Blog Posts

A Week of Organizing Your Apartment

Welcome back to the Edlandria Blog! Last week we went over organizing your apartment kitchen. Once you’ve gotten everything just the way you like it in your cooking area, take a step back and focus on the rest of your home! This five-day guide will help you take inventory and create a sanctuary in your Alexandria, VA apartment. Just 20 minutes each day will make a huge difference. Monday: Declutter. Today, figure out what items are just taking up space in your home. Get rid of things that aren’t functional or fun to look at. Clear off counters and figure out exactly what needs to be displayed and what can be put away. Bedside tables and kitchen counters are spaces where things get cluttered, so don’t forget these spaces! Take out garbage and put things away as necessary. Tuesday: Fix it! Things that need batteries, new light bulbs, or a little elbow grease get a makeover today. If something needs to be taken to a repair shop, today is the day to do so. Fix the things that can be fixed and get rid of what can’t. You’ll save yourself time and stress in the long run. Wednesday: Deep clean. Clean behind appliances, furniture, and bookcases. Vacuum and mop floors. Clean baseboards and window tracks. Rotate your mattress and wash your sheets. This way your home will feel fresh and clean even in these dreary winter months. Light a candle, open the windows for a few minutes, and let the fresh air in. You might be surprised at what you find while deep cleaning! Thursday: Recycle. Each day you’ve probably found items you just don’t need or want anymore. This is a great time to post items on Craigslist or create an Instagram account to sell your lightly used but unappreciated items. Take these to a local thrift store or donation center. If you have office supply items, ask a local school if you can donate to a classroom in need. Friday: Repurpose. Maybe you’ve run across a blanket that would be nicer displayed in your family room than folded up in your closet. Or a candle holder can hold makeup brushes in your bathroom. As you’ve taken a closer look at your home and the things you have, you’ve gotten a better picture of what you have and what you need. Repurposing helps you make use of what you have but may sometimes ignore. We hope you find yourself inspired to do some deep cleaning and organizing this month. Thanks for reading!

Organization 101 for Your Kitchen

Moving into your apartment at Edlandria is just the beginning. The big question is where do you put everything? There is plenty of storage, but how do you decide where things should go? Organizing your apartment is the focus of this week’s blog post, and we’ve got great ideas. This time, we will focus on kitchen organization and next time on the rest of your apartment. Create Zones The kitchen, often described as the “heart” of the home, is where we spend time preparing meals, eating them, and then cleaning up afterward, so it only makes sense we want to make our kitchen work for us. That’s where the concept of zones comes in. What is a zone? It is storing all the items you use together in the same area. For instance, a breakfast zone could include instant oatmeal, cold cereal, pancake mix, and syrup — the common thread being each item is related to breakfast. Other zones could include a baking zone, a snack zone, and a drink zone. Store on the Outskirts Don’t let those shelves and tops of cupboards go unused! Put heavier items on bottom shelves and less often used items on top. Keep a step stool handy so it’s easy to get to the items shelf. Keep the things you use frequently at eye level. Label containers so you know at a glance what is in them, and use modular containers that can be stacked to conserve space. Organize Your Pantry Part of kitchen organization is putting together a well-stocked pantry. Just what goes into a pantry? That’s a bit of a trick question because it will vary depending on individual taste, budget, and tradition. However, The Food Network has a great Pantry Essentials Checklist that is a good place to start. Having a well-stocked pantry saves time and money and helps you pull a meal together without having to run to the store. What tips do you have for organizing your kitchen? We’d love to hear about them. Share in the comments.

Last-Minute Stocking Stuffers

Are you still looking for a few last-minute stocking stuffers? This week, the Edlandria Blog is sharing a few of our favorites. Whether you’re looking for something funny or functional to put in the stocking of your loved one, there are plenty of options that can arrive at your Alexandria, VA apartment before the holiday celebration begins! Shakespearean Insult Bandages For a gift that will get a few good laughs and serve a purpose at the same time, try these bandages with Elizabethan insults on them. One of our favorites is the following: “Do thou amend thy face, and I’ll amend my life.” Magnetic Car Mount If the recipient of the stocking you are stuffing doesn’t own one of these magnetic car mounts, then this a great option. It connects to the air vent on the dashboard of a car, and with a thin magnetic plate you can put on the back of your phone, it provides for a simple and hassle-free car mount. Not only is it convenient to use a car mount, but it makes hands-free driving safer as well! Prism Glasses Give someone you love the gift of comfort with these prism glasses! Rather than putting a kink in your neck to see a screen or read a book, these glasses allow you to lie down and still see whatever you’re holding in your hands. While they look a little funny, they’re incredibly useful. Chop Sabers If you know a Star Wars fan who loves sushi, these chopsticks could not be more appropriate. They light up to resemble light sabers, yet they function as chopsticks. While others might think these are just funny, true fans will be honored to receive such a gift in their stocking. Thank you for visiting our blog. We hope you have a great rest of the month. Happy Holidays!

Fighting the Winter Blues

Even though it’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, it’s pretty common to have a strong case of the winter blues. Whether the holidays themselves are a contributing factor to your depression, anxiety, or stress, or you have a seasonal affective disorder (SAD), there are plenty of valid reasons you might be feeling the way you are. This week, the Edlandria blog is sharing some of our favorite ways to address seasonal depression. The following ideas were pulled from a few articles, one from Mayo Clinic , another from Real Simple , and the last one from Medicine Net . We hope the following suggestions help you this season. Get Enough Light Your personal exposure to light increases brain chemicals that contribute to a better mood. Seeing as there is less light in the winter, consciously seek ways to expose yourself to more of it. Of course, the best form is natural light, so think about either spending some time outside on a weekly walk or trimming the trees next to your windows that might be blocking out some sunlight. If you aren’t able to be outside in the natural light, don’t fret. Even sitting next to an artificial light for some time each day is shown to boost your mood. Take Care of Your Mind and Body Even though you should be striving to do this all year round, make an extra special effort to take care of your physical and mental health. Instead of waiting until New Years to set new exercise goals, reevaluate your old ones now and find a way to do some form of physical activity multiple times each week. If you’re looking for ways to engage your mind, consider doing some yoga or meditation, or even making a more conscious effort to listen to music that makes you feel relaxed. What do you do to combat the winter blues? Let our Alexandria, VA apartment community know by leaving a comment below. Thanks for reading our post, and may you have a healthy and happy winter!

Tips For Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner

Hosting a Thanksgiving meal can feel difficult and stressful. It’s easy to put all of the pressure on yourself to pull of the perfect party so everyone can enjoy the big holiday feast. Today, Edlandria Blog is here to offer a few tips for hosting Thanksgiving dinner in your Alexandria, VA apartment. Whether this is your first time or whether you host every year, we hope this post helps you prepare for your holiday dinner. Communicate Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner starts with planning one and letting your guests know it’s happening! Spend some time personally inviting everyone you want to be there so they know they are welcome to come. Try creating a message, either by text, email, or Facebook, so that everyone is on the same page and so no one gets left behind.Details like time and place may seem so simple, but communicating them clearly helps the event go smoother. Clean Your Apartment It is much more enjoyable to host guests when the space you are welcoming them into is neat and tidy. When you host guests in a dirty apartment, is distracts from the atmosphere of enjoyment and relaxation that you are trying to create, and it makes you feel less confident and more stressed. If you focus now on the deep cleaning, it will be much easier to upkeep by simply having to wipe the counters and tables when the big day comes. Serve a Well-rounded Meal While it almost feels like the Thanksgiving meal is only about the turkey, the stuffing, and the pumpkin pie, you will want to spend enough time planning out each dish so that you have a well-rounded meal. Some of your guests may have dietary restrictions, so you will want to provide plenty of variety in your dishes. It’s always tempting to make vegetable dishes tastier by adding bacon bits or animal products to them, but consider having a few meat-free dishes or options for those who may be vegetarian. Even those without restrictions will appreciate some healthy sides for their turkey! Ask For Help Hosting isn’t about doing everything by yourself. It’s perfectly acceptable to delegate certain assignments to other people, like asking some of your guests to bring specific side dishes or desserts. On top of that, it will save oven, refrigerator, and countertop space for you as you prepare the main dishes. You might ask certain family members or guests to be there early to help you tackle some of the food preparation so that your meal can start on time. If you ask politely, your guests will be glad to help. Relax When the time comes for the meal to start, make sure and relax. You can be proud of the hard work you put in to making Thanksgiving happen, and once the moment arrives, you can reap the same rewards your guests are! You might think of a few simple conversation topics to speak about at dinner, like things people are thankful for, but don’t feel any pressure to keep the talking up throughout the meal. Sit back, enjoy your food, and the company of those you love. Do you have any tips that might help others in our apartment community host the perfect Thanksgiving dinner? Share by leaving a comment below!

Black Friday Shopping the Right Way

Since many of you are probably planning to brave the Black Friday shopping crowds this year, we here at Edlandria Blog want to make sure you’re doing it the right way! This week, we are bringing you a few simple tips that will help make this Black Friday a success for any shopping ventures you might have near your Alexandria, VA apartment. Consider a few of these suggestions: Make a Plan Before you hit the stores, make sure you know where you’re going and what you want. Plan out your top three stops this Black Friday, and rank them in order of importance. Think of key purchases you plan to make at each store and know beforehand which departments they are in so you don’t waste any time the day of. These might seem like silly things to plan out, but when you’re amidst the holiday shopping crowds, you won’t regret having done it. Shop With Someone When you bring a friend or a family member along, you can accomplish twice as much as you could by yourself. Once you get to a specific store, you can cut your time there in half if you divide and conquer. Go to the electronics department with your friend’s top purchases in mind while you send them to the toy aisle with a list of your most important items. Helping each other out just might help you buy more things off your wish list before other shoppers get to them! Leave the Cart Behind Unless you’re planning to buy large or heavy items, leave the shopping carts at the door. Instead, use reusable grocery bags! It will save you time, and it will help you navigate the store so much easier than you could if you were trying to weave in and out of the aisles with a huge cart. Stick to Your Budget One of the most important ways to keep from overspending this Black Friday is to create a budget and stick to it. You might be tempted by doorbusters or sales you didn’t see beforehand in the ads, but if you fall for those, you’re more likely to spend too much and regret it afterward. Hold yourself to only buying what you came for. It might help to fix your budget, bring that amount in cash, and then leave the credit cards at home. That way, you’ll think twice before you decide on an unplanned purchase! Prepare for Surprises One of the most important tips for Black Friday shopping is to plan to be surprised. There might be an unexpected road closure on your way downtown. You might spend longer at one store than you had hoped. Some of the top items on your list are likely to be sold out before you get to them. Don’t let these things get you down. Instead, roll with the unexpected and embrace the surprises that come your way! Having fun is more important than getting everything you wanted. Thanks for reading our blog today! We hope your Thanksgiving and your Black Friday are filled with happy moments this year.