Blog Posts

3 Apartment DIYs

The Nantucket Gate Blog has some simple, yet lovely apartment DIYs for you this month to decorate your Nantucket Gate apartment. It’s time to get crafty and creative. Have fun! Cord Box Cover-Up We’ve found a way to hide all those long and ugly cords under the TV set! This DIY comes from Simplette. You’ll need a decorative gift box and a pair of scissors. You can find these boxes at a local craft or Target store or Target online . First, cut a 2-3 inch slit down the side on end of the box. This will allow the cords to come out of the box. Next, stick your power bar along with the lengthy cords inside the box. Put the lid back on and you’re done! Visit the link above for pictures to guide your DIY. Hello Door Mat Here’s a fun twist on a boring ol’ door mat. This DIY comes from Sugar Bee Crafts. Make sure to do this DIY outside with newspaper under your working area. Find the perfect door mat here if you don’t already have one. After that, you’ll need a stencil (of whatever you’d like) and spray paint in the color of your choice. Use contact paper to make your stencil. You can use a Silhouette Cameo to cut out the contact paper, or try freehanding using an X-Acto knife or razor blade. Once you have your stencil, simply lay down the stencil on the mat and secure with tape. Make sure your mat is covered everywhere except for the stenciled portion. Spray paint your stencil. Let it dry, pull off your stencil, and voila — you have a beautiful door mat! Branch Candle Decor Once your favorite candle is all burned up, use the glass for a decorative home piece. You’ll need a short glass or jar (with perpendicular flat sides), small sticks, and a hot glue gun. Break or cut the branches to be about the same height as the glass. Stick the branches onto the glass using the glue gun. Continue this until you can’t see much of the glass. Place a tea light or small candle inside for a beautiful glowing light. What is your favorite apartment DIY? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading! We hope that you have a great month here in Tacoma, WA!

6 Movie Night Recommendations

A movie on a summer evening with friends is always memorable. We have 5 summertime movie classics to share with you for the perfect movie night at your Nantucket Gate apartment! - The Goonies If The Goonies isn’t a summertime classic, we don’t know what is. Two brothers and their misfit friends go on an adventure for Pirate’s treasure to save their home. They have to avoid a group of bad guys who are also on the hunt for the treasure. This movie has adventure, mystery, and some hilarious lines. - The Sandlot Another great summertime classic, The Sandlot is also about a group of boys. Scottie Smalls moves into a new neighborhood and makes friends with a group of boys who love playing baseball at the sandlot. While playing there one day, they get into trouble and work together to figure out how to face their fear. It’s sure to please every audience with its classic quotes. Our favorite: “You’re killin’ me, Smalls!” - The Endless Summer “The crown jewel to ten years of Bruce Brown surfing documentaries. Brown follows two young surfers around the world in search of the perfect wave, and ends up finding quite a few in addition to some colorful local characters.” - IMDB This is an old classic that’s sure to bring a surfer and relaxing vibe to your movie night. - What About Bob? A hilarious and quotable movie, What About Bob? Tells the story of Bob Wiley who goes in for therapy with Dr. Leo Marvin. Dr. Leo Marvin has to soon leave on vacation with his family after their first visit together, but Bob is needy with phobias of nearly everything. He decides to find his way to the Marvin’s vacation home and everyone, except Leo, wants Bob to stay. This funny and clever movie is a sure hit. - Secondhand Lions “A coming-of-age story about a shy, young boy sent by his irresponsible mother to spend the summer with his wealthy, eccentric uncles in Texas.” - IMDB This is a great movie with a funny and feel-good undertone. Put this on for a perfect summer movie night. - Super 8 While making a zombie movie with a Super-8 camera, a group of kids see a train derail. They find out it was no accident and search for the truth about what happened to that train. This movie takes place in Ohio in 1979 and is a throwback to better times. It has mystery with a little sci-fi and is sure to please all. What’s your favorite summertime movie classic? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading! Have a great month here in Tacoma, WA!

Fathers Day Gift Ideas

Father’s Day is just around the corner. Whether the father figure in your life lives close by in Tacoma, WA or not, it’s a great gesture to spend a little time making or buying something special for him. The Nantucket Gate Blog has a few great recommendations to let him know you’re thinking of him this month. Leather Key Chain Check out Marakesh Leather Goods , based out of Seattle, to find a unique and perfect gift for you father. It will always be a reminder to him of your thoughtfulness. They have a variety of styles with different leather designs. Marakesh Leather Goods also sells other goods such as belts, belt buckles, wallets, and wristbands so you can find the perfect gift for him. DIY Branch Coasters These coasters are the perfect gift to give dad this Father’s Day. You’ll need straight branches that are no smaller than 3.5” in diameter, a handsaw, sandpaper, and clear varnish . First, you’ll cut the branch into ½” thick pieces. Sand the surface until it’s smooth (don’t sand the bark on the outside edges), coat the wood with the varnish, and let it dry. Visit the link above for pictures to follow along with as you DIY. Pair this great gift with your dad’s favorite drink and it’s the perfect combination. Photo Calendar A photo calendar can be a perfect and absolutely unique treasure to share with your dad. Choose pictures that capture fatherhood. Maybe that’s a picture of him holding you as a newborn, helping you move to college, or maybe a photo from your last vacation. Artifact Uprising is a perfect company to help you do this. They will create a wood calendar for you with pictures of your choice. It’s simple and beautifully made. What is your favorite Father’s Day gift you have given your dad? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading!

Breakfast Recipe

Hi Readers! Today we’re sharing all our best tips for eating breakfast and the benefits of doing so. Your Nantucket Gate apartment is a great place to prepare you own healthy meals. Starting your day with breakfast might take a few extra moments than skipping it or grabbing something quick, but we promise it’s worth it. Fueling your body and mind will help you accomplish more during the day. You’ll be able to get out the door and start your day on the right foot. Eating breakfast kickstarts your metabolism, wakes up your body and gives your body the nutrients it needs to get going. Lots of breakfast cereals are a quick option but pack a lot of sugar. Making smart decisions in the morning will pay off during the rest of your day. We are excited to try this Frech Toast Bake recipe from Lil Luna. Find the full tutorial at the link here . Ingredients 1 loaf sourdough bread (we used Pepperidge Farm loaf) 8 eggs 2 cups milk ½ cup heavy cream ¾ cup sugar 2 TB vanilla Topping: ½ cup flour ½ cup brown sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon ¼ tsp. salt ½ cup cold butter, cut into pieces Instructions Cut loaf into cubes and place evenly in a greased 9x13 pan. In a bowl, mix together eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar and vanilla. Pour evenly over bread. Cover your pan with Saran Wrap and refrigerate overnight. Mix together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Cut in butter with this mixture until crumbly and place in a Ziploc bag and refrigerate overnight as well. Take pan and Ziploc out when ready to bake. Sprinkle crumbly mixture evenly over the bread. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on how soft you like it. Enjoy this delicious breakfast! Thanks for reading.

Clean-up Quickly

Welcome back to Nantucket Gate’s blog. Today’s post is all about how to keep your Nantucket Gate apartment clean and organized. Having a clean space is a great way to accomplish more throughout the day. You can also host friends and family without worrying about your surroundings. Try some of these tips below to get your home in great shape. Get garbage cans for every room of your home (and don’t forget your car!). That way there will be a place for everything and you won’t have trash or unused items piling up in every corner. Have a ton of plastic grocery bags? Use them to line your garbage cans. In your closet, there is probably a ton of wasted space that could be utilized much better. Here’s a trick: when you hang up your clean clothes, do so BACKWARDS, then when you wear items, hang them up FORWARDS. The items that are still hung up backwards are the ones you know you don’t wear. Sell the items at a local consignment shop or on Instagram to make some extra cash! The refrigerator might be where foods go to die. But if you can get it in really great shape, you’ll be able to save money! Organize your refrigerator so that you can simply open the door and know just what you have and what you need at the store. If that bottle of ranch is hidden in the back, you might find yourself purchasing double! Your living room area is probably a catch all for those cozy blankets and shoes kicked off at the end of the day. Designate areas for these kinds of items in order to avoid extra clutter. These tips are great for avoiding messes and keeping your home in order. When things are clean and tidy, you can relax! Thanks for reading Nantucket Gate’s blog!

Travel Tricks

For those who are headed out of Tacoma on their own journeys, we’ve got some ideas to help you tackle the busy airport. From planning the trip to packing to waiting in endless lines, there’s much stress to be felt. But we want to help you make the most of your trip. Here are a few tips: Plan your trip — schedule your itinerary, know where you’ve got layovers and when you’ll arrive at every location. Don’t be afraid to be old-school here and print out tickets or maps. If you’ve got it all stored on your phone and your device dies, you might be out of luck! Plan ahead but remember to be flexible during this busy time! Keep essentials close — when you’re waiting in line at security, make everyone’s life easier by keeping your ID and boarding pass handy, and be cooperative with the TSA agents. They see thousands of people each day, and you only have to see them once. Charge your devices and invest in a portable charger if possible! It will save your life. Stay Fueled — just like flights and delays are unpredictable, you never know when you will have to go a few hours without a meal. Keep high protein snacks on hand so you’ll have enough energy to make it through your travel day. Binging on junk food or fast food sounds like a great way to treat yourself, but keeping healthier options in mind will ensure you’ll feel great all day long. When choosing snacks, try to choose ones with little mess and no strong scents so as not to bother other travelers near you. Hydrate! Planes can be so dry. After a day in the air you don’t want to feel like a shriveled raisin. Keep a water bottle handy. Use hand or face lotion and chapstick. We hope these tips help you out this season as you make your way through the friendly skies! Thanks for reading Nantucket Gate Apartments blog!