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5 Tips for Keeping Your Home Clean During the Summer
Keeping the home clean during the summer can be tough. Kids are home for summer break and you’d rather have fun than clean. If you’re struggling to keep things tidy keep reading for some helpful tips.
1 – Have the kids help – create a chore chart and hang it in the kitchen this summer. Give the kids some responsibilities like cleaning their rooms, taking out the trash and washing the dishes.
2 – Encourage more outdoor play – If the kids get out of the house early in the morning there is less of a chance of creating a mess. Clean the clutter right away in the morning and try your best to spend as much time outdoors as possible.
3 – Have a designated shoe and outdoor toy area – This should be right near the door. Have everyone drop their shoes, sports equipment and beach bags at the door so dirt and sand don’t get tracked into the house.
4 – Designate laundry days – Don’t let the summer laundry pile up! If you designate a couple days a week as laundry days you lessen the risk of overflowing laundry baskets.
5 – Keep cleaning supplies in close reach – Leave the broom, vacuum and surface cleaners in a centralized location. Messes happen but you can clean them quickly and encourage the kids to clean them too by keeping the proper supplies and tools on hand.
5 Tips for Setting the Thanksgiving Table
It’s Thanksgiving week and it’s time to prepare for the big day! Before you start roasting that turkey, it’s time to think about setting the table. Here are 5 tips for setting the perfect Thanksgiving table for your guests.
1 – Don’t wait until Thanksgiving! Start setting your table at least one day before. Washing cutlery and ironing cloth napkins are tasks that take more time than you think. You don’t want to worry about doing those things when you need to be in the kitchen.
2 – Know where to place everything! Bread plates go on the left, drinking glasses on the right! Place your silverware in the order they will be used – outside to inside. Forks go to the left of the plate and knives and spoons on the right.
3 – Decide how you’ll serve! If your table is large consider serving your meal “family style” which means the food will go right in the center of the table. Make sure you’ve found plenty of hot plates and trivets! If you’re choosing to serve buffet-style, make sure you have a large, clean surface ready for the food (that’s not too far away from the table!)
4 – Decorate with a centerpiece! Many local grocery stores sell beautiful Thanksgiving centerpieces that can be picked up the day before. Rather try a DIY? Add some pumpkins, LED candles and greenery to give your table a special touch.
5 – Place cards are the final touch! Not only do place cards give your guests a personalized touch, they also eliminate any question or confusion as to who should sit where.
Enjoy and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
20 Items for Your 2021 Bucket List
2020 taught us a lot! We learned that making plans in the new year can be hard when there is a lot of uncertainty. Even though your traveling, parties or events may be cancelled or postponed, there are still plenty of things you can do in 2021! Check out our ideas for your 2021 bucket list – how many items will you check off this year?
1 – Take time to meditate each day
2 – Eat healthier
3 – Exercise daily (you don’t need a gym to get at least 30 minutes of exercise in each day to stay healthy!)
4 – Complete at least one act of kindness each month
5 – Read that book you started a while ago but haven’t finished
6 – Organize your apartment/house
7 – Send cards to friends in the mail for no reason other than to just say “hi”
8 – Do a puzzle
9 – Keep a journal
10 – Start a blog
11 – Learn to cook or bake
12 – Drink more water (download an app on your phone to track your ounces each day)
13 – Take a social media break
14 – Get more sleep (go to bed earlier to get extra Z’s)
15 – Watch some classic movies you still have never seen
16 – It’s hard to smile at strangers with a mask on, but you can still wave to say hello & brighten someone’s day
17 – Start a pay it forward chain (pay for someone’s coffee or lunch)’
18 – Complete a DIY project you pinned on Pinterest a while ago
19 – Buy or pick flowers to keep in your home
20 – Remember to smile and breathe
3 Thanksgiving Games to Play With Family
Whether you are together with family or celebrating via Zoom, there are fun ways you can celebrate turkey day this year! Try one of these fun games with your family and maybe you’ll create a new tradition for years to come.
1 – A Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt – Get the family searching both inside and outside for a list of items and have a whole lot of fun while you search!
2 – Color the table! Ditch the standard table cloth and opt for one you can color. Buy one at your local party store or create your own with craft paper and a sharpie.
3 – Act it out! You don’t have to be face to face with your family to play Thanksgiving charades. Try these free printable cards from readwritemom.com!
3 Easy Ways to Decorate for Halloween
October is here and we’re ready to celebrate Halloween with all things SPOOKY! If you haven’t decorated your home yet, don’t worry! We have 3 very easy DIY projects that can make your apartment look festive in no time.
1 – Paper Bats- Head here to find an easy bat template to print. Draw your bats on black construction paper and cut them out. You can easily hang them using two-sided tape anywhere you want in your home to give it a spooky touch!
2 – Trash Bag Spiderwebs- All you need for this one is a trash bag and a pair of scissors. Easy enough, right? Head here to learn how to fold and cut your trash bag to make a creepy spiderweb for your home this Halloween!
3- Monster Door – Give your door a spooky face using construction paper, streamers and more! Let your kids help with this one and it’s fun for the whole family!
Tips for Trying Tie Dye at Home
Tie dye has come back in a BIG way in 2020! If you’ve looked online or shopped at stores recently you’ve probably seen lots of tie dye merchandise to buy. Instead of buying it pre-made, why not get crafty and create your own tie-dye at home? Read below for some tips for creating awesome and unique tie dyed garments!
1 – Think about what you want to tie dye. Is it a t shirt or a pair of shorts? Either way make sure that the material is cotton so the dye will adhere to the fibers of your garment as best as possible. Also, choose a white garment so your colors will stand out.
2 – Purchase your fabric dyes individually or purchase a kit. Stores like Michaels, Target and Amazon are selling kits that come with everything you need. If you don’t use a kit, you’ll also need some squeeze bottles, plastic sheets, plastic wrap, plastic gloves and rubber bands.
3 – Bullseye? Sunburst? Polka Dots? Decide which tie dye pattern you want to try. Click here for a great list of patterns with detailed instructions on how to achieve each look. Fold or roll your garment and place your rubber bands accordingly.
4 – Set up your work station outdoors to limit the mess. Lay out your plastic sheet and get your fabric dyes in the squeeze bottles. Make sure to wear your plastic gloves so you don’t tie dye your hands! (if you do get dye on your hands you can mix baking soda and water together to create a paste. Scrub it on your skin and wash away with soap and water.)
5 – Have fun and unleash your creativity! Choose fun color patterns and don’t be afraid to be bold. You won’t know how the garments will look until they’ve dried and been washed.
6 – When your garments are done wrap them in plastic wrap and let them dry overnight. When they’re ready to be unwrapped, wash them outdoors with a hose or in a laundry sink to remove the excess dye. After you’ve washed them throw them into the washing machine (without any other clothes) for a quick rinse and then dry.
7 – Enjoy your new tie dyed creations! Make sure to wash them separately for the first few washes to be sure the dye doesn’t bleed onto other clothes.
5 Summer Day Trips to Take in Massachusetts
Sunny, summer days are here and before we know it the crisp, fall weather will be sneaking in. There are still plenty of summer weekends left to take some day trips in Massachusetts. Check out these awesome places you can cross off your bucket list!
1 – Explore the wide-open shoreline of Crane Beach in Ipswich, MA. There are plenty of great seafood restaurants to stop at on your drive home to get a real taste of New England.
2 – Explore a submarine, battleship, and destroyer at Battleship Cove in Fall River, MA.
3 – Visit a living history museum depicting how life was in New England from 1790 to 1840 at Old Sturbridge Village (advanced registration required at this time.)
4 – Jump on a ferry and sit back to enjoy the ride to Martha’s Vineyard! You can access the ferry in Massachusetts from New Bedford, Hyannis and Falmouth!
5 – Take a beautiful hike at World’s End State Park in Hingham, MA – a beautiful area with wooded, natural beauty.
Easy Crafts for Kids – At Home With Princeton
It’s hard to keep kids entertained while they’re stuck inside on a gloomy day. Get their creative juices flowing with some fun craft ideas! Here are 5 fun crafts that include items you already have laying around the house…
1 – Create your own puffy paint – Mix equal parts shaving cream and glue in a bowl. Add a few drops of your favorite color food coloring. The consistency will look like a foam and smell like shaving cream. Let the kids mix and watch the puffy paint form it’s shape. (Make sure you dry any paintings overnight as these take a while to dry)
2 – Paper plate crafts – Have a package of disposable plates at home? These can be great craft inspiration for the kids. Have them draw their own self portrait, create fun masks or cut out ears and whiskers to make Easter bunnies. Here is a great resource for finding great paper plate crafts!
3 – DIY Sensory Bottles – Clean some empty plastic bottles you have in the recycling and put them to good use! Let the kids fill them with whatever you have laying around. Rice, glitter, pom poms, colored water…anything works!
4 – Rock Painting – Get the kids outside for some fresh air. Have them be on the lookout for rocks and stones that they can bring inside to paint. Make funny faces, cool designs, write uplifting messages and add glitter if you have it!
5 – Homemade Playdough – Playdough is fun to play with and even more fun if you make it yourself! Check out this simple recipe here that won’t take long and will include items you already have in your pantry.
A lot to Love About Princeton North Andover
Convenient, comfortable and a great place to call home. Welcome to Princeton North Andover!
Nestled on 13+ acres, this great location offers easy access to I-495/I-93 and Andover technology parks. Enjoy walking? There’s plenty of local shops and businesses nearby! If you decide to hop in the car you can drive 10 minutes in either direction on 125 and you’ll reach Haverhill or Andover – both with a bustling downtown food scene. Bars, restaurants, fitness, shopping – Princeton North Andover is convenient to everything you could possible want!
Enjoy great amenities like a club house, fitness center, grill/picnic area, bicycle storage and social areas with wi-fi connection. Princeton North Andover offers both one and two bedroom options. Schedule a tour with our friendly leasing consultants today! While you wait, head here to view additional photos and view floor plans.
5 Things To Do in Falmouth and Portland this Spring!
Spring is here and so is the warmer weather! There are lot’s of fun things to do and delicious places to eat in the Falmouth and Portland Maine areas. Here are 5 things our Maine residents love doing this time of year…
1 – Peaks Island
2 – Allagash Brewery
5 – Commercial Street Portland
If you’re in Maine this spring make sure to visit us too! Click to find all of our rental options in Maine!