If you’ve just moved into a new place, first things first: check out our First Apartment Essentials list and Moving Checklist. After you’ve sifted through these resources, your next step is decidedly more fun – it’s time to decorate! With the holidays coming up, we’ve put together a gift guide on what to buy for your first apartment. Share it with family members or use it yourself to help create a chic, inviting space at home.
Pretty storage. Ask for unique pieces like a monogrammed tray, hooks, or a small side table so you have somewhere to place your keys and mail as soon as you walk in the door. Attractive storage helps alleviate clutter and create a streamlined – yet decorative – look.
An area rug. Bringing color and comfort to your space is as easy as purchasing an area rug. Choose a neutral color scheme or pick a bright hue that complements your existing decor.
Artwork. Framed artwork instantly pulls your space together. Look for one oversized piece, or hang several together in a gallery-style arrangement.
Mirrors. Similar to artwork, mirrors provide that extra decorative pop on walls. The bonus? They’re much easier to gift than artwork – no mulling over which print to pick out or whether to choose something traditional or modern! Mirrors also maximize space by reflecting light, doubling their impact on a blank wall. Ask for a hanging mirror or a jumbo-sized one to lean casually against a wall (you may want to mount it for extra security, especially if you have pets or small children).
Throw pillows. Pillows are an easy way to add bright pops of color and texture; they can easily change the whole look of your couch or other upholstered items. As local interior designer Whitney Jones shared with us, “Pillows are a really good way to update a space and make an apartment look totally different without spending too much money.” Anthropologie, West Elm, and Target all have a wide selection of beautiful throw pillows.
Bedding. High thread counts are extra-sumptuous but can be pricey. Asking for high-end bedding as a gift helps cover the cost and treat yourself to something you’ll use every single night.
Throw pillows. For all the awesome reasons why, scroll up to the “For the Living Room” section!
A blender. You can find them for $20, but when you have to replace them over and over, is it really worth the deal? Ask for a nice, name-brand blender, and you’ll be making smoothies and milkshakes for years to come.
Pans. Quality is key here. Non-stick saute pans from brands like Calphalon are expensive but will last and last. You can also look for a black steel skillet, which combines facets of cast iron and stainless steel into one seamless piece.
Knives. Just like pans, quality determines price. Extra-sharp knives do the work for you, tackling laborious kitchen tasks like chopping and cutting with ease. A chef’s knife and a serrated knife should cover most of your needs.
On Thursday, December 17 from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., you’ll be shopping in a Winter Wonderland with our special edition of the monthly Citrus Creek Apartments farmers market. This outdoor market, located at our Citrus Creek property in the heart of River Ridge and Elmwood, features more than 20 local vendors serving up handmade products like organic soaps, homemade dog treats, local honey, and so much more.
Scenic Citrus Creek will host a special holiday market.
With something for the entire family, this special holiday market features all the standout components of our previous events – locally made crafts, specialty foods, and gift items, plus guided tours of the Citrus Creek property – in addition to a little holiday magic. Here’s what you can expect during this special holiday farmers market:
Our elves worked extra hard to provide one last facet of holiday fun: snow! We’ll have a small area of snow that measures about 3-4 feet. It’s not exactly a white winter, but it’s certainly a great photo opportunity.
Here’s a glimpse at the vendors and products you’ll find at the holiday market:
To best prepare for the event, plan to bring cash. Although some vendors accept cards, we recommend having cash as well for easy, seamless transactions. And while festive attire certainly isn’t required, feel free to wear your favorite holiday sweater or reindeer antlers. We hope to see you there!
Ideally, Thanksgiving is about spending time with loved ones and reflecting on all we’re grateful for. In reality, it’s often a time of major stress: did we bake enough dinner rolls? Does this side dish go well with turkey? Why is the gravy so lumpy?
While there’s not much to do for last-minute disasters besides take a long, deep breath, you can prepare yourself and your space in advance to ensure a successful holiday.
Simple tasks like checking expiration dates on your spices or counting how many usable plates you have can save you from last-minute mad dashes to the store on the big day. Make an ongoing list that outlines what you need, then plan on a shopping trip where you can purchase everything all at once.
Remember to check in on other dining necessities: ample utensils, wine glasses, dish-washing liquid, and paper towels can all be the difference between a seamless evening and a stressful one.
Try to plan a menu that doesn’t rely on being served hot or cold. Dishes like wild rice salad, pecan or pumpkin pies, and even the turkey itself can be served at room temperature, hot, or cold, so no matter where you need to store them, you’ll ensure they taste delicious.
A huge turkey is often the star of a Thanksgiving menu — but it doesn’t have to be! You can forego the fowl in its whole form and try dishes like a satisfying turkey pot-pie, roasted turkey breasts, or turkey osso bucco. If you insist on a full turkey, here are a few space-saving tips:
Even if your out-of-town visitors have plans to stay elsewhere, you may want to consider preparing a guest room – just in case. Purchase a few travel-size toiletries so guests don’t have to use yours. Place items like toothpaste, a razor, a new bar of soap, and shampoo on top of a clean, colorful towel so guests will know it’s theirs to use.
Put fresh sheets on the guest bed, and stack a couple of extra blankets nearby. Stocking up on toilet paper is a necessity; fresh flowers, magazines, and water bottles all placed in the room are bonus points for hosts looking to make a special impression. If you don’t have a guest room, create an alternate space for guests to sleep with an airbed or even a feather mattress topper placed on the floor.
Scope out remaining Halloween sales to find decorative items and candy to have on hand for the Thanksgiving holiday. Often, candies have fall themes that are deeply discounted after Halloween – arrange them in a crystal bowl, and your guests can help themselves to bite-size treats leading up to the meal.
Post-Halloween sales are also a good time to purchase several pumpkins. These hearty gourds should last well through Thanksgiving and are a beautiful addition on the table, mantel, or on the front door.
We hope these tips will help you enjoy a peaceful, fun holiday. Happy Thanksgiving to all of our current and future residents at 1st Lake Properties! We are thankful for you!
We’ve long known Louisiana is a great place to live, but in recent years, it’s proven to be a great place to work as well. In an annual report from Site Selection, Louisiana received the No. 4 ranking for top state business climates. The most exciting aspect of this good news is that just six years ago, Louisiana ranked 25th in the same poll. Louisiana has made a huge leap forward in business in just a few short years, and New Orleans and its beautiful suburbs are a crucial contributor to that success.
The New Orleans metro area was also named the “biggest brain magnet” by Forbes Magazine, and a number of young professionals are moving to the area. Renting has become a clear choice for these newcomers, and if you’re moving here to start a new job, we recommend checking out our moving resources and tips for your move to the New Orleans metro.
Take a closer look at some other exciting business and economic news in Jefferson Parish (where many of our 1st Lake Properties are located) and see how it measures up to Orleans Parish.
Source: Greater New Orleans Inc.
Source: Greater New Orleans Inc.
Together, these two parishes have contributed tremendously to Louisiana’s success as an economic force in the United States. We’re proud to call Louisiana home, and even prouder to have a strong presence in Jefferson and Orleans parishes.
Looking for the best oysters in River Ridge, Harahan, Metairie or Kenner? Then you’ve come to the right blog.
There’s an old saying that oysters are best during the months that end with “r.” And while it’s true oysters tend to be larger in the winter months when the weather is colder, these days, it really is just a saying – you can find fresh oysters any time of year in the greater New Orleans area (the “r” saying harks back to the days before suitable refrigeration and food storage).
There are so many fantastic options for oysters in River Ridge, Harahan, Jefferson, Metairie, and Kenner. Who’s hungry?
Acme Oyster House — 3000 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie
A delicious local chain bursting with Cajun-Creole classics. Order the fried oysters and the Oyster Rockefeller soup, with a hint of Herbsaint.
Drago’s Seafood — 3232 N. Arnoult Road, Metairie
This family-run restaurant is famous for its charbroiled oysters. They also have an extensive, separate gluten-free menu perfect for folks with food allergies.
Charles Seafood — 8311 Jefferson Highway, Harahan
Try the oyster platter with your choice of side. We’ll be choosing the jambalaya grits.
Jaeger’s Seafood and Beer Garden — 901 S. Clearview Parkway, New Orleans
Order the salted raw oysters or try their signature style, Oysters Jaeger. With interesting sides like stuffed Creole eggplant and stuffed mirliton, this restaurant lets you pick and choose a memorable meal.
Mr. Ed’s Oyster Bar and Fish House — 3117 21st St., Metairie
The fried oysters are somewhat of a specialty here, although you can order ‘em charbroiled and raw as well.
Deanie’s Seafood — 1713 Lake Ave, Metairie
Crowd-pleasing seafood in Bucktown – and it’s just around the corner from R&O’s if you get a po-boy craving.
The Blue Crab Restaurant & Oyster Bar — 7900 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans
Another Bucktown favorite with a beautiful waterfront location. Try the oysters on the half shell (though we also recommend the fried crab claw appetizer).
Harbor Seafood & Oyster Bar — 3203 Williams Blvd., Kenner
Head straight to the raw oyster bar at this low-key spot on Williams Boulevard… but if you’re feeling brave, you can order the swamp platter, too, with alligator, frog, and turtle.
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
