Category: Multifamily
Tips for Hosting a Great 4th of July Party
We can’t believe Independence Day is right around the corner! If you are planning to host a celebration for the 4th keep reading to learn our tips for throwing a great 4th of July party at your home!
1. Decorate in red white and blue – People love getting decked out for the 4th of July so make sure your home is looking Patriotic for the event. Get red, white and blue tablecloths and cups and blow up matching balloons for color.
2. Set up an activity for kids – Remember this post we wrote last year? (DIY 4th of July Parade Wands) Take a look and learn how the kids at your party can make some 4th of July parade wands to stay busy.
3. Have plenty of cold beverages – July 4th is notorious for being hot! Make sure your guests have plenty of cold drinks available to them to stay hydrated. Fill a few coolers and label them with what’s inside so people don’t have to dig through them to find what they’re looking for.
4. Make festive desserts – A red, white and blue trifle or star-sprinkled cupcakes? Why not make both? Your guests (especially the kids) will love devouring these.
5. Make room in the shade – Have plenty of umbrellas and shaded areas available to your guests so they can step out of the sun if needed.
6. Add a sunscreen and bug spray station – If your party is going to take place outdoors, think about filling a bucket with sunscreens and bug sprays for your guests to use. Place them in a central place that’s easily accessible.
7. Dress the part – Pick up some fun items from your local party store for your guests to wear. Think beads, glasses and hats that are inspired by Uncle Sam!
7 Daily Chores to Maintain a Tidy Home
Keeping a clean house can be both tedious and tiring. Sometimes when we let our messes take over they can get out of hand and we spend hours of our free time cleaning. Keep reading to find out seven household chores you can do quickly each day to ensure a clean house all week long.
1. Make the bed first thing in the morning. When your bed is made right after you wake up your bedroom will instantly feel tidy and you will get a simple task out of the way bright and early.
2. Empty all garbage cans. By collecting all kitchen, bathroom and bedroom trash before you head out for the day, you’ll ensure an odor-free home when you return.
3. Make sure the dishes don’t pile up. If you refrain from throwing dirty dishes in the sink by either hand-washing them or putting them in the dishwasher they will never pile up.
4. Pick up after yourself during the day. If you tend to leave a trail of clutter, make sure you put items in their place when you’re done using them. (i.e. put your shoes in the closet, hang your keys on a hook, fold your blanket and put it away in a closet).
5. Don’t let the laundry build up. If you have a house full of people, make sure to do one load of laundry daily. This way your dirty clothes will never get out of hand and overwhelming.
6. Run the vacuum. Once you’ve had dinner and the day is winding down, take five minutes to vacuum the floors (especially if you have pets!)
7. Wipe down bathroom surfaces. Before you hit the sheets at night give your bathroom a quick wipe-down. Make sure there are no toothpaste or soap stains left behind on the sink!
How to Prep Your Outdoor Space for Warm Weather
With warm weather finally upon us there’s nothing we love more than to spend our time outside! If you have an outdoor space to use for entertaining friends or just relaxing after a long day at work, here are some great ways to get it ready for the season.
1. Pull out those outdoor cushions from their winter hiding place and give them a quick rinse with the hose. Let them dry in the sun and tie them back on their outdoor chairs and couches.
2. Have an outdoor umbrella? Make sure it still functions properly if it wasn’t stored indoors. The winter we had certainly was damaging! Give the umbrella a quick rinse and set it up now.
3. Bring the broom outside and give your patio or balcony a good sweep. Hose it down and scrub away any stains that winter left behind.
4. Dig out your planter boxes and pots and plan out where they will go and what floral arrangements you’ll be planting this year.
5. Like to eat outside? Pick up some plastic dinnerware at the store you can use safely outside! Already have some? Unpack them and start cleaning them up so they’re ready for the first night you want to dine al fresco.
5 Time-Saving Household Cleaning Tips
Cleaning is a daunting task that seems to take up a lot of our time. We spend hours of our day scrubbing baseboards and washing floors and putting away clutter. If you want to save yourself some time use these five tips next time you roll up your sleeves for a day of cleaning house.
1. Use dryer sheets to clean baseboards. This goes for chair rail too! If you have a lot of dust and debris that’s piled up on the trim in your home, don’t bother scrubbing it down with soap and water then drying it. Instead, use a clean dryer sheet to quickly wipe up the dirt. The particles stick to the sheet and you’ll be moving on to your next task in no time. The clean smell they leave is just an added bonus.
2. Use a lemon to make your stainless sink shine. It takes a lot of time to scrub down a kitchen sink and usually we end up with streaks that make it look dirtier than when we started. We have to scrub to make the steel shine and use harsh chemicals. Instead, rub a lemon on the inside of your sink. It will clean away the gunk, make your sink shine and smell fresh.
3. Make a clutter basket. When you’re cleaning the house sometimes it seems like you’re spending the entire day putting things back into their place. Instead of picking up clutter multiple times a day, throw it all in your “clutter basket” as it piles up. At the end of the day make one trip putting away all of the items you’ve collected.
4. Clean your couch with a brush. Most vacuum cleaners come with a handy attachment that looks like a brush. Instead of constantly vacuuming your couch and pillows, remove the brush attachment and scrape for pet hair and lint. The brush will pick up everything including the unwanted stuff you don’t even see in a short amount of time.
5. Designate a day for bigger tasks. Some cleaning tasks need more attention, for example, the bathroom. Instead of doing a mediocre job of cleaning your bathroom each day, designate a day to do it. Once a week you should scrub your sink, tub and toilet really well and wash the floors and linens. Then you won’t need to spend so much time throughout the rest of the week.
7 Must Haves For Your First Apartment
There are obviously many things you have to purchase when you move into your first apartment, but we’ve compiled a list of 7 must-have items that you’ll need right away!
1. Trash can- When you’re moving into a new home you’ll be surprised how much trash you can accumulate while you’re getting settled!
2. Bedding- Whether or not you have a queen sized bed or you’re sleeping on the couch, you’ll certainly need a blanket and pillow when it’s time to rest!
3. Bathroom necessities- Besides your normal toiletries, you’ll need to make sure you have a shower curtain, soap, shampoo, towels and toilet tissue.
4. Plates & eating utensils- You might be ordering takeout while getting adjusted to your new home, but you’ll need plates and forks to have on hand.
5. A coffee pot and coffee – If you are a caffeine lover, you’ll need a way to get your fix while spending your days unpacking boxes.
6. Drinking glasses/ mugs – You’ll need mugs for your early morning cup of joe and glasses for water so you can stay hydrated while you’re hard at work!
7. Lamps- Let there be light! You’ll need to be able to see while you’re moving! Any rooms that don’t have overhead lighting will need lamps.
5 Halloween Safety Tips
We’re only just in the beginning of October but the Halloween festivities are upon us! Here are 5 Halloween safety tips to help you and your family enjoy this spooky holiday in the best way possible.
1. Make sure your children are seen at night. Whether you are at a haunted house or just trick or treating, make sure your kids are either carrying flashlights or wearing reflectors on their clothing if they’ll be walking in the dark.
2. Stick with familiar neighborhoods. It’s best to go door to door in a neighborhood that you are comfortable in. You will most likely know the neighbors and you won’t risk getting lost.
3. Watch for welcoming signs and signals. If a house is dark and the lights are turned off, chances are the owners don’t want visitors on Halloween. Stick to the houses that are bright and friendly.
4. If you’re attending a local fair, make sure to decide on a meeting spot in case your group gets separated.
5. If candy or food handed out on Halloween or at parties you attend looks suspicious, throw it out! There’s no sense in risking it. If wrappers are partially open or torn or something just doesn’t look right toss it in the trash. There’s plenty more candy to be had!
5 Ways to Bring Fall into Your Home
Now that we’ve officially entered the autumn season it’s time to bring out the fall decor! Here are 5 ideas that will spruce up your apartment and give you that festive, fall feeling!
1. Create a festive centerpiece for your dining room – Add mini pumpkins and pine cones to a vase or decorating with fall-colored candles
2. Add mums to your porch or balcony – The orange, yellow and dark red colors of these plants will brighten up your outdoor space through the season
3. Add a festive wreath to your door Whether you are in a single family home or an apartment, adding a wreath to your front door is a great way to brighten up your entryway for your guests
4. Add a seasonal doormat to your entryway They may just be used to wipe your feet, but switching out your doormat each season is a great way to add some autumn flair.
5. Dress up your mantel Have a fireplace in your home? The mantel is a great place to add pumpkins, garland and other autumn pieces for extra color in your living room!
5 Ways to Get Ready for the First Day of School
Labor Day Weekend is officially upon us and that means school is sure to follow (if it hasn’t already started!) Sometimes getting yourself organized and ready for school time can be overwhelming. Here are some tips that might help eliminate the chaos!
1. Check the weather – Before letting your kids choose what they want to wear for the first day of school be sure to check your local forecast! Early September weather can be very unpredictable and being prepared will help avoid any last minute changes the morning of school.
2. Set alarms the night before – Chances are while being on summer vacation your kids were sleeping later and not setting alarm clocks. Make sure alarms are set well before bedtime and even set a back up alarm on your phone just in case.
3. Make lunches right after dinner – While you’re still in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner, start packing the lunches for the next day. This will save you the trouble of forgetting to do it or rushing to do it in the morning.
4. Make checklists – Want to pack up your kids backpacks? Make a checklist and cross off the items as you add them to their bag. Leave lunch as the last thing on the list and add it to their bags before they leave the house.
5. Test out the bus route – Does your child have to walk far to the bus stop? Make sure you give the walk a test run before the big day. Then you’ll know exactly how long it takes to get from your front door to the location. Make sure you know what time the bus is scheduled to come too!
We hope everyone has a successful start to their 2014/2015 school year!
7 Ways to Keep Your Laundry Organized
Let’s be honest…sometimes our laundry gets out of control! Whether we’ve been away on vacation or we’ve felt too lazy to throw in a load, the clothes can certainly pile up! Here are 10 tips for making your laundry situation a bit more manageable!
1. Invest in a laundry sorter – A stand that has 2 laundry bags (one for whites and one for colors) will make you feel much more organized. This will help you from having to pull out all of your whites from the pile on laundry day.
2. Keep your laundry essentials together – If you live in an apartment where you have to travel to the laundry room, try to keep your stuff together in one place! Keep a basket handy with your detergent, change, dryer sheets etc. This will save you the trouble of having to search for it all.
3. Choose designated laundry days – If you hate spending your weekends doing laundry, choose designated days during the week instead! If you do a load on Mondays and another on Thursdays, you will feel organized before and after every weekend.
4. Put the clothes away– After we’ve waited for the dryer to finish drying our clothes, the last thing we want to do is fold them and put them away. If they don’t get put away quickly, they will wrinkle and piles will start forming. You’ll thank yourself later if you put the laundry away ASAP.
5. Bring hangers with you – As you pull items out of the dryer that need to hang, put them on a hanger right away. This will help wrinkles from forming and will make it easier to put your clothes away.
6. Don’t keep hampers in every room – If each room has it’s own hamper, things could get out of control. Instead, have one central hamper (in your laundry room or in a centralized place) and when it’s full, throw it in the washing machine.
7. Keep a bag for dry clean only items – When it’s time to get items dry cleaned, throw them in a designated bag. This will save the mistake of accidentally washing your delicate items and will help you keep them organized for their trip to the cleaners.
5 Ways to Save Money When Decorating Your Apartment
When you move into a new home there’s nothing more exciting than making it your own! You want to add all of your own personal touches and decorate in a style that reflects your personality! Here are five ways you can get the look you want without breaking the bank!
1. Update old furniture – Rather than buying all brand new furniture, consider updating old pieces. You can re-stain wood to gain a new look or reupholster chairs/cushions with fun, new fabric.
2. Make your own window treatments – Good with a sewing machine? Pick out a fabric that fits your personality and decor and make your own window valances or curtains. You will save a lot of money if you aren’t ordering custom pieces from a store.
3. Make spray paint your new best friend – Head to a yard sale or to your local goodwill and pick up pieces like frames, lamps etc and update them by giving them a fresh coat of paint! Many brands make spray paints that are gold/silver and give the look of an expensive finish.
4. Use natural pieces for centerpiece decor – Fill a vase in your kitchen with fresh lemons or add real pine cones to a bowl in your living room in the fall. Using natural items look beautiful and save you a lot!
5. Stay away from expensive department stores – When buying your accent pieces, try visiting stores like Home Goods, Ikea or Michaels Craft Store. They offer unique pieces that give your home the look you want at a fraction of the cost of other stores.