Blog Posts

Classic Summer Movies

The summer is here and though you may be working or going to school full-time, you can still enjoy the summer! Live vicariously through the characters in classic summer movies. In this week’s Courtland Park Blog, we’ve got a few classic movie suggestions for you to watch on a hot summer night in. The Sandlot “David Mickey Evans directs his first feature film and knocks it out of the park. It’s sandlot baseball set in the summer of 1962, with Babe Ruth-autographed baseballs, best buddies and giant demon dogs named the Beast that live beyond the rickety home run fence. Geeky kid, Scotty Smalls (Tom Guiry) moves to the San Fernando Valley with his parents and is unable to make friends until sandlot baseball hero Benny Rodriguez adds him to the team. Made up of all the magic little moments of childhood, when scary things really were over the fence, and crazy drawn-in-the-dirt battle plans actually worked.” Dirty Dancing “Baby (Jennifer Grey) is one listless summer away from the Peace Corps. Hoping to enjoy her youth while it lasts, she's disappointed when her summer plans deposit her at a sleepy resort in the Catskills with her parents. Her luck turns around, however, when the resort's dance instructor, Johnny (Patrick Swayze), enlists Baby as his new partner, and the two fall in love. Baby's father forbids her from seeing Johnny, but she's determined to help him perform the last big dance of the summer.” Weekend at Bernie’s “Fun-loving salesmen Richard (Jonathan Silverman) and Larry (Andrew McCarthy) are invited by their boss, Bernie (Terry Kiser), to stay the weekend at his posh beach house. Little do they know that Bernie is the perpetrator of a fraud they've uncovered and is arranging to have them killed. When the plan backfires and Bernie is killed instead, the buddies decide not to let a little death spoil their vacation. They pretend Bernie is still alive, leading to hijinks and corpse desecration galore.” Did we miss any classic movies? Let our Arlington, VA apartment community know of them by leaving us a comment!

Celebrate Fathers

Did you know that Father’s Day is June 16th, 2019? Even though fathers should be appreciated every day of the year, Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the father that raised you. There are plenty of ways to show your father the gratitude he deserves, so we’ve decided to share just a few suggestions on ways to celebrate Father’s Day in this week’s Courtland Park Blog. Practical Gifts Do you know if your father wants anything in particular? If you do, that would be the perfect gift for him on Father’s Day. There is a notion in the United States that men, especially fathers, would be pleased to get practical gifts like power tools, barbecue related items, or yard equipment. If your father happens to be the type of person who enjoys those things, then you should surprise him with such! If he doesn’t, however, consider the types of practical gifts he may like. Talk to the people closest to him to find out exactly what he wants! Spend Time with Him How often do you spend time with your father? If you live away from home, chances are that you don’t really get to see him that often. We recommend spending some time with him outside of regularly scheduled family functions. Do activities that he would enjoy, whether its fishing, going to a movie, or doing some woodworking. Spending quality time will allow you to catch up with him, share what’s going on in your life, and help you develop a stronger bond with your father. Write Him a Letter Telling your father how much you love, care, and appreciate him can be difficult, especially if you come from a home where sharing your feelings didn’t happen much. With that being said, we suggest that you don’t shy away from sharing your feelings. Write your father a heartfelt letter sharing with him your favorite memories, how he’s changed your life, and express your thanks for his role in your life. Do you have any ways you celebrate Father’s Day? Share those ideas with our Arlington, VA apartment community!

Celebrate Mothers

Mother’s Day is May 12th and it presents you with a unique opportunity to celebrate mothers. Now, this distinction of mother can be interpreted in a couple ways. You can celebrate the life of the person who gave you life, the life of mothers that you know, or mothers to be! In this week’s Courtland Park Blog, we’ll share with you ways you can celebrate the mothers in your life! Write Them a Card Sometimes it’s difficult to say what you appreciate about someone out loud, thankfully, there are other means to express yourself. One of our favorite ways is by writing a card. Cards are generally associated with birthdays, anniversaries, and “get well” cards, but they can also be a good way to express gratitude on Mother’s Day. In your store-bought or handmade card, feel free to make it as long or short as you please, but be sure to make it heartfelt and personal. Take Them to a Meal Everyone deserves a break, especially mothers. Help them break from their regular routine by treating them to a meal! Head out to their favorite restaurant on your dime or make them a scrumptious version of their favorite meal. They’re sure to be appreciative to spend the time with you eating a meal they love. Buy Them Flowers Flowers may be a simple gesture, but they can help someone feel appreciated. Flowers are closely associated with the emotion of love, which is perfect for Mother’s Day! Find out your mother’s or a mother in your life’s favorite flower and get them a beautifully arranged bouquet. It would be best to deliver these in person, but you can use a flower delivery service if you happen to not live by the person you’re wanting to buy these flowers for. Do you do anything special for the mothers in your life? Let our Arlington,VA apartment community know of them by leaving us a comment.

Spring Cleaning

Do yourself a favor this April by getting into some spring cleaning! Through the winter, it’s normal for some clutter to accumulate and for things to get a little disorganized, which makes spring cleaning so satisfying! In this week’s Courtland Park Blog, we’ve got a few spring cleaning tips for you to make it easier to tidy up your Arlington, VA apartment. Clean Your Appliances One of the most missed places during the cleaning of a home is the appliances. The appliances may include your refrigerator, stove, and even your dishwasher. If you use these appliances regularly, they may need a good cleaning — especially the stove. Take some time during your spring cleaning to focus on these appliances, using a cleaning solution and a clean cloth to scrub the grime and dirt off. Clean Under Furniture It’s easy to clean the spots in our home that we can see, but since spring cleaning is about a deep clean, we recommend cleaning under the furniture. Lots of dust and dirt can accumulate under your furniture, so pick up or move the furniture to clean under them! Doing so may give you the satisfaction of knowing all parts of your home are clean when all the cleaning is said and done. You can also use it as an opportunity to rearrange your home for the rest of the year. Remove the Clutter Clutter collects over time and can be quite difficult to remove. Your home may seem more untidy due to the various unused or loose items, so we suggest going through your home and pinpointing those items to set aside. How can you tell what should be considered clutter? Consider the amount of use each item has; if you haven’t used it or even touched it in over a year, you probably don’t need it and it can be removed. Remember that not all items need to be thrown away, but can be donated to thrift stores and charities if they are still in decent condition.

National Chips and Dip Day

Imagine watching your favorite movie and your stomach starts growling. What would be the snack of choice to sate your hunger? Chips and dip would be our answer! March 23rd is National Chips and Dip Day, and it’s the perfect excuse to indulge in some delicious chips and dip of all varieties! In this week’s Courtland Park Blog, we’re going to share with you some dip recipes to try out. Spinach Artichoke Dip from Genius Kitchen This is a classic creamy dip loved by many. It can be the next hit at your next party. Ingredients include parmesan cheese, chopped frozen spinach (thawed and drained), artichoke hearts, sour cream, cream cheese, mayonnaise, and minced garlic. Since it’s National Chips and Dip day on the 23rd, we suggest pairing this delicious dip with some chips! Spicy Chicken Enchilada Dip from The Cookie Rookie Enjoy chicken enchiladas in dip form with just the right amount of kick to it to wake up your tastebuds! Ingredients include chopped rotisserie chicken, cream cheese, black beans, Mexicorn, rotel tomatoes, hot enchilada sauce, hot and spicy taco seasoning, shredded queso chihuahua cheese, and chopped cilantro for garnish. This flavorful dip is best served and enjoyed with tortilla chips. Smoked Salmon Dip from Food Network A smooth and creamy dip, this one incorporates the bold flavors of smoked salmon and a blend of other spices. Here is everything you will need to make it: cream cheese, lemon juice, minced fresh dill, horseradish, kosher salt, ground black pepper, and minced smoked salmon. If you’re a fan of salmon, be sure you don’t miss out on this recipe! If you’re a fan of chips and dip, don’t forget to observe and celebrate National Chips and Dip Day on the 23rd of March! Share with our Arlington, VA apartment community some of your favorite dip recipes by leaving a comment!

Valentines Gifts

If you’re going to be spending Valentine’s Day with a special someone, you may want to give them a gift to show your love and care for them. Valentine’s Day is a day when many go all out with their gifts and many who can’t think of a gift to get. In this week’s Courtland Park Blog, we’ve got a few ideas for you on gifts you could get for your significant other to make their February 14th that much more special. A Photo Album Regardless of how long you’ve been together with your significant other, gathering together the photos you’ve taken with them and compiling them into a photo album can make for a great gift! It may not be extravagant or expensive, but it will show your partner that you cherish the times you’ve had together. Not only will it make their day, you’ll also give them a physical gift that reminds them of your relationship! Candies Unless your partner dislikes sweets, buying them candies can be a good gift! We suggest buying them their favorite candies. If you don’t know what those are, it would be a good time to find out! If you’re looking to be a little extra, go ahead and buy a hilariously large amount! A Home-cooked Meal Although Valentine’s Day is full of purchasing gifts and lovey-dovey acts, we believe that Valentine’s Day is about enjoying some time with the one you love. Instead of going out for a dinner, take the time to make them a meal they’ll remember! Scour the internet for a recipe of their favorite meal, then make it for them! If you don’t feel like you’re good at cooking, you can practice days before so you have a perfected meal when the day rolls around! Do you have any Valentine’s Day Tips? Share them with our Arlington, VA apartment community!