We understand moving is stressful no matter how much you prepare. Whether you’re moving across the hall or across the country, there are many steps you should take before packing all your valuables in boxes. As experts in the art of a smooth move, read on for our top tips when it comes to moving.

First, there are many factors to consider when moving. Do you need a moving truck? Are you moving into a smaller space? A bigger space? How far are you moving? These are just a few of the factors to consider when making arrangements. Depending on your situation, you’ll need to adjust your game plan.

Before you move, purge anything you haven’t used within the past year. Moving truck space is valuable because it’s finite. If you can’t fit something, you either need a bigger truck or it’s not worth bringing. Plan to donate or trash several items in the weeks before your move. Getting rid of a few items is a win-win situation: the more you decide you don’t need, the less you have to move.

Once you have consolidated your belongings down to the essentials, you can begin packing. Our tip: pack room-by-room. For example, if you pack your dining room materials together, you’re more likely to have a smooth transition and not misplace items along the way. When you get to your new space, you’ll know everything “dining” is together. This way, if you don’t have time to unpack everything immediately, you can easily prioritize what to unpack first.

For belongings that can fit in a box, we suggest purchasing cardboard moving boxes. Using boxes you already own can be tempting, but often aren’t as sturdy and are difficult to carry. Moving boxes are great for stacking and can uniformly fit in a moving truck or car. Be sure to label every box on the top and at least one side so you can easily spot your organized boxes every time. Also, use smaller boxes for heavier items. When you put heavy items in large boxes, it can be tempting to fill the box to the point where it becomes too heavy to carry.

Aside from packing, there are a few steps you will need to take to make sure your bills and other utilities are covered during the move. Try scheduling your disconnect times so you are strategically covered in both homes with as little overlap as possible. Sometimes your apartment home management will take care of this for you, but you should always double check. You should also change your permanent address before you move so you continue to get any outstanding bills at the correct location.

Want a pain-free moving experience? Try using a professional moving company! If you’re looking for suggestions, contact our leasing center and we can provide assistance. We hope this has been a helpful guide and we wish all our residents (past, present and future) a successful move!

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Trick or Treat! Halloween is a few days away and we know most people are in a panic to create a last-minute costume. No matter your level of creativity, we’ve made a list of a few easy costume ideas for all ages and even a few suggestions for pets. Read below for some creative (and easy) Halloween costume suggestions!

Costume: Gumball Machine

What you’ll need:

Multicolor pom poms

A black/white top

Red skirt/pants (the gumball machine)

Black felt (the 25-cent coin slot)

Glue gun and sticks

Steps: Hot glue the pom poms to the shirt to create the “gumball” portion. Use the felt to cut out and create the 25-cent slot. Glue the “money slot” on the red skirt/pants to create the “machine/stand” portion.

Costume: Harry Potter

What you’ll need:

Red and gold striped scarf

Black, round, glasses

Red face paint

Black robe

Steps: Draw a lightening bolt shaped scar on forehead. Throw on the robes, scarf, and glasses, and poof! You’re a Hogwarts legend.

Costume: Holy Guacamole

What you’ll need:

Green t-shirt

Printed photos of avocados

Angel wings

Halo

Steps: Glue printed photos of avocados to a green shirt. Add angel attire and now you’re the puniest person at the party.

Costume: Bunch of Grapes

What you’ll need:

Black t-shirt

Black pants

A pack of purple balloons

Tape or hot glue

Steps: Tape or glue inflated purple balloons to your neutral under clothes. For an added detail, wear a green beanie to create a grape stem.

The anti-costume: Error 404

Steps: Find a local t-shirt screen printer or draw on a t-shirt “Error 404 Costume Not Found.” This is a snarky and minimal effort costume for even the most last minute of decisions.

Owner/Pet costume: Vendor and Hotdog

What you’ll need:

Red apron

White shirt

Chef hat

Doggie hotdog costume

Owner/Pet costume: Little Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Wolf

What you’ll need:

Red fabric/hood

A basket of goodies

If your pup’s ears aren’t ferocious enough, add large black fluffy ears to mimic a wolf.

We hope our suggestions sparked your imagination and that you can pull together an easy and creative Halloween costume. Have a safe and spooky Halloween!

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Holly Kerns – Property Manager

Holly has a son, Jack (11), and daughter, Macy (9). She’s usually the one taking all of the pictures but does love Snapchat and selfies! She loves her Wheaten Terrier, Daisy, flamingos, painting, decorating and hanging out at the pool.

Walt Kuebler – Maintenance Supervisor

In Walt’s free time, he is an avid fisherman and loves to camp – in any kind of weather. He enjoys cooking, and if you are lucky, you might get to try some of his famous salmon dip!

Stacey Cress – Assistant Property Manager

Stacey has professionally taught horseback riding lessons for eight years. She likes to read, and her favorite authors are James Patterson and Nora Roberts. This time of year, you can find her enjoying a campfire!

Ashley Martin – Leasing Consultant

Ashley loves to golf, even though she’s awful at it. Her seven-year-old daughter is her best friend. Ashley is terribly afraid of heights (thankfully Mosaic isn’t a high-rise!), and she’s the biggest Beastie Boys fan you'll ever meet!

Jason Gildemeister – Maintenance Technician

Jason enjoys watching football, especially the Dallas Cowboys. His favorite activities outdoors include kayaking and fishing. He loves to catch a movie, but mostly stays busy with the kid’s activities!

Rex – Resident Director

Rex is our onsite “resident director,” who enjoys the outdoors and staying active. He likes bike riding, dancing and spending time with his dog, Spike.

The post Meet the Team appeared first on Mosaic at Levis Commons Blog.

First, you should ask the host if they have anything they need you to bring. Chances are, they have something in mind that will go well with the food or drinks they are serving or that other guests are already bringing. Spinach and artichoke dip is great and all, but no party needs three separate servings. Or does it…?

If the host doesn’t have any suggestions, you can never go wrong with bringing a simple dessert. One of our favorites? Red velvet cake pops. Check out a simple recipe here. 

Pro-tip: Never show up empty handed. A bottle of wine or champagne is typically a safe bet, just be sure not to cheap out with $5 wine. Go for the $15-$20 range and you’re set. Or, if your host is more of a beer or spirits lover, that’ll do too.

Lastly, be sure you know who the general party attendees will be. If it’s an adults-only party, don’t bring your kids and unless the host is a pet fanatic, don’t bring your pets. However, if it’s an open invite, the more the merrier!

With these tips, you’ll be set to go about holiday party hopping like a pro. Best of luck and have a very happy holiday from Mosaic at Levis Commons!

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