Light Bottles or Jugs

Save up empty wine bottles or glass jugs so that you can use them to display twinkling strings of battery-operated fairy lights. Your fairy light display will look best if you remove the labels from the bottles. 

Display Your Pictures

This is a rustic, yet whimsical, way to display your favorite photos. Simply hang strings of lights on your wall, and then use old-fashioned wooden clothespins to clip pictures to the wires. 

Give Your Greenery a Glow-Up

Lighten up your house plants and trees by draping strings of fairy lights through their branches. 

Add Soft Lighting to Your Bedroom

Turn your bedroom into a magical room that is accented by tiny lights. Drape fairy lights over a mirror and around your bed's headboard. Don't have a headboard or a mirror? Then, consider stringing the lights along your window or curtains. 

Capture the Look of Fireflies

Did you love catching fireflies as a child? Then, fill mason jars with strands of these little lights, so you can recreate the look of those glowing insects dipping and bobbing in a jar. 

Have you been in search of a new home in Flagstaff, Arizona? Then, we would like to invite you to check out our pet-friendly apartments in Flagstaff. Our community boasts open floor plans with convenient features that are excellent for decorating and entertaining! 

The post Add a Little Sparkle to Your Home with Fairy Lights appeared first on Woodlands Village Apartments Blog.

Refresh Your Home by Refreshing Your Senses

Excite Your Taste Buds

This is the perfect season for citrus- try placing a bowl of citrus fruits on your kitchen table for a summer feel. Other ways to excite the sense of taste is to hang summer herbs such as lavender and rosemary in your kitchen or get a basil plant to put on your countertop.

Create Displays of Nature

There are many ways to include nature in an apartment home, aside from live greenery and colorful flowers. You may choose to swap out your monotone drapes, pillows or tablecloth for a floral pattern. Make sure you're allowing plenty of sunlight through the windows and consider framing and displaying summer fun pictures of your family on vacation.

Include Soothing Sounds

You will be amazed at the difference you will feel when you substitute your normal music selections with the sounds of nature – the ocean waves, the patter of raindrops, or a crackling fire are easily generated with a Sounds of Nature app. Also, consider playing background music of the soft jazz or classical variety to create a soothing summer oasis.

Diffuse Natural Smells 

Diffusing essential oils is a great way to avoid the chemicals associated with commercial spray room deodorizers. Or, you can simmer a pot of water with cinnamon sticks, cloves and nutmeg, lavender flowers, or ginger and almond extract, to get the same effect.

These are the perfect ways to up the enjoyment factor in your Arizona apartment home at Woodlands Village. Our apartments feature spacious, open floor plans in a pet-friendly community.

The post Refresh Your Home for the Summer appeared first on Woodlands Village Apartments Blog.

But nearly everyone feels an upsurge in well-being and energy during the summer months, making this the ideal season to brighten up your apartment.

And a few simple changes made now will help carry the joy of summer into the fall and beyond.

How to Brighten Up Your Apartment

Let There Be Light

Spring and summer are the seasons of mood-lifting light, and you will want to make the most of it even when you’re indoors.

Whites, creams and pastel-colored walls create the most internal light, but if you’re more adventurous you can also decorate with sunny yellows and golds.

Enhance the feeling of light and space in your apartment by using large mirrors on the walls.

Get rid of dark-colored floor coverings, at least temporarily, and use bright-colored rugs and mats instead. Similarly, colored throws can also brighten up dark furniture and fittings.

Bring in Plants and Flowers

There’s nothing better than the look and fragrance of fresh-cut flowers for bringing a real touch of summer to the indoors. Locally grown seasonal blooms should be relatively inexpensive, and with a little care can last for a surprising time.

Suitable indoor plants also look great, will last longer and can be a real source of joy in the months to come.

Liven Up Bare Walls With Summer Pictures

You don’t need to be a deep-pocketed connoisseur to make use of art in your apartment. Quality framed prints can be surprisingly inexpensive, and just a couple of beach scenes, seascapes or views of the Mediterranean or tropical gardens will bring a wonderful blaze of summer color and atmosphere to your home.

The Arizona sun is glorious, but many residents of the Woodlands Village apartments in Flagstaff have found that if ever the heat gets a bit too much, they can always bring the summer indoors with these simple tips.

Contact us today to schedule a viewing or for details of our available floor plans.        

The post Why Summer Is the Perfect Time to Brighten Up Your Apartment appeared first on Woodlands Village Apartments Blog.

1984

by George Orwell

Before Hunger Games made fighting a totalitarian governments fun, there was 1984. Find out why Big Brother is watching and suffer the consequences as one man dares to escape his watchful eyes.

A Song of Ice and Fire

by George R.R. Martin

This first book of the Game of Thrones series lays the groundwork for the fight of the Iron Throne. The complex tale told by nine characters takes you on an epic adventure throughout Westeros.

The Orphan Master’s Son

by Adam Johnson

This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel takes you through the hermit kingdom of North Korea during Kim Jong Il’s reign. Divided into two parts, Jun Do and Commander Ga’s stories intertwine to an exciting end.

Lord of the Flies

by William Golding

Preadolescent boys crash on an isolated island and quickly turns to savagery without adult supervision. It highlights the struggles that divide rational and moral thought from emotional and immoral reaction.

Nos4a2

by Joe Hill

Nominated for a Bram Stoker Award and making his famous father proud (Stephen King), this third novel follows the bloodsucking trail of an old vampire as he crosses the country looking for prey.

The Road

by Cormac McCarthy

Another Pulitzer Prize-winning novel follows a father and son’s search of safety after an extinction event. Like the Walking Dead, they fight off cannibalistic gangs while trying to keep their humanity.

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper

by Phaedra Patrick

After his wife dies, Arthur Pepper finds a gold charm bracelet belonging to her. The find sends him off to a faraway adventure on an epic quest to unravel the truth of her secret life.

For more community activities and ideas, visit our Woodlands Village apartments in Flagstaff, Arizona to take a tour of the heated pool, clubhouse, fitness center and spacious apartments.

The post Go on a Literary Adventure With These Top Summer Reads appeared first on Woodlands Village Apartments Blog.

Summer is the perfect time to take advantage of some of our awesome community features … including the grill! Here are some tips to help you host an awesome summer barbecue!

Burger, Schmurger!
Yes, everybody loves a good burger at a barbecue, but why not try mixing it up? Add black bean burgers for your vegetarian friends, and try jazzing things up with some tasty kabobs!

You’re the Tops
If you’re sticking with the standard barbecue fare (chicken, burgers, hot dogs, etc.), you can easily impress with some stellar toppings! Add blue cheese or bacon to your burgers. Make cheddar stuffed, bacon-wrapped hot dogs and brats. Pull out some untraditional toppings that your friends and family can use to customize their meal for a unique experience!

Theme Team
Pick a theme for your barbecue and decorate accordingly. We’re still waiting for someone to throw us a Game of Thrones themed BBQ … please, let it be you!

That’s Entertainment!
Break out some music! Snag some classic backyard games. Don’t expect your guests to entertain themselves (as awesome as you are at the grill … nobody’s THAT awesome). Make sure there’s plenty of entertainment to keep your party going!

Time is On Your Side
Make sure you plan, plan, plan! Marinate meats 2 hours in advance. Double and triple check your supplies a few hours before your start time. Budget time so you don’t over or undercook your food. And make sure folks aren’t sitting around too long before you feed them!

Happy Grilling! Share your perfect barbecue moments with us on Facebook and Instagram!

The post Be the Grill Master: Summer Barbecue Tips appeared first on Woodlands Village Apartments Blog.

It’s officially heating up outside, and we love no way of beating the heat more than enjoying a day inside at the movie theater! Since we’re part of the Eight Wonders of Flagstaff, we’re here to bring you a look at eight recently released or upcoming films that we know will be some of the top blockbusters of the summer! So grab your favorite popcorn and theater treats and read on!

Jurassic World

Because Chris Pratt + Dinosaurs = Epic Win. If you loved the original film about a failed soft open of a dinosaur theme park, you’ll love seeing John Hammond’s failed dream because a reality. You might tell yourself (like we did) that there’s no way this movie could live up to all the hype. But we’re pretty sure it does. Because life, uh … finds a way. (Hat tip to you, Ian Malcolm!)

Dope

An audience favorite of the Sundance Film Festival, DOPE follows the story of a young nerd named Malcolm surviving and thriving in one of the toughest neighborhoods in LA. We’re excited for this film that New York Magazine/Vulture called “remorselessly entertaining”!

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

This film will definitely not be your run-of-the-mill coming of age story. The movie stars Thomas Mann as Greg, an awkward high schooler who is forced to spend time with Rachel, a girl in his class who was just diagnosed with cancer. As their friendship grows, he begins to make a film for her to show her support during her struggles, only to learn it’s much harder than he could have imagined. We’ll be taking our tissue boxes to this one.

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

Tom Cruise. Explosions. Spy stuff. Dangling from the wings of jets. Need we say more? Spy movies are going to be big this summer (see Spy, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. , etc.), and we have high hopes for this latest film from the film franchise that’s been bringing the hits since 1996. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Go see this movie!

Mr. Holmes

We’ve got thrills … now let’s go for some mystery! We are SO excited for this film featuring Sir Ian McKellen as an aged Sherlock Holmes. With all the fun we’ve had with Robert Downey, Jr.’s recent films and the BBC series starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock Holmes is huge right now. But now we get to see a new side: the more vulnerable side. Join us on the edge of our seats as we watch our favorite detective try to solve his greatest mystery: the mystery of lost memory, as he struggles to remember details of a past case to rewrite the history his partner Watson put in print.

Ricki and the Flash

We will watch Meryl Streep in literally anything. But there’s something about seeing her play and aged rock star that makes us REALLY want to see this movie! Streep’s character, Ricki, abandoned her family to pursue her dream of fame, and now has the chance to go back to try to salvage the pieces of her broken family. The release of the film has been delayed quite a few times … but we’re hoping it will be well worth the wait!

Z for Zachariah

If you’re one of the three possible last people on Earth after a global catastrophe, we wouldn’t be opposed to two of them being Chris Pine and Chiwetel Ejiofor … unless, of course, they’re possibly trying to kill each other. We’re looking forward to this intense thriller featuring Margot Robbie as a woman torn between Ejiofor as the first person she’s seen in a long time and Pine as a mysterious stranger who comes between their already precarious relationship.

Inside Out

We’ve heard nothing but rave reviews for this latest film from Pixar. What makes it unique, beyond its premise, is the fact that it’s the first film out of Disney’s Pixar—and possibly the animated Disney universe—to NOT feature a villain. It’s a careful look at how we all—through the lens of Riley, a precocious young girl—deal with emotions that sometimes feel beyond our control. This might be classified as a children’s film, but we’ve found we’re never disappointed by whatever Pixar puts out!

What films are you looking forward to seeing this summer?

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In 2014, Flagstaff was recognized by the Huffington Post as one of the seven best spots on earth for stargazing! We’re not one to argue with major news outlets … or what we can see with our own eyes. And trust us when we tell you, there is plenty of night sky for you to see each and every night in and around Flagstaff! Here’s a look at just a few spots around Flagstaff to spend an evening with the brightest stars this side of Hollywood!

Lowell Observatory

Putting aside the debate of whether or not Pluto is a planet (hint: it totally is), Lowell Observatory is just one of many Flagstaff claims to fame thanks to the discovery of our favorite “dwarf planet.” The observatory features awesome displays, informative videos, and a guided tour to the stars. Stop by after sunset for spectacular night views, not only through the observatory’s telescopes but also to the naked eye with captivating view over the city.

Buffalo Park

Buffalo Park is one of the most popular hiking spots on the Flagstaff Urban Trail System. Enjoy amazing views of the San Francisco Peaks, Mount Elden, and the Dry Lake Hills. But even better, stop by the open meadows at night for a view of the night sky you have to see to believe! Load up on blankets to keep warm while you lay out and enjoy one of the most perfect stargazing spots on Earth!

Heritage Square

Once a month during the summer the Coconino Astronomical Society sets up several scopes in the Square for public viewings of the cosmos! CAS also offers a cool “tour” of the moon, featuring the mountains, valleys, and craters of our favorite pie in the sky. Even if you miss one of these events, the Square is a great spot to hang out after hours to catch a glimpse of the Dark Sky evening display; even the lights of downtown Flag aren’t enough to overshadow the show!

Anderson Mesa

Anderson Mesa is just outside Flagstaff, in the Coconino National Forest. It’s home to the Naval Observatory’s Navy Precision Optical Interferometer (NPOI) and Lowell’s Anderson Mesa Station. This makes it a wonderful spot to see the stars, but you also have to be more cautious when stargazing here; parking too far up the hill may interfere with the observatory telescopes!

Sunset Crater National Monument

Sunset Crater is located just 12 miles north of Flagstaff. During the summer, the national monument often offers night sky programs with night sky rangers and telescope viewings. Visiting the monument is kind of like stepping onto another planet by itself … so it’s another great place to explore worlds beyond our own with a telescope, or even a red-light flashlight. (Hint: you can make a red-light flashlight by covering a regular flashlight with cellophane—and you’ll be amazed at how many stars you’ll see!)

Don’t miss all the wonders of the Flagstaff night sky … available just outside your door!

The post Starry, Starry Night: The Best Stargazing Sites in Flagstaff appeared first on Woodlands Village Apartments Blog.

Today is a special Friday in Flagstaff … It’s First Friday! That means it’s time for the return of one of Flagstaff’s most popular monthly events: First Friday ArtWalk. The ArtWalk is Flagstaff’s monthly street party, with tons of events and opportunities to tantalize all your senses. Here are just a few ways to take advantage of all ArtWalk has to offer:
1. The Sights: Get ready to feast your eyes on a ridiculous amount of local artistic talent. You’ll enjoy galleries and storefronts bursting at the seams with paintings, sketches, textiles, and more. While ArtWalk has plenty of scheduled exhibits at spots like Beaver Street Gallery and The Artists’ Gallery, you can also enjoy artists and dancers who have taken to the streets to catch your eye!
2. The Sounds: Swing by the Orpheum and Flagstaff Bike Revolution for live music. But don’t limit yourself to the indoors. A walk past Heritage Square or down any downtown side street is sure to surprise you with the unique musical talents of drummers, guitarists, and many other musicians.
3. The Feels: You may be able to touch some of the art … or some of the art may touch you. We promise you’ll be inspired by the creativity and unique perspectives the artists on display have to offer. And who knows? The art and artistry on exhibit might just get your own creative juices flowing!
4. The Tastes: Yep, ArtWalk wouldn’t be ArtWalk without a ridiculous amount of free food! Almost all the exhibits have tasty treats for you to enjoy while you check out the art, but plenty of stops along the way will also feature enough food to put together an amazing meal. (And if you’re really clever, we kid you not, you can walk away with meals for a week!) Stop by Criollo for street tacos, Monsoon’s for the sushi bar, or Arizona Handmade/Fire on the Mountain Gallery for some “far out food”!
5. The Mysteries: We have yet to enjoy an ArtWalk where there wasn’t at least one thing that caught us by surprise. Whether it’s flame dancers in an alley, an impromptu dance party in Heritage Square, and artist who blows your mind, or just running into old or new friends, we promise ArtWalk will show you a side of Flagstaff you’ve never seen!

ArtWalk runs from 6pm to 9pm, with many downtown locations staying open even after 9 to keep the celebration going as long as possible. Don’t miss out! Let ArtWalk steal your senses for a few hours!

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