5 Ways to Display Books Without a Bookshelf

1. Stow Books in Pretty Baskets

Baskets make any room look cozier. Invest in one or two pretty square or rectangular baskets and place them near a seating area. Then stock them with your favorite books. When the mood to read strikes, all you need to do is reach down and pull one out.

2. Make Coffee Table Centerpieces

You may not want to take up your entire coffee table with a spread of large books. Instead, stack the most impressive books in your collection to make a tower and top it with a paperweight, shell or another decorative item. 

3. Add Height to Table Lamps

Place a stack of same-size books beneath the base of a table lamp near a favorite reading area. Choose books that you’ve already read so you don’t need to disrupt the stack when you want to read.

4. Store Books Inside Ottoman

Purchase a storage ottoman with a hinged lid. Stock it with books that you want to keep but not necessarily display. This is a great way to add a functional piece of furniture to your Flagstaff apartment without sacrificing space for book storage.

5. Emphasize Bowls of Fruit

If you have favorite cookbooks that you refer to on a regular basis, why not keep them at your fingertips while you cook? Make a stack of cookbooks and top it with a bowl of fresh fruit for display on your kitchen countertop.

Even if you aren’t an avid reader, these five ideas for displaying books can be used to add warmth to your apartments in Flagstaff. To view available floor plans in person, please contact us today. 

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Have goals

What would you like to accomplish during your spring cleaning? Set one or several goals, so you'll know when you've accomplished what you set out to do. Common spring cleaning goals include decluttering specific rooms, organizing bills, getting rid of mildew in certain areas, and so on. 

Make a plan

Once you know what you're trying to accomplish, make a plan to get it done. Set a timeline. On the timeline, specify days when specific actions will be accomplished in order to meet your goals. This timeline can serve as your to-do list when the time comes to put your plan into action. 

Gather your tools

You'll need tools to get spring cleaning done. If your spring cleaning goals call for organization, buy modular organizers or a filing cabinet before your spring cleaning project begins. Have the organizers or furniture waiting on spring cleaning day. This may mean assembling furniture ahead of time.  

Check all of your cleaning products to ensure that you have enough to get your work done. Buy more products as needed the week before. Take a chance on some new products you've never tried before, to see if you can find a product that works better for you. 

Get help

Get everybody in the household involved. Cleaning together can be a bonding experience, and it also makes the work go much faster.

Ready for a change? Check out Country Club Terrace!

We welcome new residents at Country Club Terrace! If you're ready for a change and looking for apartments in Flagstaff, Arizona, call to set an appointment to see available units. 

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How to Redecorate Your Apartment on a Dime

Shop for Affordable Art Online

Liven up your blank walls with some art! You can find affordable art prints online that'll change the entire look and feel of your apartment. These days, there are tons of ways to hang art on your walls without damaging the surface. Look for adhesive picture-hanging strips that are specifically designed to come right off without much effort at all.

Switch Up Your Colors

A colorful area rug can really put a lot of cheer into your living room or bedroom. Buy a few accent pillows that match your rug, and top your new color scheme off with a throw rug or two for good measure. If you have room in your budget, consider purchasing new lamps. You'll be amazed at the change a new lamp can give your space!

Redo the Bathroom

Bathrooms are often the easiest rooms to redo because they're smaller than the other rooms in the house, yet they can hold lots of accessories and fun items. If your current shower is a neutral tone, look for something with vibrant hues. Follow it up with rugs, towels and a toilet seat cover that play on the shades in your shower curtain. Don't forget to get new accessories for the sink, too! A new toothbrush holder, soap dispenser and lotion container will leave you feeling renewed when you start your day.

Get a Cool Ottoman

Ottomans are great because they provide extra storage and more seating at the same time. Look for one with fun textures or interesting patterns to liven up your place.

Are you ready to come home to an apartment that feels welcoming and comfortable? We're ready to show you around our Country Club Terrace Apartment Homes. Stop by so we can take you on a tour!

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Fun Holiday Games

Holiday-Themed Charades

You can create a fun new twist on charades by tying it to the holiday that you are celebrating. All it takes is a bit of brain power to think of some holiday phrases to use, or you can find some online for a bit of inspiration. Charades is always a crowd-pleaser!

Holiday Mad Libs

This fun game of fill in the blank will have you laughing all night long. You can find holiday Mad Libs online, or create your own by simply making everyone use holiday-themed words to fill in some standard Mad Libs. Either should work fine, and you will have some great laughs and memories made along the way. 

Holiday Bingo

No matter the holiday, you can make a bingo game out of it. To play this game, just think of some things that you can use for bingo and then make some bingo cards. Get everyone in on the game, and watch people try to get to bingo as soon as they can. This holiday game, like the others, does involve some creativity, but you may also be able to find some ideas online to make it easier to design holiday bingo cards that everyone will enjoy playing.

Holiday games are a great way to bring loved ones together and make some quality memories. You can plan special holiday game nights or enjoy holiday games anytime throughout the season. If you are looking for a new place to call home and host these games, be sure to check out our Flagstaff apartments today.

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Tips for Making Friends in a New Area

Introduce Yourself to Your Neighbors

One of the easiest ways to make new friends after moving is to introduce yourself to the neighbors. By introducing yourself, you can learn their names and a little bit about them. From there, you can greet each other and exchange pleasantries when you see each other. This is a good basis that friendship can slowly grow off of. Once you are better acquainted with people, consider having a dinner in your house or hosting a barbeque in a common area, such as by the pool. 

Volunteer

Another great tip for making new friends in a new area is to volunteer. Everyone has causes that are near and dear to their heart. If you have the time, volunteer. As you do so, you will be meeting people who enjoy the same causes you do. You get to socialize with others and you can feel great about yourself for helping out. Be sure to ask the organization about their volunteer process before just signing up though, as many require you to take a class or sign a waiver. 

Find Local Social Events

Lastly, when you are new to an area, start looking for social events. Many social media websites or community web pages list social events. This may include things like singles mixers, 5K runs, pub crawls or local festivals. Going to these events is a great way to get out and meet new people. 

Are you looking to relocate? Want to call the Country Club area of Flagstaff, Arizona, home? If so, be sure to check out Country Club Terrace Apartments today to find a beautiful new home and a desirable area. 

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Fresh herbs are a wonderful way to add taste while reducing calories and sodium levels in salads, marinated meats and more. Residents of Flagstaff apartments who are looking to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and a whole food diet, including fresh herbs, can help reduce inflammation and pack more flavor into every mouthful of food. Here are some tips for creating an herb garden in your Flagstaff apartment:

Growing Herbs on a Balcony

• Start with common herbs. Herbs that will be placed in potted plants need drainage. Therefore, it is important that any pot chosen has one or more drainage holes. A drip tray or small plate placed underneath can help catch excess water. Both annual and perennial herb types may be grown. Easy common herbs to start planting include basil, rosemary and dill.
• Know the lighting requirements. It is possible to grow herbs on a balcony. Herbs need to be placed in an area that can receive a minimum of six hours of sunlight daily. Pots should be rotated weekly and fertilized on a monthly basis.
• Enjoy herbs throughout the year. It is possible to harvest leaves from both perennial and annual herbs for year-round enjoyment. Harvest leaves as needed and freeze the excess for later use. The best time to harvest leaves is while a plant is actively growing.

Reduce sodium levels in favorite dishes without losing flavor with the addition of fresh herbs.

Healthy Living at Flagstaff Apartments

Country Club Terrace provides a relaxing community and spacious Flagstaff apartments for optimal living. Make the most of every day in a residence located near the Continental Country Club & Golf Course, the Flagstaff Mall and popular hiking trails. Community amenities include concierge service, a dog park, a seasonal swimming pool and an outdoor fitness center. Speak with an associate at (844) 832-9940 to check out our community and lifestyle today.

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Spring is in full swing in Flagstaff, and with summer just around the corner, many people are finding it the perfect time to take charge of organization. Fortunately, organizing and decluttering your life doesn’t have to be complicated.

Just follow these simple steps to get the job done.

1. Create Three Piles

The first pile is for trash and recycling. The second pile is for items to donate or give away. The third pile is for things to keep or to find a place for. These piles should be placed in boxes or bags. For example, use a large garbage bag for trash (and another for recycling) and a big cardboard box for items you'd like to donate or give away.

2. Work on One Room for One Day

Next, it’s time to start going through your possessions. Start in one room, and don’t try to do more than that in a day. You have your piles; now work your way through the room and divide things up.

3. Be Ruthless! (And Use the Six Months Rule)

Your first tendency may be to throw nearly everything in your pile of things to keep. Avoid this urge! Think long and hard about items that you put into this pile, and avoid it when you can.

If it’s an object you use often, by all means, keep it! But if it’s not really a part of your daily or weekly life, give the object a test by using the six months rule. The rule goes like this: Have you used it in the last six months? If the answer is no, then give it away or donate it if you can. If it’s beyond repair, go ahead and recycle or trash it.

4. Go Through All the Rooms in Your Apartment

Finally, go through your apartment (bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, etc.) using this system. Do just one room a day. Once you’re finished, make sure you throw out the trash, dispose of the items to be recycled, and donate or give away the things you don’t want. Your last step should be to find a permanent place for all the things you’ve decided to keep.

Your apartment is your home and your sanctuary. Keep it neat and organized.

Still looking for an apartment in Flagstaff? Give us a call to see which of our Flagstaff apartments are still available!

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Work commutes and planned downtime can be wonderful opportunities to embrace motivational podcasts. These are some popular podcasts suggestions that we hope our Country Club Terrace community members in Flagstaff, Arizona, enjoy.

Let’s Discuss 

This podcast is an off-shoot of lifestyle bloggers Ella Gregory's and Monica Beatrice Welburn's work. The podcast, like their blog posts, centers around life, love, well-being and working Millennial women. It comes across as a relaxed coffee-shop conversation that today’s twenty- and thirty-somethings may find intimately relatable. Check out Episode 21, “Kristina Karlsson On Positive Intentions, Goals & Dreams” and Episode 24, “Burnout, Exhaustion & How To Get a Good Night's Sleep” to get started. Visit www.letsdiscusspodcast.com.

Goal Digger 

With more than 150 podcasts listed on iTunes to choose from, this live-workshop oriented professional podcast aims at redefining what it means to be successful, independent and how to embrace your dreams. Host Jenna Kutcher talks about things like setting goals, and impacting the community from a business woman’s perspective. Check out Episode 138 “From Desperation to Dream Job” to kick off the series. Visit http://podcast.jennakutcher.com/.

The Lively Show 

This inspirational podcast is hosted by Jess Lively, who once sold everything she owned to travel the world. Now an entrepreneur, she discusses turning intuition into action in the context of living an intentional life. Check out Episode 24 “How to Compassionately Set Boundaries in Relationships With Brené Brown” to get started. Visit http://jesslively.com/livelyshow/.

The Life Coach School 

This dual-content podcast works for those who are seeking a life coach and those who want to be one. Host Brooke puts a strong emphasis on individual brain power and how you can gain a laser focus into the thoughts and emotions that drive you. Check out The Life Coach School main page for a quick introduction. Visit https://thelifecoachschool.com/.

Happier

Hosted by author of the popular book “The Happiness Project” the name tells the story quite clearly. Hosted by Gretchen and her sister Elizabeth, this podcast focuses on small and large ways that everyday people can make their world a little, well, happier.  Check out the March 19, 2018, episode “A Little Happier: ‘No Hard Feelings. These Things Happen’” to get started. Visit https://gretchenrubin.com/.

We hope our Country Club Terrace community members enjoy these podcast suggestions. If you or a friend would like more information about our Flagstaff apartments, call us today.

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From time to time, we all get determined to have less “stuff.” When taking a good long look at our accumulation, that once convenient closet may be as overwhelmed as you feel. Here are some closet decluttering ideas for our Country Club Terrace community residents in Flagstaff, Arizona, to consider.

Swap Dress-Up For Clean-Up

Old costumes tend to take up more space than their actual usefulness. If you think about how many you really need, maybe 2-3 total throughout the year and that includes Halloween. Unless you are a cosplay aficionado, nix the dress-up wardrobe down to a single box and let that closet breathe a little freer.

Always A Bridesmaid, Never Enough Closet Space

Supporting a dear friend or relative by being their bridesmaid is a wonderful act of kindness. And, those dresses can be expensive too! Unfortunately, the often-bright colors and wedding-themed styles aren’t very practical. It’s also unlikely you will wear that outfit for another wedding. Try a second-hand shop and perhaps make a few bucks or just donate it to charity and write it off as a tax deduction. Cash-in on your closet space!

Re-Gift And Just Breathe

When friends and family members give you something you really dislike, well, that’s the gift that keeps on giving. Why? Because you feel like you can’t get rid of it without offending them and it’s taking up valuable closet space. In reality, after a year or two, few people remember the casual gift they gave you. If it makes practical sense in someone else’s life, re-gift and enjoy a sigh of relief. Your anxiety can fade, and your closet space will breathe easier.

The Hobby Isn’t Happening

Many people try out new things and accumulate gear to go with it. If you tried skiing, you may have skis, poles and other accessories piled in your closet. Hiking and camping requires sleeping bags, tents, backpacks, maybe even a portable gas grill. If some of these cool ideas didn’t have the real-life appeal you thought, pass on these items to those that embrace them and just keep the stuff you really use. It’s all about being pragmatic at the end of the day.

We hope these streamlining suggestions help our Country Club Terrace community members improve your closet space. If you or a friend would like more information about our Flagstaff apartments, call us today.

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We walk through the rooms of a storm soaked apartment in Houston, Texas, as Mary, a twenty-plus-year resident of Nob Hill Apartments, points out the items she hopes she can keep, but we can clearly see are lost. The safety masks covering our mouths and noses do nothing to block the rank smell of stagnant flood water and growing mold. The air in the apartment is warm and humid, the air outside buzzing with mosquitos preying on the exposed skin of anyone walking through the community working to salvage what they can from the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Even with the flood waters receded, we feel the sense of loss that weighs heavy as a storm cloud over the apartment community we’ve come to serve.

We try to prepare Mary for the worst—the disheartening fact that most of her worldly possessions must be declared casualties of the hurricane’s destructive force. But Mary’s determination outweighs our own, and pushes us in a new direction. Where we strive to prepare her for despair, she insists upon building us up with hope. And as we tell her we will help her as best we can, she leaves us with these words: “When I was a child, my teacher told me that the good deeds you do are added as stars to your crown in heaven. Your crowns are going to be full of all the stars in the heavens.”

***

Our group of volunteers left Arizona in the early hours of September 6 to make our way to Houston. Our team was made up of multifamily housing team members from Bella Investment Group in Flagstaff, AZ, who had committed to partner with Apartment Life, an organization that places CARES Teams within apartment communities to “look for ways to love their neighbors as themselves.” We have often seen the outpouring of love CARES Teams deliver to the residents of our Bella communities—now was our chance to take the CARES mission upon ourselves and make a difference in the lives of those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

After spending Wednesday evening assembling and loading U-Haul trucks with Resident Recovery Kits, we headed into the community on Thursday to see where we could help. As we approached Nob Hill Apartments, a 1300+ unit apartment community situated on Brays Bayou in the Meyerland suburb, we saw streets lined with debris and abandoned furniture, clothing, toys, even cars—all casualties of the surging flood waters. Nob Hill is where we met Mary, along with dozens of other residents who were packing up what they could to leave the community many of them called home. We expected the despair in the faces of the people of the community to match the destruction we saw in the streets. But where we expected despair, we saw hope.

One of the first young men we spoke to assured us that he had not been hit “too bad” by Harvey’s destructive power. “For me, it wasn’t as bad as for other folks,” he told us as we walked through one section of Nob Hill. “Other people got it much worse.” I learned later that for him, “not too bad” meant he “only” lost his car and about half of the possessions in his apartment. He counted himself lucky, despite his losses, and assured us that now that he knew we were there, he would help us find people who needed more help than he did. And he was true to his word. He eagerly came to us with the names and addresses of neighbors who could “really use your help,” and seemed overjoyed to be what he considered a “small part” of our work. The misery we expected seemed to have receded with the flood waters, and in its place love, humanity, and hope had blossomed.

For the CARES team in Houston, the Relief Kits and resources they handed out seemed like only a “drop in the bucket” of the recovery that needed to be done in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. An office team member, who had been pulled from a different property to assist at Nob Hill, described her efforts of pointing residents toward resources and gathering contact information from those who needed to move as “a drop in the bucket” compared to what she felt the people around her needed and the losses she knew they had endured. Even as we gave resources, monies, and hugs to those we met, we began to say that we knew it was only “a drop in the bucket” for those who had lost so much so quickly.

Yet the enduring power of hope outshined our perspective. The more people we met, the more we got the sense that in creating for themselves a sense of normalcy even among lost possessions, abandoned homes, and more, the residents of this community were finding something beyond the despair we saw on the news. Make no mistake—there remains much to be done to restore what has been lost in these communities devastated by the storms. But even beyond the knowledge of loss is the hope of helping hands. We saw donations from across the country pooled together to fan the flames of this hope. We witnessed police cars lining the streets from around the country to lend aid and relief to first responders who had not yet even had the chance to assess and accept their personal losses. We saw barbecue fundraisers and Red Cross vans delivering lunches and dinners on a daily basis where they were needed most. We saw neighbor reaching out to neighbor to lighten each other’s loads. And we saw tears of sorrow become tears of joy as people heard how far folks had come to help.

“To help me?” one woman said to me, stepping back in shock from a tight hug when I told her we had flown in from Arizona. “Y’all came all this way just to help me?”

“We know it’s just a drop in the bucket,” I found myself saying, but she cut me off.

“A drop in the bucket?” she gasped, clasping my hands in her own. “Child, it’s the whole ocean!”

I left Houston with news of the impending impact of Hurricane Irma ringing in the background on every television set we passed from our hotel lobby to the airport terminal. In the shadows of yet another destructive storm, it’s hard to ignore that there remains so much need along the Gulf Coast as residents there work to rebuild. Hurricane Harvey’s impact will be felt in this area for months, if not years, to come.

But even in the shadows of these destructive storms crashing upon our shores and cities, we see the silver linings illuminated by the selfless acts of people who keep their heads held high, their spirits lifted, and the hopes of their communities blazing against the dark times ahead. We can all be a part of bringing hope to these communities. Apartment Life continues to raise funds for relief efforts for both Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. The Red Cross continues to step up their efforts to prepare and provide relief. Countless other organizations are out there, waiting for each of us to step up and impact lives by being beacons of hope in the midst of despair.

Please join us in supporting the ongoing relief efforts, and make your own "drop in the bucket" contribution to those impacted by this year's hurricane storms:

Donations for Apartment Life Harvey Relief Kits: https://tiny.cc/alharvey

Donations for Apartment Life Irma Relief Kits: https://tiny.cc/alirma

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