There are tons of things to do with friends in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Northshore. From beautiful city parks to the rambunctious nightlife scene, the options seem endless.
But, sometimes it’s more fun to stay in and have fun with your buddies at home. That’s what game nights are for!
In this post, we’ll provide you with some tips on how to host a great game night in your 1st Lake apartment. Pour yourself a glass of wine, grab those board games off the shelf, and read on to learn more!
First things first. Before hosting a game night, it’s important to make sure your apartment is in good condition.
Start by cleaning all the surfaces you’ll be using, like coffee tables, counters, and dining tables. Remember that in addition to games, you’ll need room for food and drinks.
Make sure your bathrooms are clean and fully stocked. Avoid the awkwardness of running out of toilet paper or hand soap.
Provide ample seating for your guests. De-clutter and organize your living area to maximize couch and chair space, as well as space for walking.
Wash your dishes and drinking glasses, and check to see if you have enough ice. If you’re running low, make a quick trip to the gas station or supermarket and buy a bag or two.
Overall, the lesson here is that your apartment should be tidy and fully stocked with the bare necessities.
If you want to liven up your apartment’s atmosphere, a few simple decorations go a long way. It just takes a little creativity. Try one of these fun suggestions by apartment therapy: “Make a banner out of Monopoly money, bingo cards or playing cards. Hang vintage board games on the wall or use a Twister mat as a tablecloth.”
When you host a game night, it’s important to have some snacks on hand. There’s no need to provide entire meals for your guests, but consider providing a few of the suggestions below:
It’s important to choose a game that all of your guests want to play. So, we suggest having a few options available to pick from.
Provide options that range from the classic to the contemporary. Twister, Monopoly, Life, Balderdash, and even charades are tried and true games that most people are familiar with.
Newer games like Cards Against Humanity, Settlers of Catan, and Code Names are super fun games that aren’t very hard to learn.
For more options, check out this list by Hobby Lark.
Contact us today for information on our private residential communities.
Bella Ridge Apartments installed its art sculpture to kick off the start of construction on its second phase, Bella Ridge South Apartments. When completed, Bella Ridge South will be another 240-unit luxurious community with high-end apartments and must-have amenities in River Ridge.
This metal sculpture was created by local artist Luis Colmenares, also known as “The Picasso of Chalmette.” The towering sculpture is topped with three large, metal “birds of paradise.” Each bird weighs 60 pounds and was created to move in the wind.
The entire installation process was completed on December 5th. Landscaping and further beautification around the area are still underway. Colmenares mentioned he couldn’t have completed this work of art without the assistance of fellow sculptors. The sculpture’s name has not yet been decided.
Placed directly in the middle of Bella Ridge’s roundabout, this artwork divides Bella Ridge North and the future Bella Ridge South Apartments. Bella Ridge South, which has already broken ground, will feature exclusive amenities including bike rentals, a Lifestyle Center with a kitchenette, TV, hang out space, a serenity fountain, and a dog park. Residents will also enjoy package lockers, a resort-style pool, a fitness center, a dog wash area, rideshare pick up, bike storage and a free, direct multi-level parking garage.
The community is minutes from local dining, shopping and entertainment spots like the Elmwood Shopping Center, Zea’s, DSW, AMC Palace Theater, Theo’s Pizza, Zoe’s Kitchen, Hour Blast, District Donuts, and more.
Have you ever felt like getting away from it all? If work, relationships, or just your general routine are causing you stress, sometimes a weekend escape is necessary. We understand.
We also understand that deciding what to bring on such a short getaway can be difficult, which is why we’ve decided to share some tips on how to pack for your weekend trip. Besides, isn’t the whole point of your miniature vacation to relax?
Read on for how to avoid overstuffing your suitcase if you’re getting away for the weekend.
Let’s start with the essentials: what you’ll be wearing. This is also where most people get in trouble. What you’re looking for here is versatility and comfort.
Shoes take up a lot of room. They aren’t ideal for squeezing into a bag or suitcase. That’s why you should choose one pair of footwear that you’ll be wearing all weekend. If your destination will have lower temperatures, wear a pair of low-key boots that will match with most winter outfits. If you’re headed to warmer areas or the beach, comfortable sandals or sneakers are all you need.
Blue jeans are your best friend when you’re packing for a short trip. You can wear them for an entire weekend if you need to. Plus, they match with just about anything. For the day, bring a few t-shirts or a polo. Pack a dressier shirt or top for the evening, just in case you end up having a nice meal or end up in an unforeseen situation where casual dress won’t cut it.
Bring the exact number of pairs you’ll need, plus one extra. Simple.
If you’re unsure about bringing a laptop or tablet with you, ask yourself this question: Will it stress me out? If the answer is yes, leave them behind! Even if you need access to email, most people can get by with just their phone for a few days. If your goal is to relax and disconnect, don’t bring anything that will tempt you. It’ll save you space, too.
Remember to bring all the necessary bathroom accessories you’ll need: toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo (if necessary), deodorant, sunscreen, moisturizer…you get the idea.
Also, whether you’re driving or flying, you should bring some entertainment for the time you’ll spend getting to your destination. Remember your earbuds so that you can listen to audiobooks or music. Pack a fun book or deck of cards. And, last but not least, a phone charger!
That pretty much does it. By following these tips, you should have plenty of space to pack everything you’ll need on your weekend getaway. Less is more in these situations, and keeping it simple will allow you to keep the stresses of your daily grind out of sight and out of mind, if only for a little while. After you’re all packed, you can get busy with relaxing!
Summertime is here, and so is the heat. But that means it’s time to grab your bathing suits and head out to the pool! There’s no better way to spend a summer day.
However, in order for all of our residents to have a good experience, it’s important that everyone maintains a basic set of rules and etiquette while they’re having fun in the sun. So, we’d like to offer some advice on how to be polite at the pool. Read on for a list of ways to ensure that you and your neighbors have the best summertime possible!
No matter which one of our properties you call home, it’s important to us that you can enjoy your time at the pool safely and peacefully. Thank you for your cooperation — now, go enjoy the summer!
Whether you’re cooking for a large group or just for yourself, saving time in the kitchen is a wonderful thing. It means more time spent with family and loved ones, more time for productivity, or maybe just more time for relaxing by the pool. And as the old saying goes, “time is money.”
So we’ve put together a small list of cooking tools that will make your life easier, both inside and outside of the kitchen.
Let’s start with waking up. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why not treat yourself to a gadget that will help you eat a nourishing meal without missing a beat. Breakfast sandwich makers allow you to prepare a fresh breakfast — complete with eggs, your choice of meat, and other ingredients of your choice — that you can simply grab and go on your way out of the house.
These are small tools that will constantly come in handy. Place the garlic in its tube, roll, and suddenly you’ll have peeled garlic.
This is an essential tool for any kitchen. A sharp knife will allow you to slice and dice produce quickly, saving you lots of time while preparing your meal. Make sure you know how to keep your knife sharp.
Immersion blenders are incredibly useful for quickly making smoothies, pureed soups, and sauces without leaving a mess behind. Check out this tutorial to learn more about why an immersion blender is such a useful kitchen appliance.
A colander is a perforated bowl used for straining liquids from food. Using a colander is the fastest way to drain pasta, and they’re also a great container for washing vegetables.
Having a large variety of whisks will allow you to specialize and expedite your whisking duties. For example, Bon Appetite suggests using large whisks for foods in large pots, medium whisks for soups and sauces, and small whisks for salad dressings.
A sharp, resilient vegetable peeler will save you immeasurable amounts of time preparing any meal that calls for vegetables, and its ability to evenly remove vegetables’ outer skin will improve your presentation as well.
Heat resistant spatulas are wonderful for mixing, stirring, and scraping pans. They are also great for quickly and evenly spreading condiments on bread, which makes for a lovely sandwich.
Measuring cups with handles attached allow you to quickly scoop ingredients like sugar and place them directly into whatever you are cooking with. Make sure you purchase a variety of cups for large and smaller measurements.
Trying to open a jar that won’t budge is one of the most frustrating problems that occur in the kitchen, and even if it doesn’t affect your meal, it can certainly derail your good mood. Grab one in the kitchen aisle the next time you’re at the supermarket, and save yourself all that trouble once and for all.
If you’d like a list of even more tools, check out the official website of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Foodal, and Cooking Light. Now that you know how to save time in the kitchen, enjoy the summer with all the time you have left over!
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
