Blog Posts

Treats to Share

Your Willow Hill home is a great place to cook and create. Our last post was all about meal prep ideas. In today’s post we’re sharing a new recipe that we can’t wait to try. We found a great new take on a classic homemade dessert from The Modern Proper. This Cookie Brittle combines ingredients you probably already have in your pantry into a sweet shortbread-like cookie. The site says, “It's the best of everything to me. Buttery, chocolatey and beautifully simple. Recipes don't get much better than that, unless perhaps they come with a good story of being passed down generation after generation (somehow those recipes always taste best).” Find the recipe below, and head to the site for a tutorial. COOKIE BRITTLE Serves 24 Ingredients 1 cup butter 1 cup sugar 1 tsp salt 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 2 cups bleached white flour 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips Method Heat oven to 350°. Using a handheld or stand mixer, cream together the butter, sugar, salt and vanilla until light and fluffy. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, stir the flour in by hand. When it's fully incorporated, stir in the chocolate chips. Pour cookie dough into a 9 X13 metal baking pan. Press dough very, very, very firmly until the top is silky smooth. Bake for 20-25 minutes until slightly golden on edges. Cool for 10 minutes then cut into triangles with a sharp knife. If you wait too long they are too difficult to cut, any shorter they will smoosh. These little cookie triangles make a great treat to share with friends or co-workers and pair best with an ice-cold glass of milk. We hope you enjoy this recipe. Check back often for more posts just like this one. Thanks for reading Willow Hill’s blog. We understand that sometimes you don’t have time to bake at home. Where is your favorite bakery in the Puyallup area to get cookies and other baked goods? Please share in the comments so we can all check them out.

Meal Prep Ideas

At Willow Hill, we enjoy sharing with our readers lots of different tips and tricks for apartment living. In today’s post we’re excited to share some meal prep ideas. The idea for doing this is pretty simple: decide what meals you like to have for dinner, grocery shop for those items, make those meals, and divide them individually into small containers to freeze or refrigerate until you’re ready to eat! It can get kind of complicated when you run out of ideas for things to make, so we’ve got a few ideas here for you. This honey sesame chicken lunch bowls idea from Sweet Peas and Saffron looks delicious! The author breaks it down simply: “How it all goes down: cook your rice. Shake together your sauce. Cook your veggies. Then cook your chicken. Toss chicken in sauce and cook until it thickens slightly. Portion out into four containers.” Easy enough, right? You can also try this idea for freezer breakfast burritos for a meal you can grab on the go. Early Bird Mom mentions some benefits of meal planning : — Save time: cut back on last minute-trips to the store — Be less stressed because you've got a plan for dinner and you've got the right ingredients on hand — Enjoy the time you spend cooking because you're not rushed or bored with having the same old meal yet again — Avoid the anxiety that comes when you don't have a back-up plan — Save money: no more wasted food that you bought but never got around to using — Eat more healthy foods instead of grabbing fast food because you didn't plan anything for dinner. — Save time IN the store because you'll be shopping directly from your list instead of wasting time trying to figure out what to cook. Enjoy these great ideas. Check back again for more awesome content on our blog. Thanks for reading!

Yoga Tips

Welcome back to Willow Hill’s blog. This is blog is where our readers can find some ideas and inspiration for apartment living. In today’s post we’re sharing some tips for getting in to yoga. Yoga is something that can be practiced anywhere, even from home. It is very low impact and it can be a great addition to your evening routine. Since little equipment is required, you don’t have to have a ton of space. Near your Canyon Park apartment are a few establishments where you can attend a yoga class. The American Osteopathic Association has a ton of information as to why yoga is beneficial for you . It says, “Aside from the physical benefits, one of the best benefits of yoga is how it helps a person manage stress, which is known to have devastating effects on the body and mind.” It then quotes Dr. Natalie Nevins, a physician in California: “Stress can reveal itself in many ways, including back or neck pain, sleeping problems, headaches, drug abuse, and an inability to concentrate. Yoga can be very effective in developing coping skills and reaching a more positive outlook on life.” The Willow Hill fitness center is a great place to try your yoga routine. A great workout starts with great gear as well. We suggest Lululemon athletic wear for all your exercise needs. Their pieces are great for yoga, because they breathe well and will hold up no matter what pose you’re doing. Along with your workout we suggest a great yoga mat as well as a water bottle to accompany your workout. Swell water bottles come in a variety of sizes and styles to fit your needs. If you’re looking for something more formal, check out these suggestion from Yelp for yoga studios and classes in the Puyallup, WA area. These tips will help you get a great start with yoga. Have fun trying a new workout this month. Thanks for reading Willow Hill’s blog.

Netflix 101

Welcome back to Willow Hill’s blog. This is blog is where we will share with our readers all of our best apartment living tips and tricks, and what’s happening in Puyallup, WA. In today’s post we’re sharing some of our favorite shows to watch on Netflix. 30 for 30: Broke — According to a 2009 Sports Illustrated article, 60 percent of former NBA players are broke within five years of retirement. By the time they have been retired for two years, 78% of former NFL players have gone bankrupt or are under financial stress. Sucked into bad investments, stalked by freeloaders, saddled with medical problems, and naturally prone to showing off, many pro athletes get shocked by harsh economic realities after years of living the high life. Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead — 100 pounds overweight, loaded up on steroids and suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease, Joe Cross is at the end of his rope and the end of his hope. In the mirror he saw a 310lb man whose gut was bigger than a beach ball and a path laid out before him that wouldn't end well — with one foot already in the grave, the other wasn't far behind. FAT, SICK & NEARLY DEAD is an inspiring film that chronicles Joe's personal mission to regain his health. Suits — On the run from a drug deal gone bad, Mike Ross, a brilliant college-dropout, finds himself a job working with Harvey Specter, one of New York City's best lawyers. Fuller House — In a continuation of Full House (1987), D.J. Fuller is a mother of three young boys and is a recent widow. D.J.'s sister Stephanie, her best friend Kimmy, and Kimmy's teenage daughter all move in to help raise her sons. The house is now a lot fuller. Have fun checking out these shows! Check back next time for more great posts like this one.

DIY Doormat

The first thing you (and your guests) see when you get home is your doorstep to your apartment at Willow Hill! Hopefully your guests aren’t waiting too long, but you might as well give them something cute to greet them. There are so many cute doormats that you can find at any budget and in any style here in Puyallup, WA. This week’s blog has some suggestions. Express yourself by creating your own design. Head to Buzzfeed for a simple tutorial on making your own. You’ll need a doormat and a few craft supplies, including paint, duct tape, and a paint brush. There are also instructions for if you want to print out text and design a cute message for your mat. If you’re feeling less artistically inclined, we’ve found a few mats you can purchase for your door! We’re in love with the “Hey Bear” mat from West Elm. Find the link to purchase right here . This cat face doormat from Houzz is a fun find that pays homage to your furry friends! Reach for the stars with this Constellations doormat from Anthropologie. You can find lots of different designs and styles of doormats. These are not only cute to look at, but they are functional, as well. This is where you can wipe off your feet after being outdoors. You can express your personal style with your doormat, too! Consider purchasing a few different ones and switching them out each season. These are a fun way to make a first impression for your guests. Add something extra to your doorstep with a fun wreath or monogram on your door! You can even bring your doormat inside your door for a place to leave shoes and outdoor items like umbrellas. We hope you love this DIY idea and that you can find something that works for your style! Thanks for reading Willow Hill Blog. Check back next month for more apartment living tips and tricks.

Eat a Better Breakfast

Drive-thru breakfast sandwiches are certainly a great way to start any morning, but after a while, your body is going to need something a little more nutritious. Here at Willow Hill, we are all for starting your day with something yummy in our bellies. Eating breakfast, no matter what you eat, is certainly a good thing. But this meal is a great opportunity to add some vitamins and nutrients into your daily diet. Breakfast on the go is something you’re probably used to if you start school or work early in the morning, so you’ll want something that can be easily transported. For a little bit of a rustic take on the typical breakfast dish, we turn to Martha Stewart. This recipe for charred tomatoes on toast is a comforting dish that even packs some veggies into the first meal of the day. What could be better? Find the recipe below: Ingredients 4 slices rustic bread, toasted 1 clove garlic, peeled 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing 4 large eggs Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper 4 small tomatoes, such as cocktail or Campari, halved Directions Rub toasted bread with garlic and brush with oil. Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium heat. Crack eggs into skillet and cook, undisturbed, until whites are set, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a plate. Increase heat to medium-high. Brush cut sides of tomatoes with oil. Sear, cut sides down and undisturbed, until charred, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer 2 tomato halves to each piece of toast with a spatula and lightly mash. Season with salt and pepper and top with fried eggs. These ingredients are probably items you’ve got on hand anyway, but this is a delicious twist on your usual boring toast. We hope you enjoy this fun breakfast idea. Thanks for reading!