The post Fall Cleaning: Tips to Get Your Home Clean in the Autumn appeared first on Element Deer Valley Blog.
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During the warm summer months, people may leave their windows open more frequently or have people coming in and out of their homes more often. This means that your home may be more dusty and dirty than it normally is. Now that fall is here; you may be ready to get your home clean again. Here are a few fall cleaning tips that you should follow.
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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Whether you're out and about or at home, accidents can occur when you least expect it. Having a stocked first aid kit may not be the miracle you're looking for, but it can go a long way to reducing the effects of a sudden injury or illness.
The Basics of First-Aid Kits
A well-stocked first-aid kit consists of safety supplies, medications, and emergency materials. And while each one may look a little different, experts recommend going overboard rather than the other way around. Items like gauze, adhesive tape, and cold packs will seem pretty obvious, as will things like pain relievers, allergy medications, and calamine lotion.
These are all common remedies that can make it easier to instantly treat a wound or ache. When it comes to injuries at the apartments in Phoenix, falling objects, cuts, sprains and burns all make the top 10 lists, so plan ahead accordingly. (Choking is also up there, so you may want to learn how to give yourself the Heimlich against a table or countertop just in case.)
One Step Further
You should have a variety of bandages (for different types of wounds), as well as antiseptics and antibiotic ointments. Some first aid kits will even have activated charcoal to counteract a poison or accidental overdose (although you should only use this if you're told to do so by poison control).
Before you close your kit, double-check for the following extra items:
- Cotton balls
- Gloves
- Syringe
- Thermometer
- Tweezers/scissors
- Plastic bags (for disposal of contaminated items)
- Emergency supplies (e.g., flashlights, candles, etc.)
Having these things on hand makes it easier and safer to administer treatment to yourself or to others. You don't have to touch the wound directly when you have gloves on and you may just be able to coax that splinter out on your own with tweezers.
Stocking a first aid kit isn't the most glamorous thing you can do with your weekend, but it may be the smartest move you ever make. If you're looking for an apartment complex that takes safety as seriously as you do, Element at Deer Valley may be exactly what you need to rest easy at night. Give us a call today to learn more about our facilities!
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]]>The post Four Healthy Alternatives to Ice Cream appeared first on Element Deer Valley Blog.
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Craving a scoop of something cold and creamy? Here are a few recipe ideas for trimming calories and upping your dessert's healthy protein and fiber. These won't require an ice cream maker, just common supplies in your kitchen. Best of all, these recipes are satisfying and packed with flavor!
Faux Ice Cream Base
Here's a quick and easy base for your frozen desserts. Just swap out the creamy ingredient for one of the options below:
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1 cup cream alternative
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Agave or sugar substitute, to taste
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A small pinch of salt
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1 teaspoon vanilla
Blend well by hand or with a blender or food processor. Stir in your choice of flavor-packed extras like:
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Fresh berries
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Slivered dark chocolate
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Toasted coconut
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Espresso syrup
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Insides of a vanilla bean
Freeze for several hours in a shallow pan, stirring every 1/2 hour. If the mixture becomes too stiff, thaw for 10 minutes before scooping.
Makes 2-4 1/2 cup servings.
Cream Alternatives
The heavy whipping cream used in ice cream is the source of a lot of its fat and calories. Here are some lighter and healthier substitutions:
Basic Custard
Mix low-fat milk with egg yolks and a few teaspoons of sweetener. Stir slowly on low heat until it's the consistency of loose pancake batter. Cool before use.
Avocado
Avocado is very creamy and loaded with heart-healthy fats. Choose ripe ones, which have a milder taste. Add plenty of mix-ins to cut the calories per serving.
Bananas
Bananas are a classic ice cream alternative loaded with natural sweetness and a creamy texture. Freeze solid before use. Blending is easier if you cut them into chunks before freezing.
Yogurt
Everything from Greek yogurt to low-fat varieties can be used. However, thicker or Greek-style yogurts tend to make creamier, less icy desserts. Read the label first. Yogurt is often already sweetened, so you may want to reduce sugar elsewhere in the recipe.
The Best of Big City Life in Phoenix
Apartments in Phoenix, AZ, let you enjoy a healthy lifestyle and plenty of fun under the desert sun. In Element at Deer Valley, our residents enjoy a wide range of amenities in peaceful homes. Contact us today to learn more.
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To say that the summer days here get hot would be an understatement — which is why it is almost a necessity for every Phoenix, Arizona apartment complex to include a pool. But here at Element Deer Valley, we go beyond one and offer instead four amazing resort-style pools for our residents to lounge in and alongside. So grab a towel and enjoy a dip, and once you're ready to cool off, consider reading one of the following top summer reads:
4 Must-Read Summer Books Perfect for Poolside Reading
- Vintage 1954 by Antoine Lauraine (Translation by Emily Boyce). This has just about all the ingredients one could want in a light yet engaging summer novel: Paris backdrop, wine, clever dialogue, and time travel. It has its funny moments and charm with characters you can't help but fall in love with.
- The Perfect Fraud by Ellen LaCorte. Enjoy page-turners? Then you'll love this adventurous novel that has a setting right here in Arizona. This is another fun and light read, must-have elements for beach and poolside reading, but with mystery and two women setting out to right the wrongs.
- City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert. Did you love Eat, Pray, Love and The Signature of All Things? Then you'll love this next sure-to-be-bestseller by Elizabeth Gilbert and freshly released just in time for summer. This novel is about glamour and adventure through both the viewpoint of a young woman and that same, wiser woman years after looking back, remembering and reminiscing.
- The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali. This is another newly released novel and one that is already being hailed as a romance on par and by some reviewers even better than the much beloved The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. So if what you're looking for is a good romance, a good drama, and a good overall tale to read between pool cool-off sessions, then this just might be the perfect summer reading pick for you.
Questions About the Pool and Pool Amenities? Don't Hesitate to Ask
At the Element Deer Valley, we strive to ensure every resident feels at home both in their apartment and on shared grounds. If you have any questions about the onsite pools and other water features, don't hesitate to ask our front desk staff!
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