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No matter the layout of your Dallas apartment, you can make it your own with unique touches that allow you to pursue your passion on a daily basis. If you’re unable to spare an entire room for crafting, there’s no need to worry about keeping this part of your life hidden. Consider adding a special nook to your apartment, where you can focus entirely on crafting. These tips will help:
4 Essential Steps to Adding a Crafting Nook to Your Apartment
- Use a corner desk. Make the most of the underutilized corners in your apartment with a desk specifically designed to fit in this space. This can make your crafting area feel more purposeful, while also lending you greater concentration when various sources of distraction are present.
- Opt for comfortable, but purposeful seating. The type of chair you use will likely depend on which crafts you intend to pursue. A glider or laid-back armchair works nicely for knitting or crocheting, but scrapbooking may call for a desk chair. Choose something with plenty of support, so you can craft for hours without feeling uncomfortable.
- Seek attractive storage solutions. Your nook will feel more like your own special space if storage is purposeful and chic — not haphazard. To achieve this end, use cute shelves, cubbies or even a mobile cart with supplies carefully organized. Don’t be afraid to add knick-knacks or personal touches to make the space your own.
- Don’t forget lighting. Quality lighting is critical for success with your most intricate crafts. The right desk lamp can make all the difference, as can a floor lamp. Magnifying lamps, in particular, are valuable for many types of crafts, as they allow you to see detail and make the most of your fine motor skills.
With the right furniture and accessories, you can easily create a place that is both peaceful and productive. A little initial effort will ultimately result in a cozy crafting nook, where you feel perfectly at home.
At South Side Flats, we’re all about helping you achieve your dream life in your apartment. Contact us today to learn more about our spacious floor plans and our range of amenities.
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]]>The post Is This Your Year to Shine? 4 Ways to Embrace a Healthier Attitude appeared first on South Side Flats Blog.
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There’s a lot to be grateful for as we head into a new year that beckons us to bring forth new ways and habits. However, the traditional resolutions rarely include ways to check negative mental impulses and transform them into more positive ways of thinking. Shine this year with these four tips for a healthier mentality that will benefit others beyond yourself.
Eradicate Self Doubts
It’s only natural for most humans to doubt their actions, words, and thoughts from time to time. However, this way of thinking on a routine basis can lead to an array of consequences. People who doubt themselves often engage in damaging self-talk, believing they are not ‘good enough’ to achieve their dreams and goals. This mentality is more likely to lead to failure than by approaching each endeavor expecting the best instead of the worst.
Forget Negative Thinking
Beyond self-doubts, it can be easy to slip into negative ways of thinking which is sure to affect everyone around you — and not in positive ways. Negative attitudes often stem from fears of failure, much like those lingering doubts. Make a list of times you feel negative and create short impromptu verbiage you can use to flip the switch back to the positive side.
Let Go of Destructive Relationships
If you’re spending too much time around people who drain your positive energy, take advantage of your kindness, or who expect you to put their needs before your own, do yourself a favor and take a step back from the relationship. Surround yourself with those who share your positive mentality and surround yourself with love. You deserve it!
Kick Gossiping to the Curb
Nothing good ever seems to result from gossiping about others. Instead of being drawn into the water cooler scene, share some positive or funny stories about what’s happening in your life. Keep the conversation focused on what you do know about, and help others curb the gossip train, too.
Join Our Positive-Minded Community at South Side Flats Apartments in Dallas
If you’re in the market for n architecturally significant, modern home in the artsy, culturally diverse, historic Cedars neighborhood, contact us today and come see what we have to offer here at South Side Flats.
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Hosting a holiday gathering with family or friends gives you a chance to spend time with loved ones while also showing off your home. If you’re feeling stressed about making sure your home is ready, keep these easy cleaning tips in mind.
Stock Up on Cleaning Supplies
One of the best ways to avoid stress before a holiday gathering is to be prepared. Don’t wait until the last minute to find out that you’re out of disinfectant spray or low on paper towels. Stock up on cleaning supplies ahead of time so you’ll be all set to clean the day before or the day of your gathering.
Bathroom Cleaning
You don’t have to do deep cleaning in every part of your apartment before having company over for a holiday dinner, but the bathroom is an exception. Wipe down and disinfect your sink and toilet to avoid the spread of germs. Use different wipes or cloths on each surface so you won’t just be moving germs from one area to another. Have soap and clean towels available for your guests.
Kitchen Cleaning
Your kitchen is another important area to focus on before guests arrive, especially since you’ll be preparing food there. Sweep and mop the floor to get rid of crumbs and grime. Disinfect your kitchen counters and stove with wipes or cloths to remove germs.
Living Room Cleaning
Your guests will probably spend the most time in your living room before and after dinner. Vacuum your carpet and furniture to remove pet hair, dust, and other particles. Run a cloth over shelves and other surfaces to get rid of dust.
Dining Area Cleaning
Having a clean place for enjoying your holiday food is important in order to lower the risk of illness. Give your dining room or kitchen table and chairs a good cleaning to eliminate germs, as well as crumbs and dust. Covering your table with a festive tablecloth can make it easier to clean up after eating.
Invite a few friends or family members over for a holiday gathering and housewarming party at your new apartment. Contact us to learn more about the floor plans and amenities for our apartments in Dallas, TX.
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Do you love Christmas lights and wish you could light up your apartment like some of the houses you see on TV? Your balcony gives you a great canvas to put on a display. Here are a few of the most common ideas.
Icicle Lights
Icicle lights are the simplest way to light up your balcony. Just get a string that matches the length of your balcony railing and run it along the top. Most people prefer white icicle lights since you're trying to make it look like hanging ice, but you can also choose from festive colors if that's your preference
Wrap the Railings
Instead of hanging lights from the top of your balcony railing, you may wish to make your railings themselves the focal point. Instead of fading into darkness at night, they become the display.
Simply wrap string lights around your railings. You can either just do the main beams or every single beam depending on how many lights you want. Remember that since you'll be wrapping the lights rather than running them straight, you'll probably need two to three times the length of lights that you would to go straight across the length of your balcony.
Net Lights
Net lights are mostly to cover bushes, but you can still put them to work on your balcony. Match them to the size of your railing, and use them like a screen. This gives you a simple way to cover your entire railing without having to arrange multiple strings of lights.
Use Pathway Lights
Stores almost always sell candy canes, small Christmas trees, and other festive decorations that stake into the ground next to a sidewalk. You can tie these to your balcony railing to create a more festive look beyond just simple string lights.
Don't Forget a Timer
With short winter days, you may be coming home after dark, and your neighbors might appreciate if you don't leave your lights on till 4 a.m. Get a solar sensor or clock-based timer to automatically adjust your lights.
To learn more about how our residents get ready for the holidays, stop by our Dallas, TX, apartments today. We'll be happy to give you a tour.
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As a pet-friendly apartment community in Dallas, Texas, we see lots of four-legged friends enter our doors every day. Some of our furry residents moved here with their owners, while others were adopted after their people already lived here. If you're getting ready to adopt a dog, here are some things you should consider:
Make Sure You Have Money for Unexpected Medical Expenses
A lot of people don't realize how expensive veterinary care can be until they're faced with a huge bill. Before you adopt a furry pet, be sure you have enough cash to handle medical expenses for unexpected incidents. These can range from bites from other dogs to accidental trips-and-falls that result in damaged tootsies. Of course, you'll want to be sure you're able to accommodate regular visits to the vet for checkups, shots, and teeth cleanings, too.
Work Out a Schedule
If you'll be away at the office for most of the day, who will watch your pooch? Be sure to screen and approve any dog walkers or sitters who might offer to watch your dog. Ask neighbors for recommendations, look for reviews on Yelp or check on Nextdoor for companies your neighbors give kudos to. Be sure to walk your pooch every morning before you leave for work, immediately after you get home and just before you all lay down to go to bed, to establish a solid routine.
Establish House Rules
Will your dog be allowed on the couch, or should he stay on the floor? Will you crate your pooch or trust him to run free while you're away? Make sure you've established ground rules before your pup comes into your home so you can enforce them consistently.
Be Patient
Sometimes, dogs have accidents or get sick. They're usually not doing this on purpose. Read up on your dog's breed so you can learn the triggers that might make him more sensitive to certain stimuli, and talk to your vet if you think the food you're feeding him isn't going over well. He might have food allergies or other problems that need to be recognized in order to ensure he's as healthy and happy as possible.
As a pet-friendly Dallas apartment community, South Side Flats is happy to welcome residents of all sorts. If you're looking for a place you and Fido can call home, we invite you to schedule a tour of our community today!
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For your next party, be it an evening get-together or brunch, you can have a cooler full of beer and a countertop with a few liquors and mixers, and that’s OK. But to really break the ice and get guests to start mixing (in more ways than one), why not lay out a Bloody Mary bar with all the fixings? Even your non-drinking guests can build creative beverages. Here’s how it’s done:
Prepare the Base
Set out pitchers with tomato or V8 juice. Put little or no seasoning in this; your visitors will spice up their own. Perhaps have one pitcher with Clamato. For a special touch, freeze some tomato juice ice cubes.
Set Out the Booze
Plain vodka is fine, but how about flavored for those who want it? Cucumber, pepper and dill are good choices. For a kicky variation, offer tequila.
Sauces and Spices
Almost everyone uses salt, pepper, Tabasco and Worcestershire, but why stop there? Set up a caddy or carousel with all the choices: sriracha, barbecue sauce, teriyaki, salsa, cayenne, horseradish, wasabi, smoked paprika, celery salt, curry powder, caraway, cumin and anything else that strikes your fancy. Each of these will tempt at least one of your visitors. Don’t forget lemon and lime slices, garlic cloves and chunks of ginger.
To Pickle or Not To Pickle: The Vegetables
In addition to dill and sweet cucumber pickles, offer cocktail onions and pickled garlic and jalapenos, as well as pickled okra, asparagus, and green beans. Multiple olive selections are always appreciated. Unpickled choices include celery, carrots, and cherry tomatoes. Set small plates near the vegetables (along with snacks such as mixed nuts and pretzels) so folks will feel free to take veggies even if they don’t put them in their drinks.
Meats and Cheeses
Cube hard cheeses and cut meats and sausages into chunks. Provide bamboo skewers so guests can build their own “loaded swizzle sticks.” Offer jerky, bacon, and shrimp.
How about a competition for the tastiest Bloody or most original skewer? And in the competition for top Dallas, Texas, apartments, it’s hard to beat South Side Flats. Check the website or call 833-280-0099 to discover how exciting living next door to downtown Dallas can be.
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Do you love ordering couscous when you spot it on the menus at restaurants? Then, maybe it's time to learn how to cook this dish, which is a staple in many North African countries, including Morocco and Tunisia, and also in Israel. You might be surprised at how easy it is to fix this delicious dish. Here, we offer a basic recipe and two variations.
Three-Ingredient Basic Couscous
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups couscous
- 2 3/4 cups chicken broth (or water)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions:
- Add the liquid to a saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Sprinkle in salt and stir.
- Remove from heat.
- Add the couscous.
- Let the couscous sit for approximately five minutes (It needs time to absorb the liquid).
- Fluff with a fork and serve.
Toasted Couscous
For this tasty variation, you can use the basic recipe above, but you will just need to toast your couscous before adding liquid.
Directions:
- Melt one or two tablespoons of butter in a saucepan (you can also use olive oil).
- Stir in the couscous and cook until it is nicely toasted.
- Add liquid and cook as directed in the basic recipe above.
Garlicky Israeli Couscous
Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 cup of chicken broth
- 2 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/3 cup of Israeli couscous
- Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 large cloves of garlic, minced
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and pepper
Directions:
- Warm the chicken broth until hot. Set aside.
- Add olive oil to a skillet and place on medium heat.
- Once hot, add the couscous to the pan. Cook for approximately two to three minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the garlic and the red pepper. Continue cooking for approximately 30 seconds, stirring continuously.
- Pour in the hot broth.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Cook the couscous for approximately 14 minutes or until the broth has evaporated.
- Sprinkle the chopped parsley over the couscous and mix in well.
Do you love cooking, but are unhappy with your current kitchen? Then, please come by to check out our apartments in Dallas, TX, which are graced with modern kitchens, granite countertops, and built-in microwaves. Our pet-friendly community also boasts a number of features, including a pool and a fitness center
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Dallas has it a little warmer than most of the country come autumn, but we do get our chilly days here and there throughout November. They're usually a welcome respite from the Texas heat, but a cold, rainy fall day can really throw your workout routine off when you were hoping for a morning jog. Here are some ideas to maintain your fitness no matter the weather:
Indoor Exercise
One of the easiest ways to give your muscles a gym-quality workout at home is self-resistance. This is a simple matter of working out by exercising against your own strength.
For instance:
- Sit in your chair with hands on either side of your knees. Press your knees together with your hands while giving resistance with your thighs. This works a bit like a fly press.
- Press your palms together, fingers pointing up, thumb at your chest. Press hands together and slowly extend them forward, turning fingers outwards as you go, then back in. This works the same muscle group as a push-up.
- Put your hands on your knees while seated, palms down. Attempt to lift your knees while pressing them back down with your hands. This simulates crunches.
You never know what you're going to get with Texas weather come November, but whether it's too hot out for a run or too cold, there are some simple indoor aerobic exercises you can use to get your heart rate up.
- Stationary sprinting. You already know how to run in place. With stationary sprinting the idea is to lift your knees high and go as fast as you comfortably can.
- Squat thrust. Stand up straight, feet at shoulder width. Squat with your knees, hands on the floor and feet kicked back straight behind you into a push-up position. Then back up and back down for thirty seconds at a time.
The weather in Dallas, Texas is part of the fun. If you're looking for a Dallas apartment of your own where you can build your gym in an architecturally significant, modern home in the artsy, culturally diverse, historic Cedars neighborhood today, get in touch with us at South Side Flats to see some floor plans for what we have available.
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Adding vintage decor is an easy, and inexpensive, to add a bit of personality to apartments in Dallas. But, finding the best pieces at the best prices takes a bit of hunting. Since you can’t simply pop down to the nearest home décor store, you’ll need to know where to look for authentic vintage items.
Ask family members
Before you start shopping, put out the word to family members that you are interested in decorating with vintage décor. You might be surprised at the treasures that aunts, uncles, and grandparents are willing to share to make your space feel like home.
Yard sales
Garage or yard sales can be excellent sources of vintage décor if you are willing to put in a little work. For the best chances of finding vintage items, hit up sales in the suburbs. Read listings carefully to get an idea of what items are available and put together a route that allows you to make several stops in one day.
Thrift shops
Charity shops, like Goodwill or Salvation Army, can be gold mines of vintage and retro décor, especially furniture pieces. Often, thrift shop items are in less-than-perfect condition, so it helps to go in with a creative eye. If you are willing to clean, paint or repair a diamond in the rough, you could end up with a one-of-a-kind vintage item that perfectly suits your style.
Antique Shops
Though they are probably priced higher, antique shops will have a more extensive selection of vintage items than thrift shops or yard sales. Better yet, antique stores are staffed by professionals who can answer questions and help you find specific items.
Online
Finding vintage décor doesn’t always mean crawling through grandma’s attic or spending your Saturday hopping between thrift shops and yard sales. On the right sites, you can score plenty of vintage finds from the comfort of your couch. Etsy and eBay are excellent for finding good pieces at great prices. For a curated selection of high-quality items, with matching price tags, check out One Kings Lane or Jason Home.
Finding vintage items and decorating Dallas, TX apartments is a fun, creative adventure. To find a floor plan in an architecturally significant, modern home in the artsy, culturally diverse, historic Cedars neighborhood to house your collection of treasures, call South Side Flats today to schedule a showing.
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]]>The post It’s Pumpkin Time — 5 Desserts That Take Pumpkins Beyond Pies appeared first on South Side Flats Blog.
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If you're like many people who love autumn, you've probably already enjoyed your first pumpkin latte of the season at your favorite coffee shop. And you're likely looking forward to that first piece of pumpkin pie — but you probably also know that plain pumpkin pie can get less exciting as the season progresses. Fortunately, there are many ways to enjoy the taste of pumpkin, especially if you like it sweet. The following are just five ways that residents of apartments in Dallas can enjoy seasonal pumpkin sweetness in desserts when traditional pumpkin pies get old.
Pumpkin Mousse
All you have to do to make pumpkin mousse is replace the melted chocolate in your favorite chocolate mousse recipe with pureed pumpkin. Adding a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg gives it an extra layer of seasonal flavor. Since the flavors of chocolate and pumpkin go well together, add a drizzle of rich chocolate syrup across the top of the mousse just prior to serving.
Pumpkin Brownies
Pumpkin brownies are another sweet treat you can easily prepare by exchanging the chocolate in the recipe for pureed pumpkin. These are even better when you top them off with cream cheese frosting.
Pumpkin Cheesecake
This one calls for adding pumpkin puree to a classic New York cheesecake. Instead of a classic crust, though, consider using a crust of crushed sugar cookies to complement the pumpkin flavor. This dessert makes an excellent alternative to pumpkin pie during holiday feasts.
Pumpkin Bread Pudding
This one takes a while to make, but the results are well worth it. You'll first have to bake a loaf of pumpkin bread, let it cool, and then use your favorite bread pudding recipe to finish the job. It's best served warm with freshly whipped cream.
Pumpkin Spice Cake
Adding pumpkin puree to your favorite spice cake recipe gives it an extra-special holiday accent. Top with caramel frosting and a sprinkle of mixed nuts for an extra layer of goodness.
Please contact us for more information on enjoying an architecturally significant, modern home in the artsy, culturally diverse, historic Cedars neighborhood today! We've got floor plans for all lifestyles along with gourmet kitchens featuring granite countertops, top-quality appliances and a pantry capable of holding all the ingredients you need for seasonal feasting.
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