Home for the Holidays – 2020

If you and your loved ones are struggling to find your holiday cheer this season, you’re not the only ones. We’re all learning to cope with the stress of being stuck at home for the holidays this year.

Aperto Property Management created this short guide to provide you with a few tips and tricks to help get your holiday back on track.

How to Decorate Your Apartment for the Holidays

Getting out of the holiday dumps can sometimes be as easy as adding a little holiday decor to your apartment home. Decorating your apartment for the holidays can be as simple as adding strategically placed lights, sparkling tinsel, and a small tree to serve as a reminder of your holiday spirit.

Homemade centerpieces, candles, and crafts can give your apartment the finishing touches it needs to make you and your family feel more at home.

How to Get Into the Holiday Spirit This Year

Now is a great time to spend (virtual) quality time with your loved ones. Catch up with close family members and check in with relatives who are far away by having group video chats via free services like Facebook, Skype, or Zoom.

Some people are even opting to have virtual Christmas and New Year’s celebrations online (instead of missing out on all the fun). This way, you can easily share holiday recipe ideas for seasonal food and drinks like hot chocolate and eggnog that help you feel more festive.

Holiday Events Near Your Apartment

Christmas Movie Night At Irvine North : Elf Movie

When: Saturday, December 12th, 2020 – 7:00 pm

Where: Northwood High School, 4515 Portola Parkway, Irvine, CA, 92620

Details: Enjoy a drive-in movie with your friends and neighbors at this socially distanced event.

Christmas Magic Show

When: Sunday, December 20th, 2020 – 2:00 pm

Where: Northwood High School, 4515 Portola Parkway, Irvine, CA, 92620

Details: Outdoor magic show for families with children. Socially distanced event, limited space capacity. Bring your own blanket, mask and chair.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast Cancer, although one of the more famed cancers, is notorious for claiming victims for many different reasons. From late detection to aggressive attributes it has taken the lives of many men and women. Which in turn has made it imperative to understand the signs and preventative measures. Many of us either know someone who has or has lost someone to Breast Cancer so why not try to gain as much understanding of such a known illness? It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month so we’re doing our part in separating fact from fiction about this disease.

 

Know Your Stuff 

To begin, the possibilities of the unknown are good enough reasons to be as knowledgeable as possible of the things that can affect our livelihood. Here are some tips to help you stay aware.  

Next, being proactive against breast cancer is imperative in the fight. Early detection increases the survival rate and prevents the disease from spreading and causing further damage to the body. The signs can vary per person but the most common thing to look out for is a change in the look or feel of the breast or nipple; another common warning sign is discharge. These are things you yourself can monitor and should prompt for a doctor’s visit or a phone call to your physician for further instruction. For additional tips on early signs, preventative measures, and treatment options after being diagnosed, CLICK HERE. 

Support 

Breast Cancer doesn’t just happen to the person diagnosed, but their friends and family as well. Needing support through the illness is important to help you beat it but those around you may need support as well. Click the link below to find a local support group, your lives depend on it. Get the help you need today on your journey forward. 

Support Group Aid

https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-support-groups

Be Proactive

Whether you are showing signs or not, and whether you have a family history with the disease or not, it is extremely vital to meet with your doctor or see a specialist to get checked. The sooner you receive a diagnosis, the better. However, being proactive against the disease is ideal in being treated and cured. Make sure to schedule an appointment for your routine mammogram this October in acknowledgment of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Fall Into Your Home

Fall is here and we could not be more excited! Fall is the season where good food and good fashion and décor options become abundant. From scarves and sweaters to earth-toned drapes and table accessories, it is the time of year where we take the holidays and make it FASHION. 

 

The latter half of the year is where we reflect on the past months all while getting cozy and comfortable in our homes. To make sure your décor matches the ambiance, we’re here with some tips to help maximize your interior design style. 

Interior Design

First, you can never go wrong with a BOHO chic look in your apartment. Although this design style does incorporate some brighter colors on the spectrum, it generally incorporates deep, rich colors, perfect for those fall vibes. Secondly, accessorizing your room with this interior design style is essential. Using golds, and bronzes, dress up the room with some low hanging pendants and accent them with maybe some green or earthy colors to match.   Whatever you choose, make sure it speaks to you and the vibe you want to set for your room, guests, or event at your home. 

 

Another option to bring those fall vibes inside, on a budget, is by thrifting. Thrifting is the act of finding hand me downs or vintage items and finding use for them current day. The antiquity in a room designed via thrift will amaze you. In this case, the saying “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” rings true. Find a vintage tapestry or a pair of rusted candle holders to add a level of antiquity to your home with minimal effort! For help on finding a local thrift store near you, visit the following link and start shopping: https://www.localthriftstores.com/

 

Smells and Scents 

In addition to fall colors and materials, another way to get your home in the spirit of Fall is by the aromas within. No, we’re not talking about the delicious smells of turkey and dressing but something more along the lines of being, aesthetically fragrant. If you’re into oil warmers, try placing scents like Apple Cider or Pumpkin Pie to get into the season. Also, the use of pinecones and potpourri are other popular ways to get your home smelling like pre-holiday season; aka Autumn. 

 

Get your fall ideas into play. The season has arrived and it’s all about all things Autumn. Make sure to do your research and have fun with whatever ideas you come up with for your home’s fall transformation. Enjoy!

Halloween in Orange County

Are you ready to celebrate Halloween in Orange County? Things might be a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate in style. Here are a few things you can do to make the most of the spookiest time of year.

How to Decorate Your Apartment

There are plenty of subtle and stylish ways to decorate your apartment for Halloween. Pick up a few pumpkins and colorful gourds and arrange them as a table centerpiece. Fill mason jars with colorful candies, like Halloween M&Ms or candy corn, for a subtle yet colorful decoration, and add a brightly colored themed ribbon if you want to make it more eye-catching. Have an outdoor area you want to spruce up? Add a stack of hay bales and some jack-o-lanterns for instant ambiance.

How to Celebrate at Home

You may not be able to host a big gathering this year, but there are plenty of Halloween ideas for celebrating at home. The best part is they don’t have to be elaborate or expensive. Wear your Halloween costumes all day, decorate seasonal cookies, or learn a new spooky recipe, like hot spiced apple cider or pumping milkshakes. Then, grab your favorite pumpkin-scented candle and settle in for a night of scary movies.

Halloween Hotspots Near You

Take the kids to the Santa Anna Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo for a family-friendly passive walk-through experience to get you in the mood for the spookiest night of the year. Or, enter to win a socially-distanced table at the Halloween Spooktacular Film Festival to enjoy classic scary movies in a safe, outdoor environment.

There are plenty of ways to safely enjoy Halloween this year, even if it means you have to get a little creative. With a little imagination and careful planning, this might just be the best Halloween ever.

Prepare to Go Back to School from Your Irvine Apartments

Child wearing backpack going to school

This August or September, are you or your children going back to school? August is usually when school begins at most places, and depending on where you get your education, you may be looking at going back to school or simply learning from your Irvine apartments. Regardless, it’s crucial you maintain a good attitude and have a strategy when it comes to making the most out of your apartments.

Here are some ideas on how to make the most out of going to school in Irvine.

  1.       Set up a well-lit, uncluttered workspace in your Irvine apartments. It’s important to make this a priority so that you can focus on homework and study without being distracted with other things that are around you, so that you can produce the highest quality of work possible.
  2.       Go shopping online for the best school supplies that are available before it’s too late. With this most recent wave of COVID, it may be safer (and possibly cheaper) to buy your school supplies online. It can be fun ordering custom-made folders, binders, and pens and pencils just to get you more pumped about the fact that summer is ending and you’re going back to school.
  3.       For the sake of productivity and achievement, ask the staff at your Irvine apartments if there are any open amenities you can take advantage of. It’s good to have a consistent spot to study at, and for many people, studying in their own apartments is quite the challenge. It might be more helpful if your apartments have a computer lab or at least a lounge that you can bring your schoolwork to focus on, outside of where you relax and sleep.

We hope these tips helped and bring you success in the upcoming school year. Don’t fret too much whether you have to go back to school at your apartments or at your school. Either way, take advantage of your education and use it to boost your intelligence and skillset. Although school may be challenging or at times boring, your education will never go to waste!

Everything You Need to Know about Living in Irvine

Living in Irvine

Everything You Need to Know about Living in Irvine

As we all know, one of the hardest things about planning a trip is figuring out what to do, what to see, and where to go once you are there! Whether you are visiting a friend at their chic Aperto apartments, or are a seasoned local, Irvine has much to offer everyone!

Events In Irvine to Check Out

Irvine is a postcard-perfect destination of Orange County. The city features diverse natural spaces which provide visitors and locals alike plenty of places to explore! Some of the places include the Irvine Spectrum Center outdoor shopping center, Ferris wheel included!

The Irvine Spectrum Center is a sprawling outdoor shopping area, lined with retail shops, landscaped fountains, and plenty of attractions to keep the whole family entertained. Along with the notable Ferris wheel, the Spectrum Center features a carousel, both very popular with kids!

Come nighttime, the Spectrum Center really lights up and provides cooler temperatures for walking around. The Spectrum is currently closed, however, you can still order take out and delivery from its many restaurants and eateries.

Outdoor attractions and cultural appeal collide at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, with unique park amenities in the form of sports complexes, art galleries, and a big orange balloon ride. Interesting fact: The park encompasses over 1,300 acres on what used to be a former Marine Corps air station! This is not your average park however. Orange County Park features a multi-use sports complex, rotating art exhibits, and freshly picked foods. This is a great atmosphere for a group of friends or family, as well as a couple’s date night! Just be sure to maintain social distance at all times and check out their website for restrictions.

Enjoy!

True that Irvine features many great photo-ready seaside landscapes, however, it is also very well known for its family-oriented centers. There is much to do, and never a dull moment in Irvine!

What are some of your favorite places to visit in Irvine? Share with us and let us know!

Address Change – Who Do I Notify?

During the process of moving, you have so many things on your mind that it is easy to forget about the small things, like notifying others regarding your address change. You may be wondering who exactly you should notify, other than friends and family. Well, lucky for you, we have compiled a list of important people to inform. Keep reading to find out more. 

 

Government Agencies

If you receive benefits from social security, Medicare, or any other government agency, be sure to let them know that you have moved. The sooner you inform them, the easier this transition process will be. 

 

Utility Companies

Before moving, you will want to contact your utility companies; that way, they can shut off services at your old apartment and turn them on at your new one. The earlier you do this, the closer your turn-on date will be to ensure that you have gas and electricity once you move into your new apartment. 

 

The Post Office

Since all of your mail goes through the Post Office, why not start there. Fortunately, you can do a change of address online to allow for mail forwarding.

 

The IRS

The IRS needs to know when you move. Simply print out and mail in the IRS change of address form. It’s that easy.

 

Banks and Credit Card Companies

Although you may not frequently receive mail from the bank, it is crucial to update your address so that any essential documents will reach you. Also, keep in mind that should you lose your debit or credit card, they can quickly mail it to you rather than having to worry about the change of address at that time. 

 

Insurance Companies

Your insurance could change depending on your new address. Be sure to let all of your insurance companies know, including renters, car, health, etc. Even if it doesn’t affect your policy, they must have your correct address to send bills and statements. 

 

Moving apartments doesn’t have to be difficult, especially if you stay ahead of the game by notifying others about your change of address. So, get started soon with informing others and let us know how the process goes for you in the comments below. 

Spring Cleaning Tips and Tricks for Your Aperto Apartments

Spring Cleaning in Aperto

Spring Cleaning Tips and Tricks for Your Aperto Apartments

With the arrival of plenty more sunshine and springtime vibes, comes the much-dreaded spring cleaning! What if we told you that spring cleaning doesn’t have to be such an arduous task and it can be quite fun? We don’t blame you if you’re still skeptical! This spring, we are working smarter, not harder. We have great eco-friendly suggestions that will add a dash of freshness to your Aperto apartments!

It’s That Time Again

With plenty of birds chirping about and flowers blooming all around during springtime, why not bring the natural and fresh sensations indoors? For our spring cleaning endeavors this year, we will be going green! With our suggestion, we’ll ensure your kitchen and stove are cleaned with all-natural products.

Green Tips and Tricks

This spring cleaning season, if your stove tends to get messy quickly, this next green tip is for you. If you procrastinate on cleaning splatters right away, you will love this catch-all buildup and stain remover! We’ve got a secret weapon for cleaning the gunk right up, free of harsh and toxic chemicals. The ultimate weapon? Hot boiling water!

Simply bring pour water into your kettle and bring it to a boil. Then, pour some boiling water over your stove buildup, let sit for 5 minutes, then simply wipe away! This trick works like magic, and free of any chemicals. If there is still a little buildup, use a little baking soda and a scouring pad and you will be free of any stains, guaranteed!

Make Spring Cleaning Fun!

If your stovetop needs a little TLC, this spring cleaning season makes it a priority to clean it the right way, eco-friendly style!

What are some of your natural remedies for cleaning? Share with us and let us know!

How to Earn Additional Income at Home

If you have an abundance of time on your hands now, it may be the perfect opportunity to take up a hobby, especially one that can earn you additional income. So, while staying at home and social distancing, be sure to check out these cool ways to make extra money without even leaving your home.

 

Online Tutoring

With most schools turning to online programs, some students may struggle with this transition and require additional tutoring. If you have experience and education on a particular subject, offer your services. Coaching can be done online, over FaceTime, or even on the phone. Skooli, TutorMe, and Tutor.com can help you get started. 

 

Create Online Courses

Are you an expert in a specific field? Why not instruct others? You can create an online course to teach others how to do something. Now, this does not necessarily have to be education-related; you can teach people how to crochet, draw, act, anything. Course creation will require an abundance of time up-front, but the pay off will be worthwhile if you have a skill worth teaching. 

 

Sell Goods

Now is a great time to go through your old belongings and see if there is anything worth selling. Perhaps you can make some money off of that dusty collection of figurines or trading cards that you haven’t looked at in years. Or, you could try making something to sell, whether it be home-made soap or hand-sewn facemasks. With all of this time on your hands, you may discover a new skill to profit on.

 

Sell Services

If you are the creative type, this is your opportunity to step in and create! Many websites, such as Fiver, allow you to offer writing, graphic design, animation services, and much more. Or, why not finish up that screenplay you’ve been working on for years and submit it to some different studios? With all of this time on your hands, put it to good use by utilizing your talents and offering them to others. 

 

So, now that you know a few ways to earn additional income from home let’s get started. Visit the aforementioned websites or share your additional money-making ideas in the comments below. Remember, we are all in this together, so try to support other freelancers or small businesses during these times. 

 

At-Home Activities for the Whole Family

Are you at home, running out of activities to keep the kids entertained? We get it, Netflix and Hulu can only do so much! Lucky for you, we have compiled a helpful list of at-home activities for the whole family to enjoy. Keep reading to find out more.

 

Have a Game Night

When was the last time you dug out those board games and put them to good use? Now might be the perfect opportunity. Gather the family around the table for the day and play some classic games like Trouble, Chess, Charades, etc. If you really want to turn on the heat, break out Monopoly and let the games begin. You can even raise the stakes by offering prizes for the winners, like no chores for the rest of the week! 

 

Have a Bake-Off

Whether or not you consider yourself a professional chef, you are sure to have fun baking up a storm with the family. Decide on an item to make such as cookies, brownies, cakes, etc. and see who can make the best concoction. This event can even be filmed or streamed live on Facebook and Instagram to keep your friends entertained. The best part of this idea? You get to eat your creation at the end. Enjoy!

 

Have an Indoor Picnic

Do you miss the outdoors? Bring them directly to you by having a picnic inside. All you have to do is put a blanket down in the living room, pack a lunch basket, gather the family, and enjoy. Put all of the technology away and enjoy a day disconnected from the internet and connected to the family. 

 

So, now that you have a few ideas to help keep the family entertained, which one do you think you are going to start with? Try to make the most of this time at home with the family and build lasting memories. Have any other at-home ideas? Let us know in the comments below.