Blog Posts

Pet Care Tips

Late summer is a great time for getting out and stretching your legs — for you and especially your pet! Nantucket Gate is a pet-friendly apartment community, and today we’re offering a few reminders for things to watch out for in your pet as they explore Tacoma, WA so that they have just a good experience as you in the sun. Groom Your Pet Regular grooming is important to your pet’s cleanliness and health (and, by extension, yours and that of your home). Get ready to do it more often in the upcoming months, as summertime can mean more shedding or need for trimming of fur. Avoid shaving your pet’s coat, as that can expose their skin to harsh sun. While you groom and wash your pet (the latter can also aid in cooling down your pet), stay on the lookout for summer insects, like fleas and ticks. Invest in a flea comb and talk to your veterinarian about other tips for noticing and treating insect problems . Take It Easy Your pet still needs regular exercise, both to stay strong and to let out the jitters. Ensure that your walk, jog, run, or other activities outside are actually effective for your pet by taking it easy and not pushing them more than necessary. Take breaks, bring a pet water bottle with you to help them stay hydrated, stay in shaded areas, and get pet sunscreen for your outings. Be Considerate About Your Late Summer Celebrations Whether you’re hosting a barbecue or heading out for a hike, remember that your actions affect and can be extremely harmful to your pet. Some foods may be poisonous to them, so keep them away from your barbecues. Be careful when you’re at the pool and practice pool safety habits. Avoid mishaps and things can go swimmingly. What other summer pet care tips would you add to our list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. We hope these ideas help you and your pet have a stress-free and enjoyable summer.

How to Add Color to Your Apartment

Keep a vibrant, fresh environment in your home at Nantucket Gate this fall by adding some color to your apartment! This month, the blog has some ideas for simple ways you can do this and find the resources to do this right here in Tacoma, WA. Furniture If you’re in the market for some new furniture, now is a great time to shop for pieces you’ll love to welcome to your apartment. Know that adding color to your apartment doesn’t have to mean you’re painting your walls every color of the rainbow; it definitely can, but it even extends to the neutrals, including white, brown, or black, that you choose for your furniture. Of course, you can create a beautiful colorful scheme with your furniture, so browse some colorful furniture ideas on Pinterest to get your creative juices flowing. If you’re up for it, you can even repurpose some old furniture with new fabric or paint in your favorite colors to give it a fresh look. Pillows and throw blankets You can have a lot of fun with the patterns and fabrics you choose for pillows and throw blankets because you can easily rotate through the ones you choose to display throughout the year, or if you love them enough, you can have them on your couches all year long. We love the ideas and options in the decorative pillows and blankets section at Wayfair. If you want to create a visually pleasing look, try to go for colors and patterns that complement, rather than clash with each other. Photos and art Let your personality shine through in every element of your apartment through your design choices. One easy way to do this is by displaying art that speaks to you or photos of yourself, your family and friends, or your other favorite things in your apartment. The prints themselves will have some sort of color design, even if they’re black and white, but if you want to make them pop, shop around for some unique, colorful frames and choose your favorites. What are your favorite ways to add color to your apartment? Share your suggestions and any of your favorite places to shop for home decor in the comments! Thanks for reading!

Talk Like a Pirate Day

It’s September and the 19th day of the month is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, so prepare to walk the plan. . . errr, hear some piratical language — words like blimey, ahoy, and swab for instance. To get a jump and be ready to talk like a pirate to get in on the fun, The Nantucket Gate Blog has pulled together some piratical resources for members of our apartment community here in Tacoma, WA — so blow the man down! A couple of blokes, John Baur and Mark Summers by name were playing a game of racquetball way back in 1995. While playing they threw around some pirate speak. The upshot of that experience was that they decided that a day should be set aside for everyone to talk like a pirate. The date, September 19th, was chosen because it was Mark’s wife’s birthday. Over the next few years, a localized following of pirate speak every September happened. The concept took off after Miami Herald humor columnist, Dave Barry, featured the holiday in his writing. (You can read the original column here .) Why No one really knows why, except maybe perhaps it seemed like a good idea at the time. We agree that it is a great idea. Talking like a pirate takes a bit of practice, but with the right terminology at your fingertips, you can be a pro in no time. We’ve included this Pirate Glossary to give you a foot up in preparation for the big day. We bet you’ll learn things about pirates, ships, and the seven seas that you didn’t know before. What obscure holidays are your favorites? Feel free to share in the comments, and thanks for reading today’s blog post!

Peach Recipes for the End of Summer

As summer is nearing its end and fall is approaching, take advantage of your fruits by making a recipe to use them up before they go out of season. One of summer’s best fruits is the peach! Try out one of these delicious peach recipes in your apartment from today’s Nantucket Gate Blog for your next picnic, treat, or meal. Balsamic Peach Chicken Skillet This dish, made of chicken and peaches, serves as a delicious main course. The garlic, honey, balsamic vinegar sauce smothering the concoction serves as a sweet marinade for a serving of chicken. Add peaches for an instant uplift to an already sweet meal. Peach Streusel Muffins Whether you eat this as a side to a meal, a quick breakfast snack, or a crumbly dessert, you’ll be happy you made this recipe. The author of the recipe describes it as buttery, tender, and moist with a crumb topping and a sweet vanilla glaze to pull the muffin and peaches combo together. Fresh Peach Lemonade Lemonade is a summer classic, so if you haven’t already poured yourself a glass, try this peach lemonade recipe. All it takes are a few basic ingredients: three large peaches, ½ cup of sugar, a cup of real lemon juice, and water! The tartness of the lemonade is sure to mix well with the sweetness of your ripest peaches for a drink you won’t forget. Peach Dumplings These peach dumplings look like the perfect comfort food, movie night treat, or simply a delectable welcome home after a long day. Make them using crescent rolls, butter, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, lemon juice, orange soda, and peaches for some of the creamiest, most tender and delectable treats you can find this month. Peach Sherbet If you want a dessert to combat the summer heat and cool you down here in Tacoma, WA, try out this peach sherbet recipe. It’s another dessert to make you feel like you’re having the perfect end to summer. Plus, all it takes is frozen sliced peaches and sweetened condensed milk! Just practice your patience while you wait for the peaches to freeze and for the blender to cream it all into your favorite sherbet consistency. We hope you enjoy these and any other peach recipes you try this month. Thanks for reading!

3 Ways to Spruce Your Work Station

Amidst a global pandemic, your life may have been turned upside down, especially when it comes to working. Many have needed to adjust to working from home, and you may be one of those people. One of the best ways to ensure you maintain productivity and your sanity is by providing yourself with a work station that’s conducive to how you work best. In this week’s Nantucket Gate Blog, we’ve got three ways you can spruce up your workstation! Declutter In order to give yourself a productive workstation, consider removing the clutter! Clutter is known to be a distraction and can severely limit the usable space you have at your workstation. If you work on a computer or laptop, your setup may include a lot of wires. Give yourself a break from the headache of multiple wires by doing some cable management, which will free up space and give your workstation a cleaner look! Use a Theme Oftentimes our workstations end up being just a trivial collection of things we need to do our job. This reality is one of the reasons why our workstations tend to be unenjoyable and visually displeasing places to be. An aesthetically pleasing workstation is difficult to accomplish, but you can start by picking a theme! A theme will give you an idea as to how to decorate and structure your workstation. Cohesion is an important aspect of sprucing up your workspace, so aspire for a cohesive theme! Consider Your Occupation Your occupation is the reason you have your workstation in the first place, so why not invest in technology or items that make your work life a little easier? These items will not only help you be more productive but will also add a modern flair to your workspace, as long as you do proper cable management (for your tech items) and fit it into your theme! Have you spruced up your workstation recently? Share your thoughts with our Tacoma, WA apartment community by leaving a comment!

Take a Mental Break

Spending a majority of your time in your home practicing social distancing can take a toll on you mentally and emotionally. It’s important to take care of yourself during stressful times, which is why in this week’s Nantucket Gate Blog, we’ve got a few tips for you on how you can give yourself a mental break before you burn out! A Breath of Fresh Air When you’ve gone a whole day with busy work or sitting down, going outside and enjoying some fresh air can help clear your head and break any tension building up from your day at work. When you do get fresh air, remember to keep any technology or distractions away so you can breathe in the fresh air. A Nap Sometimes, all you need is a nap. A brief snooze can be a way to rest and recharge from an overloaded day of work. Depending on how stressed out you are, it may take you a while to get to sleep, but once you do fall asleep, it’ll be worth it. For a nap to be effective, it can’t be too long, or too short. Set your alarm for a time between 15-45 minutes, but certainly not more than an hour, otherwise you’ll get lethargic! Eat When you are stressed or overworked, it can help to take a bite of a treat that you enjoy! There’s something satisfying about eating a meal or treat you enjoy to get your mind off of work-related stresses. Not only is eating a good way to enjoy some time away from work, but it’ll also give you some much-needed energy for the rest of your day! Do you have any ways you like to destress while you’re working? We’d love to hear from you if you have, so leave a comment for our Tacoma, WA apartment community!