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How to Play Host or Hostess — Without the Stress!

March 11, 2016 by

Whether you're throwing a dinner party, planning a birthday bash, or having family over for the holidays, these simple tips will teach you how to play host or hostess without the unnecessary stress.

  • Start early. At least a few weeks ahead of time, start to think about the major details: the number of guests, the menu, and anything that you may need to rent. This will start to ease you into party planning mode and avoid any last-minute surprises.
  • Prepare ahead of time. Make as much of the food ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze it so that you don’t spend the entire day in the kitchen. This way, you’ll just have to reheat and add the finishing touches.
  • Create enough seating. Even if you don’t have a large dining room table to fit all of your guests, you still want to make sure that everyone has a place to sit. Borrow chairs from a neighbor or invest in floor cushions for a more casual affair.
  • Set the mood. Play fun music, clear out any unnecessary furniture to create more space for socializing, and plan a few games in case of any awkward lulls in conversation. These are tried-and-true tricks that will prevent your party from hitting a slump.

Dos and Don’ts of Hosting a Dinner Party [Rue Mag]
How to Host a Dinner Party so Everyone Enjoys It [Lettuce Eat Kale]
101 Party Dos & Don'ts [House Beautiful]
Entertaining [My Home Ideas]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

New Facebook Sweepstakes! Enter to Win an iPad Mini!

March 9, 2016 by

To enter the Sweepstakes, visit our Facebook Page and then look for the Sweepstakes tab (image shown below) located on our Facebook Page to enter. Sweepstakes ends April 30th, 2016. We suggest you like our page to keep informed about future sweepstakes and community happenings.

For mobile users, click here to enter.

Filed Under: Life at Marquis at Canyon Ridge Apartments Tagged With: ,

Don’t Miss the Sausages at The Salt Lick

March 8, 2016 by

Margaritas, Music, and Meat. That's what you can expect at The Salt Lick on the weekend. Oak trees stretch out over the stone patio, offering some shade from the glaring Texan sun while live musicians play tunes, customers suck down margaritas, and servers bring out plates full of The Salt Lick's signature barbecue fare at each week's Margaritas, Music, and Meat event.

There's really no bad time to visit this beloved Round Rock eatery, though. No matter when you do, you'll be able to indulge in its smoky food, including the wildly popular sausages. More than 200 Yelp reviewers rave about the sausages, which you can get alone on a platter with potato salad, coleslaw, and beans or combined with other barbecue fare such as brisket or pork ribs. You can also order the sausage in sandwich form. But some people wouldn't mind skipping the main course all together for The Salt Lick's classic sides: beans, coleslaw, and potato salad. You can get them by the pint, quart, or even the gallon.

The Salt Lick
3350 Palm Valley Boulevard
Round Rock, TX 78665
(512) 386-1044
www.saltlickbbq.com/pages/Round-Rock.html
www.yelp.com/biz/the-salt-lick-bbq-round-rock

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: , ,

Corral Clutter and Create Beautiful Vignettes Around the Home Using Serving Trays

March 4, 2016 by

If you’re looking for an affordable way to add high style to your home, using serving trays is a great idea. On countertops, dressers, and even on the bed, serving trays add a designer-inspired look to any surface in the home. Here’s some inspiration for styling trays.

  1. Add a serving tray to your coffee table to corral remote controls, display magazines, and hold decorative objects. You can even add scented candles to create an enjoyable ambiance.
  2. Use serving trays in the bathroom to organize your everyday essential products. Add one to the back of the toilet if you’re lacking in cabinet space, or use one under the sink to hold lotion and soap bottles upright.
  3. Place a serving tray next to the front door to create a drop-off place for your keys, cell phone, and other items that would normally amount to clutter.
  4. Center a kitchen island by adding a decorative tray for displaying flower vases and plants. You may also want to add your favorite cookbooks to keep them within reach.
  5. While serving trays are originally used for serving food and beverages, they’re just as great for serving breakfast in bed—or even a midnight snack. If you enjoy relaxing with a good book and glass of wine at night, use a serving tray to avoid spills.

7 Ways to Decorate With Trays [Home Goods]
10 Creative Ways to Decorate with a Serving Tray [Kirklands]
See Why Trays Are the Ultimate Decorator’s Trick [One Kings Lane]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

5 Ways to Dress Up Your Apartment Using Cool, Colorful Wallpaper Swatches

March 1, 2016 by

While you may not be able to wallpaper your entire wall in a rental apartment, there are still a number of ways to use wallpaper to add some color to your space. Check out these creative tips for using wallpaper swatches all over your home at The Marquis at Canyon Ridge.

  1. Line your bookshelves. Give your bookshelves a colorful makeover by adding colorful, patterned wallpaper to the backs of the shelves.
  2. Create framed art. Fill some small frames with mix-and-match wallpaper scraps to create an eclectic (and budget-friendly) gallery wall.
  3. Line your drawers. Keep drawers clean while also making them more festive by lining them with wallpaper (just make sure that you can remove it once you move out).
  4. Revamp an old lampshade. Cover an old lampshade with a larger piece of decorative wallpaper. Simply cut it to size and attach it using tape or hot glue.
  5. Top a table. If you find a sturdy but scratched table at your local thrift store, give it an easy makeover by placing a piece of wallpaper on its top. Simply cover it with a piece of cut glass to keep the corners from peeling.

Creative Uses of Wallpaper in Any Room [Better Homes and Gardens]
10 Uses for Wallpaper Scraps [This Old House]
Unexpected Uses for Leftover Wallpaper [Real Simple]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , ,

Turn Your Home at The Marquis at Canyon Ridge Into a Workout Studio With These Simple Tips

February 26, 2016 by

Want to break a sweat without hitting up the gym? These simple workout ideas will show you how to create a space for exercise in your own apartment at The Marquis at Canyon Ridge.

  1. Do yoga. With so many online yoga classes and free tutorials, you can get in a complete yoga class right at home. Clear away clutter and extra furniture, dim the lights, and even light a few candles to create that yoga studio atmosphere (even if you’re just in your living room).
  2. Sweat it out with cardio. Start by clearing the furniture out from the center of your living space, and then pop in an instructional workout DVD. If you’re worried about the sound disturbing your neighbors downstairs, do your workout on a thick area rug or a non-slip exercise mat.
  3. Do some strength training. Invest in small-scale strength training equipment to build muscle even without pumping iron. Things like exercise bands, hand weights, and kettlebells are perfect for toning your biceps even in your apartment.
  4. Create a circuit. Many trainers agree that circuit training is one of the most effective types of exercise. Create your own at-home circuit by working with your apartment’s furniture, including step-ups onto a chair, crunches with your feet under the sofa, and sprints up and down stairs.

How to Build a Home Gym Anywhere [Men's Fitness]
Fitness Pros Weigh In: Essentials of a "No Frills" Home Gym [Apartment Therapy]
10 Small-Space Home Gym Hacks for Your Tiny Apartment [Brit + Co]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Finley’s Barber Shop: Get a Classic Cut at This Old School Shop

February 23, 2016 by

In a world where consumers are always looking for the fastest, most convenient options, the intricacy of a straight razor shave and a shoeshine goes a long way. Finley’s Barber Shop is an old-fashioned barber shop that's centered around this type of detail-oriented service, and the men who walk out of its wooden doors reflect the impressive difference a classic haircut makes.

The shop itself is located in the Warehouse District of downtown Austin, and inside of its large, glass-paneled storefront lies a exceptionally stylish barber shop with all of the classic trimmings. Vintage photo frames line the walls, antique pedestal sinks sit at the center of each station, and the industrial style of the exposed pipes adds even more character. Each customer is offered a cold beverage at the beginning of a visit, and then you can simply relax as one of the skilled barbers shaves, snips, and shines away.

Finley's Barber Shop is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended.

Finley’s Barber Shop
237 W. Third Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 298-2920
www.finleysformen.com
www.yelp.com/biz/finleys-barber-shop-austin-2

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: , ,

Try Your Hand at the Bridge and Torch Problem

February 19, 2016 by

There are a large number of “river crossing puzzles” in the world of logic puzzles, in which people must cross a river with a variety of constraints. One of the most popular of these puzzles is the Bridge and Torch Problem, which tests your logic skills and your rational thinking. Though it may seem like a simple enough question, the answer to this tricky word problem eludes many of the people who try to solve it.

In the Bridge and Torch Problem, four people approach a riverbank at night. The narrow bridge nearby can only hold two people at a time. They only have one torch, but it has to be used when crossing the bridge. It takes Person A one minute to cross, Person B two minutes to cross, Person C five minutes, and Person D eight minutes. Two people crossing the bridge together must move at the slower person’s pace.

Can all of the people cross the bridge in 15 minutes or less? Once you reach an answer, check it here!

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Koriente: Fresh Fare in Austin

February 16, 2016 by

Koriente serves Korean cuisine and more to Austin diners. All dishes are house-made and are prepared without MSG or preservatives, using only natural sweeteners and without excess fat. The ambiance is classically uncluttered and simply elegant with a comfortable, relaxed vibe.

Appetizers include edamame, soups, Korean pickled vegetables, and summer rolls. Featured entrees include pan-seared ahi tuna, sweet potato or mung bean noodles loaded with vegetables, bowls filled with your choice of protein, mushrooms, broccoli and carrots over rice, and traditional Bibimbap. Party trays for your next event can be ordered in advance and include all dishes served on the menu. All dishes can be prepared gluten-free and dietary requests can be accommodated.

Koriete is open 11 a.m. to to 9:30 p.m. Sundays through Fridays and 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays.

Koriente
621 E. Seventh Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 275-0852
www.koriente.com
www.yelp.com/biz/koriente-austin

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: , ,

Happy Presidents’ Day

February 15, 2016 by

On this day we honor all of the Presidents of our great country. If it weren’t for them, our country would not be what it is today!

Filed Under: Life at Marquis at Canyon Ridge Apartments Tagged With:
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