Blog Posts

Conquering Laundry Day at West End

At Arrive West End, we are pleased to provide a wonderful array of amenities for our apartment community, including in-apartment, full size washers and dryers. Gone are the days of driving all over Dallas, TX looking for an open, clean, affordable laundromat to do laundry! Today we have some tips to help laundry day go more smoothly. Pre-treat your items. This is a given, but it’s easy to dismiss as unimportant. But you don’t have to bear with a stain staying around on a forever-ruined piece of clothing if you treat the stain as soon as possible. First, remove the foreign substance. Then wipe or dab at the stain with a cloth soaked in cold water. Then wash with soap or a stain remover, including an option from this Stain Solutions Guide . Load strategically. Keep your things sorted by sorting as you go, day by day, and washing according to the directions on the tags. Make it easier to remember what goes together by keeping a whiteboard by your washer. As you load, make notes of anything that can’t go in the dryer so it’s easier to pull the items out when you switch loads. Use mesh bags. We all know the struggle of losing socks. Avoid the problem entirely by collecting your socks in a mesh bag (one per person you’re doing laundry for, if you’re doing it for others besides yourself) and tossing the bag in the washer when it’s full. You can also use mesh bags for holding other miscellaneous items, such as stuffed animals. Do laundry more frequently. Sometimes the pile of dirty clothes is so overwhelming that it makes laundry day a nightmare. Dividing up the laundry during the week can make laundry day less stressful and much faster. If you’re having trouble getting all of your laundry done, try mixing up your routine by spreading out the chore throughout the week. You might be surprised by the result. What other tips do you have for making laundry less stressful? Share your ideas with the rest of us by leaving a comment below.

Plan a Picnic in the Park

May is beautiful here in Dallas, TX! Plan a picnic this month before it’s too hot to be out and about. The Arrive West End Blog is here to help you celebrate with picnic tips and recipe suggestions for your next picnic. Picnic Tips Choose a time and place. Before you start packing your picnic basket, have an idea for the setting. Check the weather forecast to see if it’s picnic-worthy, then choose a place to enjoy. Local parks are great spots because they’re free to the public and they usually have benches, picnic tables, and plenty of grass for you to settle down on. Be sure to pack other picnic necessities! While food and quality time may be the focus of your picnic, be sure to think about all the other details that will make it go smoothly. If you’re going to be picnicking on grass, bring a few blankets to sit on. Also pack dishes, napkins, trash bags, bug repellent, and anything else you think you might need. Bustle has a great infographic for making the ultimate picnic experience that gives you important pointers to keep in mind. Plan some activities to pass the time while you’re on your picnic. Bring along a deck of cards, a frisbee, or a softball from your apartment to use. Having an activity will keep the fun going. Food Appetizer: Individual Seven Layer Dips from The Girl Who Ate Everything — The main thing to keep in mind when you’re putting a picnic together is to make sure you’re packing picnic-basket friendly food. Bean dip can be difficult to transport from place to place — it’s messy, it gets everywhere, and it often needs to be carried in a heavy glass or metal dish. These Individual Seven Layer Dips are pretty straightforward to make and easy to transport. Side: Cilantro-Lime Orzo Pasta Salad from The Stay At Home Chef — This Cilantro-Lime Orzo Pasta Salad looks fancy, tastes great, and only takes fifteen minutes to make. If you want a simple recipe that will impress your friends, this is the side to try. Entrée: Turkey Ranch Club Wraps from Life in the Lofthouse — Turkey Ranch Club Wraps are the perfect main dish for your next picnic.Yes, this is a classic, but there’s nothing wrong with sticking with a recipe you know your friends will love. Snack: Greek Salad Skewers from Little Broken — These Greek Salad Skewers are light and flavorful, and you won’t mind interrupting your frisbee game for a taste. Dessert: Strawberry Brownie Skewers from One Little Project — Strawberry Brownie Skewers are easy to make. You can even add a little excitement to the skewer and toast the marshmallows if you’re picnicking near a fire pit or outdoor grill. We hope that you’ve enjoyed our suggestions. What are your favorite summer picnic recipes? Let us know in the comments!

Spruce Up Your Arrive West End Balcony or Patio for Spring

Standing under the balcony voicing your undying love may not be your style, but Romeo and Juliet have nothing over you when it comes to using your private balcony or patio at Arrive West End. Our balconies and patios are just one of the amenities we provide for members of our apartment community. In today’s post we have ideas about how to make the best use of the space. Besides taking a few minutes out for a relaxing drink after work, your balcony can be an oasis amid the Texas sunshine. Spruce Up Your Arrive West End Balcony or Patio — Comfortable seating is a must. Choose something that reflects your personality. A couple of deck chairs, a glider rocker, a wicker seat, or some repurposed furniture piled high with colorful cushions can do the trick. Be creative and choose something you love. — Add plants. Greenery intensifies the feeling of being outdoors, and if placed strategically, plants can also screen balconies or patios, adding a touch of privacy. — Add color. Colors can affect our mood. Depending on the colors you use, your balcony or patio may be high or low in energy. Fabrics, flowers, and objects can have a dual function to add both color and texture. Textures can also be added by using braided rugs, bamboo shades, or wicker furniture. Adding cushions is an easy way to add splashes of color and texture to your seating area. — Decorate. Use the wall of your balcony or patio to display items you wouldn’t necessarily hang inside. How about a kite collection to add a splash of color, or your favorite fishing rod and net for a bit of texture and an aspect of storytelling? Colorful tapestries to create a focal point on a balcony wall, too. Add a string of lights to create ambiance for evening enjoyment on your patio. Balconies are of course the perfect place to steal a kiss! So turn your balcony into an inviting place where you can share a moment with that special someone — or barring that, a place to enjoy a drink and a book in privacy. We hope you enjoy these and any other ideas you come up with this month. Thanks for reading today’s post.

Celebrating the Month of March at Arrive West End

The Arrive West End Blog is ready to welcome the month of March; not only is it officially spring, here in Dallas, TX according to the calendar, it is also a month with several celebrations coming up including Johnny Appleseed Day (3/11), Pi Day (3/14), the Ides of March (3/15) and of course, St. Patrick’s Day (3/17). It’s a week full of activity and we’ve got some ideas to help you make the most of it. Johnny Appleseed Day Choose the day you want to celebrate, March 11th or Sept. 26th. It’s a toss-up according to those who care; some call for celebration on his birth date, Sept. 26th, and some on his alleged death date, March 11th. John Chapman was the real-life Johnny Appleseed who lived in the American Midwest. He was an eccentric frontier man who made it his life’s work to establish orchards throughout the area and some are still around today. Whichever day you celebrate, raise a glass of apple cider in his honor. Pi Day 3.14 is, of course, the truncated number π. It is the mathematical constant, the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, which is approximately equal to 3.14159, which goes on to infinity and beyond. We take the first three digits, 3.14, and read them as a date: Pi Day, March 14th. We suggest celebrating with a slice of pie, and to help you out, we found this site with fifty! Yes, fifty types of pies . That’s enough pie recipes for a party at your apartment! The Ides of March Watch Julius Caesar, wherein the phrase, “Beware the Ides of March” became famous, immortalizing the assassination of Caesar on March 15th. There are a variety of movie versions to choose from. Learn more about the history of the Ides of March from History.com. St. Patrick’s Day The Patron Saint of Ireland, St. Patrick was an Englishman, and you’d be hard-pressed to find green beer in an Irish pub — a couple of interesting facts about the holiday. Check out this History.com article to learn the history behind this widely celebrated Irish/American holiday which includes turning the White House fountain green. What holidays are you celebrating this month? Do you have any special recipes or activities planned? Share in the comments so we can all learn more ways to celebrate March. Thanks for reading today’s blog post.

New Movie Suggestions From Your Dallas Apartment

This month, the Arrive West End Blog is bringing residents of our Dallas, TX apartments new movies to check out this month like Early Man, Winchester, The 15:17 to Paris, and Annihilation. Read on to learn more about these movies in today's blog post. New Movie Suggestions Early Man “Set at the dawn of time, when prehistoric creatures roamed the earth, Early Man tells the story of courageous caveman Dug (Eddie Redmayne) and his best friend Hognob as they unite his tribe against a mighty enemy Lord Nooth (Tom Hiddleston) and his Bronze Age City to save their home.” Winchester “On an isolated stretch of land 50 miles outside of San Francisco sits the most haunted house in the world. Built by Sarah Winchester, (Helen Mirren) heiress to the Winchester fortune, it is a house that knows no end. Constructed in an incessant twenty-four hour a day, seven day a week mania for decades, it stands seven stories tall and contains hundreds of rooms. To the outsider it looks like a monstrous monument to a disturbed woman’s madness. But Sarah is not building for herself, for her niece (Sarah Snook) or for the brilliant Doctor Eric Price (Jason Clarke) whom she has summoned to the house. She is building a prison, an asylum for hundreds of vengeful ghosts, and the most terrifying among them have a score to settle with the Winchesters.” The 15:17 to Paris “In the early evening of August 21, 2015, the world watched in stunned silence as the media reported a thwarted terrorist attack on Thalys train #9364 bound for Paris—an attempt prevented by three courageous young Americans traveling through Europe. The film follows the course of the friends’ lives, from the struggles of childhood through finding their footing in life, to the series of unlikely events leading up to the attack. Throughout the harrowing ordeal, their friendship never wavers, making it their greatest weapon and allowing them to save the lives of the more than 500 passengers on board.” Annihilation “A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition where the laws of nature don't apply.” Buy your tickets today for a great weekend.

Ideas for Houseplant Appreciation Day

Being in nature can put you in a calm and relaxed mood. Bring that feeling indoors by incorporating greenery into your home decor! In this post, the Arrive West End Blog is sharing some tips on keeping plants indoors with residents of our Dallas, TX apartments. Plus we have some local places, with information from their respective websites, where you can get plants in honor of Houseplant Appreciation Day on Wednesday, January 10. So check out Vickery Wholesale Greenhouse, Redenta's Garden Shop, and Ruibal's Plants of Texas. Read on to learn more about these shops in today's blog post. Houseplant Suggestions These are some plants you may want to consider for your apartment: Arabian Jasmine This beautiful plant not only thrives in conditions abundant in humidity and light, but it’s also useful if you drink jasmine tea. Better Homes and Gardens points out that their starry, pure white flowers also produce a soft fragrance to grace your apartment. Plant this indoors near a window or on the patio in a spot where it can be protected from drafts. Water and feed it regularly. Potted Blue Spruce Whether you want to raise this Colorado blue spruce into a mini winter holiday tree or you simply like the look of it, add this to your balcony to let it get full sunlight, and put a sponge over the drainage hole to keep in the moisture. Pothos This iconic plant is great to keep indoors. It’s easy to care for, and it does well in a range of environments — the color of the leaves do dim if left in low light — and even in nutrient-rich or poor soils. Plant it in a hanging basket or use as a climbing plant on your balcony. Just trim the stems back a little once they get too long. They can grow up to eight feet or longer! Caring For Plants Some plants can be easier to take care of than others. It’s important to learn about the plants you have and determine what they need to stay alive and healthy. Determine how much water and sunlight they need and what type of soil to use when potting them. Having that information can save your plants. You can also find some general indicators about what your plant needs based on its appearance. Local Merchants Vickery Wholesale Greenhouse — About 11 minutes from Arrive West End Vickery Wholesale Greenhouse is the largest wholesale provider of indoor and patio plants, orchids, bromeliads, poinsettias, and Easter lilies in Texas! Take a look around. You won't find anything else like Vickery Wholesale Greenhouse. Redenta's Garden Shop — About 14 minutes from Arrive West End The mission of the shops is to provide a wide and unique assortment of plants, concentrating on perennials, herbs and old roses as well as a selection of hard-to-find annuals, shrubs and trees, especially native and well-adapted plants. Redenta’s is committed to a natural and sustainable approach to gardening and is 100% organic offering soil amendments and organic solutions to common garden problems. Ruth has also searched the world for unique garden accents and gifts. Ruibal's Plants of Texas — About a 7-minute drive from Arrive West End. Houseplant Appreciation Day is coming up on Wednesday, January 10. Make plans now to be a part of the fun! From locally grown bedding plants and perennials to pottery, statuary, planting services, deliveries and now even produce, we’re here to help. How do you plan on celebrating Houseplant Appreciation Day? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!