Blog Posts

Inspirational Quotes for the New Year

We’ve just about finished the first month of 2018! If you’re like us, we understand how difficult it can be to stay motivated and inspired around this time. Setting goals and keeping them can be frustrating. If you need a little boost, we hope to help by sharing a few of our favorite inspirational quotes. Take some time to read clever quotes to help boost your emotional health for 2018. If you’re relaxing at home in your apartment at Port Landing or are at work in Fife, Washington, take some time to read and ponder the following quotes. Earl Nightingale “People with goals succeed because they know where they’re going.” Hillary DePiano “We all get the exact same 365 days. The only difference is what we do with them.” Tony Robbins “Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.” Pope John XXIII “Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.” Bruce Lee “A goal is not always meant to be reached. It often serves simply as something to aim at.” Albert Einstein “If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” Abraham Lincoln “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” Charles F. Kettering “You can’t have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday all the time.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe “What is not started today is never finished tomorrow.” Cavett Robert “Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed.” Kahlil Gibran “Yesterday is but today's memory, and tomorrow is today's dream.” Thomas Jefferson “I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.” We hope you share your favorite inspirational quotes with us by leaving a comment below. Thanks for reading today’s post.

Make Your Shoes like New in 2018

The beginning of the year is all about starting things new and fresh. For you, this might mean getting a new wardrobe, testing out a new hobby, or embarking on a new culinary endeavor. We’d like to focus on your wardrobe for today’s blog post. Shoes are a big part of any wardrobe. As reported by the Daily Mail , “People tend to pay attention to the shoes they and others wear.” Whether you’re headed off to an interview, enjoying a night out, or on a first date, what you wear on your feet can say a lot about who you are. What are your shoes saying about you? We hope to help with that! In today’s post, we’re sharing a few tips to making your shoes look like new. The next time you’re walking around Fife, Washington or relaxing with some friends at our Port Landing at FIfe Apartments community, make sure that your shoes look great. You don’t have to buy a new expensive pair of shoes to feel like you’ve got something new on your feet. Keep these tips in mind the next time you clean your shoes. 1. Hand or Machine Washing. Many canvas sneakers are easily cleaned by placing them inside the washing machine, but check the label first if you’re not sure! If the shoes are washing machine safe, then remove the laces and brush off excess dirt. Then, place the shoes inside a lingerie bag. We recommend placing some dirty towels into the machine first; this will help to keep the noise down. When hand washing, add laundry detergent or dish soap to a bowl of water. With the laces removed, use a cloth or brush to rub the solution into your shoes. If your shoes are leather or suede, don’t use water. For leather, toothpaste is a surprisingly great cleaner. For suede, use a suede eraser solution or vinegar. 2. Cleaning rubber soles. Dip a toothbrush into a solution that is made of baking soda and rubbing alcohol. 3. Removing sticky gunk. If you have something sticky on the side or bottom of your shoes, place the shoes in a freezer-safe bag and then stick that in the freezer for a few hours. When you remove the bag, the sticky substance should be brittle and easy to scrape off. 4. Cleaning laces. Laces can usually be placed inside of the washing machine alongside your shoes, just keep them in a separate lingerie or mesh bag. If you’d rather hand wash them, let them sit in a bowl of hot water and baking soda. You can also add laundry detergent for good measure. Using a toothbrush, scrub the individual laces. Then, soak in clean water when you’re finished. 5. Don’t forget the insoles. Even if you washed your shoes in a machine, it’s important to remove the insoles and clean those separately. Remove them and scrub them with the same mixture that you used for cleaning the laces. How do you keep your shoes feeling fresh and looking brand new? Share in the comments below so that we can all start this year off on the right foot. Thanks for reading!

Best Breakfast in Fife, WA

It’s often been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. To honor that saying and the tradition of warm, comforting dishes every morning, we’re sharing a few places nearby that are serving some of the best breakfast items. Check them out below! The first restaurant on our list is only 3 minutes away from your apartment at Port Landing at Fife. Johnny’s at Fife is a local favorite, featuring traditional American favorites and local flavors. Arguably one of the best stops for breakfast in all of Washington, Johnny’s offers a wide selection of breakfast food, including an array of omelets and other heartwarming dishes. Fill your stomach every morning with something from Johnny’s breakfast menu . Or stop in for a delicious lunch or dinner for fried chicken, a New York steak, Pot Roast, Fettuccine Alfredo, and much more. Next on our list is the Poodle Dog Restaurant , located just 5 minutes away from the Port Landing at Fife Apartments community. Craving that traditional American breakfast by a place known for its customer service? Poodle Dog is what you’re looking for. Their breakfast menu includes sausage, eggs, hashbrowns, biscuits and gravy, a variety of unique and flavorful omelets, their famous Cream Waffle, and much more. Pacific Southern is the last restaurant on our list. Yes, it’s a 17 to 20-minute drive from the apartment, but we couldn’t leave it off our list. Pacific Southern is a casual, homestyle restaurant with a great atmosphere. Chicken and waffles? Check! Steak and eggs? You got it! Whatever you crave every morning, let Pacific Southern warm you up and get you started. Do you have a favorite restaurant where you like to eat breakfast? Share your top breakfast spots in or around Fife, WA by leaving a comment below. Thanks for reading!

Top Stops for Hot Chocolate Near Fife, WA

The New Year is officially here and we’re excited to start things fresh with recommendations for hot chocolate. Let’s face it. Winter’s favorite drink is one that’s rich, chocolatey, and usually topped with whipped cream, a dust of peppermint, and possibly shreds of dark chocolate. Our mouths are watering just thinking about it! Instead of making your own cup of cocoa in the comfort of your Port Landing at Fife apartment, we invite you to head out and explore Fife, WA for some of the best hot chocolate money can buy. Read below for a few of the top spots for hot chocolate that are near our apartment community. Remember: You don’t have to travel far for a delicious cup of winter’s favorite drink. Anthem Coffee & Tea This place is known for its marble hot chocolate, blended beverages, and tasty food. Check out these comments by a YELP reviewer : “Delicious marble hot chocolate (which includes cold brew)...yummy flatbread pizzas. The spicy buffalo chicken is surprisingly good. The kids adored their hot chocolates, and the baristas were so friendly and accommodating. Will definitely be back!” Bigfoot Java Located less than 10 minutes away sits this great stop for Italian cream sodas, hot caramel apple cider, coffee, smoothies, and rich hot chocolate. While you’re out running errands, make a quick stop at Bigfoot Java for a warm cup of cocoa. Your body will love you for it and the price is worth it. Bertolino’s Espresso Bar This Tacoma staple is a little farther out (you can get there in about 14 minutes), but don’t let the distance sway your decision from going. Just check out what one person has to say: “I've been coming to Bert's for almost 15 years now. At first, with my mom. Then, when I learned how to drive, by myself. Or with my sister. Now that I'm a mom, I bring my kids to Bertolino's for not-so-hot hot chocolate whenever we're in town.” What’s your favorite place to buy hot cocoa? Share in the comments below so that we can expand our list. Thanks for reading!

Holiday Board Games

The holidays are finally here! To celebrate, we’re sharing a few board game suggestions with residents of our Port Landing at Fife Apartments community here in Fife, Washington. We’ve compiled a few games that are quick and easy-to-learn, can be played with groups small and large, and offer hours of endless fun. Check them out below! Love Letter “ Love Letter is a game of risk, deduction, and luck, for [2 to 4] players. Designed by Seiji Kanai, the game features incredibly simple rules that create dynamic and exciting player interactions. Players attempt to deliver their love letter into the Princess’s hands while keeping other players’ letters away. Powerful cards lead to early gains, but make you a target. Rely on weaker cards for too long and your letter may be tossed in the fire!” Wits & Wagers Party edition This award-winning classic can be played with up to 18 players, takes only 25 minutes to play, and takes seconds to learn. “How to play: 1) Someone reads a question. 2) Everyone writes down a guess. 3) The guesses are placed face up on the table and ordered smallest to largest. 4) Players place their Betting Tokens on the guess they think is closest to the right answer. Players score one poker chip for a correct bet or for having the closest guess. On the seventh and final question, players can bet their poker chips. The player with the most poker chips after this question wins.” Ice Cool “The lunch break is almost there and all of the young penguins would finally get the fish they’ve been craving. However, some rascals think they are quick enough to snatch some of the fish before the lunch break starts, but they have forgotten one thing – the Hall Monitor! Each school day one of the penguins is designated to watch over the school, and this is his moment to shine – for each rascal penguin he catches he would get additional fish!” This is a great dexterity game for 2 to 4 players. Spyfall 2 “ Spyfall is played over several rounds, and at the start of each round all players receive cards showing the same location — except that one player receives a card that says ‘Spy’ instead of the location. Players then start asking each other questions — ‘Why are you dressed so strangely?’ or ‘When was the last time we got a payday?’ or anything else you can come up with — trying to guess who among them is the spy. The spy doesn't know where he is, so he has to listen carefully. When it's his time to answer, he'd better create a good story!” This is a fun bluffing game for up to 12 players. What are your favorite board games? Share in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

Exciting Movie Releases

This month, take some time away from the stresses of holiday planning and enjoy a movie or two. We’re sharing a few of the highly-anticipated movies coming to theaters in December. Grab a friend, head out of our Port Landing at Fife Apartments community, and check out a few of these movies here in Fife, WA. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle December 20th “Four high school kids discover an old video game console and are drawn into the game's jungle setting, literally becoming the adult avatars they chose. What they discover is that you don't just play Jumanji — you must survive it. To beat the game and return to the real world, they'll have to go on the most dangerous adventure of their lives, discover what Alan Parrish left 20 years ago, and change the way they think about themselves — or they'll be stuck in the game forever.” Ferdinand December 15th “A giant but gentle bull must find a way to break free from his captors and return home to his family.” Downsizing December 22nd “When scientists discover how to shrink humans to five inches tall as a solution to overpopulation, Paul (Matt Damon) and his wife Audrey (Kristen Wiig) decide to abandon their stressed lives in order to get small and move to a new downsized community — a choice that triggers life-changing adventures.” Pitch Perfect 3 December 22nd “After the highs of winning the world championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren't job prospects for making music with your mouth. But when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, this group of awesome nerds will come together to make some music, and some questionable decisions, one last time.” The Greatest Showman December 25th “Inspired by the imagination of P. T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman is an original musical that celebrates the birth of show business & tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.” What movies are you excited to watch? Comment below.