25 Days of Amenities at Arcadia Run – Part 1

If you’ve been following along with our 25 Days of Amenities on our Facebook page, we have now gathered each day into two blog posts so you can read all about our amenities in one place. Below, learn more about just some of the amenities that our beautiful apartment home community has to offer here at Arcadia Run!

  1. Clubhouse: Our brand new clubhouse is at the center of our community and is home to many of the other amenities here at Arcadia Run!
  2. Package concierge: In our Clubhouse you will find a handy dandy flat screen TV, which is part of our package concierge. It tells you if you have a package to pick up based on your apartment number.
  3. Playground: Apartment homes aren’t just for college students or adults, we also have families that live here! Our playground features all of the bells and whistles your kids would want, like swings, slides, and seesaws.
  4. Theatre: Yes, you read that right! In our Clubhouse, you will find a theatre with large lounge chairs and a tabletop/bar so you can enjoy your favorite snacks while you watch a movie or a football game.
  5. Lounges: Couches, tables, and chairs galore, you will never run out of space to hang out with your friends and neighbors in the Clubhouse.
  6. Media Center: If you need to surf the web or find a nice place to study, our media center is equipped with computers and free printing for residents!
  7. Fireplaces: Warm up in front of our stone fireplaces in the Clubhouse for a relaxing evening reading a good book.
  8. On-site Leasing Office: If you have any problems or questions while living at Arcadia Run, our leasing office is open 7 days a week and our wonderful staff are always available!
  9. Fitness classes: The New Year is quickly approaching and what better way to get in shape than with free fitness classes hosted by Power for Life Fitness? Visit our Facebook for the full December schedule of events.
  10. Private conference room: For all of your important meetings, or not so important meetings, we have a private conference room right in our Clubhouse. Contact our property manager to reserve it today!
  11. Resort-style pool: Although summer is long gone, we are almost halfway to Summer 2017! Our resort-style pool is the perfect place to cool off on a hot day or put in some laps.
  12. “Away from home” services: If you’re going away for a long weekend, don’t fret! Sign up for our “away from home” services so your cat and Fred the fern are both taken care of while you’re gone.
  13. Fire pit: Don’t you ever just get the itch eat a few s’mores? We get it too. Our on-site fire pit is perfect for evening get-togethers roasting marshmallows with your neighbors.

Stay tuned for the rest of our 25 Days of Amenities in Part 2 of this blog series, coming next week!

Make Splitting Apartment Expenses a Breeze!

If you have ever shared an apartment with someone else, you know that money can be a sore subject, especially when arguments arise. Roommate horror stories can be a thing of the past if you take the necessary steps to agree and communicate about splitting apartment expenses!

Agree before signing

Before signing the lease with your roommate(s), discuss how your apartment expenses will be split. Will you each pay the same in rent, or different amounts depending on room size? Who will be in charge of collecting money for rent, utilities, and other things? Figuring these things out from the get-go will make it easier in the long run.

Don’t split large items

Splitting the cost of your furniture or coffee maker might seem like a good idea at the time, but when you move out, ownership of certain items can get tricky. Opt to each purchase one or two larger items that are close in cost so that when you move out of your apartment home, there is no debating who will take what.

Communicate directly

If paying for things equally causes tension in your apartment home, communication is key. Although it may feel awkward, the best way to confront a tricky situation is to talk about it, in person. Skip the passive aggressive sticky notes and address issues directly – it will create fewer misunderstandings and get things done quicker.

Divide the responsibilities

Instead of putting all of the pressure on one person in the apartment to send in the rent, utility bill, etc., divide up the responsibilities. Having these responsibilities spread evenly amongst roommates will also even up the accountability to better ensure everything is paid on time.

Utilize tools and Apps

There are plenty of free websites and phone apps today that will connect directly to your bank account and makes splitting expenses very easy and quick! Download Venmo or Splitwise for your smart phone to instantly charge or pay your roommates for everything from bills to groceries.

We hope all of these tips make splitting your apartment expenses at Arcadia Run a breeze! For more information on how you can lease a brand new apartment home at Arcadia Run right now, visit www.arcadiarun.com!

Fun Holiday Events in Manassas!

During the holiday season, there are plenty of ways to get into the spirit around Manassas, VA and even here at Arcadia Run! Check out all of these amazing events happening soon:

Nov 26th – A Christmas Carol: Beginning on November 26th through the next few months, The Center for The Arts at the Candy Factory will be hosting multiple showings of A Christmas Carol. Get into the holiday spirit by going to see one of the most coveted holiday shows of all time right here in Manassas, so check out all show of the show dates.

Nov 26thSmall Business Saturday: Support local businesses here in Manassas by shopping on Small Business Saturday in Downtown Manassas on Nov 26th! Get a head start on your holiday shopping with specials and sales all day long at your favorite local stores.

Nov 28th – Arcadia Run Toy Drive: From this date through December 12th, stop by the clubhouse to donate a new toy to families in need with Arcadia Run’s “Gifting for Families” toy drive. After all, it is the season for giving!

Nov 29thManassas Gingerbread Contest: Each year the town of Manassas holds their annual Gingerbread House Contest that runs from November 29th to December 16th. Stop by various shops throughout Historic Downtown to vote for your favorite entry! The winners will be chosen on December 16th.

Nov 30thSwing Machine Big Band’s 5th Annual Christmas Extravaganza: Join the Hylton Performing Arts Center for this annual holiday music event form 7:30-9pm!

Dec 2ndMerry Old Town Christmas Tree Lighting: A classic celebration with old-fashioned family fun, this year’s tree lighting is going to be one for the books! Enjoy the sweet sounds of classic holiday music from special musical guests and await Santa’s arrival on the train before the town’s tree is illuminated! This celebration will take place from 5-8pm.

Dec 3rd71st Greater Manassas Christmas Parade: From 10am-12pm, join the Greater Manassas area for a longtime tradition spanning generations, featuring over 2000 participants and 100 units! 

Dec 15thThe Nutcracker: The Manassas Ballet Theater and Manassas Theater Orchestra are putting on a brilliant rendition of this classic Christmas tale. Bring the whole family to the show for an unforgettable night at the Hylton Performing Arts Center for one of the 10 show days!

Dec 17th – Arcadia Run Holiday Party: Join your friends, family, and neighbors for a fun holiday party at the Arcadia Run Clubhouse from 12pm-4pm. There will be carolers, games, food, and more!

 

Transforming Your Apartment Bathroom into a Luxurious Space

Just because you don’t live in a five-star hotel, doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice living in a luxurious space! Trulia has put together several ways that you can make your apartment bathroom a spa-like retreat, and we will share with you how to utilize these tips in your Arcadia Run apartment home!

Add some colorful art: Studies have shown that blues and greens are two calming colors that you will commonly see in other relaxing spaces, like salons and spas. Paint your own peaceful landscape to hang on the wall or find accessories that embody your favorite colors. 

Invest in quick drying mats: Nothing is worse than getting out of the shower to a soaking wet bath mat, or brushing your teeth and stepping in a puddle. Quick dry bath mats will ensure that your bathroom tile does not get super slippery and your feet will stay warm and dry.

Listen to calming sounds: If you love listening to music, or the sounds of the great outdoors, there are devices out there specifically designed for your shower! Waterproof speakers, or a sound machine, will create the ultimate relaxing atmosphere as you wind down from a long day.

Low lighting: Lighting is one factor that can always set the tone of a room, and having dimmed lighting can be a great way to relax. Opt for some candles or a standalone light dimmer that can be placed on the bathroom counter or hung from the curtain rod.

Add soothing scents: Believe it or not, certain scents like eucalyptus and lavender have a calming effect on the mind. You can incorporate these scents in many different ways like candles, bath crystals, air fresheners, or even a eucalyptus or aloe plant.

Create a display: Display your products or accessories in glass jars along the countertop or a shelf. The beautiful materials of the jars will exude a more luxurious feel rather than having them in boxes or shower bottles.

Warm it up: Keep a pair of slippers and a cozy bathrobe hanging on the back of your bathroom door so you can dry off and warm up quickly after every shower or bath. Having these items will also make getting ready each day much more enjoyable in the colder months!

Creating a luxurious bathroom space is really about incorporating items that will play to your senses and relax your body and mind. For more information about leasing a brand new apartment home to create your personal oasis in, visit www.arcadiarun.com.

Sources: trulia.com

Tips for Hosting Thanksgiving in Your Arcadia Run Apartment Home

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Thanksgiving is a time for friends, family, and food, and our apartment homes at Arcadia Run are the perfect place to host Thanksgiving dinner, or even a ‘Friendsgiving’ gathering. If you’re stressing about how to clean, cook, and have everything ready in time, don’t worry. We’ve compiled a list of tips for how to host a stress free Thanksgiving meal at your Arcadia Run apartment home. Check them out below:

Make a Plan

First things first, figure out who will be joining you for Thanksgiving. Once you have a head count, you can start planning the seating arrangements and calculating how much food you will need. Ask that everyone RSVP as soon as possible, so there aren’t any last minute additions.

Divide and Conquer

Between all of the shopping, prepping, and cooking, there will be a lot to do! One of the best ways to reduce stress before everyone comes over is to divvy up the responsibilities. If you’re out at the grocery store, have your roommate start cleaning the apartment. When you get back, you can team up and get everything done in less time!

Less is More

When it comes to decorations, try not to go overboard. You’ll have your hands full with preparing the food and eventually the cleanup, so you don’t want to add to the list of tasks with tons of decorations. Keep it simple and classy with a festive tablecloth, a wreath, or a few seasonal candles scattered throughout your apartment home. A few simple touches can go a long way.

Bring Your Own….

If you’re having more than 3 or 4 people over, it’s completely fine to ask guests to contribute something to the celebration! Make sure you specify what you would like people to bring over, so you don’t end up with 3 cheese platters! Once you’ve made your lists of everything you need, see what you are still missing and ask guests to fill in the gaps. Some easy things for people to bring would be a bottle of wine or champagne, desserts, or appetizers.

Clean As You Go

Thanksgiving dinner is wonderful, but the aftermath can be a hassle, especially if you’re hosting! One way to cut down on the giant pile of dishes after your meal is to clean as much as you can after every course. Once people are done nibbling on appetizers and you’re about to serve dinner, clear and put away all of the appetizers. Remove empty dishes from the table throughout the meal and give them a quick rinse before putting them in the dishwasher. Save the larger dishes, such as the turkey pan, for after dinner.

All of these tips will help reduce your stress when hosting Thanksgiving, but the most important thing to remember is being thankful that you are sharing the day with friends and family. For more information on how you can make Arcadia Run your home, visit us online.

Making Smart Use of Shared Spaces in Your Apartment

Although every new Arcadia Run apartment comes with plenty of storage space, it can be a challenge to stay organized, or deciding how to divide space up between roommates. There are some simple solutions for keeping your apartment home in tiptop shape that can make living with your roommates even easier! Take a look at these tips for shared spaces to keep your apartment living easy:

Clear bins: If you use bins to store things in your closets, opt for clear bins so that you can always find what you are looking for. We are all guilty of having things in storage and completely forgetting what is in all of the different boxes and bins.

Shower territory: The bathroom is a very important place to keep clean and organized, especially if you share one with roommates! In the shower, assign locations for each person’s products and shower accessories. There is nothing worse than mixing up products or someone moving your stuff around! If there isn’t enough shelf room in the shower for everything, invest in a hanging shower caddie.

Parking: In many apartment communities, there is assigned and/or limited parking for each apartment home. Luckily, here at Arcadia Run, we have an open parking policy so there is no fighting over the best (or only) spot designated to your apartment!

Food storage: This kind of shared space varies among roommates, but it’s a good idea to discuss it with your roommate. If you want to share certain items, keep them in a designated area and then divvy up the rest of the space between roommates. This can go for the fridge, pantry and even cabinets!

Pets in the apartment: If you have pets in your apartment home, make sure you are courteous and aware of where you keep pet supplies in the apartment. Discuss with your roommate where they are comfortable keeping a pet bed, food and water bowls, toys, etc., and try to keep these items organized if they are in common areas.

Wall space & decor: Don’t decorate the common areas of your apartment without agreeing on something with everyone. It can be uncomfortable living in a space where you don’t feel like it is truly yours!

Among all of these other things, communication is key about sharing spaces in your new apartment home at Arcadia Run! Check out even more tips and tricks for apartment living on our blog, and visit www.arcadiarun.com for more information on renting at Arcadia Run!

Source: zillow.com

Ways to Celebrate Virginia Wine Month at Arcadia Run

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October is such a fun month, with fall in full swing and Halloween just around the corner. However, it is also Virginia Wine Month! Virginia has many vineyards and produces some of the best wine in the country not far from our historic city of Manassas. Check out some ideas below for how to celebrate Virginia Wine Month here at Arcadia Run!

Wine Wednesday at Arcadia Run

Don’t have time to drive to different wineries in Virginia? No worries! We host Wine Wednesday’s at our beautiful clubhouse right here at Arcadia Run every other week. Sample different wines from around the region, brush up on your wine knowledge, and get to know your fellow neighbors! Even better news: Wine Wednesday is this week! Grab a friend and head to the clubhouse from 6pm-8pm and start celebrating Virginia Wine Month.

Host Your Own Wine Night

One of the best ways to celebrate Virginia Wine Month is to host your own wine night! Our spacious apartments are perfect for gatherings with friends and family. Invite a few of your friends over and have everyone bring a different bottle of local Virginia wine. This way, you’ll be able to sample a variety of Virginia wines and even some that you might not have picked out yourself!

Friends at the Fire Pit

These cool autumn nights are perfect to spend at the fire pits at Arcadia Run. Cozy up with a blanket and a bottle of wine in front of the fire to celebrate Virginia Wine Month. Chat with people around the fire, and maybe even get recommendations about different types of wine to try.

Events

If you’re looking to get out and experience Virginia Wine Month, there are plenty of events and activities going on around the area! Check out the official Virginia Wine Month list of events and see which ones pique your interest. Many wineries are offering specials when you purchase wine, food specials, and even live music! Make sure to tag any pictures using #OctVAWineMonth to get featured by Virginia Wine!

For more information about our wonderful apartment homes and amenities at Arcadia Run, visit us online.

Source: https://www.virginiawine.org/october-wine-month

Things to Remember When Moving Into An Apartment With Your Significant Other

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If you are moving into your new apartment home at Arcadia Run with your significant other and have not lived with them previously, it will be an adjustment. Below, we have listed all of the things you should remember when moving in with your significant other for the first time!

It’s okay to have your own things: If you are merging all of your belongings together and are protective of certain things, let your partner know! Doing this will ensure that next time you reach for your favorite coffee mug, hopefully it will be right where you left it.

Get to know each other’s pet peeves: When you discover something your partner does at home that you are not used to, don’t get upset or annoyed over it. Have a conversation with them and let them know what is on your mind. If you fold towels different ways, agree on a certain way together that will make you both satisfied.

Maintain some independence: Just because you live together, doesn’t mean you have to spend every waking moment with each other! Remember to maintain relationships with your own friends and create a balance in your life. Make a point to do things on your own once a week so you don’t spend an unhealthy amount of time together.

Set a budget: Since you now share an apartment, you are going to have to manage your money together so that you still have funds to do things, like go see a concert at Jiffy Lube Live! Sit down and sort out a weekly budget that you can stick to together and make sure to factor in rent, food, shopping, travel, etc.

Make compromises: You are going to have to make compromises now that it’s not just you living in your home. You will probably have to compromise on apartment décor, a TV schedule, candle scents, closet space, and many other things. Communication is key, so make sure that both of you talk about what you want and need.

Try not to sweat the small stuff: There may be times where you get into small disagreements, but that is okay, it’s bound to happen! If someone leaves dishes in the sink overnight, it’s not worth fighting over! Don’t let it get you down and don’t hold a grudge about small things that are easily resolved.

A living situation with any new roommate can be a learning experience, especially if it’s with your significant other! Don’t forget to enjoy it, and take advantage of everything here at Arcadia Run in Manassas, VA together!

Making The Most of Your Time in the Fitness Center

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Last year we were excited to bring exclusive resident amenities to all of our amazing residents here at Arcadia Run, and love introducing new residents to them everyday. The Fitness Center is just one of the amenities that is located in our award-winning Clubhouse, and it is a resident favorite! If you haven’t yet experienced the Fitness Center, or would like to start your fitness journey, here are a few tips to make the most of your time in the Fitness Center!

 

Set goals for yourself: Figure out what is motivating you and set goals to accomplish so you can measure your success. It can be anything from weight loss to improving your mile time, or just keeping up regularly with workouts. If you’ve already had a consistent routine going for a while, you can still make small goals! When you complete a goal, take the time to reward yourself.

 

Make a few upbeat playlists: There is nothing like good music to really get your workout going. Make playlists with songs that pump you up and will keep you motivated through your entire workout.

 

Get a schedule down: Create a schedule to that will work best with everything else that is going on in your life, like school or work. As you continue to figure out what works best for you, adjust your schedule to fit into your busy lifestyle. Remember; don’t push yourself to work out every single day or for too long because it can lead injuries or exhaustion.

 

Attend a FREE fitness class: Here at Arcadia Run, we have weekly fitness classes with Power for Life Fitness that are free for our residents! These fitness classes are a great way to meet people who also enjoy working out and can help you reach your goals. Classes include Yoga every Monday, Cardio Sculpt every Wednesday, and Boot camp/Kickboxing every Friday. Stay up to date with the schedule on our Facebook page.

 

Mix up your routine: Because not every cardio machine or weight machine will work with your fitness goals, our Fitness Center offers many different machines to choose from. The cardio room is complete with bikes, treadmills, and ellipticals, while the weight room has a large variety of machines to work every part of your body. Adding a variety of activities to your workout plan will make it more fun!

 

Now that you have a plan, head on over to the Fitness Center to get started on your fitness journey! If you’re interested in renting a new apartment home so that you can take advantage of the exclusive resident amenities here at Arcadia Run, visit arcadiarun.com.