Blog Posts

Celebrate Star Wars Day!

If you love all things Star Wars, then celebrating Star Wars Day on May 4th should be on your schedule! This science fiction movie phenomenon took over the world and has become a global presence, gaining fans in almost every country. It can be difficult to know how to celebrate Star Wars Day, which is why we’ve decided to share with you some ways you can express your love for all things Star Wars in this week’s Cherry Hill Apartments Blog. Crafts Get crafty this May 4th by making some cool Star Wars crafts. This is a perfect activity to do with children who have developed a love for the movie saga. Let them explore their creative side by making some crafts like Yoda or Leia headbands, R2-D2 trash bins, or foam lightsabers. You can enjoy these crafts even if you don’t have kids! Go ahead, let your inner child get crafty this May 4th! Snacks If you’re looking for a way to celebrate Star Wars Day, what better way to do so than by chowing down on some snacks that are Star Wars themed. We suggest finding some recipes that you feel will be a tasty treat! The snacks or meals you make can be a good thing to snack on when you’re watching some Star Wars movies! Marathon There’s no better way to celebrate Star Wars Day than by diving into hours of movie watching! There are plenty of movies to choose from, and whether you choose to watch them in chronological order or whether you pick and choose which ones you want to watch, you’ll be able to enjoy hours of entertainment. Set aside the day for some movies and don’t forget the snacks! We hope you enjoyed these tips for celebrating Star Wars Day! If you’ve got any other tips, let us know of them by leaving a comment for our Arlington, VA apartment.

Anime for Beginners

Do you enjoy watching cartoons or have you been interested in anime? Anime is the Japanese animation phenomenon that has taken the world by storm. To help you catch up with the rest of the world, we’ve decided to share with you some anime shows in this week’s Cherry Hill Apartments Blog. These shows are not only accessible but are also some of the more popular anime choices. Black Clover (Hulu) In a world where magic is ingrained in everything, how would it feel to be the only person who can’t perform any magic at all? In Black Clover , the show follows the adventures of Asta, a fifteen-year-old boy who, despite his lack of magical prowess (technically lack of magic entirely), seeks to become the wizard king before his rival and good friend Yuno. Will he be able to show the world that his lack of magic isn’t a handicap or will he be proven wrong? Find out by watching Black Clover ! Sword Art Online (Netflix and Hulu) Many avid video gamers have thought about what it would be like to get stuck in their favorite video game, but what if it really happened? It sounds like a fun time, but the catch is that if you die in the game, you die in real life. To get out, you have to clear 100 floors of the game’s dungeon. Do you think you’d survive? Kirito, an avid video gamer, finds himself in that exact situation and has to find his way out. Will he beat the game or will he find himself falling to the game? My Hero Academia (Hulu) Have you ever wanted superpowers? You’d definitely enjoy being in a world where almost everyone has superpowers and schools are for people training to become superheroes! My Hero Academia explores one boy’s experience going from powerless to inheriting the powers of the world’s most iconic superhero and how he becomes the world’s greatest hero! This emotional series is chock-full of situations that showcase strength, honor, and growth! Do you have a favorite anime show? Share them with our Arlington, VA apartment community! Thanks for reading!

Pie Recipes for Pi Day

Are you a mathematician looking to celebrate the study of numbers? If not, we don’t blame you. Pi Day may not be a day celebrated by everyone in the exact same way and for the exact same reasons, but why would we want that anyway? Indulge in your love for a delicious pastry with a pie. In this week’s Cherry Hill Apartments Blog, we’ve got a few pie recipes for you to try out in celebration of Pi Day, which was technically last week but which is definitely worth remembering all month. These recipes will be something you can make from the comfort of your own Arlington, VA apartment, so we hope you enjoy these suggestions. Apple Pie 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 6 to 7 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples 1 tablespoon lemon juice pastry for double-crust pie (9 inches) 1 tablespoon butter 1 large egg white additional sugar You can’t go wrong with apple pie on Pi Day! This all-American classic is the perfect pie for a night in. Enjoy sweet spiced apples with a delicious crust, and if pie alone is not enough, you can enjoy it with some whipped cream or vanilla ice cream! S’mores Pie Crust Ingredients: 2 cups graham cracker crumbs 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted Filling Ingredients: 3/4 cup heavy cream 3/4 cup milk 10 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract pinch of salt 2 eggs, whisked 20 to 30 large marshmallows Do you miss sitting around the bonfire roasting marshmallows? Cut yourself a piece of this delicious, decadent s’mores pie and enjoy it with some fluffy whipped cream to cut the richness of the chocolate. Banana Cream Pie 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup cornstarch 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 cups 2% milk 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 3 tablespoons butter 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 pie crust (9 inches), baked 2 large firm bananas 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped Get your dose of fruits and deliciousness by trying this banana cream pie recipe. This recipe may be a little sweet, but it’s definitely worth it! Check it out for this year’s Pi Day.

Movies for International Women's Day

International Women’s Day is a day worth celebrating, but it can be difficult to find the best way to do so. There are many ways to proceed, but we are a fan of watching some movies with strong female leads! In this week’s Cherry Hill Apartments Blog, we’ve got a few suggestions of movies with strong female main characters for the residents of our Arlington, VA apartment community to enjoy and learn from. Hidden Figures “HIDDEN FIGURES is the incredible untold story of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae)-brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation's confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanized the world. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.” 10 Things I Hate About You “Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) is beautiful, smart and quite abrasive to most of her fellow teens, meaning that she doesn't attract many boys. Unfortunately for her younger sister, Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), house rules say that she can't date until Kat has a boyfriend, so strings are pulled to set the dour damsel up for a romance. Soon Kat crosses paths with handsome new arrival Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger). Will Kat let her guard down enough to fall for the effortlessly charming Patrick?” Mulan “Fearful that her ailing father will be drafted into the Chinese military, Mulan (Ming-Na Wen) takes his spot -- though, as a girl living under a patriarchal regime, she is technically unqualified to serve. She cleverly impersonates a man and goes off to train with fellow recruits. Accompanied by her dragon, Mushu (Eddie Murphy), she uses her smarts to help ward off a Hun invasion, falling in love with a dashing captain along the way.” Enjoy International Women’s Day by watching these movies or your other favorites that highlight incredible people. Thanks for reading.

Board Games for your next Game Night

Welcome back to our blog! At Cherry Hill Apartments, we’re always excited to help our residents make the most of their Arlington, VA home. To finish off this month of blogging, we’re suggesting three board games that will liven up your next game night — should you be the one hosting it! The following game titles and descriptions were found on boardgamegeek.com : Like Cards Against Humanity? Try Million Dollars, But... “Million Dollars, But… The Game (MDB) puts your morals and imagination to the test, posing the question, ‘What would you do for a million dollars?’ Players create scenarios by combining a trigger and a rule card to showcase what they would or wouldn't do for a big hunk of cash. (For example, a million dollars, but… every time you see a store having a sale, you poop your pants a little bit.) The best part of the game occurs when everyone debates the scenarios that have been presented to the judge: ‘Does it include online store sales or just in-person sales?’, or ‘How much poop are we talking: a rabbit pellet or an uncomfortable amount?’” Enjoy playing strategy games? Play Survive: Escape from Atlantis! “Survive is a cutthroat game where players seek to evacuate their pieces from an island that is breaking up, while remembering where their highest-valued pieces are located to maximize their score. An island made up of 40 hex-tiles is slowly sinking into the ocean (as the tiles are removed from the board). Each player controls ten people (valued from 1 to 6) that they try and move towards the safety of the surrounding islands before the main island finally blows up. Players can either swim or use boats to travel but must avoid sea serpents, whales and sharks on their way to safety.” Want to play Battleship with more people? Gather your friends for what we like to call “Battleship on Steroids!” It’s Captain Sonar! “In Captain Sonar, you and your teammates control a state-of-the-art submarine and are trying to locate an enemy submarine in order to blow it out of the water before they can do the same to you. Every role is important, and the confrontation is merciless. Be organized and communicate because a captain is nothing without his crew: the Chief Mate, the Radio Operator, and the Engineer.” What will you be playing for your next game night? Share in the comments below!

How to Celebrate National Tortilla Chip Day in your Apartment

Welcome to the Cherry Hill Apartments Blog! To kick off our posts for the year, we’re excited to share a few recipes in honor of National Tortilla Chip Day, a celebration that falls on the 24th of February. Join our Arlington, VA community as we enjoy making and eating homemade tortilla chips, Spicy Chicken-Tortilla Chip Casserole, and more. Homemade Tortilla Chips Here’s what you’ll need to make this classic treat: About 3/4 to 1 cup canola, grapeseed, or corn oil (a high smoke point oil), more or less depending on how many chips you are making. Corn tortillas (get the standard kind, not the super fancy kind), each tortilla will make 6 chips, 12 tortillas will yield 72 chips, a good snack for 2 to 3 people. Kosher salt Click on the above link for complete directions. Spicy Chicken-Tortilla Chip Casserole Here’s what you’ll need to make this savory dish: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the dish 1 bunch scallions, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1 cup heavy cream 1 1/2 cups salsa verde 3 cups cubed rotisserie chicken, skin removed 1 15-ounce can white beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup fresh cilantro, plus more for topping 1 8-ounce bag tortilla chips, coarsely crushed (about 4 cups) 2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces) Click on the above link for complete directions. 12 More Delicious Recipes The above link showcases 12 recipes that highlight tortilla chips as a crucial ingredient. Enjoy making things like Healthy Chicken Taco Casserole, Grilled Shrimp on Tortilla Chips, Mushroom Tortilla Soup, Red Beef Pozole, and Tortilla Encrusted Chicken Tenders. What will you be making to celebrate National Tortilla Chip Day? Share in the comments below!