Louis Armstrong Airport is truly undergoing a renaissance. In addition to a new, upcoming terminal and new restaurants on-site (planned vendors for the terminal expansion include Pizza Domenica, Mondo, Mopho, and Emeril’s Table), MSY is also adding new international flights to its roster. Keep reading to plan your dream international vacation — we’ve got the scoop on where to go and what to pack so you always feel at home.
London — British Airways announced its exciting new nonstop from New Orleans to London last year… and now flights are finally available starting March 27. The global culture and ancient history of this premiere city is just a direct flight away; there’s truly no reason not to take advantage of this amazing new offering from Louis Armstrong Airport!
Panama — Some call Panama the gateway to the Americas, but it’s also a destination in and of itself. Whether you choose to stay in Panama or use the direct flight on Copa Airlines to venture into other nearby Central and South American countries like Costa Rica or Colombia, your flight will be quick and easy — it’s only 3 1/2 hours long!
Frankfurt — Frankfurt is one of the largest, busiest airports in the world that offers easy access to other countries in Europe and Asia. You may choose the direct flight to Frankfurt as your connection to nearly anywhere else in the world, or you might decide to stay and explore Germany. Frankfurt is a truly European-style destination with historic landmarks, botanical gardens, museums, performing arts venues, and so much more; it’s also just a train ride away from Germany’s capital, Berlin.
Cancun — Your beach getaway just got a lot more exotic with direct flights available seasonally to Cancun. Revel in the surf and the sun on a flight that clocks in at under 2 hours!
Punta Cana — This gem of the Dominican Republic is another must-do beach destination available seasonally. You’ll be treated to incredible resorts, beautiful ocean views, and the laid-back style of the Caribbean.
Toronto — Spend your vacay on the shores of Lake Ontario with a flight to Toronto. This cosmopolitan city is a prominent location for films, music, and the performing arts. Get a view of it all from the city’s famous CN Tower.
Of course, you’ll want to prepare for weather and desired activities (are you envisioning a fancy night out? A heart-pumping hike? Pack accordingly!) wherever you’re headed, but there are a few things you can bring with you to stay relaxed and feel at home on a long flight. You’ll arrive feeling refreshed, not frazzled.
After spring cleaning comes the fun part: redecorating! We’ve collected some spring home decor trends to incorporate into your apartment. You don’t have to spend a fortune, either: adding any one of these trends to your home can help freshen up your overall look.
Warm metals, indoor plants, and organic accents like glass and wood are all on trend for spring!
Shades of Green — Pantone’s 2017 color of the year is “Greenery,” so it’s no surprise this trend is in full bloom. Add accent pillows in rich, emerald tones, or create an indoor garden with house plants. Choose green accessories with undertones that suit your existing decor — a more yellow-green for warm tones and a more blue-green for cool tones, respectively.
Faux Fur — Fuzzy accents are having a big moment. In fact, texture in general (think velvet or chunky knits) are popping up all over home decor websites. Get into the texture trend with faux fur accents like shaggy accent pillows or faux sheepskin rugs. We love the look of layering a small faux sheepskin rug over a larger area rug or casually draping it over an accent chair. You can even add fuzzy stools that bring a fun dose of texture to your space!
Organic Materials — Playing off the texture trend, you’ll want to incorporate organic, tactile materials into your space. Add glass and wood elements for a calming, natural aesthetic.
Marble Accents — Some of our properties feature natural stone countertops, but you can amp up that look by incorporating marble accents. Don’t limit this to the kitchen — try adding marble details elsewhere at home, too! In the kitchen, we like marble pieces like cutting boards. Coffee tables and side tables with a marble (or faux marble) top look great in living rooms and bedrooms. We also are swooning over this removable marble wallpaper — wouldn’t it look great in a bathroom?
Warm Metals— Warm-tone metals like brass and copper are having a moment. If your fixtures are already silver tone, don’t fret: you can mix metals! Add copper and brass elements like lighting or storage to complement your existing metal finishes.
There’s no better feeling than a clean space, but it’s easy to forget to clean certain areas. We’ve collected a list of spring cleaning tips focused on commonly forgotten areas – give these places a good scrubbing, and you’ll notice a difference in your home’s overall appearance and feel while also reducing germs, dirt, and grime.
Have you noticed crumbs or food stuck in the tiny gap between your oven range and countertop? Use a crevice attachment on your vacuum or a long, thin duster to capture grime between nooks and crannies.
Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. Dirt and dust can accumulate on top of appliances like microwaves, refrigerators, and stove vents – clean these areas to remove months of buildup in one simple swipe!
Similarly to the tops of appliances, ceiling fans can collect dust and grime on the tops of their blades. Use the pillowcase trick so that dust doesn’t fall onto the floor!
Did you know your television remote control could be one of the germ-covered items in your home? Use a disinfectant wipe or spray to clean between the buttons and on the front and back of the remote. Remember to clean other oft-handled small appliances, too, like keyboards and tablets.
Have you ever cleaned your salt and pepper shakers individually? Probably not – but you should! Like the remote or shared tablet, salt and pepper shakers are used by everyone in the household every day.
Similar to salt and pepper shakers, your soap dispenser is an oft-used item that can accumulate germs and grime. Wipe it down each time you clean your kitchen or bathroom countertops.
Use a duster on house plants like orchids or ferns. The plants will immediately look brighter and refreshed, plus you’ll be removing surface dirt and grime!
Don’t wait until move-out day to give the fridge a frantic scrub-down. Take your time wiping the insides of all drawers and shelves, and you’re guaranteed to smile every time you open the fridge. You can also refer to these five all-natural methods for cleaning the fridge.
Even if you vacuum and wash the floors, you’ll see a big difference visually if you take the time to wipe down your baseboards with a damp cloth. Dust and small hairs can accumulate easily on baseboards, sullying the overall look of your floors.
Be sure to read up on more easy cleaning hacks here on our blog!
Valentine’s Day is a sweet way for couples to acknowledge one another. But what if you’re single? Don’t fret. We’ve collected five fun ideas for treating yourself this Valentine’s Day — no plus-one required.
With apps like Postmates and Uber Eats now available in New Orleans, you can have gourmet cuisine delivered straight to your door. Just think of how much more comfortable you’ll be on the couch in pajamas than waiting at a busy restaurant.
Channel your inner celebrity chef and whip up a new recipe for dinner. We like browsing The Kitchn — they even have a special post with “12 Recipes for a Solo Valentine’s Day Celebration.”
Round up some fun-loving friends, and go see a movie. Opt for a comedy or thriller, and definitely plan to spring for popcorn and candy.
Sometimes, getting out of town means getting a fresh, new perspective. If your schedule permits, plan for a day trip just outside of the city. We’ve got a few ideas here.
The holiday is all about love, so think about how that might translate into non-romantic meanings. Give your mom or friend a call and let them know you love them. Offer some extra snuggles to your pet. Or pamper yourself with a pedicure or beauty treatment for a little self love.
Decking the halls might be reserved for the holidays, but you can deck the walls any time of year. Even better? You can do it on a dime. Keep scrolling for the best places — some predictable, some unexpected — to find affordable home decor online.
One Kings Lane — You’ll have to sign up for this site, but it’s endless fun to browse. Sure, some of the decor and furniture are investment pieces, but keep an eye out for frequent sales and specials that help keep your budget in check.
Society6 — Find a print or pattern you love on this site, and put it on just about anything: prints, pillows, shower curtains, rugs, and more. Many designs come from independent artists and have a quirky, colorful vibe.
ModCloth — You might know about this vintage-inspired shop for its cute clothes. But ModCloth also has a great home and decor section featuring blankets, pillows, prints, rugs, string lights, chandeliers… the list goes on…
Wayfair — The commercial jingle is true: Wayfair really does have just what you need, whether it’s furniture or a poster frame. The website giant also several awesome retail partners you’ll want to check out, like Joss & Main, AllModern, Dwell Studio, and Birch Lane.
JC Penney — This established department store has a surprisingly fresh, modern home section online (you definitely won’t find this stuff in the store).
Etsy — Head straight to the “Home & Living” section on this mega-site, where you can find unique, handmade products tailor-made to your tastes.
Fab — Best suited for those with a modern design aesthetic, Fab offers bright, playful products that just make your home feel cheerier. Keep an eye out for sales!
CB2 — This Crate and Barrel spinoff has a fresher feel than its predecessor, favoring clean lines with the same quality you’d expect from its parent company (but at a lower price).
H&M Home — Just like ModCloth, this clothes-minded store also has a great home section. The overall vibe is serene and European. We particularly like the linens and decorative pillows.
Poppin’ — This website is technically for office spaces, but the clean, cool lines also look great at home. And if you have a home office, this is the place to stock up on furniture, fun accessories, and more.
Hautelook — Part of the Nordstrom family, this website requires you to sign up, but it’s totally worth it for the amazing sales that happen every day on chic home products.
World Market — Yes, there are two locations in Greater New Orleans, but the online site has options that you won’t find in store! Plus, they often have deals on products and shipping.
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
