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Apartments in Cypress, Texas make a great place to host your first gathering. Whether you are making a holiday meal for the first time, or you want to have a gathering for your friends, it's time to think about how you can make a large gathering in your apartment work.
Consider Your Setup
Take the time to figure out where everyone is going to sit during the meal if you are going to be feeding a large group. Borrow a few folding tables if necessary. Look for ways to remove clutter from your space. Rearrange furniture as needed to open up your space. It is more important to provide enough room for everyone to sit down than it is to worry about using things like lawn chairs to create additional seating.
Keep the Meal Simple
As you are hosting your first holiday meal, keep the menu as simple as you can. You don't have to put on a fancy spread for your first gathering. You want to be sure that you know how to cook everything on your menu before the big day, and not try out new recipes when you are hosting a party for the first time.
Accept Offers for Help
If someone is willing to make a few appetizers for your party, or they start to wash the dishes without being asked, let people help you. When you are the host of a party, you will find yourself working harder than you might expect. If you have help, don't discourage people from lending a hand. When you have a number of people cleaning up after a big meal, this can make the work go quickly.
Remember to Have Fun
You can have fun at a gathering without having every detail perfect. Know that your family and friends are there because they want to spend time with you. Try to relax and enjoy the party instead of worrying about things you can't control. If people are late or something happens to one of the dishes you are making, you have to let this go and move on with the rest of the party.
If you are looking for a new apartment, check out the different floor plans we have to offer at this time.
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When it comes to decorating apartments in Cypress, Texas for the holidays, it helps to pay attention to what you are using for adhesive. Pay attention to the type of lights you use, especially if they are going to go against a white wall. Lights can let off a bit of soot over time, leaving a darkened smudge on your walls. If you want to have your lights on all the time, consider how close they are to any white walls that you have.
Use Decorative, Removable Hooks
Hooks don't have to leave permanent damage to your walls when you want to decorate for the holidays. You can find all kinds of decorative hooks that can hold several pounds of weight without leaving a permanent mark. Once you are done with the removable hook, you can pull the adhesive, and the hook comes off the wall. Choose from a variety of options when you are looking for decorative hooks to use.
Pay Attention to the Amount of Glitter You Use
Glitter can get into all types of crevices when it is abundant in the decorations that you use. Look over your decorations to see which ones could be shedding too much glitter around your home. Beyond glitter, take into consideration anything that could be falling off of your ornaments and get rid of anything that is breaking apart.
Stay Away From Fire Hazards
If you are going to use a live tree in your home, make sure that you keep the water reservoir filled. Check your tree periodically to make sure the branches aren't too dry. Check the lights you are going to use, checking the wiring to make sure it is intact. Avoid putting too many candles in your decor, and don't light candles if you aren't going to be in the room. Consider battery-operated candles instead of those that you plug in to avoid overloading your electrical sockets.
As you decorate your home for the holidays, keep it simple. If you are looking for a new apartment in the Cypress area, give us a call to see what options we have available.
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The last few years have seen increasing numbers of people working from home. While working remotely offers considerable flexibility and freedom, it also comes with its share of challenges and distractions. Whether you work from home once or twice a week or full-time, here are some tips for making the most of your telecommute.
Establish a Schedule
When you're telecommuting, it may be difficult to maintain a healthy work/life balance. Establishing a regular schedule can help you keep work tasks separate from other responsibilities and reduce the pressure of feeling as though you're always "clocked in."
Set Boundaries
When you work from home, people may think they can contact you 24/7 about anything job-related. Decide that, after a certain time, you will no longer respond to work-related calls or emails, unless it's an emergency. Likewise, friends may think it's all right to call or visit anytime, just because you're at home. Consider ahead of time how you will handle these interruptions, and tactfully remind others to respect your schedule.
Have a Designated Work Area
When you work from home, it can be tempting to grab your laptop and camp out in your recliner or on the couch. You'll likely get more accomplished though, if you have a designated workspace, such as a home office or even a desk in a corner of your living room.
Take Breaks
When you're working solo, you can become so absorbed in what you're doing that you may not take time to come up for air. Take breaks periodically to re-charge your brain and avoid burnout. Every so often, or whenever you complete a major task, give yourself 15 minutes to browse social media or take a brisk walk around the block.
Avoid Isolation
Telecommuting can be an isolating experience. Consider taking your work to a nearby coffee shop occasionally or even renting a co-working space. A little human contact can provide much-needed motivation. Reach out to others regularly and make a point to spend quality time with friends and family when you're not working, too.
Telecommuting residents of our Cypress, Texas apartments enjoy frequenting our business center and computer lounge. Contact us to learn more about the many amenities we offer.
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After a long summer, the season of cooler temperatures and shorter days has finally arrived here in Cypress, Texas. When the mercury drops and the sun sets earlier, it's tempting to hibernate until spring. But regular, year-round exercise can boost your energy levels and overall health. Here are some tips for staying active this fall.
Take a Fitness Class
As the holidays approach, busy schedules may give us an excuse to put off going to the gym until it's time to make New Year's resolutions. But you don't have to wait until then to work on your fitness goals. Many workout facilities have classes that begin in the fall, so now is a great time to sign up.
Exercise at Home
When you just can't find the time (or the motivation) to get to the gym, you can still work out at home. Pop in an exercise DVD or download a fitness app and go through an aerobics routine without leaving your living room. Even if you're just watching TV, you can do stretches and calisthenics during the commercial breaks.
Team Up
Exercise can be more fun if you enlist a buddy to team up with you. You can keep each other accountable to prevent slacking, and cheer each other on as you get closer to achieving your fitness goals.
Spend Time Outside
Crisp autumn weather can be ideal for outside activities such as hiking or cycling. Even better, since summer is the peak time for these pastimes, you probably won't have to contend with huge crowds when you hit the trails, making your outdoor pursuits even more enjoyable.
Get Creative
No matter how much you have going on, you can probably think of creative ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. At work, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park the car farther away from the mall or the grocery store for some extra walking. Or take your pet to the dog park, where you can both get some cardio.
To stay active during fall and winter, residents of our Cypress, Texas apartments enjoy frequenting our fitness center and dog park. Contact us to learn more about the many amenities we offer.
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It's the season when entertaining is in the air at Cypress, TX apartments. Enjoying a cup of tea is a favorite pastime, especially this time of the year, so try out some new tea-riffic flavors, which are perfect served hot or cold.
1. Iced Raspberry Tea
Scrumptiously sweet, this juicy tea refreshes and delights.
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 4 quarts water
- 12 ounces frozen unsweetened raspberries
- 10 tea bags
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- Fresh raspberries and lemon slices, optional
Bring the sugar and water to a boil in a saucepan. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add the frozen raspberries, tea bags and lemon juice. Cover and steep for three minutes. Strain, and discard the berries and tea bags. Pour the tea into a pitcher and refrigerate until chilled. Pour the tea over ice and top with fresh raspberries or lemon slices.
2. Vanilla Chai Tea
Is it a dessert? Is it tea? It's a blend of both, we think you'll agree.
- 8 whole peppercorns
- 1/2 teaspoon whole allspice
- 2 cardamom pods
- 1 cinnamon stick (1-3 inches)
- 4 whole cloves
- 8 tea bags
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 4 cups water
- 2 cups 2 percent milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 1/2 teaspoons confectioners' sugar
- Ground allspice
Combine the first five ingredients in a bowl. Crush the mixture (using a wooden spoon) until the aromas are released. Bring the water to a boil, add crushed spices, tea bags and honey and steep, covered for six minutes. In a saucepan, warm the milk. Strain the tea into a heat-proof pitcher, and stir in the warm milk and vanilla.
Pour the cream into a bowl and beat until thickened. Add the confectioners' sugar and beat until soft peaks form. Serve the tea in mugs and top with whipped cream and allspice.
3. Spicy Mint Tea
This wonderful blend is perfect for any occasion.
- 6 cups water
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole cloves
- 4 whole allspice
- 2 cups mint leaves
Combine the water, cinnamon, cloves and allspice in a saucepan and boil for one minute. Stir in the mint leaves. Steep the tea for five minutes, strain into cups and sweeten with honey. Enjoy!
If you're looking for a Houston, Texas apartment that welcomes you and your guests with outstanding amenities, contact Carrington at Barker Cypress today.
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There’s nothing like coming home to a space that’s clean and clutter-free. But even when your apartment is spick-and-span, you likely have cords, computer chargers and other unsightly electronics that mar your otherwise inviting decor. Here are a few decorative ways to conceal your electronics while keeping them within easy reach.
Baskets
All it takes is a wicker basket with a cut-out handle and you’ve got a simple yet effective hiding place for that jumble of cords behind your desk or TV. Simply bind cords neatly with a zip tie and thread the plugs through the basket handle to your wall outlet. Another option is to hang a wire basket from hooks beneath your desk or cabinet and place bundled wires or a powerstrip inside for convenient out-of-the-way storage.
Hidden Among Hardbacks
Is your cable box a bit of an eyesore? An easy solution is to cover it with decorative paper and position it between a stack of books. Ugly cable box begone! You can also use this technique with unsightly cords by stowing them inside a small cardboard box covered in wrapping paper and then placing the box between several hardback books.
Adhesive Hooks
Are your cords lying on the floor collecting dust bunnies and creating a messy look? You can easily attach them to the back of your sofa or other furniture using small adhesive hooks to keep them hidden from sight.
Decorative Box
A small decorative box made of thick cardboard is the perfect charging station for your smartphone. Simply cut out a space for the cord to extend to your wall outlet and you’ve created a tucked-away spot for your phone — and a stylish accent piece to place on your nightstand or kitchen counter.
Toilet Paper Rolls
Want that tangle of cords in your living room to look unobtrusive and tidy? Simply take several empty toilet paper rolls, cover them with fabric that matches the color of your walls, and slide a bundled cord inside each one for an attractive blended-in effect.
Do you need a serene, clutter-free place to call home? At Carrington at Barker Cypress, we offer a beautiful apartment community that includes a newly renovated fitness studio, outdoor pool and spa. Contact us to find out more about our apartments in Houston, Texas, by calling 877-655-7991 today.
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Moving into a new apartment residence gives you more room to breathe — and more space for showing off paintings and other works of art. If you’re considering a move to Cypress apartments, you may want to add some new art to your decor. Consider these tips for making the right selections and displaying your new pieces in a beautiful and protective manner.
Suit Your Personality and Decor
Art collectors will tell you that serendipity is a great way to choose pieces you love. By perusing the selections in your local coffee shop or gallery, you may come across the next big artist in your area. And you may find some beautiful works of art for your new apartment.
You’ll want pieces that mesh with your decor, but don’t worry if they don't match perfectly. If you have a particular space in mind, you’ll likely know when you see the right piece.
Frame Like a Pro
Your local area likely has several shops that can provide professional matting and framing for your new artwork. If you choose the DIY approach, keep the following tips in mind:
- Choose glass with the least possible reflection; “museum-quality” or non-glare glass may work best. For very large pieces, plexiglass provides a lighter-weight option. UV coating may leave a slight tint viewable but will protect against light damage that can wash out your artwork over time.
- Get your glass completely clean, and remove any stray streaks and dust with an ammonia-free cleaner.
- Use archival-grade matting materials, which lack the acid that can cause faster deterioration.
Display Sculpture Appropriately
If you purchase a 3D piece of art such as sculpture, you’ll want to exhibit it in the most appealing way possible. For optimal viewing, display your art at eye level — whether on a shelf, tabletop or dedicated pedestal. Choose a diffuse light source, such as natural light from a nearby window, to showcase your piece for the best effect.
At Carrington at Barker Cypress, you’ll find a range of one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans with plenty of space to accommodate decor that brings you joy. To learn more, please contact us today.
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It's the season where pumpkins are in full swing at our Cypress, TX apartments. Some people are carving pumpkins while others are simply displaying these bright orange gifts from the garden as a means of inviting autumn into their homes. In either case, there are plenty of seeds in every pumpkin, but not everybody knows what to do with them. Here are some ideas we thought would help.
1. Squash & Lemongrass Soup With Spiced Pumpkin Seeds
Fall is the perfect time of year to start getting your soup recipes ready for the upcoming chilly winter season. Even in Texas, the feel-good foods associated with autumn help to warm bellies and hearts at the same time. This squash and lemongrass soup with spiced pumpkin seeds displays a vibrant orange hue that's perfect for pre-winter preparations. If you don't use all the spiced pumpkin seeds in the soup, eat them on their own as a snack when afternoon hunger pangs arrive.
2. Cardamom Pepita Brittle
You may not think of sweet things when you think of pumpkin seeds, but this cardamom pepita brittle brings raw pepita seeds together with a combination of ingredients that make for an awesome dessert.
3. Healthy Pumpkin Granola Recipe
Leave the store-bought granola on the shelf where it came from because this homemade recipe is packed with plenty of things that'll power you through your mornings in a positive way. A combination of different types of seeds, power foods and a little pumpkin puree for good measure make this granola recipe fit for fall.
4. Pumpkin Butter
Give your toast something to be excited about in the morning by making your own nut butter spread. Swap out the raw nuts in this recipe for raw pumpkin seeds. Add a few ingredients to a food processor after you've baked the pumpkin seeds, blend until smooth and enjoy your fresh pumpkin butter.
5. Pepita Pesto
If you're looking for a versatile recipe that can be used several nights a week without getting boring, try this pepita pesto. You can pour it on steak, chicken, pasta or anything else your family might be craving.
If you're looking for an apartment that welcomes you home with a spacious floor plan, private balcony and plenty of other outstanding amenities, Carrington at Barker Cypress is your perfect place. Take a look at our ebrochures online today!
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While keeping a neutral color scheme may seem like a safe choice, you can actually use an interior color scheme to add a pop of vitality or to unite each room as separate living spaces. Also, consider how the right colors can make a smaller space seem larger than it is. You can accomplish by using plenty of light colors, mirrors, good lighting. Dark spaces seem smaller and tend to absorb the energy out of living spaces.
Interior Color Scheme Tips for Apartments
Choose a color scheme for each room
You may want to choose a major color palette for each room, such as a white and creams in the bedrooms. For living room decorating color schemes, new primary color hues offer a wide range of choices. Here we have provided four primary colors that have a vibrant twist:
- Instead of blue – Sky #375E97
- Instead of green – Grass #3F691C
- Instead of yellow – Sunflower #FFBB00
- Instead of orange – Sunset #FB6542
For more fresh color ideas, check out the Pantone Fall Color Trends for this year in fashion. Even though these are runway fashion colors for the year, they will often translate into interiors, consumer products, and automobile colors. Merlot, Hazel, Dark Cheddar, and Sugar Almond are exquisite new colors for cooler months.
Change colors at major seasons
If you do have a neutral decor, it is easy to swap out bright spring and summer colors for those that are more muted and cool. Power colors for cold seasons are red, yellow, and orange. While cooler colors include blues, browns, and greens. Many people decorate according to the season, however, this can be cost-prohibitive for some. So it may make more sense to choose a favorite season like spring or fall and use both the lighter and darker color shades for your favorite season.
Try a color personality combination
It's fun to decorate your living spaces according to your color personality. It doesn't matter if your lifestyle tends to be outdoorsy and natural, subdued and professional, or fresh and bright — there's a color combination for you. Check out these 100 Brilliant Color Combinations that you can apply to your interior design makeover based on your unique personality.
For your next Houston, TX apartment to decorate, consider Carrington at Barker Cypress. You will find we are located near excellent shopping and top-notch dining and entertainment venues. When you take a break from decorating, you can enjoy our newly remodeled fitness center and clubhouse.
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Getting your first apartment can be a very exciting time in your life, but it can also be a time when you're unsure how you want to decorate and you don't have a lot of money to express yourself. If you want — or need — to decorate on a dime, though, you have more options than you think. There are a lot of great ways to make your new apartment look and feel like home, without having to spend a lot of money. With a few tips and tricks, you can get artwork and other types of decor that will make your apartment comfortable, cozy and all yours. Here are some things to consider.
Thrift Shops and Yard Sales
With the apartments at Carrington at Barker Cypress, you can have the space and privacy you're looking for. If you're ready to decorate your apartment but money is tight, shop the thrift stores and your local yard sales. A lot of people donate pictures, paintings and all types of knickknack items. They also sell them at yard sales for a lot less than you'd pay in the stores. Just make sure you're finding things you really like and that will look good in the new space. It's better to have less in your apartment than to clutter it up with things that don't suit your style or taste. Choose decor that you enjoy, and it makes the space feel like home.
Use Your Creativity and Self-Expression
There are a lot of ways you can make something unique to decorate your apartment. For example, with the pictures from a calendar and a few picture frames from the dollar store or a yard sale, you can have artwork to put on your wall. If you paint or draw, you can also use your own artistic pieces for decoration. Also consider getting some fabric and stuffing, and sewing throw pillows in colors you love. Adding these pillows to your couch or chairs brings a personal design element into your new space, and also gives you the satisfaction of decorating inexpensively with your own creations.
When you're looking for a new apartment in Cypress, you want to have a space that feels like home to you. Take a look at the floorplans we have, and choose your favorite.
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