Posts about Apartment Life

These Holiday Gifts Will Keep You Warm

Even though it still might be considered too early to go holiday shopping, we want you to keep these gift suggestions in mind for when the time comes to hit the stores. Take a moment to look at the following gifts, each which will keep you warm during these cold winter months. Heated Socks We know that $40 for a pair of socks is a lot of money, but these sound like they’re worth every penny. “The ActionHeat™ battery heated socks are the perfect blend of quality and comfort. ActionHeat™ battery heated apparel utilizes innovative technology designed to warm the core body temperature. These revolutionary garments feature built-in heating panels and are made with ActionFlex™ material that provides lightweight warmth, comfort and versatility.” Heated Computer Mouse “This item is designed as a hand warmer with computer mouse capabilities with low tracking and acceleration speeds. It is a novelty-priced item not to be compared with a high-priced computer mouse used for highly sensitive software engineering, drafting and design. Tested by our office staff, the heated mouse is for the average computer user.” The Pajamas Warming Pouch “This is the heated pouch that warms pajamas for cozy comfort. The pouch has integrated heating elements that reach 118º F and a thermal satin interior that retains heat, resulting in toasty warm pajamas in 10 minutes. The heating elements automatically maintain the temperature regardless of what's inside and the unit only draws 50 watts-less than most light bulbs. The 19" x 15 1/2" pouch also accommodates towels, hats, or gloves and it folds to half its size for convenient storage or travel. With a plush fleece exterior.” Bluetooth Beanie “It’s a hat with an integrated headset. It is functional, stylish and interesting. The idea is straightforward: it is often uncomfortable to use your smart phone in the cold or in a snowstorm, considering that you will have to remove your hand from a warm glove to experience a wide range of sensations. A hat with built-in speakers, a microphone and a pair of handy control buttons will solve the problem of frostbitten fingers once and for all.” Did you see something you like? We hope so. At Arrive South Loop, we hope that our residents have a wonderful holiday season. If you’re traveling away from your apartment during this month or next, travel safely. Most of all, stay warm in or out of Chicago, IL this winter.

Enjoy a Better Breakfast

In this post, we are celebrating our favorite (and the most important) meal of the day — breakfast. Take time to enhance your morning dining experience with the delicious recipes featured in this month’s blog post. Breakfast just got better in Chicago, IL, and it begins at your Arrive South Loop apartment! Easy Cronuts Recipe from Baking Beauty Cronuts are basically a lighter, fluffier version of your basic donut. Make these cronuts for a lazy breakfast on a Sunday morning. These cronuts can be made with refrigerated Pillsbury Uncut Crescent Sheets, vanilla pudding, powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and vegetable oil. Egg & Cheese Hash Brown Waffles from Yellow Bliss Road Switch up your regular waffle recipe and make this savory dish instead. Egg and cheese hash brown waffles are a delicious and unique treat. Make them with shredded potatoes, eggs, milk, sharp cheddar cheese, fresh chopped chives, salt, pepper, and sour cream. Cinnabons Cinnamon Rolls from Jo Cooks Save yourself a trip to your local Cinnabon or bakery and make your cinnamon rolls at home, instead. This recipe teaches you how to make the dough, the filling, and the cream cheese icing. You can make the cream cheese icing with butter (or margarine), powdered sugar, cream cheese, vanilla extract, and a little bit of salt. German Oven Pancake from The Recipe Critic German oven pancakes are light, fluffy and delicious (and a lot easier and quicker to make than a “regular” batch of pancakes). This simple recipe requires flour, eggs, milk, melted butter, sugar, and salt to make. Top it all off with drizzled chocolate, whipped cream, powdered sugar, fresh fruit, and buttery syrup. Very Berry Baked Oatmeal from Diethood This very berry baked oatmeal is the opposite of boring. Head to your local farmer’s market for the mixed berries needed to make this treat. Sweeten it up with honey, vanilla, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar. You’ll love this sweet, easy breakfast. What’s your favorite breakfast recipe? Where’s the best place to get pancakes near our Arrive South Loop apartment community? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

The Amenities of Arrive South Loop Apartments

Welcome back to the Arrive South Loop Blog! This month, we’re excited to focus on the quality amenities of our apartment community in Chicago, IL. To our residents, we want to thank you for your continued help and support with making our community a better and lively place. We hope to continue to provide a community that you’re happy to call your home. Take a moment to scroll through the following list of amenities to see if you have a friend or two who might also want to call this place home. If you have friends who are interested in applying for an apartment here, invite them to contact us today ! Apartment & Community Amenities Heated garage Short Term Lease Rooftop Tranquility Pool with Poolside BBQ Pets Allowed Rooftop Bark Park with Skyline Views 24-Hour Fitness Center with Free Weights Online Payments Available Concierge Services Disability Access Elevator Garage Freeway Access On-site Management On-site Maintenance Public Transportation Street Parking Sundeck 2 Blocks from Metra Train Kevo & Nest Smart Homes Accept Credit Card Payments Accepts Electronic Payments Bike Storage Available Controlled Access Community Rooftop Tranquility Pool Rooftop Bark Park Pressbox 24-Hour Dry Cleaning Lockers Parcel Pending 24-Hour Package Lockers Stone Countertops Kitchen Islands with Double Sinks Large Closets Washer/Dryer City Views Stylish Bathrooms with Tile & Marble Accents Disposal Additional Storage Balcony Courtyard Dishwasher Individual Climate Control Refrigerator Wheelchair Accessible Tile Floors Gas Ranges & Built-in Microwaves Walk-in Closets with Ample Shelves 10-Foot Ceilings A Little More Information About Us: Professionally managed by Trinity Property Consultants , our team is focused on providing a positive living experience. Our management upholds these governing values: Integrity, Innovation, Communication, Accountability, Excellence, and Loyalty. Here’s a little more information on those as found by visiting the above link: “We require that all team members conduct themselves with integrity, honesty and fairness. We do not compromise our character. We are honorable in all our dealings with residents, team members, investors and industry partners. We treat others as we would like to be treated; with respect and dignity. “...We are committed to open communication to foster an atmosphere that is free of discrimination or harassment of any kind and where differences are respected and valued. We communicate effectively and professionally with our residents, team members, investors and industry partners; returning correspondences quickly and asking for help when necessary.” Thanks for reading! We hope you have a great month. Share your favorite amenity in the comments below.

Movie Night in May

This month, we’re featuring a few of our favorite classic movies and a few tips to help you hold the perfect movie night in your Chicago, IL apartment. We have the movies, snacks, and decoration recommendations you need to make your movie night special. Learn how to throw a classic movie night in your Arrive South Loop apartment today! Movie Recommendations It Happened One Night (1934) “In Frank Capra's acclaimed romantic comedy, spoiled heiress Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) impetuously marries the scheming King Westley, leading her tycoon father (Walter Connolly) to spirit her away on his yacht. After jumping ship, Ellie falls in with cynical newspaper reporter Peter Warne (Clark Gable), who offers to help her reunite with her new husband in exchange for an exclusive story. But during their travels, the reporter finds himself falling for the feisty young heiress.” Casablanca (1942) “If we identify strongly with the characters in some movies, then it is no mystery that ‘Casablanca’ is one of the most popular films ever made. It is about a man and a woman who are in love, and who sacrifice love for a higher purpose. This is immensely appealing; the viewer is not only able to imagine winning the love of Humphrey Bogart or Ingrid Bergman, but unselfishly renouncing it, as a contribution to the great cause of defeating the Nazis.” Movie Snacks No movie night is complete without a good movie snack. Bring out the popcorn, soda, ice cream, and drinks! Include a sweets bar for your guests to snack on during the movie. We recommend laying out cupcakes, caramel corn, brownies, and a sundae bar for your guests. We really love these salted caramel brownies from Something Swanky. Use butter, semi-sweet chocolate, sugar, eggs, flour, cocoa powder, salt, and semi-sweet chocolate chips to make the brownies. Top it all off with your favorite caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought) and a sprinkle of sea salt. Serve these brownies up with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Movie Decorations Decorate your Chicago, IL apartment with a red carpet, twinkling lights, and your favorite classic movie posters for your movie night. Have your friends dress up as their favorite classic movie characters and furnish your apartment with a “Now Playing” sign displaying the name of the movie you’ll be watching. What’s your favorite classic movie? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Books to Read this Month

It’s time to take a look inside a book! Solve a mystery, make new friends, or go on an adventure with the book recommendations we’ve included below. There’s nothing quite as relaxing as kicking back in your Arrive South Loop apartment while diving into a world far away from our community in Chicago, Illinois. Here are a few books we’ve heard great things about: Exit West: A Novel “In a country teetering on the brink of civil war, two young people meet—sensual, fiercely independent Nadia and gentle, restrained Saeed. They embark on a furtive love affair, and are soon cloistered in a premature intimacy by the unrest roiling their city. When it explodes, turning familiar streets into a patchwork of checkpoints and bomb blasts, they begin to hear whispers about doors—doors that can whisk people far away, if perilously and for a price. As the violence escalates, Nadia and Saeed decide that they no longer have a choice. Leaving their homeland and their old lives behind, they find a door and step through. . . .” Little Fires Everywhere “Little Fires Everywhere explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, and the ferocious pull of motherhood – and the danger of believing that following the rules can avert disaster.” Forest Dark : A Novel “Bursting with life and humor, Forest Dark is a profound, mesmerizing novel of metamorphosis and self-realization—of looking beyond all that is visible towards the infinite.” The Golden House: A Novel “Set against the strange and exuberant backdrop of current American culture and politics, The Golden House [marks] Salman Rushdie’s triumphant and exciting return to realism. The result is a modern epic of love and terrorism, loss and reinvention—a powerful, timely story told with the daring and panache that make Salman Rushdie a force of light in our dark new age.” New People “Heartbreaking and darkly comic, New People is a bold and unfettered page-turner that challenges our every assumption about how we define one another, and ourselves.” Are you currently reading a book? Share the title in a comment below. Thanks for reading!

Declutter Your Apartment With Our Scavenger Hunt

Time tends to pass by so quickly that we get used to certain things that are just lying around the apartment. At Arrive South Loop, we want to help you declutter your living space and get rid of some of those items. We’ve put together a sort of scavenger hunt so that you know what items you might be able to get rid of. Maybe you can even donate them. Keep reading and see if you can find the most items on the list in your Chicago, IL apartment! Bathroom bottles. Do you own a product in your bathroom that you no longer use? Perhaps it didn’t quite work for your hair, yet it still sits on the shelf or in the bath. Books. Do you own a book that you could never finish? Maybe you have a book that you absolutely love. Whatever the case is, you can donate the first and pass on the second. If it’s a book that you fell in love with, then letting a friend read it so you can discuss it is a great way to get rid of the item while not completely losing it. Clothes. Do you own any clothes that no longer fit, that are old and worn, or that you haven’t worn for years? Maybe that shirt never really “worked” for you like it did in the store, yet you’ve held onto it for all this time. Phone chargers. Do you own a bunch of phone chargers from previous phones that you’ve owned? Have you ever thought of getting rid of them? The same goes for old mobile devices. Multiple items. Is there anything that you own more than one of? If you do, think to yourself if you really need that many. Past hobby remains. Do you have a bunch of things from hobbies of past years? Things in this category can take up a lot of space! Damaged items. Do you own dishes that are cracked or something that is damaged while not completely broken? You might want to think of getting rid of those items. Loved but once. Is there something in your apartment that you bought years ago, used once, and then never looked at it again? Expired food. Check your pantry, food storage, and emergency kits for any expired foods. Movies. Do you own any movies that you know you’ll never watch ever again? Kitchen supplies. How many potato mashers does one really need? Menus. Many take-out menus can be found online, so there’s really no need to keep all that paper! Expired medication. See these guidelines for the disposing of unused medicines . How much did you declutter from your apartment here in Chicago, IL with our scavenger hunt? Let us know what you finally got rid of in the comments below. Thanks for reading!