Organizing and Storage Tips 

Invest in Double-Duty Furniture

Some furniture items can be used for multiple purposes, including storage. Look for an ottoman that doubles as a storage chest, or consider getting a bed with pull-out drawers underneath for bedding or clothing. These pieces of furniture provide you with inconspicuous, out-of-the-way places to organize and store items in your home. 

Put Empty Boxes to Use

Empty shoeboxes, wine boxes and other smaller boxes offer great ways to keep items in your closet, dresser drawers or kitchen drawers organized. Place the items you want to organize in these boxes, then arrange the boxes inside these areas of your home. The boxes keep items from becoming jumbled together and creating a mess.

Use the Backs of Doors

Place over-the-door organizers on closet, bedroom and bathroom doors to make use of these potential storage areas. You can hang towels, scarves, belts and other items on these organizers without having them take up much space at all in your home. This is an ideal option if you aren’t able to put holes in your walls and doors in order to install hooks. 

Organize Vertically

Instead of getting a long, low bookcase, get a tall, narrow one for organizing books, knick knacks and other items. Taller bookcases take up less wall space while still offering plenty of shelf space for storage. For items that aren’t easy to stack, get decorative open baskets to keep on your bookcase shelves.  

Our community offers large executive studio apartments or 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom rent-by-room apartments for off-campus housing near Northern Arizona University. Contact us for more information on our apartments in Flagstaff, Arizona.

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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.

1. Tank You Very Much: Pair a tank with a pair of jeans, a jacket, under a semi-see-through shirt, etc. No closet is complete without at least one black, white, and gray tank!

2. You’re Beau-Tee-Ful: A simple t-shirt is probably the most versatile piece you can have in your wardrobe. Find your perfect neck—whether V-neck, scoop, or crew—and have a selection of a few solid or simply-designed (think stripes, polka dots, etc.) tees ready to go! We recommend at least one black, one white, and one blue t-shirt to get started.

3. Button Down the Hatches: Another versatile option, make sure you go with colors and patterns that blend well when layered or on their own. A button down shirt or blouse looks great with a suit, casual slacks, or paired with jeans!

4. Cardi, Yo: A nice solid cardigan (go for black, tan/cream, or white if you’re daring) pairs just as well as a button down shirt. It’s nice for layering for a winter day, autumn walk, spring outing, or summer night!

5. A Blaze(r) of Glory: A blazer instantly makes any outfit look put together. Again, go with simple colors (blue, black, tan) … but don’t forget the more fun colors to give your outfit some sizzle!

6. Be a Slack-er: Finding the perfect pair of dress or casual slacks isn’t always easy. You have to make sure you find the right length and fit to make sure your comfortable and stylish all day long. No wardrobe is complete without at least one black, one khaki/tan, and one blue pair of well-fitted slacks.

7. It’s All in the Jeans: For a night out of a slick smart casual look, you’ve got to have the perfect pair of jeans. Avoid too many colored jeans; stick with the tried and true blue. At least one good pair of boot-cut and one straight-legged pair should do you to start.

8. Sweater Weather: Aim for lightweight sweaters … These are perfect for layering over a shirt and under a coat in winter. They’re also great alternatives to jackets for a chilly summer night. Remember, find the neckline that works for you, and have a few options both plain and patterned that work with as many looks as possible!

9. If the Shoe Fits: You’ve got to wear ‘em, so make sure you wear ‘em well! Shoes can make or break your outfit. You’ll want at least one pair of sneakers, one pair of dress shoes, one pair of sandals, and probably one pair of boots. And don’t feel like you have to restrict yourself to solid designs … a nice patterned pair of dress shoes can add a little flash to an otherwise plain outfit!

10. Eye on the Prize? Accessorize!: With what you’ll save on clothes with a capsule wardrobe, you can usually afford to go all out on accessories. Fellas, snag a nice selection of solid and patterned ties. Ladies, look at a nice selection of necklaces and jewelry. Scarves are a great way to dress up an otherwise simple outfit, as are purses, glasses, watches, hats, pins, etc.

The post Ten Essentials for Your Capsule Wardrobe appeared first on Pine View Village Apartments Blog.

This April our focus is RYAS: Rocking Your Apartment’s Socks! We’ll take you from recipes to try in the kitchen to thrifty apartment décor and much more!

Our mouths started watering the moment we heard that April is National Grilled Cheese Month! Nothing will rock your apartment’s socks quite like filling your apartment with amazing smells from your kitchen … and with all the variety cooking up a grilled cheese has to offer, we have no doubt you’ll love celebrating your apartment and this tasty sandwich in tandem! Check out these five amazing grilled cheese recipes that will leave your taste buds dancing this month!

Grill Your ABCs

The basic grilled cheese is already divine. A grilled cheese with bacon? Amazing. But a grilled cheese with bacon and some nice thinly sliced apple? … Whoa. All you need is some sliced sourdough, sharp cheddar, a few strips of crispy bacon, and an apple of your choice sliced thin. Get an easy-peasy recipe here: Apple, Bacon, and Cheddar Grilled Cheese

Ooh, Honey!

This is apparently Oprah’s favorite grilled cheese … and we all know that what Oprah loves, we pretty much all love right there with her. We never would have thought of putting honey on a grilled cheese, but this recipe sounds too delish to miss. Here’s your recipe: Havarti, Honey, Tomato & Basil Grilled Cheese

The Green Goddess

Ooh-la-la! You’ll want to make sure you have a good melty cheese for this recipe that’s oozing with flavor. We’ve seen this recipe on white or wheat bread, but the real mouth-watering ingredients are all the greens: baby spinach, avocado, and Green Goddess Herb Peso? Yes, please! Check out the recipe here: Green Goddess Grilled Cheese

Kiss the Melon!

Melon? On a grilled cheese? We weren’t sold until we started reading this recipe for a Sugar Kiss melon and Chorizo-Manchego Grilled Cheese. Since it can be a little tricky to find a Sugar Kiss melon, we made this one a twofer with a Prosciutto and Melon Grilled Cheese, too! Don’t judge too quickly … we definitely encourage you to try this one out for yourself! Find recipes here: Sugar Kiss Melon and Chorizo-Manchego Grilled Cheese and Crispy Prosciutto & Melon Grilled Cheese

Holy Sweet Potato, Batman…

Here’s another twofer … because how could we say no to sweet potatoes on a sandwich?! First there’s the sweet potato and cheddar, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, which sounds almost more like a dessert than a sandwich. Then there’s the sweet potato and toasted pecan grilled cheese that sounds more like a pie than a sandwich. It’s basically dessert sandwiches … How could you say no?! Take on both these sandwiches with recipes here: Sweet Potato Cheddar Grilled Cheese and Sweet Potato and Toasted Pecan Grilled Cheese
Happy Grilling!

The post 5 Tongue-Tempting Grilled Cheese Recipes to Try appeared first on Pine View Village Apartments Blog.

Did you know March is Optimism Month? To celebrate, we’re focusing on a ton of tips for bringing extra touches of bliss into your life and home!

It’s often all too easy to find the things about our apartments that don’t make us happy. But how much time do we really spend thinking about those things in our apartments that make it a home instead of just another set of rooms?! Let’s face it … We spend a lot of time at home. So this week, let’s focus on five ways we can embrace our living spaces as private sanctuaries where we can find our own personal bliss in each and every room!

Claim “You” Space

Do you enjoy a cup of coffee every morning? Indulge in a bubble bath or extra-long shower every night? Indulge in a new book on lazy afternoons? Whatever little moments make your day, make sure you claim the space in which you enjoy them to really call your own. Set up a special reading nook with a comfy chair and plenty of light. Or, if you share living space, make sure you always bring your favorite blanket or pillow into the space where you enjoy your moment. Have a special table for your coffee, or always use your favorite mug. Line the tub with tea light candles or invest in a shower speaker to enjoy your favorite playlist. Make your moment into a true daily ritual that’s yours and yours alone.

Clean … and Then Don’t

One of the best habits you can establish for your home and happiness is taking 10 to 15 minutes to straighten up one or two rooms in your home on a daily basis. Whether it’s putting books back on your bookshelf, folding laundry, or finally clearing the dishes from the sink … a little bit of time spent tidying up will save you hours in deep cleaning. And even better, spending those 10 to 15 minutes during the week makes sure you can take a day—just one day during your weekend, at least—to just relax and enjoy your home. Even if you spend all day Saturday cleaning, make sure you set aside Sunday as your day to just kick back and enjoy all the bliss your home has to offer.

Indulge Your Ears

We challenge you to take one day this weekend and cater a few playlists with your favorite music. Have one programed for when you get home from work or school. Have one for doing the dishes or laundry. Have one for cleaning day. Have one for when you’ve had a really crummy day and just need to shake it off. Music is a great way to unwind, relax, or have a few minutes of fun just for yourself. Kick off your shoes, play a tune, and just do you!

Treat Your Taste Buds

Have you ever had a three, four, or five course meal? There’s nothing like finishing one phenomenal dish only to have another appear! At least once a week, plan out a special meal for yourself, indulge in the preparation of it, and really take the time to enjoy it. Plan your meal for a day you have no major obligations and few obligations, and save the cleanup for the next day so you’re not spending time you could be savoring your meal worrying about how much dish soap you have! It doesn’t have to be a four course meal; it could just be your favorite homemade mac and cheese, a plate full of fresh strawberries, or whatever else you love that you might not have on the regular!

Treat Yourself … and Your Home

You know those fancy napkins you only break out for company, or the special set of sheets you snagged for a visiting friend? Use the special items you’ve been saving for “special occasions” to make every day a little more special. Instead of just having dinner on a paper plate, set yourself a full table setting in your dining nook, including candles and the finest place settings you have. Indulge in at least one special, ultra comfy pillow for your bed. Make sure you have at least one special or specialty item per room so every day can be a special day.

What are you favorite parts of your home? Take some time to really appreciate them, and you’ll be home happy in no time!

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