Blog Posts

Do You Want S’more?

Nothing screams summer quite like some gooey, tasty s’mores, so it’s not surprising to share some hot takes on the deliciousness that is a s’more. Here at Canyon Park Blog, we don’t want you to miss out on this fun summer tradition, so we are providing a few delicious s’mores recipes for you to try. Celebration Suggestions Gather some friends together and have a bonfire with all the fixings you will need to make plenty of tasty s’mores. Bring an instrument along and have a fun time playing and singing with your friends. Go camping and roast marshmallows to make s’mores, but roast them on a grill instead of a bonfire for a different effect. Make different s’mores themed desserts all month long! Today we’re here to help you know which recipes to start within your apartment’s kitchen. Recipes to Try There are so many s’mores-themed recipes out there, from classic s’mores to s’mores with a slight twist to s’mores-themed cakes and cookies. Be adventurous and try something you haven’t ever had! Salty Caramel Bacon S’mores Everybody loves bacon! Why not up your s’mores game and add some bacon? The saltiness of the bacon and sweet of the caramel-filled Ghirardelli's chocolate square complement each other nicely. Triple Chocolate S’more Love chocolate? Well then you will love these triple chocolate s’mores also featured in the Kitchn article. Just combine chocolate graham crackers, a square of dark chocolate, and a chocolate marshmallows. The Elvis S’more Apparently Elvis loved bananas and peanut butter, so why not feature them in a tasty s’more dedicated to this legend? Use graham crackers, fresh banana slices, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and marshmallows to make this celebrity worthy treat! Nutella S’more Churro Quesadilla This s’mores themed dessert is a combination of everything we love: Nutella, marshmallows, and the fried cinnamon and sugary goodness of a churro. It makes a delicious dessert quesadilla. S’mores Cheesecake Dip We can’t handle this heavenly combination. Two incredible desserts come together for a flavorful, mouth-watering experience. We dare you to try to stop eating it. Use your favorite flavor of graham cracker as a vehicle for this creamy dip. Perfect S’more Cookies Similar to a chocolate chip cookie, this recipe creates a whole new flavor element with the addition of marshmallows and crushed graham crackers. You won’t want to stop eating them! Where is your favorite campground in the Puyallup, WA area that has a fire pit that’s perfect for s’more making? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our Canyon Park Blog post!

Stay Positive in September

When the world as we know it has been turned upside down, it is difficult to always be positive. In this post, the Canyon Park Blog is featuring a few tips and tricks to help you stay positive and optimistic this month — even though life right now is definitely unpredictable. Look on the bright side this September and have a fantastic month here in Puyallup, WA! Make an Effort to Think Positively It’s important to consciously think of the things you are grateful for throughout the day. Thank friends and coworkers, give thoughtful gifts, write down a list of things you are grateful for, and try to reframe your thinking around the bad things that happen to you. If you experience a personal setback, think of it as temporary and encourage yourself to keep going after your goals. Make Life Exciting Try something new for 30 days by Matt Cutts “A few years ago, I felt like I was stuck in a rut, so I decided to follow in the footsteps of the great American philosopher, Morgan Spurlock, and try something new for 30 days. The idea is actually pretty simple. Think about something you've always wanted to add to your life and try it for the next 30 days. It turns out 30 days is just about the right amount of time to add a new habit or subtract a habit — like watching the news —from your life.” Treat Yourself Sometimes you need a break from your apartment. Treat yourself this month by going out to your favorite restaurant in the Puyallup, WA area or make a picnic and take it to your favorite park or take a drive and stop at a scenic overlook to enjoy the view while you have a picnic and maintain social distancing. Do you have any positivity tips for us? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Ahoy! It’s Talk Like a Pirate Day

It’s September and the 19th day of the month is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, so prepare to walk the plan. . . errr, hear some piratical language — words like blimey, ahoy, and swab for instance. To get a jump and be ready to talk like a pirate to get in on the fun, Canyon Park Blog has pulled together some piratical resources for members of our apartment community here in Puyallup, WA — so blow the man down! Talk Like a Pirate Day came from humble beginnings — while playing racquetball, John Bauer and Mark Summers began to talk to each other in “pirate-speak" and after leaving the court, they decided that there was a need to create a day for everyone to talk like a pirate. Their efforts remained localized until they contacted humor columnist, Dave Barry. The rest, as they say, is history. You can read the original column here . Talking like a pirate takes a bit of practice, but with the right terminology at your fingertips, you can be a pro in no time. We’ve included this Pirate Glossary to give you a foot up in preparation for the big day. We bet you’ll learn things about pirates, ships, and the seven seas that you didn’t know before. Watching a fun pirate-themed movie is another way to celebrate the day. Loosely based on the famous pirate Blackbeard, Disney’s Blackbeard’s Ghost, is a good choice. The movie, a comedy which came out in 1968, puts Peter Ustinov as the famous pirate's ghost that returns to the twenty-first century. Blackbeard has been cursed by his last wife, who was a notorious witch, so that he will never die. The only way to "break" the curse is to do (for once in his life) a good deed. The question is, is the famous pirate capable of doing something good? This list billed as the “Complete List of Every Pirate Movie Ever Made,” is a good resource for additional pirate-themed movies to watch. However you plan to celebrate, we encourage our residents to have fun with this holiday! Thanks for reading today’s blog post.

Apartment Etiquette to Remember for National Courtesy Month

Canyon Park is a welcoming community to all looking for an apartment they can be comfortable in and proud of here in Puyallup, WA. This week on the blog we’re highlighting how you can take part in National Courtesy Month this month and always by practicing certain principles and tips for apartment etiquette. Read on for some great reminders! Be a good neighbor. There’s so much that goes into being a good neighbor that we could write a separate blog post for it (and all the other topics in this post). But let’s bring ourselves back to the basics: consider others’ needs, comfort, and habits as you go about your life and have fun here. Communicate with your neighbors and be willing to make adjustments to accommodate them. If you’re having people over for a game night, for example, consider how late they may stay and how loud they may be, and let your neighbors know if you’re worried it might bother them. Also don’t underestimate the power of simply talking to your neighbors, being willing to lend a helping hand, sharing a plate of extra cookies, or simply smiling in passing. These actions and more do a lot to make the community more inviting for everyone. Be a good pet owner. Our apartment community is pet-friendly, but remember to be polite and courteous of others with your pets, as well. Address problems like barking or scratching. Try these 11 tips for introducing dogs to new people and other dogs so everyone can feel comfortable around your pet. And always clean up after your pet, especially in our community. Practice playground etiquette. Anytime you’re using a community area like a dog park, dining area, or, in this case, a playground, be mindful of others. Wash your hands and pick up after yourself. Encourage children you’re looking after at the playground to have fun and to play well with others, and practice being a good mediator in case any arguments arise. Teach your kids to be patient and to find other things to play with if their first choice is taken. Of course, this can be easier said than done, but making an effort goes a long way toward bringing about behavior everyone will appreciate. What other apartment living courtesy tips and practices are important to you? Let us know in the comments. We hope these suggestions improve the comfort of everyone in the community.

Finding the Silver Lining

Living during these unusual times gives us all a rare opportunity to practice looking for the silver lining in what is arguably one of the most trying times this nation has ever faced. Today the Canyon Park Blog is focusing on ways to be grateful, even in the midst of a pandemic. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others Comparing yourself to others is not helpful and it will only cause you to get down on yourself. There will always be someone wealthier, seemingly more intelligent, or attractive, so the only thing comparing yourself to others will do is make you feel inferior and sad. Instead, notice your unique talents and skills and be grateful for them. Continue to put your talents and skills to use and you will be happier and feel like you are making a difference. Live in the Moment Going through life without enjoying all the wonderful and unique moments it has to offer is unfulfilling and depressing. Instead, drink in the little moments, appreciate the opportunities you are given, and delight in something as simple as watching the sunset. If you are so caught up in the past or busy worrying about the future, you are going to miss out on the chance to enjoy what is happening right now in your life. Appreciate What You Have Instead of always looking longingly at what you don’t have, be grateful for all the things you do have. There will always be something newer, cooler, or seemingly better out there, but don’t get caught up in the illusion that whatever it is will make you happy. Choose instead to be happy and thankful for what you already have. Look for the Positive Negativity is everywhere and if we aren’t careful it can drag us down and poison our outlook on life. Make a conscious effort to find the positive in even the hardest of situations. Once you’ve established a positive outlook, you will be able to see the good more easily. What other words of advice would you add to our list? Share them with us in the comments so everyone can benefit. Thanks for reading our post and have a great month in our apartment community here in beautiful Puyallup, WA!

Stain Removers for Almost Everything

Stains happen, and unfortunately, it’s often our favorite clothing items to fall victim to various alien substances. However, if you can catch that stain before it goes in the dryer, it’s possible to save your clothes. In this Canyon Park blog post, we are featuring some of the best time-tested stain removal tips and tricks. Grease: We’ve heard that putting soda ( particularly Coca-Cola ) in the washer with detergent and your grease-stained clothing, can take that stain right out. Another option is to first sprinkle baking soda onto the stain for it to soak up any excess grease. Then, rub the stain with dish soap and wash in hot water. Makeup: Try using shaving cream to take out makeup that’s been stained into a shirt or a dress. Another idea would be to gently rub dish soap onto the stain, let it sit, then wash it in hot water. Using dish soap is a good idea when dealing with more oily or liquid makeups, such as liquid foundation. Sweat: To get out tougher sweat stains, create a mixture of baking soda and water and rub into the stain. Let that sit for a while before washing. Another option would be to mix dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda . Scrub the stain and let sit before washing. Blood: Soak the stain in cold saltwater and gently rub to then remove the stain. Another option would be to soak the stain in hydrogen peroxide and gently rub it out before washing. Coffee: Mix up 1 teaspoon of white vinegar and 2 cups of water. Use a sponge to apply and rub out the stain. Or use baking soda to absorb out the stain, gently rub it out, then wash to fully remove it. Chocolate: When removing chocolate stains from clothing use a paper towel to remove excess chocolate. Then, soak the stain in milk . Lastly, wash the stain in cold water. What are your stain removing tips and tricks? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading! Check back soon for life tips, apartment tricks, community events, and more. We hope that you have a great month here in Puyallup, WA!