Blog Posts

New Year's Eve Desserts

Since last season we presented our favorite appetizers for your New Year’s Eve party — but we’re not finished! At Nantucket Gate, we’re excited to share some delicious desserts that are perfect for your end of year celebrations. If you need something simple and sweet to go along with your savory snacks, we have something for you! Try making one of these treats in your Tacoma, WA apartment this New Year’s Eve. Cranberry-Almond Pound Cake Looking for one last taste of cranberry before the holidays are over? This pound cake is drizzled with a sweet glaze that compliments the cranberry and almond flavors perfectly. To make this you’ll need cranberries, amaretto, almond paste, butter, sugar, eggs, almond extract, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cream, and milk. Chocolate Churro Dip Delish wrote the perfect intro to this dessert: “When churros met Nutella, your world became a better place.” Keep your guests coming back for more with these sugary churro bites and Nutella dipping sauce. All you need is refrigerated biscuit dough, unsalted butter, cinnamon, sugar, Nutella, and voila — you have everything you need for the hit of your holiday party! Salted Chocolate Dipped Mandarin Slices These dipped mandarin slices were too good not to share them again. With their dark chocolate and sea salt combination, they are sure to satisfy a craving for sweet without making you want to eat too much. The only ingredients are mandarin oranges, semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips, coarse sea salt, and shortening! Red Velvet Cheesecake Bites Forget the classic slice of cheesecake and try these instead! The bites are made of cream cheese, sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla, and they are rolled in red velvet cake crumbs. We think they might just take the cake! Thanks for reading our post this week. Happy New Year’s, and may your 2019 be everything you want and more!

Holiday Movies Through the Ages

Here at Nantucket Gate Blog, we’re in the holiday-movie-watching mood! Whether you’re looking for a fun film to watch all on your own, or you’re looking for a holiday classic that the whole family can enjoy, there’s a whole slew of good options to choose from. Here are some of our favorite holiday movies for you to enjoy in your Tacoma, WA apartment this season! It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) “What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.” In this timeless holiday masterpiece, an angel named Clarence helps George Bailey, a compassionate yet despairingly frustrated businessman, by showing him what the world would be like if he never existed. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) “I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I'm not happy. I don't feel the way I'm supposed to feel.” Appalled by all of the holiday commercialism that surrounds him, Charlie Brown sets out to find the true meaning behind Christmas. Home Alone (1990) “I made my family disappear!” After he is accidentally left at home while his family takes a vacation, Kevin must protect his home from a pair of burglars who are out to rob people while they are out of town for the holidays. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) “If you please Mr. Scrooge, it's gotten colder, and the bookkeeping staff would like an extra shovel full of coal for the fire?” The Muppets are at it again, and this time, they take on Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday tale A Christmas Carol. Their version of this classic tale of an old and bitter miser’s redemption on Christmas Eve will have you laughing, crying, and being thankful for all that you have. The Grinch (2018) Are you looking for a holiday movie to see in the theaters this month? Don’t miss this computer-animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas. We hope our post got you in holiday movie spirit! Thanks for reading, and Happy Holidays!

Our Tips for Fighting the Winter Blues

Even though winter is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, it isn’t uncommon to have a strong case of the winter blues. Whether the holidays themselves are causing you to feel depressed, anxious or stressed, or you have seasonal affective disorder (SAD), there are lots of valid reasons you might be feeling the way you are. This December, Nantucket Gate Blog is sharing our favorite ways to combat seasonal depression. If you really think you might have seasonal affective disorder, this article from Mayo Clinic might help. Additionally, Real Simple and Medicine Net have great suggestions for those dealing with something maybe a little bit less genetic but equally as real. Here are a few ideas we pulled from these articles. Perhaps you can apply these tips as you spend time inside and outside your Tacoma, WA apartment Set Goals and Expectations For The Holidays Before the holidays begin, take some time to acknowledge what you want to get out of them and how you want to participate during them. If you enjoy the amount of alcohol and food that is available during this season, find ways you can enjoy them without overconsuming. Before you let the stress of gift-giving pressure you into overspending or going into debt, set your budget and let yourself know it’s okay if the gifts you choose aren’t as large as you wanted them to be. If it’s hard for you to be around your family members, don’t force yourself to spend more time around them than is healthy for you in your personal circumstances. Whatever you might anticipate making your holidays less cheery than they’re supposed to be, take some time to prepare beforehand and adjust your expectations accordingly. Get Enough Light Exposure to light positively affects brain chemicals that contribute to a better mood. Since there is less light in the winter, make sure to consciously find ways to expose yourself to it. Obviously the best form of light is natural light, so consider either spending some time outside. If you can’t be in the natural light, don’t worry. Spending time to sit next to an artificial light has shown to improve mood. Take Care of Your Mind and Body While you should do this all year round, make an extra special effort to take care of your physical and mental health. Rather than waiting until New Years to set new exercise goals, reevaluate old ones now and try to participate in some form of physical activity multiple times a week. If you’re looking for ways to engage your mind, try doing some yoga or meditation; even making a conscious effort to listen to soothing music can help. If you feel like you need more help than you’re getting, consider speaking with a health representative. How do you combat a bad case of the winter blues? Let our apartment community know by leaving a comment below. Thanks for reading our post, and may you have a happy and healthy winter!

Community Events in Tacoma, WA This Holiday Season

Happy Holidays from all of us here at the Nantucket Gate Blog! December is filled with holiday cheer thanks to festive events both public and private happening all around us. This year, we wanted to share some of the holiday events that will be happening near our apartment community in Tacoma, WA. Consider attending one or more of these celebrations for maximum holiday enjoyment! White Christmas Market Originating in Germany, winter-themed street markets have helped to usher in holiday cheer since as early as 1384. They are often held in a central location downtown like a town square and are filled with open-air vendors who sell warm food and drink, handmade crafts, and other holiday items perfect for decorating and gift giving. Luckily, you won’t have to travel to Germany to experience one this year, because the White Christmas Market is happening right here in Tacoma! Don’t miss this event on December 5th at 3-7pm, where there will be live holiday music, free Santa photos, and live reindeer! The Nutcracker Ballet When was the last time you enjoyed a live performance of The Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky’s world-renowned holiday ballet? This year might just be the perfect year to go. Support your local Tacoma City Ballet by inviting your whole family to attend this inspiring production, filled with exceptional costumes, fantastical scenery, riveting orchestral music, and of course, dancing. Running from December 15th-23rd, there are both matinee and evening performances available. Fantasy Lights Pierce County’s website included such a well-worded description of this event that we thought we’d include it here: “Pierce County Parks and Recreation is pleased to present the 24th annual 'Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park,' the largest holiday drive-through display in the Northwest, featuring nearly 300 elaborate displays and thousands of sparkling lights. The beautiful two-mile drive along Spanaway Lake has become a memorable lakeside tradition for the entire family. “Visitors of all ages will be treated to the magical world of animation and imagination where bears fly kites, Santa and Rudolph sail a tall ship, snow boys kick field goals, penguins slide down an igloo, and reindeer leap over your car. You will also marvel at more LED lighting throughout the park along with new displays a rocket ship, octopus, sea turtles and a giant clam.” Open every evening from November 22nd, 2018- January 1st, 2019! Is there a community holiday event that you simply can’t miss this year? Let our apartment community know by leaving a comment below! Thanks for reading our post today.

Things to Be Grateful For

After all of the excitement surrounding Thanksgiving day and Black Friday has slowed down, it’s the perfect time to actually take a minute to think about what you are grateful for. Before the fast-paced enchantment of December starts, we at Nantucket Gate apartments thought we would give you some ideas about a few things you might reflect upon. Your Favorite Food Whether you’re a foodie or not, chances are there’s that one dish you just can’t get enough of. Maybe you like it because it brings you comfort. Maybe it brings back memories from your childhood. It might take all day to make, but it’s worth every last bite. Write down a memory eating your favorite dish. Go out to a nearby restaurant that serves this food. If you have the ingredients, you can even make it at home. Whatever you do, share it with someone you love to spread the joy your favorite food brings. Your Favorite Quality in a Friend Appreciate the unique qualities in those around you this season. Even though you might disagree with those around you from time to time, take a moment to remember why you enjoy being around others. Think about the unique strengths your friends bring to the world and celebrate them. Send positive vibes their way by telling them what makes them great! Coworkers Chances are, you spend more time around your coworkers than you do around anyone else, so find a way to acknowledge them this week. This is a good way to keep a positive attitude toward people you may not have necessarily chosen to spend so much time around, but who help you make it through the day. Maybe you want to celebrate your whole team by bringing them cookies, or maybe you want to write a specific coworker a thoughtful note. Whatever you choose, it is bound to be a great way to build unity and establish healthy relationships. Something about the World It’s easy to focus on all of the unhappiness and devastation and simply horrible things that are happening all around the world, and sometimes that makes it harder to see all of the good around us too. Find a moment this week to appreciate something beautiful around you, whether it’s a man-made or a natural wonder, and let it bring you the joy you need to move forward. Hobbies and Simple Pleasures Your favorite wool sweater. A fresh pair of footprints in a newly-fallen snow. Newly-acquired cooking skills. A polished piano performance. Since life is really all about what you make it, take note of all the little things that make you feel alive this week. Whether they’re things you do on a daily basis, or simple sights you happen upon rarely, take time to revel in the things that matter to you.

Four Ways to Serve Your Community This Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving Day quickly approaching, it is easy to get caught up in all of the hustle and bustle of meal prep and party planning and to forget about those in need around us. Don’t get us wrong, we know that some years, adding an extra event to the calendar is simply out of the question, but if you find yourself with a little extra time this week, consider some of these suggestions to serve our Tacoma, WA community. Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen One fun way to get in the spirit of Thanksgiving and help others at the same time is to serve a meal to those who often go without at a local soup kitchen. Whether it is on Thanksgiving Day itself or on a day leading up to the holiday, take a break from your normal routine and help someone else feel grateful for a warm meal and cheerful company. You may consider reaching out to the Tacoma Rescue Mission for more information about volunteering. Donate to a Food Bank No time to dedicate to volunteer at a soup kitchen? You still may be able to help provide someone with a Thanksgiving dinner of their own. You might try buying extra food when you make your grocery trips for your own holiday meal. Places like Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank and St Leo Food Connection will gladly accept your donations, and they will be sure to use what you give to help someone in need near your Nantucket Gate apartment community this holiday season. Run in the Turkey Trot Everyone loves a pre-Thanksgiving dinner 5k. At the Tacoma City Turkey Trot , kill two birds with one stone by giving your body the exercise it needs and helping someone else out. This fun run has partnered with The Children’s Foundation , and a portion of the earnings will go to help create brighter futures for abused and neglected children. Additionally, Fish Food Bank will be on site the morning of the race to collect food donations. Visit the Annual Gingerbread Village Going to Seattle any time this holiday season? Sheraton Seattle Hotel partners with JDRF every year to display an annual gingerbread village to the public. This season, the village will be on display November 20th - January 2nd. While it is free to the public, JDRF gladly accepts donations that go towards Type 1 Diabetes research. We hope you enjoyed our suggestions for serving others this Thanksgiving! What are your favorite ways to serve during the holidays? Comment below with your answer. Happy Thanksgiving!