Blog Posts

National Pistachio Day Recipes

February 26th is National Pistachio Day and we want to celebrate! In today’s Wildwood Park Apartments Blog, we’ll be sharing a list of tasty recipes that use pistachios. We hope you get a chance to cook something up at your apartment this month here in Arlington, VA! Salted Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake from Bon Appetit This cake is so moist and delicious and we highly recommend you try it out. To bake this up you’ll need these ingredients: unsalted butter, all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, salt, eggs, buttermilk, vanilla extract, whole milk, powdered sugar, unsalted and chopped pistachios, and flaky sea salt. Pistachio Pomegranate Granola from Oh, Sweet Basil This granola is great for a quick breakfast at home or on the go. To make it you’ll need these ingredients: thick rolled oats, pepitas, Puffed Rice, raw pistachios, cinnamon, sea salt, coconut oil, pure maple syrup, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, egg whites, and pomegranate craisins. Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti from Shugary Sweet Here’s another sweet treat that’s sure to be delicious. Gather up these ingredients to get started: unsalted butter, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, baking powder, dried cranberries, shelled pistachios, and white chocolate candy coating. Pico de Gallo Verde from Bon Appetit Want to mix things up with this green pico do gallo? Try out this tasty and fresh recipe. You’ll need Persian cucumbers, an avocado, a celery stalk, scallions, a small poblano chile, a jalapeno, a garlic clove, pistachios, fresh lime juice, chopped cilantro, chopped mint, olive oil, kosher salt, and tortilla chips for dipping. Halibut with Pistachio Pesto from Alaska From Scratch Try out this pistachio pesto layered on top of grilled halibut. You’ll need shelled pistachios, fresh basil, cilantro, garlic cloves, lemon zest, grated parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt, halibut steaks, salt and pepper, and lemon wedges. Do you like pistachios? What’s your favorite recipe that uses these green nuts? Let us know in the comments below!

Celebrate President's Day

President’s Day is in about a week and we want to help you celebrate. In today’s Wildwood Park Apartments Blog, we have a list of things you can do on President’s Day to honor this patriotic holiday. We hope you enjoy a long weekend with loved ones here in Arlington, VA. Visit the Lincoln Memorial The Lincoln Memorial is a great place to visit in honor of President’s Day. Learn more about it here . “The grand Lincoln Memorial towers over the Reflecting Pool, anchoring the western end of the National Mall. The best way to approach the memorial is from the east, by the Washington Monument and the National World War II Memorial. This will put you at the edge of the Reflecting Pool, a shimmering expanse which best illuminates the grand structures honoring our most storied leaders.” Attend the George Washington Birthday Parade This is a great parade to attend and a great way to celebrate President’s Day. Check it out : “The annual George Washington Birthday Parade is held annually on the third Monday in February. It winds through a one-mile route along the historic streets of Old Town on President's Day. It is the oldest and largest, thanks to thousands of participants. More programs scheduled throughout the birthday weekend make it the cornerstone of a month of celebratory events.” Take a U.S. Presidents Trivia Quiz Take a quiz to determine how much trivia you know about our U.S. Presidents. This can be a great game to play with family and friends to find out who knows the most. Check out these quizzes and take one you enjoy: How well do you know US presidents trivia? U.S. Presidents Trivia Quiz 20 Presidential Trivia Questions Do you have any traditions for President’s Day? Share them with us in the comments below!

Valentine's Day Home Decor Ideas

With Valentine’s Day about a week away, here on the Wildwood Park Apartments Blog, we want to share a list of ways to decorate your apartment to prepare for the holiday. Enjoy your Valentine’s Day here in Arlington, VA! Valentine Glitter Votives from Mason Jar Crafts These glitter votives are a fun craft that you can use to decorate your home with. They work great to add some romantic candle lighting as well. To make these you’ll need the following supplies: half-pint Mason jars, foam heart stickers, white and pink acrylic paint, Mod Podge, white glitter, and pink glitter. DIY Valentine’s Day Branch Tree from The House the Lars Built This branch tree is a great decor piece to set on a side table in your apartment. You’ll need these items to put this together: decorative scrapbook paper in a variety of Valentine colors and patterns, baker’s twine in pink and red, clip-on birds, branches, white spray paint, and a white pitcher or vase. Pom Pom Heart Wreath from Fynes Designs This cute pom pom wreath is perfect to hang up on your wall or on a door. Gather up these supplies and get started: a wire coat hanger, small pipe insulator, duct tape, scissors, pliers, and pom poms . Click on the link to learn how to make those pom poms using yarn. Heart Garland from Made Everyday This garland is as easy as it comes. If you have a sewing machine get started on this fun project that’s simple to do. You’ll need felt in white, pink, and red; scissors; and a sewing machine. Valentine’s Coasters from View From The Fridge Another easy DIY, these Valentine’s Day coasters are practical and useful while still adding some flair and fun to your apartment. To make them you’ll need these supplies: craft paint (they used pink and gold paint), vinyl to use as a stencil, scissors, Frog tape, and cork coasters. Do you plan on decorating your apartment for Valentine’s Day? What ideas do you have? Share them us in the comments below!

How to Host a Successful Dinner Party

Invite a few friends over for a delicious, homemade dinner this month. The Wildwood Park Blog has tips and tricks to help you throw a successful dinner party with friends. Whip up a batch of your famous mashed potatoes and celebrate the new year with a dinner party here in Arlington, VA. Introductions Introduce your guests to each other and encourage conversation by sharing some facts about each guest. Another fun idea is to have your guests who do not know each other “interview” each other and then share what they found out with everybody. Lighting The level of light can influence the mood of your dinner party. Setting the lights low creates a more intimate feel to the gathering. If you have a dimmer switch, use it. If not, consider using white twinkle lights, candles, or lanterns to create a softer glow. Tablecloth A linen tablecloth with matching or contrasting linen napkins creates an elegant base for setting your table. Fresh-cut flowers add a nice touch to any table as well. For a casual dinner go with bright colors and prints. Centerpieces For flowers or other centerpieces, choose an arrangement that is low enough so your guests can see each other over the top of it. If you have a lovely arrangement that is too tall, place it on a shelf or a different table for guests to enjoy. If you are doing a themed dinner, centerpieces are a good way to solidify the theme. Music Soft music playing in the background adds ambience to your party. Create a playlist that will complement, not compete, with conversation. Instrumental music is a good choice, and jazz works nicely. Or you can choose a selection of classical music to play. Check the volume beforehand to make certain your guests can converse easily. Activities Plan some activities to implement in case conversation lags. Card games, trivia games, or getting-to-know-you games can cover awkward gaps. Hosting a dinner party can be a lot of fun. We hope these tips will help you succeed. Thanks for reading today’s blog!

Books to Read This Month in Arlington

It’s a great time to read a good book. Read one of these books that we’re sharing today on the Wildwood Park Blog. Find it online or check it out at our local library in Arlington, VA and get reading! Sing, Unburied, Sing: A Novel by Jesmyn Ward “Jojo and his toddler sister, Kayla, live with their grandparents, Mam and Pop, and the occasional presence of their drug-addicted mother, Leonie, on a farm on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. Leonie is simultaneously tormented and comforted by visions of her dead brother, which only come to her when she’s high; Mam is dying of cancer; and quiet, steady Pop tries to run the household and teach Jojo how to be a man. When the white father of Leonie’s children is released from prison, she packs her kids and a friend into her car and sets out across the state for Parchman farm, the Mississippi State Penitentiary, on a journey rife with danger and promise.” Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng “In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is planned - from the layout of the winding roads, to the colors of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules... Soon Mia [a single mother] and Pearl [her daughter] become more than tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past and a disregard for the status quo that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community.” The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini “The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.” The Book Thief by Markus Zusak “Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.” What’s your favorite book? What books are you looking forward to reading? Let us know in the comments so we can all enjoy a good book at the apartment community this year. Thanks for reading!

Ice Skating in Arlington, VA

Ice skating is the perfect winter activity to enjoy here in Arlington, VA. In today’s Wildwood Park Apartments we have a list of local ice skating rinks to try out. Enjoy some time out on the ice with friends and family. We hope you enjoy your new year! Pentagon Row Skating (14 minute drive) “The plaza at Pentagon Row underwent major renovations in 2013 to create an amazing experience for guests. The ice skating rink is 50% larger with an outdoor dual-sided stone fireplace for lounging during skating breaks. Pentagon Row’s 6,840 square foot ice rink is now the largest outdoor rink in Northern Virginia, and the second largest in the state.” Kettler Capitals Iceplex (9 minute drive) “Kettler Capitals Iceplex is a state-of-the-art facility located atop the Ballston Common Mall Parking Garage in Arlington, Virginia. We are the official home of the NHL Washington Capitals. Capitals practices are held at Kettler and are open to the public and free of charge. In addition to the 20,000 square foot training center for the Washington Capitals, the Iceplex features two indoor NHL-sized ice rinks, office space, locker rooms, a full-service ProShop, a Capitals Team Store, a snack bar, and space for special events.” National Gallery of Art Ice Rink (19 minute drive) “Experience skating in the Sculpture Garden while surrounded by large-scale sculptures by contemporary artists including Louise Bourgeois, Sol LeWitt, Roy Lichtenstein, Roxy Paine, Tony Smith, and others.” Washington Harbour Ice Rink (17 minute drive) Check out the website for more information on visiting this ice rink that’s close to our apartment community. They’re season is from mid-November to mid-March. They’re open anywhere from 7 to 12 hours a day for skating. Enjoy their outdoor ice rink this month! Where do you ice skate in Arlington? Share with us in the comments below!