In a totally transparent bid to capitalize on a cultural celebration (actually, we just really enjoy Chinese New Year—I saw the most amazing dragon in a parade last weekend!—and wanted to write something apartment-related, but we know how this looks and so we’ll just admit upfront to some level of cultural appropriation and beg forgiveness), [...]

Happy Valentine’s Day from My New Place! Remember to show some love to man’s (and woman’s) best friend!

Lest you get TOO excited, this is a list of entirely PG ways for you to let off a little steam this winter: Throw a party, any party All you want to do is curl up under a blanket, we know, but you can only do that for so many hours before it gets a [...]

Before you go calling us big, raging, angry blue-state liberals (not very politically correct of you, by the way), an Anti-Valentine’s Day Party can be for anyone. Happily married? Throw a party in honor of the fact that, once again, you just got chocolate. Happily married and a recipient of jewelry? Throw a party celebrating [...]

A beer gift basket For the beer snobs among us, this will be most welcome, and not your typical gift. More surprising and possibly more weird, or more classy, depending your point of view:  a range of dessert wines. A weekend getaway for one That really mixes it up, doesn’t it—separation as a Valentine’s Day [...]

1.  Homemade Invitations start your party off on the right foot—personal, put-together, and fun. Using recycled paper, the unwritten-on half of old cards, or any other re-purposed materials will keep this part of your planning under budget. 2. Buy your decorations from a discount party store.  Actually, when arranged attractively, a couple dollar streamers can [...]

By MyNewPlace Guest Blogger, Ron Leshnower – About.com’s Apartment Living Expert! Each new year is an opportunity for improvement. So, January is a time when many people begin to act on a resolution to join a gym, start a diet, adopt a savings plan, or attempt to quit smoking, with the goal of enjoying a [...]

If you’re feeling those mid-winter blues, looking around your apartment and needing something different, a little online shopping might be just the thing.  Want to make some relatively small but crucial changes in your décor?  Etsy.com is a particularly good spot—all the items are handmade by individual craftspeople, and there is such a range of [...]

Moving into a new apartment in the new year? Here are a few things you’ll want to be sure to have around on your first day! If you’re moving from an old apartment into a new one, be sure to label your boxes well so that you know where to find the essentials. You may [...]

Best wishes to you and yours from the whole MyNewPlace family!