Start By Making a List of People and Events You Need to Shop For

The first step to preparing a holiday shopping list is to create a list for the people and events you need to shop for. This may include family members, friends, neighbors and those you tip or provide gifts to during the holiday season, such as your hairdresser and mailman. Also create a list for the different events you need to shop for, including holiday meals and holiday parties.

Set a Budget

Once you have a list of who and what you need to shop for, try to set a budget for each person or event. For example, you may set a budget for $200 for a holiday meal and $20 for a gift for your child's teacher. Setting a budget for each person helps you stick to an overall holiday budget without going over.

Think About a Couple of Ideas for Each Person

Once you know exactly who you need to shop for and how much you have to spend on each person, think about a couple of ideas that you can buy for that person. Having a couple of ideas is great in case you cannot find something you are looking for. It also helps to prevent you from making a hurried decision in a store when it comes time to actually buy a gift.

Try to Simplify Your List By Picking Up Multiple Gifts at One Location

Finally, try to simplify your shopping by picking up multiple gifts at one location. For example, if you are at a toy store, go through your list and see who you need to buy toys for. Picking up all of your toy purchases at one location prevents you from running around from store to store.

Creating a holiday shopping list may be one of the things that you need to get done during the holiday season. If you are planning on moving soon, you may also be on the search for apartments in Raleigh, North Carolina. Here at The Tribute, our apartment homes can check off the boxes that you have on your apartment wish list. Visit us today to tour our property.

The post Tips to Help You Prepare a Holiday Shopping List appeared first on The Tribute Blog.

Have a Small New Year’s Get-Together

Family and friends can gather in your apartment for a quiet New Year’s Eve dinner or partake in a feast over football on New Year’s Day. Utilize the entertainment-friendly floor plan to lay out a spread, and be sure to share the beautiful views from your private balcony. There will likely be something fun going on in our elegant, two-storied community clubhouse, so feel free to join in or create an event all your own in this generous space. Be sure to contact our property management office to inquire about private bookings of the clubhouse.

Partake in Quiet Reflection for a Prosperous New Year

Amid the property is a centrally placed, lushly landscaped meditation garden laden with soothing water fountains and comfortable chairs and seating spaces. While it’s a great place to just relax, it is also appreciated by our residents who enjoy quiet meditation and a place for reflection. Ring in the New Year in tranquility amid the garden alone or with those you love.

Visit the Onsite Sports Lounge

The spacious sports lounge is a wonderful area for those seeking a bit of friendly competition to begin the new year. Our communal game room boasts a full-sized billiards table replete with the gear needed to play the night away. Bring some snacks and beverages if watching one of the multiple 4K UHD TVs is on the agenda. Want more games? Check out our impressive shuffleboard table and slide into 2020 with style.

Discover Our Elegant Mid-Rise Raleigh Apartments

Come and find out for yourself why The Tribute Apartments in Raleigh, NC has been voted as a top-rated property for resident satisfaction. Contact us today to schedule a tour of our available floor plans and to explore our luxurious onsite amenities.

The post Clever New Years Ideas for an Evening at Home appeared first on The Tribute Blog.

Holiday Foods

Certain foods can cause life-threatening illnesses in dogs, such as chocolate and raisins, so keep candy and baked goods with these ingredients out of your pet’s reach. If you’re hosting a holiday dinner, keep in mind that onion and garlic can also make pets severely ill. Other hazardous foods and beverages include chicken or turkey bones, macadamia nuts, coffee, and yeast dough.

Christmas Trees

Christmas trees add a festive look to your apartment, but your pets might see them as sources of water or entertainment. If you have a live tree, make sure your pets can’t drink the water in the base. Your tree should also be firmly anchored so that it won’t tip over if a curious cat decides to explore the branches.

Holiday Plants

Holly and ivy, poinsettias and other holiday plants can be toxic to pets or at least cause mild health problems. If you have these kinds of plants in your home for the holidays, make sure your pets can’t chew on them or eat them. Consider using artificial versions of these plants to lower the risk of toxicity.

Holiday Decorations

Dogs and cats can chew on or play with cords for holiday lights, which can cause electric shock or a fire hazard. Keep cords out of their reach to prevent this from happening. Breakable ornaments should go up high on trees out of your pets’ reach. You should also avoid hanging tinsel up altogether. Pets might ingest tinsel, which can cause obstructions in their intestines. If you use candles for decoration, never leave them where pets can get to them.

When you’re not busy with holiday preparations and festivities, spend time with your dog at our community’s fenced-in bark park, which includes agility equipment and a wash station. Please contact us for more details on the pet policy for our apartments in Raleigh, NC.

The post Holiday Hazards for Pets appeared first on The Tribute Blog.

Apartments Have an Advantage But…

Apartments have the advantage of being surrounded by other apartments. This means instead of having four walls and a roof exposed to the cold like a house, you have someone else blocking the cold on most sides. This natural insulation means you have to run your heat less than a house of the same size as your apartment.

Still, your windows are a major source of heat loss. If you want natural light, that means having glass that doesn't do much to stop the cold.

Window Curtains Keep the Cold Out

Window curtains provide an extra layer of insulation to your windows. It works just like the insulation in your walls or using a personal blanket when you're cold. The curtains help block the heat from going outside and the cold from getting inside.

How to Hang Curtains in an Apartment

When you live in an apartment, you can't make modifications like you could in a house. Even things that you're allowed to do could cost you money to undo when you move out. Drilling holes in your walls is one of those things. Here's what you should do instead.

1. Measure the width of your windows. Don't measure the glass, but the space in between the walls on each side of the window.
2. Look for a curtain tension rod that matches your measurement. This is a curtain rod that uses a spring instead of screws to stay in place. You just twist to extend the pole until it fits snugly in the wall.
3. Buy curtains. The color is up to your tastes, but you want them to be long enough to reach the floor. That's because cold air will fall as it hits the curtain. This will keep it behind the curtain instead of spilling out across your floor. The width should usually be twice as wide as your window for the proper folded look.
4. Hook the curtains onto your curtain rod, and put it in place.

To learn more about our energy-efficient apartments, stop by for a tour of our Raleigh, NC apartments today.

The post Friendly Window Curtains That Help Keep Your Heating Bills Down appeared first on The Tribute Blog.

Hang Tree Ornaments Out of Reach

Christmas tree ornaments are tempting for both dogs and cats. In addition to not wanting to get your ornaments broken, you don't want your pet to get hurt on the hooks or broken glass.

Make sure you hang any ornaments out of their reach. You can do this by moving them to higher branches or by using a stand that elevates your Christmas tree. If you need to fill empty space at the bottom of your tree, use extra lights or garland that's wrapped too tightly to get knocked off.

Skip the Candles

Between jumping cats and dogs banging into furniture as they run around from excitement, candles are too much of a fire hazard to safely use during the holidays. If you like the look, use an electronic candle or fairy lights in a jar to get the same effect.

Protecting Your Christmas Tree

When you put up your Christmas tree, your dog may confuse it with the trees outside, and your cat may see it as a new place to climb. When you first put it up, you'll need to closely supervise them and teach them to stay away.

Since they don't listen to you all of the time and will probably still play around it, use a sturdy, weighted base to make sure that they can't knock it over.

Section Off a Room

If you've gone all out for Christmas and don't want to risk your pets doing anything at all, you may want to make a room off-limits for the season. Use baby gates or other barriers just like you would at any other time of the year.

Give Them a Distraction

Your pets will be feeding off all of the excitement and want to participate as well. Give them a new toy or something to climb in to redirect their attention in a positive way.

To learn more about the pet policies in our Raleigh, NC, apartments, schedule your tour now.

The post How to Pet Proof Your Holiday Decorations appeared first on The Tribute Blog.

1. Cider Punch

Since there are only two ingredients (rum and apple cider), cider punch is a perfect crowd-pleaser for even the busiest of holiday hosts. It goes great with turkey, but it's also the perfect accompaniment to an evening on the balcony with just you and your favorite book.

2. Ginger Pear Snap Cocktail

From the kitchens of Aspen, Colorado, this recipe boasts of spiced pear vodka, which gives it that toasty warm feeling as it finds its way into your body. The fresh ginger and rosemary add a refreshing flavor to the mix, and if you're looking for the perfect autumn-inspired garnish, you can't go wrong with gingerbread spice around the rim.

3. Apple & Gin Autumn Cocktail

If gin is your spirit of choice, this apple and gin cocktail should win you over quite nicely when you're looking for a drink that celebrates all things fall. It's a delicious way to bring autumn's favorite fruit into a glass. One of the secrets is in the honey simple syrup; it sweetens the drink while simultaneously making it more lively.

4. Pecan Pie Martini

Yes, it really is as fancy and impressive as it sounds. If you'll be entertaining guests this fall season, put pecan pie martinis on the menu. The extra-special touch comes with the rim, which is dipped first in ooey-gooey caramel and then into a plate of crushed pecans. This is a restaurant-worthy cocktail that can be made right in the comfort of your own kitchen.

5. Apple Cider Mimosas

Leave the orange juice in the fridge for another day, because it's apple's turn to dial up the flavor in your mimosas. With just one bottle of bubbly and a bit of apple cider, cinnamon, and sugar, you can transform brunch into the best experience of the week.

Are you searching for a Raleigh, North Carolina, apartment that'll welcome you home every time you arrive? We're proud to say that we have several floor plans available at The Tribute for you to choose from. Take a look at our floor plan options today!

The post Autumn-Inspired Adult Beverages appeared first on The Tribute Blog.

Dried Cornstalks

A bundle of dried cornstalks makes for a great fall decoration. They speak to harvest time, which is a longstanding seasonal celebration. To make them fit for Halloween in particular, all you need to do is put an old shirt around them for a scarecrow-like effect. Take the shirt away after the day is over to revert to a general fall display.

Orange Gourds

Unlike carved pumpkins, gourds are very long-lasting. They're also popular for Thanksgiving as well as Halloween, making them great for extended autumn displays. If you want your gourds to last even longer, use thin-shelled ones. Hollow them out like you would a pumpkin, removing as much flesh as possible, but don't carve a face into them. Then, dip the hollowed-out gourds in bleach before letting them dry with their lids off.

Fall Foliage Wreaths

Make or buy fall foliage wreaths that include long-lasting elements like dried grasses, wheat sheaves, fall leaves, and pinecones. For Halloween, add a few miniature pumpkins, and then take those out to switch the wreath back to a display that'll be good for the rest of the season. If you add fresh elements to the wreath, just remember to remove them before storage.

These are just three of the many possibilities for decorating apartments in Raleigh, NC in ways that are good for both Halloween and the rest of the season. Brainstorm more by considering popular fall imagery and considering how you can add or remove oranges and blacks to allow it to transition between the two purposes.

To see some great apartments to make your new home this fall, just stop by our offices. We'll be glad to show you around.

The post Fall Decor That Lasts Beyond Halloween appeared first on The Tribute Blog.

Allow Your Pool Items to Thoroughly Dry

The first step that you need to take when you are storing your summer pool items after summer is over is to allow your pool items to thoroughly dry. After deflating or using your items for the last time, leave them outside to dry. Try to rotate or move them so that water trapped in the creases and crevices is able to get out. If any water remains, your item can develop mildew or mold, so it is important to ensure they do dry completely.

Sprinkle a bit of Baking Soda in Plastic Inflatables

If you have any plastic inflatables that you are storing for the summer, such as pool ride-on toys, small inflatable pools or slip and slides, you will want to sprinkle a small amount of baking soda on the inflatable before you store it. The baking soda helps to soak up any moisture that may remain, while also helping to prevent the inflatable from becoming smelly while it is being stored.

Store the Pool Items in a Waterproof Container Away From Sunlight

The final step for storing summer pool items is to fold the items up and store the pool items in a waterproof container. When possible, keep the container away from sunlight and heat exposure. This can heat the items inside of the container up, causing damage to them. If you follow these tips, your items will be ready to use the next time pool season rolls around.

Having a pool can help to enhance the fun you have during the summer months. If you are in the market for apartments in Raleigh, North Carolina and are looking for a community with a stunning pool, check out The Tribute. We have a stunning Grecian-style saltwater pool with an expansive sundeck. Stop by and check out our pool and our community for yourself.

The post Tips for Storing Summer Pool Items appeared first on The Tribute Blog.

The thing is, there just isn’t time for a complicated home-cooked meal. We’re here to help, though. Check out these school-night-friendly meal ideas that don’t take much time to cook and that make cleanup really easy.

Sheet Pan Pineapple Chicken Fajitas

Everyone loves fajitas, but few of us have the equipment needed to serve them up just like the local Mexican restaurant does. That’s OK with this innovative approach, which cooks all the fajita fillings together on one sheet pan. Add some tortillas, plus maybe a bowl of refried beans and some pre-shredded cheese, and you have a really solid meal.

The best part? Clean-up is a piece of cake. Just one sheet pan to wash and your prep dishes are clean!

Curried Chicken Skillet

Another one-pan dish, this curried chicken skillet has fantastic flavor. If you’re in the mood for an Indian-inspired dish, this one will hit the spot. Chicken, veggies, and quinoa are enhanced with flavors like curry powder, garlic, and fresh ginger.

This dish stands on its own perfectly well, but you could always pair it with some naan flatbread or Indian poppadum.

Slow Cooker Meatball Tortellini

Maybe an Italian flair sounds good this week. If so, check out this meatball tortellini. Meatballs and tortellini shells are joined by your choice of veggies (broccoli and carrots work well).

All you need for the sauce is condensed cream of mushroom soup and a little Creole seasoning. The flavors in the meatballs and cheese tortellini do the rest.

The best part of this meatball tortellini recipe? It’s a slow cooker recipe. Not only is cleanup a breeze, but you can leave this dish to cook while you pick up the kids and shuttle them to all their after-school activities.

Conclusion

Cooking great school-night meals takes some planning and effort. But let’s be honest: It’s a lot easier in a great kitchen. Are you looking for Raleigh, NC apartments with solid kitchen design? Contact us today for a walk-through and see what makes The Tribute great

The post School Is Back in Session: School-Night-Friendly Meal Ideas appeared first on The Tribute Blog.

Mum's the Word

An autumn tablescape isn't complete without at least a few mums in the picture. Mums typically reflect the colors of autumn leaves and bloom profusely in the fall. A handful or two of mums in a mason jar works well for a casual accent, but you can also mix them up with tree twigs containing vividly colored autumn leaves. To create a more formal ambiance, place a couple of white or yellow mums in a classic bud vase along with a sprig of pink baby's breath. Don't be afraid to use your creativity to craft custom floral arrangements using mums. They can easily go from casual to classy and anywhere in between, and as an added bonus, they're one of the most long-lasting cut flowers.
 

Say it With Sunflowers

Sunflowers make a seasonal statement when used in dining table centerpieces. Although traditional centerpieces are far too top-heavy and cumbersome to work well on most tables, modern hybrids are smaller and better suited for display in interior spaces. They also come in a variety of colors in addition to standard sunflower yellow — you'll find them in shades of cream, yellow, orange, mahogany, and scarlet. If you've got the room, group a bunch of them together for a totally dramatic look. For something less imposing, choose a single sunflower and place it in an attractive vase on the center of the table. 

Our apartments range from studios all the way to three-bedrooms. Please reach out to us at your convenience for more information on enjoying life in our community. 

The post How to Make a Perfect Autumn Floral Arrangement appeared first on The Tribute Blog.