​​Spring is in full bloom in Lafayette, Louisiana, and just around the corner is one of our city's largest celebrations of francophone culture – "Festival International de Louisiane." 
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Whether it is your first or you are a festival veteran, there is something for all ages to enjoy. This family event starts on April 26th and runs through Sunday, April 30th.

Downtown Lafayette turns to pedestrian-only traffic with free shuttle pick-up service at the intersection of Congress and CAJUNDOME. Shuttles run every 15 minutes starting Thursday, April 26th at 5 p.m. Visitors are invited to utilize the Cajun Field parking ($10 per car). The returning shuttle picks up festival visitors at the intersection of Barry and Lee Street. The final return shuttles depart 15 minutes after the evening's final performance.​

​Contactless Payment
People travel from near and far sample to what Festival International offers. If it's been a while since your last visit, there is one significant change. Festival International now utilizes contactless payment via RFID bracelets. All food, beverage, and merchandise vendors can accept the bracelets for all purchases. The FRID bracelet pulls funds from your debit/credit as you need, so there's no need to reload your bracelet. Unused funds can transfer back to your card at the end of the festival. Onsite ATMs are also available.

The Line-Up
Festival International unites artists and music lovers from around the globe. Boasting seven stages throughout downtown, music lovers can find genres ranging from zydeco to classical and folk to pop artists. 2023 headliners include the famous Lauren Daigle, ADG7, Angélique Kidjo, and Tank & the Bangas.

In addition to the all-star line-up, nearly 50 other artists will join the celebration. Sage Advice, create your list of must-see artists and check the performance schedule. 

Several artists have multiple performances during the festival. Do attend at least one international performance - to reap the benefits of this international festival experience.

Find the complete line up here https://www.festivalinternational.org/

Cuisine From Around the World
Acadiana’s world renowned cuisine will be on full display, you will be able to sample local and international culinary influences from France, Africa, Spain, Cajun, and Mediterranean vendors.  

This family-friendly event truly has something for everyone, including Scène des Jeunes (the children's area). This year Scène des Jeunes is open Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities include musical performances, arts and crafts, and face painting, and there will be a Zone Détente (sensory-friendly section). In addition, there will be street performers such as marching bands, stilt walkers, cultural displays, art and much more.

Don't Forget
The festival rolls on rain or shine, and Southwest Louisiana weather is unpredictable – pack and dress accordingly. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring a wrap in case temperatures fall, and don't forget folding chairs or a blanket to rest between performances and a tote to carry the fabulous vendor finds.

Festival Map

​Drip, Drip, Drip– First off, remember to protect those pipes! If you are expecting an overnight freeze, it is very important to leave one of your sinks dripping to prevent the pipes from freezing, busting, and your apartment building having a terrible leak. 

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR PATIO/BALCONY STORAGE DOORS ARE CLOSED AND SECURED SHUT. 

​This will aid in keeping water lines from being exposed to the frigid temperatures.

Plants are People Too– Okay, so plants aren’t really people of course, but they are affected by freezes just as we are and can in fact be killed by being stuck out in the freezing cold. So, if you have plants on your patio or balcony, you’ll want to bring them inside if possible. If you can’t bring them inside, cover them with some bed sheets, to try and help shield them from the blistering cold.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR PATIO/BALCONY STORAGE DOORS ARE CLOSED AND SECURED SHUT.

Pets– Bring any and all pets inside. Just because they have fur, means nothing in the face of a wintery mix. Don't want to bring your pet to the pet park for a walk, consider purchasing Pet Diapers. We know they are no fun to change, but will keep you from having to go outside and keep them from messing on the floor.
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Heaters– Make sure heaters are on to be safe and set at 68-70 degrees. With a central heating unit you should be in good shape, but to prevent your electric bill from sky rocketing, be sure to keep at a comfortable level. Try not using space heaters if possible, but if you do, always remember to use them safely! Keep away from flammable materials, pets and children!

Layers and Blankets– Break out the ugly old ski jacket or the millions of blankets. Whatever you need to do to maintain your comfort, do it! Trust me, staying warm is well worth the embarrassment of a silly old jacket, or the work of getting your old heavy blankets out of storage.

Parking Lot and Sidewalk Care– If the roads freeze over and you absolutely must drive on the iced roads, use extreme caution everywhere…especially in the parking lot, sidewalk and stairwells of your apartments. 

Please use extreme caution if icy conditions develop! If you must leave, wear grip tight shoes and watch where you are walking, as sidewalks and stairwells can be slippery with icy conditions. When in your vehicle, let your car heat up a little before you begin driving and be careful if you are sliding around in the parking lot.

STAY WARM AND SAFE!

Lafayette Gardens Management

While there is never a good time to clean out your apartment closets and drawers, doing so before the holidays makes perfect sense, and cents! With gas and food prices rising, most families are looking for ways to cut their budgets and make more money. 

Additional concerns for the fast-approaching holidays are also looming; clearing out unused items may prove a satisfying boost to your spirit and pocketbook.  

Keep this in mind: One Woman/Man's trash is another's treasure. Imagine the joy you could provide by selling or donating items that no longer fit your needs or waist. Your gently used, season-old sweaters and pants may provide the perfect gift to those in financial straits. And how about those bowls in the closet that haven't seen the light of day in 4 winters? It may just be the finishing touch to another kitchen. Whatever your item or reason for letting go of items no longer in use, it has the potential to put money in your pocket and a smile on your face knowing it will go to good use.

If you prefer to make a little money on your hidden treasures, consider the following sources as paths to sell your closet-clogging items, and put a little jingle in your pocket before Black Friday.

Selling or Donating Items You Decluttered.
Segregate the items you have decided to dispense with into two boxes or bags: one marked donate, and the other sell. 

Facebook, Instagram, Craigslist, and other social media outlets have groups specifically geared toward disposal of personal items. Look for local buy, sell and free groups in your area; for example: open Facebook and search buy sell or trade in Lafayette Louisiana; a host of groups should appear in the search results. You may also create a Facebook Marketplace account where you can list your items and possibly sell and accept cash, including shipping costs; larger items may require an in-person meeting to exchange the goods. Please, please, please, use extreme caution when meeting a stranger to exchange goods for money. Consider calling the local police department for suggestions on safe exchange locals; often your local police and sheriff's offices have identified locations best suited for these transactions.  

Upscale Resale, Plato's Closet, Closet Mentors, Clothing Loft, This and That, and Once Upon a Child are additional local consignment stores. Or consider listing clothing, shoes or handbags on Poshmark.
 
Items for Donation or Giveaway. 
The donation box or bag is likely a mix of home goods, trinkets, and clothing. The following suggestions may take whole boxes of random goods, while others will only accept specific items. Here are different ways you can donate your items: 

Freecycle and Nextdoor are also outlets for donating items; remember to set boundaries and, when possible - bring someone with you for the exchange (limitations can include where you're comfortable meeting and how long items will be available). Once you have donated the item(s), take your listings down.  

A local charity or non-profit organization are excellent drop-off locations and many offer donation vouchers for tax deductions. In addition, the Salvation Army, Goodwill, LARC, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the local Women's Shelter are always grateful for gently used items.  

Recycling in Lieu of Donation
You might consider sending your clothing to be recycled. Many companies offer a discount on purchasing new items when you send in a bag clothing to be recycled. Note, some recycling companies only accept their brand to recycle, while others will take anything you choose to send. For Days, Patagonia, Levi Strauss, Vetta, Universal Standard, Girlfriend Collective, Reformation, and Urban Outfitters are just a few.

Do you simply need more space for your current belongings, consider touring Lafayette Gardens, their uniquely positioned apartments for rent in Lafayette Louisiana are walking distance from Lafayette's famed River Ranch planned community; full of shopping, eateries, and entertainment. 

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​​Are you transitioning from a larger space to a smaller one? Are you considering ways to maximize your new space? We’ve gathered a collection of tricks and tips to assist you in effectively maximizing small spaces.

Before starting, take a moment to evaluate your new space. It’s important you have measurements of the area to optimize your small space to its fullest potential. 

Have you set the furniture is a way that allows the most function and activity possible? Let’s see which of our ideas you can implement to get the best utility out of your smaller quarters?

From cocktail tables with storage to a sofa with a bed, equipping your room with multi-purpose furniture can provide the largest return per square inch. With increasing popularity, today’s small space and studio living have inspired a variety of multi-functional furnishings. ​

One way to make a space seem larger is to forgo the larger sofa and invest in a loveseat and chair. Many of today’s furniture lines offer sleeper loveseats and convertible chairs. While the sleeper loveseat is straightforward, you would be amazed at the ingenuity of the convertible chair. Simply Google convertible chairs and prepare to be impressed. ​

For smaller spaces with an L-shaped corner, a traditional sized sectional could provide exceptional seating and while utilizing foot of living space efficiently. ​

​Floating a chair, loveseat, or even a sofa can define a space and offers the illusion of more space. Use an area rug to center your floating furniture, the rug acts as a visual perimeter. Keeping your furniture low-profile allows unobstructed views of the room. High-back furniture visually reduces the space of a room.

A small unorganized space can be visually disruptive and appear cluttered and smaller than a tidy space the same size. Consider using decorative baskets or storage furniture to tuck necessary clutter away. Carefully chosen and well-places storage can bring character to a horizontally challenged space.  ​

In lieu of the traditional metal or wood cocktail table, consider an upholstered ottoman. We are not talking about an ottoman the size of a chair, but a long (or short) slender ottoman that can be used as additional seating, a place to rest your feet, or equipped with a serving tray to act as cocktail table should. In addition to being multi-functional, an upholstered ottoman can add visual intrigue, try Googling cocktail ottomans for visual inspiration. ​

​If your Lafayette Louisiana Apartment has an open design where the dining and living areas share the same space, consider using complementary area rugs to define each area. Place one rug under the dining area, and a complementary rug in the living area.

While horizontal space may be limited in your small Lafayette Louisiana apartment, generally, there is amply wall space to enlist. Consider using the vertical space to draw the eye by adding artwork, floating shelving, or a collection of framed photos. Adding eye catching groups of artwork or flat baskets draws the eye up adding visual interest and making your space appear larger. ​

​Adding tall bookcases or suspended shelving are additional methods to draw the eye up while improving storage space. Shelving offers you a place to show off all your impressive collectibles, favorite CD’s or books, and other treasured items.

Today’s storage solutions offer a multitude of unique approaches to stash the things you need but don’t use every day. Consider cocktail tables or trunks that provide hidden storage for books, blankets, CD’s, gaming gear, and more. End tables and consoles with drawers for storage of remotes, keys, bills, etc. ​

Oversized, deep furniture overwhelms small spaces. Consider instead low profile, traditional seating, and narrow or smaller occasional tables. The visual footprint of these smaller items gives the appearance of more space.  ​

​Stackable items provide easy access when needed and instant space-saving when not in use. Think of the farmhouse or contemporary metal or stackable wood chairs for extra seating when you have company and store nicely in a closet or corner when not in use. Nesting side tables are another favorite; they can slide together when not in use but are easily accessible when entertaining.

Another favorite idea punches two solutions. Opt for furniture with tall slender legs, this creates a smaller visual footprint, making your small space appear larger. Leggy furniture also provides space underneath to store pretty baskets, offering additional storage solutions.  ​

Neutral pallets of lighter colors offer a timeless option for opening a room. A classic small living solution is pair neutral walls with neutral furnishings. Forgo the colors of the Caribbean and consider the illusion of space that is created by pale walls and monochromatic upholstery and window treatments. ​

​Tone on tone, while a classic choice, will not lose its perspective with a pop of color. To add visual interest, consider the adding a pop of color with accent pillows, a throw blanket, carefully chosen artwork on one end of the room, or a pattered area rug.

Ceiling to floor window treatments provide a vertical eye enticing treat to any room, especially space-challenged areas. If you want to keep your space open, choose lighter monochromatic shades to work with your furniture.   ​

Mirrors bounce light and provide the impression of more space through their reflection. Think wall mirrors, mirrored occasional tables, and consoles. Any mirrored surface goes a long way to visually expanding your space. ​

While we have shared some of our favorite Lafayette Louisiana apartment space enlarging ideas, do some research of your own. Houzz, Wayfair, and Pinterest are great venues for finding solutions others have created.  

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​Fall decorating seemed so easy when you were a kid. You simply painted a colorful picture of a tree shedding its leaves or decorated a cutout pumpkin to hang on the refrigerator.  While your art taste may be a little more sophisticated these days, decorating your apartment in Lafayette, Louisiana, shouldn't be much more difficult.  Try the fall invoking ideas to make your surroundings just a little more seasonal.  

Light a Candle
The smells of fall promote a sense of occasion at home; consider cinnamon, pumpkin spice, clove, or apple candle scents that offer a subtle reminder of the season at hand.

Display a Wreath
Wreaths are appropriate for every holiday.  A classic wreath can be modified to fit the changing seasons.  Whether you opt for a ready-made fall wreath or try a do-it-yourself, local craft stores and artisans can make like of your project.  If you choose to do-it-yourself, visit Pinterest or Google fall wreaths, and you will find inspiration abounds.  Keep in mind your door is not the only place you can hang a wreath, prop them on tables, hang them over a mirror, or place them on a bookcase. 

Choose a Theme
Once you have decided to decorate, choosing a theme can make shopping or creating decorations easier. Still need help, consider placing containers, urns, or vases filled with branches in several rooms, and spray each room's branches with different autumn colors; this can create a minimalist autumn theme. If your approach is more traditional, consider including your favorite holiday character in the mix: scarecrows, ghosts, skulls, or witches.  

Stage Seasonal Art
Adopt a different feel for the seasons by rotating artwork.  Paintings or prints of forests or trees changing colors, pumpkin patches, gnomes, or any fall subject will add seasonal flair to your walls.  Keep in mind that the colors of fall don't have to be bold, pastels can work as well.  

Fall Pillows
Rotating pillows covers can be an inexpensive way to introduce autumn colors to your apartment. When shopping for pillow covers, consider greens, orange, yellow, and brown tones that mimic the colors of fall. But, again, you do not need to embrace the deep colors to invoke the season.   If you sew, all the better, you will not be limited to someone else's idea of fall and can choose shades and details that inspire you. 

Add Autumn Bedding
Don't forget the room you spend the most time in, your bedroom.  Create a fall oasis with accents of autumn; add an accent throw of solid color-rich shades of fall or plaids.  Many of the chain stores, or online, offer deep discounts on off-season drapes; consider rotating your window treatments with the season as well.  Add a couple of throw pillows and your bedroom is now an autumn retreat.   

Color with Pottery
Do you own colorful mixing bowls?  No, consider picking up a few seasonal colored bowls for a pop of fall color in the kitchen.   Again, you don't need to spend a lot of money on a lot of look, visit the local thrifts shops or discount stores.  You can take any plastic bowl and spray paint it a color to coordinate with your theme.  If you do spray paint, make sure you don't serve food in it.  Add a little foliage, and you have a table or counter centerpiece.  

Speaking of Centerpieces
You can create inexpensive centerpieces with an assortment of gourds in varying shapes and sizes.  If you have not been pumpkin shopping in a while, you may be surprised by the assortment of colors.  Gourds come in shades of white, brown, orange, and teal. They can be a little pricey, but once again, thrift shops and discount stores offer plastic versions that can be painted to match your theme.

Fill It Up
Here is a fun idea that adds a little adventure; you can find an assortment of pinecones, leaves, and branches at local parks.  Leave them natural or paint them, and add foraging finds to a bowl or glass vase will undoubtedly add a seasonal vibe to your apartment.

Live Foliage & Flowers
Seasonal foliage and flowers are the simplest way to create a fall environment.  Purchase several potted seasonal flowers from your local nursery and arrange them on your balcony or inside. Try varying the heights and color of the flowers to create dimension.  

Are you considering a new apartment in Lafayette, Louisiana, this fall?   Lafayette Gardens gated community offers luxury one, two, and three-bedroom apartments in the River Ranch area of Lafayette -  stop by for a visit.

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​Establishing a Routine is Vital.
Setting a new routine is paramount.  Many students spend their summers in unstructured days, juggling time with friends and family, and all is fun and without expectation.  Some children may feel nervous about going back to school, while others are excited to see their old friends and find out what they missed.  If children have a great friendship group, going back to school it’s exciting.  While children that struggle at school, returning can be hard; last year’s problems will be there when they return.  What is important is that you talk through their feelings.

How can you help your child prepare?
There are several strategies you can utilize: 1) Prepare your child, 2) Utilize coping skills, and 3) Manage their expectations.  Preparing your child(ren) involves talking to them before they start and as they adjust to going back to school.  Carve out time to ask questions and coach them where needed. For example, a few weeks before school starts, ask if they are excited about school, do you have questions, do you feel ready?  Try to avoid leading questions toward worried responses. For example, you shouldn’t ask if they feel anxious.

Help establish structure.
Start by discussing the back-to-school routine, bed and wakeup times, after school schedule - including time for homework, dinner, bath, and bed time, while reinforcing coping skills.  Advanced preparation can alleviate anxiety.

A week or so before the start of school, make time for a drive-by.  On your way to school (drive-by), ask your child(ren) if there is anything they are excited about and ask if they have concerns. 
Then, the night after school starts, make time to help them process their day.  Ask positive questions, such as – what you do today.  Continue taking this time to reflect on their day for a few days, can help them process and deal with anxiety if there is any. 

Routines are great for parents and children; because each knows what to expect.  Going over a weekly schedule allows each of you to process that information and make mental adjustments if necessary.  Constant change in a schedule is exhausting.  Discussing and establishing a routine provides consistency and confidence.  Most people prefer to know what to do next, but this is especially true of children.  Knowing how their day will proceed and what to do at various intervals of the day provides structure and that can reduce anxiety.  Less anxiety provides a better opportunity to engage in active learning.

Back-to-school prep time varies from child to child.  If you child tends to be more anxious than others their age, he or she may need more preparation and rehearsal.  Chances are, you know what your child needs, and if you need to review the schedule every day for a week or two, or the day before school starts.

What if my child feels confident about going to school?  
Some children are excited to school, and that’s great.  For others, it may not feel real.  Be aware that confident children, even though they aren’t concerned, can still benefit from preparation.  Go over the if and what” scenarios - if I feel overwhelmed, what can I do.  How do you find the school nurse?  If a panic attack is imminent, do they know who can help?  Help your child process as they adjust to school life.  Ask general questions about how school was for you today, and was it what you were expecting?

For children with sensory issues.
Children that struggle with sensory issues, practicing early is recommended. For example, if the school requires facemasks be worn, start practicing at home.  Have you child wear the facemask for increasing time for a week leading up to first-day-of-school.  If busy rooms and noise are an issue, when and if possible, visit the school your child will attend and do a walk through.  If classes have been assigned and the school allows, arrange a dry run, walk you child to the first class, then to recess area, back to the class and then to the lunchroom, and to either the car pick up line or bus line.   

Recognize the signs of anxiety.
A smidge of anxiety is good, but it’s important that you recognize the signs if it becomes overwhelming. Children cope with anxiety in a variety of ways, some internalize, this may show as inability to sleep, or inability to focus, while others externalize anxiety, often seen in young boys; it is expressed by excessive activity, or they may become more oppositional.  Parents may not understand why their son or daughter is behaving this way; it may be anxiety related.

Check with the school, academic feedback can be helpful.  Are your child’s grades swaying.  Communication with the school staff and teachers can be helpful.  Establish open and honest dialogue with your child, give them room to share their experiences – good or bad without judgement.

Lafayette Gardens Apartments is located in the River Ranch area of Lafayette Louisiana.  When you are looking for a family and pet friendly apartments in Lafayette, Louisiana be sure to stop by for a tour.  

There was once a time when eco-friendly habits were commended, even when they were considered casual at best. For example, turning off lights when leaving a room, segregating the trash, but these habits wouldn’t be considered conscious green living.  

The news coverage of an escalating climate crisis and mountains of plastics in our oceans has pushed many to think about the amount of attention they dedicate toward eco-friendly habits in their day-to-day lives.   

Over the years, many have added limiting food waste, recycling paper, and properly disposing of remote batteries.  Rarely do the conscious use plastic bags, rather they opt to carry reusable totes to grocery shop.  Shifting to mindful eco-friendly wasn’t a big task, although it didn’t happen in a day.  It required pause and mindful changes in their daily routine.  Careful not to be hard on themselves about past discrepancies, instead they looked to areas where they could slowly integrate better habits.   

Below are several ways to make eco-friendly living a habit while living in apartments in Lafayette La:

Make small changes
Consider unplugging your phone charger when not in use, air drying towels instead of throwing them in the dryer, and consider buying a Brita water filter pitcher and reusable drinking bottle, rather than plastic water bottles.  One or two, maybe all three, small changes are easy enough to integrate into daily life and save you money in the long run.   

As you consider adopting eco-friendly mindfulness, find an area in your life where you can easily do better - then commit to it.   It is easier to make lasting changes if you focus on one facet of your life at a time.

Many eco-conscious choose to change their food consumption practices; forgoing store-bought or processed foods, they choose organic foods grown without pesticides and Genetically Modified Organisms to locally grown produce and organic meats and fish. In contrast, others focus on discarding harmful cleaning products, opting for organic solutions.   

Consider the various areas in your life and how to integrate eco-conscious habits in smaller ways.  For example, if you are in the practice of using your dryer to dry your linens, a workable first step is to commit to line drying your clothes one time a week; you can always throw them in the dryer to soften them – but the time it takes to soften laundry is a fraction of the time it takes to dry an entire load.   Once you establish line drying clothing once a week, you can build on it.   

Don’t be hard on yourself if you slip up.
Establishing new habits takes time, and when life gets busy, it can be challenging to prioritize living greener while you are overwhelmed with responsibilities.  If life becomes hectic, reframe how you view eco-friendliness.  Rather than judging yourself, simply pick back up at your earliest convenience.  Eco-friendly living is not a zero-sum game; the goal is progress.  With good-faith efforts, it’s possible to cause a ripple effect as your friends and family watch you practice eco-friendliness, not to mention the generational influence your actions may have.

Apartments in Lafayette La - Lafayette Gardens Apartment

Apartment-living while working from home during COVID can be challenging enough, but, when you are not a morning person, it can prove exceptionally challenging. 

There are two categories of people, those we call morning people, and those not-so-morning people.  There are individuals that welcome each day with a cheerful smile and a surge of energy, and then – there are the rest of us.

Whether you consider yourself a night owl who prefers the dark of the night or someone who just isn’t in love waking up before noon, you can learn to, if not enjoy mornings, tolerate them.  A few simple adjustments to your daily routine can help you meet the alarm clock with a little less contempt.

Focus on quality sleep.
Mornings are difficult when you can’t or don’t get a restful eight hours of sleep.  Set yourself up for victory by optimizing your space for rest. Remove disturbances, keep the room dark and cool, switch your mobile devices to silent, and try reading a book instead of reading your phone.  Another consideration is a sound machine; this can help filter outside noise, especially apartment-living in a city or lively apartment community.  When you get quality sleep, you’ll find the sound of the alarm less disturbing — you might even start to look forward to starting the day!

Don’t start your day reaching for your mobile phone.
Starting off the day scrolling through emails, Facebook, Instagram or, Twitter feeds can clutter your mind and impact your mood before you have even left the bed.  Instead, provide yourself time to wake up slowly, snuggle your partner, your children, or pets.

Reduce your morning rush by preparing in advance.
While COVID has reduced the morning commute problem, there are still things you can do in advance of the next workday.  Preset your coffee pot to brew before your alarm.  The smell of fresh coffee brewing and a cup waiting for you when you wake can put you ease you into a smooth start.  If you eat breakfast and lunch, prepare them the night before, or at a minimum, choose what you will have for these meals.  Also, do the dishes in the sink before going to bed, confronting a sink full of dishes when as you go for your first cup of coffee isn’t like to boost your spirit.   

Incentivize your morning. 
When you were a child and had an event or excursion planned the next day, you couldn’t wait to wake up and start your day.  Provide yourself an incentive to rising and moving before you’ve become accustomed; it can be a simple stop at the local coffee shop to meet up with a friend or an early morning workout.

Put on day clothes.
With so many of us working from home, it is so very tempting to wear sleep clothes or sweatpants all day. 
Dressing in “real” clothes, doing your hair, and putting on makeup, if you did so before COVID, can give your mood a boost and might even influence your productivity.  It is not necessary to put on a suit and shoes, but putting in an effort above your go-to comfort clothes can signal to your brain that the day has commenced.

Kickstart those endorphins.
Endorphins make you joyful, and joyful people don’t dislike mornings!  Starting your day with a workout, even if it’s simply stretching or a walk around your apartments in Lafayette, Louisiana, to get the blood flowing, this simple start can and usually does promote the release of feel-good endorphins to carry you into your day.  Besides, if you get your workout in early, it’s one less thing you need to do at night. 

Start a routine.
After a year of living through a pandemic, every day can start to feel the same.  A routine sounds boring, you say?  Well, maybe so but, studies show that individuals that implement a routine have better sleep and lower stress than those who don’t.  Consistency is key, so start off with waking up at the same time every day, a time that is realistic for you.  Your routine may include yoga and a shower before you drink coffee, or maybe you start with caffeine to motivate you to workout.  No matter the routine you decide to try, stick with it for a few weeks before deciding if it works.  Most habits take 28 days to start or stop.  

Bask in the sun.
As little as 15 to 30 minutes of sunlight can help your body regulate its circadian rhythm, aiding in a better night’s sleep.  Taking in the sun can be accomplished by sitting next to a window, physical time outside, or even through a light therapy lamp.  A light therapy lamp can brighten up the darker mornings of time change.  Taking a morning walk at your pet friendly apartment in Lafayette, LA while the sun is out can knock out two of our recommended tasks.  

Do you find yourself starting to feel cramped in your apartment?  Schedule a tour of our spacious one-bedroom apartments at Lafayette Garden Apartments, or tour one of our two- or three-bedroom apartments in the River Ranch area of Lafayette, Louisiana.  Having an extra room to dedicate as office space may just be the answer to the working from home - work/life balance dilemma many are struggling with. 

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With a distinct blend of culture, music, and food, it's no wonder The Wall Street Journal named our city "The Happiest City in America." Our apartments in Lafayette, LA, are at the heart of Louisiana's Cajun & Creole Country.  We offer up a little history of our area below.

When Europeans first arrived in Lafayette, Louisiana, the area was inhabited by the Attakapas Native Americans.  French colonists settled a trading post along the Vermillion River around the mid-eighteenth century, enticing numerous Canadian "Seven Years' War" refugees called Acadians to settle.   

Acadians intermarried with other settlers, establishing the Cajun culture, but maintained their French language and devotion to the Roman Catholic Church.  Around 1820, the Attakapas Parish population numbered over 12,000 people. 

One of the affluent families in the area was that of Jean Mouton.  Jean Mouton's father, Salvador, came to St. James parish as an exiled Acadian. 

In the 1760s, young Jean Mouton arrived in Attakapas County and settled on land north of Pinhook Bridge on the Vermillion River.  Frequent flooding from the waterways provided productive agricultural land.  Jean Mouton donated land to the Catholic Church to construct a modest Catholic chapel.  He chose land far back from the fertile river bottoms, which was much less agriculturally productive.  The current site of Saint John Cathedral is 2.5 miles north of the Pinhook Bridge.  

Establishing a church in the area was a sign of prosperity and confidence in its future success.  The church also served as the social center of this expanding rural community and was where matters of public interest and government notices were displayed; since it was traditionally where most inhabitants frequented.  The area was selected by the state for the Lafayette Parish seat in 1824 and was named Vermilionville; for its proximity to the Vermillion River.  The Louisiana Legislature approved Vermilionville's incorporation in 1836.

By 1835, the town began to outgrow the courthouse, also donated by Jean Mouton, so the Police Jury contracted the construction of a new courthouse to replace the current small wooden building.   The new courthouse, a one-story brick structure with slate floors, was built for $6000.  By 1836, the State Legislature established corporate town limits of Vermilionville and nominated and a town council of 5 members. 

In the 1840s, the town was large enough to warrant a Union Bank of Louisiana branch office, established on Vermilion and Saint John streets.  During this time, a group of concerned citizens founded the Vermilionville Academy, the school operated from the 1940s until 1872.  In 1872, the school was sold, and profits were used to fund free public schools in Vermilion parish.

Vermilionville was renamed for General Lafayette in 1884.  Lafayette was a French aristocrat that significantly aided the Continental Army through the American Revolutionary War.  The parish economy continued its agricultural base well into the 20th century.  Following the Civil War, labor was conducted by freedmen working as sharecroppers.  Following the mechanization of agriculture in the 1930s, the need of manual farm workers was reduced.   Oil was discovered in the parish in 1940s, propelling the natural gas and petroleum industry to dominate the economy.  

If you are considering a move to this culturally rich area, consider visiting our Lafayette Gardens apartments in Lafayette Louisiana.  Located in the River Ranch area of Lafayette, our pet-friendly apartment community is close to everything but far from ordinary.  

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Living life to the fullest can seem like a challenge given COVID restrictions and living in an apartment in Lafayette, Louisiana; however, our area is ripe with outdoor activities.

You may ask why choose outside activities; COVID-19 is primarily spread from human to human in close contact (usually within six feet).  The respiratory droplets from a person breathing, speaking, coughing, or sneezing are released into the air and can be passed to another nearby, particularly in enclosed spaces or spaces with poor ventilation.

When you spend time outdoors, fresh air is continually moving, dispersing these infectious droplets, so you are less likely to breathe in enough particles containing the virus to become infected.  It is still advised to wear a mask outdoors when social distancing can't be maintained to provide extra protection.

The great outdoors offers the additional benefits of an emotional boost; when paired with exercise it can help relieve stress and depression, and sunlight stimulates the production of vitamin D in the body too.  

Low-Risk Avenues to Move About More
Engaging activities that allow you to social distance “the acceptable” six or greater feet are considered lower risk.  Your apartment in Lafayette Louisiana is located close to 36 excellent parks, recreation, and hiking trails.

While many recreational activities may not be possible during certain seasons, there are countless ways to stay active outdoors throughout the year.  Start moving about with the following low-risk activities during the pandemic:

• Biking, hiking, running and walking
• Fishing and birding
• Golfing, traditional or Frisbee
• Canoeing, kayaking, and boating
• Social distanced fitness classes conducted outside or virtually

     
Do avoid congested sidewalks and narrow paths or choose less congested routes that make it easy to keep distance.   Always carry a mask for times when you cannot maintain the 6 feet distance from others you do not live with.  Don’t wear a mask while engaged in activities where you might get wet, such as swimming.

Don’t allow cooler weather to stop you from engaging in outdoor activities!  Remember to dress in layers and bring a hat and gloves to protect your hands and head.  

Lower-Risk Social Activities
Weather dependent, there are other less strenuous outdoor activity choices too:
A picnic with food packed from home, or takeout from your favorite restaurant or food truck.  Take a meal at your favorite public recreational area or consider eating on your patio or deck.
Shop at a local farmer's market.  Do don a mask and social distance.
Outdoor movies.

COVID-19 has revived drive-in and popup movies under the stars.  This historic concept is something resident can experience together with enough physical distance.

Low-to-Moderate-Risk Outdoor Activities
Depending on spacing, the following additional outdoor activities are considered low and moderate risk.  Many of these may not be available due to state-enforced restrictions or COVID phasing.  Provided you are not high-risk, you might consider taking advantage of the following:

Patio Dining 
Patio dining can be a great outdoor option.  Outdoor dining at an uncrowded venue where tables are sufficiently spaced is considered safer than indoor dining.  Wearing a mask when not eating or drinking is still advised.  If you need to enter the restaurant, practice social distancing, and wear your mask.

Self-service restaurants are not considered safe at this time.  Remember to bring hand sanitizer and wash your hands when you touch surfaces such as door handles and after entering and leaving.

Camping 
Provided you practice social distancing and come in close contact with those you live with, camping is considered low risk.  If you camp with others that do not live with you, camp in individual tents spaced at least six feet apart, and avoid sharing supplies, including food and drinks.  Remember to pack hand sanitizer and soap, as well as disinfectant supplies to clean commonly touched surfaces.

Swimming Pools and Beaches
Distances less than six feet — not the water — make swimming pools and beaches risky activities.  Water by itself doesn't spread the virus to other people; close proximity does.

Gather with small groups of friends outdoors while maintaining social distancing.  Ideas for activities that allow for distancing include outside art classes or driveway chalk for children and games like kickball, remember masks and hand sanitizer are still a must.

Getting together for a visit at a safe distance can offer a much-needed opportunity to connect with people you care about — and improve your mood during these trying times.  

A small gathering around a bonfire, campfire, or firepit and BYODD (bring your own dinner and drinks) allows you to enjoy the togetherness with a low risk of spreading the virus.   Wear a mask when not eating or drinking, and wash your hands when you arrive and leave the gathering.

High-risk Outdoor Activities to be Avoided
Events and activities that bring many people in close contact for longer periods of time poses the greatest risk of virus spread.  Playgrounds, where community surfaces are touched by many, can quickly spread the virus, sporting events where crowd size make social distancing and surface disinfecting difficult.  

COVID-19 is a serious matter, but at the same time, personal well-being should include doing activities that make life worth living.  Armed with correct information, individuals can make insightful choices that bring a sense of normality and pleasure to life during the pandemic while living in apartments in Lafayette Louisiana.

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2020 December Holidays will be unlike year’s past.  With the C.D.C. recommending Americans stay home during the holidays this year, it will look and feel very different for many of us.  Separation is hard, and most Americans are experiencing pandemic fatigue.  So how can you bring fun back to the holidays, especially in your apartment in Lafayette, LA?

While the suggestions below will not fill the hole left by missing loved ones, they come from the heart and are intended to help ease separation anxiety and quarantine fatigue.

Necessity is the mother of invention, as the saying goes.  Many are finding new ways to share their holidays with family, from holiday dinners over Zoom, to taking their celebrations outdoors.  With recent temperature drops, finding a location with a firepit or open enough for social distancing and heated lamps would be ideal.

THINK IMMEDIATE
Embrace the ones you live with.  If your traditional holidays are spent surrounded by your multi-generational family of 50, this holiday season might be especially difficult.  Focus on the family you live with.  Don’t skimp on holiday dinners; well, skimp a little if you are used to preparing a dish for 50.  But still make a traditional dinner, simply prepare smaller portions.  2020 is a perfect opportunity to ask aunt Sally her secret recipe for cornbread dressing; even better, ask her to send a list of ingredients and have her conduct a Zoom cooking class; while you are at it, involve your children.    

SMALLER IS BETTER
If your family is like most families, someone is in charge of the turkey.  Usually, a senior family member most likely to experience complications from COVID-19.  If you are unsure of your big bird cooking skills, consider something more manageable.   Roasting a chicken may feel less daunting a task, and you might just manage to stay awake after lunch or dinner, as turkey is notoriously packed with a nutrient called tryptophan, an amino acid known to cause sleepiness.

START A NEW TRADITION
Traditional dinners are very time consuming; just ask the cook.  Consider instead, take-out.  Have the family come to a consensus on the type of meal you want and do your research.  Many restaurants remain open during the holidays.  If you plan ahead, you can preorder any meal you want for your holiday dinner; you may need to pick it up the day before your dinner.  The same goes for deserts; discuss your favorites and preorder from your local bakery or grocer ahead of time.   

CHARITY
Consider collecting food or gifts for the less fortunate.  Many employees who have been discharged from service, as the state has reverted to varying degrees of stage 2 status, struggle to make ends meet. 
Perhaps your family could call the local charities to see what their needs are and pick a few items up on your next trip to the grocery store.  Or better yet, speak with the office manager at your apartments in Lafayette, Louisiana to arrange a food or toy drive or care kits for shelters.  Helping others around the holidays brings a unique feeling of community and may just start a new family tradition.  


HANDWRITE YOUR HOLIDAY CARDS
The holidays are usually such a busy time of the year; it’s hard to find time for the really important things in life.  In today’s text, messenger, email age, the art of writing a letter has been lost.  Take this opportunity to let those you love know that you are missing them.  A homemade card with a longer personal message will leave a lasting impression.

The pandemic has been felt far and wide; our team at Lafayette Gardens Apartments, too, feel your pain.  We miss our social events and look forward to the day we can host them again.  Until then, stay safe and stay well.  Your Lafayette Louisiana Apartment home. 

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​What if we shared with you that there are products that worked as hard as you do at keeping your home or apartment in Lafayette Louisiana clean and orderly.
 
Perhaps you have heard of the "Landing Strip".  If not, the landing strip is a designated spot in your home designed to deposit the things you bring in and out every day.  This space is more of a system; when used correctly, it keeps you organized.
 
If you have a landing strip great, let us make sure it is utilized correctly.  If you do not, we suggest setting one up with things you probably already own.  
 
Your landing strip should be set up near the most often used entrance to your home.  This space could be near your garage entrance, front, or side door.
 
The idea is to design a space that you'll genuinely want to use every time you come into your home. Its' purpose is to help you sort through the things you carry in your hands, pockets, and bags upon arrival, while providing a smoother exit when departing.
 
We suggest your landing strip include the following but alter the list according to your needs:

• A doormat to wipe off shoe grime
• Wall mount hooks, or space to hang coats and carry bags
• A hook, basket, bowl or dish for keys, wallet, or loose change
• A flat surface or side table for mail, newspaper, magazine sorting
• A waste bin or basket to deposit discarded flyers, mail, and other unwanted pieces
• A mirror to check your hair, makeup or clothes before leaving the house
• Once installed, make using your landing strip a habit every time you enter or leave

 
When entering your home, place your keys, wallet, or purse in their receptacles, hang your coat and take off your shoes.  Practice emptying unnecessary items from your bag that you won't need the next time you leave and hang or place your bag at the landing strip.  Sorting your mail as soon as you walk in will reduce clutter.

Immediately toss or recycle unnecessary or unwanted items such as catalogs, flyers, or newspapers.  Place the mail requiring attention in a prominent, easily accessible space.  Next, attend to the other things you might have brought home (dry cleaning, lunch boxes, shopping bags, groceries, etc.), placing items where they belong immediately.  Forming this new habit should only take a few minutes when you come home. 
 
By making a habit of utilizing a landing strip and tackling the proper storage of items brought in, your space can remain uncluttered and clear, allowing you to relax and unwind when arriving home as well as take the daily stress out of locating necessary items on your departure. 
 
Are you or a family member looking for an apartment in Lafayette, Louisiana?  If so, be sure to put Lafayette Gardens Apartments and Parc Gardens on your list of must-see apartment communities near River Ranch. 

Lafayette Gardens is a family and dog friendly apartment community close to everything but far from routine, while Parc Gardens is an elevated living  retirement community for those over 55 years of age. 

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Apartments in Lafayette Louisiana are not known for their spacious bathrooms, so let’s hear it for the tiny bathrooms.  Here is to the little lavatories, petite powder rooms, and tee tiny toilettes, for making us do more with less.
 
There may not be room for a pedestal tub and shower or even enough counter space for your skincare regime, but that just means you will need be creative with your space.  While you are contemplating storage the internet is busting with IKEA hacks to help you extract function out of the smallest of spaces.
  
Ikea is known for inventive kitchen shelving and other small room storage solutions that walk the ideal line of form and function; that translates especially well for apartment living.  Easy on the wallet, take a peek at these Ikea and other vendor hacks to make the most of your petite powder room.
 
Vertical solutions
When horizontal space is restricted, vertical solutions are often overlooked.  Consider a leaning or hung towel ladder as shelving unit.  With today’s modern farmhouse craze, finding the perfect size and style should not be a problem.  You may even be able to add baskets with hooks that attach to the ladder steps for even more storage.
 
Floating storage
If your bathroom didn’t come equipped with built-in storage, don’t let it deter you.  Instead, consider adding floating storage.  Do a keyword search for apothecary hanging or leaning storage solutions and you will understand the idea.   Originally, apothecary cabinets were used to store herbs and medicine. Today, we use apothecary cabinets for the same purpose.  The small drawers are perfect for holding pill makeup, soaps, bottles, medicine, bandages, and additional necessary items.
 
Laundry station with shelf
Are you determined to keep your dirty laundry sorted?  Consider one of the Petrone Combo Laundry Centers (Google the collection for images).  These laundry centers come with options for shelf tops, even side storage baskets and even have casters; so you can slide it out of the way. 

Everything old is new again
Remember picture ledges?  Picture ledges are now repurposed as bathroom shelving storage solutions. 
Thinner and sleeker than the original country picture shelf, the new versions are perfectly suited to smaller items like candles, perfume, toiletry canisters containing cotton balls, Q-tips, and the like. 
 
Need even slender solutions?
Contemporary or traditional spice racks make perfect shelving solutions.  The railing makes it a solid answer for glass bottles.  Available in designer woods, metal and even high-grade plastic, spice racks can aesthetically and safely display your daily beauty products.  On the low end, raw wood versions are available at discount stores and can be painted to add a pop of color or blend with neutral tones.
 
Above-the-door storage
Some of the more underutilized bathroom real estate is up.  If you find yourself baffled on storage space simply look up.   Wall shelves hung above the door or hooked on the door offer additional storage opportunities for towels, robes even clothing.  In some cases you can double your storage using this hack
 
Small spaces require double duty
When space is tight bringing in multipurpose furniture.  Consider a chair or stool that doubles as a towel rack, plant stand or tray holder.  The space under the stool can hold a basket full of towels, magazines, or rolls extra of toilet tissue.
 
Looking for apartments for rent in Lafayette Louisiana with larger bathrooms?  Handicap accessible apartments in Lafayette Louisiana offer larger bathrooms and wider doorways.

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Circumstances often beyond our control force us to relocate, Hurricane Laura is a perfect example.  However, no move is more abrupt than one triggered by a hurricane.  Our hearts go out to those affected by Hurricane Laura.  With estimates in the billions of dollars in insurance claims, many will have lost their home - or at a minimum been temporarily displaced.  Rebuilding will not be easy, as construction resources will struggle to supply the current market conditions. It is a time of loss, confusion, and uncertainty for many - but there is also hope.  
 
Relocating after a Natural Disaster
Displaced by a natural disaster, many families will search for short- and long-term Corporate Housing Accommodations near the epic-center.  This allows displaced families to travel back and forth while their homes undergo the rebuilding process. 
 
Corporate and Executive Housing Solutions
The beauty of corporate and executive housing is that most units will come partially or fully furnished.  In the case of those who have lost everything to Hurricane Laura, finding the perfect corporate housing in Lafayette Louisiana can prove a Godsend.  These furnished units allow a semi-return to normalcy.   Complete with full-sized kitchen, living room, dining, bedroom, and bathroom furnishings, the displaced can rent 1 bedroom – 1 bath, 2 bedroom – 2 bath, and 3 bedroom – 2 bath units to accommodate families of varying sizes. 
 
Finding Comfort in Unexpected Places
Evacuees looking to truly find the comfort of home, can look for apartments in Lafayette Louisiana that offer the amenities they were accustomed to back home.  Many corporate housing accommodations in Lafayette offer 24-hour fitness centers, children’s playgrounds, basketball courts, and even dog parks.  While searching for a short-term lease, be sure to look at the corporate housing community amenities page to ensure they offer the comforts of home you desire.
 
Hope After the Storm
In the aftermath of Hurricane Laura, life can look a little bleak - especially for children that are facing six months to a year to rebuild.  Lake Charles school age residents were due to start school the week Hurricane Laura set its path.  Short-term housing in Lafayette Louisiana is available in award-winning school districts, allowing a smooth transition for their children.  COVID-19 delayed the start of the school year for all of Louisiana, so chances are the children will not have missed too much of the school year.
 
Fur Babies Welcome
Many of Lafayette Louisiana Short-term Housing realize that families include pets and welcome the furry children of families with open arms.  You will be able to find interim housing in Lafayette Louisiana that accommodates most breeds of cats and dogs, chances are they will have a dedicated dog park or two where dogs can exercise and socialize. 

Please recognize that while most communities’ welcome pets, their need to protect their residents, and their pets may exclude certain breeds of dogs deemed dangerous.
 
If you or someone you know has been displaced by Hurricane Laura and need temporary housing in Lafayette Louisiana, call Lafayette Gardens Apartments for a tour of their 1, 2- or 3-bedroom pet-friendly apartment community.  They offer short-term housing in the River Ranch area of Lafayette Louisiana. 

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The most significant difference between a studio apartment and one-bed apartment is the separate closed off bedroom.  Deciding between the two depends entirely on your budget and lifestyle.  Considering issues such as privacy, amenities and maintenance responsibilities may help influence your preference.
 
When you are on the hunt for an apartment and think you want something smaller, typically you think about a studio or one-bedroom apartment.   If it is just you and your spouse, chances are either will do, but there is a difference in the layout and privacy. 
 
What is a studio apartment?
Unlike a one-bedroom apartment, a studio has a more open and compact design. “A studio apartment is essentially an open box, possibly with a partitioned wall, that houses everything in the single open room with except of the bathroom.
 
With some variation, a studio apartments single large room houses a full-size kitchen or kitchenette and a separate bathroom.  Usually you are working with limited space and will need double duty furniture in order to make this space work.   The placement of furniture and a little strategy can help define the space.   By combining a double duty dining/office space, you could have a separate but defined sleeping space and lounging/entertaining area.  Studio apartments are typically around 600 square feet but can be found with as little as 300 square feet.  With the smaller space, the more creative your design will need to be. 
 
What is a 1-bedroom apartment?
The key difference between a studio and one-bedroom apartment is there will be a doored off room dedicated to sleeping.   You will most likely get a few additional walls that provide distinct separation of spaces for the kitchen, dining and entertaining areas, as well as additional storage and washer and dryer space.  
 
Square footage of a one-bedroom/one bath apartment can range widely.  A small one-bedrooms can total the size of a large studio.  Even though the square footage is the same, a one-bedroom can feel larger when your furniture has its own partitioned space.
 
Studio vs. 1-bedroom: Considerations when deciding between the two
The size difference can feel like a little or a lot more room, it's really every bit about the space you need to feel relaxed at home.  Some feel better in a cozy home, while others prefer to stretch out.  One bedrooms apartments tend to cost more than studio apartments and with the addition of separate rooms you may also see additional heating and electricity costs.  It can be to helpful to ask the property owner for an estimate of utility bills and compare the two.
 
Aside from the cost and the square footage, there are a few other differences between studios and one-bedrooms.
 
1. Privacy
In a studio, where you eat is also where you work, hang out and sleep.  Where a one-bedroom gives you the dedicated space for dining, lounging, and sleeping.   A 1-bedroom apartment affords more privacy especially if you have overnight quest of family crashing on your sofa bed, or if you desire time away from your significant other.  If you live by yourself and don’t entertain you may find all the privacy you need in a studio.
 
2. In-unit amenities
In addition to extra room of most one-bedroom apartments, there are a few amenities that you generally don’t find in a studio apartment.  Many, if not all, new one-bedroom apartments include in-unit laundry hookups, more than one closet (think bathroom and hall or laundry room), and full-sized kitchen with full-sized kitchen appliance.  While these are great amenities, they are not always necessary.
 
In-unit laundry machines could be easily be overlooked if the apartment building offers a same floor laundry room.   Perhaps you do not do your own laundry but send it out to be cleaned.  Clearly a laundry an in-unit laundry room would be unimportant.   If you do not cook, having a smaller refrigerator is just fine, so the space-saving appliance in your studio will not bother you. 
 
Amenities are by definition are extra items in your home, and must-haves differ from person to person.  
 
3. Lifestyle
Your lifestyle can impact the type of apartment you will need.  If you like to entertain and frequently have out of town friends over for the weekend, you may need more than a one-bedroom to accommodate your routine.
 
The amount of space you need may also depend on your professional lifestyle.  If your profession takes you away frequently or travel on the weekends a smaller space may just be the ticket.  However, if you are now working from home and need separate space for work, home and sleep – you might consider bumping up to a 2-bedroom apartment.  Having a dedicated room for work can help with work life balance. 
 
4. Location
Price can impact your apartment decision when it comes to apartment location. If you want to live close to a city center or near work, you may end up in a pricy area of town where property value is more expensive.  It might not be affordable to rent a one or two-bedroom apartment, but you might find studio prices low enough to get you in your desired area.
 
5. Upkeep
Generally, decorating and cleaning are easier the less space you have.  It can be faster to clean a studio apartment with the same flooring throughout, and clearly few walls to decorate.  With that said, lack of storage lends itself to more clutter. 

We hope the information above leads you in the direction of a better match for your new apartment.  If you happen to be looking for apartments in Lafayette Louisiana, we hope you'll take a tour of our luxury apartment community in the River Ranch area of Lafayette.

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​Are your current accommodations starting to feeling a little cramped? Use this time to make a wish list of amenities that would make your time at home a little more inviting.  

Many of us have spent the last two or three months living inside; we’ve become well acquainted with our homes — in some cases, maybe too acquainted. If you were planning a move before COVID-19, and are still planning to do so when the curve starts to flatten, you could take this time to reflect on what you like and don’t like about your apartment community. For instance, the stairs that lead to your apartment you climb several times a day may keep you moving while you’ve stayed home, but maybe you’d like a more robust workout available in your next apartment. Or perhaps the concrete city-style community that lacks a yard you didn’t think you needed doesn’t accommodate the new isolation buddy you adopted for company.

Well, we’ve created a list of suggestions to help you identify what you like and don’t like about your current living arrangements so you can find more comfort and resources in your next one.

Make a list – what’s working and what’s not?
On a scale of 1-10, how much do you like your current apartment?

• What’s your apartment’s best quality?
• And its worst quality?
• Do you like the style of your apartment? If not, are there architectural styles you prefer?
• What’s your favorite room in your apartment, and what makes spending time there enjoyable?
• Space and flow: How do you feel when you’re at relaxing at home?
• Is there enough space, or too much space? Which rooms could you use less or more space?
• How would you define the layout — is it a studio-style floor plan? Or more compartmentalized? Does the apartment community suit your lifestyle?
• Do you have just enough or too many bedrooms? Do you need a two bedroom apartment or three bedroom apartments.  Or the big question, do you have enough bathrooms?
• Do you like the floor you are living on? Or would you prefer a first floor or third flood?
• Are you happy with the natural light? Do you need more natural light?
• How do you like the finishing touches and fixtures?
• Does your apartment lack a specialized room you now find you need (like a home office or a room for exercising)?
• What amenities does your current apartment community offer outside of the apartment, and how does it affect your experience at home?

We hope this article has given you some food for thought when you are looking for apartments for rent in Lafayette Louisiana, and makes identifying the perfect apartment just a little easier.

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Are you someone with questions about corporate housing in Lafayette Louisiana and whether it might be a suitable alternative for your short-term housing needs.   In this article, we hope to clear up your questions and provide you with a few considerations that may apply to your situation.

Corporate Housing – What it is and how to find them

Corporate leasing refers to housing that offers furnished units for long-term stays.  Its name is derived from the fact that corporate leasing was primarily used by companies to house their employees for long-term assignments to save the cost of hotel bills.  It can be used for employees on temporary assignment in a distant city or to house contract workers or employees temporarily.


While corporate leasing started out as a housing alternative for company employees, the service has expanded to include students, vacationers, and those requiring interim housing when moving. While fees can be higher than traditional leasing, corporate units are usually stocked with everything you need for comfortable long term lodging.   Typically corporate leases include parking, cleaning and are near the short term assignment location to make commuting easier.

When to Consider Corporate Housing
When moving to a new city and looking for a new home, or the home you purchased will require extensive remodeling before you can move in.  However, if your needs are shorter than 3 months, this may not be the right path.   

May we suggest investigating vacation rentals such as VRBO or Airbnb.  Clearly, pricing, comfort, and location are important.  With a little research, you are sure to find temporary lodging that meets your needs and budget.  If you need to move during the off-season, it should be easier to find Airbnb or VRBO rental deals. 

Often those offering corporate housing are familiar with the market and can help you compare your options and may even have short-term housing deals during offseason.  Most people want to stay close to family during the winter holidays, so this may be the key to finding a bargain

Costs
Corporate Housing is like traditional housing when it comes to pricing, location, length of stay, and how many rooms you will need will determine the pricing structure.   Typically, corporate leasing is more costly than renting a long-term unfurnished apartment.   

Length of Your Stay
The length of your stay has a significant impact on what you will pay.   Corporate housing companies offer weekly and monthly rates, prices decrease as the length of your stay increases.  Also, you will pay less for a studio apartment than a one-bedroom apartment, less for a one-bedroom than a two-bedroom, etc.   Special needs may also cost more, such as pets or infants; many corporate leasing properties are designated adult leasing only, so be sure to ask before you book.

The location
The location also has a significant impact on price.  While opting for a place further from the center of town can save money, your commute and parking may be impacted.  Sometimes the location is non-negotiable.   Do consider safety when choosing a location and conveniences such as cafes, restaurants, and grocery stores.

How to Find Corporate Housing
In today’s technology environment, it is as simple as opening the Google browser on your cell phone and asking Google, Suri or Bixby for corporate housing in Lafayette Louisiana, or corporate leasing in Lafayette Louisiana.  Do include the city and state name where you would like to find a lease; otherwise, your phone's digital assistant or search engine will use your phone's GPS to find and serve up local search results.  If you happen to be searching for corporate housing in Lafayette, Louisiana, stop by Lafayette Gardens Apartments and take a tour of our dog and family-friendly corporate leasing units.  L.G.A. offers one-bedroom apartments in Lafayette Louisiana up to three-bedroom apartments in Lafayette Louisiana, stop by or call today. ​

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Sometimes shopping for an apartment cannot wait, and what do you do when you find yourself in the middle of stay at home orders during a pandemic.  You would be surprised how literal the phrase "where there is a will there is a way" truly is.

The real estate industry has had to make significant changes in how it is conducting business. From real estate sales to leasing, the need for social distancing and hyper-disinfecting has led many companies to offer virtual tours of their properties through FaceTime, their websites, and other apps too. 

It is not just renters who are changing their methodology to shopping for apartments during COVID-19; property owners and managers are looking for new ways to conduct business while practicing social distancing as well.  Most apartments in Lafayette La are willing to offer virtual tours using any number of apps and video conferencing services, and adapting is proving beneficial.  

Non-contact lease signing options are available as well.  If you are familiar with what a lease looks like, and what you should look for, this digital contract solution is providing a suitable alternative to hard copy leases.  If precaution is more your style, most apartments in Lafayette Louisiana can get a copy of their lease agreement to you through email, so you can read it, sign, and scan it to email as a non-editable PDF. 

You may be able to view a property in person, call to verify a property's showing procedures during Louisiana's stay-at-home and social distancing orders.   

As long as a property is sanitized, it is still acceptable to see it in person – provided, it is legal in your area.  In addition to federal and state agency guidelines, local restrictions may apply.  Calling the local city hall can help you navigate the ever-fluid local guidelines.  If no such restrictions apply, ask the property management agent if they require specific measures while visiting and if extra measures are being taken to ensure the community and apartment are government compliant with disinfecting public spaces during COVID-19.  

When shopping for new apartments in Lafayette, Louisiana, you should know your rights as a tenant. Do not allow the agent to apply pressure to sign a lease and be sure to ask as many questions as you can before signing a contract.  Between facemasks and gloves, and maintaining a social distance of 6 feet, current shopping conditions are a little overwhelming; your preparation, attitude and calm mental state can make looking for an apartment an exciting adventure.  
​
It will pay to have a game plan.
Consider making a list of all the amenities you would like in a new apartment community in Lafayette Louisiana, then compare apartments online, when you have narrowed it down to two or three, call and find out about the property's availability, showing restrictions and schedule for tours.  

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​Many of us are spending an abundance of time inside right now, but that time need not go to waste.  Who doesn’t love a freshly cleaned home, and what better time to do a little spring cleaning.  Once the weather gets more beautiful, we are not going to want to be stuck inside with rubber gloves and a duster. This month is considered a sweet spot when the weather is still up in the air – pardon the pun, when dedicating a day indoors can still be justified.

Below is a list of the best spring-cleaning tips we found.  We suggest going room to room, taking your time if you can.

• Dust shelves, moldings, light fixtures, blinds, ceiling fans, and vents.  Anything that accumulates dust and you usually overlook.
• Wash the windows
• Clean window treatments.  Including your shower curtain. 
• Flip and turn your mattress.  This should be done up to 3 times a year to get the maximum life out of your mattress.
• Change your winter bedding to spring.  This could mean just storing winter blankets. Be sure to wash and dry them first.
• Change your clothes from warm to cool and pack away your seasonal clothes.  Donate unused clothing items
• Vacuum and shampoo carpets and area rugs.  
• Take removable sofa and chair cushions outside for a little sunshine.  Sunshine is an effective disinfectant.
• Wax wood floors.  Adding a shine really makes a difference. 
• Check your smoke detector batteries
• Replace your air conditioning filters.
• Clean your medicine cabinet out, and your makeup bag too
• Organize your paperwork and clean up your desktop
• Clean your computer and TV.
• Clean your deck and furniture including trash bins
• Clean your refrigerator top to bottom.  Pull out drawers and shelves, it will be easier to clean the backs and sides.
• Clean out your coffee maker
• Clean the stove and oven. You will be surprised how much build-up happens in a short time.  

Things you will need to complete an effective spring-cleaning checklist. 

Check your local dollar store, it's where many of these items can be found. 

• Cleaning caddy
• Plastic gloves
• Paper towels
• Scrubber
• Mop
• Bucket
• Broom
• Dustpan
• Duster
• Dusting mitt
• Microfiber cloths
• Garbage bags
• Sponges
• Scrub brush
• Blind cleaner
• Oven cleaner
• Multi-surface cleaner
• Dust spray
• Wood cleaner
• Disinfecting spray
• Toilet bowl cleaner
• Glass cleaner
• Vacuum
• Distilled white vinegar
• Ceramic cooktop cleanser
• Toilet brush
• Dish soap
• Scented room spray

​Looking for a new home to hang your hat?  
If you are searching for apartments in Lafayette Louisiana be sure to stop by Lafayette Gardens Apartments.  Located in the heart of Lafayette, it’s only minutes for shopping and dining in the famed River Ranch area.  Call to schedule your tour of this community.

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Whether it’s your first apartment or you are starting over in a new city, furnishing an entire apartment can be an expensive, if not overwhelming process.  You may already have some idea of what you’d like your space to look and feel like, but your bank account is not quite ready to support your vision; we have a few solutions for that as well.  The most common mistake is leaving the big purchases to the last minute.  Planning for the essentials early affords you time to find, save, shop and possibly order what you really want. 
 
Thankfully, others have been where you are, made the mistakes and shared their valuable hindsight.  Give yourself a 3-month lead, and in three easy steps, you’ll be on your way to first apartment heaven.
 

• Start a Design Board – pin photos of the look you want to accomplish, paying special attention to prices and order times of the larger pieces (mattress, bed, dresser, sofa, dining).  Furniture stores typically don’t stock everything on the showroom floor.  It may take a week or so to receive it from the furniture store's central warehouse, possibly 4-12 weeks if they need to order it from an American manufacturer, and 3-6 months if they need to order it from overseas.  Giving yourself the 3-month lead allows you time to order, shop for suitable alternatives, or wait for a sale if the items don’t fit your budget.  * Furniture stores generally have a sale every couple of months. 

 

• Place your order for the larger pieces 8-10 weeks ahead of the move-in date, unless the store or website suggests differently.  About two weeks before your move-in date, arrange for pickup or delivery of your ordered items. Many furniture stores have a week or longer wait time for delivery, depending on the season.

 

• Next, you can focus on the smaller essential pieces - bed linens, window treatments, bath towels, pots, pans, plates, bowls, utensils and cleaning supplies (broom, dustpan, mop, sponges for bath and kitchen, lavatory brush, etc.)

 
With the large and small essentials out of the way, you can relax on the finishing touches.  Take your time finding the perfect wall art, accent tables, and other decorative touches.  Give yourself time to curate accents that reflect your unique taste and personality.  Better yet, if you or your friends are crafty or artsy, create a few one-of-a-kind pieces yourself.  Below we offer a few nationwide locations for inspiration and fixer-upper finds. 
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Keep in mind, you don’t need to start with all of the essentials at move-in, if you own a mattress, but don’t have a frame – furniture stores carry metal bed frames starting around $50, and platform bed frames can be ordered for about $100. 
 
Estate Sales
Estate sales happen for a variety of reasons, downsizing, debt, divorce, or in some cases, the passing of a loved one.  While most estate sales are run by professionals who know the value of the items being sold, occasionally you either find something that you feel is undervalued, or worth every penny they are asking for it, and you considered it a steal.  Opening day at estate sales are very busy, many local antiquers, and even dealers, will visit hoping to score a treasure or two.  You can expect to pay full price for the first and possible second day of an estate sale.  By the third day, discounts usually ensue, if an item has not sold.  You can expect prices to drop 25% on the second or third day, and 40 – 50% on the last day.  If you find you have fallen in love with an item, you can ask the professional in charge to be placed on a sort of last call list.  If the item has not sold when they are wrapping up the estate sale, the professional will start the call list for the remaining items.  It helps if you establish a relationship with an estate sale professional. 
 
Flea Markets are Gold Mines
Sometimes in the most literal sense, you are just as likely to walk away not having found anything as you are finding the perfect fixer-upper.  But the sheer amount of creativity, ingenuity, and variety behind the vendors at open markets is hard to find. You never know what you’ll see, and it is probably different every time you go.  For many of the vendors, this is a full-time job.  Their time is spent acquiring and curating the best finds.  It is possible you’ll find a seller that matches your taste to a tee, and you’ll find yourself visit them for years to come.  The great thing about these small businesses, they are hunting for new items all the time.  If you share the piece, treasure or concept you’re looking to execute, they might just be able to find it for you or point you in the right direction.    
 
Secondhand Stores
Industry insiders refer to it as the resale industry.  You may also hear it called goodwill hunting, consignment cruising and bargain hunting.  Regardless of the name, you might be surprised that 1 out of 6 Americans goes thrifting a year.  On the hunt for a good deal and perhaps you want to contribute to a good cause, you can find new and used clothing, shoes, electronics, washers, dryers, furniture and exercise equipment at thrift stores across the U.S.  Research estimates there are around 18,000 reseller stores across the nation, bringing in revenues over $12 billion annually.
 
Donations to these stores come from all walks of life.  Often, they are the recipients of yard sale leftovers, emergency move-outs or relocation, estate sale leftovers or upgrades.  Donators receive charitable donation receipts for the value of their gifts.  There is really no telling what you might find at a thrift store.   TV shows like Baggage Battles, American Pickers and Storage Wars publicize locating rare and valuable treasures in peculiar places.  Thrift stores are among the hiding spaces of these items.
 
Are you hunting apartments in Lafayette Louisiana?  Do put Lafayette Gardens Apartments on your must-visit list. ​

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You've signed the lease on your new apartment in Lafayette, Louisiana, and now it's time to plan your big move.  One of the first decisions you will need to make is whether you will move your belongings yourself or hire a professional.  Do you have friends to help, will you need to rent a truck or can you manage the move in a few loads in the back of your truck?  If you choose to enlist a moving service, you should know there are a variety of moving services available.  Services range from helping you move your heavy pieces, to boxing up and moving everything you own.
 
If you have decided hiring movers is your best option, consider the following tips.
 
1. READ REVIEWS, TESTIMONIALS & GET REFERRALS.

The best advice is to ask people in your circle for a referral.  Friends who have made a move in the last year or so have first-hand experience and are the best source of referrals.  Ask if they recommend that particular moving company or service?  Either way, good or bad, their response will help you narrow down your options.  After you have a list, consult online review resources such as Yelp, Angie’s List, HomeAdvisor, or Google to check client reviews and testimonials.
 
2. RESEARCH YOUR OPTIONS.

After you’ve read a sufficient number of reviews, check the potential moving companies’ websites.  Check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints or if they have recently had a business change of name. Check several movers websites to better understand the going rates for the different services you are considering for your move.  You will need to schedule an estimate to get the exact cost of your move, but it will be helpful in deciding if you want or can afford this service before you call the company.
 
3. DECIDE WHO’S PACKING.

Predetermine whether you will be packing your belongings or if you need the moving service you hire to do it. Whether you do it yourself or enlist the moving company, be prepared to purchase or pay for packing supplies.  These small items can add up, so be sure to ask for details when getting a quote. 
 
4. DETERMINE THE SERVICES YOU NEED.

What kind of help do you need?  Are you seeking a few extra hands to assist you while you move your belongings,  or would you prefer a white-glove full-service move, where the company comes in, packs your belongings, transports them, and unloads and places them for you? Keep in mind that the more detailed the service, the more costly it will be.
 
5. OBTAIN ESTIMATES FROM SEVERAL MOVING COMPANIES.

Reach out to your top moving service choices to determine a baseline on charges.  A few companies might be willing to negotiate if you mention a competitor quoted a competitive rate for the same move.
 
6. KNOW WHAT TO ASK WHEN HIRING A MOVING COMPANY.

Make a list of questions you want to ask each potential moving company. Below are a few sample questions you might consider asking:

• How do you charge, by the hour or flat rate?
• Are you a long-distance mover, or do you handle mostly local moves?
• What are your service levels?
• Do you insure the move, or do I need to insure it?
• How many employees do you enlist for a move like mine?
• Are your crew members certified or obtain special training?
• Do you subcontract the moves?
• Whare examples of additional fees I might incur? (E.g. heavy items, 2nd-floor moves, or fuel for the moving truck)

 
7. EVALUATE YOUR ESTIMATES.

When you’re comparing quotes, don't only look at the bottom dollar.  Consider which company offers the best value for the services provided. Also, look at which company inspired the most trust. It's worth a few extra dollars if you feel you can trust one more than the other.
 
8. BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING RED FLAGS.

The following situations may give you pause when hiring a company:
The require payment in full before performing any services.
Online reviews are primarily negative.
They are not insured and licensed.
 
9. BE PREPARED ON MOVING DAY.

If you are renting a truck and hiring movers to help move heavy items, ensure your moving truck is ready to go before the movers arrive on moving day. If you are packing the items yourself, the same consideration applies. You really don’t want to scramble, packing last-minute boxes while the movers are emptying your apartment.  Moving will be stressful enough— be prepared.
 
Hiring movers to help with your move to your new apartments in Lafayette, Louisiana can provide much-needed relief during the moving process.  A reputable moving company can ensure you stay focused and provide efficiency on your big day.

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Apartment hunting in any city can be a formidable task, but when you are searching for one out of state, it presents a whole new set of challenges.  No matter your reason for the move, we found a few tips that can help make you go a little smoother.
 
IF POSSIBLE, VISIT YOUR NEW STATE AHEAD OF TIME
If your schedule permits, it’s advised to visit your new city ahead of time. Getting a feel and the vibe of your new city and potential apartment in-person is the best way to start your search. If you are fortunate and have a company relocation package, they may provide you with temporary housing while you’re visiting.  If not, visiting your new city will afford you the opportunity to visit different areas in relation to your new job or school.
 
RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH
Today, information is readily available via the internet. Most reputable apartment communities have websites that offer images of their grounds and apartments, along with amenities and special features.  And with Google Maps, you can research the area to get a feel for local features, hangouts, shopping, neighborhood groceries and other points of interest.
 
SEEK LOCAL HELP
Many times, the university or your HR department can shed light on relocation. Check with these sources first, usually, someone there will have the inside scoop on popular neighborhoods and nearby amenities. Consider reaching out to the leasing agents at apartment communities. Often, they can share distance to the school or business that brings you to the city and possible benefits or hindrances of their location. It’s their job to stay informed on the area, so be sure to ask questions. 
 
SEEK OUT VIRTUAL TOURS
Most apartment communities are going to share their best images on their website.  But the more tech-savvy apartment communities are jumping on board with 3D touring. This technology gives a more accurate depiction of your new living arrangements and is considered the next best thing to a live tour. 
 
BE AWARE OF THE LOCAL MARKET
While we all like to shop around to find the best bang for our buck, keep in mind the rental market of your new city. College and large cities often have a high demand for temporary housing arrangements. The earlier you start looking, the better, and if you find something you like, you need to act quickly or could end up missing out. 
 
FOCUS ON LOCATION
Finding an apartment near your employer or school would be great and relieve you of the stress associated with learning your new city's layout. But occasionally, where you are employed or go to school may be in high demand area and out of budget. If this turns out to be the case, look for alternatives that are close to public transit or near the interstate just outside of your desired area.   
 
BE READY WITH A SECURITY DEPOSIT
If you are relocating for work, your deadline may be out of your control. Make sure you have a security deposit ready when you start looking. While you are at it, have your references and bank statements available as well. It would be very disappointing to miss an opportunity for a lack of preparation.
 
MONEY MATTERS
For students and fist time renters, take time to understand the full cost of renting. Most apartment managers can share the average utility bill for a 1-bedroom apartment. But you need to factor in groceries, transportation, internet/cable and possibly renters insurance. Be sure that the apartment you are considering works well within your budget. Also, keep in mind that your credit score plays a role in your approval to rent. If you have not established credit, now is a good time to do so. If your credit score is low, consider taking steps to improve your score. Most local banks can help you understand the steps you need to take to establish or clean up your credit.
 
HONESTY REALLY IS THE BEST POLICY
If you are honest with the property manager about your credit situation, you might find they have a little wiggle room or discretion in this matter and can offer solutions to help you secure your first apartment.
 
Apartment hunting can be stressful, especially when you are out of town or state. Our friendly property managers are here to help   If you are looking for apartments for rent in Lafayette,LA be sure to stop by Lafayette Gardens Apartments to take a tour or call to schedule your virtual tour. ​

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Halloween just over a month away, what better way to get you and your Apartments in Lafayette Louisiana into the spirit than to do some fun Halloween Kids Crafts? With so many fun ideas we thought we would share a few of our favorites with you. 
 
Spooky spiders top our list.
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Spider Handprint
Supplies you need to make this Spider Handprint

• Orange construction paper
• Black construction paper
• Googly eyes
• Glue stick
• Black glitter glue or you can make your own
• Scissors

 

1. First, fold your black paper in half and then half again.
2. Trace just four fingers and leave about 1/2 an inch from the edge of the paper.
3. Cut out your handprint. You should now have two spiders.
4. Draw your spider webs on orange construction paper in the corners with a pencil or black pen. Add two web lines down to where you will place your spider handprints.
5. Carefully trace your web with the black glitter glue. If possible, make a continuous line when you are tracing your spider web to avoid the glue from making clumping marks. Allow the glue to dry overnight.
6. Glue your spider's eyes on.

 
Paper Spider
Supplies you need to make the Paper Spider.

• Black paper – one sheet will make one spider
• White paper
• Black pen
• Black bakers twine for hanging
• Glue stick
• Scissors

 

1. Begin by cutting out four 1/5 inch strips off the top of your sheet of paper – set aside for the legs.
2. Next, use a small cup to trace and cut out 8 same-sized circles from the rest of sheet – however many you can fit.
3. Fold each circle in half to create semi-circles.
4. Add glue to half of the semi-circle and place another semi-circle on top, then add glue to the next layer and repeat.
5. When all of your circles are glued together and stacked high, cut a piece of bakers twine – about 8 inches long fold it in half and tie a knot.
6. Add a generous amount of glue to the spine of your paper circle stacks and place the baker's twine against it. Add glue to the top semi-circle, unfold the circle and bring it round
7. Make the legs with the strips of paper you cut first, make 4 longer legs and 4 shorter legs for each side of the spider's body, 8 total.
8. Fold the legs about 1/3 of the way down to make a right angle and then fold again about ¾ of the way down the opposite direction to make the foot
9. Last, you'll add your spider’s eyes. Draw two circles the size of a dime, cut out and add pupils. Bend the two middle flaps of your spider back slightly and glue the eyes on.

Craft Stick Spider Webs
Supplies you’ll need to make Craft Stick Spider Webs.

• Popsicle sticks
• Glue (or a hot glue gun)
• Paint in Halloween colors
• Yarn in black, white, and/or orange.
• Scissors
• Optional: Spider stickers

 

1. Paint your popsicle sticks with paint.
2. Once dry, glue three popsicle sticks together. Use a hot glue gun to eliminate drying time.
3. Now tie one end of the yarn to one base of the glued popsicle sticks.
4. Wrap your yarn around each popsicle stick or simply feed it in between each stick in a circle fashion twice.
5. Once you’re done wrapping the web, tie a knot to the end of the last stick, leaving a long trail of yarn to hang your spider web.

Any of the crafts we described above can be scaled by using larger craft supplies. Are you looking for a fun and inviting, family-friendly apartments in Lafayette, La? Stop by Lafayette Gardens Apartments and take a tour.

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Moving to a new apartment in Lafayette, La is undoubtedly exciting, but it can also be expensive and stressful, especially when you factor in expenses such as packing materials, movers, materials, rental truck, and gas. Cost to move can creep into the hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars.
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If you are planning a move soon, don't break the bank in the process? A little planning and creativity can help, here are 5 ways to help reduce costs and keep a rein on your moving expenses:

1. Shop Around or a Moving Company
Moving companies can charge hundreds of dollars for local moves, and extra for gas, mileage and unusually large items such as pianos and oversized armoirs. If you are hiring a professional moving company, shop vendors first. Get prices from a minimum of three movers, and inquire about line-item charges. Examples of line item charges are, does the quote include the truck, all protective materials, gas, mileage and furniture regardless of size? Does it include insurance coverage in case of damage to your belongings? If not, you will want to find out if your homeowners or renters insurance will cover it, or if you will need to purchase an insurance policy separately.

You might also consider using a local “mom and pop” moving team or local freelance labor. While these options may be more cost-effective, they may come at a cost. They may lack protective tools, insurance, and experience to guarantee a damage-free move.

Another consideration to reduce your expenses is to schedule your move in the winter or fall. Summer is typically a busy time for movers, and an offseason move when demand for professional movers is low might make their bidding more competitive. Moving during the middle of the week can also affect rates, as most working people move over the weekend. A professional moving company will typically give you a better deal if you move during low-demand days to fill their schedule. If you have a flexible schedule, it may be worth exploring these options.

Pro tip: Consider checking consumer reviews of the businesses you have narrowed it down to. Before hiring movers, look at their reviews to gauge their track record with other customers, this can also verify that the company is legitimate. Keep in mind that customers who are unhappy are seven times more likely to leave a review than those who have had a good experience. That is because we expect good service and usually require an exceptional experience to write a good review.

2. Consider a DIY Move
Depending on your schedule, how much you have to move, and how heavy your items are, you might consider forgoing a moving service altogether. If your belongings can be managed without the assistance of professionals, consider asking family members and friends. You might be able to pull off the move with the promise of a pizza party or a home-cooked meal in your new abode in exchange for their help.
If you have larger items, you can rent a small truck for a few hours. Do not forget to fill up the tank before you return the vehicle, as truck rental services charge a premium to fill it up when you return it with less than a full tank.

Pro tip: Plan your move during off-hours. Rush hour and stop-and-go traffic can drive up your gas costs as well as delay your move.

3. Only Move What You Need
Humans have a habit of collecting things. Making a move is a great time to pare down your belongings. Consider selling, donating or throwing away any items you no longer need, use, or have plans to use in the near future. This can reduce your load and costs to move. Additionally, selling some of your unwanted items can offset your moving costs, or can be used to decorate your new place.
Below are a few options for downsizing your home before you move:

• Donate to a local shelter, C.A.R.C., Salvation Army, or Goodwill. Many times they will come to retrieve the items.
• Have a garage sale – maybe you can collaborate with your neighbors!
• Consider selling items on local "for sale" social media pages.
• Media and books can be sold to a used bookstore, or donate to your local library

4. Get Creative with Your Packing
Purchasing bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and boxes can get expensive. Instead of buying these items, consider a more creative approach by using items you already own. Towels, sheets, and blankets work great as packing materials, and they need to be pack anyway. Also consider using luggage, duffel bags and backpacks in lieu of boxes.
Once you run out of these items, try some of the following resources for low-cost or free boxes:

• Family, friends or good neighbors.
• Grocery and liquor stores usually have packing boxes they need to dispose of.
• Membership stores like Sams or Costco, or big box stores that sell bulk products.
• Consider asking your social media groups or neighborhood Facebook page if they have boxes they are willing to part with, chances are someone you know has recently moved and may be willing to give or sell you their used boxes.

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Pro tip: If you are planning a move, start saving paper and plastic bags from your shopping trips. These make excellent packing materials for fragile items.

5. Track Your Expenses
If you are making a move for employment, or are restationed for the military, you may be able to deduct your moving expenses on your tax returns. To qualify, you will need to be moving due to a permanent change of station. If eligible, you may be able to deduct the costs of moving, storage, travel, lodging and other expenses you incurred during the move.
Pro tip: Keep a detailed record cost associated with moving. Save all invoices and receipts until tax season rolls around.
At Lafayette Gardens Apartments in Lafayette La we care about our resident, if you should need any assistance please reach out to our office. We can help provide referrals to local contractors and other moving resources.

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