Category: Lifestyle

Autumn weather is officially in full swing. Before you know it November 22 will be here – Thanksgiving Day! People often have fond memories of the holiday including everything from watching football to the large meal shared with loved ones. Guests at a party can enjoy it carefree, but the host sometimes becomes frazzled from all the multitasking required to pull off the perfect party. Hosting the holiday can be stressful; cleaning, cooking, and entertaining take a lot of time and energy. Here are some tips and tricks for hosting Thanksgiving in your apartment:

1. Tidy up in advance: If the thought of cleaning your apartment from top to bottom in one day seems unrealistic for you, try taking it one day at a time. Start the Monday of Thanksgiving week by tackling two or three tasks each evening such as scrubbing the bathroom, folding the laundry, and loading the dishwasher. By Thursday your space will be sparkling!
2. Make a timeline: It can be helpful to make a tentative timeline for yourself of when guests will be arriving, when to put out appetizers, dinner time, and even how long you anticipate guests staying as they nurse food comas! Setting reminders and timers on your cell phone are other ways to remind yourself of things such as when it’s time to start baking the biscuits. 
3. Frozen produce are your friend: When it comes time to get cooking the turkey might actually be the easiest part. Prepare it how you wish and just pop it in the oven. The tricky part is timing all your side dishes to be hot when the main dish is ready. Using frozen veggies such as string beans, cubed squash, and even mashed potatoes will make life easier when all you have to do is steam them in the microwave or simmer on the stove just before the turkey is done. They also help you save precious space in your fridge to chill beverages and desserts.
4. Maximize space: If you are hosting a large crowd, maximize space by rearranging some “non-essential” furniture such as end tables or large lamps. Temporarily moving just a few items can open up quite a bit of space for socializing.
5. Ask for help: Crafting the perfect holiday gathering on your own can be overwhelming, don’t be afraid to ask a guest or two to arrive early and help set the table or cook!

Hosting Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be an intimidating task when you live at one of the Polinger Company properties. Each of our communities boasts unique kitchen features that will make preparing your feast easy and enjoyable. Bethesda Place and Highland House feature granite countertops, the perfect place to slice and dice! Country Place and Brighton Village offer gas cooking and eat-in kitchens. Guests will be impressed by the modern Cleansteel™ appliances located in The Swift Petworth. They will be begging you to host again next year!

When it comes to choosing a location to live it is important to take into consideration which modes of transportation you will be utilizing. When you live in the Maryland-DC area a car is not always a must-have. Check out four benefits of using the Metro:

1. Never Sit in Traffic: When you use the Metro to commute to and from work, you don’t have to deal with distracted drivers, sun glare, and poor weather conditions delaying your ETA. Living in an apartment close to a Metro Station makes your commute that much more time-efficient!
2. Save Money on Transportation: Owning a car can be a hassle. Not only do you have to worry about finding parking, but also monthly car payments! The Metro offers affordable fares and the option of the SmarTrip® Card, a rechargeable fare card for frequent riders.
3. Convenient for Fun Activities: Living near a Metro is beneficial for socializing and weekend trips. When you are moments from a station it is easy to travel into DC for the afternoon to take in a show or eat dinner or for those that live in DC take a trip up to Maryland for a leisurely getaway!
4. You Can Multitask: Unlike when you’re driving to and from your destination, you can multitask on the Metro! Send out emails, do a crossword, or read a book to pass the time. Your day will be so much more productive when you use the travel time to get ahead on your to-do list.

Using the Metro clearly offers some significant perks when it comes to getting around town. If you are moving and intend on utilizing the Metro every day, or just every now and then, explore different Polinger Company properties with easy Metro Station access. The Swift Petworth Apartments are two blocks from the Georgia Ave-Petworth Metro Station, Highland House and Highland House West Apartments are two blocks from the Friendships Height Metro Station, Congressional Towers, and Rollins Park Apartments are three blocks from the Twinbrook Metro Station, and Bethesda Place Apartments are located just over the footbridge to the Bethesda Metro Station.

Discover the Metro Station and schedule that fits your needs. Live life conveniently!