Apartment Blog

 I just love hosting parties; it is absolutely my favorite thing to do. While most people squirm at the thought of the planning, preparing and cleaning, I relish in it.  To me, it’s fun! It is also a great opportunity to spend time with friends and family. But I do have to say that at times it can be frustrating in my small apartment. But I’ve done some creative thinking which has helped me in my times of hosting, so I thought I’d share my experience.

1. Stay Calm. A positive attitude is key for you and your guests to enjoy the time together. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a walk. Cool down and get fresh air. Guaranteed when you come back you’ll have a new perspective. Remember that this time with your family and friends should be memorable.

2. Do a little bit in advance. Okay, so you know you’re apartment can hold 10 people and that’s exactly how many you invited. To make sure things run smoothly and that your guests are comfortable, prepare in advance for their arrival. Make sure to have small snacks on hand should the crowd get hungry. If you have any overnight guests, make sure you prepare for their sleeping arrangements which may include linens and pillows. Any meals that can be started or done prior to the day of would also be helpful.

3. Delegate tasks. As a hostess I realize that usually (at least for me) you’d like to have control over things. Not that you don’t trust anyone else to finish up that Green Bean Casserole, but maybe you just have the better touch. Whatever others offer to do, make sure you allow them to take part. It will not only relieve stress on your end but also make them feel more a part of the event.

4. Rearrange to accommodate. Obviously with a small one bedroom apartment, I know that squeezing in 10 people can be quite difficult. But all it takes is a little imagination to make it work. For example, I have a table with a leaf that comes in and out. This allows for expansion when I have dinner parties. I also use my kitchen countertop to function as a buffet table excluding the condiments and bread, which is left for the table. If any additional seating is needed in the living room (after dinner), I typically put decorative pillows on the ground or bring in chairs from the dinning room. And true to form, the hostess never sits unless all of her guests have a place to.

5. Embrace the holiday. Your family is together, you are at your apartment and there is immense love in the air. Don’t forget to celebrate that by soaking as much of it in as you can. For one day your small one bedroom apartment will seem like a blessing instead of curse because of the closeness you’ll feel with one another.

Another tip to mention is if you really do like to entertain (as I do) then you may want to consider a move if your apartment just isn’t cutting it. One of the amenities I looked for while apartment searching is a nice large kitchen & great room-for entertaining purposes. If that is something you can’t live without, considering moving and foregoing the other unnecessary items-like a view or wood floors, etc. Be sure at check out apartments on ForRent.com.

I hope everyone has a terrific Thanksgiving wherever they’re sharing it!

ForRent.com would like to bestow a wish on all our friends with the following Irish Blessing this Saint Patrick’s Day!

Always remember to forget
The things that made you sad.
But never forget to remember
The things that made you glad.

Always remember to forget
The friends that proved untrue.
But never forget to remember
Those that have stuck by you.

May your neighbors respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you.

May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.

Source: corsinet.com & ireland-information.com

ForRent.com would like to acknowledge all the celebrations that happen during the holiday season. Today at sun down starts Hanukkah!

Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday beginning on the 25^th day of Kislev, which may fall anytime from late November to late December. This festival celebrates the re-kindling of the Temple Menorah and is observed in Jewish homes by illuminating candles on each night of the holiday.

The number eight has special significance in Jewish theology. Seven is known as the number of days of creation. Eight, being one step after seven, would represent infinity. The number eight for Hanukkah symbolizes when the Maccabees returned to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple after it was destroyed. As they rebuilt the temple they searched for pure oil to relight the ner tamid, the “light that always burned.” They found only one jar of oil, enough to burn for one day. They used this oil to light the ner tamid, but rather than burning for just one day the ner tamid stayed lit for 8 days, enough time to obtain more oil.

On the twenty-fifth day of the Hebrew month of Kislev in 164 to 175 B.C.E., the temple was rededicated to God. The Jews celebrated for 8 days and Judah declared that an 8 day holiday called Hanukkah, or “dedication,” would be celebrated each year beginning on this day. This is considered the holiday’s miracle.

Hanukkah is celebrated by a series of rituals that take place every day during the eight day holiday. Among these rituals are additional daily prayer services and blessings after meals. The primary custom is to light a candle each night for eight nights, with the number of candles lit increase with each passing night. An extra light called shamash, meaning guard or servant is also lit each night. The significance of the Hanukkah lights is not for the ‘lighting of the house within’ but rather the ‘illumination of the house without’ so that passers-by should see it and be reminded of the holiday’s miracle.

The candles should be lit for at least a half an hour after it gets dark, although some backgrounds differ. On Friday night, however, the candles must burn longer, as they also acknowledge the start of Shabbat, which is the weekly day of rest in Judaism. There are typically three blessings that are recited during Hanukkah. On the first night, Jews recite all three blessings, on the following nights only the first two are recited.

The first blessing roughly translates to “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.” The second blessing “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who performed wondrous deeds for our ancestors, in those days, at this moment.” And the third blessing, only to be recited on the first night, “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us in life, sustained us, and brought us to this moment.”

After the lighting of the candles a prayer is recited, which translates into: “We light these lights for the miracles and the wonders, for the redemption and the battles that you made for our forefathers, in those days at this season, through your holy priests. During all eight days of Hanukkah these lights are sacred and we are not permitted to make them serve except for to look at them in order to express thanks and praise to Your great Name and for your miracles, Your wonders and Your salvations.” In North America, it is a common practice to exchange gifts or give children presents at this time.

Source: Wikipedia