Blog Posts

Homemade Marshmallows

It’s no secret that winter is the time for warm and cozy drinks, especially in your apartment in Starkville, MS. From a steamy latte to rich cocoa, having a warm cup in your hands just makes winter feel magical! If you’re looking for something sweet to top your drink, we’ve found a fun recipe for homemade marshmallows. We found this homemade marshmallows recipe from Ashlee Marie. She says “I’m just a little in love with marshmallows – They are good with pretty much everything…. S’mores, Hot chocolate, Cake, Donuts, ice cream and of course by themselves. I honestly can’t think of much I WOULDN’T enjoy with marshmallows. And HOMEMADE marshmallows are EASY and OH so good!” The recipe certainly takes some effort, but we think it’s entirely worth it! Ingredients 3 Tbsp gelatin 1/3 C cold water 3 C sugar 1 1/2 C water 1 1/2 tsp vanilla 1/3 C cornstarch 1/3 C powdered sugar Instructions Soak the gelatin in the 1/3 of a cup of cold water in a small bowl and set aside to swell for 10 minutes. In a large saucepan dissolve the sugar in the 1 1/2 C of water over low heat, stirring constantly. Add the swollen gelatin and dissolve. Raise the temperature and bring to a boil. Boil steadily, but not vigorously, for 15 minutes without stirring. Remove from the heat and allow to cool until lukewarm. Pour into a bowl, or mixer and add the vanilla and beat the mixture until very thick and white. Spray a 9x13 pan (or 9x9 inch pan for taller marshmallows) with bakers joy and let set Cut into squares and dust with a mixture of cornstarch and icing sugar. You could even add different flavors to your marshmallows with these ideas from McCormick! We can’t wait to try the Very Berry and Cocoa Almond flavors. Enjoy this sweet treat with your cocoa! Thanks for reading the Block Townhomes blog!

Starkville Events

So the holiday season is here again! We’re busy with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, with a touch of celebrating sprinkled in here and there. From the food and decor to gifts and parties, there’s a lot to do and even more memories to be made. At the Block Townhomes in Starkville, MS, we are all about memorable holiday traditions. What better way to celebrate than head to your local winter events? Attending local community events is a great way to feel at home in your city. If you’ve got visitors coming in from out of town, this is a great thing to take them to. You’ll be able to support local vendors and economy as well as have fun! These events are usually annual so you can incorporate them into your own traditions. Many city and community events will have information online with regards to hours, tickets, and locations. Do some research beforehand like where to park or where to eat. We found this site that is a great resource for happenings in Starkville. The site says “The Holiday Season in Starkville features our unique blend of old-fashioned Christmas traditions and New South shopping experiences, all centered around a yearly theme. With annual events like Christmas Open House, Holiday Bazaar, the Starkville Christmas Parade and Holiday Tour of Homes, there is plenty of Ho Ho Ho for everyone young and old!” The Christmas Tour of Home is sure to be a favorite. This event takes place December 4 from 1-5:30 pm. Head to the site for more information. From the Mississippi State University site , we found the Oak Ridge Boys Christmas Night Out. This is on December 8 at 7:30 pm. The site says, “The Oak Ridge Boys will celebrate the season in their own dynamic fashion on their 27th Annual Christmas Night Out Tour. The group draws from its six best-selling Christmas CDs for nearly two hours of traditional and contemporary songs, including religious selections harking back to the quartet's gospel roots.” We hope you have lots of fun this holiday season. Thanks for reading the Block Townhomes Blog.

Holiday Home Scents

This season, it’s getting a little cooler outside and we’re spending more time inside! At The Block Townhomes we are all about making our homes as cozy as possible. We’ve found a few tricks and tips for personalizing your home’s scent! Scent is one of the strongest memory triggers, for example, do you remember walking into your grandma’s house and knowing exactly where you were because of the smell? That’s what we’re talking about. Each time you walk in your front door taking a deep breath of something fresh and cozy scented is a huge bonus. There are several alternatives for creating a welcoming scent available depending on preference, lifestyle, and budget. You can certainly find candles for upwards of $50 at home decor stores, but your local drugstore will also have them for a lot less money. All kinds of different scents and styles are available depending on the season and your own personal preferences. From simmer pots to essential oil diffusers there are many options when it comes to spreading a pleasant aroma. These tips from Bright Nest teach you how to create your own personal home scent: Two people, one perfume, two totally different scents. If you’ve ever complimented a friend’s perfume only to try it yourself and be disappointed, you know how true this is. That happens because when you layer a perfume over your body’s natural scent, the presence of one smell (or note) will alter the perception of the other. And the same idea applies to the smells in your home! To create complex and lovely aromas at home, it’s important to pay attention to the layers. Try pairing a top, middle and base note . . . to create a pleasant and appealing fragrance that becomes your home’s “signature” scent. We also found some tips from Hello Glow on how to create combinations using essential oils, check out the how-to here . If candles are more your style, but you don’t want to risk a fire hazard, battery powered luminaries are a great alternative. These come in a wide range of styles and sizes. Battery powered candles still give the flickering ambience of a candle, but without the risk! What are your favorite home scents? Let us know what you find in the comments and where your favorite places in Starkville are to get candles, essential oils, etc. Thanks for reading today’s blog post!