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Beautify Your Space with Bathroom De-Cluttering Tips

The bathroom is a great place to relax with a soothing bath or steaming hot shower, but it’s also one of the biggest hubs for clutter. Bathrooms often lack ample storage, and with so many bottles (medicine, shampoo, body wash) requiring designated space, it’s easy for clutter to take hold. Read on for pretty, easy bathroom de-cluttering tips you can take to make your bathroom a place of respite, not mess.

  1. Divide and conquer. Bathroom drawers are often as jam-packed as junk drawers, and as messy, too. Insert drawer dividers, available in a variety of sizes, to create instant order. Use them for makeup and accessories, or create an organized drawer for your most-used toiletries like toothpaste, floss, and face wash.
  2. Think vertically. Wall space is a viable yet underused storage option. Placing towel racks and hooks (3M Command hooks are especially good for renters) on the wall creates instant storage for towels and robes. You can even create a DIY caddy to hang for extra storage.
  3. Fold on. Big, fluffy bath towels can take up precious real estate in the bathroom closet. Use this technique to fold them neatly, which will maximize your space. If the bathroom also doubles as a linen closet, try bundling your blankets and sheets together.
  4. Brush up your brush display. With a bit of decorating finesse, you can transform your makeup brushes into a centerpiece for the bathroom counter: like a floral display, but functional! Use a pretty glass container and fill it with clear or colored glass beads to hold your brushes in place. You can even transform a gelato container – the perfect excuse to buy ice cream.

Bathroom Design Ideas

Just like the kitchen, there are many great bathroom décor options to implement in your apartment. There’s always a need for more hooks in the bathroom for towels, robes, etc. and damage-free hooks, like those sold by Command, are perfect for adding more hanging options. Wire mesh organizers are excellent bathroom design solutions for the vanity, as are caddies for the shower to neatly consolidate all of your toiletries.

Bathroom Furniture Essentials

Towels – This is probably the first thing that comes to mind when furnishing the bathroom. You’ll want to make sure you have plenty of hand towels and larger shower towels. Before you make your purchase, think about what color or design would complement the look of your bathroom and the other elements, including the shower curtain and bath mat. Find something that matches your personality, whether it’s a funky pattern, solid subdued color or bright multi-toned color scheme.

Bath mats – When shopping for your bathroom suite, make sure to get a bath mat to lay down in front of the shower to absorb excess moisture. Think about the rest of your bathroom design and pick a color or pattern that meshes well for a cohesive bathroom design.

Storage caddies – These toiletry containers come in handy for organizing shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razors, sponges, etc. all in one place so it’s easily found and accessible.

Toothbrush holder – This is an essential vanity item to store your toothbrush in a place where you won’t lose it.

Soap – This is a no-brainer, but hand soap has really reached a new level over the past few years. Brands like Mrs Meyer’s offer incredibly fresh fragrances like basil.

Shower Curtain – Here’s another chance to showcase your own design aesthetic and personality. No matter if you prefer a basic shower curtain or a creative, whimsical design, there are plenty of patterns out there to choose from.

Flair – Don’t be shy with your bathroom design! Add flowers, pictures, art, and anything else to put the finishing touches on this room in your apartment!

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Related posts: Must Know Refrigerator Organization TipsApartment Spring Cleaning ChecklistHow to Clean a Refrigerator: 5 All-Natural Fridge Cleaning Hacks

 


Add Soul to Your Space by Decorating with Vintage Pieces

People often associate vintage pieces with dated décor – but where some see stodgy, we see potential. With so many communities in and around New Orleans, residents at 1st Lake can take full advantage of the city’s robust antiques scene. Fall is also an ideal season for decorating with vintage pieces: Cooler temperatures make a day of antiquing extra pleasant.

If you’re on Magazine Street, check out places like Lucullus or Passages Antiques. For even more antique treasure hunting head to the French Quarter. Shops like Keil’s Antiques (founded in 1899!) and Royal Antiques, both on Royal Street, feature formal pieces from the Georgian era and beyond.

vintage-tea-tins

Antique tea tins bring color, storage, and a vintage vibe to your space. (Photo courtesy Rina Pitucci on Flickr)

Now that you’ve found your perfect vintage piece, here are our top three tips on how to incorporate a bit of retro allure to your apartment:

  1. Paint it. An antique wood chest of drawers can look awfully formal, but with a coat of paint in a bright color – rich turquoise or sunny marigold, for example – the result is completely fresh and modern. The added benefit of using a bright color on furniture means that you can leave the rest of the space neutral. All of our properties feature a neutral color scheme perfect for pops of color.
  2. Consider placement. Let’s say you purchased a mid-century dining room credenza. Fantastic! But remember, this piece could work in a multitude of ways. Use it in the bedroom as a makeshift dresser, or place it directly behind the couch as a stylish, unexpected sofa table.
  3. Revive, repurpose. Vintage tins have great graphics and punchy colors. They are also incredibly affordable. But, what could you do with a tea tin? A whole lot, actually! We love using them as an herb planter or vase for flower arrangements. They’re great for kitchen organization, too – place long utensils like spatulas and wooden spoons inside a tin for a cheerful look. If you’re feeling adventurous, try making your own candle using the tin as a base.


October 2014 Apartment Specials at 1st Lake Properties

1st Lake Properties

Leaves and temperatures aren’t the only things falling. Our October specials at 1st Lake Properties keep prices low at several of our amazing communities. Reduced rents, waived administrative fees, and rarely available loft apartments are just a few of the deals you’ll find. Check out a list of all our discounts now!

Greater New Orleans and Mississippi Apartment Specials

Sugar Mill East This beautifully landscaped Kenner community features amenities like a lighted tennis court and pristine swimming pool. Just a block away from Lake Ponchartrain, Sugar Mill East is offering $175 off move-in costs – 1 bedrooms are available now!

Boardwalk Apartments Offering up to $250 in savings this month, Boardwalk Apartments is a gated community in Metairie that entices future residents with features like a sunroom and large closets. Call now to find out more on savings, and get the details on select apartments that feature dedicated office space.

Camelot Court Conveniently located in Metairie, Camelot Court Apartments features 3 bedroom apartments that are like a private home. Inside a gated community, each apartment features a full-size washer and dryer, large backyard, and access to the community pool. Call us today to take advantage of our 2 weeks free rent special.

Rosedale Apartments The townhomes in Rosedale are surrounded by majestic oak trees, with a private backyard and all the amenities of home. Take advantage of the October special featuring 2 weeks free rent and move into a beautiful Metairie townhome with pool access and nearly 2,000 square feet of living space.

Parktowne Apartments An award-winning property, Parktowne has all the space and luxury you need. With a 4-acre park, 3 swimming pools, a playground, and recreational space, our 3-bedroom apartments are a peaceful respite within the greater New Orleans metro area. Call today to find out about our special discounts for October.

Arbor Gate Bringing big-city luxury to Picayune, MS, Arbor Gate apartments feature amenities like a palatial swimming pool and state-of-the-art fitness center. Plenty of green space creates a sense of tranquility within this gated community. Call now to inquire about reduced move-in fees with select leases.

Lakes of Chateau Estates South A putting green and a private lake make this Kenner community a spectacular choice for outdoor enthusiasts. Call now to find out about our reduced rates on one and 2-bedroom apartments, plus additional savings on move-in costs.

Sawmill Creek Offering reduced rent and move-in costs on select 2-bedroom apartments, Sawmill Creek could garner you up to $1,200 in total savings! This River Ridge, LA, community creates a cozy atmosphere with wooded landscaping and in-apartment amenities like a fireplace and vaulted ceilings.

Lakes of Chateau Estates North One bedrooms start at just $965 as part of our fall special. This Kenner property offers amenities made for enjoying the fall weather, like landscaped walkways and a private lake. Call now for more details and to learn about our specials for 2-bedroom apartments.

Turtle Creek Interested in a studio? One week of free rent is the word at Turtle Creek in Metairie. Washers and dryers and sunroom are just a few of the amenities at this small community. If you’re looking for a larger space, call now for deals on our one and 2-bedroom apartments.

Regency Club Apartments For a limited time, get $175 off move-in costs and up to $200 off your first full month of rent at Regency Club. With awesome upgrades like wood-burning fireplaces and private patios and balconies, this Baton Rouge community is a quick drive from LSU.


Healthy Tailgate Recipes: Boneless Buffalo Wings

Looking for Healthy Tailgate Recipes? Try our Boneless Buffalo Wings recipe!

Who doesn’t love to sit down and watch the football game with a bag of chips and a bowl of candy? That being said, there are plenty of healthy tailgating recipes for your football snacks. You can definitely enjoy the game without feeling the tiniest built of guilt afterwards.

Here is one of our favorite healthy tailgating recipes for boneless Buffalo wings. Make this at home to help you enjoy watching the New Orleans Saints battle it out on the field of victory!

Enjoying Healthy Eating

If you live at 1st Lake Properties, you should know that we’re big supporters of New Orleans football. Often, there’s nothing better than getting together at each other’s apartments to watch the game, and Buffalo wings are perfect menu items.

However, there is a way to turn this traditional snack into something that is low on sodium and fat. Add ingredients like whole-wheat flour, skip out on extra salt, and use minimal amounts of oil to avoid extra saturated fat.

Healthy Boneless Buffalo Wings Recipe

This recipe makes about 10 servings. And it should provide about 2 large strips for 5 people along with ½ a cup of vegetables and enough dip. Feel free to adjust the ingredients if you want to make more or less wings.

Total Preparation Time: 45 minutes

Chicken Wing Ingredients

  • 4 to 8 tbsp. of hot sauce, preferably Frank’s Red Hot sauce, depending how hot you like it
  • 4 tbsp. of white vinegar
  • 3 pounds of chicken tenders
  • 8 tbsp. of whole-wheat flour
  • 8 tbsp. of cornmeal mix
  • 1/2 tbsp. of cayenne powder or chili powder
  • 3 tbsp. of canola oil

Veggies
Basically you’ll want 3 cups of celery and carrot sticks, a must-have for Buffalo wings.

Blue Cheese Dip

  • 1 cup of crumbled blue cheese
  • 1 cup of reduced-fat sour cream
  • 1 tbsp. of white vinegar
  • 1/2 or 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or chili powder to add a bit of spice to your dip if you want

Making the Dip
Throw in sour cream, blue cheese, 1 tbsp. vinegar and ¼ cayenne pepper or chili powder, and whisk ingredients together for a few minutes. Then cover the dip for storage in the refrigerator. That way, it will be nice and cold by the time the game is ready.

Making the Wings

1. Next, take buttermilk, 3 tbsp. vinegar, 3 tbsp. hot sauce and mix them together in a large bowl; then throw in the chicken until all of the wings are thoroughly coated. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour, but if you just have a bit of time before the game starts, it’s also ok to place them inside for just 10 minutes. Be sure to occasionally mix your marinade so that all the wings are equally coated.

2. In the meantime, whisk cornmeal and flour, 1 tbsp. vinegar and hot sauce in a bowl and then set it aside. Take the chicken out of the marinade, and mix it in with this cornmeal-flour, giving each one a good coating.

3. Now it’s time to heat half the chicken in a large nonstick skillet at medium-heat heat. It should take 3 to 4 minutes on both sides to get a nice golden brown look to your chicken. Repeat this with the rest of the chicken. Take the chicken off and pour any remaining hot sauce mixture over each piece. Place the wings out with the vegetables and blue cheese dip nearby, and watch as your guests happily chomp away. You can also place a small bowl of hot sauce nearby for guests who really like their spice.

In the end, you’ll get delicious buffalo wings that aren’t slathered in butter and high amounts of salt. After all, many other buffalo wing recipes call for an extra heaping of sodium to your dish.

A Great New Orleans Community

It’s good living at one of our New Orleans apartment communities, with plenty of people loving the rentals and lease opportunities available. You can relax, watch an exciting football game in a spacious apartment, and enjoy a great connection to New Orleans. Join one of our properties, make some friends, and enjoy watching football in New Orleans, and you won’t regret it!


Casual Friday with a Cause: Jeans and Jersey Day is October 3

Susan G Komen Foundation

A time for sweaters, football, and pumpkin spice lattes: it’s no wonder fall is such a beloved season. But the start of autumn also gives us time to reflect on a devastating disease that will strike one in eight U.S. women over the course of her lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month kicks off in October, and we’re wasting no time getting the word out. On Friday, October 3, 1st Lake Properties will host Jeans and Jersey Day for its employees. In exchange for a minimum $5 donation to The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, members of the 1st Lake team can wear denim to work, along with a jersey supporting their favorite team.

Thousands of businesses are participating in National Denim Day, but after 12 years of just denim, we decided to change the game (literally!) and offer an extra opportunity for our employees to show off their personal style. By adding jerseys to the mix, 1st Lake employees will comprise a standout team of Saints, Tigers, Pelicans, and more, all dedicated to combating breast cancer through donation efforts. We think our 13th year will be our most successful yet!

Participation in the event empowers our team members: even a small contribution can make a big impact, and the awareness we generate can serve as a reminder to take care of yourself and stay healthy. In fact, since the inception of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 1986, more women receive regular mammograms, and since 1990, mortality rates have decreased by 34 percent due in part to early detection.

While this event is limited to employees, there’s always an opportunity for our residents to contribute to amazing organizations. Check out the American Cancer Society, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and the Susan G. Komen foundation for more information on how you can donate.

New Orleans also features its own chapter of the Komen foundation and will be hosting a Race for the Cure on October 25 in City Park. Similarly, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer will hold a non-competitive 5K in Champions Square on November 1.