Blog Posts

Planning Thanksgiving Part 2

Welcome back to the Canyon Park Apartments Blog and welcome to our Planning Thanksgiving: Part 2 blog. We have more ideas and tips to help you have a successful and enjoyable Thanksgiving day. Enjoy your holiday season here in Puyallup, WA. Turkey Cooking Tips Cooking your turkey can be a tricky task, but we’re here to help! The first step is thawing. Thawing is best done in the refrigerator for roughly 24 hours per 4-5 pounds. You can also thaw the turkey in cold water which is a much quicker process. That takes about 30 minutes per pound. Next, you’ll remove the giblets of the turkey. Brining comes next. Brining adds moisture and flavor to the turkey, although it is optional. Use a dry rub on the turkey and stuff it before putting it in the oven. The next step is to cook the turkey. Use this chart in helping you determine how long your turkey should be cooked for. Lastly, you’ll present the turkey with garnishings and other fruits and vegetables on a platter. Gratitude Activities Adding gratitude activities to your Thanksgiving celebrations is a great way to bring a positive and grateful attitude into your apartment. Maybe this just means going around the table and everyone saying what they’re grateful for. Another fun gratitude activity is to write down what you’re grateful for on a table runner. You can then use the table runner again the next year in your table setting. You could also create a “Thankful Tree” . For this activity, you’ll write down what you’re grateful for on a cutout leaf. Have everyone write down what they’re grateful for on the leaves. You can then tie all the grateful leaves onto a few real or fake tree branches for a “Thankful Tree” to use as home decor for the coming months. What are you most grateful for during this time of the year? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading our post!

Planning Thanksgiving Part 1

Thanksgiving is coming up and here on the Canyon Park Apartments Blog, we want to help you plan and celebrate this time of year. We have planning tips, decor ideas, cooking tips, and more! Don’t forget to check out our Part 2 blog that will come out next Monday with the rest of our fun ideas. We hope you enjoy this time of year with family and friends here in Puyallup, WA. Dividing up Food Assignments The first item that should be taken care of is who will be making what for dinner. Are you going to make a whole meal or will you be dividing up food assignments to others who will be coming? When dividing up food responsibilities, make sure that you send out the assignments in an easy to understand format and in a place that they can access again. A place where people can communicate back and forth is a plus as well. That might mean communicating through an email, a texting group, Google Sheets, or another online platform. Choosing Thanksgiving Decor Table Setting. When choosing a table setting, consider how much time and effort you want to put into the setting as well as how the rest of your home is decorated. You might also consider the feeling you want the table setting to convey. Maybe you like warm and cozy or maybe you like clean and classy. Here are some great table settings to check out: Traditional Plaid and Turkey Table Setting , Soft and Natural Thanksgiving Tablescape , and Classy Thanksgiving Centerpiece . Place Cards. Place cards are another great way to decorate your table for Thanksgiving. For a spunky and dramatic place card, make these Glitter Top Pumpkin Place Cards . You could also opt for a more classy and simple place card such as these Rosemary Sprig Place Cards . Or you can choose to be creative with other Thanksgiving and fall inspired decor. What’s your favorite thing about Thanksgiving? Let us know in the comments below.

Books Coming Out This Month

November brings with it new books for you to check out! Here on the Canyon Park Apartments Blog, we have a list of some great books being released this month that you won’t want to miss. We hope you have a chance to enjoy a quiet afternoon here in Puyallup, WA with a good book — enjoy! Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World by Tim Ferriss “We All Need Mentors. Here Are More than 100 of the World’s Best. When facing life’s questions, who do you turn to for advice? We all need mentors, particularly when the odds seem stacked against us. To find his own, four-time #1 best-selling author Tim Ferriss tracked down more than 100 eclectic experts to help him, and you, navigate life. Through short, action-packed profiles, he shares their secrets for success, happiness, meaning, and more. No matter the challenge or opportunity, something in these pages can help.” The Midnight Line: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child “#1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child returns with a gripping new powerhouse thriller featuring Jack Reacher, “one of this century’s most original, tantalizing pop-fiction heroes” (The Washington Post). Reacher takes a stroll through a small Wisconsin town and sees a class ring in a pawn shop window: West Point 2005. A tough year to graduate: Iraq, then Afghanistan. The ring is tiny, for a woman, and it has her initials engraved on the inside. Reacher wonders what unlucky circumstance made her give up something she earned over four hard years. He decides to find out. And find the woman. And return her ring. Why not?” Obama: An Intimate Portrait by Pete Souza and Barack Obama “This is the definitive visual biography of Barack Obama's historic Presidency, captured in unprecedented detail by his White House photographer--and presented in an oversize, 12"x10" exquisitely produced format, and featuring a foreword from the President himself. Pete Souza served as Chief Official White House Photographer for President Obama's full two terms. He was with the President during more crucial moments than anyone else--and he photographed them all. Souza took nearly two million photographs of President Obama, capturing moments both highly classified and disarmingly candid.” What are your favorite books? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading and come back and visit the Canyon Park Apartments Blog again soon!

Clever Simple Halloween Costumes

Halloween is just around the corner. If you haven’t already thought of a costume, now’s the time! Here on the Canyon Park Apartments Blog, we have a few costume ideas that you can throw together at the last minute. They’re easy, clever, and fun. We hope you enjoy your Halloween here in Puyallup, WA. Medusa This costume requires plastic toy snakes and a Greek style dress (which can be made with a sheet very easily). Grab some plastic snakes from a local store and wear them in your hair. Either tie them to the ends of your hair or slide them through hair that is pulled back. You can wear some kind of fancy dress or something that resembles a Greek style of clothing. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory For a classic costume theme opt for dressing at Willy Wonka characters. This theme offers all kinds of characters to dress up as which makes it great for a group of friends or a family. Dress as Charlie Bucket (great for a younger boy), Willy Wonka, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, Augustus Gloop, Mike Teavee, Grandpa Joe, and more. Gumball Machine This idea is simple to put together. You might even already have everything you need to turn yourself into a gumball machine. Wear a white shirt that you don’t care about ruining and wear red pants or any other solid colored pants. Glue colorful craft pom poms onto the shirt about ¾ of the way up. These pom poms can be found at any craft store. Glue them on using a hot glue gun and that’s it! Scarecrow This costume requires items that you may already have at home. Use makeup to create stitches on your face and round red cheeks. Wear your hair in braids or wear it messy, stick some hay in your clothes, wear a plaid button up shirt and jeans, and you’re set! What’s your favorite Halloween costume? Let us know in the comments. Have a fun and safe Halloween and visit the Canyon Park Blog again soon!

National Nut Day

Did you know that October 22nd is National Nut Day? Here on the Canyon Park Blog, we want to bring you some delicious trail mix recipes to celebrate. Take a hike on a nearby trail here in Puyallup, WA and bring along trail mix for the perfect afternoon or weekend adventure. Breakfast Trail Mix This recipe is so delicious and has lots of dried fruit and protein; it comes from ebay . It’s perfect for a morning hike if you didn’t have time for breakfast. To make this snack, you’ll need dried cranberries, pistachios, dried bananas, Honey Nut Cheerios, and yogurt covered pretzels. Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Trail Mix For those who love a mix of chocolate and fruit, you’re going to love this one. It’s a great indulgence with added protein. This recipe comes from The Healthy Maven . You’ll need almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, freeze-dried strawberries, and dark chocolate chunks. Peanut Butter Lover’s Trail Mix If you have a love for peanut butter, then this recipe is for you. It comes from Rachel Cooks . You’ll need peanut butter morsels, Reese’s Pieces, Peanut Butter M&M’s, peanut butter filled pretzels, golden raisins, and peanuts. We think you’ll love this delicious and peanut buttery recipe. Parmesan Ranch Cheez-It Snack Mix If you’re looking for something savory, you’re going to love this recipe full of delicious flavor. This recipe comes from Delightful-E-Made . You’ll need Cheez-It Original crackers, Cheez-It Grooves crackers (Zesty Cheddar Ranch flavored), pretzels, rice/corn breakfast cereal, cashews, melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, ranch seasoning mix, and grated parmesan cheese. Simple and Sophisticated Trail Mix This is a tasty mix that’s easy to make in your apartment. The recipe comes from Greatist . You’ll need almonds, sea salt, cinnamon, chocolate chips, and dried cherries. Mix this up for a delicious, healthy, and protein packed trail mix. What’s your favorite trail mix recipe? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading and have a great month!

Tips For a Good Night s Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep can make all the difference in how your day goes. Canyon Park Blog brings you some tips on how to get a better night’s sleep in your apartment. We want every day to be a good day for you here in Puyallup, WA. Tip #1: Have a Nightly Routine Creating a routine can help your body know when it’s time to slow down and fall asleep. Your routine can be as simple as taking a shower and brushing your teeth. Try to do this routine at the same time each night. Just as you might wake up from an alarm in the morning, set an alarm to let you know when it’s time to get ready for bed. Tip #2: Exercise Exercise throughout the day will help you be sleepier at night. Use up all that energy that you’ve acquired through the foods you have eaten. Play frisbee outside after work or go for a walk in the morning. Even simple exercises can make a difference. Tip #3: Stretch and Do Yoga Letting your body stretch and relax at night can make all the difference in how you feel while laying in bed. It can also help you to stay relaxed at night and therefore get a better night’s sleep. Find a routine that stretches all major muscles and those areas that get extra tense during your daily activities. For example, if you sit at a desk all day, do some stretches for your hip flexors as well as your shoulders and neck. Try out this yoga routine before bedtime. Tip #4: Create a Restful Bedroom The colors and style of your bedroom can make it easier or more difficult to fall asleep. Make sure that your room is completely dark as you sleep. This will help you to fall and stay asleep. Decorate your room with cool colors. Use lots of blankets and pillows on your bedspread to create a cozy and warm space to sleep in your apartment. What tips do you have for getting a good night’s sleep? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading!