In our modern world, there are toxins everywhere, and cutting them out of your life is just about impossible, but cutting down on the toxins you consume and encounter is possible. Making your own cleaning products using things you already have in the house not only saves you money, but it is a great way to clean your home the green way. You’d be surprised the cleaning power of some of these items!
Vegetable Oil — Oil and water don’t mix, but oil and oil work wonders. For cleaning oil-based ink and paint off of surfaces throughout your home, as well as brushes and hands, allow vegetable oil to soak on the ink or paint, then wipe it away with a dry towel or rag.
Soy Sauce – Getting rid of grease can be tough, but a little bit of soy sauce cuts right through it. Try using it on your stove and range hood, as well as baking sheets and more.
Baking Soda, Salt & Lemon – If the smell of garlic, or other foods, linger in the wood of your cutting boards, clean and deodorize them with these three simple ingredients. Sprinkle a little baking soda and salt on your cutting board and scrub it around with lemon juice and a lemon half; let it is for five minutes and rinse it well. Voila!
Baking Soda & Vinegar – Try pouring half a cup of baking soda followed by one or two cups of white vinegar down your drain to clear up clogged/gunky drains. The chemistry of the two helps to clear it up quick. A pot of boiling water helps, too.
Newspaper – When cleaning glass surfaces, a rag will always leave pesky remnants, while wiping with newspaper will get your windows and mirrors streak free and perfect.
Ketchup & Soy Sauce – For polishing copper, you won’t find anything better or easier than ketchup mixed with soy sauce; it works like a charm. For silver, use just the ketchup for great results.
After a certain amount of time, even the most wonderfully-decorated bedrooms can feel boring and in need of a change, but spending a ton of money on re-decorating isn’t always in the cards. Luckily, there are many ways that you can infuse new life into your bedroom that don’t cost any money at all. Try these simple tactics to help you see your personal space with fresh eyes and excitement.
Clean Your Bedding
When life is busy, cleaning the bedding may be the last thing on your list, but if you take everything off the bed and give it a good wash, putting the bed together again with crisp, delicious smelling fabric can make the whole room feel fresh and renewed.
Use Pieces from Other Rooms
If your bedroom is feeling drab, try taking artwork and lighting from other rooms in your home. Maybe the wall piece above your couch would really change the space above your dresser; or maybe the floor lamp by your book case could really bring a fresh lighting scheme into your bedroom. Small changes like this make the world of a difference, and get you excited about the things you already own.
Organize Your Nightstand
It’s easy to let your nightstand gather clutter and that can make your bedroom feel messy and frustrating, especially since it is the last thing you see at night and the first thing you see in the morning. Take time to organize and de-clutter your nightstand; keep only what you need and want displayed next to your bed and you can change your whole attitude about your room.
Make Your Bed
Cleaning your bedding is one way to help refresh your bedroom, but on a daily basis, making your bed is key. When you are busy, it may be an easy thing to think you can “do later”, but then you end up with an un-made bed all day, every day, and the bed is one of the biggest pieces in any bedroom. Simply making your bed every morning can make you feel organized and make your space look clean. And you can always remind yourself: in a world of chaos, at least the bed is made.
Get Rid of Things You Don’t Love
In your closet, in your dressers, and on your tables, take a month and each day get rid of one thing that you don’t use, need, or love. Built up clutter and things that we see and don’t want anymore can make us feel frustrated and chaotic. Getting rid of excess makes room for the new, and seeing only the things we love in our closets and dresser can help us to appreciate and utilize the things we own more, and more clearly see what it is we actually need in our lives.
Happiness is a state of being. Many of us, when busy or upset, can start to feel down and frustrated with our surroundings. Instead of just deciding you don’t like your place, you can rejuvenate the space and bring more happy into your home life with a few simple tweaks. A little care and effort can change your perspective on things inside the home and out. Try some of these tips to start feeling happier at home right away. 
1. Bring in a Plant – Caring for a living being brings a sense of vitality and commitment into a home, and a plant is a simple way to experience those feelings, while also bringing pleasing, and even soothing, color into your décor.
2. Decorate with Personal Touches – Sometimes making a space feel more like home and more like yours can be as easy as decorating with one or a few sentimental items. Displaying things like family heirlooms or precious souvenirs from some of your favorite trips can remind you that you and your experiences are what really make a home special.
3. Focus on One Thing You Love – Gratitude changes everything; you can choose to focus on the negative, which can be found in anything, or you can choose to pick at least one thing a week to focus on that you love about your home. Every time you pass it, you will smile with appreciation, which breeds more appreciation for other things, and brings about inspiration and pride in your space.
4. Find Time to Relax – Our lives can be so busy; making time to relax in your space can make it feel more like home and your sanctuary, rather than just a place to store your things. Take time for reading a book in a cozy nook, squeezing in a weekend nap in perfect afternoon light, or put some music on and cook yourself a lovely meal. You deserve it.
5. Treat Yourself – Every once in a while you need to invest in yourself and your space. Buy yourself a treat that you’ve been wanting to get for the home and let it be something that makes you smile and brightens the room. If you do this every so often, you will begin to see the home you’ve always wanted.
During August, 1st Lake Properties has some smokin’ hot deals on their beautiful apartments loaded with enticing amenities. Take a look at these discounts on rent, move-in costs and more at apartment communities all around the Greater New Orleans area and beyond.
Brewster Commons – During August, you can get $500 off your first month of rent on select two bedroom apartments, in addition to special move in deals at this Covington apartment community. All units include full-size washer and dryers, self-cleaning ovens, microwaves and refrigerators with ice makers.
Boardwalk Apartments – Boardwalk Apartments in Metairie is a small, gated community that features washers and dryers, a refreshing pool, large walk-in closets, plus additional sunroom/office space in select apartments. Call to find out how you can save up to $275 on spacious two-bedroom apartments or unique studios.
Crossroads Apartments – This Metairie apartment community features newly renovated apartments with washer and dryers in every apartment, plus sunrooms, two pools and gated access. Lease a studio or one bedroom by August 18 for special savings.
Sawmill Creek – This month, you can spend as little as $99 on move in costs at Sawmill Creek in River Ridge. There are also reduced rates on some apartment floor plans that include washer and dryers, nice sized patios/balconies, enormous closets, wood-burning fireplaces and more.
Hickory Creek – August brings you two weeks of free rent plus half off deposits on select units including spacious one and two-bedrooms with full size washer and dryers, Roman soaking tubs, over-sized closets and more. Call to learn more about this River Ridge apartment community.
Willowood Apartments – Take advantage of this August back-to-school deal on three-bedroom apartments at Willowood in Metairie. The lush apartments in this gated community set among trees and greenery feature fully equipped kitchens with plenty of counter and cabinet space, frost-free refrigerators, large closets, skylights, and vaulted ceilings, as well as private patios/balconies.
Bella Ridge Apartments – This month is the perfect time to score some pre-opening deals on apartments in this River Ridge apartment community set to open this fall. Get the jump on upscale apartments with amenities like stainless steel or black kitchen appliances including frost-free refrigerators, multi-cycle dishwashers, and double stainless steel sinks, granite counter-tops, recessed lighting, paneled doors, plantation-style wood blinds, nine-foot ceilings with crown moldings and decorative woodwork.
Arbor Gate Apartments – At this Picayune, MS apartment community, August discounts include reduced rental rates and half off deposits, along with new deals on move-in costs. This gated community features an extra large swimming pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center and abundant greenery.
Call today to learn how to take advantage of these generous deals on beautiful, updated apartments.
This month, a team of hundreds of staff and volunteers of 1st Lake Properties, Inc. and members of The Apartment Association of Greater New Orleans joined forces to organize donations and give back-to-school supplies and household and sanitary items for women and families of domestic abuse. The items were gathered and organized for two weeks in order to be given to the Metropolitan Center for Women and Children for proper distribution. 1st Lake Properties is thrilled to have seen such generosity and success with the donation drive.
1st Lake Properties chose to work with the Metropolitan Center for Women and Children because of their dedicated, tireless work for families that suffer from domestic violence. Darlene Santana, the Executive Director for the Metropolitan Center for Women and Children, said, “Our mission statement is to ‘Break the cycle of violence and aid survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking through advocacy, empowerment, transformation, and intervention.’ We sincerely appreciate the donations and support of 1st Lake Properties and The Apartment Association in preparing our children for school. Through the generosity of the community, we are able to accomplish our mission.”
In advance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, 1st Lake Properties was proud to partner with the Apartment Association of Greater New Orleans to assist in such a worth-while cause. 1st Lake Properties staff and volunteers echo the sentiments of Favrot & Shane Co. Senior Vice President, Stacey Shane Schott, when she said, “We have recognized the importance of making our community aware of the needs of victims and survivors in abusive situations. We partnered with The Apartment Association of Greater New Orleans in our request for donations to help support and bring awareness to these families.”
1st Lake Properties is proud and inspired by the generosity it saw from its community members and is eager to find more ways to contribute to invaluable organizations like the Metropolitan Center for Women and Children. Other additional resources include The Recovery Village.
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
