Apartment Blog

If you plan on throwing or attending a Halloween party, don’t you want to be the center of all the festivities?  Don’t let anyone outdo you this year.  When wearing a costume you get to become someone else for one night.  Why not make it memorable for you and all attendees.    We’ve posted a blog about Halloween Couple Costume Ideas, but here are some hot costumes for Guys and Gals:

Guys

• 1. Geico Caveman- Team up with a buddy or two and purchase caveman masks. You can wear the laidback button up shirts seen in the commercials or even go with the biker outfits. This will surely garner a lot of laughs when you arrive and will make it easier to talk to the women at the party. Who can resist a rugged and famous Caveman?
• 2. Iron Man- If rugged and hairy is not for you, maybe you want to show off the iron you have been pumping. Even if you haven’t been pumping iron, I am sure that the Iron Man costume comes with pre-pumped muscles for you to show off. If ladies love the man of steel..wouldn’t they love the man of….Iron?
• 3. Michael Jackson- This year we tragically lost the King of Pop. Many people will probably wear a Michael Jackson costume in commemoration of him, but make sure that you go all out. You must have the infamous white glove and you might want to learn a few moves before showing up so that you can battle against all of the other Michael Jackson wannabes!

Gals

• 1. Pirate of the Caribbean(Elizabeth) - Argghh..Nothing cooler than a female pirate. With the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise, pirate clothing is still in. Make sure to bring your sword with you because you may have to show Iron Man and the Caveman who is boss!
• 2. Race Car Driver- Danica Patrick is kicking butt in the racing world and you can remind all of the men at the party with your race car driver costume. Make the super heroes look outdated and the athletes look lost.
• 3. Betty Boop- If you get sea-sick or car sick, the Pirate and Race Car driver costumes may not be for you. They won’t be believable. But, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind showing up as a starlet. Let it be your night and come to the party knowing that all the attention will be on you. Maybe you can even bring your own fans and lights. Why not?

This can be your year to win the “Best Costume” prize.  Don’t let the opportunity pass you by!

For some people Halloween means as much to them as Christmas would to another person. As such, this occasion would be deemed gift giving. I have actually received a card and flowers from a friend on Halloween because it is her favorite holiday. Regardless if you are the gift giver or receiver, here are some great Halloween gift ideas.

Get Creative! Potion labels are a cool way to personalize a bottle of your friend’s favorite drink or bottle of wine. Just add a themed label appropriate for Halloween and you’re set!  Or creating a collage scrapbook already decorated, just waiting for the photos of this year’s party to frame or bind.

Homemade goods are a unique way to show your friends, or guests at a party, that you appreciate them. Everyone loves a good homemade treat. For this holiday, why not do a candied apple or pumpkin spice bread or ghost shaped cookies. 

Tickets to a fun Halloween themed event. There are bound to be places in your city that will celebrate this spooky holiday. Why not help the Halloween enthusiast in your life celebrate by buying them a ticket. It could be a hayride, haunted house, roller coaster theme park or maybe even a special movie premier.

Provide some type of entertainment by purchasing a Halloween book or movie. If your friend is into the whole scary experience, there are plenty of Halloween movies guaranteed to spoke him or her. Check out our list of 10 Awesome Halloween Movies.

If there are other Halloween gifts you have given or received, let us know! It would be nice to see all the imaginative ideas for this holiday.

Halloween is just around the corner, and if you’re planning on wowing your friends with your costume ideas you’re going to need to start planning ahead. To take care of the hardest part, thinking of the ideas, we’ve taken the liberty of researching awesome couple costumes.

Take a look:

• Jim and Pam-famous couple from the series ‘The Office’ are getting ready to get married.
• Peter and Lois or Stewie and Brian from the series ‘Family Guy’ are guaranteed to be a hit at any party!
• Danny and Sandy from the infamous movie ‘Grease.’
• Edward Cullen and Bella Swam from the hit ‘Twilight’
• Johnny Cash & June Carter
• Shrek and Fiona from the ‘Shrek’ movies

Whatever costume idea you choose, have fun with it. Halloween costume parties are always so much fun. Happy Halloween!

There are several people I know that have recently moved into a new apartment. Just about every day they are asked, ‘How are you enjoying your new place?’ as well as other types of questions like ‘what’s the floor plan?’ or ‘how do you have it decorated?’, etc.  Most of the initial questions you get asked when you’ve recently moved can be answered by a simple event, a housewarming party!

Inviting your friends, family and co-workers to a housewarming party where they can see your lovely abode will ensure you the opportunity to show off your style.  And what better way to gloat about your new space with all the cool swag on display?!

We’ve taken the liberty of highlighting a few basics to guarantee you a rockin’ housewarming party!

• Invites are a must. I would really recommend using websites such as Evite.com to send out virtual invitations. Saves on cost and they’re eco-friendly! If there are people who you do not know their email address (i.e. your new neighbors), small notes are totally acceptable.
• What should you serve? That’s easy…whatever you want! Most housewarming parties are basic drinks and hors d’oeuvres, but there’s nothing saying you can’t stray. If your apartment has a great deck or patio, a barbeque might be nice (provided that it’s okay with your apartment association first)!
• Do I need to provide entertainment? Absolutely! The point of your housewarming party is to show off your new home, so be sure to include tours of your new apartment for all those coming. That will answer all those pesky questions they ask. But in addition to the tours, you should provide music and other entertainment. At a housewarming party I attended, they had group video games for everyone to interact and meet one another. Music is also a popular form of entertainment.
• And finally, always show your appreciation. All of your guests have taken time out of their schedule to spend a few hours with you and share the joy of your new apartment. Thank them for stopping by and especially thank them should they have brought a gift; especially, since housewarming gifts are optional!

To everyone who has just recently moved into their new, or first, apartment-CONGRATS! Here’s hoping you have a terrific housewarming party!

While on one of my favorite question and answer sites, I saw a question for July 4^th that really stuck out in my head. It was about a cooking contest this individual’s family does on July 4^th. I thought, how fun? A July 4^th cook-off between friends & family would be an awesome party idea!

Imagine it, you call and invite a couple of your friends over for a July 4^th party. You ask them to bring over a dish as it makes less work for you. But instead of just any ordinary dish, one that will be entered into a cook-off challenge that will be judged based on presentation, creativity and overall taste.  Everyone at the party can vote, whether they have entered the contest or not, and the top three can have a prize. Suggestions from other members on the site included something like a gift certificate or a chef apron with mention of the events title ‘Geller’s 5^th Annual July 4^th Cook-off’ or something to that effect.

This competition actually reminds me of an episode of ‘Friends’ where Monica and Ross were playing football on Thanksgiving for the ‘Geller Cup’ which was really just a troll doll nailed to a piece of two by four (see photo).  However, hopefully your cook-off competition won’t become as brutal as the Monica, Ross face-off where Ross was sent to the hospital with a broken nose during “Geller Bowl VI”.

This idea is a new spin on a usually traditional gathering. This can really add some fun and make it a July 4^th party to remember!

 While ordering a cake the other day we were faced with a dilemma.  The cake specialist asked if we wanted a four leaf clover or a shamrock on our St. Patrick’s Day themed cake. Not understanding, we asked what the difference was. The specialist responded that the shamrock is the Irish symbol and the four leaf clover is the American version. She mentioned that in her experience some Irish people have gotten offended if the four leaf clover is used improperly. So for those of you who aren’t familiar with the differences between the two (besides the obvious additional leaf), here is an explanation.

The shamrock is a three-leaved clover; the plant was used by Saint Patrick to illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity. It has subsequently become a national symbol of Ireland. The word comes from seamróg, the Irish name for the plant.

 A four leaf clover refers to an aberration of a three leaf clover plant, “white clover.” The white clover is a deep green flowering vine with white blossoms. It is the original shamrock plant of Ireland and the unofficial state symbol. The shamrock already has powerful associations, and its occasional production of an extra leaf makes the rare four leaf clover especially lucky.

For more ideas about St. Patrick’s Day parties and crafts, please visit our Holidays section.