Holiday Safety Tips

 

The holiday season is upon us, the weather outside is frightful and the holiday décor is delightful. We hope everyone is excited for the upcoming festive season.
 

 

 

We would like to take a moment to remind everyone, that unfortunately during the holiday season and the cold winter months, there is an increase in apartment fires.

Every winter season, the leading cause of apartment fires is faulty wiring of Christmas lights that can easily spark a fire on any tree or curtain.

 

 

 

Remember to always turn off your tree when no one is home, and never leave your tree on overnight. As well, never leave any candles burning unattended and always place lit candles in candle holders.

 

 

If you use an electric heater or electric fireplace in your apartment, be sure to never leaving it running for long periods of time. Always ensure items are at a safe distance from the heater, and be sure to inspect the wiring before use.

Please make sure that all string lights and electric heaters are in good condition and have no frayed wiring.

 

Remember when searching for your next apartment in the Toronto area visit www.flagshipcorp.ca and be on your way to stress free renting

Celebrating Thanksgiving

With the long weekend ahead of us, and the smell of freshly baked apple pie lingering in the air, everyone is anxiously awaiting Thanksgiving.  Here are some great simple tips, recipes and ideas to help you get ready for this festive holiday.  Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner in your apartment or attending a dinner party these easy ideas are sure to make you shine.
 

Simple DIY Décor

 

Why go out and spend money on expensive decorative fall pieces when you can add a touch of fall to your apartment without putting a dent in your wallet. Visit your local craft or dollar store, they usually carry an assortment of items you can mix together to decorate your space. One easy suggestion is buy a wood wreathe, purchase a leaf garland from the dollar store and create your own wreathe to hang on your door or to use as a center piece. Remember you can add ribbon to any piece for a bolder and more sophisticated look.



 

Table Settings

Use a dark brown or rich earth tone table cloth to set the fall mood in your apartment, mix different textures and hues for a rich table setting. Gather some fresh fallen leaves and place a few on the table to add different hues to the table setting.  Another great tip is to buy a few small pumpkins and squashes from your supermarket to place along the table. Don’t forget you can make use of those wooden wreathes as a centerpiece and place a charger underneath and a glass vase in the center with a candle.

Potluck Side Dishes

Have you been ask to bring a side dish to Thanksgiving dinner and can’t think of something easy, simple and delicious to prepare. Well here are a couple of suggestions that will take no time to make and are a definite crowd pleaser.

Buttermilk Biscuits

These are so simple to prepare, no need to wait hours for the yeast to rise, since the buttermilk and baking powder work perfectly to create fluffy and soft biscuits. Use a traditional recipe that you can find online or in any cook book, the great thing about biscuits is you can make the recipe unique by adding your own secret ingredients.  Feel free to add some finely grated cheddar or parmesan cheese to the dough, as well as fresh or dried herbs like chives and parsley.
 

Baked Mac’n’Cheese

Many people don’t realize this but homemade mac’n’cheese is actually quite simple to prepare. Melt some about a ¼ cup of butter, add 2 table spoons of flour to the melted butter, add a few table spoons of cream cheese, and create a smooth mixture. Add some milk to the mixture or cream for a richer flavor, slowly add shredded cheddar cheese, and leave the sauce a bit runny as you are going to bake the dish. Pour over your cooked pasta, place in a baking dish, add some shredded cheese on top and bake until it’s melted.

Sweet Potato Mash

A twist to traditional mashed potatoes, sweet potato mash is rich in colour and flavor. You can choose to make your mash sweet by adding cinnamon and brown sugar or go for the traditional version.  Sautéed shallots and garlic add a delicious flavour to this simple dish. You can also place the mash in a baking dish, top with some shredded cheese and bake until melted.


Awesome Desserts

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Simply add a couple of table spoons of pumpkin puree to your favourite cheesecake recipe. Pour over a chocolate crust; infuse the crust with some chopped nuts, skor bits and liqueur for a bigger punch. Decorate your cheesecake with some chocolate drizzle and chopped nuts, serve with fresh whip cream.

 

Pumpkin Tiramisu

Just like the pumpkin cheesecake idea, add a few table spoons of pumpkin puree to your favourite tiramisu recipe. Add as much puree until you reach the desired flavouring, blend with additional cinnamon and nutmeg.

 
Nutella Brioche

Bread pudding is a definite fall comfort food, adding nutella and banana to any recipe is a great twist. Spread nutella on bread slice before cutting into cubes, and mash a banana to blend into your mixture. Don’t forget you can also add some rum or nut flavored liqueur for an additional splash of flavour.

Hope these ideas help inspire you to decorate your apartment, or create delicious fall dishes for this festive holiday. Remember to keep a close eye on the oven when baking, and don’t leave any unattended candles burning. Don’t forget when you’re finished eating and you're to full to get off the couch you can always visit our website to start your apartment search before the winter! www.flagshipcorp.ca

 

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving, from all of the Flagship Properties Staff.

 

Making the most of your Bachelor Apartment

Bachelor apartments are generally quite small in square footage compared to a one bedroom apartment. Plus the open floor plan has to function both as a bedroom and living space. At first the lack of square footage might seem like no problem since you’re excited to finally be living on your own, but when you start placing furniture around you realize you’re going to have to compromise on some things. We came up with a few great ideas and suggestions on how to furnish your bachelor apartment and get the functional living space you were hoping for without all the compromises.

 

Bed Size

What size bed do you currently have, and were you planning on getting a new bed? Since your bachelor apartment is relatively small, there probably is just enough space for a double or queen size bed, so don’t plan on fitting a king size bed plus more furniture it just won’t all fit. Stick to a smaller bed size, as it will take up less space and leave you more square footage to use as living space.

 

 

Room Dividers

A great way to divide the space up without putting up wall is investing in some stylish room dividers. These are great; they’ll offer the privacy you’re looking for between your sleeping area and living space. There tones of options available and they’re quite affordable. Not only do they offer privacy but they can double up as a great focal point in the room or offer you storage space.

 

 

Versatile Furniture

With more people moving to the city, there are plenty of stores that offer smaller versatile furniture that is sure to fit in your apartment. When shopping for furniture, look for pieces that are small enough to fit in your space, but can expand or serve a double purpose when you have company. There are some great coffee tables available, that folds out and up to become a dining table. These are great because they can act as a coffee table; expand to become a work space and even a full functioning dining table, without having to buy three separate pieces of furniture, plus they usually offer convenient storage places.

 

Guest Space

If you’re expecting to have family or friends visit often, and need a place to stay you’re probably considering getting a sofa bed. Keep in mind these items are actually quite large and bulky, and will take up a great portion of your square footage. Perhaps, you can look into the possibility of purchasing a day bed. This simple piece of furniture can double up as a sofa, and will be a lot more comfortable to sleep on then a futon or sofa bed. Plus they’re slim design and compact structure means they take up less space. With many options to choose from you are sure to find one that suits your style and budget. Keep in mind, some daybed can have space for storage while others may have an option for a second mattress.

 

 

So it doesn’t matter how small your bachelor apartment is, what matters is how you place the furniture to maximize space and that you have versatile furniture pieces that serve a double duty. Therefore, don’t be discouraged when you walk into that small bachelor apartment, there is still plenty of space to make the apartment your home. Remember, when looking for an apartment in Toronto visit www.flagshipcorp.ca and start the rental process today.