Blog Posts

New Music to Get You in a Summer Mood

As June gets underway here in South Arlington, VA, we can’t help but start to dream of the summer, and nothing quite gets the dreams flowing like some good summery music. That’s why the Penrose Apartments Blog made a list of some of our favorite new songs that bring us the best summer vibes. Get out of your apartment and into the sun while you take a listen to some of our favorites. Summertime Magic by Childish Gambino “Donald Glover could be anybody. As an actor, he can pick the lock of a character, slip inside, and disappear entirely. His career onscreen is limitless. In the recording booth, Glover's been trying on Childish Gambino roles for years: callow punchline rapper, sensitive and bruised lover, or hey, a funk auteur? Recently, he auditioned for, and nailed, a new part: apocalyptic truth-teller and doom-sayer. “This Is America” felt like an inflection point; maybe Glover had figured out who Childish Gambino was, just before announcing he'd retire the name forever. Now he’s released “Summertime Magic,” a tepid island breeze from a hotel lobby somewhere, complete with piped-in steel drums and daiquiri syrup.” This Life by Vampire Weekend “‘This Life’ embraces a brighter and bouncier palette than previous Vampire Weekend music. It does sound a little like Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl,” and the looser elements like the twangy bass and Danielle Haim’s harmony add a dollop of camp to the single.” After a six-year-long hiatus, Ezra Koenig has returned to bring Vampire Weekend’s weird mix of pop and musical experimentation. This Life attacks both of those styles head on and delivers a song that is upbeat and makes you dream of the sun. Chlorine by Twenty One Pilots The latest single from Twenty One Pilots’ new album Trench has infected our minds with thoughts of summer. Chlorine tackles Tyler Joseph’s, the lead singer and songwriter for the duo, struggle with the creative process, using creative imagery all along the way, comparing creativity to the idea of drinking chlorine or creating a fake persona. He doesn’t like doing it, but it’s necessary to create the music he loves. All of these ideas are wrapped into a catchy, upbeat melody that keeps everything light and fun. Be sure to give it a listen!

It’s a Wash — Laundry Day Tips

At Penrose Apartments, our community enjoys having an in-apartment washer/dryer set up — what a great amenity! It sure beats lugging laundry to a laundry room or driving all over South Arlington, VA on a Saturday night trying to find a clean, affordable laundromat that is open! Today we have some laundry day tips that we think will help you get your laundry done in style. Stain Solutions Print out a basic stain removal guide and hang it by your washer; that way you will have the solution you need for stains where you need it when you need it. Check out this link for a more comprehensive stain solutions guide for any sort of stain you have (put together by the Extension Office at the University of Illinois). Washing and Drying Pay attention to the fabric care guidelines on clothes and linens. Doing so can add years to the life of your items. One simple thing to do for items that shouldn’t go in the dryer is to keep a whiteboard near the washing machine, and as you are loading it, make a note of clothing items that should not go in the dryer. Having the list makes it easier to remember to pull them out before you pop the load into the dryer. Turn darks inside out for washing to prevent colors from fading and wash in cold water. To brighten whites, add a ½ cup of baking soda to the wash. Consider getting all white towels to save time washing. They can all be washed together and bleached, if needed, to help maintain their look. Random Tips Keep a basket in the laundry area to toss clothes into that need to be repaired or that you are planning on getting rid of. That way they will be clean when you are ready to donate them. Keep a change jar near your washer and dryer. When you go through pockets, toss any loose change in the jar. When it’s full, use the cash to reward yourself for all of the laundry you’ve washed, dried, folded, and put away. What are your favorite laundry day tips and tricks? We’d love to have more in our arsenal, so please share in the comments!

Celebrate Poetry

Penrose Apartments is offering a few ideas to help residents of the apartment community ways to celebrate National Poetry Month. We are featuring poems, podcasts, and poetry books to help you get through the month. We hope that you have an April full of poetry! Poems Read a poem every day for the month of April. We’ve included a poem below to help you get started. The Academy of American Poets has an awesome Poem-a-Day program. It will send a poem to your inbox every day this month. Read, memorize, and appreciate poetry all month long! Afternoon on a Hill by Edna St. Vincent Millay I will be the gladdest thing Under the sun! I will touch a hundred flowers And not pick one. I will look at cliffs and clouds With quiet eyes, Watch the wind bow down the grass, And the grass rise. And when lights begin to show Up from the town, I will mark which must be mine, And then start down! Podcasts Plenty of great poetry podcasts can help you experience poetry by listening this month. We know you’ll love listening to one of these 11 Podcasts for Poetry Lovers from Book Riot . Listen to The Poetry Break on your way to work. “The Poetry Break is the result of a partnership with West Virginia Poet Laureate Marc Harshman and West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Each episode of this monthly podcast features the work of a different poet and commentary by the host.” Books A poetry book is a great way to celebrate your National Poetry Month. Pick up a book and read a poem or two a day. Head to the nearest library to your apartment here in South Arlington, VA for a book of poems by your favorite poet. We have a poetry book recommendation that we think you’ll love. No Matter the Wreckage by Sarah Kay “Following the success of her breakout poem, ‘B’, Sarah Kay, in collaboration with illustrator Sophia Janowitz, releases her debut collection of poetry featuring work from the first decade of her career. No Matter the Wreckage presents readers with new and beloved poetry that showcases Kay's talent for celebrating family, love, travel, and unlikely romance between inanimate objects (‘The Toothbrush to the Bicycle Tire’). Both fresh and wise, Kay's poetry allows readers to join her on the journey of discovering herself and the world around her. It is an honest and powerful collection.” What’s your favorite poetry book? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Give Yourself a Mini Spring Break

March is a great time of the year, but we’re often so busy with our normal everyday duties that we don’t always get to enjoy the season and the weather here in South Arlington, VA the way we want to. So this week the Penrose Apartments Blog is offering you some tips for giving yourself a mini spring break right in your apartment — a staycation of sorts! Treat it like a real vacation. Get everything in order before your break. Decide how long it will be, separate work or school from you-time, and begin with a clean apartment so you can enjoy your environment. Finish up any work or projects and don’t start a new one so you don’t have to worry about neglecting any duties while you relax. Make it natural. When deciding when your break will be, consider what already works well into your schedule. Ideal times for breaks are whenever you’re not obligated to do things, like weekends, but if that doesn’t fit for you, figure out what other days may work. Take a couple of days off if you have the resources, and let coworkers know if you’re taking any time off so you can take care of any responsibilities beforehand. Set boundaries. Allow yourself to disconnect from the world and relax by turning off your cell phone. Enjoy every moment and focus on whatever entertainment options you want to do so you can make the most of your time. If you’re bothered with any thoughts of your everyday responsibilities, don’t just dismiss them. Write them down on a sticky note or a notepad so your mind can then move on from them, knowing you can pay attention to your ideas later. Treat yourself to a facial or a trip to a spa. Facials and other spa-like care can do a lot to help you feel relaxed and refreshed, and they’re a great pampering activity to help you feel like the break is a special one. Head to Pinterest for homemade facials that will work for your skin type. After pampering yourself, get dressed up and go to dinner, a movie, a concert, the theater, or your favorite comedy club. Enjoy the great outdoors. Getting a breath of fresh air can be a nice way to spend your break. If the weather is warming up to your liking, visit a park or take a walk around our community to stretch your legs and enjoy a bit of nature. Whatever other activities you decide to do, make it fun for you and it will be a great break! We hope you enjoy these tips and have a relaxing time that will get you ready for your next few weeks of tasks. Have fun!

Sweet Valentine's Day Cards to Make in a Pinch

We hope you’re ready for Valentine’s Day next week! Enjoy a day full of love and giving with a sweet homemade Valentine’s Day card. Make your own in your South Arlington, VA apartment with a few materials you already have on hand here in your Penrose Square home. Try these ideas! Puzzle Piece Valentine’s Day Card from Real Simple For the minimalist in you or the person you’re giving to, try this idea. All you need is some cardstock, glue, and spare puzzle pieces. Take from a puzzle you don’t mind stealing from. It’s a great way to make use of something you no longer use or a puzzle with pieces already lost from it! Write in your best penmanship the words, “We just fit” under the pieces, and be sure to write a more personal note on the inside to make it extra meaningful. “Wool” You Be My Valentine? from Lauren Conrad Among Lauren Conrad’s 10 sweet and punny Valentine’s Day cards is this one, which she says she made out of toothpicks and yarn. It’s adorable, inexpensive, and fun to make and give. Again, if you’re keeping it simple on the design, it’s a good idea to write a more expressive note on the inside to personalize it. DIY Heartburst Valentine’s Day Card from Tinsel + Trim If your heart is just bursting with love and care for someone special this month, this is the one for you. It looks like it came straight from the store! With the right materials and some care and dedication, you can pull this off like a pro. Make your own envelope or match your card with one you already have to complete the experience. What clever ways do you make your own Valentine’s Day card? Share your design ideas with the rest of the apartment community in the comments. Thanks for reading. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Podcasts to Listen to this Year

Welcome to 2019! Embrace the chance to learn new things this year by trying something new. We suggest a podcast! Whether you’re new to podcasts or you want to explore a topic you haven’t before, there’s a whole world of them that can pique your interest. We have a few to get started with this year in or out of your apartment in Penrose Square in South Arlington, VA. My Favorite Murder Have you ever secretly been fascinated by all things true crime? Have you tried talking about your favorite serial killers only to be met with scorn and horror? Well you’ve found your people with comedians Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Released in January of 2016, this true crime comedy podcast highlights a couple of famous, infamous, unsolved, solved, and undercovered murders every week in more than 140 episodes, with new ones still being released. Find your community of murderinos and remember, “Stay sexy, and don’t get murdered.” Throwing Shade This political and social comedy podcast premiered in November of 2011 (and a TV show premiering in January of 2017) hosted by Erin Gibson and Bryan Safi. If you’re interested in women’s and LGBTQIA+ issues dissected by co-hosts and occasional notable guests, this is definitely worth a listen. Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness Before Queer Eye fame, hairstylist and personal grooming expert Jonathan Van Ness has been on a quest to become an expert (or at least, educated) on topics ranging from the conflicts in the Middle East to menstrual cups, political figures, cancer recovery, gender identity, race relations, and probably just about anything else you may have wondered about. Take a listen and satisfy your curiosity! Gilmore Guys If you’ve been a long fan of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore and you want to experience it again, or if you want to experience it all for the first time and discuss every episode with people with a passion just as big as yours, you’ve come to the right place. As explained on the website, “Veteran fan Kevin T. Porter and newcomer Demi Adejuyigbe go deep into Gilmore Girls episode by episode with special guests to analyze, praise, mock, and gab about all things Stars Hollow and beyond.” Do you listen to podcasts? Which ones are your favorites? Leave your must-listen ones in the comments below so we can all benefit. Thanks for reading! Happy listening this year.