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Pets can make Chicago, IL apartments feel even homier, but a cat or dog in your apartment means you will have some extra responsibilities. How do you balance a hectic life in the city with caring for a pet and maintaining an apartment? Fortunately, a lot of pet owners have shared tips that will help you out. Here are three quick apartment hacks for pet owners.
Hack the Litter Box
The litter box is going to be your biggest challenge if you own a cat. Fortunately, a lot of outlets now provide self-cleaning litter boxes. Purchasing one of these will reduce the frequency of your trips to the dumpster. There are also many stylish litter box designs that you can find which help to "hide" the litter box in plain sight. Don't forget the accessories like a mat for your kitty to wipe its feet.
Storing Pet Food
Speaking of blending in, those big and bulky sacks of pet food don't exactly go with the decor in most Chicago apartments, do they? Plus, where do you store those big sacks? You can purchase sealable plastic cereal containers and divide the food up to those. This will help keep your pet's dry food fresh and allows you to tuck the containers away out of sight in a cupboard. For a bigger investment, you can find stainless steel containers that are airtight and specifically built for pet food.
Pet Hair Hacks
If you have a pet that sheds, here are some tricks for dealing with pet hair. Purchase a paint roller and wrap some duct tape around it with the sticky side out. This gives you a much bigger surface area than a lint roller, so you can pick up stray hair much faster. Some brands of disinfectant wipes are now made specifically for hair as well. They're great for wiping down windowsills and countertops where you might not normally see stray pet hair. Plus, these pick up a lot of pet allergens in your apartment.
Pets are extremely common in apartments in Chicago, so chat with other pet owners to learn additional tips. And if you know someone looking for an apartment right now, don't forget to refer them to the leasing office at 866-473-1997.
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It can be difficult creating a fitness plan and sticking to it, especially when you're caught up in a busy urban lifestyle. These tips and tricks can help you create and stick with a fitness plan that will make real change in your life.
Make It Work With Your Schedule and Personality
Always work late on Tuesdays? Do you believe five o'clock is a time that should only exist in the evening? Don't plan on exercising then! Work to your strengths and it's easier to stick to your program.
Be Realistic
There are a thousand magazine articles out there that promise you'll lose 20 pounds in a week. Why so many? Because they don't work. Stick with a fitness plan that makes steady progress and you'll stick with it.
Create Realistic Short-Term Goals
Your long-term goal may be to get back to a size medium, but you need to focus on where you'll be next week or next month first. Make realistic short-term goals like walking ten miles this week or losing five pounds this month.
Track It
Whether it's a fitness tracker, a diary or an app on your phone, track your progress and make yourself accountable to your overall goals.
Stay Flexible
Sometimes life just gets in the way of being able to make steady progress. Don't let that get you down — work with it. If you had to skip a morning walk, try to make it up.
Give in to Small Awards
Deprivation gets you nowhere except binging on everything you've been trying to avoid, which makes it easier to give up on your plan altogether.
Get a Workout Buddy
Being accountable to someone else makes it easier to stick to your fitness plan. Find someone who has similar goals so that you can be accountable to each other.
By using these simple techniques, you'll discover that creating a plan that makes it easier to stick to your fitness goals is a much simpler process than you may have imagined. Apartments in Chicago, IL such as North Harbor Tower that include a fitness center, indoor pool or easy access to walking paths make it easy. Why not take a look at what we have to offer?
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]]>The post Making It Yours: Personalizing Your Apartment Without Losing Your Deposit appeared first on North Harbor Tower Blog.
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You love the location and amenities of your apartment, but it just doesn't feel like home quite yet. Fortunately, there are many numbers of ways to personalize your space without losing your deposit in the process. Simple design changes can breathe new life into any space, just a touch here and there and your apartment home is reborn! Here's a quick look at several relatively easy ways to change up your apartment's appearance without losing your deposit in the process.
Add Colorful Rugs
Whether you like contemporary design or a more modern style, adding a couple of bold rugs that reflect your personality goes a long way toward making your apartment feel like home.
Provide an Artistic Touch
What kind of art truly appeals to your soul? Add a common decorating theme to your apartment, taking advantage of any shelves, niches or windowsills to let your personality show with art displays.
Get Creative With Soft Furnishings
Fabric and a few decorative thumbtacks make it easy to add a lot of personality to your apartment quickly. Instead of painting an accent wall, purchase a drapery scarf, sarong or large piece of fabric that appeals to hang.
Add Removable Wallpaper
To create an accent wall that is easily changed back to its original appearance, check out removable wallpaper. If you're ordering online and aren't sure which pattern to use, print out a few pages and put them on the wall to select a swatch.
Throw It Around
To finish unifying your overall decorating theme, adding a few special touches that can be moved is an easy way to go. A few throw pillows, blankets, and other small decorating options make it pop and take it easy on your wallet.
By using some of these options to add a touch of personality to your apartment, you'll be able to make it yours in no time, without having to worry about whether that deposit is lost for good. If you're looking for apartments in Chicago that have that appealing modern feeling, North Harbor Tower apartments have tons of updated character that make it easy to feel like you've come home.
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Keeping your apartment clean and tidy is never an easy task. In this post, we’ll discuss a few tips on how to keep your apartment clean.
Rent a Storage Unit
If you have tons of stuff and you’re running out of storage space in your apartment, it might be a good idea to invest in a storage unit. Doing so will open up your apartment and get rid of the unwanted stress of having too much clutter. However, it’s important to use the storage unit for things you actually want to keep — if you’re throwing stuff in there that you may want to get rid of, keeping it there will just waste money. So before investing in a unit, try to organize your things and keep only what you need. Luckily, storage units are pretty cost-effective nowadays and come in various sizes for your needs.
Don’t Leave Dishes in the Sink
This is a bad habit many of us fall into. While it’s easy to start piling your dirty dishes in the sink, those stacks won’t get any smaller, and it just reinforces poor habits and creates more stress in the long run. So do your best to clean dishes right away or put them into the dishwasher once they're used. Once you start building this practice, you’ll notice a big stress relief and more satisfaction with your apartment.
Go Through that Paperwork
Stacks of paper can make a space look very untidy; not only that, they can build up pretty quickly. In order to remove the mess, it's best to make it a priority to go through these papers and put them in the appropriate places. If you have an abundance of paperwork that you must keep, consider investing in a filing cabinet. Moving needed papers out of sight and into an orderly, designated space helps your apartment look fresher and less cluttered.
Use the Space Efficiently
Another easy way to get rid of the mess and clutter is to use your apartment efficiently. If you have a lot of stuff that you need (but that is cluttering up your living space), try placing these items in cabinets, drawers, under the bed, or in containers or other storage resources. This will help to keep your apartment organized, cleaner and less stressful.
Looking for spacious apartments in Chicago? If so, then head on over to North Harbor Tower and check out their exciting floorplans!
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When exploring the city outside your Chicago apartment, it pays to keep your cool. Getting overheated isn’t fun, and it’s not that great for your overall comfort either. But you don’t have to stay indoors in air conditioning all day long. Getting outdoors in any temperature is great exercise and allows you to get your vitamin D from the sun. Here are some tips for staying cool in the outdoor summer heat so you can enjoy the great outdoors in Chicago.
1. Bathe With Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is a natural cooling agent. That’s why it’s a common ingredient in skin balms, chapsticks, and even breath mints. But did you know you can cool off for hours by bathing with peppermint oil? For this tip, use peppermint essential oil. As you’re running your bath, add several drops of peppermint essential oil to the running water. You’ll notice the cooling sensation right away, and it will linger and keep you cool for several hours, even when you're outside in the hot sun.
2. Stay Hydrated
As temperatures rise, your body sweats in order to maintain a constant internal temperature. This process creates a loss of fluids, which are important to replenish. Keep a stainless steel water bottle with you on Chicago outdoor excursions. The stainless steel material will ensure your water stays moderately cool, and the portability ensures you’ll be able to stay properly hydrated all day long.
3. Wear a Sun Hat
A cute straw hat will not only liven up your ensemble, but it will also help to shield you from the sun and keep you cool in the outdoor summer heat. Choose one with a wide brim that is sure to shade your face even in broad daylight. For better results on windy days, choose a straw hat with an optional chin strap.
When summer temperatures soar, these tips will help you keep your cool. Chicago is an amazing city to explore on foot, and your comfort will be increased with these simple tips. If you’re looking for a Chicago apartment home and would like to see what we have to offer in the way of floor plans, please contact us. We’d be happy to show you what we have available!
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When it comes to decorating your apartment home, there are ways to make it look like you hired a designer without spending the money on one. Use the following five simple decor hacks to get a decorator look for less! Source supplies online or in local Chicago stores.
1. Make Curtain Tiebacks Out of Vintage Necklaces
Only a confident decorator would have the courage to use vintage necklaces as curtain tiebacks, which is why this simple decor hack works so well. If you don’t actually own any vintage necklaces, just visit a local antique shop near your apartments in Chicago. You’ll surely be able to pick up a nice selection at affordable prices.
2. Use Jute to Hang Draperies
If you like the nautical look, this simple decor hack will do the trick. Loosely wrap jute around a curtain rod and through the holes in the top of your drapery panels. You’ll achieve a longer drapery look and acquire a nautical atmosphere in your apartment home. Jute is available at craft stores.
3. Paint Designs on Bureau Drawers
You don’t have to hire a decorator or be an accomplished artist to implement this easy decor hack. Simply use a few pre-made stencils to paint beautiful designs on the front of the drawers on your bureau. Look for designs such as flowers or leaves.
4. Use Pops of Color in Threes
One of the decorating secrets that professional decorators use is to add pops of color in threes. For example, you could place three throw pillows on the sofa, with each of them in complementary or matching colors.
5. Use a Decanter for Your Mouthwash
Mouthwash typically comes in attractive colors like green or blue. Why use the plastic bottle it came in when you can use a simple decor hack that looks like you hired a decorator? Pour your mouthwash into a beautiful glass mini decanter that you’ll be proud to display on your bathroom sink countertop. You can buy faux vintage decanters online or find them in consignment stores.
Your Chicago apartment can have the look of a professionally decorated space very easily with these five tips. For more apartment home inspiration, please contact us today to see model apartments and available floor plans.
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]]>The post Student? Work Remotely? Use These Tips for Working at Home appeared first on North Harbor Tower Blog.
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If you are a student or a person engaged either partially or completely with remote work, then you probably already know the struggle that it can be to stay focused when working from home. Here at North Harbor Tower, you enjoy a spacious and beautiful apartment within a complex brimming with luxury amenities, such as an indoor pool and an outdoor sun deck. With all this, it's easy to get distracted.
Thankfully, one of the amenities at our luxury apartments in Chicago, Illinois, is a 24-hour library that is perfect for getting you back on track. Learn how best to utilize this space and other key tips for working and studying at home in this quick article.
3 Key Tips for Staying Focused When Working or Studying at Home
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Have a set work schedule and don't let friends or family members drop in during it. While being a remote worker has its benefits, such as not having to clock in at any precise time, it is still a very good idea to establish a set schedule. Having a set time of the day dedicated to work helps get you in the habit of focusing on work and can retrain your brain to be most productive at the set time. These same reasons make schedules a good choice for students as well. Additionally, for whatever time period you set aside, also be sure to set limits against accepting visits and phone calls from friends, neighbors, and family members who may otherwise distract you.
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Stay out of the kitchen. One great reason to take advantage of the 24-hour library for your intensive work or school projects is that it will help prevent you from snacking. The first year of telecommuting can be like the first year of college with the freshman 15, because it's just so easy to use food as a distraction.
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Invest in a noise-canceling headset. One thing about living in Chicago, even in a luxury apartment complex such as ours, is that noises are bound to happen, from occasional construction work outside to barking dogs being walked down the hallway inside. Investing in a high-quality noise-canceling headset today will go a long way in helping you stay focused and relaxed tomorrow.
Questions About the On-site Library? Contact Us!
If you have any questions about the on-site 24-hour library or any other amenities at our Chicago apartments, don't hesitate to ask! Contact our front office staff to learn more.
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When it comes to decluttering your Chicago apartment, it can seem like a monumental task. While a well-organized, easy-to-navigate apartment can reduce stress and help clear your mind, figuring out how to get started can seem like a daunting task.
Take It One Section at a Time
Trying to tackle a whole room or closet can make you feel exhausted before you even get started. Section your decluttering efforts into a reasonable area that you can easily get done in an hour or two. Consider starting with an area that you see every day. Seeing this area clean can help you stay motivated to finish the rest of the apartment.
Equip Yourself With the Proper Organizing Tools
Make a list of storage containers or organizers that you will need before you begin so that as you sort through your items, you will be able to give everything its designated home. Make sure to have a file cabinet or trays to store and sort paper, storage bins for items that are seasonal, and drawer separators and organizers to keep your small items contained in drawers.
Separate Into Piles of Keep, Trash, and Donate
Have containers that you can sort out what you plan to keep, what you plan to throw away, and what you plan to donate. If you are organizing your apartment in stages, make sure to take the donation bin into the donation center whenever it gets filled or at least every other week. If you allow it to sit too long, you may end up with another cluttered space that gets out of control.
Remove All Items From the Area Before Organizing
It is always easier to start with a fresh space so that you can see how you can best organize it and don't have to move around items. Once you have sorted your items, you can put the keep items in an organized fashion into the newly cleaned space.
Follow the tips above to help declutter your apartment and simplify your life. Looking for a new apartment in Chicago, Illinois to test out your new-found decluttering skills? Stop by North Harbor Tower to find the perfect floor plan to suit your lifestyle.
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As a cat owner, you probably feel very responsible for your cat's happiness and good health. There are many things you can do to ensure your cat is healthy and happy this spring. These four changes are relatively easy to make and will help guarantee your cat a good quality of life.
1. Provide Your Cat With a Scratching Post
Cats need to scratch. If they aren't given a dedicated scratching post, they will scratch your couch, favorite chair, or even your carpeting. Provide your cat with at least one scratching post to ensure your cat has a healthy and acceptable place to satisfy their natural impulse. This will help you and your cat enjoy a happy relationship.
2. Give Your Cat Somewhere Warm to Lay
Cats have a natural body temperature between 100 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit. This may be why they like spending time in the sun or lounging on warm surfaces. Leave the curtains open in your living room or in another part of your house so your cat has somewhere comfortable to spend time during the day.
3. Get Your Cat Pest Preventatives and Vaccines
Cats need regular vaccines and pest preventatives to protect them from common diseases and fleas. Take your cat to the veterinarian at least once annually to get booster shots and pest preventative medication. While you're there, your pet's veterinarian can give you more wellness recommendations that will help keep your cat healthy.
4. Play With Your Cat
Playing with your cat is a wonderful way to bond and is also a good form of exercise! Carve time out of every day to play with your cat. Your cat won't need too much time, but 15 to 30 minutes daily should be sufficient. Have some favorite toys on hand during play time, or keep a simple string available for your cat to chase.
Looking for a Change? Check Us Out
Life is good at North Harbor Tower! We welcome new residents. If you and your pet are ready for a change and are looking for a beautiful place to live, come see our apartments in Chicago. Call us today to check out our available units.
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Spring is in the air in cities across the country, and many people are looking for ideas to freshen up their Chicago apartments. If you're ready to dust off the winter blues with a bright spring palette, these tips can help get you started.
Spring Decorating Tips
Use these four tips to bring your apartment to life:
- Choose real or artificial flowers to design new spring table accents. Fresh flowers deliver sweet scents and eye candy for visitors and family alike. Shop around for a fun pot or vase emblazoned with a meaningful or seasonal message to set the tone for a clean spring look.
- Change your color palette. If your apartment consists mainly of dark hues and muted color schemes, it's time to shake things up. Choose a bright color that appeals to you — whether that's neon green or pink pastel. You might want to match an existing statement piece to build a theme to carry from room to room.
- Rearrange the furniture. Has your furniture been in exactly the same spot since you moved in? In the spirit of renewal, it's time to grab a few buddies and try out new arrangements. This can be a great opportunity to move your task area under a window or skylight for tons of natural lighting, or maybe you'll decide to replace a piece of furniture that's dated or doesn't maximize the space.
- Add small accents. You don't have to start all over to achieve a completely new look. How about starting with a few changes here and there? You can even try swapping knickknacks and items of interest with friends for a no-cost update. You might even start a new spring tradition!
Enjoy this beautiful time of year and experience your own renewal. You might even choose to invest in incense or aromatherapy candles to experience a feeling of renewal that touches more than one of the five senses. Candles are an affordable, easy way to incorporate color and beauty into your interior design. However, don't be afraid to introduce items of significance to you, such as pebbles you gathered on the beach or pressed wildflowers from a hiking expedition.
If you would like to make a bigger change, feel free to contact us to see what floorplans we have available for our apartments in Chicago.
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