Use Your Fireplace

If your apartment has a fireplace, make use of it on chilly fall evenings and nights, as your fireplace can provide extra heat to keep you feeling toasty. Using your fireplace also creates a more cheerful ambiance in your home as the weather cools off and the days get shorter.

Keep Blankets Handy

Throw blankets can warm you up while you’re snuggling on the couch this season. Drape a few of these blankets on your living room furniture, so they’ll be within easy reach. When choosing throw blankets, look for ones that go with your current decor or buy colorful seasonal ones to spruce up your home.

Buy Area Rugs

Whether you have bare floors or carpeting, area rugs are an effective way to add coziness to any room. Dress up your living room with a new area rug, or place area rugs near your bed, so you’ll have a warm, soft surface to walk on in the morning. You can choose area rugs that blend in with your decor or area rugs that add some contrast for a more visually interesting look.

Light Rooms with Lamps

If your apartment has overhead lighting, switch to lamps for illumination during fall. Lighting rooms with lamps creates a warmer and cozier look, especially on autumn evenings. If you don’t want to buy lamps, you can also create this kind of environment with candles. Just remember not to leave them burning unattended.

Do Some Fall Baking

Baking meals and desserts at home can keep your apartment feeling warmer while also filling it with pleasant aromas. Make some of your favorite fall recipes, or look for new ones to try this season. Enjoy a cup of hot coffee or tea with your baked goods to add even more warmth.

Our apartments in Lake Oswego, OR include a cozy fireplace to help you stay warm this fall and winter. Contact us to get more details on our available floor plans and amenities.

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1. Know the Rules

Before you start hanging planters from your balcony railings, check with your management office to see if there's anything you're not permitted to do. The last thing you want is to grow a beautiful garden that's against the rules.

2. Measure Your Railings

Railing planters come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Make sure you measure your balcony railing before you make any purchases to ensure your planters-of-choice will properly fit where you want them to go.

3. Read the Seed Packets

Seed packets will tell you how far apart to plant each seed. They'll also give you guidance as to how deep to plant them in the soil and how patient you'll need to be before you see the first signs of sprouts. Veggies tend to take around two months or so before harvest, depending on the plant, but the excitement really begins once you see those first glimmers of life appear through the soil.

4. Plant Inside if Necessary

Some seeds should be planted indoors to start the germination process. The seed packet should tell you if this is your plant's preferred method of growth. If this is the case, plant them in cardboard egg cartons and keep them well-watered. When they're ready to be translated to a pot outside, you can plant their cardboard holders with them; they'll biodegrade as the summer goes on.

5. Do Your Research

All plants are not created equal. Some of your veggies will be super thirsty and require a lot of water, while others may drown if they get daily attention. If you're unsure, check out a few YouTube videos before you start watering. Remember, you can always add more water, but it's hard to undo an over-watering fiasco.
 

If you're looking for a Lake Oswego apartment that offers balconies that are perfect for summer planting, we're glad you've found Kruseway Commons! Give us a call to learn more about our community!

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Summer is also a great time for entertaining. When you entertain, you’ll need dessert, of course! But no one wants to crank up the oven on those warm summer days. That’s why we’ve gathered these three awesome summer desserts that you can make at home, all without heating up your kitchen.

Can’t Go Wrong With No-Bakes

No-bake cookies are a perennial favorite and for good reason. They are the perfect blend of chocolate, peanut butter, and oats, giving you a delicious chewy, gooey mixture of flavors. We like this recipe from the website Live Well, Bake Often. You do need to heat up the mixture on the stove, so there is a small amount of heat involved. It shouldn’t be enough to make a difference in your apartment, though.

Homemade Popsicles are Easier Than You Think

A favorite for kids and adults alike on a hot day, popsicles will be a hit at your next gathering. What’s better than store-bought pops? Homemade, of course. First, pick up a popsicle mold from Amazon (or just use shot glasses if that’s more your style). Pour in your preferred fruit juice and mix in some fruit puree, whole blueberries or diced fruit. Mix in some applesauce for a smoothie-pop consistency. Freeze and enjoy!

Hosting an adults-only gathering? Try adding your favorite booze to the process above.

No-Bake Cheesecake, Twice as Fast

You can make this no-bake cheesecake in about half the time as the real deal, and since there are no eggs in it, you’ll never have to turn on the oven. The filling is made from whipped cream, cream cheese, sour cream, and lemon juice. The crust? Just crushed graham crackers and butter.

These summer desserts are sure to please, and you don’t have to worry about your kitchen heating up from using the oven. And if you’re looking for apartments in Lake Oswego, Oregon, look no further than Kruseway Commons. Reach out today to learn about the luxurious amenities we offer.

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With summer here, cooking on the stove or with the oven can be too hot to handle. At the same time, eating chips straight out of the bag or getting take-out every night for dinner shouldn’t be your go-to options either!

Instead, why not stay healthy with some cool (and delicious) summer salads!

Here are 3 healthy summer salad recipes you can try:

1. The Classic Wedge

For something quick, classic, and super delicious, create a wedge salad.

You’ll need a wedge of iceberg or romaine lettuce (cut lengthwise to your desired size). Put the wedge on a plate or shallow bowl, add sliced red onions, sliced radishes, halved cherry or grape tomatoes, feta cheese, bacon crumbles, fresh chives and serve with blue cheese dressing!

2. Shaved Cucumber and Feta Delight

There’s nothing more refreshing than a cucumber in the summer!

For this Greek-inspired salad, shave a few English cucumbers into strips with a peeler, add a few halved and pitted Castelvetrano olives, some sliced green onions, and a mixture of 2 parts rice vinegar to 1 part extra virgin olive oil. Toss and top with fresh feta cheese!

3. Melon Salad

And finally, for a little “salad dessert,” consider this melon salad:

Grab a melon baller, a cantaloupe, a watermelon, and a honeydew melon. Create a mixture of melon balls with these melons, and add to a bowl (about 2 to 3 cups altogether).

Next, top with the following dressing: 1 Tbsp white balsamic vinegar, 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, a few squeezes of fresh lime juice, salt, ground black pepper, a bit of crushed red pepper, and 2 Tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley.

For some added flavor and crunch, add a few thinly sliced radishes and crumbled, cooked and cooled bacon.

For Healthy Summer Cooking, You Need the Right Kitchen

If you’re going to be making salads every day this summer (and why not!?), make sure you have the right kitchen to do so in. A spacious kitchen with functional and efficient appliances and tools can make all the difference.

At Kruseway Commons, our apartment kitchens are one of the biggest draws. Looking to relocate to the area? Call our offices today to see which Oswego, OR apartments floor plans are still available!

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Rustic Charm

You don’t have to pull out the fine china this year. Instead, you can use natural centerpieces and give your entire event a more laid back feel. Use an arrangement of gourds, Indian corn, small pumpkins and squash. You can also incorporate wheat, pinecones and other natural elements as well.

Copper Coated Coloring

Thanksgiving is filled with rich oranges, reds and copper colorings. Bring that copper flair to your table by covering artificial fruits, like pomegranates or oranges, with copper leaf. They are easy to create, and you can use them over and over again. You can also use them for other holidays as well. Use skewers to prop the fake fruits in Styrofoam to coat and allow them to dry. They are affordable but look expensive — a perfect way to impress the in-laws.

Vintage Touches

Flowers are definitely a go-to option when it comes to an easy centerpiece. Use flowers with lots of oranges and reds to go with traditional fall colors. Then, instead of using a vase, try using an old watering pail, wooden spools, or unique buckets to add some flair to an otherwise traditional centerpiece. Mix in dried branches and leaves as well.

Pumpkin Vase

Pumpkins can make great vases if prepared correctly. All you have to do is find a pumpkin that will hide a flower vase, cut a hole in the top large enough to fit the vase and remove the pumpkin innards. These pumpkin vases are showstoppers when paired with the right Thanksgiving-inspired flowers (think deep orange and red roses). You may also want to use a foam block with water so you can arrange the flowers just how you like them.

Many of our floor plans offer ample space for a homey Lake Oswego Thanksgiving dinner. Visit our website for more information.

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Crosstoberfest Cyclocross Race 

On October 29th, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., head over to the Luscher Farm for beer, music, shopping and food. If you can't get enough bike riding, this racing event is open to all though you will have to pay to both join the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association ($20 for a year or $5 for one event) and for the registration ($27 pre-registration and $30 the day of.) Or volunteer and race for free!

Zombie Garden Day 

Also located at Luscher Farm, this activity is perfect for kids. Become immersed in the ways of the zombie, as rags, paint and music transform sweet, innocent children into brain-hungry nightmares. Comes with snacks, and takes place in the Children's Garden on October 28th. It will cost $60 for residents and $90 for non-residents. 

Horse Drawn Wagon Rides 

While not technically a Halloween event, considering it takes place on November 19th, this is a way to keep the fall spirit going past Halloween to approach Thanksgiving. For just $8 you can reserve seating and celebrate the harvest season through downtown. Rides are held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Trick Or Treating 

A classic event for a reason, this town has a lot to see when you venture into the neighborhood. For those in the apartments of Lake Oswego, this is an excellent time to see what your fellow townspeople have done to stand out from the crowd this year. Even if you don't have your own tiny ghost or superhero to take out for candy, it's definitely a good time to go for a stroll. Hit up La Provence or Oswego Grill for some food and drinks, or just enjoy a quiet night with a scary movie and a Jack-o-lantern. 

Halloween is just the start of your holiday season and Kruseway Commons wants you to enjoy it. Our apartments offer luxury, convenience and affordability in Lake Oswego every month of the year. Our amenities and location are both top notch, so give us a call to find out more. 

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Top 4 Activities to Welcome the Fall Season

Lee's Farm Pumpkin Patch 

Find the perfect pumpkin to decorate your home for the fall season with a trip to Lee's Farms in Tualatin. Every October, this friendly-neighborhood farm features a pumpkin patch, corn maze, pedal carts, apple picking and more. Located just a short 10 minute drive from Kruseway Commons, this trip is a must!

Lake Oswego Farmers Market

Check out the local farmers market before it closes for the winter season! Located at Millennium Park Plaza, stop by every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and enjoy access to local produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods and more. The final farmers market of the season is Saturday, October 8, 2016, so don't delay.

13th Door Haunted House

Get ready for a night of fright and fun with friends when you venture over to the 13th Door Haunted House in Beaverton. This year the hauntingly fun activities will be taking place each weekend from September 23 to November 5, so there are plenty of opportunities for a spooky time. 

Aloha Halloweenathon

Head over to Aloha for a chance to race in your best marathon-ready costume during one of these fun and silly Halloween-themed races. Ideal for the whole family, the races begin at 9 a.m. on October 29, 2016 at the Reserve Vineyards and Golf Course. Compete for fun prizes and stay for a tasty BBQ after all events are finished. 

Fall Fun in Oregon

Make the most out of the fall weather here in Oregon by checking out one or more of these awesome events. For more information on community events or to take a look at the available floor plans at our Lake Oswego apartments, visit us online today. 

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