Blog Posts

Comics to Immerse Yourself In

With the emergence of so many superhero movies within recent years, if you haven’t been an avid comic reader, you might feel left out or lost among the fans. In this week’s Sunset Palms Blog, we share with you some comics you can read in your apartment to catch up with the rest of the world or to get you started on the visual phenomenon known as comics! Spiderman Viewed as a main staple of the Marvel universe, Spiderman has made multiple appearances in movies, more notably in the latest Avengers: Infinity War movie. Spiderman has also been portrayed by three different people since the first blockbuster movie in 2002: Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland. Before the movies, the comics existed for years, with the first appearance being in 1962. With so many differing views on the movie, the comics are a great look into the universe of the character Spiderman, how he became the web-slinging and wall-crawling superhero he is, and what he’s done with those powers. X-Men Started by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, the X-Men comics are some of Marvel’s most popular comics. The X-Men are a group of heroes with mutant superpowers who strive to save the world from all that threatens it, even though they live “ in a world where anti-mutant bigotry is fierce and widespread.” Beyond characters portrayed in 20th Century Fox film series, the X-Men consist of hundreds mutants fighting for the sake of their world and for their own survival. These comics are a good look into the vastness of the Marvel universe and the diversity of characters held within. Batman Detective Comics, also known as DC, is known to be the rival of Marvel. DC has produced many different types of comics, most notably Batman and Superman. Batman has become one of the most recognized superheroes, despite his lack of actual superpowers. With actors like Adam West, George Clooney, and Christian Bale portraying the dark knight, Batman has grown into a household name. Because of such popularity, Batman is the perfect comic to read to get into the DC world. Wonder Woman With the recent box office blockbuster hit, Wonder Woman has launched her way into the hearts of many fans. Portrayed most recently by Gal Gadot, Wonder Woman tackles evil with strength, compassion, and her Lasso of Truth. This comic shows the linking of worlds, where the gods intermix with the mortals, and is a perfect contrast to the dark, moody portrayal of Batman. These heroes are the genesis of the on screen smash hits that a majority of the world has come to know and love. If you’re a die hard fan, you will be critical of the differences between the two, and that’s okay. It is good to educate yourself and see exactly where these popular movies come from, and the creativity and genius that go into each and every character. Do you have a favorite comic? Let our Hollywood, FL community know which one in the comments section below! Thanks for reading!

Host a Great Barbecue

Great memories are created at summer barbecues with close friends and loved ones around. In this week’s Sunset Palms Blog, we share with you some ways to host a great barbecue. Gather up your plates, napkins, and delicious food. It’s time to get out of the apartment and throw a barbecue! Plan It Out One of the most important things to do is to plan, especially if you’re intending on inviting a large group to attend your barbecue. Planning is essential to a successful gathering. Account for the food, essentials like napkins, utensils, and plates; and clean up items. Planning helps you to relieve stress and gives you an opportunity to consider everything you need. Make It A Potluck Take some stress off your plate by making the barbecue a potluck. If you have a specific theme to your barbecue, let your guests know in advance. Consider creating a Google sheet to keep track of the dishes each person is bringing. This is not only a good way for people to be involved in your barbecue, but it also saves you money because you’re not the sole person providing food for a large group of people. Add Entertainment Whether it’s entertainment before the food is cooked or after everyone has settled down and eaten, having something to do will add some extra excitement to your gathering. If you or one of your friends can play the guitar or ukulele, bring it to play some tunes for the rest of your guests to enjoy. Or bring a bluetooth speaker to set the tone. If you have children around, you could also bring a slip and slide for them to cool off with! Clean Up If you’re using a public park for your barbecue, be courteous to the people who would use the area next. Bring extra trash bags so you’ll have enough space to throw all of your garbage away. Invite your guests to pitch in and help. Their helping hands will make the task go by quickly, with less work for everyone! With many public picnic and grill areas in Hollywood, FL, hosting a barbecue is a great way to spend a weekend this summer! Do you have any tips on hosting a successful barbecue? Let our apartment community know by leaving a comment below. Thanks for reading!

Memorial Day Celebration Ideas

Memorial Day is coming up this month on May 28th. Celebrate here at our apartment community or somewhere else in Hollywood, FL by playing some outdoor games, having a picnic, or jumping in the pool. Check out the ideas we have in this week’s Sunset Palms Blog post. We hope you have a great month! Outdoor Games Get outside and enjoy some outdoor games with family and friends. Simply have a water fight or a game using water balloons. You could also make your own slip ‘n slide with a tarp, water, and some dish soap. For a game not involving water, try out Giant Jenga, corn hole, or Bocce ball. Picnic Recipes Visit a local park to have a picnic. It’s a great way to get friends together and enjoy some fresh air. Visit Wolf Lake Park for a nearby location. Make some sandwiches and salads, and enjoy! Try out this Cucumber Tomato Salad for a refreshing and tasty side dish. For a main dish try out these Caprese Sandwiches with Parsley Pesto . For another salad, we suggest this Berry Cantaloupe Salad that everyone will enjoy. Pool Games Enjoy our pool here at Sunset Palms by jumping in and cooling off this Memorial Day. Play one of these games for some fun with family and friends: Invisible Treasure. Have all the players place their backs to the pool, while one person throws a two-liter plastic bottle filled with water into the pool. Once the players hear the splash, they can turn around. The first person to get the bottles, wins. Dolphin Race. Play this game by pushing a beach ball across the length of the pool using only your nose. The first person across, wins! If you touch the ball, you have to start over. How are you planning to celebrate Memorial Day? Share with us in the comments below. Thanks for reading and be sure to visit the blog again soon!

Check out These Pet Tips for National Pet Month

Here at Sunset Palms, we allow you to have up to two pets at your apartment here in Hollywood, FL. Click on the paw print on our amenities page to learn more about having pets at Sunset Palms. For those with pets, we want to celebrate National Pet Month by highlighting some tips for having an easy home life with your pet. We’re specifically focusing on cats and dogs this month. We hope you enjoy our blog and learn something new! Cat Owner Tips Stop Your Cat From Scratching Cat scratching is completely normal and necessary, but there are ways for you to keep your furniture and other items safe. One way to deter scratching on furniture is to use a deterrent like a muscle rub or something with menthol in it. Offer scratching posts of a variety of materials so that your furry friend will scratch in a place that won’t cause damage. Training Your Kitten to Use the Litter Box Training your kitten or cat to use the litter box may take a little bit of time and patience, but if it’s done correctly, it can be easy and painless. Make sure that your cat can easily get in and out of the litter box, especially if you have a kitten. As you’re training them, first put the litter box in a location that your cat feels comfortable in, then gradually move the box to your preferred location. Make sure the litter box is always clean. Lastly, if you’re still having problems, try out a different type of litter. Dog Owner Tips Teaching Simple Commands It’s important to teach your dog simple commands. This can prevent your pet (or you) from being put into a dangerous situation. Some of these simple commands can include sit , lay down , stay , drop , or come . Using treats as rewards will make this a positive experience. Be patient and consistent while training. It can be a long process, but it will be well worth your time. Get Your Dog to Stop Barking Some dog breeds are more likely to bark than others, but despite their barking habits, it’s always good to train them so they know when it’s appropriate or not to bark. This will take some time, just as all training does. Use “a look, a sound, or a physical correction” to teach them. Another tip is to stay calm and only react to the barking when they’ve stopped. Giving them attention when they bark will only teach them to bark when they want your attention. How do you take care of your pets? Do you have any pet tips for us? We would love to hear them. Comment below. Thanks for reading our post!

Celebrate National Garlic Month

Did you know that there’s a month dedicated to celebrating garlic? Well there is and that month is April! In today’s Sunset Palms Blog, we want to celebrate. We’ll be sharing some recipes using garlic that are so tasty. We hope you have a great month here in Hollywood, FL. Creamy Roasted Garlic Potato Soup from How Sweet Eats This creamy garlic soup is so delicious and the perfect recipe to make for National Garlic Month. You’ll need the following ingredients: olive oil, unsalted butter, a sweet onion, russet potatoes, chicken or vegetable stock, roasted garlic , cream, salt, pepper, chili oil , vegetable oil, and brussel sprouts Foil-Baked Lemon Garlic Fish and Asparagus from Pink Parsley For a fresh dinner option, try this lemon garlic fish. It’s sure to be delicious! You’ll need white fish fillets, unsalted butter, a lemon, dried herbes de provence, garlic cloves, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, asparagus, lemon slices, and dry white wine. Sticky Garlic Chicken Bites from Damn Delicious Craving some garlic chicken? You have to try out this recipe. Gather up these ingredients and get started: chicken breasts, salt and pepper, eggs, Panko, soy sauce, honey, cloves garlic, hoisin sauce, freshly grated ginger, Sriracha, green onions, and sesame seeds. Garlic Shrimp from Bon Appetit Here’s another dinner meal that’s perfectly delicious. You’ll need the following ingredients: olive oil, garlic cloves, dried chiles de arbol, crushed red pepper flakes, small shrimp, salt, coarsely chopped parsley, and crusty bread for serving. Garlic Knots from Taste of Home These garlic knots will go well with any meal you’re making in your apartment. Dip them in your favorite marinara sauce and enjoy! You’ll need this list of ingredients: buttermilk biscuit dough, canola oil, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, dried oregano, and dried parsley flakes. What’s your favorite garlic recipe? Share it with us in the comments below!

Laundry Day Tips

Laundry day can be a drag. In this week’s Sunset Palms Blog, we’ll be sharing some laundry day tips to make laundry day a breeze. We hope you have a great month here in Hollywood, FL! Stain & Odor Treatments - Print out a basic stain removal guide and hang it by your washer; that way you will have the solution you need for stains where you need it and when you need it. For a more in-depth stain removal information refer to this Stain Solutions Guide , put out by the University of Illinois Extension Office . - To keep hampers smelling fresh: Fill a knee-high (or cut-off) nylon with baking soda. Knot the open end and hang it inside the hamper to absorb odors. Replace about once a month or as needed. - Use all white towels for the apartment bathroom. They can be washed as one load and can be bleached if necessary. This will avoid the need to worry about stain removal. - To brighten your whites, soak them in a solution of water and baking soda (add ¾ c. to a gallon of water) before washing them. Washing & Drying - Turn your jeans and other dark colored items inside out to wash. This will help slow down fading. - When drying shoes you’ll first tie the shoe strings together into a loose knot. Then, close the dryer door with the shoes hanging on the inside and the knot on the outside. Run dryer on low heat until shoes are dry. No more shoes banging around in your dryer. - Keep a whiteboard by your washer and as you load the laundry make a note of anything that can’t go in the dryer. This makes it easy to pull the items out when you switch loads. - Throw a dry towel into your dryer with wet laundry. The towel will absorb moisture and speed up the drying process. Do you have any other laundry day tips to share with us? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading the blog and be sure to visit us again soon!