Blog Posts

Fair-ily, Fair-ily Life Is But a Dream at the Washington State Spring Fair

Just about everyone in Washington is looking forward to the sun coming out and being less introverted this summer. And maybe summer just is better at conversation than spring. But dont be fooled spring in the Pacific Northwest should never be forgotten. And the Washington State Spring Fair is packed to the brim enough with seasonal celebrations to show us all why. Whether youre new to town or have simply never been to the fair in the spring, weve decided to break down some of whats in store this year for residents of our apartments at Canyon Park. Washington State Spring Fair Puyallup April 14th 17th Motorsport Mayhem Events For those that are looking for some high-octane spring events, the motorsport mayhem is focused on the celebration of the engine and vehicular grit, both in the form of monster trucks and demolition derbies. One of the more exciting aspects of the motor-themed activities is the chance to get to ride in a monster truckeither White Lightning or Zombie Trackerfor seven dollars a piece. Demolition Derby The demolition derby usually takes the cake for having some of the most exhilarating featured events. This year will feature some breathtaking motor stunts, a pavement race where cars drag boats until the last car stands, figure eights, and the always classic Slamfest. Seeing cars collide is one of the better ways to vent any leftover frustration you might be carrying toward any erstwhile used car you may have owned. The Monster Truck Show Arguably, the monster truck featured event rivals the draw of the more traditional demolition derbymostly because the trucks could easily crush the demo cars beneath their gargantuan wheels. It features everything from wheelies and donuts to jumps and good old-fashioned promised mayhem, and even a free pit gathering before the show for fans of all ages to meet the drivers and see the trucks up close. You can find more information about all of the above events by heading over here .

Spring Green Recipes

March is finally here, which means that spring is getting ready to spread its sunny green wings in the land of perpetual overcast skies. While spring cleaning, and swapping out drab winter colors, are a part of anyones regimen this time of year, the promise of sunnier days means fresh local produce to reintroduce to your home-cooked meals. Below, weve included a few recipes you can try out this spring to welcome the season with open armsand open stomachs. Roasted Spring Vegetable + Quinoa Tacos Spring brings with it sweeter vegetables, and thats exactly what this recipe incorporates into its list of ingredients. By roasting up refreshing fennel and asparagus, cooking up some hearty quinoa, and adding a bit of invigorating dill-infused guacamole to your street-sized corn taco tortillas, youll be making friends with your neighbors because of how good the finished product smells. We didnt even mention the fresh slices of spicy radish, lime, and your favorite hot sauce or salsa. You can find out how to make it all by heading over here . Collard Coconut Curried Kale Roll-Ups For those that want to try out some bold tastes with new vegetables, this collard green and vibrant purple kale recipe is a great place to start. And though the aesthetic of this recipe borrows heavily from both the shape and form of sushi, dont be intimidatedthis recipe makes efficient use of a focused array of ingredients. From fresh orange zest and coconut oil to horseradish root and curry powder, theres enough flavor in this dish to wake up your winter heart from its eternal slumber. You can find what youll need to make it over yonder . Shrimp + Avocado Miso Salad Avocado is usually enough to grab the attention of most peoplebut adding flavorful grilled shrimp and characteristic miso dressing to the equation is almost unfair. With a bit of baby spinach or baby kale, spice to your preference, cilantro, lime, ginger, and chopped peanuts on top, youll have plenty to look forward to this season thanks to this spring-themed masterpiece. To see what youll need to pick up at the grocery store, you can head over here for pictures of the finished product and a detailed step-by-step list.

Creative Easter Egg Ideas

Easter is just around the bend now that spring has nearly sprung. And whatever your reasons are for celebrating this holiday, its an opportunity to fly the flags of floral pastel colors and put away the darker wintery colors for the year. For those looking for creative ways to dye your festive hard-boiled eggs this year, look no further than this list of some of the better ideas weve seen online. Chalkboard Paint For those looking to add a classroom aesthetic to your easter eggs, this is a great way to create a canvas that welcomes mistakes in the added chalk designsespecially since its easy to wipe it away and start from scratch. Whether youve got kids that like to doodle, or just want something a little more black and white for decoration, this ones gotta be your jam. You can find pictures and tips on how to make it happen over here . Ombre Layered Watercolor-like layers evoke some of the warm array of emotions that accompany the hopeful promise of more pacific-northwestern sun. And this one is nice because it uses your basic egg dye kits you can buy at your local grocery store. By starting with a cup of dye and one egg, just add an inch or two of water to your glass after waiting a few minutes for each leveland repeat until the egg is fully submerged. The final product has a crafty and paper-torn look thats fun for everyone. You can find pictures for reference over here . Temporary Tattoo Everyone knows that temporary tattoos go on arms and the backs of hands, but adding them to your easter eggs makes the design process that much easier. Whether you grab some temporary tattoos at the grocery store, online, or print some off yourself at home, this idea takes the messy dye out of your holiday weekend. For those looking for designs to print out at home, and examples of the finished product, you can head over here for both.

Pi Day Pie Ideas

March is a month thats home this year to a little bit of everything to celebratefrom spring to green and bunny rabbits that hide colored eggs. But for those with a soft spot for math, puns, and pie, it also acts as a welcome mat to three-point-one-four pi day. To celebrate the occasion, people like to indulge in a slice of their favorite pie. And why not? Any excuse for pie is good enough for us, so below, weve highlighted a few creative pie ideas to help you experience this noteworthy day the right way. Pie Fries + Jam Everyone already knows that a slice of pie cant be beat. But in terms of finding a more portable and fun way to deepen your love for this glorious day of pie, pie fries help you appreciate the golden crust that lures any heretic to the haven of fruit-filled joy. Theres a beautiful simplicity to this recipe, and adding your favorite jam or fruit preserves to the mix makes it easier for those that cant commit to just one flavor for pi day. You can find everything youll need for this recipe over here . Ice Cream + Pie Shakes Pie fries are good and all, but ice cream pie shakes are a homemade way to combine the divine indulgence of ice cream with your favorite pie. And it couldnt be any easier to make. Whether youre starting with something you picked up at your favorite local bakery, or something you made yourself, all youll need is a slice of pie, vanilla ice cream, and the help of your handy-dandy kitchen blender. To see pictures of how it all turns out, and tips on making it all come together, you can head over here. Apple Pie Cookies Since weve already talked about mixing pie with fries and ice cream shakes, it would be pure mockery if we didnt include a recipe that combined cookies with pie. Though this recipe focuses on apple pie, you could easily swap out the ingredients for your favorite filling instead. With the right amount of fresh apples, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg and lemon for extra zest youll have a cookie sheet full of these delicious wonders in no time. You can find everything youll need to bake them by heading over here .

Local Pub Spotlight for St. Patricks Day

St. Patricks Day celebrates a lucky heritage with emerald and clover greens in high-energy and positive ways. Whether youre from Ireland or not, its always fun to explore the real melting pot of cultures that work together to make our great community that much more diverse and rich. This city is home to three honest pubs that are the perfect places to enjoy this emerald holiday. Below, well highlight one that locals rave aboutand what makes it so special. Doyles Public House Doyles is the kind of place you go with your friends to watch international soccer matches on big-screen boxes, hear great and lively music that happens at least every week, and to drink imported beers that fit even the pickiest of tastes. Its a real tour de force in terms of both food and drink. The only real downside is that local stouts arent as much of a focus here. Whether its online or by word-of-mouth, the atmosphere is something that cant be rivaled. And though its not everyones honest cup of tea, theyll even feature open-mic storytelling nights. The seasonal fun runs even deeper on St. Patricks Day. Local + Noteworthy Credentials Maybe when a local restaurant gets recognized as a favorite on emerging and annual best-of lists, it might be seen as a fluke or instance of favoritism. But thats not as much the case when it happens both locally and nationallyas it did with Washingtons Evening Magazine and their top five list and Esquire Magazine. From their corned-beef hash to their totchos, the food, service, and celebratory nature of this establishment grabs your attention for a reason. Theyre located on Tacomas St. Helens Ave, but you can find more information about them over on their website .

DIY Floral Arrangement

February is home to Valentines Day. And whether you have a significant other in your life, or just want to show your love and appreciation to those that make a difference in your life, the tradition of gifting someone a colorful bouquet of flowers has stood the test of time for good reason. While there are ample florist resources in town that will work on the arrangements for you, putting it together yourself can both save on the money you spend and add a more sentimental touch. Below, we outline some tips to do just that. Gathering Supplies To do the job right, youll need the right supplies. You can still stop by your favorite local florist or the florist section of your grocery store to pick up a simple bouquet in a same-color arrangement. Youll also want to have a pair of garden shears or a knife, a coffee can, decorative construction or wrapping paper that matches your flowers of choice, tape, a ruler, and other decorative itemslike matching hearts, ribbon, or lace. Putting It All Together First, remove the labels from your coffee can and make sure its clean both inside and out. Next, measure the length of the decorative paper or wrap youll need to cover the exterior of the can and make your cuts and tape it onto the can. Once youve done that, youll want to trim your flowers to make sure they fit in the smaller tabletop container. Wed recommend using a counter edge to see how much youll need to trim for them to still come out of your DIY arrangement at the top. Trim all leaves on the flowers except for those that sit just under the flower blossom, and make the desired cut at a forty-five degree angleand make sure its at least an inch from the bottom of the stem. Then add water and place your flowers in and youre ready to go.