Category: Resident Blog

One Oven, Too Many Side Dishes: A Smarter Apartment Friendsgiving

An apartment Friendsgiving can comfortably accommodate good food, your favorite people and several strong opinions about stuffing. What it may not accommodate is five dishes that all need the oven at different temperatures.

A little coordination makes the difference between sitting down together and eating in shifts while someone’s potatoes finish cooking.

1. Assign dishes by kitchen needs

Before anyone claims a recipe, ask three questions: Does it need the oven? At what temperature? For how long?

Build the menu around your actual equipment. If the main dish needs the oven, assign a stovetop side, a salad assembled on arrival and a dessert that’s ready to serve.

Every dish should arrive with a plan, including a serving utensil. “Just needs a little oven time” is how a casserole becomes your unexpected houseguest.

2. Write the final hour backward

Start with the time you want to eat, then work backward using your recipes.

Account for resting time, carving, transferring food to serving dishes and any final reheating. If your main dish rests before carving, that may create a useful oven window for a side – provided its recipe fits the available time and temperature.

Share the schedule with anyone bringing food that needs finishing. Your oven should have fewer surprises than the group chat.

3. Choose serving dishes before the food arrives

Set out empty platters and bowls with a note identifying what goes in each. This reveals whether you actually have room for everything before the kitchen is full.

Check that incoming casserole dishes fit your oven, too. Exterior handles have ruined more plans than anyone cares to discuss.

For a small table, serve from a separate counter and keep the dining surface for plates, glasses and conversation. Put drinks somewhere that don’t require guests to stand in front of the stove.

4. Give arrivals specific jobs

A helpful guest with no direction will usually ask what you need while you’re doing four things.

Assign small jobs in advance: filling water glasses, dressing the salad, setting out serving utensils or taking coats to a designated spot.

Keep one area clear for arriving dishes. A landing space is much more useful than one more decorative pumpkin.

5. Make leftovers part of the plan

Ask guests to bring food storage containers and make refrigerator space before the gathering.

Keep hot food at 140°F or above and cold food at 40°F or below when holding it for service. Refrigerate perishable leftovers within two hours – or one hour above 90°F – and discard food that exceeds that limit without temperature control. Divide large amounts into shallow containers for storage.

Friendsgiving doesn’t require a bigger kitchen. It requires a menu that understands the kitchen you have.

Looking for a home for everyday dinners and your annual gathering? Explore RPM Living communities – and start planning who’s bringing dessert.

A Night In, Minus the Screens: Fun Ways to Unplug at Home

A screen-free night at home sounds lovely until you put down your phone and immediately wonder what you’re supposed to do with your hands. The trick is having something ready that sounds more appealing than checking the same three apps again.

You don’t need a new personality, a cabinet full of craft supplies or a strict household phone policy. Just a few ideas that make staying in feel like an actual plan.

1. Match the activity to your energy

An elaborate project is a tough sell after a long day. Give yourself a few options instead.

For a quiet evening, try a crossword, a short story or a collage made from old magazines. If you want something more involved, mend a favorite sweater, learn a card game or work on a small embroidery project.

Choose something with an easy stopping point. Finishing one crossword or repairing one loose button feels satisfying without accidentally creating a second job.

2. Make a menu of things you already own

Before buying supplies, look through your apartment. That puzzle you started last winter? Still available. The cookbook with seven bookmarked recipes? Ready for its moment.

Write five activities on index cards and keep them with the supplies they require. Include specific prompts, such as “make the pasta on page 42” or “learn one new solitaire game.”

“Find a hobby” is a lot to ask of yourself at 7:30 p.m. “Open this box” is more manageable.

3. Give your hands something interesting to do

Try a project that changes something you already use.

Replace a missing button with a contrasting one. Make a bookmark from leftover cardstock. Write a recipe you love on a card for a friend, including the little adjustments that never made it into the original instructions.

The goal is a small, useful result, not a shopping cart full of supplies for your potential future interests.

4. Invite someone over for parallel hobbies

You don’t have to do the same activity to spend time together.

One person can knit while another sketches or sorts printed photos. Ask everyone to bring a project and a snack, then put on music before setting phones aside.

It’s a particularly good setup for the friend who always says, “We should catch up,” while both of you continue being mysteriously unavailable.

5. Make the next night easier to start

Keep your current project in a small basket with everything it needs. A puzzle mat can help reclaim the table between sessions, while a folder keeps paper projects from taking over the counter.

When the setup takes two minutes, you’re more likely to do it again.

Your evening doesn’t need to produce anything impressive. Sometimes a decent playlist, a completed crossword and a phone you forgot to check are plenty.

Find a place for your favorite ways to unwind at RPM Living communities – hobby basket included.

5 Fall Weekend Activities to Try This Season

Fall weekend activities can be as simple as a neighborhood walk and something good in the oven.

You don’t need to fit a pumpkin patch, apple orchard, costume party and scenic drive into the same Saturday. You also don’t need to spend the entire weekend indoors wondering whether you should have made plans.

Try pairing one outing with one activity at home. Here are a few combinations worth putting on the calendar.

1. A farmers market morning and a seasonal dinner

Visit a local farmers market with one goal: find an ingredient you’ll use that evening.

Look for apples, squash or whatever is in season locally, then build a meal around your purchase. A sheet-pan dinner or a simple soup keeps the cooking manageable.

Check market hours before leaving and bring a bag. If you’re buying perishable foods and won’t head straight home, bring an insulated bag with ice packs, too.

2. A neighborhood photo walk and a printed memory

Choose a route you don’t usually take and look for small signs of the season – changing leaves, decorated porches, a local storefront or a familiar park in different light.

Give yourself a theme, such as textures or fall colors, to make the walk more interesting. Fall doesn’t look the same everywhere, and that’s part of it.

Back home, choose one favorite photo to print or add to a rotating frame. Your apartment gets a personal update, and your pictures get somewhere to live besides your camera roll.

3. A bookstore visit and a reading afternoon

Browse a bookstore or library, pick something you’re excited to read and head home for a quiet afternoon.

Set up a comfortable spot with a drink, a lamp and your phone out of reach. Try reading a chapter before checking it again.

If the weather cooperates, take your book to your balcony or an available outdoor seating area. A change of scenery doesn’t always require another trip in the car.

4. A fall event and an easy movie night

Look at your city’s event calendar, parks' department listings or your community’s announcements for a harvest festival, craft market or seasonal gathering.

Pick the part you actually want to attend rather than committing to the entire day.

For the evening, choose your movie before settling onto the couch and make a snack from what you already have. Otherwise, the feature presentation may be 45 minutes of scrolling.

5. A local walk and a small baking project

Take a morning walk somewhere nearby, then come home to bake apple crisp, pumpkin muffins or another recipe you’ve been meaning to try.

Check the recipe and your equipment first. A small batch may make more sense than a recipe that produces enough baked goods for a conference.

Freeze extras in individual portions if the recipe allows. Future you will appreciate the snack.

The best fall weekend leaves room to enjoy where you live, both inside your apartment and around your neighborhood. Browse RPM Living communities to find a home base for your everyday routines and weekend plans.

How to Host a Fall Soup Swap

A fall soup swap gives you a reason to get friends together and a few dinners to take home afterward.

The idea is simple: everyone makes one soup, portions it out and trades with the group. You cook once and leave with variety. An excellent arrangement for anyone already tired of deciding what’s for dinner.

Here’s how to make it work in an apartment.

1. Set the portion plan before anyone shops

Keep the first swap small – four people is an easy place to start.

Ask each person to bring four labeled, two-cup portions of one soup. Everyone takes home one portion of each recipe, including their own.

That means each person needs eight cups of soup. Share the plan in advance so nobody arrives with a single serving and an optimistic attitude.

2. Coordinate recipes and dietary needs

Have guests claim their soup in a group chat. A mix of tomato, lentil, chicken and vegetable recipes offers more variety than four versions of chicken noodle.

Ask about food allergies and dietary restrictions before recipes are chosen. Each container should include an ingredient list so guests can decide what works for them.

For meals people may freeze, consider sending pasta, crunchy toppings and fresh herbs separately so they can be added when served.

3. Make it a chilled swap

Ask everyone to bring refrigerated portions in insulated bags with ice packs. Clear refrigerator space before guests arrive and put the containers away promptly.

When preparing soup, divide it into shallow containers for quicker cooling and refrigerate within two hours of cooking – or one hour if temperatures are above 90°F. Properly refrigerated leftovers generally keep for three to four days from preparation, so label the cooking date and freeze portions you won’t eat in time.

4. Label more than the recipe name

Include the soup’s name, ingredients, preparation date and any helpful serving instructions.

“Add a splash of broth when reheating” or “top with the included croutons” gives your guests a better meal with very little extra effort.

Use containers intended for food storage, and leave the manufacturer’s recommended headspace if you plan to freeze them.

5. Keep the gathering easy

The exchange itself doesn’t need a full dinner party attached.

Put out bread, crackers or a simple snack while everyone catches up. Share recipes through a group message, then distribute the chilled portions when guests are ready to leave.

If you’d rather host in a community space, check reservation requirements and food guidelines with your onsite team first.

A soup swap is a small way to turn familiar faces into people you actually spend time with. Explore RPM Living communities to find your next home – and perhaps a few future soup-swapping neighbors.

Before You Pack Away Your Summer Clothes

Storing summer clothes is one of those tasks that feels simple until you’re sitting beside three piles, reconsidering every tank top you own.

Before everything disappears under the bed, a little preparation can make next spring’s unpacking much easier. And possibly less confusing.

1. Review what actually got worn
Start with the clothes that never left the hanger.

Were they waiting for a special occasion, missing something to pair them with or simply uncomfortable? Those answers matter more than whether you technically still like them.

Try on anything you’re unsure about before deciding to store it. If it needs a repair, put it in a separate pile with a plan to fix it. Otherwise, you’re just packing a future chore.

2. Clean first, even if it looks clean

Check care labels and clean clothing before putting it away for the season. Pay attention to sunscreen, perspiration and small spills that may be easy to overlook.

Make sure everything is completely dry before packing. The same goes for swimsuits and beach towels. “Mostly dry” is not the standard we’re aiming for here.

3. Store by when you’ll need it again

Instead of putting all summer clothing into one bin, separate everyday seasonal pieces from vacation items.

A small, accessible pouch with a swimsuit, cover-up and a few warm-weather outfits can save you from unpacking an entire storage system for one weekend trip.

Keep a few layering basics in your regular closet, too. October has been known to change its mind.

4. Let the storage space decide the container

Measure your under-bed clearance and shelf dimensions before buying bins. Include handles, lids and enough room to pull the container out.

For delicate or structured pieces, avoid packing so tightly that everything gets crushed. Follow garment care guidance, and save compression bags for items that can tolerate them.

A container that fits your apartment is more useful than a matching set that doesn’t.

5. Leave yourself a useful label

“Summer” is a start. “Summer tops, shorts and swimsuits” is better.

For mixed bins, take a quick photo of the contents before closing the lid. Keep the photo in a phone album labeled “Seasonal Storage” so you can find one item without conducting a full excavation.

A seasonal closet change should make daily life easier, not relocate the clutter. Browse RPM Living communities and explore floor plans that fit the way you live – wardrobe included.

How to Make Room for a Hobby Without Actually Having More Room

The best small-space hobby ideas do not require an empty room, a permanent worktable or a cabinet full of supplies you may never use again. With the right setup, you can make space for painting, puzzles, knitting, journaling or nearly any other interest – without allowing the hobby to take over your apartment.

Start with the smallest version of the hobby
Before buying a complete set of supplies, choose one beginner project.

Borrow equipment when possible, purchase a small starter kit or look for a local class that provides the materials. This helps you figure out whether you enjoy the actual hobby or simply enjoyed watching someone else do it online.

If you stick with it, you can add supplies based on what you genuinely use.

Give the hobby one container
Choose a bin, basket, cart or case that fits everything needed for your current project.

The container creates a natural limit. When it is full, finish something, use what you already have or remove an item before adding another.

Look for a container that can slide beneath a bed, fit inside a closet or sit neatly on a shelf. The hobby should be easy to reach – otherwise, setting it up will feel like its own separate activity.

Store projects in progress differently
Half-finished projects are often harder to store than supplies.

Use a shallow lidded container, document box or portable tray to keep everything in its current position between sessions. For puzzles, felt puzzle mats or puzzle boards can help clear the dining table without starting over.

Before choosing a new hobby, consider what happens when you stop in the middle. If a project needs to remain untouched for three days, make sure you actually have a safe place for it.

Protect the surface underneath
A washable mat, cutting board or inexpensive tray can turn a dining table, coffee table or kitchen counter into a temporary hobby space.

Choose protection based on the materials involved – especially when working with paint, glue, sharp tools or anything that produces heat. Follow product instructions and check your lease or community guidelines before using materials that create strong odors, fumes or excessive noise.

A hobby should improve your week – not create an awkward maintenance request.

Keep frequently used tools together
Store the tools you reach for every time in a small pouch or cup inside the main container. When you sit down, you can begin without searching through every supply you own.

Keep replacement materials and rarely used extras farther back. Easy-to-reach storage should be reserved for the items that help you start.

Let the hobby leave the apartment sometimes
Some hobbies are easier to enjoy when they are not limited to your floor plan.

Bring your book, sketch pad, knitting or journal to a community lounge, outdoor area, local park or coffee shop. If your hobby requires larger tools or special equipment, look for workshops, studios, maker spaces or classes nearby.

You do not need more square footage to try something new – you simply need a setup that makes starting and stopping easy. If flexible spaces and community amenities would give your interests more room to grow, browse RPM Living communities and find a home that fits more of what you love.

How to Make Working From Home Feel Less Like Living at Work

When you are working from home in an apartment, the distance between your desk and your evening plans may be approximately six feet. Without a clear separation, it can feel like you never fully leave work – you simply close the laptop and continue looking at it from the couch.

Keep work within a physical boundary
Even if you do not have a separate office, decide exactly where work is allowed to spread.

It might be one side of the dining table, a desk or a rolling cart that holds your supplies. At the end of the day, everything should fit back inside that boundary.

This keeps one unfinished project from slowly claiming the dining table, kitchen counter and the chair where you planned to relax.

Change the room when work ends
You do not necessarily need to put your entire workspace away. One visible change can tell your brain the workday is over.

Turn your desk chair away from the computer, close the laptop and place it inside a drawer or cover the monitor with a piece of artwork or fabric designed for that purpose. If you use the dining table as a desk, remove the work items and replace them with something unrelated – even if it is simply a bowl or vase.

The goal is to stop your workstation from being the first thing you notice all evening.

Leave yourself a clear starting point
Before signing off, write down the first task you need to complete tomorrow.

A short note such as “finish paragraph three” or “respond to Jordan’s email” is much more helpful than reopening your laptop to a vague list of unfinished work.

This also gives your brain permission to stop mentally rehearsing tomorrow’s schedule while you are trying to watch television.

Separate your work technology
If possible, use different browser profiles for work and personal use. A separate profile can keep bookmarks, logins, email and open tabs from blending together.

You can also remove work apps from your phone’s home screen or silence their notifications after your workday ends, depending on your role and availability expectations.

Nothing ruins a relaxing scroll quite like accidentally discovering an email you were not supposed to think about until morning.

Change what you hear
Sound can help create separation when your surroundings stay the same.

Use one playlist, background sound or pair of headphones only while working. When the day ends, switch it off and play something completely different.

This works particularly well in a studio or one-bedroom apartment where physically moving to another room may not be an option.

Use another space when you need a reset
If your community has a business center, coworking area, outdoor space or clubroom available for resident use, occasionally changing locations can make the week feel less repetitive.

Review amenity hours and policies before setting up. Even working somewhere else for an hour can make returning to your apartment feel more like coming home.

Your home should still feel like yours after the workday ends. If a dedicated workspace or helpful community amenities are part of what you want next, explore RPM Living communities and find a home that works for work – and everything after it.

The End-of-Summer Closet Swap That Does Not Require More Storage

Good end-of-summer closet organization does not require packing away every tank top the moment September appears on the calendar. Late summer weather has a habit of sticking around, which means you need a closet that can handle warm afternoons, cooler mornings and at least one week when the forecast makes absolutely no sense.

Start with what you are still wearing
Before moving anything, look at what you have actually worn over the past two weeks.

Keep those pieces easy to reach, regardless of which season they technically belong to. The weather – not the retail calendar – should decide when your summer clothing moves out of the main rotation.

Anything you have not touched all summer can move into storage first. There is little reason to give prime closet space to a sundress that has already been ignored since May.

Create a small transition section
Choose a narrow section of your closet for pieces that work across seasons.

Lightweight sweaters, denim jackets, button-down shirts and neutral pants can stay together so you can build outfits without searching through two separate wardrobes.

Limit this section to items that can be worn at least three different ways. If something works with only one very specific outfit, it probably does not need a spot in the transition lineup.

Store by fabric instead of season
Not every summer item needs to disappear.

Lightweight cotton shirts and breathable dresses can still work with jackets, boots or other fall layers. Meanwhile, heavy fabrics that will not be comfortable for several more weeks can remain in storage.

Sorting by fabric weight makes more sense than treating September 1 like a mandatory wardrobe deadline.

Use your luggage as temporary storage
If your suitcases sit empty most of the year, use them to hold clothing you will not need for the next few months.

Place clean, completely dry items inside breathable storage bags before putting them into the suitcase. Keep a note on your phone listing what is stored there so you do not buy another black swimsuit next summer because you forgot where the first one went.

Avoid storing anything damp, stained or in need of repair. Future you does not want to reopen that problem six months from now.

Make a separate place for clothing decisions
Keep a bag or basket nearby for items that need to be donated, sold, repaired or cleaned.

Do not mix these pieces back into the closet while you are deciding. Once something returns to a hanger, it has a way of earning another six months without actually being worn.

Give yourself a deadline for dealing with the basket so it does not become a permanent piece of bedroom furniture.

Photograph outfits before putting pieces away
If you found a summer outfit combination you loved, take a quick photo before storing any part of it.

Create an album on your phone for outfits you would wear again. When the season returns, you will already have ideas instead of staring into a full closet and deciding you somehow have nothing to wear.

A thoughtful closet swap is less about finding extra storage and more about using your easiest-to-reach space for the clothing you need now. If more closet space is part of your next-home vision, browse RPM Living communities and find a floor plan that fits your lifestyle.

Your Apartment Laundry Routine Is Missing One Important Step

Most apartment laundry tips focus on sorting colors, checking pockets and remembering to move your clothes before someone else needs the machine. Helpful, yes – but if your clean laundry still feels stiff, smells slightly off or loses its shape too quickly, the problem may be happening somewhere less obvious.

Use less detergent than you think you need
More detergent does not necessarily mean cleaner clothes.

Using too much can leave residue behind, especially when washing smaller loads. That buildup can make towels feel stiff, trap odors and leave dark clothing looking dull.

Check the detergent instructions for your load size and machine type rather than filling the cap automatically. If your clothes feel slippery or overly scented after washing, that may be a sign you are using too much.

Stop crowding the machine
A washing machine needs enough open space for clothing to move through the water.

As a general rule, you should still be able to fit your hand comfortably between the top of the clothes and the inside of the drum. If you have to push everything down to close the door, split the load.

This is especially important for towels, jeans and bedding – all of which become heavier once wet.

Wash items based on texture – not only color
Rougher fabrics can create friction against softer ones.

Try washing jeans, towels and clothing with zippers separately from lightweight shirts, activewear and delicate fabrics. Close zippers before washing and place anything with hooks, straps or Velcro inside a mesh bag.

Your white shirt may survive being washed with a white towel, but that does not mean it enjoyed the experience.

Give damp towels somewhere to go
A towel tossed directly into a hamper may stay damp for hours, creating the perfect conditions for a musty smell.

Hang used towels until they are completely dry before placing them in a hamper. If your hamper has a fabric liner, wash that occasionally, too. Clean clothes will not stay fresh for long in a basket that has been collecting damp fabric for months.

Take laundry out of the machine promptly
Clothing can begin developing an unpleasant smell when it sits wet inside a closed washer.

Set a timer on your phone as soon as you start the load. If your community laundry room is shared, the timer also helps keep machines available for your neighbors.

Before leaving, quickly check the drum and door seal for socks, washcloths or other small items. The missing sock may not be gone forever – it may simply be pressed against the back of the machine.

Let everything dry completely
Clothing that feels even slightly damp should not go into a drawer or closet.

Thicker waistbands, pockets and sweatshirt hoods often take longer to dry than the rest of the item. Give those areas a quick check before folding. If something needs more time, hang it in an open area rather than placing it in a packed closet.

A few small changes can help your clothes feel cleaner, last longer and avoid the dreaded second wash. If an in-home washer and dryer or convenient laundry space is high on your next-home wish list, browse RPM Living communities to explore your options.

Going Out of Town? Don’t Leave Your Plants Hanging

Going on vacation should not end with you returning to wilted leaves and completely dry soil.

Fortunately, most houseplants can handle a short absence with a little preparation. The key is understanding what each plant needs – not giving everything an extra gallon of water on your way out the door.

Start with a plant check
Not every plant needs the same vacation plan.

Succulents and snake plants generally tolerate dry soil better than ferns, calatheas and other moisture-loving varieties. Group your plants based on how quickly their soil dries so you are not treating every pot the same way.

Check the soil before watering. If it still feels moist, adding more water before leaving may do more harm than good.

Water thoroughly – then let everything drain
For plants that need water, give them a thorough drink a day or two before your trip. Allow excess water to drain completely before returning the plants to decorative pots or trays.

Avoid leaving plants in standing water unless you know that method is appropriate for the specific variety.

More water does not necessarily mean your plant can go longer without care – sometimes it simply creates overly wet soil.

Move plants away from direct sunlight
Bright summer sunlight can cause soil to dry more quickly.

Move vulnerable plants a few feet away from windows that receive strong, direct sunlight. Do not place them in a completely dark room – the goal is to reduce the intensity of the light without removing it altogether.

Group plants with similar needs
Placing plants together can help create a slightly more humid environment around them. It also makes things easier if a friend or neighbor will be checking on them.

Group plants with similar watering needs and leave clear instructions. “Give these two half a cup of water on Wednesday” is much more helpful than “Please keep my plants alive.”

Test your watering system before the trip
Wicking systems, watering globes and self-watering planters can be helpful during longer trips, but do not try one for the first time on departure day.

Test your chosen method at least a week before leaving. This gives you time to see how quickly the water moves and whether the soil becomes too wet or stays too dry.

Your vacation should not double as an unsupervised experiment for your pothos.

Skip last-minute repotting and fertilizing
Repotting can temporarily stress a plant, while fertilizer can encourage new growth that may require additional water.

Complete major plant care well before your trip or wait until you return. Right before vacation, your goal should be consistency – not transformation.

Ask for help with longer trips
If you will be gone for more than a week or have particularly sensitive plants, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to check on them.

Move the plants to one accessible area, label anything with unusual needs and provide a measuring cup. Specific instructions can help prevent both underwatering and overly enthusiastic watering.

With a little preparation, you can leave town without worrying about what you will find when you return.

And if your growing plant collection could use better natural light or a little more room, browse RPM Living communities. Your future monstera may appreciate the upgrade.