Blog Posts

Spring Break Guests

Welcome back to Canyon Park’s blog. This is a space where we will share with our readers all of our best tips and tricks for apartment living. In our last post we shared one of our best dessert recipes. Today, we’re sharing a few tips for hosting guests in your Canyon Park home. With the abundance of attractions and activities for tourists in the Puyallup area, you might be lucky enough to host a few friends during spring break. We’re sharing a few tips that will make you the best host in no time. After a long car trip or busy flight, being greeted by a gracious host and a few thoughtful surprises starts a vacation off on a cheerful note. These tips are some options for preparing for your guests: 1) Comfy bedding. Add some extra blankets and pillows within easy reach of the bed. That way, your guests can choose the pillow that is most comfortable for them, and add a blanket or two if they take a chill. 2) Place a lamp on the bedside table and add some books or magazines for some nighttime reading. A good reading light and ready access to books or magazines helps guests have something to do should they have trouble falling asleep. 3) Water and a little “welcome” treat on the nightstand are a nice touch. Either bottled water or simply a carafe of water and a glass on the nightstand near the bed is convenient. There’s nothing worse than stumbling around in the dark in unfamiliar surroundings trying to find your water when you are thirsty! Definitely feel free to adapt these tips for your guests. Don’t forget to provide wi-fi passwords and a spare charger for their devices. Consider providing some travel-sized shampoos or soaps or even a fluffy bathrobe to make their stay a little more luxurious. Take into account how long they will be staying, what their preferences are, what your means are, and everything can go really smoothly!

Sweetest Treats

Your Canyon Park apartment is a great place to cook yourself something delicious. Is there anything better than a homemade treat? Even if you’re not an expert baker, we’ve got some treat ideas that anyone can make. Baking is a relaxing activity that results in the best finished product! Take some time out of your day and try one of these yummy recipes. We love the classic Rice Krispie Treat, but this new twist is a must for us. At Sweet C Designs, they traded the rice cereal for Lucky Charms in their Homemade Lucky Charms recipe. INGREDIENTS 3 cups marshmallows (if using jumbo, make them heaping cups) 4 cups Lucky Charms ¼ cup butter, salted INSTRUCTIONS In a large pot, add butter and begin to melt on medium. Add marshmallows and stir constantly until mallows melt. You may see slight browning- if your mallows aren't fully melted as the sugar browns, pull them off the stove and continue stirring. They should melt from the heat. Add lucky charms to pan and stir well to combine. Pour mixture into well greased casserole dish and let cool. When set, cut and enjoy! Another treat we all love is that typical chocolate chip cookie! This one is a little thicker and chewier than something you may be used to. We think it will slowly become one of your favorites. The recipe comes from Sally’s Baking Addiction . They are described as “An easy, no-mixer required recipe for super chewy, soft, and perfect chocolate chip cookies.” We hope you love trying one of these desserts. The best way to enjoy treats is to share them! Make up a plate for neighbors or coworkers and share the love. These would even be a great treat to add to the spread for your next birthday party or event. You’ll definitely want to keep these ingredients on hand for whenever a craving hits! Thanks for reading Canyon Park’s blog!

Try Yoga

Changing up your workout routine is a great way to ensure you won’t be bored and you’ll stay motivated. Shocking your system with a new type of exercise will keep you body working hard. This month, try out yoga. Learn about the health benefits of this exercise to get yourself started! The American Osteopathic Association has a ton of information as to why yoga is beneficial for you . It says, “Aside from the physical benefits, one of the best benefits of yoga is how it helps a person manage stress, which is known to have devastating effects on the body and mind.” It then quotes Dr. Natalie Nevins, a physician in California: “Stress can reveal itself in many ways, including back or neck pain, sleeping problems, headaches, drug abuse, and an inability to concentrate. Yoga can be very effective in developing coping skills and reaching a more positive outlook on life.” Yoga is something that can be practiced anywhere, even from home. It is very low impact and it can be a great addition to your night routine. Since little equipment is required, you don’t have to have a ton of space. Near your Canyon Park apartment are a few establishments where you can attend a yoga class. Try Yoga Soleil . “Founded in 2008, Yoga Soleil is a place for yoga, wellness and mindfulness studies. With emphasis on body, mind and heart wisdom, Yoga Soleil offers a variety of classes and courses designed to promote both physical and mental well-being.” Head to their site for more information regarding class schedules and directions. Hot Yoga at the Edge is another local yoga studio in Puyallup, WA. “We are a group of people from all walks of life, coming together to seek growth, health, and happiness. Some of us desire fitness, others spirituality, and some are looking to escape the busyness of life. Whatever goals you may have with your practice, Yoga at the Edge is a place where you can pursue these in an environment of warmth and acceptance.” Check out their website to sign up and get more information regarding classes. We hope you enjoy trying yoga this month! Thanks for reading.

Spring Cleaning Guide

Everyone’s got that bathroom cabinet where everything gets stored. Having bathroom storage is a great perk of living at Canyon Park Apartments, but we want you to get the most out of your space! There are a few things you can do to make sure that you are taking full advantage of your storage areas. Take a few minutes and clean out your cabinet, and you’ll be so grateful later on. First, clean everything out. Take out all products, toilet paper, and storage bins. Wipe out the bottom of the cabinet or shelves if you have them. Keeping the cabinet itself clean is important. Check the products next. Some products can expire. Keeping them in a damp bathroom where moisture can seep in might be detrimental to your products. Pay attention to labels. Keep prescription items away from things that are used everyday. Organize not by category, but by how often you use items. Having a whole shelf of lotions isn’t as useful as a shelf with your everyday skin care items. Clean off makeup brushes and containers. Your makeup bag is a place where germs and dirt can accumulate. Wash brushes in shampoo or baby soap. Wipe down powder products (like eyeshadows or bronzers) with a cloth. Throw away old razors. Keep what you need, toss what you don’t! If you have a product with just a little bit left, put it in a travel bottle. That way you aren’t wasting any, and next time you’ve got to head out of town you can just grab the mini bottles. Gather products from other rooms of the house. Your hand lotion might have escaped to your purse or backpack. Having all your products in one spot is useful so you know just what you own and you can avoid repurchasing. Thanks for reading! Check back next week for more tips and tricks.

Netflix Hidden Gems

An afternoon spent binging on Netflix sounds like a good time to us! If you’re tired of your typical picks, we’ve found a few hidden gems we think you’ll love watching. Invite some friends over and have a marathon together! Don’t forget the snacks. 30 for 30: Broke — According to a 2009 Sports Illustrated article, 60 percent of former NBA players are broke within five years of retirement. By the time they have been retired for two years, 78% of former NFL players have gone bankrupt or are under financial stress. Sucked into bad investments, stalked by freeloaders, saddled with medical problems, and naturally prone to showing off, many pro athletes get shocked by harsh economic realities after years of living the high life. Fat, Sick, And Nearly Dead — 100 pounds overweight, loaded up on steroids and suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease, Joe Cross is at the end of his rope and the end of his hope. In the mirror he saw a 310lb man whose gut was bigger than a beach ball and a path laid out before him that wouldn't end well — with one foot already in the grave, the other wasn't far behind. FAT, SICK & NEARLY DEAD is an inspiring film that chronicles Joe's personal mission to regain his health. Suits — On the run from a drug deal gone bad, Mike Ross, a brilliant college-dropout, finds himself a job working with Harvey Specter, one of New York City's best lawyers. Fuller House — In a continuation of Full House (1987), D.J. Fuller is a mother of three young boys and is a recent widow. D.J.'s sister Stephanie, her best friend Kimmy and Kimmy's teenage daughter all move in to help raise her sons. The house is now a lot fuller. We hope you love one of these shows! Let us know what your favorite picks are.

Road Trip Guide

Living in the Pacific Northwest gives us access to some really beautiful sites. A road trip is a great way to get out and see your home and explore areas you’ve never seen before. The best part? You don’t need to do a ton of planning before hand. A few essentials like some great music and friends by your side make for a great trip and some better memories. An important part of a road trip is realizing the fun isn’t really in just the destination. A road trip is about exploring and adventuring. Give yourself plenty of time to get to different spots you want to visit. Before your trip, make sure your car is in great shape. Get your oil changed, fluids filled and any other routine maintenance which might be necessary. You don’t want to ruin your vacation by worrying about your car. Add a few empty plastic grocery bags for collecting trash. You’ll be surprised how much stuff can accumulate and you’ll certainly want to keep clutter to a minimum. If you’re planning on using a GPS or your phone a lot during your trip, consider a dash mount. This will help you keep your hands free and stay safe while driving. Don’t get stranded with a dead phone either! A car charger will really be a lifesaver. You can even use your dash mount to record a Livestream or video to remember your trip. This list from Mashable gives some great road trip hacks. Even if you don’t plan your road trip for this month, these ideas will certainly help you in the future when you’re ready to hit the road. Above all, practice safe driving and be a considerate passenger. Attitude is everything on a road trip! Grab some great snacks and tunes and you’ll be on your way to the perfect road trip!