The post Cleaning Tips to Get Your Apartment Ready for Holiday Gatherings appeared first on South Side Flats Blog.
]]>
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.
The post Cleaning Tips to Get Your Apartment Ready for Holiday Gatherings appeared first on South Side Flats Blog.
]]>The post Bloody Mary Bar appeared first on South Side Flats Blog.
]]>
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.
The post Bloody Mary Bar appeared first on South Side Flats Blog.
]]>The post How to Throw the Best Get Together in Your Apartment appeared first on South Side Flats Blog.
]]>
When living in an apartment, throwing a good party isn’t always easy. In this post, we’ll discuss a few tips on how to throw the best party in your apartment.
Think About Seating
No matter who’s hosting a party, it’s usually hard to find enough seating options. However, given that most of your guests probably won’t be sitting for a long period of time, remember that you don’t need too many seats. If you don’t have enough chairs for your guests, then you’ll have to get creative. Pillows, blankets, buckets, stools — anything works if you can sit on it. Not only does this help to provide more seating resources, but your guests might also get a laugh out of your ingenuity.
Snacks Are Key
While seating is important for parties, food might be the most important factor to consider. Having a main meal is sometimes needed, but you should always have a variety of common snack items. Cheese platters, veggie trays and fruit are all outstanding choices when planning your party — and be sure to have enough. Nothing is worse than running out of snacks 10 minutes into the party.
Utilize Pitchers
While some guests will bring their own beverages, it’s a good idea to have drink options on your menu. But in an effort to reduce waste and do better for the earth, try using large pitchers and reusable cups. Not only will this help during the cleanup time, but it is also better for the planet! So be sure to use multiple pitchers with a variety of beverages, or you might even try to make alcoholic juice and put it in a cooler for everyone to grab. Having a keg is another tactic that works great.
Lots of Paper Towels
Whether there are kids at the party or not, spills happen. In addition, people usually want napkins when they eat. Therefore, be sure to have plenty of paper towels at a centralized location. People don’t want to be scrambling around when they’ve spilled something, so be sure that these paper towels are easily accessible.
Bust Out the Games
Nothing brings a party together more than games. Try downloading virtual games on your smartphone that allow you to play with many people. You might also try to bring out a few board games as a classic treat.
If you’re looking for an architecturally significant, modern home in the artsy, culturally diverse, historic Cedars neighborhood in Dallas apartments that make it easy to throw the best get-togethers, then be sure to contact South Side Flats today to schedule a showing!
The post How to Throw the Best Get Together in Your Apartment appeared first on South Side Flats Blog.
]]>The post How to Host the Best Oscar Party Ever in Your Apartment appeared first on South Side Flats Blog.
]]>
The Oscars are almost upon us yet again, which can only mean one thing: People are already planning Oscar parties across the country. But if you truly want to take things to the next level and host the best Oscar party ever in your own apartment with your closest friends, there are a few key things you'll want to keep in mind.
The Oscars, Your Party and You
Generally speaking, the Oscars are a lot more fun if you and your friends have actually seen a lot of the movies presented — meaning that your preparation for your party is going to need to start early. This is one of the reasons why Oscar ratings are always higher during years where the "Best Picture" nominees are incredibly popular. More people have seen them and, because of that, they take a more vested interest in who wins.
Consider having people come over to your home around noon so that you can watch at least one, but possibly two, of the "Best Picture" nominees. Make it an all-day affair. Try to pick the ones that are nominated for the most categories, just so that research can bleed into the entire show.
Then, right around 5:00 P.M., you can let the actual party unfold. Make drinks and serve foods that, if possible, coincide with the general theme of the night. If you wanted to tie in with the Queen biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody," for example, you would naturally want to serve something like a crush that you could make purple because that color is so prominent in the film.
You could even make everyone fill out a list of their predictions for each category and play drinking games all night long. Every time someone guesses a winner correctly, everyone else in the room has to take a shot. With rules like these, your friends will definitely be clamoring for you to host a similar event next year.
If you'd like to find out more information about how to host the best Oscar party ever in your apartment, or if you're just excited to learn about all of the incredible apartments in Dallas, TX that are available, please don't hesitate to pick up the phone and call South Side Flats today.
The post How to Host the Best Oscar Party Ever in Your Apartment appeared first on South Side Flats Blog.
]]>The post Party Time: How to Entertain Your Guests in Style appeared first on South Side Flats Blog.
]]>
Entertaining is a great way to spend time with friends, but what if you want to take it up a notch for an elegant evening at home? When you're planning your next soiree, consider using some of these tips to create an elegant party your guests will remember for quite some time.
Dress it up – your home, that is.
Nothing brings in elegance like adding a few finishing touches to your home. Add a few pillows, throw an elegant scarf over the top of the drapes or add a cultured centerpiece to your coffee table.
Try a dinner party.
When's the last time you really set your table up nicely? Add linens, break out those extra forks and invite some friends over for a stylish dinner. Consider catering or ordering in if you don't cook well.
Use a theme.
Whether it's Parisian opera, New Year's Eve, Japanese culture or any number of other themes, having a central theme helps draw everything together. Let it guide you throughout your planning process to make the evening memorable.
Add the right music.
You're not a teenager anymore, and trying to hold down conversation while shouting over the volume doesn't really add to your party anymore. Try quiet music in the background to complement rather than contend with your party's atmosphere.
Level up your food.
When you really want to impress, try out some new recipes ahead of the even to really perfect them. Take the time to add all those special touches that never seem to happen in the weeknight rush or watch online videos to perfect your culinary techniques.
Use a seating chart.
Sound too stuffy? Not necessarily. Planned seating for a meal allows you to guide the right people together, so conservative Aunt Jean and liberal Cousin Izzy don't end up arguing over each other the entire night. Take into consideration who would get along well while keeping it interesting.
When you're ready to entertain your guests, have you considered whether your apartment complex has what's needed to be able to pull it off? South Side Flats is a unique Dallas, TX apartment community with a strong cultural flair, giving you the amenities to entertain in style. Please contact us today to discover what we can offer your lifestyle.
The post Party Time: How to Entertain Your Guests in Style appeared first on South Side Flats Blog.
]]>The post Crowd-Friendly Recipes for Your Next Game Night Event appeared first on South Side Flats Blog.
]]>
Game night is great fun for everyone, especially if you have the right snacks on hand. But who wants to be tied to the kitchen while the action is happening? These crowd-friendly recipes are easy to prepare and will have everyone convinced you were cooking over the stove all day.
Mini Meatball Subs
For this recipe, you’ll need a Crock-Pot. If it isn’t your favorite kitchen appliance, this recipe is one of the reasons it soon will be.
Ingredients:
- 1 family-sized bag of meatballs
- 2 jars of your favorite brand of spaghetti sauce
- 2 packages of mini sub rolls (or more depending on the size of your crowd)
- 2 packages of sliced provolone cheese
Dump the meatballs and spaghetti sauce in the Crock-Pot about four hours before guests arrive and have delicious sandwiches ready to serve by halftime, intermission, etc.
If your crowd is larger, you may want to make two servings, but you’ll need two Crock-Pots for that tall task.
Honey BBQ Popcorn Chicken
Easy and delicious. Who could ask for more? For this recipe, you’ll need a large bag of frozen popcorn chicken, (or two), and your favorite honey BBQ sauce. Heat the chicken according to package directions. Warm BBQ sauce in a medium saucepan. Coat the chicken in the BBQ sauce and serve!
Chicken Taco Dip
This is another great crowd-pleaser that’s easy to prepare. This one requires a little more effort and work than the others, but is worth every second.
Ingredients:
- 1 brick of cream cheese
- 1 packet of taco seasoning
- 1 can of cream of chicken soup
- 1 can of shredded chicken breast (drained)
- 1 bag of shredded cheddar jack cheese (reserve half for topping)
- 1 bag of Tostitos or Fritos Scoops
Soften cream cheese in a medium-size mixing bowl. You want it soft enough that it’s easy to stir. Add all other ingredients (except the half bag of cheddar jack cheese you reserved). Stir well, then microwave for about two minutes. Stir well again and see if you need to microwave another minute or two. Pour into serving bowl, top with remaining cheese and serve with your Scoops.
These delicious snacks are sure to please your hungry crowd on game night without making you stuck in the kitchen. Enjoy!
If you're looking for the perfect floor plan for entertaining, look no further than South Side Flats. Our architecturally significant, modern homes are located in the artsy, culturally diverse, historic Cedars neighborhood. You're sure to love our open designs and spacious kitchens. Give us a call or stop by our office today for more information about our apartments in Dallas!
The post Crowd-Friendly Recipes for Your Next Game Night Event appeared first on South Side Flats Blog.
]]>