Blog Posts

Top 3 Board Games of 2017

In today’s post, we’re sharing the top 3 board games of 2017. Based on statistics that can be found on one of the most popular databases for trending board games of all time, Board Game Geek , we’ve compiled what we think are the hot-ticket items in board gaming this holiday season. If you know a resident in our Willow Hill apartment community in Puyallup, WA that loves board games, share this list with them today. Pandemic Legacy: Season 2 “The world almost ended seventy-one years ago. A virulent plague came out of nowhere and ravaged the world. For three generations, small groups of survivors have struggled to keep the world alive. Operating from floating stations known as “havens,” they have maintained a loose network of the largest cities by delivering supplies to the mainland. But their efforts are no longer enough. Cities are falling off the grid and supplies are running low. The world needs a group of heroes to emerge and lead it through this crisis. In Pandemic Legacy: Season 2, this task has fallen to you.” 2 to 4 Players, 13 and up Century Spice Road “Discover the beauties of the spice trading road and its colorful markets with the amazing artwork by [internationally] renowned artist Fernanda Suárez.” 2 to 5 Players, 8 and up Charterstone “The prosperous Kingdom of Greengully, ruled for centuries by the Forever King, has issued a decree to its citizens to colonize the vast lands beyond its borders. In an effort to start a new village, the Forever King has selected 6 citizens for the task, each of whom has a unique set of skills they use to build their charter.” Anticipated release date: December 12, 2017 1 to 6 Players, 10 and up Near and Far “Search for a lost city in a strange and wonderful world of ruins; manage and recruit adventurers, each with a unique identity; read from a book of stories, building an amazing and memorable tale each time you play!” 2 to 4 Players, 13 and up Would you like to add a game to our list? Share in the comments below. Thanks for reading and happy holidays!

Holiday Gifts to Keep You Warm

Welcome back to the Willow Hill Blog. To kick-off December, we thought it’d be a great idea to help any residents of our Puyallup, WA apartment community by offering a few gift recommendations. The gifts in today’s blog are great suggestions for anyone looking for that perfect gift to keep them warm this winter. Heated Socks We know that $40 for a pair of socks is a lot of money, but these sound like they’re worth every penny. “The ActionHeat™ battery heated socks are the perfect blend of quality and comfort. ActionHeat™ battery heated apparel utilizes innovative technology designed to warm the core body temperature. These revolutionary garments feature built-in heating panels and are made with ActionFlex™ material that provides lightweight warmth, comfort and versatility.” Heated Computer Mouse “The ValueRays heated mouse is the original warming mouse with enhanced functions and heat. Enjoy deep heating infrared warmth with improved construction, a smooth finish, easy improved on/off switch located on the bottom of the mouse, an improved scroll wheel, a longer cord, and when used with other ValueRays products improved warmth for the mouse hand.” The Pajamas Warming Pouch “This is the heated pouch that warms pajamas for cozy comfort. The pouch has integrated heating elements that reach 118º F and a thermal satin interior that retains heat, resulting in toasty warm pajamas in 10 minutes. The heating elements automatically maintain the temperature regardless of what's inside and the unit only draws 50 watts-less than most light bulbs. The 19" x 15 1/2" pouch also accommodates towels, hats, or gloves and it folds to half its size for convenient storage or travel. With a plush fleece exterior.” Bluetooth Beanie “It’s a hat with an integrated headset. It is functional, stylish and interesting. The idea is straightforward: it is often uncomfortable to use your smart phone in the cold or in a snowstorm, considering that you will have to remove your hand from a warm glove to experience a wide range of sensations. A hat with built-in speakers, a microphone and a pair of handy control buttons will solve the problem of frostbitten fingers once and for all.” What are your top holiday gifts for staying warm this winter? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks for reading and happy holidays!

Thanksgiving Movies

Although Thanksgiving has come and gone, we don’t have to stop celebrating. Here at the Willow Hill Blog we’ve compiled a list of movies that capture the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, as well as holidays in general. Enjoy sitting back in your apartment with a bowl of popcorn as you watch these movies in your Puyallup, WA apartment. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving “Peppermint Patty invites herself and her friends over to Charlie Brown’s for Thanksgiving, and with Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock, he attempts to throw together a Thanksgiving dinner.” Free Birds “After years of fruitless warning of his farmyard brethren of the coming Thanksgiving doom, Reggie the Turkey finds himself spared as the annual Pardoned Turkey. However, Reggie's easy life is disrupted by Jake, a fanatic turkey who drags him along with the insane idea of going back in time to make sure turkeys are not part of the first Thanksgiving. Through foolhardiness and luck, the pair manage to take an experimental time machine to do just that. Now in 1621 at the Plymouth colony, Reggie and Jake find themselves in the middle of a turkey clan's struggle for survival. In doing so, their preconceptions of the world and themselves are challenged forever in a conflict from which the world will never be the same.” An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving “Inspired by a short story, Isabella Caldwell is a high-society woman in late-1800's New York. When Isabella’s estranged daughter Mary becomes ill and is too proud to ask her mother for assistance, Mary's daughter, Tilly, takes it upon herself to contact her grandmother and plead for help. Isabella's arrival causes an upheaval in many lives, but may also lead to reconciliation within the family.” Planes, Trains & Automobiles “A man must struggle to travel home for Thanksgiving with an obnoxious slob of a shower curtain ring salesman as his only companion.” What’s your favorite movie to watch this time of year? Share the title in the comments so we all can enjoy. Thanks for reading!

Decorating with Leaves

At Willow Hill, we’re excited for all the food associated with Thanksgiving. We’re also excited for decorations! Today we’re highlighting a few leaf crafts to bring the fall season into your Puyallup, WA apartment. Join us in these last few weeks of fall to fill your apartment with some of these stunning and clever crafts. The first craft that we love is this Watercolor Paper Leaf & Branch Mobile by Happiness is Homemade . You’ll need paper, scissors, and watercolor paints. Happiness is Homemade uses a cutting and embossing machine, but this is not necessary for this craft. These DIY Leaf Pillow Cases require paint (black or another color) and leaves. Although the web page is in German, words aren’t needed to explain the process. Are you throwing a party this month? Dress up with these DIY Leaf Crowns and Animal Masks ! To make this work, you’ll need fresh leaves, a brown paper bag, black and white markers, double-sided tape, and scissors. Pressing Autumn Leaves is a fun hobby that creates art perfect for fall. Hang up your mounted pieces today! Or check out these other ideas for decorating with pressed leaves . Of all the decor ideas in today’s post, this Autumn Leaf Mason Jar Candle Holder is our favorite! You’ll need the following items: Mason jars, Mod Podge, autumn faux leaves, a sponge brush, and a tealight candle. Start by cleaning the outside of the jar with rubbing alcohol. Bend the leaves a little to gain a better stick. Then dip your brush in the Mod Podge and paint a thin layer on a section inside the jar. Take a leaf and press the middle of it against the painted surface. You can use your fingers to smooth out the leaf to help it stick better. Add more Mod Podge and repeat until the jar is covered how you want it. After the Mod Podge is dry, place the tealight inside. What are your favorite fall decorations? Share in the comments. Thanks for reading!

Thanksgiving Recipes for Beginners

It doesn’t matter if this is your first time preparing Thanksgiving dinner or your third. The Willow Hill Blog has a few simple recipes that still maintain all the flavor we love in a good Thanksgiving dinner. If you’re planning on staying in your apartment to celebrate the upcoming holiday, or if you are planning to leave Puyallup, WA, these recipes will come in handy wherever you are. The first recipe in our list is for Easy Herb Roasted Turkey . You’ll need one 12-pounds turkey, olive oil, garlic powder, dried basil, ground sage, salt, pepper, and water. To make, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Clean the turkey by discarding the giblets and organs. Then place the bird in a roasting pan with a lid. In a small bowl, you’ll combine the olive oil, garlic powder, basil, sage, salt, and pepper. Apply the mixture to the outside of the uncooked turkey using a basting brush. Don’t forget to pour the water into the bottom of the roasting pan before you cover the turkey. Cooking the turkey will take over three hours, so find something to do while waiting. Why not crack open a good book? Of course, you can’t have Thanksgiving without mashed potatoes and gravy. This Easy Turkey Gravy recipe has a nice flavor and creamy texture. Never made mashed potatoes before? These Day Before Mashed Potatoes are filled with great flavor. If you like stuffing, try this recipe for Bread and Celery Stuffing . Whether you actually stuff the turkey or eat it on the side, you’ll love the flavor of this dish. It’s so much better than buying a box of stuffing at the store. We couldn’t forget the most important part of the meal: dessert. This recipe for Pumpkin Cream Pie is perfect for the holidays. Topped with whipped cream and crushed pecans, this is a sweet treat you don’t want to miss out on. And if you have guests over, neither will they! Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving recipe? Share in the comments so we all can enjoy making it this month. Happy Thanksgiving!

Seven Things to do with Leftover Halloween Candy

Now that Halloween has passed, you probably have a lot of leftover candy. While consuming it every day until it’s gone might sound like fun, we have a few other ideas you might like. Today the Willow Hill Blog is sharing seven things you can do with leftover Halloween candy in your Puyallup, Washington apartment. Freeze it If you’ve got a lot of chocolate leftover, freezing it is one of the best things you can do. Not only does this help prolong the life of the candy, it also helps with future recipes. Adding frozen chocolate to milkshakes, sundaes, and ice cream are just a few examples. Have a mini Snickers bar? Break it up and add to your dessert. Bake it Adding mini peanut butter cups or M&Ms into a cake batter, cookie dough, or brownie batter is a great idea. You could even break up the candy and use it as a topping for your dessert. Combine it Do you like trail mix? Make your own wild trail mix by adding your favorite candies along with some salty favorites, like nuts and pretzels, to a sandwich bag for your next outing. Pair it Chocolates, caramels, and even some candies with fruity flavors pair nicely with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee. Craft it With Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching, this is a great time to make your own advent calendar. Alpha Mom has instructions for this fun leftover Halloween candy repurposing project that cost less than $5 to make. Enjoy reading about the calendar as well as other fun ways to repurpose Halloween candy. Transform it It’s almost time to make gingerbread houses. Use your leftover Halloween Candy to transform a plain gingerbread house into a dazzling candy palace. Smash it Does someone have a birthday in the next month? Fill a pinata with the leftover candy. Everyone will love it, and it saves you from buying more candy. Other than eating it, what do you do with your leftover Halloween candy? Share in the comments below. Thanks for reading!