Blog Posts

Shows to Watch on Netflix

Stuck at home with nothing to do? Take advantage of the premium streaming service, like Netflix, to find a show worth watching! In this week’s Courtland Park Blog, we’ve gathered some suggestions for shows to watch as you settle onto your couch in your Arlington, VA apartment. Sherlock Set in London, this series follows the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and his partner, John Watson, in a modern day take of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s character of the same name. As a “consulting detective,” Sherlock gained notoriety as a proficient detective using his skills in observation and deduction/induction while aiding the Scotland Yard in solving crimes with the aid of John Watson. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are wonderful in this series that’s sure to keep you coming back for more. Riverdale If you’re looking for the Archie and friends you remember from the comics, look elsewhere. Riverdale is a modern take on the tale of Archie and his pals, except grittier and darker. Find out what has gone on in the little town of Riverdale and the dark secrets it holds, mixed with teen drama. Though different from the comics, you may feel nostalgic watching your favorite characters from the series — Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead — as they live a Gossip Girl-esque life! Freaks and Geeks From Paul Feig and Judd Apatow, Freaks and Geeks is a teen comedy-drama that features big name stars like James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, and more! This series is a look into the lives of high schoolers as they deal with their own drama and coming into their own identity. The best part of this show is that the high schoolers actually look (and were) high school-age actors. These are just some titles that you can watch on Netflix, we hope you enjoy some of the suggestions we have, but don’t be afraid to leave a comment about a show that you think our Arlington, VA apartment community should watch!

Organize your Apartment

Your apartment is your home, your sanctuary from the rest of the world, and thus, you should keep it organized and clean. In this week’s Courtland Park Blog, we have some tips for keeping your living space in pristine condition. A clean apartment is integral to a life that’s happy and with less stress. Throw Away or Donate We all have things that we’ve collected or stored that we don’t use anymore. Go through your Arlington, VA apartment and evaluate the things you don’t need. After you do so, get a basket or trash bag and put any unused pots and pans, books, and clothing into them. If you don’t wish to throw them away, donate them to a thrift store or a homeless shelter so those unused items can be a benefit to those who need them. It may take some effort to get to a point where you’re okay with the idea of parting with certain items. Remember that if you haven’t used it in the last year, there’s a good chance you’re never going to use it ever again! Use Storage Ottomans Find yourself some extra storage and seating by purchasing for your apartment a storage ottoman. These pieces of furniture double as cozy seats for guests that you can store extra pillows, throws, or other objects that may be cluttering your living room or bedroom into. Your ottoman will come in handy when your home is packed for a movie night — one less person will have to sit on the floor, and you’ll be able to pull out any extra blankets without having to go to your linen cabinet (and miss part of the movie!). Take Your Time Cleaning out a cluttered apartment is a difficult thing to do, and sometimes it will take multiple days to complete it. Take your time, going room from room and making sure you catch everything you wish to donate or throw away. Taking care of your apartment and organizing your things can be a big job. Don’t get bogged down by it. Take it a step at a time and you’ll be fine. Do you have any experience in organizing or decluttering your apartment? Help us out with some tips by leaving a comment below! Thank you for taking the time to read this week’s blog!

Games to Try for Game Night

Do you ever find yourself bored on a weekend, where Netflix just isn’t enough? Take your eyes off the screen and invite some friends over for a game night! In this week’s Courtland Park Blog, we’ll share with you some great games to try for a game night with close friends at your Arlington, VA apartment. Heads Up! Heads Up is a trivia game where players have a set time limit to guess the cards that show up on the phone, the rest of the group (or teams) attempt to give clues without divulging the word. There are various categories to choose from, like superstars, animals, accents, blockbuster movies, and more. The app comes with a set number of categories with your initial purchase, but you can add to the categories library by making additional (inexpensive) purchases. One of the best parts of Heads Up is the video that your phone captures as you’re guessing. Have fun and goof around with your friends all the while testing your knowledge of trivia! Apples to Apples If you’re looking for a fun game, you don’t need to look further than Apples to Apples. The objective of the game is to be the first one to get enough green cards to win! How do you get a green card? Once the green card is picked from the top of the deck, players choose a red card (which features the name of a person, place, thing, or event) from their hand that they feel best describes the green card. The player who flipped the green card gets to choose their favorite red card offered by the other players. Fun for everyone, Apples to Apples is an entertaining game full of laughs! Mafia With moderate sized groups (7-10), Mafia is a great way to get everyone involved. Overseen by a moderator, the goal of the game is to rid your town of the Mafia. Everyone’s roles are random and a secret from each other, but the Mafia eventually get to know their comrades. A game of trickery and truth, Mafia is a fun look into how people handle situations of stress and how observant your friends are. Catch the mafia, or get rid of all the residents of the town. Either way, you’ll have a blast! Do you have a favorite game to play with friends? Let us know in the comments below! Thanks for reading.

World Art Day in Arlington, VA

April 15th is World Art Day. In this month’s Courtland Park Blog we want to celebrate! We’ll be sharing some DIY art project ideas to make for your apartment. We hope you get a chance to get creative here in Arlington, VA. DIY Birch Tree Art from Persia Lou This birch tree art is a fun piece to make that would work in any room in your apartment. To make it you’ll need a canvas, masking tape, acrylic craft paint, a foam brush, an old plastic credit card, copper leaf, metal leaf adhesive, and a small round brush. DIY Geometric Wood Panel Art from Sarah Hearts This classy piece of art will look great in your space. To make it you’ll need a wood panel, a foam brush, wood stain, painter’s tape, double-sided tape, craft paint, a paintbrush, and a geometric template. Gold Polka Dot Art from Just Kali Rae This polka dot art is a fun statement piece, especially if like gold artwork. You could try out silver or any other color as well! You’ll need these supplies: canvases, acrylic paint, circle-shaped labels, and a drop cloth. DIY Cross Hatch Stamp from Lines Across Make this fun cross hatch stamp for all kinds of unique prints for your walls. To make it you’ll need scissors, craft foam sheets, glue, and wood blocks. Use a stamp pad, cut out a shape, and get stamping. DIY Letter Art from Mr. Handsome Face This letter art is a great way to make a unique piece for your apartment. You’ll need a canvas, watercolor paints, a large flat watercolor paintbrush, watercolor paper, alphabet stencils, scissors, glue, and water. Check out these art galleries in Arlington, VA. Are there any other galleries you would add? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading the Courtland Park Blog and be sure to visit again next month!

St. Patrick's Day Home Decor

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up this month on the 17th. To celebrate this holiday, we want to share a list of home decor ideas you can use in your Courtland Park apartment. Be creative and enjoy your month here in Arlington, VA! Lucky Penny Letters from Made by Marzipan These Lucky Penny Letters are a great way to decorate a shelf or wall during the month of March. To make them you’ll need the following supplies: block letters to spell out “LUCKY”, copper-colored paint, a foam brush, pennies (about 300), a hot glue gun, and Mod Podge (optional). Printable Banner for St. Patrick's Day from HGTV This banner is so simple especially with the printable option from the link above. Use the printable letters, bright white cardstock, jute, ribbon, a craft knife, and paper cutters or scissors. It’s a simple way to decorate for this fun holiday. You could always make your own unique banner if you’re feeling up to it as well! Thrifty Hurricane Tutorial from Two Twenty One These hurricanes are so pretty and classy. Use them to decorate for a St. Patrick’s Day dinner. To make them you’ll need these supplies: 3 vases, 3 candlesticks, E6000 Glue, and toothpicks. Fill the vases with split peas and candles. Swinging Shamrocks from Better Homes & Gardens These swinging shamrocks are a fun item to hang from a doorway, over the kitchen table, or in the corner of a room. They’re fairly simple to make. You’ll need the following supplies to make them: cardboard tubes, a hot glue gun, green paint, scissors, and fishing line or string. DIY Split Pea Wreath from Love of Family and Home Here’s another great DIY that you can make using split peas. To make this wreath you’ll need a wreath form, 2 bags of split peas, Mod Podge, a sponge brush, a hot glue gun, and spray paint in clear acrylic matte. Do you have any other ideas on how to decorate your apartment for St. Patrick’s Day? Share your ideas with us in the comments below!

Celebrate Random Act of Kindness Day

Random Acts of Kindness Day is on February 17th. In today’s Courtland Park Blog, we want to celebrate this day by sharing a list of ways to do random acts of kindness for someone. Have fun and find someone who might need a lift in their spirits. Enjoy your month here in Arlington, VA. — Pay for the customer behind you at a drive-through. This is a simple way to serve someone especially if you have a little extra cash. It’ll make their day. — Smile at five strangers. Everyone needs a smile to brighten their day. It’ll make you feel good and them as well. — Write a list of compliments down for a friend. Do you have a friend in your life that needs a little extra love? Write down a list of goods things about them and give it to them. — Pick up litter. This is a great way to beautify the community as well as a service to those who live in the area. — Make a treat for your neighbor. Do you have a neighbor who may be struggling? Bring them some treats and ask them how they’re doing. — Donate blankets to our local animal shelter. Don’t throw out your old blankets, but rather donate them to share some love with animals in need. — Put sticky notes around the office or school with positive notes on them. This can brighten someone’s day and help send out positive vibes to those around you. — Do something kind for yourself. We all need a little extra support and love from ourselves. Refrain from criticizing yourself and spend some time doing something you love. — Send a positive text message to three people. Tell them you love them and appreciate them for how they may have helped you out recently. Do you have any other ideas for ways to show kindness? Share your ideas with us in the comments below!