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!

Courtesy of lovelyluckylife.com

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!

Courtesy of Simplybeingmommy.com

 

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!

Courtesy of parade.com

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.

courtesy of Mommypoppins.com

 

2 – Explore a submarine, battleship, and destroyer at Battleship Cove in Fall River, MA.

Courtesy of Creative Commons

 

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.)

Courtesy of mommypoppins.com

 

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!

Courtesy of mvy.com

 

5 – Take a beautiful hike at World’s End State Park in Hingham, MA – a beautiful area with wooded, natural beauty.

Courtesy of thetrustees.org

 

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)

courtesy of Parenting Chaos

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!

Courtesy of SHW Home Decor

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!

Courtesy of KidKare

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!

Courtesy of Crafty Morning

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.

Courtesy of Pretty Providence

 

 

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

3 – Portland Museum of Art 

4 – Coastal Highway U.S. 1

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!

Wake Up and Ride at Mill and 3 Apartments – Now Equipped with Peloton

 

Want the convenience of an indoor cycling studio right at home? Mill and 3 Apartments in Chelmsford, MA now offers the Peloton Bike – the indoor exercise bike with online streaming classes!

Cycling is now at your fingertips in the fitness center at your apartment home! No special bike shoes are required, just come on down to the fitness center and hop on the Peloton to start streaming live and on-demand group fitness classes led by world-class NYC instructors. In addition to cycling classes, you will also find amazing strength and stretching courses all available to you any time!  Sticking to your New Year’s Resolution has never been so convenient or fun!

Use of the Peloton Bike is completely free for all Mill and 3 residents. What are you waiting for? Schedule your tour today of our beautiful apartment homes and make sure to stop by the fitness studio while you’re there!

 

Click here to learn more about the Peloton bike

 

5 Ways to De-Clutter in the New Year

The holidays have come and gone once again and it’s time to put away the decor and organize our homes. Feeling overwhelmed with the tasks of getting things cleaned and organized? Try these ten tips…

 

1 – Move all of your holiday decor to one spot. Take it down and put it on your kitchen table (for example). You’ll see everything you have and be able to decide if you want to purge anything before packing it away for next year.

 

2 – Get lots of clothes for Christmas? Now is the time to clean out your closet and donate old clothes before hanging up the new ones.

 

3 – Kids tend to get lots of toys for the holidays and when you mix their new toys with old ones it can create a big mess. Now is the time to purge old toys! Donate ones that are gently-used and make room for the new toys.

 

4 – A lot of people want to eat cleaner when January rolls around. If that sounds like you, now is the time to declutter your fridge and pantry. Pull everything out and toss anything that is expired. Start fresh with healthier foods in a clean and organized space. Don’t put the food away until you’ve wiped down and sanitized all the surfaces.

 

5 – Don’t forget about your car when de-cluttering. Now is the time to clean out those consoles and cup holders and vacuum the interior. When you’re done cleaning make sure you have all of the safety essentials in place for winter (i.e., a scraper, brush, sand and all fluids topped off.)

10 Last-Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

There are only 4 shopping days left until Christmas. If you are still running around trying to find something for people on your list, help is here! There are always people we forget and even unexpected gift givers this time of year. Try one of these ten great ideas and you won’t be caught empty-handed!

1 – A box of fine chocolates

2 – A bottle of wine or champagne

3 – Cozy slipper socks or slippers

4 – A holiday plant

5 – A coffee mug with fresh ground coffee

6 – A scarf and winter gloves

7 – A floral centerpiece (for the Christmas host or hostess)

8 – Gift cards or scratch tickets

9 – Bake a batch of holiday cookies or a holiday bread

10 – A holiday scented candle