Our theme for October is Fall Into Autumn! We’ll be bringing you everything from tasty treats for the season to décor ideas that will “leaf” you inspired to deck out your home in the colors of the season! We’re lucky to be in a four-season town, so we’re excited to “fall” in love with Autumn with you!

Harvest Vases

All you need for this beautiful table topper are a few cylinder vases (we like these from Michael’s), a few handfuls of shelled nuts (think pecans), wheat bunches, and a sheet of autumn-colored scrapbook paper (brown, deep red, rust, gold, etc.). First, roll a strip of scrapbook paper and tuck it into the top of your vase as a decorative cuff. Stick a wheat bunch or two (you can also pick this up from Michael’s!) into the vase, and surround it with a big scoop of nuts! These make beautiful coffee table centerpieces, or you could hang them in wall sconces!

Twine Pumpkins

Have any extra toilet paper lying around? Turn it into a beautiful DIY pumpkin! You’ll need a roll of toilet paper, a skein of twine, scissors, a hot glue gun, and a stick. Secure one end of your twine to the inside of the toilet paper tube with a dab of hot glue. Wrap the twine around the toilet paper until the full roll is covered. Once the full roll is covered, glue the other end of your twine into the center of the roll to secure it, and stick your stick through the center to make the stem! Voila … an easy, beautiful autumn decorative piece!

Burlap Leaf Wreath

A wreath is a beautiful and simple statement piece to make your home’s exterior a little more welcoming. For this project, grab a straw plain wreath (you can snag one for under three bucks at Jo-Ann’s), a half- to full-yard of burlap, and either various colors of crafting felt, craft leaves, or head out to the Flagstaff forests to pick up some real fall foliage. If you go with craft felt (think greens, reds, yellows, and oranges), cut out some leaf templates on the felt—you’ll want at least twenty! You’ll also need some scissors and a glue gun. Cut strips of burlap; use hot glue to secure one end to the wreath frame, then wrap the full wreath with your burlap, gluing down the other end when needed. Once the full wreath is covered, begin placing your leaves on the wreath, securing them with hot glue. Make sure you leave some of the burlap exposed; it’s a beautiful fall textile, so let people see it! Once you’re happy with the look, hang your wreath on the door to welcome friends and fall to your home!

Mason Pumpkin Jars

For this craft, raid your cabinets for mason jars; you’ll also need brown and orange acrylic paint, wood pegs, scissors, glue, and fall-colors card stock. First, paint your mason jars orange (you can get a variety of shades for not a lot of cash at any craft store). Paint the lids brown. You can also paint the wood pegs, or leave them their natural shade of brown. While the jars and lids dry, cut leaf shapes from the card stock. Cut thinner strips of your card stock to curl as vines. (All you need to curl your strips is either the edge of a scissor blade—to curl like curling ribbon—or a pencil to wrap the strip around.) Secure a leaf and a few paper “vines” to each wood peg with glue, and then secure the peg “stem” to the jar lid with more glue. Simply screw the lids on to finish your project. These are great as centerpieces, or as candy jars! You can also use them as beautiful fall gift containers if you don’t mind giving up your beautiful craft!

Pine Cone Place Cards

Make beautiful pine cone place cards or card holders with pine cones you can find right here in Flagstaff! First, hunt for some pine cones with relatively flat bases. Secure them to a drink coaster with hot glue. To create a holder for your place card or stand for your greeting card, use sturdy craft leaves or dried real leaves; secure the leaf to the pine cone by tucking the stem into the pine cone and securing with hot glue. Secure the place card or greeting card to the leaf with either hot glue, foam tape, or double sided tape. Place these beautiful pine cone card holders on your table, bookshelf, or window sill!

Happy Crafting!
 

The post Five Easy Fall DIY Decorating Ideas appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.