1. Pumpkin, Meet Apple

While it might seem comparable to mating a Chihuahua with a German Shepard, if you find an apple gourd you’ll immediately be struck by the intense light flecks in the flesh. While this is not an edible variety, the apple gourds are extremely popular for their use in arts and crafts. However, after a few weeks of drying out, the greenish hue will transform into a more appropriate shade of brown or orange.

2. Daisy Gourds

We associate daisies with flowers, but in the gourd scene, this open-pollinated variety simply has an unusual ‘daisy-like’ flower pattern on the stem of the fruit. They come in shades of yellow, green, and orange and are small enough to fit ideally into baskets or serve as complementary decorations around the home. If you choose to keep the stems attached, you can even hang them on a trellis, the patio rail, or a porch arbor.

3. Extra Long Varieties

If you truly want to have a show stopper appearance with your gourd collection, consider adding the long-handled variety, aka ‘dippers’. With a bulbous end and a curved handle, you buy these anywhere between the range of two to three feet in size, so make sure to have ample space for them.

4. Speckled Swan

Add a bit of green to your gourd collection with the fascinating Speckled Swan breed. They can grow up to 8 inches across but have a flat base that allows it to serve as a perfect centerpiece for surrounding with other smaller gourds. However, the sweeping, curved base furthermore establishes elegance, so it’s ideal for a dining table or mantle adornment.

Find an Ideal Apartment in Flagstaff at Country Club Vista

If you are ready to find your perfect home in the Southwest, contact us today to take a virtual tour of our available Flagstaff apartments.

The post 4 Types of Gourds to Spruce Up Your Space for Fall appeared first on Country Club Vista Apartments Blog.

Summer just requires delicious beverages. If you can make them healthy, all the better. These are some cool mocktail recipes we hope our Country Club Vista community members in Flagstaff, Arizona, will enjoy.

Virgin Blackberry-Lime Margarita

Let’s improve on the margarita with this splendid and healthy substitute.

Gather These Ingredients

• 6 cups of water
• 3 cups of fresh blackberries
• 1 cup of pure cane sugar
• 1 cup fresh lime juice
• Orange wedges and fresh blackberries
• Fruity drink beverage umbrellas

How to Prepare

Place blackberries and 1 cup of water in a blender. Mix until they reach a smooth texture, and then pour through a fine strainer into a large pitcher. Stir in the other 5 cups of water with sugar and lime juice until granules have dissolved. Pour the mocktail over ice and garnish with orange wedges, fresh blackberries and a colorful cocktail umbrella. It is that simple!

Mock Cherry Mojitos

Mojitos are all the rage on cruise ships, all-inclusive resorts and trendy bars. This mocktail is a new take!

Gather These Ingredients

• 1 pound of frozen, pitted cherries
• 3 cups of crushed ice
• ½ cup of fresh mint leaves
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 cup of water
• 3 limes (juiced)
• 2 oranges sliced into wedges
• Maraschino cherries
• Fruity drink beverage umbrellas

How to Prepare

Stir the water, sugar and lime juice in a saucepan over medium heat until the mixture reaches a full boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and stir for about five minutes. Remove from heat and let the lime juice syrup cool.

In a blender, mix the cherries, ice, mint and the lime juice syrup until smooth. Simply pour into glasses and garnish with orange wedges, maraschino cherries and a fun umbrella. 

We hope our Country Club Vista community members find these mocktail ideas helpful. If you or a friend would like more information about our Flagstaff apartments, call us today.

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Dry winter skin gets hard to ignore as the coldest season of the year stretches on. Fortunately, there are some fun things you can do to tackle dry skin. Homemade scrubs are a great way to exfoliate and moisturize at the same time, and you can customize them with an almost endless variety of ingredients.

Here are four DIY scrubs that will leave your skin feeling great!

4 DIY Body Scrubs for Winter Skin

1. Avocado & Almond Scrub

1 avocado

1 cup ground oatmeal

1/3 cup ground almonds

Avocado can be just as amazing on your skin as it is in your favorite dishes. Its rich texture is lovely on your skin, moisturizing and smells great. Ground oatmeal and ground almonds provide the necessary abrasiveness to shed old skin.

2. Honey & Salt Scrub

½ cup honey

½ cup sea salt

Honey smells wonderful and moisturizes as you rub it in, while sea salt cleanses the roughness away and leave you with soft skin.

3. Coffee Scrub

¼ cup olive oil

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Peppermint oil

½ cup coffee grounds

This scrub is perfect for those mornings when you need a little lift. The rich aroma of the coffee stimulates your senses and the olive oil moisturizes.

4. Olive Oil Scrub

½ cup sea salt

¼ cup olive oil

½ cup brown sugar

Essential oil of your choice

This olive oil scrub covers all the bases of an enriching, moisturizing and exfoliating scrub. The brown sugar adds a nice textural difference and aroma, and you can customize the aroma even more with an essential oil of your choice.

Here for all Your Flagstaff Apartment Rental Needs

As your management team, we are dedicated to making your rental experience positive. Please check back with us for more great ideas, and contact us with any questions about our Flagstaff apartments!

The post 4 DIY Scrubs to Rehydrate Winter Skin appeared first on Country Club Vista Apartments Blog.

Annual Recycled Art Show

This annual show features works of art from artists throughout Coconino County. What sets this art show apart from others is that each piece of art is made from recycled materials. From April 1st through April 30th, visitors can see the entire recycled art exhibition at the Flagstaff Mall.  

Annual Zuni Festival of Arts and Culture

This event, which takes place at the Museum of Northern Arizona on May 27th and 28th, celebrates Zuni arts and culture. The festival features works by more than 50 artists, including contemporary works of art and more traditional ones. Attendees can also enjoy live musical performances and dances and learn more about Zuni culture from informative lectures. 

Backcountry Tour of Wupatki National Monument Agricultural Sites

This tour takes place during Archaeology Month at Walnut Canyon National Monument. The tour, which will be held on March 30th, gives visitors a chance to go on a guided hike through Wupatki National Monument to see agricultural features and pueblos. Visitors can also expect to learn more about agricultural practices in the region. 

Spring Plant Sale and Celebration

Visitors who want to stock up on spring plants can head to The Arboretum at Flagstaff for this annual sale on May 28th. Native wildflowers, heirloom vegetables and more will be available, along with expert gardeners for questions and answers. Visitors can also explore the butterfly house at the arboretum.

Lyrids Meteor Shower at Lowell Observatory

Stargazers can visit the Lowell Observatory to catch the Lyrids Meteor Shower on April 22nd. During this event, visitors can learn more about this meteor shower and enjoy family-friendly activities.  

Our community in Flagstaff, AZ hosts free events for residents. Contact us to learn more about our available Flagstaff apartments.

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From Your Flagstaff Apartments to the Closest Pumpkin Patch

Nothing says fall quite like pumpkins, and a visit to one of the local area pumpkin patches is a great way to kick off the fall season. You can soak up the fun atmosphere, learn more about pumpkin growing and pick your very own Halloween pumpkin. 

Show Your Fall Spirit on Your Apartment Patio or Balcony

People often decorate for Christmas, but fall decorations are sometimes forgotten. This year, consider going all out with fall decor on your apartment patio or balcony. From scarecrows to pumpkins to mini hay bales, you can create a fun decor that will look nice for the whole fall season. Make up a batch of apple cider and make the decorating a fun mini-party opportunity with family or friends!

Conquer a Corn Maze

The Flagstaff area is close to a couple of corn mazes, which can be a great way to bring in the fall season. Corn mazes in the area include fun activities like rides for the kids, tractor-drawn rides in a giant wagon and even chili and pumpkin parties on the weekends. Corn mazes are a fun and unique way to enjoy the great outdoors as the weather starts to cool down a bit, and they are fun for all ages. 

Fall is a favorite season for the staff and residents at Country Club Vista in Flagstaff. Give us a call today to learn more about the beautiful apartment homes that are available this fall!

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