Create a Harmonious Space with Feng Shui

apartment in phoenixYou have likely heard that the principles of Feng Shui can help create balance and harmony to your Phoenix apartment. But what actually is Feng Shui and how can you apply these principles to your own home?

Feng Shui is an ancient system of beliefs about the arrangement of rooms, furniture and other objects for the purpose of bringing about good fortune and good health through harmony and balance.

The words Feng Shui mean “wind” and “water”, a metaphor for that nature has over our lives. Harnessing this power is the purpose of Feng Shui.

Another word often used when talking about the principles of Feng Shui is Chi, it refers to positive energy.

When applying the principles of Feng Shui in your Phoenix apartment you want to consider that some pieces of furniture, like beds and desks, should be in the command position. This is the spot that is furthest from the door but not in the direct line of it. Placement is often located diagonally from the door and facing the door.

Colors, materials, and shapes play an important part of Feng Shui. 

Here are some colors and their meaning in applying Feng Shui to your apartment in Phoenix:

  • Red: Luck and Wealth 
  • Orange: Happiness and Fun 
  • Yellow: Mental Stimulation, and Power 
  • Green: Peace, Balance, and Healing 
  • Blue: Calmness, Communication, and Spirituality
  • Purple: Wealth 
  • White: Cleansing and Purity 
  • Black: Power.
  • Brown: Nurturing 

Shapes

Square, rectangular, wavy shapes and natural organic shapes such as pebble shapes are good. Avoid a strong presence of round or triangular shapes.

Materials

Wood furniture, mirrored surfaces, tile, and natural fiber rugs create good Feng Shui.

Understanding the principles of Fen Shui and some of the terms used can help you add balance and harmony to your uptown Phoenix apartment at Vela on Camelback. 

Spring Cleaning at Vela On Camelback Apartments!

Spring is just around the corner! Now’s the time to say goodbye to snow and hello to the Desert Botanical Garden. Prepare for the upcoming lovely, sunny days by spring cleaning your Vela On Camelback Apartment.

The Mental Health Benefits of a Clean Home

Clean home, clean mind. It’s that simple and it directly affects your mental health in several ways. It can alleviate stress, increase productivity, calm anxiety, build social confidence, prevent domestic arguments and keep you physically active, which may boost your mood.

Since the environment is important too, there are some changes you can make to minimize or eliminate the use of harsh, toxic products.

Ways To Go Green With Your Cleaning Process

A positive outcome that you can expect from going green is it gives you the option of making your own natural cleaners out of things you may already have at home. If you would like to put together a cleaning kit, these items should cover the basics:

  • Baking soda for scrubbing
  • Borax for disinfecting and deodorizing
  • White vinegar as a surface disinfectant and fabric softener
  • Lemon juice for disinfecting and grease
  • Olive oil for lifting dirt and polishing wood
  • Castile soap as an all-purpose cleaner

A little trick to enhance the longevity of your sponges and reduce waste is to wet your sponge and put it in the microwave for one minute every few days. It will kill all of the harmful bacteria on the sponge and stop it from getting smelly.

Cleaning Services for Hire

If you don’t love to clean and hiring a cleaning service is more your style, the highest-rated, eco-friendly companies in your area are Momentum Carpet Care, Maid Easy, Going Greenhouse, Queen of Maids and Tidy Casa.

Spring cleaning (or green cleaning) can be eco-friendly and improve mental health, so it’s a good idea to maintain a clean and tidy space.

Tips and Tricks to Stay Warm and Cozy in Your Vela on Camelback Apartment

While Phoenix winters never have the epic blizzards and Nor’easters like they have in other parts of the country, they do get cooler. That can mean comfortable apartment living feels cold and damp. To address that, here are tips and tricks to stay warm and cozy in your Vela on Camelback Apartment.

Phoenix Winter

The average winter temperature in Phoenix in winter ranges from 50 to 60 degrees F. It is more rainy than usual and cloudy days (at least partially) are common. Those realities mean the public parks in Phoenix are usually packed during good days.

How to Get and Stay Warm

One of the best cold weather tips is to go through the process of winterizing your apartment. In addition, there are several practical ways you can stay warm in your apartment.

Cook Your Dinner: Your oven and stove put off a tremendous amount of heat. Just by cooking a meal, you can increase the ambient temperature of your apartment. Remember that you should not try and heat your home by leaving your oven or stove on.

Sweaters, Fleeces and Hoodies: Just about everyone knows about dressing in layers outside, but it can be done inside as well. An ensemble of a short sleeve t-shirt, long sleeve shirt and fleece can ensure you stay warm but can get cooler quick by shedding a layer or two.

Open Door Showers: Humid air makes the ambient temperature feel warmer. Plus, hot water will raise temperatures around your bathroom. You will be surprised how much one hot shower can help your apartment feel warmer.

Apartment Features

In addition to these tips, you have the standard amenities that come with your apartment. Those include centralized heating, draft-proof windows and doors.

It will be a rare occasion that your apartment gets chilled because of the season. If that happens, these tips on how to stay warm can ensure you are thoroughly prepared.

New Year, New Possibilities at Vela on Camelback

Everyone looks forward to starting a new year. While we can all start over at any point, the new year always comes with new possibilities. Exciting potential allows us to dream and to aspire higher than before. Even with COVID-19 challenges, the opportunity to become creative remains the highest intelligence. Set your personal goals higher this year by considering new apartment/home goals at Vela on Camelback. Then, start with defining your personal strategy of achievement.

Personal Goals to Set for the Year

What you want to do for the new year, depends on knowing yourself. Write down what you think you want out of life. Go through your list. Prioritize what is important to you. Then decide if your ambitions match your truest inner desires. Here’s a clue. The things you dream about most are those that you should focus on. Set personal goals that are meaningful. Set milestones to measure achievement and practice gratitude on your journey to achieving these goals.

Apartment/Home Goals

Living at Vela on Camelback offers convenience and luxury. Modern interiors are easy on the eye. Contemporary appliances add to ease of living. Air conditioning, wine chillers, and private balconies are all conducive to living a quality life. Enjoy delicious meals at Durant’s in Central Avenue or appreciate the Art Walk on the first Friday of every month on Roosevelt. Combine easy living with quick access to shopping, local attractions, and the Piestewa Freeway and you’re set for a lifestyle that is dreamlike.

2021 Apartment Home Decor Trends

Each new year encourages new home decor trends. White is popular for the year. Use this trend to your advantage. Spoil yourself to retail shopping to bring cooling shades of white into your new apartment. Add a splash of pale blue or retain a minimalist white and gray palette to promote harmony for home decor 2021.

No matter where you choose to live, Vela on Camelback is a modern upmarket environment with the latest home décor and amenities that will support your personal, apartment, and home décor 2021 goals.

Vela On Camelback Holiday Guide

A family decorating the christmas tree

Holiday Celebrations for Phoenix Residents

Happy Holidays from Vela on Camelback! With the end of 2020 fast approaching, it’s time to get into the festive spirit and enjoy the holidays.

How to Decorate Your Apartment for the Holidays

Decorating your home doesn’t need to be hard. Simple little additions can liven up your home and put you in a festive mood. Placing live greenery like small pine branches, will fill your home with a fresh scent and facilitate a calming atmosphere. Adding pops of red and green (or your chosen colors) around the apartment adds festivity while also being easy.

How to Get Into the Holiday Spirit

The holidays are fast approaching, so it’s time to get into the holiday spirit. It’s quite easy to do by listening to holiday music while decorating your apartment or baking up a storm. Before you start baking cookies and other yummy goods, take 5 minutes to create a playlist on Spotify, Apple Music, or a similar app that you can listen to and sing along with as you cook or decorate.

Holiday Events Near Your Apartment (can include New Years Events

If you want to get outside into the world, while also remaining safe, the Phoenix Zoo is hosting a drive-thru holiday lights experience, Cruise Zoolights. The event runs until January 28th.

Another drive-thru event for the holidays is the World of Illumination. It is an animated light show that features interactive displays that provide an animated musical extravaganza using your favorite music.

For those that are artistically minded or want to see the Sistine Chapel up close. Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition is a perfect event to attend. The exhibit consists of 34 replica panels of frescos painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The event is open from November 20th to February 2021.

No matter what event you attend, or how you decorate your home, enjoy the holiday break.

Thanksgiving at Vela on Camelback

Thankful spelled out surrounded by leaves and pumpkin cut outs

Thanksgiving is almost here. We know that 2020 threw many curveballs, but there are many memorable ways to be thankful and enjoy your Thanksgiving meal.

So how can you and your family have a successful Thanksgiving in Phoenix? Check out some of our tips to enjoy your Thanksgiving at Vela on Camelback.

 

Cooking tips and recipes.

Families know that the best part of Thanksgiving is coming together for a delicious, home-cooked meal. Who doesn’t love a good turkey, mashed potatoes, and homemade cranberry sauce?

We love all that stuff. And we also think that 2020 is the perfect year to introduce a new Thanksgiving recipe to your family.

Many Thanksgiving recipes are floating around the internet. Pinterest is a great place to start. For kids, we recommend satisfying their sweet tooth with sweet potato casserole.

If you’re looking for something new, keep and break tradition at the same time by finding a new way to enjoy sweet potatoes. A burrito sweet potato? Count us in!

 

Safety In the kitchen

We understand that safety is a top priority this year. The best idea is to plan ahead and making sure your Thanksgiving follows CDC guidelines. To prevent too many cooks in the kitchen, we recommend prepping your meal ahead of time.

 

There are ways to make sure your family is safe outside the kitchen. Encourage your family to spend time outside. We recommend enjoying open space and quality time at the spacious Steele Indian School Park. It’s right around the corner from Vela on Camelback Apartments!

 

Online Black Friday Shopping

Enjoy the benefits of Black Friday without the hostile crowds. While we love deals from household names such as Target and Marshall’s, we also recommend taking advantage of deals from local businesses. Many small Phoenix businesses are taking advantage of online sales. Be sure to stay up-to-date on new items and sales from Phoenix’s local boutiques!

 

Be Thankful This Thanksgiving

There are many ways to be thankful this Thanksgiving. While 2020 presented many struggles and adjustments for Phoenix families, at Vela on Camelback, you can still enjoy your family’s perfectly imperfect Thanksgiving.

Celebrating Halloween at Vela on Camelback

Kick Back And Enjoy A Night Off With These Halloween Tricks And Treats!

Halloween can often seem like an oasis in a dessert—and here at Vela On Camelback that’s exactly what we want this year’s festivities to be. We think it’s about time you had a night of relaxed, safe, fun, so here are our suggestions for how you can celebrate Halloween in Phoenix this October.

How To Decorate Your Apartment

Some people love to go all out for scares on Halloween—and there are some positively ghoulish ideas coming up—but not everyone is looking to take that approach. Halloween can also be a time to get whimsical and indulge your sweet tooth, so why not follow that lead with your decoration and make these cute party pumpkins

If you do want something a bit more frightful, try these truly creepy adornments for your Halloween candy.

How To Celebrate At Home

If you’re celebrating Halloween at home this October, finding something to do with the children can be a frightening proposition! Any other year, and they would be tired out from trick or treating, and stuffed with candy! But this year, everyone is going to have to get a little creative. Don’t worry though, try out this delightfully tactile game and this Halloween spin on a party classic and you’ll be sure to have a fun night for all the family

Don’t forget to make sure there’s plenty of food and drink to go around with this Halloween snack mix.

Halloween Hotspots Near You

Of course, you can still don your very best Halloween costumes and head out—there will be no haunted houses or trick or treating—but there are still plenty of safe, socially distanced Halloween events happening right here in Phoenix:

We want everyone to stay safe this Halloween—but we also want everyone to have a good time! So make sure you plan your socially distanced Halloween party in Phoenix.

Home-Based Healthy Living

As a new resident of Vela on Camelback, it’s time to settle into the new routine of cozy apartment living! The spacious floorplans of our apartments and the vibrant surrounding neighborhood make it a perfect backdrop for adopting a home-based health and fitness plan. Here are some tips on how you can customize your lifestyle!

 

Eat Nutritious Foods Without Noticing

 

Everyone knows that eating healthier means introducing more fruits and veggies into your diet. If the thought makes you groan, fear not. There are ways to hide nutrient-dense foods into your favorite meals with some modifications. The secret is to blend or puree them! Whether you mix in sweet potatoes into tomato-based pasta sauce or blended spinach into soups, your body will thank you for the vegetable fix! Here are some more suggestions on how to include fruits and veggies to eat healthy at home.

 

Exercising Without the Gym

 

Engaging in at least thirty minutes of physical activity is key to a happy body regardless of size. In the age of the internet, it’s easier than ever to get your fitness game on with at-home exercise. Choose an area you want to target and get to searching! Yoga With Adriene is a great Youtube channel with yoga videos for beginners and zen experts alike. Want a more intense workout? This “Silent Death Cardio” video will help you break a sweat without bothering your neighbors downstairs.

 

Have a Healthy Mind Above All

 

In the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, it’s easy to get caught up in these endless to-do lists. 

To be motivated to eat better and get moving, you’ll need to be in a healthy mental state first and foremost. There are the basics: getting a good night’s sleep (with enough time to wind down from electronics) is incredibly important. Spending time outdoors can also help to boost your mood! Set aside time for a daily walk around the neighborhood, or take a moment to refresh out on your private balcony. 

 

Stay healthy in Phoenix by adopting these tips for a happier, refreshed lifestyle!

Back to School: Best Practices for Success!

School supplies for students!

Many schools resume session this month and into the next. Whether you’re a college student preparing for the fall semester or the parent of a child continuing their grade school journey, being prepared sets you up for success. Here’s how you can make the most of your time and energy for a stress-free back to school season!

How to Study at Home

Returning to school means returning to homework, the bane of students’ existence. However, rethinking the way to study can make completing assignments less of a chore. During class lectures, take down notes on paper! By creating a spatial relationship with the course content by writing down key points, you’re more likely to retain information. That way, once you pull out that homework, the answers might come to you more easily.

Modernize Your School Supplies

When it comes to school supplies, every student needs the basics. Pencils, pens, and notebooks are a given, but there are other useful tools that can come in handy this semester. Both for clear audio during online courses and for listening to music while you study, it pays off to invest in high-quality earphones. Check out this list of wireless headphones and earbuds for a hands-free learning experience when returning to school!

Comfortable Study Space at Vela on Camelback

Living at Vela on Camelback has many perks for students in need of peaceful places to study. The community amenities on-site offer a diverse set of options! If you need a breath of fresh air from staying indoors to do homework, set up shop at the private sky deck. You’ll have the gorgeous views of Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Peak to keep you company while you work. Or, cozy up with that assigned reading by the fire pits in the outdoor lounge. The warm Arizona summer nights are best enjoyed from the comfort of your new residence. 

Make back to school season truly yours with these smart studying tips and supplies guiding you!

Best Ways to Celebrate National Ice Cream Month

Ice Cream, DIY Ice Cream, At-Home Ice Cream, Ice Cream Month, Ice Cream in Downtown LA

Nothing satisfies a sweet tooth quite like a scoop of ice cream. This July, we celebrate National Ice Cream Month and all its many forms. Read on for the full scoop on this frosty treat and how you can take part in the fun from home!

Tasty Types of Ice Cream

When you think of ice cream, you most likely think of it in its most common form: milk and cream frozen and slow-churned to perfection. But there are tons of different ice cream cousins to try out too! Gelato ups the smooth factor with an addition of creamy egg whites to the mix. Sorbet is a water-based frozen delight that’s sweetened by fruit juices and liqueurs. Frozen yogurt replaces dairy milk with the tartness of protein-packed yogurt, which has active cultures that are great for digestion. No matter your taste preferences or dietary restrictions, there’s a type of ice cream that’s out there for you!

Making At-Home Ice Cream in Your Apartment

While you’re likely to find all these types and more at your local grocery store, there’s magic in making your own. You can DIY ice cream with just a few simple ingredients and plastic zip-up bags! Check out this recipe from Delish that walks through how to make at-home ice cream in minutes. If you’re dairy-free, you can replace dairy creamer with a vegan substitute. Once you’ve made your ice cream, dress it up with toppings of your choice! Try salted caramel sauce for a decadent pair to plain vanilla, or add a pop of color with edible flowers.

Order-In Ice Cream in Phoenix

As a new resident here at Vela on Camelback, you’ve joined a community that truly loves its ice cream! There are so many local creameries in Phoenix, AZ you’ll have a blast exploring. Scooptopia is a great shop nearby to support. Not only do they have a rotating array of ice cream flavors to choose from, but they feature the Filipino dessert Halo-Halo on their menu. Combining ice cream, shaved ice, sweet fruit syrups, and other colorful toppings, halo-halo is unique as it is delicious. Order delivery to your door through their Yelp page!

Be sure to celebrate National Ice Cream Month with a scoop and a smile! How are you planning to ring in this sweet month? Let us know in the comments!