Category: Christmas

How to Make Your Apartment Holiday Ready

Posted on by willow creek
holiday ready

holiday ready

 

Do you hear those sleigh bells ringing? That’s the sound of the holidays quickly approaching. Soon, malls will be visited by Santa and local parking lots will be filled with Christmas trees. Your apartment will need to switch from its neutral fall decor and turn into a winter wonderland.

This article will give you 5 ideas on how to make your apartment holiday ready.

1) Get the Perfect Tree

There is nothing better than twinkling lights on a Christmas tree around the holiday season. A Christmas tree will liven up your house and put you in the holiday spirit.  Although live trees are not allowed in apartments, you don’t have to go without. Today’s artificial trees have the look and feel of real trees without the mess or fire hazard. You just need to pick a Christmas tree that will fit in your apartment. In order to do this, so some preliminary measuring of the space you have available for the tree. This way, when you get to the store you can say you’re looking for a tree that fits those specifications. You would hate to get home and not have your tree fit through the door.

Once you bring your tree home and put it in the perfect place you can add a Christmas tree air freshener to make it smell like the real thing.

 

2) Decorate Your Own Ornaments

Have roommates in your apartment? Decorating ornaments together can be a great bonding activity. You can buy plain ornament orbs and then paint them yourself. You can also knit ornaments. Anything that’s light enough and has a string attached can turn into an ornament.

Get creative with the people you live with or your friends and make ornaments you can use year after year.

3) Hang Stockings

Typically apartments won’t have a fireplace, but you still have to hang stockings! How else will Santa deliver your smaller presents? Utilize bookshelves or walls to hang stockings for everyone who lives in your apartment is a great way be holiday ready. Make sure you write or paint everyone’s name on their stocking for a personalized touch.

4) Go Crazy with Christmas Lights

Christmas lights aren’t just for your tree. Hanging Christmas lights all around your apartment will make it look brighter and more jolly instantly. Drape lights around the perimeter of a room. Try to color coordinate the lights so your apartment still looks classy.

Solid white lights always look great, or you can go for a red and green look.

5) Decorate Your Door

After you got the inside of your apartment spruced up, pay some attention to your door. Your door is the one thing people can see of your apartment without coming inside. Decorate it by hanging a wreath with a velvet red ribbon tied around it. Find a festive doormat to place in front of the door so everyone knows you’re in the holiday spirit.

Follow These Tips and Your Apartment Will be Holiday Ready

If you follow this guide your apartment will be holiday-ready in no time. Hanging decorations is a great way to feel the holiday spirit and get your place ready for house guests.

Have questions about this article or want to get in contact with us? Please do so here!

Last Minute Christmas Shopping in Fort Wayne

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locally-owned stores in fort wayne

locally-owned stores in fort wayne

Last-Minute Local: Shop Locally-Owned Stores in Fort Wayne

There’s only 10 more days left until Christmas and if you haven’t started your Christmas shopping yet don’t panic! Fort Wayne has some great locally-owned shops with a wide variety of items for everyone on your Christmas Shopping list.

Budget-Friendly

Darlington Farms

Darlington Farms typically has over 2 million items for sale at just $1.69 each including books, toys, frames, home decor, makeup, jewelry, stationary, candles, hats, gloves, licensed sports items, pet toys, kitchen accessories and more.

Address: 3925 Airport Expy or 615 W Coliseum Blvd.

 

Unique Gifts

City Exchange

The City Exchange shops in downtown Fort Wayne feature an eclectic array of shops that are sure to satisfy everyone on your shopping list-including yourself! Shop Poptique, Fiddlewinks, Around the Corner, Belyst, Juice Jar, Valontine, David Talbot Collection for everything from gourmet popcorn and fresh-pressed juices to clothing, home decor, and vintage items.

Address: 127 W. Wayne Street

Creative Women of the World

Located next to the City Exchange Shops, Creative Women of the World sells unique artisan gifts including jewlery, purses, clothing, home decor, stationary, bath & body, coffee, accessories and and items that are made by hand from women across the world to help them create sustainable business to rise out of poverty and slavery.

Address: 125 W. Wayne St.

Fancy & Staples

Fancy & Staples is a new “uncommon goods” boutique in Fort Wayne carrying unique home accessories, gift items, paper products, clothing, accessories, apothecary, barware, and pantry items. Many of the items you’ll find at Fancy & Staple are from handmade crafters/makers, small indie lines, local artisans, and other obscure brands.

Address: 1111 Broadway

Emiley’s Haute Cottage

Shop Emiley’s Haute Cottage for unique home decor, furnishings, candles, jewelry, antiques, bath items and more.

Address: 515 W. Wayne Street

 

Outdoorsy

Earth Adventures Unlimited

Looking for the perfect gift for the outdoorsy person on your shopping list? Earth Adventures Unlimited sells camping, climbing, paddling, backpacking, and scuba diving equipment and clothing for the novice and experienced.

Address: 1804 W. Main St.

Fort Wayne Outfitters & Bike Depot

From bikes to kayaks, to apparel, and more Fort Wayne Outfitters is the place to go for adventure.

Address: 1004 Cass Street

 

Foodie

Cookie Cottage

Everyone on your list will love locally-made gourmet cookie gifts from the Cookie Cottage. Choose from an assortment of fresh made cookies including personalized cookies, cookie cakes, iced cookies and more!

Address: 508 Noble Drive

Debrand

DeBrand Fine Chocolates is a gourmet chocolatier featuring boxed chocolates, specialty artisan chocolates, chocolate truffles, chocolate art boxes, and more, made right here in Fort Wayne.

 

Wine Lovers

Just outside of Fort Wayne to the West and the North are two wineries, each with a selection of locally-made wines from locally-grown grapes. Sample some of their wines and pick up a bottle or two for the wine lover on your list.

Two EE’s Winery

Address: 6808 US-24, Huntington, IN

Country Heritage Winery

Address: 185 Co Rd 68, Laotto, IN

Address: 4110 W Jefferson Blvd or 5608 Coldwater Rd

 

 

Pet Lover

Pink Poodle

The Pink Poodle offers a wide range of supplies for both dogs and cats – everything from feeder bowls and waste supplies to high-fashion pet clothing, collars, dog beds, toys, treats, and more.

Address: 6244 W. Jefferson

Petshion Boutique

Need the perfect gift for you pooch? Petshion Boutique in Jefferson Pointe has everything for the discerning pet including clothes, treats, carries, and more.

Address: 4150 Jefferson Blvd

 

Pictures with Santa

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Santa Claus is coming to …. Willow Creek Crossing Apartments!

Santa Claus is coming to Fort Wayne and he’s making a stop at Willow Creek Crossing Apartments! Residents, stop by to get your photo taken with Santa and enjoy treats for all, and for all a good night!

Where: The Clubhouse
When: Wednesday, December 16th, 2015
Time: 6:30-8:30pm

Bring a donation for the Community Harvest Food Bank for admission. Items they can use:

  • Boxed potatoes
  • canned cream soup
  • macaroni & cheese
  • canned pumpkin
  • crust mix
  • cereal
  • chunky soups
  • peanut butter
  • gravy mix
  • canned meats/tuna
  • canned vegetables
  • pasta & pasta sauces
  • canned fruit
  • boxed cake mixes and cake frostings

*Please keep in mind, for safety reasons, that all children must be accompanied by an adult.

December Events in Fort Wayne

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holiday events in December in fort wayne

 holiday events in December in fort wayne

Things to Do in Fort Wayne in December

What’s Going On Around Fort Wayne in December? Well, quite a bit of Holiday festivities, that’s for sure! Plus, plenty of opportunities to see Santa!

The Santa Train runs several weekends in December. Take a ride with Santa and in a vintage caboose while enjoying music and food from Bravas.

Santa and his reindeer will also be making a visit to the Foellinger-Friemann Botanical Gardens. Bring the family by to say hi on December 5, 12, and 19th while enjoying the charm of A North Woods Christmas

Bring your children and their Christmas wish list to Glenbrook Mall or Jefferson Pointe to visit and have their picture taken with Santa.

The Historic Embassy Theater will have a number of Holiday-spirited events, including the Festival of Trees, Holiday Sing-a-Long with the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir, The Philharmonic’s Holiday Pops, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical; and performances by The Piano Guys and Straight No Chaser! Dates and ticket information here.

First Presbyterian Theater will be home of the stage adaptation of David Sedaris’ hilarious Santaland Diaries; details here.

And if you want a break from the Holidays…
check out a Mad Ants game

or the Komets

or the Great Train show with model trains and train rides for kids at the Memorial Coliseum on December 5th & 6th.

Get out and spread some holiday cheer. From all of us at Willow Creek Crossing Apartments, we wish you a Happy Holiday Season!

Last Minute Holiday Shopping Tips

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Some Tips for Surviving the Holiday Season

Christmas is almost here! If you are a procrastinator, like many of us, you might just be getting around to thinking about buying holiday gifts. That’s OK, don’t fret. There is still time to find thoughtful gifts for everyone on your list. If you don’t know where to start, here are some quick ideas that will be greatly appreciated and won’t break the bank!

An essential first step before you begin shopping willy-nilly, is to jot down a list of your recipients with a gift idea or two for each one. Review the list with your eye on convenience — which store or websites will allow you to get the most gifts at once. Start there! Then group the rest into “other errands” and “time in front of the computer”. Block out some time in your calendar and get to gifting!

Food

  • make a gift bag or basket of favorites: chocolates, cheeses, snack foods; or pick a culinary theme — like Thai spices, condiments, canned and dry goods — and a cookbook
  • gift cards or homemade coupons for dinner or lunches out at local restaurants
  • a food of the month club (cheeses, fruits, steaks, etc!)

Drink

  • a gift basket of coffee or teas; add accessories like flavored sugars, syrups or honey; mugs; coasters
  • wine, beer or alcohol; along with specialized drink glasses, bar implements, appropriate mixers or olives
  • drink of the month clubs (beer, wine, tequilas, etc!)

Entertainment

  • books or magazine subscriptions
  • tickets to a local show or sporting event
  • Pick up an iTunes or Amazon gift card. These digital stores are full of apps, music, audiobooks, movies and more.

Homemade Coupons

  • A coupon for a date night
  • a get-away weekend
  • free babysitting for friends with kids

Small package with Big Impact

  • jewelry
  • favorite perfume
  • cigars
  • a Christmas ornament commemorating a big event (new baby, new house, just married, etc.)
  • Gift Cards are always a sure-fire hit. They can even be personal – pick one up from a store or restaurant your loved one likes to frequent.

Hopefully these tips will help you quickly cross off your Christmas shopping list. Although this time of year can be a bit hectic, be sure to keep in mind what is most important – spending time with your loved ones. From all of us at Willow Creek Crossing Apartments in Fort Wayne, have a very happy holiday.