​​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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