Blog Posts

Flight Tips

Today we’re sharing some tips for flying and surviving a busy airport. If you’ve got a trip coming up, try these ideas to ensure your trip is easy and stress-free. There is a lot of planning that goes into a trip. Whether you’re traveling for business or for vacation, you can minimize the stress on your flight with a few tips. Of course, sometimes the unexpected can happen and delays are forced on travelers, but there are certainly some things we can control. Airline food is frequently a topic of contention amongst travelers; the portions aren’t big enough, the food is too salty, the food is unrecognizable. Whatever your gripe, there’s a chance that you’re not going to be satiated after your meal. And if you struggle with travel sickness, the unfamiliar food may be a complete turnoff. Pack some simple, non-perishable snacks, such as granola bars. Avoid chocolate if your destination is likely to be hot and there’s a chance you won’t eat it all before arrival, so you don’t have to deal with a sticky mess later. If you struggle with travel sickness, ginger, citrus or mint-flavored candies may help, and hard candy and gum can help sore ears during take-off and landing. Copy your Spotify playlists, load up your Kindle, pack enough books and magazines, download some games — whatever your entertainment preference is, bring plenty of it! A good long-haul airline will offer plenty of seat-back entertainment, but it’s a good idea to have some of your own in case the in-flight entertainment isn’t to your taste. Remember that your devices need to be in airplane mode, so ensure anything you want to read, watch, listen to or play is downloaded to the device for offline use. These helpful tips will allow you to have a great experience flying every time you take off. Thanks for reading the Nantucket Gate apartment community blog!

Service Ideas

In our last post we shared a few of our favorite new books. Today we are sharing some tips for getting involved in your community and serving others. When your life gets really busy, it can sometimes feel stressful and overwhelming. A great way to take a step back and gain perspective can be through helping others. You don’t have to have a huge budget — time or money wise. There are small steps as well as larger gestures you can take to help others. Either way, we think your intentions are the most important part. Do things for others out of love and not recognition and it will certainly be worth it. To start small, just pay attention to others. Look around for immediate needs a person may have. For example, open a door for someone, offer to carry an extra grocery bag for a fellow shopper, or help a struggling parent in the airport. These people are all around us and would appreciate help. Delivering treats to a friend or neighbor in need is a great way to show you care. Be wary of allergies as you choose treats. If you want to give something anonymously, it may be safer to give some flowers or a store-bought treat. Some people might not feel safe eating a treat from someone they don’t know or recognize. For a little more time-intensive service, try volunteering at a local kitchen, making sandwiches for the homeless or start a clothing drive for the underprivileged. Head to Volunteer Match to find a place where you can contribute near your Nantucket Gate apartment. Of course, some areas of the city are not as safe as others, so we highly suggest doing some research beforehand. If your service isn’t as well received as you had hoped, don’t feel bad. Some people might not know how to respond. Just remember your intentions and be kind. That is the greatest way to make a difference in your community!

2017 Must Reads

Welcome to Nantucket Gate’s blog. This is a great space where we will share apartment living tips and tricks. From decor DIYs to delicious recipes to restaurant recommendations, we’ll have it all, so check back often for all those things and more. In today’s post we want to share some great books for you to read this year. We’ve provided some reviews of the books, so you know they’re good! Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult — “Jodi Picoult is never afraid to take on hot topics, and in Small Great Things , she tackles race and discrimination in a way that will grab hold of you and refuse to let you go. . . . This page-turner is perfect for book clubs.” — Popsugar Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman — “A compelling account of what happened to the Clark family and its fortune . . . a tremendous feat.” — St. Louis Post-Dispatch All The Missing Girls by Megan Miranda — “Are you paying attention? You'll need to be; this thriller will test your brain with its reverse chronological structure, and it's a page-turner to boot.” — ELLE The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell — “Gladwell, a New Yorker staff writer, offers an incisive and piquant theory of social dynamics that is bound to provoke a paradigm shift in our understanding of mass behavioral change. Defining such dramatic turnarounds as the abrupt drop in crime on New York’s subways, or the unexpected popularity of a novel, as epidemics, Gladwell searches for catalysts that precipitate the ‘tipping point,’ or critical mass, that generates those events.” — Booklist These books are a must for any avid reader. An afternoon curled up with a good book in your apartment is a great way to spend your weekend here in Tacoma, WA. Reading can help improve writing skills as well as communication skills. Let us know what your favorite picks are. Check back often for more posts about apartment living!

Host A Game Night

If you and your friends are looking for some fun this weekend, look no further than your own Tacoma, WA home. Hosting friends for a night of games and snacks is a fun and intimate way to spend some time together. This is also a fun idea if you’re on a budget because it’s fairly inexpensive to host a game night! Our first idea is a little more time intensive, but certainly a ton of fun. This Mafia Game Night comes from The Dating Divas. Find their site here . This game would also be fun to have your guests dress up Mafia style! The site says, “If you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary, this is a group date night you’ll definitely enjoy. As you play Mafia, you will get to know the devious and dangerous side of your spouse and your friends. It’s never boring because each phase of the game is different and governed by the people who are playing!” We also love the idea of doing Fishbowl at a game night! Find the directions right here . This game is great for a ton of laughs and some fun competition. It’s also a great way to learn how to communicate with new people, and choose your words wisely! Of course, what pairs better with games than snacks? We think something sweet or salty would be a great snack for you and your friends. Feel free to suggest friends bring drinks or a snack to share with others. Maybe try this S’mores Popcorn from Eat Cake for Breakfast. It’s an excellent combination of popcorn, chocolate, and marshmallow! With a few game ideas and a great snack, you’re all set for a night of laughs and friendly competition. The best part is that you don’t even have to leave your home! Thanks for reading the Nantucket Gate Blog!

Candle DIY

Decorating your Tacoma, WA apartment can really be a lot of fun. But finding unique pieces can sometimes be a struggle. You don’t want your home looking exactly like everyone else’s. Good news though is that DIY projects are a great way to ensure your home looks just how you want. Even if you follow the directions of a project, you have so much freedom to make it your own and put your own spin on it. Candles are the perfect addition to any room! Not only do they smells amazing but their light gives off the perfect ambiance. You can find candles in any size and style. They can be expensive or you can find some at a really great bargain. Even if you don’t choose to burn your candles, they still add a really sophisticated and timeless touch to your decor. Display them on a pretty tray along with a few books and a vase of fresh flowers. Or line them up and down the center of your table, in varying sizes. They are also pretty in the bathroom or on a night table. We like this idea from Sugar and Cloth for Rosemary Grapefruit Candles. As mentioned, this project allows for a lot of freedom. Your vessel can be any style you prefer. The scent can also be catered just for your liking! We think these make not only a great decoration but could be a great gift for friends or loved ones. This is also a fun activity that could be done with friends. Crafting and DIY projects open up a whole world of possibilities for your home. Share your creations with friends on your social media so others can be inspired as well! We hope you find just the right project to add to your space. Thanks for reading the Nantucket Gate Blog.

Taco Tuesday

Each Tuesday at dinner tables across Tacoma, Taco Tuesday is celebrated. A fun activity is to make your own tacos so you can make a healthier version. For a fresh take on the typical taco, try this recipe from Little Bits Of. Sweet potato toast is a fresh spin on tortillas. She suggests slicing the sweet potato really thin and cooking it so it gets evenly soft. The toasts can be topped with a ton of different ingredients, but taco fixin’s are our favorite! The recipe doesn’t take a ton of ingredients or skill, so it’s great for a quick weeknight dinner. Ingredients 1 medium sweet potato 1 cup shredded chicken 1/4 cup salsa 1/4 cup black beans 1 avocado, pitted and chopped Directions To Make Sweet Potato Toast: Cut the tips off the sweet potato and slice lengthwise into 1/4 inch slices. Add to the toaster like you would bread and toast on high 2-3 times through depending on the toaster. You just want to see small brown spots on the sweet potato. Scoop shredded chicken onto 4-5 sweet potato toasts. Scoop salsa on top of each one, followed by the black beans and then avocado. Enjoy! If you’re looking for a more traditional version of Tacos, try this one for Cilantro Lime Slow Cooker Tacos. Find the recipe here from Belle of The Kitchen. The site says, “These Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos are so delicious and simple to make! A five ingredient dump-and-go meal that takes minutes to prepare and cooks all day in the slow cooker!” Enlist some friends and make a night of it! Cooking together is a fun activity and everyone gets to enjoy the final product. These recipes will certainly get you through to the end of the week with ease. Thanks for reading the Nantucket Gate Blog!