Trim the Trunk of Your Tree Before Placing It in Water

One of the best ways to keep your Christmas tree fresh for as long as possible is to trim the trunk of the tree before placing it in water. Many people make the mistake of assuming that the trunk of the tree doesn't need to be trimmed because the tree lot trimmed it. However, after the trunk is trimmed, sap and resin can begin to cover up the cut trunk very quickly. This seals off the pores in the trunk that help to drink and absorb water, which limits the water intake of the tree. Always freshly cut the tree trunk and immediately place it into water.

Ensure Your Tree Has Enough Water at All Times

Some people believe that you can help your tree last longer if you place bleach, sugar, clear soda or additives in the tree's water. None of these have been scientifically proven to help your tree stay fresher longer. The only thing that has been shown to help is to ensure that your tree has enough water at all times. The tree should be in a stand that always has enough water in it to fully cover the cut end of the trunk.

Position Your Tree Away From Heat Sources

The final tip for keeping your Christmas tree fresh for as long as possible is to position it away from any heat sources, including vents, air ducts, a stand-alone heater or heat that radiates from sunlight shining in a window. Heat can dry your tree out quickly, so keeping it away from such sources can help it last longer.

A fresh Christmas tree can make your home smell wonderful and feel festive. But a tree may not be all you're looking for this holiday season. If you're planning to move soon, you may be searching for Phoenix, Arizona, apartments. Here at Element Deer Valley, we offer everything from studio to four-bedroom apartment homes. Contact us today to learn more about our floor plans or to tour our complex.

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Make a Simmer Pot

One of the easiest ways to make your home smell like the holidays is to make a simmer pot. During the holiday season, you can add items like oranges, cinnamon sticks and cloves to a pot of water on the stove. Bring the water to a boil and then turn it down so it simmers. The smell created by the simmer pot then carries throughout your home. You can add more or less items to the simmer pot to create the perfect scent strength for your space.

Infuse Your Shower

Another way to make your home smell merry and bright this holiday season is to infuse scent in your shower. Hang a bundle of dried herbs in the shower. The steam from the shower carries the scent from the dried herbs throughout your room. Some of the herbs people equate with holiday scents include rosemary, bayberry, cinnamon and ginger.

Bake Holiday Goodies

The final way you can make your home smell like the holidays is to start baking holiday goodies. The goodies you're making, such as a warm apple pie or holiday cookies, fill your home with a sweet scent. Anyone who walks through your door can smell this scent, and it can linger in your home for hours, making your home feel more festive. In addition to making your home smell good, you also have delicious treats to eat or share with your family and friends.

Scents can help your space to feel more like your home. If you're searching for Phoenix, Arizona, apartments, Element Deer Valley has the perfect place for you to call home. Contact us today to learn more about pricing and availability.

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String Lights Along Your Horizontal Railings

One of the easiest ways to decorate a patio or balcony for the holidays is to string lights along the horizontal railings on your outdoor space. You can wrap the lights around the horizontal railing or use light hangers to adhere the lights into place. You can use traditional large bulbed Christmas lights, or opt for smaller lights, such as icicle lights.

Make Use of Your Vertical Railings or Panels

While many people make use of their horizontal railings when decorating a patio or balcony space, many people neglect to use their vertical railings or wall panels to their advantage. If you have vertical railings, you can wrap lights around the vertical railings to create a candy cane effect. If you have wall panels, you can hang light up signs or fun shaped decorations on the panels. Make the most of the space you have by utilizing your vertical railings or wall panels.

Take Advantage of the Depth of the Space

Speaking of making the most of the space you have, don't forget to take advantage of the depth you have on your patio or balcony. You can place things like an inflatable on your porch or balcony, or you can use a projector to project images on the exterior walls of your building.

Everyone should live in a place that they love and are proud to call home. If you are looking for Phoenix, Arizona apartments to move into before the holidays, let Element Deer Valley help you. Contact us today to learn more about availability, pricing and move-in specials.

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Be With Yourself for Two Minutes Each Morning

The idea of taking 120 seconds away from distractions may sound simple. But, most people rarely enjoy two full minutes of solitude each and every day. The value of being mindfully present with yourself cannot be understated. Establish a routine in which the first thing you do in the morning after getting out of bed is to take some space. Count your breaths or just close your eyes and enjoy the silence. You may find that once you secure this routine, it will be easier to expand the time and gain a more relaxed start to the day.

Listen to Your Inner Yoda

The iconic, big-eared Jedi master offers a wealth of spiritual advice in the Star Wars franchise. But in terms of mindful meditation, this one might be the most helpful: “Do or do not. There is no try.” One way to interpret that idea is to not get caught up in overthinking everyday tasks or next steps. Simply do them. Being in the moment is a form of meditation that often escapes us because we think it has to be a formal process. You can be restfully meditating while mowing the lawn, painting a fence, or preparing a meal.

Check In With Your Feelings

It’s virtually impossible to enjoy a meditative state if you are feeling emotionally unsettled. If you are worried about a work deadline, in-law visit, or some crucial life event, the likelihood of peace of mind is diminished. This is not to say that you cannot meditate while life’s challenges exist. That would certainly limit all of our meditation windows. Rather than search for the perfect time frame, just check in with yourself about how you truly feel. Ask yourself why the issue or issues are weighing on your mind. With a little personal honesty, you may be able to easily carve out some mental space.

Use the Meditation Nuclear Option

If daily stress is overwhelming, and you cannot get focused, the body scan remains the tried-and-true last meditation resort. Even if you have to get into a private room and lock the door, tuck yourself away and conduct a complete body scan to relax your mind and body. Begin with the soles of your feet and work your mindful inventory all the way to the top of your head.

We hope our Element Deer Valley residents find these meditation tips useful. If you or a friend would like more information about our Phoenix apartments, call us today.

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Make Soup

Soup is the quintessential winter-weather food, and it provides a channel through which you can enjoy many of this season's fresh vegetables all in one place. Consider making a vegetarian kale soup or imbibe on some creamy carrot soup alongside a grilled cheese sandwich. The following winter veggies work great in soups and stews:

• Parsnips
• Collard greens
• Radishes
• Red cabbage
• Rutabagas

If you're looking for a boost of protein, look for recipes that incorporate meat, beans or lentils into the mix.

Make Sassy Side Dishes

Forget boring, bland side dishes. This season's vegetables are ripe for a little creativity in the kitchen. Brussels sprouts, for example, love being served with panko breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. If you want to put potatoes to use in a way that'll blow standard spuds out of the water, try your hand at making homemade latkes. Roasted beets pair well with feta cheese and make for a great complement to meaty main dishes.

Try Something New

Have you ever heard of celeriac? It's a greenish-white root vegetable that's not known for its looks, but it makes up for its appearance by offering a healthy dose of daily fiber, vitamin C and phosphorus. You can make it in many of the same ways you'd make potatoes and other root veggies. Have you been turning up your nose at turnips? Perhaps this will be the season in which you step out of your comfort zone and sprinkle a little cheese on these winter vegetables.

Get Gourmet With Your Salads

Leave boring lettuce and dressing for another day. This time of year, embrace cabbage, winter squash and carrots in new and exciting ways.

Are you searching for a Phoenix apartment that features the kind of kitchen you'll want to spend time in? Our Element Deer Valley community features designer kitchens that are a dream for any amateur chef. Stop by so we can show you around today!

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How to Keep Your Stuffing Moist

It may seem counterintuitive, but some home chefs avoid cooking their stuffing inside the turkey. That’s because certain things can go awry. The first thing has to do with food safety. Stuffing must reportedly reach a minimum temperature of 165 degrees. By the time the center of the big bird achieves that heat, the turkey could be overcooked. It’s a safer bet for the overall meal to be delicious to cook and keep the holiday stuffing as purely a side dish. You will have greater control over the moisture.

Avoid Excessive Stuffing Seasoning

One of the critical errors that home chefs make is trying too hard to create stuffing flavor. If you make your stuffing from scratch, it’s important to remember that you can always add a pinch of pepper, garlic, or herbs near the end of the process and blend it into the mixture. You cannot take out too much seasoning. It may be prudent to under-season your stuffing and get a little input before making the final touches. Another thing to remember is that pre-packaged stuffing tends to be at the maximum seasoning level. Be very cautious about adding to store-bought mixes.

Use Turkey or Meat Broths

Unless you are planning to stuff the bird, there’s no reason to start the stuffing early in the process. While stuffing remains an enticing item to conjure up, be patient, and wait until your turkey or main protein is ready. By waiting until the bird or meat comes out of the oven, you will enjoy unfettered access to the liquid. This broth is often rich in flavor and amps up your stuffing foundation.

Use Strategic Ingredients

There is no end to the flavorful items you can incorporate into the stuffing. But it’s also important to be cautious and include things most guests and loved ones will enjoy. People infuse stuffing with sausage, veggies, marshmallows, and all kinds of fun flavors. It may be in your best interest to poll guests about what they like. You can always make sides that people can blend into the stuffing right on the plate.

We hope our Element Deer Valley residents find these stuffing tips useful. If you or a friend would like more information about our Phoenix apartments, call us today.

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Ratatouille Ingredients

• Vegetables! There’s no fixed list, but try 1-inch pieces of these: 2 yellow onions, 1 medium eggplant (with skin), 2 zucchini, a summer squash, a couple of different color peppers, and half a dozen tomatoes. Also 5 smashed garlic cloves.

• Fresh spices: ¼ cup parsley, 1 tbsp thyme, 1 tbsp rosemary, ¼ cup basil.

• ¼ cup of white wine.

• A big pinch of salt, a few grinds of pepper and a generous pinch of red pepper flakes.

• 2-3 tbsp red wine vinegar.

• Olive oil to film a skillet.

Ratatouille Directions

Use a large, deep skillet, and saute the onions and garlic in oil for 2-3 minutes. Add the eggplant and both kinds of squash and soften 2-3 minutes. Then stir in all peppers, tomatoes, wine, parsley, thyme, rosemary and sprinkle on salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Lower heat, cover, and cook until very soft, about 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally. If it looks dry, dump in some more wine. When everything is tender, stir in the vinegar and basil and add salt and pepper to taste. Let the ratatouille cool to room temperature before serving.

Eat as much as you like and refrigerate the rest. Bring it to room temp or serve it right out of the fridge. Either is great, and it gets better as the flavors meld.

If you’re looking for a new home where you can be in your own element and try out great recipes, check out Element at Deer Valley. These Phoenix, AZ apartments offer all the convenience of the north metro plus easy access to Phoenix, Scottsdale and the airport. See the web site for layouts from studio to 4-bedroom or call at (866) 367-3402.

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Change the Air Filters in Your Vents

One of the best ways to get your home clean is to change the air filters in your vents. If your air filters are dirty, more dust is blowing into your home. This not only affects the air quality in your living space, but it can make dust accumulate even faster within your home.

Have Your Carpets Steam Cleaned

After the summer months, your carpets may be dirty. Perhaps you've hosted summer get-togethers, and your carpet has experienced more foot traffic than normal. Maybe your kids, pets, or even you walked across the floor with wet feet after going to the pool or a lake, or you may have had dirty feet from camping or hiking. Get your carpets steam-cleaned to get them looking their best and to ensure they are sanitary.

Clean Your Blinds and Windows

As the temperatures begin to decline, it's common for people to start leaving their windows open in late summer or early fall. Take the time to remove any dirt and dust from your blinds and around your windows that may have accumulated as your windows were left open. Also, clean your windows, allowing the sun to shine in without any streaks or fingerprints.

Vacuum Your Furniture

Lastly, take the time to vacuum your furniture. Vacuum your mattresses, your couch, and your recliner or loveseat. This removes crumbs, dirt, sand, and other debris that may have been left behind. Be sure to vacuum your furniture every few months. Doing so when the seasons change helps you remember to clean it on this cycle.

Fall cleaning can help your home to feel cleaner and cozier as you prepare to spend more time in your place during the cooler months ahead. If you're on the hunt for a new home, our apartments in Phoenix, Arizona, may be perfect for you. Swing by our apartment homes at Element Deer Valley to see what amenities and conveniences we can offer you.

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Visitors should walk into your living space, and everything their eye falls on says "home." Here are three tips from your friends at the Element Deer Valley to add a home office without compromising the living space of your Phoenix apartment.

Invest in a Stealth Desk

Ingenious, affordable desks like the Suave Floating Desk by Latitude Run mount on the wall and fold down from an unassuming cabinet into a useful desk. The fixture even doubles as shelving to display plants, photos, and knickknacks. PRO TIP: Select a comfortable dining or club chair that you can roll or slide into position. An ergonomic office chair will stick out like a sore thumb.

Build an Office Into the Closet

If your clothing does not take up a lot of space, a wall or walk-in closet makes a perfect place to conceal a desk. You can build shelves to store office supplies, or just use hanging nylon or canvas closet organizers! Need your walk-in space? Even a coat closet can host a cozy desk. Screw some coat hooks into the wall for guests' coats. Just close the closet door on your discreet office at quitting time.

Storage, Storage Everywhere

Just about any piece of attractive, non-office-y furniture could conceal your office supplies, keeping them close at hand while you work at the kitchen table, coffee table, or breakfast bar. Examples include storage ottomans, storage benches, and floating hutches.

Try any one of these strategies to outfit a welcoming, relaxing home with a secret workspace. Contact the team at the Element Deer Valley to discover more tips on how to add a discreet home office to one of our beautiful, upgraded apartments in Phoenix, AZ!

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Visual Versus Actual Texture

While it's true that you can feel many textures, there are just as many that are only visual. Picture a piece of artwork that's a macro image of a fall leaf. You can see the veins in the leaf. You can see the drops of dew sitting on the leaf, and you can see the edge of the leaf where it's bent forward and the back of the leaf shows. This is art that's adding texture to your space, even though you can't physically feel it.  

Actual texture is the texture that you can physically feel with your hands — a braided rug, a bamboo placemat or a pillow made from faux fur are all elements that bring actual texture to a room. 

Importance of Texture

Adding texture to your space is important because it provides both interest and depth. Both a dominant and contrasting texture should be present to keep boredom at bay and to keep your space from feeling flat or incomplete. Texture can be comforting and cozy, or it can be sleek and modern, depending upon the intent of the designer. 

How to Add Texture

Adding texture to your space is as easy as bringing in items you love and pairing them with plain or solid decor elements such as white space, lines, and forms. Play around with your design until you find an arrangement that feels right for you to get the most from textures. 

When you're ready to view Phoenix, AZ apartments, come see us at Element at Deer Valley. You're going to love our nine-foot ceilings, new appliances, and our full range of amenities to fit every lifestyle. 

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