Blog Posts

Books to Read This Summer

Here at Courtland Towers, we love summertime and the relaxing vibes that it brings to the beautiful Arlington, Virginia. To help you embrace the laid back vibes of summer, we are sharing a few summer book recommendations. Enjoy the warm summer weather without leaving your apartment by reading a book as you lounge on your private balcony or patio. The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman A captivating, beautiful, and stunningly accomplished debut novel that opens in 1918 Australia - the story of a lighthouse keeper and his wife who make one devastating choice that forever changes two worlds. Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Summer People by Elin Hilderbrand Every summer the Newton family retreats to their beloved home on Nantucket for three months of sunshine, cookouts, and bonfires on the beach. But this summer will not be like any other. When Arch Newton, a prominent New York attorney, dies in a plane crash on his way home from a business trip, his beautiful widow Beth can barely keep things together. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive. The novel follows three women, each at different crossroads in their lives. Do you have a favorite book or one that you highly recommend? Share the title and author with us in the comments. Thanks for taking the time to read our post!

4th of July Sweet Treats

Independence Day is fast approaching. Are you ready for this exciting summer holiday? The Courtland Towers Blog is here to share a few dessert/treat recipes that are perfect for any 4th of July themed picnic or party. Gather up all the ingredients you will need and then make them at your Arlington, VA apartment today! Red, White, and Blue Star Cookies These star shaped cookies include an edible stained glass center made from melted hard candies. The recipe comes from Good Housekeeping and is a perfect choice for any 4th of July themed picnic. Ingredients include flour, baking soda, salt, butter, eggs, vanilla extract, hard red and blue candies, powdered sugar, water, and white sparkling sugar. Red, White, and Blueberry Lemonade Pops Need to cool off on a hot summer day? These popsicles will be loved by kids and adults alike. Here is everything you will need: popsicle molds, popsicle sticks, sliced strawberries, lemonade, sugar, vanilla yogurt, and blueberries. The recipe comes from Betty Crocker.com. Fourth of July Berry Dessert Pizza This berry pizza, made of a soft sugar cookie crust and sweet cream cheese icing and topped with strawberries, is a tasty, light end to a hearty meal. Decorate your pizza the way the blogger of the recipe does and make a star shape in the middle, or even try to make the American flag out of your berries! Have fun with it and you’ll be proud to serve and eat it! Firecracker Strawberries This recipe from Delish is simple but delicious and berry patriotic! All you will need is fresh strawberries, marshmallow creme, blue pop rocks or blue colored sugar, and vodka (optional). It makes a light dessert option that won’t make you feel weighed down. Fireworks and Cream Cookies Are you ready for a flavor explosion in your mouth? This recipe from Inside BruCrew Life is definitely worth a try. To make them, you will need vanilla cake mix, butter, an egg, vanilla extract, cream cheese, Oreo cookie chunks, red, white, and blue m&ms, and sprinkles (red, white, and blue). 4th of July Tie Dyed Fudge The tie dye effect of this fudge is incredibly patriotic and eye-catching! The recipe comes from Taste and Tell and calls for the following ingredients: white chocolate chips, marshmallow creme, evaporated milk, sugar, butter, and red and blue food coloring. Which of these desserts are you most excited to try? Share your own patriotic recipes with us in the comments. We hope you have a happy Independence Day!

Ideas for Summer Decorating

Need some ideas for summer decorating? You’ve come to the right place! In this Courtland Towers Blog post, we are sharing a few ideas to help you decorate your apartment to reflect the summer season. Read on to get some ideas that you can adjust to suit your own personal style. Floral Decor Summer is the perfect time to break out any floral themed home decor you have. Floral patterned decorative pillows, curtains, rugs, or decorative blankets. Beach Themed Decor Beach balls, starfish, photos of the beach, anchors, and other beach themed accent pieces are perfect for bringing the vibes of summer into your apartment. Colors like aqua blue, white, and coral will also help give a beach feel to your home. Add Flowers & Plants Flower arrangements are an easy way to add a summer accent to your decor. Put together a traditional arrangement of spring or summer flowers. Martha Stewart has some lovely ideas for unique combinations of flowers and containers to help you get your imagination going, or simply follow the directions to create the arrangements that are shown. Another fun twist on unusual containers for spring or summer flower arrangements comes from Better Homes and Gardens: repurpose an outdoor birdbath to create “living artwork” featuring a “display of moss, spring-flowering bulbs, and pussy willow branches.” Experiment with color Things come to life in the summertime. Embrace bright colors! Add a couple of colorful throw pillows or to your bed, wallpaper your bookshelf, or use washi tape to design patterns on your walls. There are plenty of ways to add a little bit of color to your space. Tapestries can add color (and interest) to your walls, and colorful accessories (like a vintage typewriter or a leather globe) can make your room pop. We especially like the idea of painting a cheap piece of furniture for a vibrant and exciting look. Share your summer decorating tips with us in the comments. Thanks for reading our post. Have fun decorating your Arlington, VA apartment for summer!

Swimming Pool Games

Summer is finally here and it is the perfect time to make a splash in the pool! Lucky for you, here at Courtland Towers we have both an indoor and outdoor pool available for use by residents of our Arlington, VA apartment community. Head outside and beat the summer heat or go swimming inside if the weather isn’t so nice. Read today’s blog post to get a few ideas for what games to play at the pool. Atomic Whirlpool Have everyone get in the pool and line up single file along the edge with very little space between them. Have everyone walk for a couple of minutes, then jog another couple of minutes, then "run" near the edge another couple of minutes. If done right the water will "carry" them around the pool. Finally, tell them to turn around and go the other way. It is almost impossible to go against the current! Noodle Joust Jousting was a medieval sport where knights riding horses would try to knock each other off their horse with a lance. Select two players to sit on a blow-up raft in the middle of the pool. Give each one a pool noodle and have them joust with the noodles and try and get each other off the raft. The winner takes on the next player. F-I-S-H It’s like the basketball game, H-O-R-S-E, but in the water. The objective is to copy the actions/moves of your opponent in the water. For example, player one does an underwater handstand for five seconds, player two has to match it or get a letter. The first player to spell out F-I-S-H loses. Note: You can do each action/move only once. Chicken Fight This classic pool game is one of our favorites. “A chicken fight in the pool is like double-decker wrestling. There are two teams consisting of two people each. Each team has a ‘bottom’ and a ‘top.’ The ‘top’ climbs onto the ‘bottom's’ shoulders. The two ‘top’ people are the only ones who actively fight. The object is to knock your opponent into the water, either by toppling just the ‘top’ or both ‘top’ and ‘bottom’ together.” the goal of the game is to knock your opponent off of the shoulders of their teammate and into the water. Be sure to play safely. What is your favorite game to play in the pool? Let us know in the comments. We hope you get the chance to have some fun at the pool this summer!

Celebrating Memorial Day in Arlington, VA

Celebrate Memorial Day this month on Monday, May 28th! In this Courtland Towers Blog post, we are highlighting a few places and events that you can visit or attend to observe this national holiday here in Arlington, VA or nearby in a patriotic way. Memorial Day is a National holiday observed on the last Monday of May which honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, at least, it marks the beginning of summer. Places to Visit Arlington National Cemetery (6 minutes away) Make a visit to the Arlington National Cemetery this Memorial Day. The grounds of Arlington National Cemetery honor those who have served our nation by providing a sense of beauty and peace for all guests. The rolling green hills are dotted with trees that are hundreds of years in age and complement the gardens found throughout the 624 acres of the cemetery. This impressive landscape serves as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of every individual laid to rest within the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial Amphitheater (8 minutes away) Located within the Arlington National Cemetery is the Memorial Amphitheater where national memorial services to honor all American service members are held three times a year. On Memorial Day, the memorial service begins at 11 a.m. About 5,000 visitors attend each of the three major annual memorial services in the Amphitheater. They take place Easter, Memorial Day and Veterans Day and are sponsored by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington. The National Portrait Gallery (19 minutes away) The National Portrait Gallery gives visitors a chance to meet fascinating Americans from more than 225 years of history in its halls. Through portraits and performances the Portrait Gallery tells the stories of poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists who speak American history. The gallery is open from 11:30 am - 7 pm every day except December 25th. Events National Memorial Day Parade The National Memorial Day Parade, held annually along Constitution Avenue in our nation’s capital – Washington, DC – shares the story of American honor and sacrifice from across the generations. The parade, commemorating its thirteenth year, is our nation’s largest Memorial Day event, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators to the National Mall to pay tribute to those who have served, are serving, and most importantly those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while in service to our country. The Parade begins at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 28th, 2018 . What other events are happening in the area? Let our apartment community know in the comments. Enjoy celebrating Memorial Day this month!

Desserts to Make Your Mom on Mother's Day

Any day is a great time to let your mom know that you appreciate her, but especially on Mother’s Day! This year Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 13th. The Courtland Towers blog invites you to make Mother’s Day extra sweet by making one of these delicious, yet easy-to-make, desserts. Mini Molten Chocolate Cakes from Eat Well 101 These cakes are the perfect size and are great for any chocolate lover! You will need dark chocolate pieces, butter, eggs, granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, and fresh raspberries. The recipe makes 10 mini cakes. Vanilla Bean Cheesecake from Willowbird Baking This rich and creamy cheesecake is enhanced with the natural flavor from vanilla beans! Ingredients include cream cheese, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla bean extract, eggs, sour cream, cold water, gelatin, heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, salt, butter, and raw macadamia nuts. Red Velvet Nutella Stuffed Cookies from A Cookie Named Desire Anything filled with Nutella is bound to be amazing, and these cookies are no exception! You will need the following ingredients: all-purpose flour, Dutch processed cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, unsalted butter, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, an egg, milk, vanilla extract, red velvet emulsion, chocolate chips, and Nutella. Key Lime Pie from Mom on Timeout This dessert has the perfect balance of sweet and tart. First, make the graham cracker crust from crushed graham crackers, granulated sugar, and melted butter. Next, make the key lime filling from sweetened condensed milk, key lime juice, and lime zest. Top with a whipped topping made from heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes from OMG Chocolate Desserts These shortcake cupcakes have a fresh strawberry in the center and are topped with a light and refreshing whipped cream frosting. You will need all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, unsalted butter, sugar, egg whites, milk, plain Greek yogurt, vanilla extract, and hulled strawberries. Make the frosting with heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and finely chopped strawberries. What is your favorite type of dessert? Have fun baking something sweet at your Arlington, VA apartment for your mom this Mother’s Day!