Have you ever downsized? In case you haven’t — simply put, downsizing refers to moving to a smaller apartment or home.
Over the last few years, minimalism has become a trend among millennials and others attempting to simplify their lives as a reaction to the fast-paced, cluttered lives that we lead. People also downsize in order to use fewer natural resources. Or, they’d just like to focus and compartmentalize their lives based on their top priorities.
No matter what, downsizing requires a lot of organization. This post will give you a few tips on how to make downsizing easier. Read on for more!
This process can be difficult. After determining how much space you’ll have in your new place, you’ll probably realize that you need to get rid of a lot of your stuff.
The easiest way to make these decisions is to plan ahead. If you intend to toss or donate your excess personal items, you should give yourself plenty of time to track how much you actually use the things that you own. Observe the parts of your wardrobe that you didn’t touch for a month, six months, or a year. Do the same thing for the items in every room.
Which kitchen utensils haven’t been touched? What furniture hasn’t been used? Do you notice any items on your grocery list that you regularly don’t end up using?
After creating this list, bite the bullet and be ruthless about de-cluttering your space. Give away what you can and toss the rest.
This is pretty simple. Make sure you have exact measurements of every room in your new place. There’s no bigger pain than realizing your furniture won’t fit after you bring it up three flights of stairs.
This is a slightly different process than de-cluttering your home.
Imagine yourself in an emergency scenario — any other situation where you have to leave your house with a very limited amount of time to prepare. Or, simply keep the term “bare necessities” in mind as you meticulously take an inventory of your possessions.
These are the kinds of items to hold onto:
Another trick, suggested by House Beautiful Magazine, is to categorize your possessions and ask yourself this question about every category: “If I could only take 5 of these with me, which 5 would I take?”
The maximum number of items may change depending on the category. For example, a 3-item cap on paintings makes more sense than a 3-item cap on forks.
Moving to a new place is an exciting event. It’s a time for a fresh start, and sometimes we get carried away with trying to reinvent ourselves by changing our surroundings.
Something you want to avoid is buying items to complement your new home — and the “new you” — that end up ruining all the hard work you’ve done to de-clutter and optimize your use of space. For more tips on avoiding unnecessary purchases, check out this guide from Nationwide.
After all, it’s important to remember that “downsizing” means your home will be smaller. And you may have many reasons for your new lifestyle, but part of the process is acknowledging that you can’t fit everything you currently own into your downsized living space.
Contact us today to learn about our wide variety of locations and amenities, and let us help you find the perfect home in one of our gated apartment communities!
Have you ever craved a delicious, complete lunch for a great price? We’ve got you covered.
We’ve put together a list of happy hour and weekly specials in the Metairie, Kenner, and River Ridge areas. These spots are close to our properties, making all of them as convenient as they are delicious!
Read on for our list of food happy hours in the New Orleans area:
Andy’s Bistro is a restaurant, bar and event space located on Veterans Blvd. They were also recently voted the best pizza in Metairie.
From 4:30 – 6:00 p.m., Andy’s offers a “Prime Time” menu — a fantastic 3-course meal for only $29. For the main course, you’ll be able to choose between filet mignon, fresh fish, pork chop, and paneed veal.
Despite being featured on our Happy Hour List, Loft18 offers more than just food and drinks. It is an indoor golf and entertainment center, designed for year-round indoor golf simulation and relaxation.
Loft18 is a great place to spend time with friends, and their weekly specials make group gatherings even better. Loft18 offers a different food and drink special every day of the week, including discounted sliders on “Lazy Saturdays” and “2 for 1” Tuesdays, which features any two select menu items for the price of one.
Check out their full list of specials here.
Drewski’s is another restaurant that offers daily lunch specials well worth checking out. Daily items include Shrimp, Tomato and Basil Pasta Topped with Bronzed Catfish and Garlic Bread and Southern Fried Chicken.
Check out their full menu here.
Boulevard American Bistro is an upscale establishment located at 4241 Veterans Blvd. in Metairie that offers a fantastic “Social Hour” menu from 3 – 6 p.m., Monday – Friday. $7 small plates like Tuna Tartare, House Made Guacamole, Fried Lousiana Oysters, and a Petite Ribeye Steak Sandwich complement their great drink specials perfectly.
Heads & Tails is a fantastic seafood restaurant in Harahan with an incredible happy hour menu Monday – Saturday at 3 – 6 p.m. that offers discounts on oysters, BBQ shrimp, boudin stuffed mushrooms, and more.
Taste of Tokyo offers delicious Lunch Combos from 11 a.m – 3 p.m. Monday – Saturday. Try this spot for great hibachi and sushi dishes.
Copeland’s in Kenner offers great lunch discounts on their delicious appetizers, including, Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms, Crab Stuffed Beignets, and Artichoke and Spinach Dip Monday – Friday from 4 – 7 p.m.
Check out their menu here.
Stingrays in Kenner offers delicious lunch specials from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. that vary from day to day. Specials include fresh fish filets, shrimp & sausage jambalaya, and stuffed bellpepper for incredible prices.
Every Tuesday at Chilangos in Kenner, you’ll get great discounts on tacos and quesadillas, as well as margaritas.
Check out their great deals here.
Check out our website to find a 1st Lake residential community near you!
Sometimes, life takes us far away from home. Whether it’s for a new job, a new relationship, or some other unforeseen circumstance, you may find yourself searching for a place to live in a different state.
If life is taking you to New Orleans in the near future, 1st Lake Properties is a fantastic place to begin your search for a new home.
In this post, we’ll explore all the reasons why you’ll love living in one of our New Orleans apartment communities. Read on to learn about what 1st Lake Properties has to offer, from on-site amenities to the fantastic shopping, dining, and entertainment located nearby.
There are dozens of our private, gated communities located throughout Metairie, Kenner, and River Ridge. These apartments are on the edges of the city, giving residents the best of two worlds: you’ll have the off-street parking and nearby gyms, pools, and grocery stores of the suburbs while being just minutes away from the shopping, dining and entertainment of the city.
It’s a perfect combination. Peace, privacy, and convenience with the option to take part in the bustle of New Orleans as you please.
1st Lake’s New Orleans communities offer a multitude of convenient on-site features and amenities.
Our communities offer:
We also offer discounts at local businesses such as pet services and storage facilities, as well as 24/7 maintenance.
When you live in one of our New Orleans communities, you’ll be just minutes away from New Orleans’ best shopping, dining, and entertainment districts. Take a 10-minute drive and visit any of the following places:
Our apartment communities are also located near world-class medical resources, such as Ochsner Medical Center and Touro Infirmary Hospital.
If you’re unfamiliar with New Orleans, don’t sweat it! 1st Lake offers its residents free discounts for local businesses, auto shops, restaurants, spas, and fantastic local entertainment. Taking advantage of these perks is a great way to get to explore the city and get to know your new home. Contact us for more information.
Discounts include special offers for the Audubon Zoo, New Orleans Pelicans, New Orleans Baby Cakes, and Massage Envy.
1st Lake Properties is a family-owned management company, and we offer apartments to suit a variety of needs. Contact us today to find out more about communities, which range from inexpensive to high-end luxury.
Brunch isn’t an everyday occasion, which might make it the best meal you can have. It usually signifies that you have some time to relax, or that it’s the weekend.
If you have time off and want to spend it at home, you don’t have to miss out on brunch. There are plenty of easy recipes you can make in your pajamas, or with friends during the weekend.
Read on for 4 easy stay-at-home brunch recipes!
This recipe from Good Housekeeping is a great idea for weekend brunch. It looks very much like a pizza, except it has all of your favorite breakfast ingredients.
Preheat oven to 400°F.
On large sheet parchment, roll pastry to 12″ by 10″ rectangle. Fold 1/2 inch of edices to form rim; using a fork, seal rim and poke holes all over pastry. Place pastry on cookie sheet; bake 20 minutes or until golden brown.
In small bowl, combine sour cream and Gruyére. Spread onto tart, creating 3 wells for eggs. Arrange bacon strips over topping. Crack eggs into wells; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Bake until egg whites are set but yolks are still runny, about 12 minutes. Garnish with thyme.
This Delish recipe is like a “portable garden,” and super simple as well.
Scoop out avocados, leaving a small border. Dice avocado and set aside.
In a large bowl, toss diced avocado with tomatoes, mozzarella, Italian seasoning, balsamic, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide salad among 4 avocado halves and garnish with basil.
Now it’s time for a classic. Use this recipe from Dine & Dish to make your stay-at-home brunch complete.
In a small saucepan, heat butter, salt and lemon juice until bubbly (do not boil)
Remove from heat.
Place egg yolks in a medium bowl and slowly pour in butter mixture, stirring continuously. Whisk together until smooth and creamy. Stir in heavy whipping cream.
It’s hard to call it brunch if there aren’t mimosas available. That’s why we’re including this classic mimosa recipe from Inspired Taste.
Fill 8 champagne flutes 1/2 full with chilled sparkling wine.
Top with orange juice.
If you are using, top mimosa with 1 tablespoon of Grand Marnier or triple sec.
Check out our website to find a 1st Lake residential community near you!
Genius doesn’t have to be 99% perspiration, as the old adage famously says. Go for 99% inspiration instead with these seven awesome Instagram accounts focused on fun, attainable interior design. Your thumb will do a lot of scrolling, but that’ll hardly make you work up a sweat.
This account is a favorite of ours because it’s based right here in New Orleans! Los Angeles transplant Dab shows off his eye for fun colors and funky accents with a subtle mid-century aesthetic. He’s big on gallery walls and indoor plants, two easy ways to incorporate interior design into your space.
Designer Grant Gibon proves that minimalism and eclecticism aren’t mutually exclusive. Use his Instagram account as a visual guide for how you can incorporate knick-knacks into your decor tastefully.
With a subtle Scandinavian vibe, Kirsten Grove focuses on the essentials: clean lines, fresh colors, and plenty of natural light. Keep an eye out for quirky accents like hints of metallic or playful figurines that enhance her design style.
Chances are, you love her show “Fixer Upper.” But HGTV star Joanna Gaines’ pictures are just as fun to browse. Gaines blends rustic elements with feminine details for a country-chic look.
Follow this account for the fun name and the awesome recipes, sprinkled in with design photos that capture designer Melissa Coleman’s clean style.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BnKFsZuhaKg/?taken-by=thefauxmartha
Pet lovers will enjoy this account from a designer based in upstate New York. Her two pups are a big part of her cozy design style — and they’re definitely allowed on the furniture.
Another NOLA-based account to finish off the list! This fun stationery store in downtown New Orleans has a great Instagram account full of polished pictures sure to inspire. Like @theyellownote, the ladies behind @thegrovestreetpress love their pets, too.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl_1BhDnX2B/?taken-by=thegrovestreetpress
Check out our website to find a 1st Lake residential community near you!
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
