Blog Posts

Holiday Events

Heading out to a local event is a great way to get to know your community. Holiday events are held annually and make great traditions for years to come! There are plenty of events for all ages and interests in the Tacoma area. Don’t forget to dress warm for outdoor events. The Fife Community Center is holding a tree lighting this year. The website says, “ Santa trades in his sleigh for a fire truck! Come celebrate the season with the Mayor and Santa as they use some holiday magic to light up the trees outside of City hall.” The Holiday Tree Lighting with Santa will take place on December 6th. The City of Fife site mentions “Come celebrate the season with the Mayor and Santa as they use some holiday magic to light up the trees outside of City hall.” This event will be at Fife City Hall from 6:00 pm -7:00 pm. The City of Fife is putting on a performance of the Nutcracker this year. The website says, “This classical ballet is full of enchantment where toy soldiers fight rat armies, snowflakes come dancing to life, and the sugarplum fairy presides over it all. The enduring magic of Children’s Dance Theater’s production of The Nutcracker sets the season a-sparkle, creating memories your family will cherish forever. For more information call 253-887-8937.” Purchase tickets here . Of course, there are plenty of other events coming to Fife this year; this is just a sampling of the events coming to the area. Fife has a close knit community and puts a premium on cultural events for its citizens to enjoy. Let us know about any community events we’ve missed. What events are you planning on attending this month? Leave the details and let us know in the comments. Happy holidays and thanks for reading the Port Landing at Fife blog!

Keeping Your Home Safe and Sound

Last week we gave some tips on how to stay safe while traveling away from Fife, including keeping your belongings secure and in sight at all times. This week we want to focus on your precious possessions which are back at home. As you prepare your suitcase for your trip, prepare your home as well. Before leaving, take these precautions so you won’t have to stress: — Empty the fridge of any foods that may spoil or mold while you are gone. You do not want to be greeted with rotten milk when you come home. — Think ahead for when you return from your trip; most likely you’ll have work or school or other responsibilities the next day, so do what you can to make things easier for yourself. — Making your bed can kind of be a pain, but there is nothing nicer than returning home to a neat and tidy bedroom. — Make sure you’ll have something clean to wear when you get home that way you won’t be stuck doing laundry and you can rest after your trip. —Keeping your toiletries in one bag can be helpful not just while traveling, but upon return as well. You will simply have to take that bag into your bathroom and can avoid searching for your shampoo or toothbrush. —Pay attention to security issues. Lock up valuables while you are gone. Arrange for a trusted friend to water plants or check on pets while you are away. Close and lock all windows. Putting lights on a timer may be helpful as well if you choose to do so. Don’t let mail or packages pile up if you don’t want people to know you are gone. Lock your car if you are leaving it and remove valuables from there as well. We hope these tips are helpful to you as we head into the holidays. Stay safe and Happy Thanksgiving, and thanks for reading the Port Landing at Fife blog!

Staying Safe While Traveling

Whether you live alone or have roommates, leaving for an extended period of time can bring up unexpected issues. If you don’t leave your home in good condition, you could come back to a few — surprises and not in a good way. Here at Port Landing at Fife, we want to ensure your safe return to a home that is in order and just the way you left it. In order to stay safe while you are gone, we recommend these tips from Smart Savvy Living . — Out of sight, out of mind, and easy to snag. We all like to think we’d realize it if someone was trying to steal our wallet or device right out of our pocket. However, these sorts of thieves are often rather skilled and know what to look for and how to execute their plan. That’s why I always keep important things like my phone, money, and ID or small important bags in my view and preferably close to my body. I know some people will even put an empty wallet or pre-paid card with no balance in sight in their pockets so it would get swiped first versus the real deal they want to keep safe. — Being aware of your surroundings is important for several reasons. First, sometimes you just get a bad feeling about an area. I always say trust your instincts and if you don’t feel comfortable or something feels off, keep going to your next destination. Having an up-to-date map or guide whether physical or digital is also important so you know where important things are like hospitals, your hotel, banks, and embassies are in case you need them. It’s also good to know where you have been so that if you do lose something (or just want to go back to revisit something) you know where to look. These are some steps you can take while you are gone, in order to stay safe. Stay tuned for next week’s post when we give you some tips on how to keep your home in order while you’re away.

Hosting Holiday Guests

Holiday time is upon us! For some of us this means traveling to see loved ones, or we get to host our loved ones under our own roof. This can definitely bring on some added stress during this season. But you don’t have to feel like you’re running the Ritz-Carlton, adding a few simple luxuries and necessities to your space can help your guests feel right at home! Think about what things you would be delighted to find upon your arrival and add those simple items. Our first step is to check with guests to figure out just what they are expecting. How long will they be staying? Are they expecting meals? Will they need to be dropped off at the airport? Figure out the parameters of their trip so you can plan accordingly and hopefully avoid any surprises. Before your guests arrive plan to do a thorough cleaning, paying special attention to bathrooms and bedrooms; clear the clutter so your guests can feel at home. This article from Cottage in the Oaks has some simple tips for hosting loved ones. The author puts her suggestions this way, “I want our home to be a wonderful experience for anyone that stays here…I know I have had some not so pleasant experiences as a guest. You know when you have been anticipated….and it makes all the difference in the world. There are a few places that I know I will not visit ever again. Regardless of what anyone may say….there was no ‘welcome’ or ‘so glad you are here’ atmosphere. I would never want anyone feeling that way after staying here at our cottage…so, I’ve put together a few things that I think help to create a welcoming and gracious atmosphere for guests.” Visit her page and check out the ideas she shares. Thanks for reading the Port Landing at Fife blog!

Life at Port Landing at Fife

A convenient location and updated amenities are just a few of the things we’re proud to showcase on this property. At Port Landing at Fife we offer every detail you’d need to feel at home in these gorgeous apartments and condos. Offering one-, two- and three-bedroom floorplans, we have the space you need in order to suit your lifestyle. Granite finishes and modern updates within the apartments add a luxurious feel within your home, and our in-apartment washer and dryer setup along with upgraded appliances make household chores a breeze! Complimentary tanning as well as a full size gym give you a place to meet all your physical fitness goals! Covered parking in our gated community assures our residents that they’re in a safe environment. To have some fun right on the property, Port Landing at Fife offers a swimming pool and spa. Spend a weekend sightseeing and playing tourist — visit Vashon Island or Lake Tapps . These are great places for those who are feeling adventurous and want to get to know the area! Our walkscore is available here as well as information on commuting in Fife. For entertainment in the surrounding area, the city has a lot to offer! Take in a movie at the nearby AMC Lakewood Mall 12 or Grand Cinema . Located between Federal Way and Tacoma, this location makes commuting a breeze. For a little bit of retail therapy, head to the Federal Way Commons to Tacoma’s Tacoma Mall. If trying new restaurants is your forte, we definitely suggest the Matador and Crockett’s Public House each of which offer an unprecedented dining experience for the culinary minded. If shopping is your idea of a good time, the nearby Tacoma Mall offers a range of different stores at all different price points — which makes your wardrobe and wallet happy! Attention to detail is present not only in our apartments and condos, but in our stellar customer service as well. Make yourself at home here. Visit our site or Facebook page for more information on how to schedule a tour.

Making the Most of Autumn Apples

Autumn is harvest time, which means there are loads of delicious fruits and vegetables around for us all in Fife to enjoy. And one of the most iconic fall foods is the sweet, versatile apple! Here are a few interesting facts about apples that you might not know: — 7,500 varieties of apples are grown throughout the world. — The apple tree originated in an area between the Caspian and the Black Sea. — Apples were the favorite fruit of ancient Greeks and Romans. — Apples are a member of the rose family. — The largest apple picked weighed three pounds. — Archeologists have found evidence that humans have been enjoying apples since at least 6500 B.C. — Apples account for 50 percent of the world's deciduous fruit tree production. — The old saying, “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away,” comes from an old English adage, “To eat an apple before going to bed, will make the doctor beg his bread.” — Two-thirds of the fiber and lots of antioxidants are found in the peel. Antioxidants help to reduce damage to cells, which can trigger some diseases. And here are some great apple recipes for you to try out in your Port Landing apartment. These recipes and their descriptions are from Allrecipes.com. Country Apple Dumplings "Oh [my goodness]!! Who knew that fresh apples, crescent roll dough, and citrus soda could make such a wonderful treat!" Apple Turnovers "Delicious, yet so easy to make. Anyone can do these classic apple turnovers!" Spiced Apples "I'm not sure where this recipe comes from, but I make it for holiday dinners and always receive compliments." Apple Chips "These yummy cinnamon apple chips will disappear almost as quickly as you make them! They're perfect for healthy snacks and easy to take on the road. The secret is baking at a very low temperature for a long time, which dehydrates the apples."