As we wind down from Christmas and Hanukah celebrations with family and friends, we look forward to the next big, fun celebration: New Year’s Eve. What a great time to revel with family and friends over the accomplishments of the past year, while looking forward to starting 2015 off right.
In a few major U.S. cities, the New Year’s Eve celebrations top all others. Here are the top five places in the US for partying and ringing in the New Year in style:
Every year, the world-renowned Pantone Color Institute forecasts the “Color of the Year” for the next year. Pantone is a major authority on colors and has created a standard language for the color communication from designers to producers to retailers. Since 1990, Pantone has predicted what colors will be trendy in the upcoming year. In 2014, the color was the bold yet enchanting Radiant Orchid. For 2015, Pantone leans toward a naturally impactful color: Marsala. So what is Marsala and how can you add elegant touches of it to your life?
This rich color incorporates earthy tones into a more traditional red wine hue. Small touches of Marsala are perfect for warming up a room and making a sophisticated statement. The hearty but stylish tone has a universal appeal and transfers well to design, fashion, beauty, and home décor and furnishings. Here are a few of our favorite ways to incorporate the 2015 Color of the Year into your apartment décor:
Moving during winter months can seem like a pretty daunting task. Between snowstorms, hazardous driving conditions and slippery walkways, there are a lot of things to consider when you add freezing temperatures that moving checklist. If you are moving into or out of an apartment, it’s likely stairs will be involved, which increases the hassle and potential risks of moving in cold weather. Here are a few winter weather tips to making your next move a successful one:
Few people know that moving companies are usually cheaper during the winter season than the summer. By allowing the professionals to pack, transport and unload your possessions, you can reduce frustration and struggle of doing it yourself. Plus, using movers can decrease the amount of time your belongings spend outside in the freezing temperatures.
The holidays are upon us, which means it’s time to start decorating (if you haven’t already.) Between gifts, travel expenses if you go out of town, and hosting family and friends, the holidays can become a an expensive time of year. However, decorations don’t have to break the bank. There are plenty of traditional holiday decorations you can make yourself that are much cheaper than buying them outright. Here are a few of our favorite DIY holiday ideas to make your home and bank account happy:
Traditional wreaths can be on the pricier side, especially if you add extras like lights. Instead, decorate your doors with wreaths made out of present bows. All you’ll need is a Styrofoam wreath (available at most craft stores), a bunch of bows in different sizes and colors, and a hot glue gun.
As the days shorten, the dreams of many apartment dwellers turn to visions of winter wonderlands. Sunday is the pinnacle of this as the official first day of winter arrives with the winter solstice. Whether you love sledding, winter sports, or just sitting by the fire, we reveal our selections for the best cities in which to have an apartment for those who want to make to the most of the winter season.
So you’ve settled into your new apartment and want to make friends with your neighbors. Maybe they’re quiet and almost transparent, making you overly cautious – or maybe they host rowdy football Sundays when you’re trying to get in some quiet time. Either way, it’s good to know how to deal with people that you share a wall (or a ceiling) with. Here are some tips on how to keep your cool and earn your neighbors’ respect, which will become a surprising advantage in your apartment life.
Whether you’re looking to be friends or just apartment allies, you need to figure out the ways of your neighbors. Do they avoid any and all interaction, or do they ask how you’re doing when they see you? It’s important to introduce yourself no matter their behavior, but beyond that, interact as much as they want to. Any more or less and you’re in the danger zone of either bothering the introverts or offending the talkative ones. Having a good reputation with your building-mates has tons of benefits. Neighbors can help you out of a tough situation like a dead car battery, or cooperate with you if you plan on having a holiday party.
Whether you’re exploring your theatrical talents, just got a job offer, or are just getting a new start, Los Angeles is probably one of the more challenging places to get settled into as a new resident. As one of the biggest cities in the world, even urbanites can get overwhelmed. If you’re not sure where to start, consider these few tips to get one step closer to the City of Angels.
About 12 million people call Los Angeles home, with closer to 18 million residents in the Greater Los Angeles area. With this in mind, finding the perfect apartment or job is not as easy as in other cities. Don’t let this scare you – if you get denied an apartment application, that’s okay. If you have three interviews in a week with no calls back, that’s okay too. Persistence is key – try, try again, and eventually you’ll find your niche in The Big Orange.
Finally it is here. Finals week is finished. You have packed up your dorm, and have left the campus for a wonderful holiday break. After a long stressful fall semester, nothing could be more welcome. But, while you are away, visions of a better campus life will be running through your head like sugar plums on Christmas Eve. It may have been that living in the residence hall was too noisy. Maybe one of your dorm roommates were a complete nightmare. Maybe living on campus just didn’t meet your expectations. But that is okay. If you act quickly, the New Year can bring a new start for your college experience.
There are plenty of advantages to living off-campus. One of the most notable is the fact that you now have more control over your environment. In the past, student housing was often dreaded by college students. The thought of being banished to a cinderblock bunker with lots of noise, distractions, and a lack of amenities sent cringes down the spine of students and parents alike. But today’s off-campus housing could not be any further away from that depiction. Today’s student communities are high-tech and luxurious, offering an environment more conducive to study and starting the first stages of adult life.
If you’re planning on hosting any friends and family during the holidays this year, it’s likely your apartment will need a little preparation before your guests arrive. The holiday season is a hectic time for most of us, which means things like dusting your apartment may fall to the wayside. Don’t worry though, following these simple steps can help you prepare your apartment for all your loved ones’ visits.
We love this time of year, and know that you do, too. Everyone seems to be in a joyful, sharing kind of mode. It is a great time to get out of your apartment and participate in some of the merriment in your city. While every city has some great light displays, Christmas caroling, holiday parades, and traditions unique to them, we found the top U.S. cities that go above and beyond for the holidays.
The best seven cities for holiday celebrations include: