Blog Posts

Giving Meaningful Gifts

Picking out the right gift for each one of your family members and closest friends can seem like a pretty daunting task when the holidays are right around the corner. This month, we at The Block Townhomes Blog are here to help you find the perfect gift! Try some of these thoughtful ideas for a gift that is sure to be remembered. Something Nostalgic Giving something nostalgic is great because the person receiving it may have fond memories related to the gift, especially if those memories involve you. You can try printing out a photo of a memorable experience you had together and find the perfect frame for it. Throwbacks are so popular on social media for a reason! If you remember one of their favorite toys or comic books from all those years ago, you can look for a used — yet in good condition — version of it online. Either of these will surely bring a smile to their face, and they’ll probably appreciate it for much longer than something they have no emotion connected to yet. Something Passed Down A gift like this could really mean a lot to someone who finds joy in the personal history behind the things they own. It might be an item that once belonged to a loved one who has recently passed on, a charming piece of ceramic decor from a local antique shop that reminded you of them, or a family heirloom that might add meaning and beauty to their home and to their life. Thanks for visiting The Block Townhomes Blog! If you have any ideas to add to our post, please share them with the rest of our apartment community by leaving a comment below. We hope you have a great month here in Starkville, MS or wherever you might be celebrating the holidays! Good luck finding that perfect gift and more importantly, happy holidays!

The Benefits of Expressing Gratitude

At this time each year, you probably get bombarded by reminders to be thankful. Your cousin is doing a daily gratitude post on Instagram; your best friend decided to start a gratitude journal; the community group you attend invites a speaker to present on the subject. It may be easy to look past the principle of gratitude, but did you know there is research showing that those who express gratitude regularly are healthier and happier than those who don’t? This month of November, we here at The Block Townhomes Blog invite you to browse through these 31 benefits of gratitude you didn’t know about and start practicing a few things that help you reap these benefits. Here are a few of our favorites you can enjoy in your Starkville, MS apartment this month: More Optimistic There is a strong correlation between gratitude and optimism. Since a natural result of optimism is a happier mood, it in turn improves your overall health, and it’s likely to even end up adding a few more years to your life! If something as simple as spending five minutes a day reviewing what you are grateful for could have that large of an impact, we say it’s worth it! Better Sleep Gratitude will improve how quickly you fall asleep, how well you sleep, and the amount of time you stay asleep. When we fall asleep, we are oftentimes focused on the things that made us worry throughout the day. This will stress us out, and in turn, keep us up longer at night. Instead, try to identify a few things that you were thankful for that day. It will help you to relax and doze off into a deep sleep much faster! More Resilience People who cultivate an attitude of gratitude are more capable of bouncing back after something unexpected happens and rolling with the punches. When they experience a hard time, they’re more likely to reach out to someone who cares about them, which in turn decreases their likelihood of suffering PTSD in the future. Rather than being knocked down in times of difficulty, they are more likely to grow from these times. Deeper Relationships Developing a habit of expressing your gratitude means you are more likely to thank those you are closest to more sincerely, and more often. Sharing your deep gratitude with someone for what they bring to your life will help them know they mean something to you, and it’s bound to make them feel better as well. Consequently, you’ll develop a deeper connection with that person. Goal Achievement One study showed that those who keep a gratitude journal report more success at achieving their goals. Of course, one study can’t predict how everyone will fare, but it goes to show that if anything, taking some time to do a physical thing every day to express your gratitude won’t hinder your progress. It might even help you accomplish more! Thanks for reading, and have a happy Thanksgiving!

Homemade Fall Soups

Fall is the perfect time to enjoy a warm bowl of filling soup in the comfort of your apartment. The Block Townhomes Blog is sharing five homemade soup recipes in today’s post that you need to try. After tasting the deliciousness of homemade soup, you’ll never want to go back to the store bought version that comes in a can. Chicken Tortilla Soup from Genius Kitchen Enjoy all the flavors and spices of a chicken enchilada in this chicken tortilla soup. To make it, you will need the following ingredients: olive oil, onion, garlic cloves, jalapeno, green pepper, chicken breasts, frozen corn, water or dry white wine, cumin, chili powder, cayenne pepper, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Serve with your favorite brand of tortilla chips. Apple Bacon Tomato Soup from All Recipes A flavorful and soothing soup featuring sauteed apples and chopped bacon. What you will need: bacon, olive oil, white onion, minced garlic, beef stock, pinto beans, Italian-style stewed tomatoes, celery stalks, a bay leaf, medium-sized apple, red wine, salt, and pepper. French Onion Soup from Gimme Some Oven French onion soup is, in our humble opinion, a fall staple. Gimme Some Oven has her own delicious version of this classic soup, complete with a delicious cheese-and-baguette topping. The soup itself is a delightful burst of flavor and perfectly caramelized onions. Trust us, after trying this recipe, you’ll never go back to the restaurant version ever again. Roasted Tomato Basil Soup from The Food Network Smooth and creamy, this is how tomato soup should be. This fresh, homemade version is so much better than any canned version you will find. To make it, you will need ripe plum tomatoes, olive oil, salt, black pepper, yellow onions, minced garlic, unsalted butter, red pepper flakes, canned plum tomatoes with the juice, fresh basil leaves, fresh thyme, and chicken stock or water. Loaded Baked Potato Soup from Damn Delicious Looking for a rich and filling soup? Look no further! This loaded baked potato soup has everything you love about a fully loaded baked potato, but in soup form. Ingredients include the following: sliced bacon, unsalted butter, flour, milk, russet potatoes (peeled), green onions, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, salt, and ground black pepper. Share your favorite homemade soup recipes with the rest of our Starkville, MS apartment community in the comments. Thanks for reading our post.

Back to School Tips

As the summer draws to a close, it’s time to prepare for another semester of classes. The Block Townhomes wants to help residents of our Starkville, MS apartment community to prepare for a successful school year, so we are sharing a few tips. Designate a Study Space Our minds and bodies thrive on routine. Set up a quiet space for studying with everything that you will need and keep it tidy and organized. Avoid studying on your bed or in your bedroom because your body and mind is already trained to know that is where you go to sleep. Your study space should be an area free from clutter and noise that could easily distract you. Shop for Supplies This can be a fun part of your back to school preparations. Gather up all the supplies you already have and then go shopping for the ones that you still need. If you are thrifty or on a limited budget, look for back to school sales and specials. Look for school supplies that are both functional and a reflection of your style or personality. Plan Out Your New Schedule Take some time to sit down and write down your new schedule. Prepare yourself by blocking out study time into your schedule so that you are more likely to actually do it. A good standard is two hours of study time for every hour that you are in class. Set time aside for meals, laundry and chores, and sleep. One of the hardest parts of college is managing your time efficiently, but with planning it is doable. Study Buddy or Study Group Find someone or a few people that you feel comfortable studying with. It’s probably best if you have similar classes so that you can help each other when you have questions or don’t understand the assignments. It’s probably a good idea not to study with your close friends because you may distract one another and as a result, not much studying will get done. Share your best back to school success tips with us in the comments. Thanks for reading our post. Good luck!

Adventure Novels to Read Before Summer Ends

In need of an adventure this summer? The Block Townhomes Blog is here to help! In today’s post, we are sharing several adventure novels that will allow you to embark on a new adventure without leaving your Starkville, MS apartment. You will be able to dive into new worlds and epic quests without having to leave the comfort of your air conditioned apartment. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne Jules Verne gives us the classic tale of undersea adventure aboard the Nautilus. When a sea monster begins attacking ships, the world unites to find and destroy the unknown creature. Monsieur Aronnax joins the fight and is tossed from his boat to find himself aboard an amazing vessel. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Dumas’ classic revenge story is also the ultimate adventure story, centered on a man who is wrongly imprisoned and who escapes, makes a fortune, and seeks to get back at his enemies. All of this is set against the backdrop of one of the most politically and militarily unsettled periods of European history—a moment when it seemed literally anything might happen, lending the story an urgency that still pops off the page today. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien Whisked from his comfortable hobbit-hole by Gandalf the wizard and a band of dwarves, Bilbo Baggins finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. The Odyssey by Homer Ten years after the Trojan War and the events of The Iliad, Odysseus still hasn’t found his way home. When some of the gods relent and try to help, he finally has his chance—but of course must go through a new series of adventures beforehand. Do you have a favorite adventure novel? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post. We hope you have an adventure filled summer!

Summer Themed Jokes

Have you ever heard the saying, “laughter is the best medicine”? We aren’t too sure about that, but we do know that laughter is important, which is why we are sharing a few seasonal jokes in today’s The Block Townhomes Blog post. Read on for a dose of summer-themed humor to brighten your month here in Starkville, MS. Q: Where do fish go on vacation? A: They don’t, because they are always in school. Q: What do you call a snowman in July? A: A puddle. Q: What do you get when you combine an elephant with a fish? A: Swimming trunks. Q: Where do sharks go on vacation? A: Finland! Q: What is brown, hairy, and wears sunglasses? A: A coconut on vacation. Q: Why do bananas use sunscreen? A: So that they don’t peel! Q: What did the ocean say to the sailboat? A: Nothing, it just waved. Q: What does a shark eat for dinner? A: Fish and ships! Q: Why don’t seagulls fly over the bay? A: Because then they’d be bagels! Q: Where did the sheep go on vacation? A: The Baa-hamas. Q: Why don’t oysters share their pearls? A: Because they are shellfish. Q: What did the bread do on vacation? A: It loafed around. Q: Why didn’t the elephant buy a suitcase for his summer vacation? A: Because he already had a trunk. Q: Why do golfers carry an extra pair of socks? A: In case they get a hole in one. Which joke was your favorite? We hope you got a good laugh from at least a few of them! Let us know in the comments and feel free to share your best jokes with the rest of the apartment community. We hope you have a fantastic summer filled with new and exciting adventures and plenty of laughter.