Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Aurora Apartment

Spring has sprung! Soon you will be spending more time outdoors, but until that time, why not give your Aurora apartment a deep cleaning?

Bring Some Spring Inside 

Who doesn’t love the smell of lilac? You can have your Aurora apartment smelling like a spring breeze with this DIY lilac room spray recipe, which is made with water, vodka, and lilac oil.

Eco-Friendly Bathroom Cleaner

Cleaning out your apartment’s bathtub with a commercial cleaner can leave behind traces of chemicals. It is also hard on your skin. Try using grapefruit and salt for a natural bathroom cleaner.

Clean Your Showerhead

You assume that when you take a shower, you are being sprayed with clean water. But did you know that a showerhead becomes clogged with mineral deposits? To deep clean it, fill a plastic bag with undiluted white vinegar and place the bag over the showerhead so it is submerged; secure and seal the bag with a rubber band. Soak overnight and then gently scrub the face of the showerhead with a toothbrush.

 Dust Free Sweeping

Spring is the perfect time to move furniture and do some deep dusting. One trick to keep your apartment dust free is to spray a small amount of water into the basin of the dustpan. The dirt will stick to the pan, making clean up, dust free.

Sparkling Clean Faucets

If you have mineral deposits or soap scum on your faucets, this easy DIY cleaning trick will get them clean and sparkling again. Simply, take a clean cloth and wrap it around the faucets and pour vinegar on top. Leave the solution on the faucets for about an hour then gently clean it with a soft toothbrush. Once the faucets are cleaned, rinse it and wipe it with a dry cloth.

These easy and eco-friendly spring cleaning tips to clean your apartment at Kirkland Crossings, leaving you more time to get out and enjoy Aurora.

Ideas to Make Your Apartment Cozy

aurora apartmentWinter is in full swing, meaning shorter days, frosty mornings and cold weather.  It also means spending more time in your Kirkland Crossing apartment.

These home decorating tips will make your Aurora apartment cozy this winter. You might even find it so cozy; you will wish that Old Man Winter could stay a little longer. 

Cozy Candles

Cozy fires and flickering candles are the essence of winter coziness. Few things can add a sense of warmth to your apartment like candles. Stock up on candles in a range of heights to create a soothing, cozy, and warm feeling. 

Cozy and Warm Rugs

Adding a warm and cozy rug will add comfort and will keep your toes warm. Choose a thick pile shag rug, a faux fur rug to add coziness to any room in your Aurora apartment. 

Pillows and Cozy Blankets

Add soft and plush pillows and throws to your favorite chair or bed. They will add a pop of color and warmth to any room. Cozy blankets in soft fabrics like chenille, knit, velvet, and fleece. These blankets at Kohl’s are the perfect antidote to a cold winter day. 

Bring in Nature

Are you missing the days of hiking and enjoying nature? Bring the outdoors inside with easy and cozy home décor ideas. You can add sticks to a large floor vase or a grape vine wreath to add instant warmth. 

Wood Furniture

You may think that only plush, soft home décor pieces and furniture will make your apartment cozier, but wood is a great way to add comfort to your home. These used furniture stores near your Aurora apartment offer some unique wood furniture and other items. 

These cozy home decorating tips will help you weather the winter months in the comfort of your own apartment. 

 

5 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Aurora Apartment

aurora apartmentEvery year, the New Year arrives, bursting with hope and possibilities. Now that 2021 has rolled around, you have likely vowed to lose weight, save money, take a class, read a book or exercise more. While you are making resolutions, why not resolve to make your Aurora apartment a bit more comfortable, better organized, or brighter by following these 5 New Year’s resolutions for your home. 

Cut Down the Use of Energy

Replace light bulbs with energy-efficient LED lights. Remember to turn off lights when you are not using them and turn off the tap when you are brushing your teeth. Not only will you contribute to making a better planet, but you will also cut down on your monthly bills.

Organize Your Apartment

What better way to start off a new year than by clearing out and organizing your apartment? Start by decluttering. Next, purchase containers, shelving, and other products that will help you keep your New Year’s resolution of organizing your apartment.

Keep Your Apartment Clean this Year

Everybody loves living in a clean apartment, but most of us dread the act of cleaning. Coming up with a solid plan to keep your Aurora apartment clean could be the best thing you do all year. Come up with a daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal plan to keep your apartment clean.

Make Your Apartment More Welcoming

Many of us are spending more time in our homes, so why not make it a bit more welcoming. Start with your living room by adding a few bright cushions or placing a new rug on the floor. Change or purchase new bed linens and rearrange the furniture. All of these are easy and affordable ways to make your apartment more comfortable and welcoming.

Add Some Plants to Your Aurora Apartment

Winter in Aurora can seem long, adding a houseplant to your apartment can add harmony and energy. Jade trees, peace lilies, spider plants, and fig trees are good options! You can also purchase an herb growing kit or amaryllis and watch them grow!

Since a home is where the heart is, including resolutions that make your Kirkland Crossing apartment brighter and more welcoming are great New Year’s Resolutions to keep.

 

Celebrating the Holidays in Aurora

Holidays in AuroraThe holidays in Aurora will likely be a bit different this year, but that does not mean they can’t be as joyful. Here are some ways to make your holiday merry and bright this year.

Cook a Holiday Meal in your Aurora Apartment

Holidays at home provide the perfect opportunity to bake and cook new or traditional holiday dishes. These vintage holiday recipes are a great way to celebrate the holidays in Aurora and will remind you of simpler times. 

Fill your apartment with the smell of gingerbread cookies. Use your favorite recipe or use this popular recipe from Food.com. 

Decorate your Aurora Apartment for the Holidays

One way to get in the holiday spirit is by decorating your apartment. Go all out and fill every room with holiday decor, or simply hang a wreath on your doorway and add some twinkling white lights. 

Whether decorating for ChristmasPassover, or any other holiday, there are plenty of decorating ideas you can find online.

Watch Holiday Movies

There is nothing quite like a holiday movie to get you in the holiday spirit. Holiday classics like Rudolph, Elf, Frosty, Miracle on 42nd Street will surely brighten your holidays. You can also use one of the many 

streaming services or online for lists of popular movies that go with whatever holiday you’re celebrating.

Look for Local Activities or Light Displays

There are several activities and holiday displays to explore near your apartment at Kirkland’s Crossing. From neighborhood light displays with animated characters, and music, to Wild Lanterns at the Woodland Zoo, and virtual performances and visits from Santa, here is a list of the BEST ways to celebrate the holidays in (and around) Aurora. Please check the websites to make certain that all events are still taking place.

Holiday Display Scavenger Hunt

Go for a ride near your Aurora apartment and hold a scavenger hunt with a special prize for the winner. Some items you can look for include:

  • Reindeer
  • Stars
  • Snowmen
  • Santa
  • Holiday Train
  • Elf
  • Candy Canes
  • Snoopy Character

Keep your holidays cheery and bright with these great stay-at-home and safe ways to celebrate the holidays in Aurora.

Safe Ways to Spend Thanksgiving in Aurora

Thanksgiving in AuroraThanksgiving in Auruora is usually the time of year where family and friends come together to celebrate all that we are thankful for.  With the pandemic still affecting how we gather this year one of our favorite holidays may look a little different this year. 

If you are looking for a way to downscale this Thanksgiving holiday here are five ideas for celebrating Thanksgiving in Aurora this year.

Host a Pot Luck

Invite a few friends or family over for a Thanksgiving pot luck. Be certain to assign a variety of dishes from appetizers, to sides, and dessert. Use decorative paper plates, napkins, and silverware to make the task of cleaning easier and the need for multiple people in the kitchen at a minimum.

Thanksgiving Take Out

Cringing at the thought of cooking Thanksgiving dinner in your Kirkland Crossing apartment? Then order take-out. Your local supermarket has many offerings from completely pre-cooked meals, side dishes, and more. 

You can also order a turkey online from William-Sonoma or Harry and David.

Celebrate the Holiday with Family and Friends via Zoom

Just because family and friends can’t gather like they usually do, doesn’t mean you can’t be together. There are a lot of online options to celebrate a virtual Thanksgiving. 

Set a time to eat and have a Zoom meal together! Swap family recipes and make a toast or share what you are thankful for! 

Don’t forget the Thanksgiving photo. Do a Zoom selfie of the entire gang!

Take a Walk

These walking trails near your Aurora apartment are the perfect way to walk off that turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy calories.

Take a Nap 

The tryptophan in turkey makes you tired, so a nice nap on Thanksgiving Day in your Aurora apartment is another way to keep up your Thanksgiving traditions.

Celebrate Thanksgiving in Aurora with these slightly different holiday traditions!

 

Celebrate Halloween in Aurora

Halloween in AuroraCelebrating Halloween in Aurora can be tricky this year, but with a bit of creativity, you can have a fun and safe Halloween. These fun ideas will get you in the spirit.

Make Your Own Treat Bag

If your trick-or-treaters can’t go door to door this year, give them a boo bag instead. Have the whole family gather to decorate their bag. Have them leave the bag out at night and fill it up with treats while they sleep to open on Halloween day.

Host a Remote Pumpkin Carving Contest

Use Zoom to call friends and family and have each member carve up a pumpkin or present a pumpkin they have carved prior to the party. Have everyone vote for the best pumpkin, then treat the winner to a gift card or send them a treat bag.

Play Spooktacular Games

Bring out the game clue or try some fun Halloween games at your Aurora apartment. Dangle donuts on a string to see who can eat one without using their hands. Alternatively, you can try a marshmallow-ghost toss by throwing marshmallows into different sized bowls for points.

Go on a Halloween Walk

There is something fun about going for a walk on All Hallows’ Eve. Bundle up, bring glow sticks or flashlights and enjoy the crunch of leaves under your feet or the brightly decorated homes in your neighborhood.

Decorate Your Apartment

Decorate your apartment at Kirkland Crossing in Aurora with Halloween themed pillows. You can also add stretchy cobwebs to mantels, doorways, and shelves. Pipe cleaners make spooky spiders and candy corn in a glass container adds whimsy. A grape vine wreath painted black is the perfect backdrop for white ghosts made of construction paper.

These fun tips and ideas will make celebrating Halloween in Aurora a memorable and Spooktacular experience. Watch out for ghosts and goblins! Boo!

 

How to Have a Healthy Mind and Body at Home

Luxury apartment living is cozy, comfortable, and fun! However, it’s important to keep a healthy body and mind while staying at home. Here are some ways to stay healthy in Aurora from your apartment here at Kirkland Crossing

 

Making Better Meals

 

Food is the fuel your body needs to keep going. All food provides that essential energy, but there are ways to maximize nutrient intake without having to adhere to a strict diet regimen. Fruits and veggies offer a powerhouse of essential vitamins and minerals. And luckily, they’re easy to hide in foods you already love! Try blending a few scoops of green-based protein into your morning fruit smoothie for breakfast, and puree veggies like spinach and leeks into your favorite soups and sauces. Check out this list for more ideas on how to eat healthy at home!

 

Incorporate At-Home Exercise

 

Another way to boost your energy is to get moving! There are a ton of workout routines you can do from the comfort of home, even without equipment. To better motivate you, pick a part of your body you want to target and create a workout schedule from there. This how-to guide offers a great resource on how to make your own exercise plan from scratch. Use this tool to maneuver your fitness goals to fit!

 

Prioritize Mental Fitness

 

Eating better and staying active are goals that can be difficult to accomplish if your mind isn’t motivated first. Mental health should be prioritized as much as, if not more, than the two. Chances are, there are simple changes you can make in your life that can improve your mental fitness. Remember to get a good night’s rest so you can start every day feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world! These apps centered on better rest and meditation can help train you to sleep for those recommended seven hours. Best of all? Many of these are free to download!

 

Reaching your health and fitness goals doesn’t have to equate to making huge lifestyle changes. With small, meaningful tweaks to your current habits, your mind and body will thank you in the long run!

Smart Tips for Tackling Back to School

School supplies for the prospective student

Whether you have kids in school or are a student yourself, the fall session is just around the corner. Knowing which studying tips work for you is necessary for making the grade! Here are some ways to make sure you’re prepared for anything when returning to school.

Staying on Top of Studying & Homework

Let’s face it, endless lectures for a large chunk of the day can tire someone out. Once the drudgery of a school day is over, it’s no surprise: students will nap, play video games, and generally avoid homework until the last possible minute. Going in with a homework plan for the school week can help to hold you accountable for finishing those assignments! If you’re a parent of a child in school, sit down with them on Sunday before class the next morning and help create a schedule for them. Providing a set timeframe for homework, such as starting assignments an hour after the school day, will allow for time to decompress from class while creating a routine. If you’re in college, consider getting a customizable planner to pencil in your study sessions throughout the week. After that, let a close friend in on your schedule to help you stay on top. Better yet, become a dynamic duo and uphold great studying tips together!

The Best in Modern School Supplies

Whether in the physical classroom or online courses, students are going to need the best school supplies to tackle the day. If you do most of your schoolwork on your laptop, be sure to grab a pair of high-quality wireless earbuds. Going wireless also allows for ease of movement while you work. This pastel blue pair will be a lifesaver during those extra-long courses! And for elementary school and college-level students alike, check out Smencils. These pencils offer a sustainable option in school supplies; they’re made from recycled newspaper and come in recyclable packaging. Plus, Smencils come in delightful scents like bubble gum and root beer! They’re sure to put a smile on your face when you’re working on that math assignment.

Putting the “Home” in Homework

Part of finding the right place to study is being in an environment that helps, not hinders, your focus. If it’s difficult for you or your child to study at home in their room, try moving the home office to a new location! Here at The Apartments at Kirkland Crossing, there are a number of peaceful places to sit and work in peace. The courtyard area offers fresh air and private seating, perfect for getting those textbook chapters in. Need wifi access? Kirkland Crossing’s business center provides more traditional office space for study sessions. 

National Ice Cream Month: How to Celebrate!

Ice Cream, DIY Ice Cream, At-Home Ice Cream, Ice Cream Month, Ice Cream in Aurora

You look like you deserve a treat. At the end of every busy day, nothing hits the spot quite like a sweet serving of ice cream. This National Ice Cream Month, we celebrate the simple pleasure that is ice cream, and all its varied forms. Read on for the full scoop on this timeless and toothsome dessert!

Ice Cream Types for Every Taste

When you think of ice cream, different pictures may come to mind. Of course, we’re all very familiar with its most famous form: sweetened dairy milk or cream frozen and churned to creamy perfection. But there are different types of sweet goodness for every taste palate! Gelato ups the richness of standard ice cream with the addition of eggs to the mix. Sorbet omits milk altogether and is made up of sweetened water flavored with juices, honey, or other flavor-filled ingredients. And frozen yogurt is sweetened and flavored yogurt, which is lower-fat than ice cream and provides active cultures that are great for healthy digestion. No matter your dietary restrictions, there’s a frozen treat out there for you!

Customize Your Own At-Home Ice Cream

Even with all these types of ice creams available at your average grocery, there’s joy in creating your own frozen treat. If you’re feeling crafty, you can DIY ice cream here at home! Kids and children at heart will love this simple recipe you can make in the kitchen with ease. This Delish recipe is a great starter that you can customize to your heart’s content. Consider adding fun flavor bombs like caramel and chocolate syrup to dress up your at-home ice cream, or a few edible flowers for an Instagram-worthy serving. The options are endless!

Enjoy Local Ice Cream in Aurora, IL

As a new resident of The Apartments at Kirkland Crossing, you’ve joined a vibrant community that has a sweet spot for ice cream too! Aurora, IL has a ton of creameries to explore. Batavia Creamery here in town has operated since 2006 and rotates over 150 amazing ice cream flavors. And with ice cream cakes and tasty smoothies also on the menu, Batavia is sure to satisfy your sugar cravings. Check out their Facebook page for the latest menu updates and store operating hours. 

We hope you celebrate National Ice Cream Month with a smile! What frozen treat are you planning to eat this month? Let us know in the comments!

Transforming Your Space With Trending Apartment Decor

Trending Apartment Decor, Summer Decor, Trendy Decor, Apartment Decor, Minimal Decor

Loving where you live starts with feeling comfortable in your space. As a new resident of The Apartments at Kirkland Crossing, you have the freedom to reorganize and redecorate your space with the furnishings that fit your unique style choices. Here are some suggestions on how to incorporate trending apartment decor into every room of your home!

 

Minimal Decor to Create Calm

 

One design trend that never seems to go out of style is modern minimal. Minimal decor provides a classic and clean look to any room and goes with almost any type of architecture. If you’re a fan of simple lines, geometric patterns, and the perfect mix of form and function, minimal decor may be the right pick for you. Check out this helpful article to learn how you can include this type of trendy decor into your space!

 

Summer Decor to Invite Fun

 

We enter the season of summer in June, and that means longer, sunnier, and brighter days are ahead. Capture the good feelings that summertime brings with furnishings that fit the season! Summer decor can be made up of pops of color, nautical-themed statement pieces, and natural textures like wood and jute. Need some more inspo? This listicle helps break down where to add summer decor to your spaces.

 

Get Trendy Decor Delivered

 

Now more than ever is it easy to get trending apartment decor delivered straight to your door. Online shopping provides the opportunity to pick and ship your favorite furnishings, all without having to leave your home. For the modern minimal decor fan, check out All Modern. It’s a one-stop-shop for stark decor, like this eye-catching wall decor piece. And for summer decor stans, Etsy is the best place to go for seasonally crafted accouterments. These citrus-themed coasters, for example, are too cute to pass up!

 

With some trendy decor, your apartment here at Kirkland Crossing will be completely transformed for the better! How are you planning on redecorating your space? Let us know in the comments!