Gather Your Supplies

Keep your cleaning supplies to the essentials to save on storage space and expense. You’ll need a multi-surface cleaning spray, paper towels, glass cleaner, a duster, a garbage bag, a sponge, a vacuum, and a Swiffer.

Start in the Living Room

Place any items that go in a different room in a container or bag. Brush the couch cushions to get rid of food, dust, and pet hair. Clean out behind the cushions and fluff the cushions. Clear off the coffee table and throw unneeded items into the garbage bag. Dust the coffee table. (Follow the same procedure for end tables.) Run the vacuum cleaner quickly; you don’t have to move the furniture every time.

Bedroom

Put your dirty clothes in the hamper. Sort them when you do laundry. Fold and put away clean clothes. Gather up all the trash and put it in the garbage bag. Make the bed for an instantly cleaner look. Tidy surfaces, such as your desk, shelves, and nightstand. You don’t need to sort through everything, but place any unwanted items in a bin to go through later. Run the vacuum quickly through your space.

Bathroom

Place dirty clothes and towels in the hamper. Next, wipe down the counters and tub with a disinfectant spray. The hardest job, that’s also the most important one, is cleaning the toilet—this is one of the areas guests view most critically, so scrub down the inside of the bowl. Cleaning the mirror is a cinch with paper towels and glass cleaner. Sweep and mop the floor for a fresh look guests will notice.

Kitchen

First, put misplaced items in the bin to be put away later. Clear the countertops and cupboards of dirty dishes or trash. Load the dishwasher or hand-wash if there are just a few items. Wipe out the empty sink and polish the countertops and appliances with the appropriate products. Swiffer the floor for fast cleanup and take out the trash.

The last step is returning items you gathered in the bin to their proper places. If you stay focused and don’t get bogged down in any room, you may even have time to do the laundry. Now, you have a beautiful apartment that you can enjoy whenever guests show up as well as a stress-free maintenance routine.

If you are curious about our available Flagstaff apartments, give a call today!

The post How to Clean Your Apartment Efficiently and Quickly appeared first on Pine View Village Apartments Blog.

Use lighter colors and fabrics

During winter, it's great to use cozy fabrics made of heavier materials, and it makes sense to use darker, richer colors. But as spring arrives, try switching to lighter colors, such as pastels in blue, pink, yellow, peach and green tones. White, beige, tan and cream colors are also nice for the season. Light is the way to go with fabrics, too, so choose ones like gauzy cottons and linens.

Add airy curtains

In keeping with the theme of lightening things up, try adding some airy curtains in your living room, dining room or bedroom. They will be beautiful as the sunshine streams through and soft springtime breezes cause the fabric to gently move.

Rearrange furniture

The change in seasons is the perfect time to think about moving your furniture and accessories around. Perhaps put your sofa and other seating areas at a different angle, or place a dining table near a sunny window.

Consider lighter materials

Certain materials in furniture just seem to say, loud and clear, that warmer weather has arrived. So try adding some pieces made of wicker, light woods or metal.

Have fun getting ready for spring and summer by switching up your decor. Oftentimes, simply making these changes can really invigorate your apartment's design. Keep in mind that you do not have to spend much money at all to greatly enhance your decor.

If you are ready for a change of scenery this spring and a new apartment to decorate for the season, consider our comfortable Flagstaff apartments. Feel free to call our office today to see which floor plans are still available.

The post Decorating Ideas for Spring appeared first on Pine View Village Apartments Blog.

Mirrored Jewelry Cabinets

These clever storage solutions offer a way to store your favorite jewelry items without taking up much floor or shelf space at all. In fact, some varieties allow you to mount the cabinet on your wall, reducing the floor space required to the lovely number of “0.” You will find options available in a variety of wood finishes and can even paint them to match your walls, so they take up very little “visual” real estate in your apartment too.

Storage Ottomans

These are sure to become fast favorites in your apartment. Not only do they offer clever storage for board games, blankets, coasters, pillows and other essentials, but they also provide clever seating solutions when you have unexpected guests. Some varieties have added benefits that make them well worth the investment, such as converting into tabletop surfaces when you want to take your meals in front of the television or serving as a clean, comfortable space to work when you bring your work home with you.

Sofas With Pull-Out Drawers

Sofa makers are getting creative when it comes to features these days. Many of them now come with cleverly concealed charging stations for mobile devices. Some of them even offer drawers beneath where you can store all manner of blankets, pillows and other living room essentials.

It isn’t difficult at all to find furniture and décor items that pull double duty when it comes to clever storage solution. Contact us today for help in finding the perfect Flagstaff apartment where you can try out these innovative solutions for yourself.

The post Creative Décor Solutions With Double-Duty Storage appeared first on Pine View Village Apartments Blog.

How to Make Hot Mulled Apple Cider at Home

In less than twenty minutes, you can be wrapping your hands around a mug of steaming mulled cider, but first you need to get a few things. Of course, you are going to need apple cider. If you are unable to get freshly pressed cider direct from the orchard, your next best option is to look for unpasteurized and unfiltered apple cider in your local grocery store’s refrigerated section. The good stuff may be more expensive, but it is definitely worth the small indulgence. 

Besides premium apple cider, you will need mulling spices. Many stores sell pre-packaged mulling spices, but for the best flavor, you should mix up a batch yourself. There are lots of different recipes for mulling spices available online, but a good basic one to start with is:

• 3 whole cinnamon sticks
• 4 whole cloves
• 4 whole allspice berries
• the washed peel of one organic orange

To make the hot mulled apple cider, pour two quarts of apple cider in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Add the mulling spice mixture. Cover and simmer for 20 – 30 minutes. Strain and serve. 

Are you looking for apartments in Flagstaff, AZ close to the NAU campus? Pine View Village Apartments offers residents private studios and shared apartment living options. Call 844-807-1412 for a tour of units. 

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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

The post Beacons of Hope in the Midst of Despair: A Local Hurricane Harvey Relief Story appeared first on Pine View Village Apartments Blog.

Basil

This versatile and fragrant plant isn't just delicious—it can also purify indoor air. Basil loves the sun and warmth, which isn't hard to find in sunny Arizona.

Rosemary

This is another great herb to have on hand for tasty dishes like rosemary potatoes. It also acts as a natural air freshener. Rosemary grows well in the winter, especially when placed out of direct sunlight.

Thyme

Want the perfect steak? Then add a few sprigs of fresh thyme to the au jus. When thyme is plucked fresh off the plant, the smell and flavor are like nothing else. This herb also needs full sun to thrive, making a west- or east-facing window necessary for its survival. 

Oregano

This potent herb truly spices up ordinary spaghetti sauces. It grows well in lower light. 

Chives

Chives are tough and won't stop growing, even when you have a brown thumb. Perfect for scrambled eggs or a cozy baked potato topped with butter and sour cream. Yum!

Lavender

This fragrant herb can be used as a natural sleep aid. It can also freshen up any room of the home with its pleasant aroma.

Mint

Mint can be used in home remedies or to freshen breath when you're in a pinch. They also go great in Mojitos!

Parsley

Parsley is also a component in many home remedies and delicious recipes. Place this beautiful and versatile herb anywhere it can get full sun.

For an added touch of home, beautify your Flagstaff apartment with a few indoor herbs! For information about the floor plans currently available at Pine View Village, contact us.

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Here at Pine View Village Apartments, we're proud to be part of the Flagstaff community … and that means giving back when and where we can! This month, your Pine View Village crew was proud to give back to the Second Chance Center for Animals with a day of volunteering!

Second Chance has served as a "rescue from the rescues" through a partnership with over 30 organizations across Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. Their vision of making sure every dog and cat in Northern Arizona has a home has led to the adoption of so many animals into welcoming "fur-ever" homes! Their partnership with the Coconino Humane Association has saved the lives of at-risk animals who may have otherwise faced euthanasia. During our volunteer day, we were able to paint part of their facility and provide doggy (and puppy!) baths!

Second Chance recently made the decision to pull back some of its offerings, but have encouraged volunteers to support the Coconino Humane Association. We've also been happy to partner with Coconino Humane to sponsor some of our favorite resident events: Rent A Puppy!

Looking to adopt a new "fur-ever" friend? Because Second Chance must empty the shelter by May 1st, they are currently waiving adoption fees on ALL homeless animals! Be sure to stop by the Welcome Center to learn about our animal policies before adopting … Then head HERE to learn more about how to bring home your furry friend between now and April 30th!

To learn how you can help animals in Flagstaff, visit the Coconino Humane Association's Volunteer Page! It's just one small way you can help work "meow-icals" and make a "paw-sitive" difference right here in Flagstaff!

The post Pine View Village Gives Back: Second Chance Center & Coconino Humane Association appeared first on Pine View Village Apartments Blog.

Keep in mind that each of these methods work best with freshly ground coffee. Consider investing in a coffee grinder for your apartment or be sure to use store-ground beans ASAP after purchase.

French Press

Probably the easiest way of brewing coffee, you'll need to start with coarse grounds, a kettle and — of course — a French press. To brew, just place the grounds into the bottom of the press and pour in boiling water. After letting it steep for a few minutes, press down with the plunger and pour yourself a cup.

Cold Brew

An especially popular choice for busy people during the warm summer months, cold brew produces a concentrate that can last for up to a week in the refrigerator. Place coarse grounds into a French press or covered bowl and refrigerate overnight before straining out the used grounds.

Pour Over

At heart, pour-over coffee brewing is a very similar process to average coffee makers, only everything is handled manually. However, according to aficionados, the greater level of control produces a much better-tasting cup. Simply bring water to a boil using a swan-neck kettle, let it cool slightly and then pour through a specialty dripper and carafe device.

Of course, having a private kitchen makes brewing your own coffee much easier — and you won't have to worry about others using your equipment without permission. With kitchens in limited supply at Northern Arizona University residents halls, many students are opting for off-campus living. If you're looking for a new place, consider visiting our offices at Pine View Village apartments in Flagstaff, AZ, to find out more about our community.

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You can’t spell “HOME” without “om,” a unique meditative phrase sometimes interpreted as “that with which one is liberated.” If nothing else, we hope your apartment home is a place where you feel free to be you … or, even more simply, a sanctuary where you feel free, period. Here are five ways to create the sanctuary of “om” in your own apartment home!

1. Clear your mind

… And your space. Clutter is a huge energy suck in your home. We all know the familiar impulse to hold on to things because we might need them someday, we’ll convinced they’ll increase in value, they have sentimental value, or the dreaded “just in case.” But consider how much space those “just in case” items are taking up … and how stressed your clutter can make you on a daily basis! Take time today to clear away clutter, especially from desktop surfaces and your major relaxation spaces. Consider donating or regifting the items you no longer need; not only will you decrease stress, but the act of giving things away is an instant mood enhancer!

2. Create your zone

Find a space that you can make your own private refuge. Whether it’s a special spot on the couch, your bed, your favorite spot to sip your morning coffee, or the bathtub, we all need a place in our home that is private and personalized. Find a way to define that personal space, be it with an item (a guitar, a special chair, a beautiful rug, etc.) or an extra touch of coziness (extra pillows, bath salts, a scented candle, etc.). Find ways to make that area distinctly yours, even if you can’t create physical separation from the rest of your apartment. Consider the impact of draping your favorite blanket over your favorite chair in your favorite reading nook … that spot is yours, and no one else’s, even if it’s smack dab in the middle of your living room!

3. Here comes the sun

“Let the sun shine … Let the sunshine in!” Natural sunlight boosts your mood and health, and can totally change the feel of a room. Whenever you can, let in as much sunlight as possible. Consider natural daylight bulbs if your apartment doesn’t naturally face direct sunlight during the day. Crack open a window and let in the fresh air … soak it in!

4. Color your calm

Add pops of your favorite colors to every room. Pick a color theme that creates the mood you want in each space of your apartment. Even if you’re in a studio, you can create distinct mood places through color: deeper shades wherever your bed is, brighter colors in the living room, softer hues for a spa-experience in the bathroom, etc. Greens are serene. Blue is restful. According to Feng Shui, 2017 is the Year of the Rooster, so consider this year’s “lucky” colors: yellow, brown, gold, silver, and white!

5. Sent-sational

Have you ever heard of signature scents? Many hotels feature specially crafted scents as you enter the lobby or your room to create an instant sense of place. You can bring this same sense to your own space by identifying, claiming, or creating your own signature scent. Flagstaff is known for smelling of vanilla, so if you love nature consider scenting your apartment with vanilla, evergreen, and cinnamon. The main scent “categories” are: musk, smoky, citrus, woody, green, floral, aquatic, and incense (spicy and sweet). Consider your favorite scents of cologne/perfume, shampoo, lotion, or even your favorite coffee shop or hangout. Find ways to bring those scents home.

Remember, it’s the things that make your space personal, peaceful, and private that make it your own sanctuary. When it comes to making your home into a haven, do what feels right to you! With the tips above, and your own personal touches, you’ll be saying “om” to your home in no time!

The post Five Tips to Make Your Apartment a Sanctuary appeared first on Pine View Village Apartments Blog.

Summer has officially come to Flagstaff, and it’s the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors! … But it’s also the perfect time to chillax with a perfect summer binge watching session. Here are five great shows to binge watch while you beat the summer heat!

Bob’s Burgers
Head to Netflix for this burger-based animated family sitcom! Why do we love Bob’s Burgers? Three Words … Regular Sized Rudy. Besides the constant antics of the Belcher kids (which are sure to give you some wild ideas on how to spend your days during the summer), Bob’s Burgers is chop full of amazing characters. Tina Belcher is our spirit animal. Teddy the handyman is relentlessly optimistic. Jimmy Jr.’s dance moves are to die for. And again … Regular Sized Rudy. (Why do they call him that? In his own words: “Just look at me.”)

FRINGE
This Fox phenom ran from 2008 through 2013, but it still has a place in our hearts as a non-stop thrill ride. FBI agent Olivia Dunham enlists the aid of Dr. Walter Bishop, the maddest of all mad scientists, and his jack-of-all-trades son Peter to help investigate a mysterious “Pattern” that threatens the very fabric of the universe. Things get pretty wild within the first few episodes, and it just keeps escalating until the emotionally captivating final season that takes things to a whole new level.

Game of Thrones
If you haven’t been watching this series, it’s time to start. Watch as powerful families engage in the ultimate battle royale in their efforts to rule the Seven Kingdoms. Each season is an action packed emotional roller coaster. Don’t get too attached to your favorite character … as Queen Cersai says, “In the game of thrones, you win or your die” … and there are a LOT of losers. Summer may be here in Flagstaff, but in Westeros … Winter is coming.

LOST
If you think you’ve got it bad (hello, record-breaking summer temps), try enduring a constant summer stuck on a desert island! LOST follows survivors of a plane crash as they try to unravel the mystery of where (and, sometimes, when) they are and how to get home. The stories are captivating, and the mysteries behind the island (Smoke monsters. Secret hatches. Mystery numbers. The Others.) will keep you on the edge of your seat for all six seasons!

24
Available to binge for free with an Amazon Prime membership, 24 is a binge-viewer’s dream come true. Why? Because you can watch an entire season in less than a DAY! Each season is set during a 24-hour day in the life of CTU agent Jack Bauer, and with each episode running slightly less than an hour you can literally watch an entire season in a day. (And, unlike Jack, even take bathroom breaks.) With the series set to come back in a revamped 12-episode series, now is the time to see what all the hype was about with the original.

Happy viewing! Share your favorite shows with us on Facebook or Twitter! 

The post Five TV Shows to Binge Watch This Summer! appeared first on Pine View Village Apartments Blog.