Blog Posts

Ringing in the New Year in Dallas, TX

New Year’s 2019 is coming, and deciding where and how to ring in the new year takes some planning. Today the Arrive West End blog has some suggestions for celebrating. A Family Celebration For the younger set, consider have a Noon Year’s Day celebration (leaving your evening free to head out on the town). Let the kids make party hats, noisemakers, and food as part of the party. Some ideas include putting together a time capsule and letting each child add something to it, or celebrating the world with traditions from different countries for ringing in the new year. Dining and Dancing With the help of Yelp, narrow down the best places to spend your New Year’s Eve. Check out The Best Nightlife places in the Dallas area (or head over to your favorite). Make reservations if possible so you will be sure to get in. Party On Dude Staying at home at your Arrive West End apartment may be just your style this year, but that’s no reason to celebrate alone! Plan a party — anything from a simple gathering of friends to toast the new year to an all out sit-down supper with your best china. These ideas from Shutterfly will get you started. Going Out on the Town If you are headed out on the town in the Dallas area to celebrate with good food, drinks, and friends, be sure to consider your safety. Try out these tips to help you start your evening. — If you will be drinking, be sure to have a designated driver. Another option is to attend an event that includes accommodations for the night. — Save the number for a local cab service, an Uber, or Lyft in your phone prior to heading out for the evening. Never get into a car with a driver who has been drinking. This page has some great info about these services in Dallas, Texas. — Stay engaged in activities and eat plenty of food to prevent drinking on an empty stomach. If you are hosting a party, offer non-alcoholic beverages or mocktails for designated drivers and others who prefer not to drink alcohol. However you celebrate, have fun and be safe; and have a prosperous new year!

Ideas for Black Friday Shopping from Your Dallas Apartment

For many of our residents here at Arrive West End, Black Friday shopping is a time-honored tradition. Today we’ve got tips about how to get the most out of Black Friday shopping. Read on to learn more about getting the best deals as you prepare to leave your apartment in Dallas, TX. Black Friday Shopping Tips from Arrive West End Read the following tips for when you get out of your apartment on the biggest shopping day of the year! Definitely be sure to make a list. Figure out what is worth getting the best deals. Decide beforehand what you’re willing to fight for! Even if it’s not a gift, Black Friday is a great time of year to make those big purchases like a family room television or that new vacuum you’ve been eyeing. Study the ads and determine which stores you want to hit for sure. Visit the stores that have your “must get” deals first, and then the ones that may have more than one of the items on your list, followed by what makes the most sense geographically speaking. A route app may be helpful for mapping out your shopping plan. Try to take a nap in the afternoon on Thursday so you will be well rested for your foray into Black Friday. Take water and some high protein snacks with you to keep your energy levels up so you don’t waste time standing in line for mall food. Spend a majority of your time in the early hours of the day at busier stores so you can get what you want before it runs out. This will help you shop more peacefully at those shops you only need an item or two at. Black Friday is Friday, November 23rd. We’ve shared a few tips to help you plan for your shopping, but for a more in-depth look at Black Friday shopping tips, we recommend taking some time to go through 25 Secret Black Friday Shopping Tips Revealed from Penny Pinchin Mom — she covers the whole gamut. This infographic from Valpak is also helpful if you’re a visual person. Thanks for taking the time to read our post. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in our apartment community!

Books, Movies, and Music for Halloween from Arrive West End

Welcome to the scariest month of the year! Halloween is coming up at the end of the month, and Arrive West End is sharing some ways to get into the Halloween spirit with books, movies, and music to set the mood. So head to your favorite bookstore or the Dallas public library and check out a scary book, stream a scary movie (or head to the theater for suspenseful offerings out this month), download some spooky tunes, and get set for a spooktacular month! Scary Reads for October Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Learn about Dr. Frankenstein and his monstrous creation first-hand by going back to the roots of this classic story. Consider your own answers to the questions the scientist is obsessed with concerning nature, the origin of life, and our roles in meddling in those things. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson In this harrowing tale of good and evil, the mild-mannered Dr. Jekyll develops a potion that unleashes his secret, inner persona—the loathsome, twisted Mr. Hyde. Must See Movies The Babadook (2014) A single mother plagued by the loss of her husband discovers a creepy children’s book in her home and strange events start to transpire shortly afterward. No matter how hard she tries to destroy the book, it always seems to reappear. Halloween (1978) Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield to kill again. (Head to your favorite Dallas theater to catch the Halloween final confrontation out this month!) Spooky Mood Music “Thriller” by Michael Jackson Thriller stands supreme as the most downloaded Halloween-themed song of all time! It is also one of Michael Jackson’s top hits. This incredibly catchy song even includes a signature dance. Go ahead, bust a move! “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder Featured in several different films, this song has become a classic that references the supernatural. The warm, rich jazzy tones of this song depict Stevie Wonder’s musical style exquisitely. Happy Halloween to everyone at our apartment community. Have a safe and fun holiday here in Texas.

Healthy Eating Tips from Arrive West End

This month the Arrive West End Blog is following up last month’s post about taking advantage of our local Dallas farmer’s markets with a post about healthy eating! You need ideas about how to use all of the produce you got, right? Coupled with exercising, these tips will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Clip coupons and shop the deals. It may be easier and quicker to go to a drive thru and get your favorite fast food, but try minimizing it this month by opting in for more natural, fresh foods. You don’t have to go completely organic if you don’t want to spend the money on it, but you can still shop smart by considering how much foods cost per ounce and buying in quantities that save you money. Be sure to check out the ads in the newspapers or online for coupons. You’ll find that it’s much less expensive and more fulfilling than eating out regularly. Replace unhealthy foods with healthy alternatives. Cutting back on processed, sugary, sodium-packed foods will definitely contribute to a better, overall healthier feeling, both physically and mentally. Be sure to eat a source of protein with your meals. Also increase fruits and vegetables and include a variety of grains on your plates. And replace sugary drinks with water! Instead of totally cutting out unhealthy foods, still let yourself enjoy your food so you will actually want to make the effort to eat healthy. There are plenty of easy, delicious, and healthy recipes you can find on Pinterest or elsewhere on the internet. Plan a menu. Make your grocery shopping trips more productive and help yourself focus on buying healthy foods by having a clear idea for the meals you plan to make. This will help you be excited to eat the foods you buy, which will help you actually eat the food before it goes bad — in other words, to actually eat healthy! See this article for more specifics on setting yourself up for success when eating healthy . Give yourself a break. Eating healthy a hundred percent of the time isn’t always easy or fun. Making it a lifestyle rather than a diet can help you make good choices each day without stressing about it. Don’t beat yourself up for not eating as perfectly healthily as it might seem like other people do in case you slip up a couple times. Food is not the enemy, your journey to a healthy life isn’t a competition with anyone else’s, and you can enjoy it! Remember how in control you are to stay on the right track. What tips do you find helpful to eating healthy? Share with the rest of our Texas apartment community by leaving a comment. Thanks for reading. Good luck, and have fun crafting your menus!

Eight Ways a Farmers' Market Can Benefit You

It’s August, and that means it is the perfect time to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables at our local farmers’ market. Today the Arrive West End Blog brings you some great reasons to shop fresh and get things from the field to the table in your apartment in short order. Top Eight Reasons for Shopping at Farmers’ Markets (based off of Nutrition.gov’s reasons for shopping at a farmers' market ) 1. Recently picked fruits and vegetables are at their peak for flavor and nutrition. 2. By supporting a farmers’ market, you are supporting local farmers and the local economy. 3. Can you say antioxidants and phytonutrients? Fresh fruits are chock full of them. (Don’t know what that means? Find out more about the facts of antioxidants .) 4. Strengthen your Texas community by supporting and talking with your local farmers. Learn how your food is grown and visit with neighbors and friends at your local market. Make new friends! 5. Farmers’ markets are a good source for getting foods that fit into My Plate guidelines. To find out more about this topic, spend some time at Choose My Plate . 6. Farmers and other vendors like to talk about their products, and chances are they have good suggestions about how to use them, too. Just ask if you need cooking tips. 7. With so many different varieties available at a market, you have the opportunity to try something new to you. Go ahead! It’s fun! 8. Farmers’ markets are waiting to be discovered. Chances are there’s one near you. Check out the Dallas Farmers Market or use this handy tool to find out where to go. Our favorite thing to do with our fresh finds is to cook! Check Pinterest for a nutritious recipe featuring whatever foods you pick up. Where is your favorite local market? Do you want to share a favorite recipe? We would love your feedback, so use the comments section to share your tips.

Keeping Your Cool When the Mercury Rises

The dog days of summer are upon us! How do you stay cool when the mercury is rising? You may have no problem staying cool inside your air-conditioned Arrive West End apartment, but when you’re out and about in Dallas, the Texas heat is a force to be reckoned with. Follow our tips to keep your cool when the temperatures climb this July. Hydrate. When it gets hot outside, hydration is your number one way to combat the heat. Carry a reusable water bottle with you and drink water all day long. Seek out the shade. There can be a discernible drop of temperature between sunny and shaded areas, so seek out the shade when you’re outdoors. Find open green space. Avoid large areas of cement and asphalt which retain summer heat. Spend time in tree-studded green spaces when you’re outdoors when you can. Dress to be cool. Choose loose-fitting, light-colored, lightweight clothing to help you stay cool. Natural fabrics that breathe let the heat out; think cotton and linen, and stay away from synthetics. Wickaway fabrics, the kind of clothing usually worn when exercising is a good choice. Wear a hat. It’s amazing what a little shade can do to keep you cool. A hat or an umbrella is a good way to keep the sun’s rays away. Avoid getting a sunburn on your face Jump in the pool. Swimming is a refreshing way to stay and exercise at the same time. Just be sure to wear sunscreen to avoid getting burned. Eat right. Avoid heavy foods and opt for foods high in water content; fruits, salads, and soups are all good ideas. Foods can also be a great source of water to keep you hydrated and avoid headaches from the heat. What are your favorite ways to stay cool when you need to be out and about in the summer months? Please share with our apartment community in the comments! Thanks for checking out our blog post today.