Blog Posts

Basic Halloween Safety Guidelines

Halloween is a fun time to dress up and have some fun! The Courtland Towers wants to help ensure residents of our apartment community have a safe night this Halloween, so we are sharing a few basic safety guidelines to follow for an accident-free night. Trick-or-Treating If you have children, ensure that you or another responsible adult is going with them if you can’t. Clearly establish expectations for when children should be home and have a way of communicating with them in case of an emergency. Communicate allergy accommodations with neighbors if you can so that your children and others can enjoy their treasures safely. Only visit people you know in familiar areas. Carry a flashlight to see and be seen. Stay on the sidewalk at all times, walking on the right side of the road. Cross streets at crosswalks and intersections. Do not cut across yards. Lawn ornaments and clotheslines can become hidden hazards in the dark. Decorating Use glow sticks or battery-operated candles inside jack-o-lanterns instead of open flame candles. If you do use candles in your jack-o-lanterns, never leave them unattended. Remove obstacles from lawns, steps, and porches when expecting trick-or-treaters. Keep candles and jack-o-lanterns that are indoors away from curtains, flammable decorations, and other combustibles that could be ignited. Costuming Check that your costume, its materials, and any props you use are flame resistant. Make sure your costume lets you see and hear perfectly. You need to be able to watch and listen for cars. Also, make sure your costume fits. It’s easy to trip on costumes that are too long or shoes that are too big. Put glow-in-the-dark or reflective patches or strips on your costumes so drivers can see you better. What additional safety tips do you want to add to our post? Share your suggestions in the comments. Thanks for reading our post. Have a safe and happy Halloween here in Arlington, VA!

DIY Halloween Wreaths

It’s October, and that means it’s time to get ready for Halloween! The Courtland Towers blog is here to help with ideas for DIY wreaths to hang on your front door. Greet your guests with a cool or creepy wreath that is fitting for this fun and spooky holiday. Sugar Skull Wreath from Crafted Sparrow This wreath is fabulous and super adorable. The contrast of the colorful flowers against the black and white striped wreath stands out brilliantly. Following the traditional style of El Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, from which Halloween originated, this wreath is perfect for this holiday. Wriggling Snake Wreath from Easy Life Hacks This jet black wreath won’t soon be forgotten by your apartment guests. Make it from a plain grapevine wreath, some plastic or rubber toy snakes, black acrylic paint, black spray paint, and some floral wiring. Store it in a box wrapped in tissue paper and use it again next year! Candy Corn Wreath from Woman’s Day This colorful and festive wreath is made from styrofoam wrapped in black duct tape and pieces of candy corn glued onto it. Attach a black ribbon to easily hang it on the front door of your apartment. Spooky Spider Wreath from Chicken Scratch NY This wreath is more adorable than anything else we’ve seen this season. With the combination of orange and black colors, it is sure to stand out! To make it you will need a grapevine wreath, black spray paint, large fake spider, wooden letters to spell “BOO”, orange craft paint, floral wire or hot glue, white yarn, and a blunt needle. Googly Eyes Halloween Wreath from No. 2 Pencil With a whole lot of ping pongs and googly eyes, this eyeball wreath is fun and only slightly creepy. Anyone who comes to your door won’t be able to shake the uncomfortable feeling that they are being watched. Share your own Halloween craft ideas with us in the comments. Happy Halloween from our Arlington, VA apartment community at Courtland Towers!

Sweet and Savory Honey Recipes

Welcome back to the Courtland Towers Blog! We are continuing our celebrating of National Honey Month by sharing a few sweet and savory honey recipes. Try out these recipes at your Arlington, VA apartment this month and let us know which one you liked best. Savory Recipes Sticky Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp The Recipe Critic shares this 20-minute dinner that is oh so flavorful. You will want to make this recipe again and again. Ingredients include large shrimp, soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, a small lemon, butter, and green onions. Serve over rice or pasta. Honey Lemon Chicken with Rice This Honey Lemon Chicken with Rice recipe is sweet-tart and so tender you can cut it with a fork. As the rice cooks it absorbs all the flavors, making you think you were eating risotto – without the time or stirring! Crockpot Honey Pork and Apples Save yourself time in the kitchen by putting your slow cooker to work. This recipe is super easy and will fill your home with the smell of cinnamon and honey as it cooks. It is the perfect combination of savory and sweet for a memorable meal. Sweet Recipes Sea Salt & Honey No-Churn Ice Cream This ice cream is so delicious, and it’s the perfect treat to share with friends and family. The recipe comes from Kitchen Treaty . To make this you’ll need the following ingredients: heavy whipping cream, sweetened condensed milk, honey, and sea salt. Caramel-Pecan Bars Caramelized brown sugar and toasted pecans make an irresistible combination. Pour this mixture over a shortbread crust and bake for delectable, chewy bars. They transport easily to take to a party or give as a gift. Chocolate Chip Honey Cake This sweet and rich dessert is great for a get together with friends. The bonus with this recipe is that it has no added sugar so you can feel good about eating it. The recipe comes from A Treats Affair . Share your favorite honey recipes with us in the comments. Happy National Honey Month!

All About Honey

Did you know that September is National Honey Month? The Courtland Towers Blog is here to help you celebrate with a couple blog posts about honey. In this post we will highlight a few of the many uses for honey, and in our next post we will share a few honey recipes. Replace Sugar If you’re trying to cut down on your sugar intake, honey is a great alternative! Stocked with antioxidants and nutrients that can improve your skin, lower cholesterol, improve circulation, and even help with diabetes, honey is a much healthier alternative to sugar that may even help you lose weight. Of course, honey alone may not cure all your ills, but substituting it for sugar may make a huge difference in your health. Shampoo Raw honey can cleanse and restore the health of your hair and scalp. Try making this DIY honey shampoo to cleanse, moisturize and restore shine to your hair or look for shampoo with honey listed under the ingredients. The post even has tips for figuring out if honey shampoo can work for you, with tips for how to store it if you love it! Fight Acne Honey makes an affordable face cleanser with its natural purifying properties. It is also very gentle on the skin so it can be used by anyone, including people with sensitive skin. Just use half a teaspoon of warm honey and spread it evenly on your face with clean hands. Leave on for 10 minutes and wash off with warm water. Fading Scars It may take a bit of time, but honey and baking soda can help reduce the appearance of scars. Mix a tablespoon of each together and apply to your scar, letting sit for 30 minutes. Rinse with cool water and pat dry. Repeat daily until you notice fading. These are just a few of the many uses of honey. Pick up some honey from a local farmers market or grocery store here in Arlington, VA today. Share other uses for honey that you have discovered with the rest of our apartment community in the comments. Happy National Honey Month!

Celebrate National Golf Month

Welcome back to the Courtland Towers Blog! In this post, we are helping you celebrate National Golf Month. Visit the indoor golf range at our apartment community or head to one of these golf courses in the Arlington, VA area. Washington Golf & Country Club (14 mins away) Once known as the “Playground of Presidents,” the course offers a unique layout winding through the Washington DC area. Measuring just over 6,000 yards from the tips, the sloped fairways and undulating greens keep the low handicapper honest, while other sets of tees keep the mid to high handicapper coming back for more. The club also offers a full-service pro shop and lessons from award-winning Mid Atlantic PGA Professionals. Pinecrest Golf Course (17 mins away) Pinecrest Golf Course is a par 35, 9-hole executive course, measuring 2,462 yards. The challenging, narrow course is dotted with hills and ponds that create a golfing environment suited for novices and more serious players alike. FootGolf is the newest sport sweeping the nation. The only FootGolf facility in Fairfax County, Pinecrest Golf Course is the first American FootGolf League-certified course in Fairfax County! The par 60 course is 1,965 yards with 18 holes. Jefferson District Golf Course (27 mins away) Jefferson District Golf Course is a beautifully landscaped 9 hole executive course which features a gently rolling playing surface with four ponds, ideal for golfers who prefer walking. The course offers a challenging round of golf and includes a par five and some demanding par fours. Greendale Golf Course (28 mins away) Greendale Golf Course is an 18-hole regulation course featuring 148 acres of rolling terrain with asphalt cart paths. The course provides a challenging design with tight Bermuda fairways and several water hazards. The 17th hole offers a spectacular view of the entire course and surrounding area. Do you have a favorite golf course in the area? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post. Happy National Golf Month!

Summer Party Ideas

Summer brings with it great vibes and a longing for adventure. Maybe that’s why there are so many parties in the summertime! Throw your own party this summer in your apartment here at Courtland Towers. Need some ideas? We are sharing a list of some different types of parties so you can switch it up and keep it fresh all summer long. Traditional BBQ with Hot Dog Bar Grill up your favorite hot dogs and put out some favorite (and unique) toppings for the perfect hot dog bar . Pull out the usual sauces along with a variety of peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, onions, sauerkraut, guacamole, and bacon. Make signs with suggested hot dog combinations. There are so many options out there, so be creative! S’mores Bar and Movie Night Invite friends and family and have the perfect s’mores bar with an outdoor movie. You can purchase an inflatable movie screen and a projector for the perfect outdoor movie. We suggest summer movies such as The Sandlot , The Goonies , The Endless Summer , What About Bob? , Secondhand Lions , and Super 8. Buy the classic s’more options as well as some unique choices. Use chocolate graham crackers or different types of candy bars instead of the traditional graham cracker and chocolate bar. Water Games and Root Beer Floats Stay cool on a hot summer day by playing some water games. Break out the squirt guns and water balloons or head to the swimming pool at our apartment community for a game of sharks and minnows . There are all sorts of water games to choose from! Once everyone is all worn out from all the fun, relax and enjoy root beer floats together. We can’t think of a better or a more fun way to beat the summer heat! These are only just a few ideas. You can find more summer party ideas from HGTV. We hope you get the chance to embrace the summertime spirit and have some fun this month here in Arlington, VA!