Blog Posts

After-Work Activities to Help it Feel Like Summer

Now that Summer Solstice has officially passed, it’s time to have fun. As adults, summertime can seem less exciting since most of us don’t get summer break from work. Even if you don’t get a three-month vacation, there are still fun activities you can do on the weekdays when you get home from work! This week on Nantucket Gate Blog, we’re here to suggest a few simple things you can start doing after work to help it feel more like summer here in Tacoma, WA. Learn a New Sport Have you considered getting into a new sport this summer? Since joining a team can be a big commitment, you might try picking up something you can play on your own schedule with a few friends. From frisbee golf to pickle ball to outdoor volleyball, there are plenty of fun options that will help your summer feel more exciting. If you play your new sport a few times a week, you’ll start to improve! Enjoy Happy Hour To make your time after work feel more relaxing and enjoyable, try getting together with coworkers or friends for a drink or two! Find out what time happy hour is at your favorite local bar, and get together for a casual evening of food, drinks, and conversation. Remember to drink responsibly — especially if you have work the next day! Pot Some Edible Plants For those who like to garden, potting plants to keep on your deck can make a great after-work activity. Even though keeping plants alive is a responsibility, it can be really therapeutic. If you’d like a tangible reward by the end of the season, plant something edible like basil or a tomato plant! Take an Evening Walk Now that it’s warm in the evenings, you might try taking an evening walk with a friend; it’s much more enjoyable than taking a walk mid-day when the sun is blazing. Walks are a great excuse to get some exercise, and if you go with someone else, you can socialize all along the way. What do you like to do after work to bring on the summer vibes? Let our apartment community know in the comments below.

National Ice Cream Soda Day

Did you know that this Thursday, June 20th, is National Ice Cream Soda Day? Today, Nantucket Gate Blog is bringing you delicious ice cream soda recipes to help you celebrate! Read on for some tasty recipes to make in your apartment with friends later this week or any other time this month. Peaches and Cream Float This recipe comes from House of Yumm. You’ll need 20 oz. Peach Soda, 4 scoops of vanilla ice cream, and a sliced peach for garnish. Scoop in the ice cream, pour over the peach soda, garnish with fresh peach slices, and enjoy! Invite some friends over and enjoy this drink outside on your patio or balcony. Pomegranate Blueberry Float Here’s a fancy drink for a sweet treat after a summer dinner party. It comes from Two Peas and Their Pod. You’ll need Lorina Sparkling Pomegranate Soda, blueberries, and vanilla ice cream. Pour in the pomegranate soda, add in the blueberries, and top with the ice cream scoops. It’s refreshing and not to mention beautiful! Green Tea and Ginger Beer Float Looking to try something fun and interesting? This green tea and ginger beer float might be just what you’re hoping for. Using green tea ice cream, ginger beer, mint sprigs, and an optional ounce of Irish whiskey, make this refreshing float for yourself and a group of friends. One tip: chill the glasses so the ice cream stays solid longer! Dirty Dr. Pepper Float This float is a great mix of coconut, lime, and Dr. Pepper. It comes from Le Creme De La Crumb. You’ll need 3 cans of chilled Dr. Pepper, coconut lime sorbet, 1 cup sweetened coconut milk, ½ teaspoon coconut extract, 4 cups of limeade, and limes as a garnish. Click on the link above to find out how to make this delicious float. What are your favorite ice cream soda treats? Where’s the best place to get an ice cream float in Tacoma, WA? Thanks for reading and come back again soon!

Summer Travel Tips

It’s summertime and that might mean you’re going to travel in the next few months. Whether you’re flying somewhere for a faraway vacation or taking a weekend road trip with friends, Nantucket Gate Blog has some great tips to help your trip be successful and memorable. Packing Tips -Use an online packing list to make sure you don’t forget any important items. You can add and remove items that are or aren’t relevant to you and your trip. Click on the link above for an extensive packing list. For a more simple list, you might like this one . Road Trip Tips -Take time to clean out and organize your car before heading out on the road. Using a headrest storage hook and a portable trash can will also help to keep things clean and tidy during the trip. -Give each person in the car a responsibility on the trip. For example, one person will be over driving, one over navigation, and another over taking care of where you’ll sleep or eat. You can also rotate these roles as needed, especially if you have more than one person on the trip who is able to drive. -Be prepared for any issues that may arise. This may mean getting car problems serviced before heading out. It may also mean having jumper cables and various car fluids handy in case of vehicle troubles on the road. Flying Tips -Have protein-rich snacks with you. They will help you to stay full and keep you more sustained than other snacks. -Wear loose and comfortable clothing. Wearing stiff jeans or a leather jacket may not be the best thing to wear on a long flight — especially if you’re traveling somewhere warm! -Wear layers in order to warm up or cool down. This will also make your flight more comfortable and stress-free. You can never predict the in-flight temperature, so be prepared for multiple situations. Memory Tips -Send a postcard to your home address from each place you visit. When you get home, bind them together — along with photos you take and any other trip memorabilia like maps or ticket stubs — for a fun and simple keepsake. -Keep a travel journal with pictures and thoughts. This is another fun way of keeping those memories alive. What are your favorite travel suggestions for getting out of Tacoma, WA? Let the rest of our apartment community know in the comments. Thanks for reading!

Four Ideas for Celebrating National Best Friends Day

Nantucket Gate Blog welcomes you to the month of June! In addition to warmer weather and summer vibes, this month also brings something you might want to celebrate this year: National Best Friends Day! Saturday, June 8th is this year’s designated day to commemorate the relationship you have with your closest friend. To help you make the most of this day, we’re giving you four simple ideas to show your best friend how much you care about them. Whether your best friend lives in Tacoma, WA or whether they’re halfway across the world, try one of these ideas out today! Make a Playlist A great way to show your best friend that you’re thinking of them is to spend time curating a playlist just for you two. If you’ve spent enough time together, chances are, you have specific songs that remind you of one another. Put all of these tunes on a playlist so you and your best friend can listen to it when you’d like to recall some of your favorite memories. If you need help filling up your playlist, check out this list of best friend songs . Plan a Surprise Outing Another idea for National Best Friends Day is to plan a day filled with activities you and your best friend love doing. You might tell them to plan on spending the day with you, but then telling them the specific plans are a surprise! Do you have a favorite place to eat? A hike you’ve been on together? What about a bar or a nightclub where you two have a funny memory? Whatever you choose to do, fill your day with all of your favorite things to do together. To go one step further, dress up like your best friend, and tell them to dress up like you! Make Friendship Bracelets When was the last time you made a good old-fashioned friendship bracelet? You may have forgotten about these since you’re no longer a child, but getting a pack of embroidery floss and getting together with your best friend to make matching bracelets could make for a great afternoon or evening. Get a bag of your favorite candy to share together, and put on some fun background music! Chances are, you two can talk for hours, so time spent sitting and making bracelets shouldn’t be boring at all. Send a letter Last but not least, a personalized letter will always make your best friend smile. In the week leading up to National Best Friends Day, set aside some time to sit down and write a sincere note to your friend. Draw doodles in the margins or throw in a funny picture of the two of you to make them laugh while they read it. Make sure to mail it in time to get there on or before June 8th! What do you plan to do for your friend on National Best Friends Day? Let our apartment community know in the comments below. Thanks for reading this week’s post!

Skincare Tips for the Summer Season

Summer will be around before you know it here in Tacoma, WA. In this week’s Nantucket Gate Blog post, we are sharing some skincare tips to help you have smooth and healthy skin over the next few months. Check it out! Wear Sunscreen We cannot stress this important tip enough! Protecting your skin now will pay great dividends as you start to grow older. In response to the question, “When Should I Use Sunscreen?” The American Academy of Dermatology said, “Every day if you will be outside. The sun emits harmful UV rays year-round. Even on cloudy days, up to 80 percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate your skin. Snow, sand, and water increase the need for sunscreen because they reflect the sun’s rays.” Eat Nutrition-Filled Foods Eating healthy foods will keep your skin healthy and glowing. Vitamin A facilitates skin repair if it does get damaged. Vitamin C can help to prevent your skin from sun damage and also repair any harm that is caused if you do get sunburned. Healthy oils and foods with antioxidants may also help in creating healthy and glowing skin. Give Yourself a Facial at Home Facial scrubs are great for your face and they help to create glowing skin. You can easily make one with simple ingredients you have at home, or you can find one at your favorite local skin care store. For a homemade scrub, mix brown sugar and honey together. After first washing your face, rub the mixture onto your skin, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse clean. This can also be used as a general body scrub. For the perfect soothing face mask , mix together nutmeg, honey, and cinnamon. Drink Enough Water Hydration is a great way to help keep your skin clear and healthy looking. The amount of water you should drink every day can depend on multiple factors like age, sex, weight, and overall level of health. Although there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” approach to drinking water, there is a recommended amount . For men, it’s 125 ounces, and for women, it’s 91 ounces. This amount takes into account all the liquid you consume throughout the day, including that which is in your food. If you’re eating lots of fruits and vegetables each day, you won’t need to drink as much water. Do you have any other summer skincare tips or suggestions to share with us? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for being a part of our apartment community!

Mobile Photography Tips

At Nantucket Gate, beautiful nature is all around us if we just take some time to look. There are plenty of parks, miles of trails, and opportunities to see the great outdoors this fall. We encourage you to remember that the journey is the destination. To help you capture the natural beauty that is right outside your apartment, we’ve put together some mobile photography tips. You don’t need a fancy camera to save a beautiful moment here in Tacoma, WA. Clean the lens. Because your phone is often in a pocket, bag, or your hands, it’s no surprise that the lens gets dirty. One of the best options for cleaning your lens is to buy a lens cleaning cloth, but distilled water and a Q-tip work just fine. If you’re going with the latter option, dip the Q-tip into the water and then squeeze most of the water out until it is just damp. Wipe the lens carefully, and don’t press too hard. A clean lens can make a huge difference with the results of the pictures that you take. Adjust the exposure. Exposure refers to how bright or how dark an image is. While your phone’s camera will automatically set the exposure for the shot, it’s not always the best option. Avoid zoom if possible. If you see a great photo op that’s too far away, get closer to it! Zooming in on a mobile phone is usually done by digital processes, essentially cropping the image, and the result is a loss of image quality. Use the grid. The rule of thirds is a basic photography technique. In most phones turning the grid on and off is pretty simple. Using it to follow the rule of thirds will help you take photos that are balanced and pleasing to the eye. Of course, this isn’t a rule that you need to follow all the time, but it’s a great beginning point to take your photos in the right direction. Feel free to experiment. Take shots from different positions. Seeing how phones are so light, it’s easy to move them to different positions. You might want to try taking a picture from a low point so the photo appears from a dog’s perspective. Trying out different angles or point-of-views will result in photos that couldn’t be taken in any other way. There’s no better opportunity for these shots than with something as light and portable as a mobile phone. We hope you have fun capturing the moments from your adventures in nature around Tacoma. Where is your favorite place outside your apartment to take photos? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading!