Blog Posts

Shows to Get You into the Halloween Spirit

Since Halloween is at the end of the month, you can get into the spirit of the season by watching some suspenseful shows on Netflix! In this week’s Virginia Square Towers Blog, we’ve got a short list of suspenseful shows we think you should watch before Halloween actually arrives! Curl up on the couch in your Arlington, VA apartment for some exciting shows! Supernatural Ghouls, vampires, werewolves are all tall tales that aren’t true, right? To Sam and Dean Winchester, finding these creatures is just another day in their lives. Following their father’s footsteps, the Winchester brothers head out on the road to find their missing father, save people from supernatural occurrences that threaten their lives, and hopefully, find out what killed their mother all those years ago. Scream Adapted from the Wes Craven movie of the same name, Scream follows Emma Duval as she becomes the target of an obsessed murderer. Find out what happens as she seeks to unmask the killer. Who is the killer? Everyone is a suspect and anyone is susceptible to becoming the next murder victim! Find out who the killer is for yourself by watching it on Netflix! The Walking Dead Are you a fan of zombies? If you are, you’ll love The Walking Dead . Explore what happens to the world when the dead reanimate and society crumbles. The Walking Dead follows Rick Grimes, his family, and others as they attempt to survive the zombie apocalypse. Will humanity survive? Or will it be the survival of the fittest? Find out by watching the series on Netflix! Are you a fan of suspenseful TV shows? If you do, let our apartment community know of them by leaving a comment. We hope you enjoyed our list of TV shows that you should watch to get into the Halloween mood!

Host a Dinner Party

Looking for an excuse to get some friends over or to create a situation where you can spend time with someone you’re interested in? Throw a dinner party! Dinner parties are a great way to spend an evening with friends. And they’re casual enough that it won’t be awkward to invite that special someone, too. In this week’s Virginia Square Towers Blog, we’ve got tips for you to give you an easier time throwing that dinner party! Communicate A large part of the stress of a dinner party comes from making sure that your guests know the details of your event. Do yourself a favor and create a way for you to communicate with your guests and vice versa. Tools like emails and Facebook events are a great way to accomplish communication. Let your guests know of the details like time, place, and what they need to bring (if it’s a potluck). This way, no one will be confused and your stress levels are lowered because you’ve got less to worry about. Ask for Help Feeding a large quantity of people is stressful. Even if you’re okay with feeding everyone, ask for help. Invite some friends over a few hours prior to the party time to aid you in making the food. Paying for everyone’s food can get expensive, especially if you’re inviting a large group over. We suggest making your party a potluck. Invite your guests to bring a dish that can be shared with the group. Potlucks give diversity and also ease the burden on your wallet. Be Friendly and Personable Sometimes the people you invite over can come from different stages of your life. Encourage others to get to know each other, and be friendly and personable as well. You can even play a small get-to-know-you game to break the ice. As the common denominator between all of these people, take some time to introduce everyone, and then leave them to get to know each other. Ask about people’s lives and be willing to genuinely listen to their answer. Keep things non-controversial yet meaningful. Show off your beautiful Arlington, VA apartment by hosting a dinner party. Do you have any tips that you use when you throw a dinner party? Let us know of them by leaving a comment!

Destinations for Summer Vacation

Are you tired of the same old scenery in Arlington, VA? Traveling the world can be an adventure where you can immerse yourself in other cultures and learn about other ways of life. In this week's edition of the Virginia Square Towers Blog, we’ve got a few suggestions of places that you should visit the next time you get out of your apartment to travel! Japan As one of the major countries in Asia, Japan has many tourist options available for those visiting. It has a rich history and many sights — sacred and casual — for you to visit. If you’re headed to Japan, it’s important to know that within the major cities like Tokyo there are many people and the streets can often get crowded. The sheer magnitude of people can be off-putting, but it lends to the unique nature of what makes Japan the country that it is. Many people also visit Japan for the food. With delicacies like sushi, ramen, and a variety of street food, there is plenty to eat! If you’re not used to the food, we suggest you give everything a couple of tries. These foods may be common in Japan but are acquired tastes if you haven’t grown up with them. Canada Though Canada is just north of the United States, there are many reasons to visit. Much of Canada is untouched by the human hand and there are many great spots to hike to and areas to camp. Depending on which part of Canada you visit, you can head to Whistler in British Columbia, Niagara Falls in Ontario, or the beautiful lighthouses and ocean views in Nova Scotia. Whatever place you visit, you can view a lifestyle that’s far different from yours back home in Arlington, VA. A trip to Canada is also never complete without trying Poutine, so go visit this month! Bali, Indonesia If you’ve ever seen any advertisements for vacationing in South East Asia, they’ve probably featured Bali. This popular destination is known for their clear waters, stunning scenery, and amazing accommodations. Located in Indonesia, Bali is an island paradise where you can sit back and relax without the stresses of city life. Go for something exotic and visit Bali! Thanks for reading! Share your favorite travel experience in the comments below.

Dress for the Weather

Arlington, VA can get warm this time of year, making dressing well difficult. Sometimes the heat gets so unbearable that you aren’t able to layer your clothing without sacrificing comfort; even then, you’ll get hot in no time. In this week’s edition of the Virginia Square Towers Blog, we’ve got a few tips about how you can still remain stylish while dressing for the weather. These fashion tips can be helpful any time of the year, particularly when you’re in the middle of a heatwave. Watch the Fit Fashion is dependent on what’s popular. This makes dressing for the warmer months difficult, especially if form-fitting clothing is popular. The fit of your clothing can make a tremendous difference in how you look and feel. Opt for a loose fit for when it’s warm outside! Having loose-fitting clothing allows for more airflow, which will help you to cool down. Materials The materials you wear contribute greatly to how comfortable you are. Thicker materials during warmer weather can make for an uncomfortable day, so we suggest wearing materials like linen, cotton, and chambray. These lighter materials are more breathable, allowing more airflow. There are many ways to incorporate such materials into your style, but keep in mind that summer clothing materials usually reflect a more relaxed style. Accessories Accessorizing can be difficult, especially when it’s hot outside. Finding the right kind of accessory can make your days a little easier all while looking stylish. Put away the bracelets and necklaces in favor of sunglasses and hats. Sunglasses and hats are both accessories that have multiple uses during hot sunny days; they can even protect you from the harmful effects of the sun! Do you have any fashion tips that help you dress for the hot weather? Let our apartment community know by leaving a comment below!

Healthy Living

Summer is a great time to make a change. The weather is warm so it’s easier to get out of your apartment for some exercise, and there are more delicious fruits and vegetables available in your local Arlington, VA grocery stores! In this week’s Virginia Square Towers Blog, we’ve got a few tips on making a healthy lifestyle change! Exercise The easiest way to make a lifestyle shift is by exercising. Whether it’s heading to the gym or going swimming, exercise will make you stronger and increase your basal metabolic rate. As you participate in physical activity, your muscles will get stronger and, depending on the cardiovascular exercises you do, you may be able to have greater endurance. We suggest finding a set of activities that you will enjoy so exercising doesn’t become a tedious chore with no merit. Remember that strength and results come over time, so stick with it! Healthy Eating Healthy eating is difficult. Especially when there are so many options for quick and easy meals that aren’t necessarily healthy for you. Take the time to go to the grocery store and pick up some healthy ingredients for home-cooked meals. Cooking at home is a good way to eat healthier and save you money! Instead of eating more meat, try to eat more fruits and vegetables. If you need some healthy recipes, you can try some of Food Network’s healthy summer recipes ! Rest Getting adequate rest is crucial for healthy living. With busy lives, we can get tired and burned out physically. If you’re exercising, rest will help your body to heal so you can perform well more consistently in the gym. Don’t get caught up on your mobile device before you sleep either! Try limiting time on technology before sleeping so you actually get the rest you need without being distracted by your phone.

Bike Tips

If you commute to work or school, you’re going to need a place to put your bicycle. Take advantage of our Arlington, VA apartment community’s bike storage! Biking is a great form of cardiovascular exercise and a convenient mode of transportation. In this week’s Virginia Square Towers Blog, we’ve got a few tips on biking that may help you out! Gear Up If you’re looking to get into biking or if you’re a veteran at it, you’re still going to need to gear up properly. Make sure you’re getting the right bicycle for the type of activities you’re going to be doing: road bikes, mountain bikes, or more! Don’t forget the necessary gear like a helmet, a tire pump, and any other protective gear that you might need. Head to your local bicycle store to get all the necessities! Hydrate Hydration is important. Especially when you’re out on your bike accumulating miles and enjoying mother nature. Since it’s the summer you’re going to want to keep water on your person in either a water bladder or a water bottle to avoid heat stroke and to keep your body cool. Cycling is an exercise and you’re likely to perspire, so it’s important to hydrate and replenish your water supply. Maintenance After you’ve purchased your bicycle and have taken it for a spin, you’re going to want to take care of it to ensure longevity and safety. Bike maintenance is an involved process, but bicycling.com has a list of 101 maintenance tips that everyone should know . If you’re ever unsure about what to do, take your bike to the closest bike shop and have an expert take a look at it. If you’re ever concerned about how well your bicycle is functioning, don’t ignore it! Take it into a shop to get it checked out or fix it yourself!