Tricks & Treats & Travis & Taylor—It’s Time for Some Halloween Fun!
Whether you’re planning a party with friends and neighbors at your charming and pet-friendly Waterford Crossings apartment home in Nashville’s Antioch, Tennessee, neighborhood, or making the Music City scene, Halloween season offers all kinds of opportunities for fun! Either way, this month’s blog offers all kinds of suggestions for some seasonal fun! Including and especially the info on some of this year’s most popular costumes (yes, of course we’re talking about getting’ your Tay-tay showgirl and Trav-trav Chiefs uniforms on!) For The Littles—Boo At The Zoo The Nashville Zoo is putting out the call all to all ghouls and goblins, Travis Kelces and Taylor Swifts, KPop Demon Hunters, Wednesdays, and Capybaras!! It’s almost time to trick or treat at the annual Boo at the Zoo event, a family-friendly Nashville favorite! This rain-or-shine fun is on the calendar from October 17 through November 1, 2025. New this year will be the chance to experience Día de los Muertos on Saturday, Nov. 1, with special themed entertainment, activities, food, and meaningful ways to honor loved ones through culture and remembrance. On the itinerary again for Boo at the Zoo are free spins on the Scary-Go-Round Carousel, the magic of Storytime with the Old Oakley Tree, special animal shows nightly at 5:45, 6:45, & 7:45 p.m., and a souvenir bag the kids can put their goodies in. Oh, and of course there will spooktacular scenes, enchanting straw creatures, and photo ops throughout the Zoo. Bare those fangs and say BOO! For The Bigs What could be more fun than dinner and a movie? Dinner and a movie AND a haunted walkthrough that winds through the multiple levels and shadowy corridors of an historic old theater, of course! Slaughterhouse in Hermitage has long been a cult favorite for film buffs and thrill-seekers alike, so if you want to experience this year’s creepy chills and thrills, be sure to purchase tickets well in advance. If you don’t want the whole pumpkin, you can buy stand-alone Haunt Tickets for only $35. See what will be playing at the Full Moon Cineplex website. (Note: The event organizers caution that the intense nature of the attraction makes it unsuitable for young children.) For Everyone—Cheekwood Harvest Nights! That old fall magic is once again returning to Cheekwood Estate & Gardens with Pumpkin Village, an inviting wonderland of charming pumpkin houses, thousands of chrysanthemums abloom with color, and more than 75,000 pumpkins nestled throughout the gardens. Perfect for endless fun with family photo ops! New this year are Cheekwood Harvest Nights on Thursdays throughout October, complete with food trucks, live music, and bar service under the stars. And of course everybody’s favorite—the Halloween Pooch Party—is on again, this year Saturday, October 25, and Sunday, October 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, with costume contests at 11 a.m. and noon. Take your pup out for the costume contests (this year’s special costume category is “A Hint of Haunts”), then browse the dog-friendly vendors so you can delight your canine companion with special treats. There will be water refill and doggie bag stations on the property. Scary-Good Party Ideas Brew up some sinister mock- and cocktails, prepare some frightful finger foods, and decorate with seasonal black and orange abandon—it’s time to have your very own howling good Halloween party! Both inside and out on your private patio or balcony, your Waterford Crossings apartment home is the perfect setting both for feting—and frightening!—friends and family. We asked * the Idea Specialists™ * for some tips and tricks to be the hosts with most. They pointed us to HGTV, which has some great ideas for decorating. One of their—and our—favorites is to use your fireplace as a focal point. Use a mix of mums and candles (unlit, for safety!) around it, and fill it full of pumpkins and gourds. So fun! As are these battery-powered holiday candles from Walmart, which come complete with their own remote control. For goodies for gobblin’ (see what we did there? 😎😎), the site comes through again with snack ideas like Hairy Eyeballs (polenta poppers topped with corn silk and a few dribbles of blood marinara sauce), Poisoned Candy Apples (get out the black food coloring!) and more. The Food Network isn’t any slouch, either, when it comes to yikes and yummies. You can make drawing “legs” with chocolate on the Scary Peanut Butter Spider Cookies a family affair, whip up a No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Brain in next to no time, and—of course—there’s no forgetting that all-time classic, a Dirt Cake topped with gummy worms! One More—VERY IMPORTANT—Thing! Did you know you can “Stay Tuned to Nashville” by signing up for the FREE email newsletter from the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp? Here’s the link: https://www.visitmusiccity.com/nashville-events Happy Halloween! * The Idea Specialists™ * The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the multifamily industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more. They do not receive any sort of product or financial incentives for their recommendations in posts such as these.
The Tried & True—And Something New!
One of the great things about calling the Waterford Crossings luxury apartment community your home is all the tried and true places that make Nashville, Tennessee’s Antioch neighborhood such a wonderful place to live—and the many new shops, restaurants, and venues that always seem to be opening across the metro area! Just 12 miles southeast from the city’s center, this culturally diverse hub—with its vibrant Plaza Mariachi and global eateries—is full of family-owned businesses for those seeking off-the-beaten-path experiences, and Tanger Outlets, with open-air shopping and dining. The Tried We asked * The Idea Specialists™ * to give area fave Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria (on Hickory Hollow Parkway) a try and report back in. They said it’s no wonder this community-focused restaurant has been so successful since its founding a decade ago—the pies are worth every penny and then some! (At least we think that’s what they said…..they were talking with their mouths full, LOL.) They make fresh dough and sauce daily, including five house-made pizza sauces, seven finishing drizzles, and a variety of cream cheese flavors for their tasty cinnamon rolls. A must if you’re in the mood for kid-friendly casual dining. The True For almost 30 years, family-owned JVI Secret Gardens (up Donelson Pike) has been working with customers to make spaces big and small come alive. It’s easy to see why they bill themselves as “Not Your Average Place to Buy Plants.” With amazing bursts of color and Zen-inducing water features all about the property, they really do have some of the healthiest and most beautiful plants around. And no worries if you’re a newbie to the plant world—the friendly helpful staff can answer all your questions as they guide you step-by-step through the garden center to help you find exactly the right plants for your space. It’s true that we are indeed suckers for their sunny displays of annual flowers and hanging baskets, which are perfect for the large private patios and balconies of Waterford Crossings. The New The Idea Specialists™ are huge fans of StyleBlueprint Nashville, and are in complete agreement with their take on Music City: “It sometimes feels like the only constant in Nashville is change.” They did a great roundup of exciting additions that will be coming to the metro area, including a new dining, shopping, and entertainment district will bring a taste of East Asia to Antioch/South Nashville. Tennessee Nashville Chinatown will combine traditional and modern Chinese architecture and offer a gigantic Asian supermarket, restaurants, office space, and an events center. Different places will open at different times, with project completion expected in 2027. In the meantime, if you haven’t checked out the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood lately, it’s worth a trip up. Some of Nashville’s most artistic endeavors call WeHo’s converted warehouses and factories home, and the dining and cocktail scene is ever-changing. We’re going to check out the newest addition to the bar world, Good Times Full Service. The retro decor, tiki-inspired cocktails, and “decent eats” are calling our names! There’s No Shame In Our Dinner Game! We decided it just wouldn’t be a good blog post if we didn’t say something about food to eat in your cozy (and pet-friendly!) Waterford Crossings home, so we asked the Idea Specialists™ to suggest something fast and simple to get on the table now that school is back in serious swing. They immediately suggested taking advantage of the variety of “ready to cook” meal options offered by the Publix at Mt. View Marketplace. Enjoy! One More Thing Are your kids as obsessed as ours with MrBeast? If so, then you probably already know that the dude (aka Jimmy Donaldson) has 423 million subscribers on YouTube and a wildly popular unscripted show on Prime Video (Beast Games). But did you (and they) know that he and popular science YouTuber Mark Rober are now co-leading the new initiative #TeamWater, a crowdfunding campaign to change millions of lives around the world through access to clean water? Powered by the biggest team of content creators on the internet, the campaign has a goal of raising $40 million to provide 2 million people with life-changing access to clean water for decades. Something to talk about at supper for sure! * The Idea Specialists™ * The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more. They do not receive any sort of product or financial incentives for their recommendations in posts such as these.
It’s Almost Time for Back to School, Book Lovers Day—and Maintenance Appreciation Month!
It’s almost back-to-school time in the metro Nashville, Tennessee, area, home to the upscale and pet-friendly Waterford Crossings apartment community (not to mention the historic Ryman Auditorium!). But before we get to that part of the blog, the Waterford Crossings team wants to give a huge shout-out to some certain special people…. August Is Maintenance Appreciation Month August is indeed Maintenance Appreciation Month at Arlington Properties’ Waterford Crossings. That’s right, we want to acknowledge the hard work of everyone who helps keep our apartment home community looking beautiful and operating smoothly. Yes, we know that National Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day is March 7 every year, but we figure they deserve an entire month!! Be sure to give these folks an extra smile and wave as they work through the Dog Days of Summer. National Book Lovers Day Is August 9 While there’s no bad day to love a book, you’ll be in good company if you celebrate this particular passion with fellow bibliophiles on National Book Lovers Day Saturday, August 9, 2005. And, yes, all kinds of books count—traditional, audio, manga, ebooks—all of them! The Waterford Crossings team asked the * Idea Specialists™ * for some of their thoughts on other ways to mark the occasion. Of course their first suggestion was checking out the Southeast Branch Library on Hickory Hollow Parkway. They also reminded us that book clubs are a great way to get to know your neighbors. The clubhouse lounge would be a great place to meet if the group gets big enough, while you might enjoy hosting something smaller in your stylish Waterford Crossings living room. Or, maybe you prefer to read with a group but not “with” a group. In that case, you can always read something from a national book club, like the ones of Reese Witherspoon, Jenna Bush Hager, and the reader who started it all—Oprah Winfrey! Back To School: Pimples, Pencils & Patience The Idea Specialists™ asked some of the young people in their lives to tell them the most important things teens and their parents need to have as they get ready to go back to school. First suggestion: A bottle of Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, because for most kids, pimples are just a fact of life at some point. A 1-ounce bottle goes a looooooong way! Next, a box of BIC ReVolution Xtra Life Mechanical Pencils. Yep, the members of Generation Z still use pencils at a school! “It’s mainly for math,” says one 16-year-old. Finally? Patience. Patience, patience, patience. Because teens are going through a lot, and it really is hard for them to imagine that the adults in their lives were once young. As Parenting Teens & Tweens puts it, “It’s a tough time for everyone, but it is also a time when your teen really needs you to keep it together. So much of their behavior results from the push and pull they feel between holding onto their childhood while at the same time wanting to move toward adulthood.” Their guidance, in a nutshell? Listen more/talk less. Don’t take things too personally. Identify specific triggers. Set boundaries. Also, the Center for Parent and Tenn Communication has a good article about helping teens develop patience. Hey ChatGPT, Do My Homework! No matter if the kids in your life attend public, private, or parochial school—or if they’re home schooled—chances are they’ve already used some form of what is called “generative AI (artificial intelligence)” to help them with an in-class assignment or their homework. In a nutshell, teens and college students are turning to tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity, as well as Otter.ai for note-taking and Grammarly for writing assistance. (How do we know? We asked Google AI, LOL.) We also asked Google AI to explain “humanizers” to us, because—according to several teenagers we know—it’s best to use something like ChatGPT along with technology that will make, say, the ChatGPT essay on The Constitution of the United States, sound more like it was written by a human being than a machine. Some examples are QuillBot, Writesonic, , Ahrefs, Prepostseo, and Decopy AI. The Center for Digital Thriving has some great questions to ask for starting conversations with your kids about AI, including: What kinds of uses do you think should be allowed in school, and, has your school or any of your teachers set any rules about using it? Communication is key! * The Idea Specialists™ * The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
July Means Friends, Family & Fireworks at Waterford Crossings
Fantastic fireworks and good food shared with family and friends are two key ingredients for a successful Fourth of July, and the Waterford Crossings team in Nashville, Tennessee, is here with the recipe! Let Freedom Sing! Make plans now to celebrate Independence Day at Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th, the free family-friendly event in downtown Nashville. This Fourth of July will feature one of the largest fireworks shows in the country, with the pyrotechnics and a drone display over the Cumberland River synchronized to a live performance by the GRAMMY-winning Nashville Symphony at Ascend Amphitheater. The grand finale is scheduled for Friday, July 4, 2025, at 9:30 p.m. Multi-platinum country superstar Dierks Bentley will headline the music lineup outside of the fireworks show. Russell Dickerson, Niko Moon, Grace Bowers, Keesha Rainey, and more will also perform. And don’t forget the Amazon Family Fun Zone at Music City Walk of Fame Park! The Perfect Picnic The Waterford Crossings team asked * the Idea Specialists™ * what they would pack for the perfect picnic to take on a July outing. They said they’re big fans of the Real Simple Picnic Checklist, which includes everything from reminders to take bug spray and a portable speaker to suggestions for food and beverages. The best advice from Real Simple? “Picnic fare is all about food that will taste great whether you eat it now or two hours from now. It should be easy to eat and clean up. And the less utensils needed, the better.” Amen to that! And, the Idea Specialists™ are in agreement that every picnic basket should contain something sweet and something savory. Small portions are better than large—easier to manage on a plate, or, even better on a skewer, like these fun—and patriotic!—peanut butter and jelly skewers from Weelicious. You could do this with just about any kind of sandwich. Heck, you could even do a skewer alternating bites of your favorite brownies and chocolate chip cookies with fruit. (Which of course you should pick up at the Nashville Farmers’ Market on Rosa L. Parks Boulevard.) Now, everybody thinks they’ve got the best recipe for chocolate chip cookies in the world. We’re not going to argue, because so do we! But we are going to suggest that everyone give Ovenly’s Secretly Vegan Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies a try. Oh my heavens at the melty goodness! Ooey-Gooey Cheesy Goodness And speaking of recipes and goodness, everybody also has their favorite macaroni and cheese, right? Just like grandma used to make—unless your grandma preferred that box of instant with the powdered orange stuff in it. Not that we’re judging. We listen, and we don’t judge. We’re talking about macaroni and cheese now not because it’s a great picnic food (cold macaroni salad works better for that), but because Monday, July 14, 2025, is…..drum roll, please…..National Mac and Cheese Day! Yep, America’s classic comfort food has its own day. Nobody’s sure quite how or why, but you can read about the history of the dish and its connection to U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. And then you can take advantage of your upscale Waterford Crossings kitchen to make Southern Living’s Best-Ever Homemade Macaroni and Cheese. Cheers! You can’t have a picnic, whether at the Fourth of July celebration or on by one of our luxury apartment home community’s three gorgeous resort-style pools, without something to quench your thirst. If you want more than just a plain Coke and a smile, try the popular Kalimotxo cocktail—a mix of Coca-Cola and red wine. Men’s Journal says the drink got its start in the Basque region of Spain, and now there are multiple variations on the theme. Remember, whatever you drink, don’t bring glass to the pool! And while there’s nothing wrong with a classic red SOLO 18-ounce party cup, why not treat yourself to some fun tumblers like these 24-ounce reusable thick plastic sunflower cups from Amazon? They come complete with straw and lid, perfect for sipping without spilling! Be safe, have fun! * The Idea Specialists™ * The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
It’s All About Dad in June at Waterford Crossings
No matter what you call your father—baba or tata, papa or pita, daddy or dad—it’s all about him come Father’s Day! So the Waterford Crossings team in Nashville, Tennessee, asked * the Idea Specialists™ * for some ways to show the father figures in our lives a little extra love on Sunday, June 15, this year. First on the list? An ice cream outing! Fun For The Entire Family Going out for frozen treats is a way the entire gang can celebrate the occasion. And where better than The Legendairy Milkshake Bar on 3rd Avenue North in Nashville, where they believe artistry and tastiness go hand in hand—and their incredible shakes are served in delightful 16-ounce jars that you can buy as souvenirs! The Idea Specialists™ swear by The Proof Is In The Puddin’—a “peel good” shake made with Banana Pudding ice cream, a vanilla icing rim rolled in crushed Nilla Wafer cookies, caramel sauce, vanilla whipped cream, and one large graham cracker holding homemade banana pudding. And of course we have to mention Sippin’ Pretty In Music City, which comes complete with a cowboy hat! Oh my goodness at the decadent options! Plus, they offer Pup Cups for your furry friends, which means a lot to us because Waterford Crossings is an extremely pet-friendly upscale apartment home community! Guilt-Free Golf For some dads, the best gift would be time spent with them watching the U.S. Open Golf Championship, the final round of which is traditionally played on the third Sunday in June (always falling on Father’s Day). Pile up on the couch in your comfy Waterford Crossings living room and turn the TV to NBC or the Golf Channel to see if PGA Championship winner Scottie Scheffler walks away with another one. In keeping with the golf theme, the Idea Specialists™ can vouch that Golfballs.com does a great job on customized balls, tees, and towels, with excellent customer service and a fast turnaround time. Listen Up Google for Father’s Day gift ideas and one of your first results will be the Oprah Daily list of “50 Best Gifts for Dads Who Say They Don’t Want Anything.” One of everybody’s top picks is the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, which provide high-quality sound—and mean that the wearer can take calls and play music while staying aware of his surroundings. Safety and convenience! Unlimited Auto Love The Idea Specialists™ are also big fans of practical gifts. That’s why they’re going to take advantage of the Unlimited Plan offered by Wash N’ Roll Car Wash on Cane Ridge Road in Antioch—as a treat for both themselves and their dads. Cheers To Dad! Whether your pops prefers bourbon or beer, there’s something on the menu at JWB Grill in the Margaritaville Hotel that will quench his thirst (and some tasty treats on the food menu, too, including for the kiddos!). Named after James “Jimmy” William Buffet, the eatery features timeless Southern-inspired dishes and hand-crafted Tennessee libations. From soul food to fine-dining favorites to coastal cravings, if you want it, chances are it’s on the menu. (And yes, of course you can get a margarita!) Did You Know? According to History.com, the nation’s first Father’s Day was celebrated June 19, 1910, in the state of Washington. But it wasn’t until 1972—58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official—that the day honoring fathers became a nationwide holiday in the United States. That’s when then-President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation making it so. Economists estimate that Americans now spend more than $1 billion each year on Father’s Day gifts. * The Idea Specialists™ * The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
Moms & Memories, Pets & Pampering—It’s the Merry Month of May at Waterford Crossings!
It’s the merry, merry month of May at the upscale Waterford Crossings apartment home community in Southeast Nashville, which means Mother’s Day, National Pet Month, and more! And by more, of course we mean Star Wars Day Sunday, May 4, 2025: “May the Fourth be with you.” (If you haven’t seen the LEGO Star Wars sets, then maybe this is the year!) Quickly followed by Cinco de Mayo, which isn’t really that big a deal in Mexico. But, hey, who are we to argue about going out for some tacos and tequila this Monday, May 5? A Corsage For Your Mama The Waterford Crossings team asked *the Idea Specialists™* to fill us in on the background of Mother’s Day, which is always celebrated on the second Sunday of May (May 11 of this year). They turned to the venerable Smithsonian for the goods: “The credit belongs to Anna Jarvis, who organized the first official Mother’s Day services on the morning of May 10, 1908, in her hometown of Grafton, West Virginia, and later in the afternoon in her adopted hometown of Philadelphia.” U.S. President Woodrow Wilson gave the holiday federal recognition in 1914. It’s also because of Anna Jarvis that one of the gifts we give our mamas this month is flowers. She specifically selected her own late mother’s favorite flower, the white carnation, as the holiday’s official emblem. At many churches, particularly in the South, it became a tradition to give each female in the congregation a corsage on Mother’s Day, and not just of carnations. What mattered was the color—red or pink if your mother was still alive, and white if what remained were memories of her. Let’s Support Our Local Merchants! Waterford Crossings loves being a part of the community, and always wants to support our local businesses when we can. That’s why we loved the idea of finding that perfect arrangement for mom this year at A Village of Flowers on 21st Avenue South in Nashville, which has some breathtaking designs. You can pick up or they can deliver. If you’re in the market for something that will last a little longer, Rose at the iconic Hermitage Hotel offers a carefully curated selection of products to help you live your most inspired Southern lifestyle. (The Idea Specialists™ are _awfully_ interested in the jewelry collections!) Mummy Yummies! And whose mom wouldn’t want to go out to eat on her special day? Of course The Hermitage also offers an incredible dining experience with live music….the Mother’s Day Brunch Grand Buffet, inclusive of valet parking and a special takeaway gift (complimentary for children 5 and younger). Check out Nashville Guru for more delicious ideas. We’re A Pet-Friendly Luxury Apartment Home Community Because we’re such a pet-friendly luxury apartment home community, of course we love celebrating National Pet Month! It was founded by the American Veterinary Medical Association in 1981 to recognize the bonds we develop with our beloved pets and promote responsible pet care through education and awareness. And, it’s anchored by National Pet Week the first full week of May. There are an estimated 1 billion pets worldwide, and we want to pet all of them! (Well, OK, maybe not the iguanas so much.) But we do love our fur-babies, so much so that we have two leash-free pet parks. The Month’s End Brings Memorial Day Memorial Day honors those who died or suffered injuries in battle, as compared to Veterans Day on November 11, which honors all who served in the military, whether they served in peace or wartime. This year, Monday, May 26, 2025, is the date of this U.S. Federal holiday; government offices will be closed. *The Idea Specialists™* The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
April Appreciations—Easter, National Library Week, The Masters & RPM Careers Week!
It seems like everyone’s calendars get crazier than usual when spring rolls around, and this April at Waterford Crossings in Nashville, Tennessee, is no exception! Easter, the Masters Tournament at Augusta National, National Library Week, and more—there’s something for almost everybody to celebrate and appreciate! Let’s Hop Right Into Easter An “eggcellent” way to celebrate will be to take your little bunnies to one of the many Easter events in the area. Nashville Kids Out and About has a good list of what’s on the calendar, including Eggstravaganzoo at the Nashville Zoo Saturday, April 19—and the super-easy option of going to Opry Mills to get your family pic with the Big Hopper himself! These activities are taking place before the actual holiday because it’s late this year—Sunday, April 20, 2025 (Passover begins Saturday, April 12). Which gives you plenty of time to lay in supplies and have the fun of making your own charcuterie Easter basket! If you’re not feeling particularly creative, * The Idea Specialists™ * recommend a quick google search for the kind of goodies you want to share with family and friends. They found lots great boxes and baskets at Harry & David, as well as full holiday dinners! Locally, GREYS Fine Cheeses is an excellent option! Our Local Library When you’re making plans to commemorate National Library Week April 6-12, put checking out the Southeast Branch of the Nashville Public Library (on Hickory Hollow Parkway) first on your list! This year’s theme for National Library Week is “Drawn to the Library,” and that’s because libraries have something that draws everyone in: books, magazines, computer stations, story time for kids, DVDS, online resources, and more. Teed Up Next—The Masters It just wouldn’t be spring in the South without the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, now would it? If you’re lucky enough to have the chance to attend—even if only for a practice round—take it! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Most of us, though, will get to enjoy the lovely azaleas and admire the prowess of professional athletes like betting favorites Rory McIllroy and Scottie Scheffler from the comfort of our Waterford Crossings living rooms. Here’s the guide for watching at home. We asked The Idea Specialists™ for some suggestions on how to throw a Masters party, and of course they came through! Egg salad sandwiches, pimento sandwiches, and Mini MoonPies are musts!! Don’t have time to make your own sammies in your custom-appointed kitchen? Not to worry—you can feast on tradition with the Taste of the Masters hosting kit! The world-famous classic concessions items, including pork bar-b-que, are delivered to your door, enabling you to recreate the patron experience. Another way to do that is to make an Azalea Cocktail, the beloved drink of golfers and fans alike. (Pro Tip: This pretty pink concoction goes well with most Easter menus, too!) RPM Careers Week Our final focus for this month’s blog is Residential Property Management (RPM) Careers Week April 14-18, 2025, because where we would be without the people who make it so easy to call our beautiful luxury apartment community home? Support services teams, maintenance/service professionals, suppliers, and leadership—everyone works together, and we’re especially fortunate because they all have a good time at the same time! Residential property management offers career opportunities for passionate, creative, and driven people from all walks of life, professional levels, and skillsets. Check out the National Apartment Association site for more info. Stop in any time to help us celebrate! * The Idea Specialists™ * The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
March Madness & ALDI Fun Finds — Both Slam Dunks for Waterford Crossings!
Just like everybody’s a little bit Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, everybody’s got a bracket when March Madness rolls around. That’s why Waterford Crossings in Nashville, Tennessee, asked *the Idea Specialists™* for some slam-dunk suggestions on how to celebrate both this month. Fellowship, Food & Fun Finds! From shamrocks to the Sweet Sixteen, and whether it’s green beer and corned beef or “Courtside Punch” and chicken wings, the things all good March parties have in common are fellowship and food. The Idea Specialists™ plan to take their shopping lists to the ALDI on Nolensville Pike to stock up on staples and sweets. They have learned about so many good frozen foods and specialty items and gotten so many great recipe ideas from being members of the ALDI Aisle of Shame Community on Facebook! And of course there’s nothing “shameful” about it! The name really refers to the area in the center of the store that is packed with what the grocer refers to as “ALDI Finds,” a rotating stock of limited-edition, often seasonally themed items. It’s also a prime spot to score dupes of popular name-brand products, at a fraction of the price. Who wouldn’t cheer for that? Gameday Gatherings When it comes to watching the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, plan to have a few folks over to enjoy the roundball action in the comfort of your luxury apartment home, or take advantage of the wonderful spaces in the Waterford Crossings clubhouse to cheer on your faves with your neighbors and friends. Decorate your drinks and spear your appetizers (served in hoop-designed snack cups!) with these fun basketball-themed cocktail picks the Idea Specialists™ found. It always adds an extra level of excitement when you’re competing against friends, so get yourself a bracket going! There doesn’t have to be any money on the line—it can be all about the bragging rights! You can also play around with non-sports brackets to get the non-fans involved—movies, music, and more, the list goes on and on. Check out this post for more ideas. The Wearing Of The Green While once thought of as primarily a day of Catholic religious observance to honor Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, in modern times St. Patrick’s Day is more about the wearing of green clothing and celebrating all things Irish! Faith and begorrah! There’s always a lot of fun to be had in Nashville on and around St. Patrick’s Day, and this year is no exception to that rule! Nashville Guru has a great rundown on a lot of the adult fun to be had. For fun with your li’l leprechauns, go to the third annual official Nashville St. Patrick’s Day Parade Saturday March 15, 2025. It will kick off at 10 a.m. in front of Boston Commons on Woodland and, among other things, feature traditional Irish Pipe and Drums, and some of your favorite sports fans and mascots! Then stick around for live Irish music all afternoon across venues in Five Points, as well as a kids zone with face painting and other family-friendly fun. * The Idea Specialists™ * The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
Sweets for Your Sweetie This Valentine’s Day
From initial spark to hot flame, brightly burning fire to softly glowing embers, true love and romance is worth celebrating at all of its stages. That’s why the Waterford Crossings luxury apartment home community in Antioch (near Nashville, Tennessee), asked the *Idea Specialists™* for suggestions on making this Valentine’s Day a memorable one. Let The Guru Be Your Guide The Idea Specialists™ are big fans of Nashville Guru, which has done a fantastic guide to just some of the many restaurants in Nashville are perfect for Valentine’s Day dinners, drinks, or desserts. Carne Mare and Yolan are just two on the list that are featuring prix fixe menus for the special occasion. Wherever you choose to go, don’t forget the bubbles! It’s OK To Monkey Around This Valentine’s Day! A fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day in the Music City is with a Frothy Monkey Frothy Love Dinner. At all of the Nashville locations (and in Franklin), they’re gonna down the lights, change the tunes, and create the perfect ambiance to serve an exclusive three-course menu for two. While everything looks good, the Idea Specialists™ are mainly focused on dessert—a double chocolate flourless cake with tart cherry sauce! You can find out more here, and make your reservation for Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night (February 13-15). More Ideas For still more ideas about how to celebrate in the city, check out Eventbrite’s rundown. And The Knot has a fun list—95 Romantic, Unique and Spicy Valentine’s Day Ideas for Every Couple. Sweet Dreams Are Made of This And speaking of chocolate….. Oh, my, but did the Idea Specialists™ come through for Waterford Crossings with suggestions on this front! They hit the jackpot when they found this Food Network post on best buys for Valentine’s Day. Favorites? First up is the Salts of the World Chocolate Collection; each of these chocolates celebrates a different country and features salt, ingredients, and a wildflower all native to that country. So cool! Then there’s the Belgian Chocolate Covered Mini Doughnut Bouquet. Flowers are nice, but could anything really beat a beautifully packaged bouquet of chocolate-covered mini doughnuts? Then, for the vegan Valentines out there, the Idea Specialists™ recommend that you go with the Berry Bouquet Vegan Chocolate Box from Compartés. It is packed with raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, goji berries, cranberries and cherries, all dipped in absurdly good vegan dark chocolate. Kids & Puppies The Idea Specialists™ also gave the Waterford Crossings team a cute suggestion on how to celebrate the little lovies in your life—a cute mini-waffle maker! You can make kid-sized waffles in a heart shape perfect for Valentine’s Day morning—or as a dessert treat with ice cream and hot fudge! (Pro Tip: Add a little pink or red food coloring to the batter for that extra flair.) And because they know that Waterford Crossings is a very pet-friendly apartment community, complete with leash-free pet parks, the Idea Specialists™ made it a point to share some info on animal safety. Each year the experts at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) see a rise in cases around February 14, many involving chocolate or lilies. Valentine’s Day can be as much fun for pets as it is for humans—as long as dangerous items are kept out of paws’ reach! * The Idea Specialists™ * The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
Those Little Special Somethings
One Change To Make In Each Room To Make Your Life Better In 2025 Bedroom Magic The bright and airy bedrooms at the Waterford Crossings luxury apartment home community in the Nashville area are just brimming with design potential! One way to maximize the natural light from their windows is with a large mirror to reflect that gorgeous Tennessee sunshine and get your day off to a pleasant start. Like magic, it will make the already spacious rooms seem even larger! The *Idea Specialists™* love the idea of leaning an oversized arched mirror against a wall (no nail holes!!). From ornate to Midcentury Modern the styles abound, but you really can’t go wrong with classic black (available from Amazon). Bathroom Beautiful Tired of reaching for your toothpaste only to knock over your deodorant and lotion because your bathroom vanity has gotten so cluttered? It’s easy to get organized and beautify your surroundings with all of the container options available now, especially if you follow some of the tips in this House Beautiful piece! Some faves: Don’t double up! Buy cleaning supplies when you need them, instead of stockpiling. And keep them in a convenient caddy! Declutter once a season. Do you really wear the same lipstick in June that you do in November? No. So store stuff accordingly. And speaking of lipstick, check out this groovy rotating cosmetics display case! Kitchen Confidential You can instantly liven up your space, add warmth, and protect the floors in your kitchen by adding a colorful or patterned area rug or runner. The great thing about this change is that it’s almost the ultimate in temporary decoration—you can rotate rugs with the seasons without spending very much money so your culinary space stays fresh. (Like your vegetables, we hope!) Ruggable has unbeatable selections, easy-to-swap styles, and—best of all—their products are machine-washable! Good Housekeeping has everything you need to know before you buy in this post. Den Delights When it comes to choosing lamps for your den, the options can seem endless. Before you make a decision, think about how you’re using the various spaces in the room. Do you need task lighting for an area you’ve dedicated as a work space? A table lamp by the couch for reading? Once you know, then consider your color and style options. The Idea Specialists™ recently found this great combination floor lamp and end table. And, if you, too, are not a fan of visible cords, you can take your pick of colors with these affordable decorative covers. The Idea Specialists™ recently discovered Antioch Furniture Outlet on Bell Road, an easy drive from Waterford Crossings, and could spend just hours there exploring decorating options (including delightful lighting, of course!). Balcony Bonus One of the great things about living at Waterford Crossings is the option of having a sunroom or private balcony. Whichever you choose, one easy way to bring color and comfort to the space is by adding greenery with potted plants, hanging planters, or even faux plants for a touch of nature. Artificial plant bonus: No worries about watering or changes in the weather! The Idea Specialists™ recently used a luxe combo of pots of trailing variegated String Of Hearts from Pottery Barn and traditional ferns by House of Silk Flowers (from Bed Bath & Beyond) to soften corners and enliven a balcony. For other ideas, check out great tips on selecting faux plants from The Spruce. Community Calendar Looking to get out and about to shake off the winter blues? The Music City area doesn’t ever disappoint. Check out these sites for all your options: – Nashville Guru – Nashville Scene – Visit Nashville * The Idea Specialists™ * The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.
