Whether you’ve just made the transition from school to work, or have been grinding away at the office for years, it goes without saying that young professionals today are busy multi-taskers. When it comes to making meals, keeping recipes as simple as possible is key, so is having the right foundation ingredients. To help you plan ahead, Timbercreek Communities has put together this list of 14 ingredients every young professional should have in their kitchen. Keep them on hand so that you can whip up whatever you like, without having to put too much thought into the grocery list.

Flour

Flour is the base for so much of what we eat today --  breads, muffins, cakes, fritters, beer-battered delights and more. This glutinous staple has been a standby for hundreds, if not thousands of years, and for good reason.

Salt

This one speaks for itself. Salt goes well on just about any dish, and bumps up the bland ones. Just be careful you don’t overdo it — too much sodium can be detrimental to your diet. Foodies will love the many varieties of specialty salt now available in premium grocery stores like Whole Foods — they make a great finishing touch on your dish. If you’re health conscious, try some pink Himalayan salt — it contains all the minerals your body needs to thrive.

Pepper 

Salt’s spicy counterpart, pepper, will amp up any savoury dish to its full potential. For added freshness, arm your spice arsenal with a pepper mill and a stocked supply of peppercorns. Foodies will love experimenting with different varieties of pepper like pink and red peppercorns which taste subtly different. Health conscious people should try it with turmeric, a powerful anti-inflammatory spice that becomes much more absorbable when paired with pepper.

Tomato paste 

Though it's not delicious on its own, this canned treasure plays a big role in many dishes - like tomato sauce, chili, curry, shepherd’s pie and stew. Check out these great ideas for what to do with leftover tomato paste.

Lemon 

You can’t go wrong with having a lemon handy at all times. Dressings, juices, soups and salads all incorporate this wonderful, tart fruit. Not to mention lemon water — which, according to many, is great for digestive health.

Ginger 

Ginger plays a starring and supporting role in many classic dishes. Curries, soups and sauces all incorporate this invigorating spice. Fresh ginger and hot water makes a great digestion enhancing tea. Be sure to keep this one in your kitchen, it's available at grocery stores in either fresh root or powder-form.

Sugar 

From sweets like pies, cakes and cookies, to more savoury dishes like baked ham, sugared sirloins, or eggplant parmesan, this granulated cane product comes in handy more often than you’d think.

Garlic 

An age-old flavour-booster, key ingredient in many recipes and wellness aide, garlic is essentially, a miracle food. Check out some great uses for it here.

Onion 

This layered vegetable has many uses, but is primarily used to infuse a distinct, delicious savoury flavour into anything from sandwiches and salads, to pastas and wraps.

Vinegar 

This thin, acidic liquid will come in handy more often than not. Whether you have malt vinegar, apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, white vinegar, balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar or anything in between — from vinaigrettes to cleaning solutions, this ingredient is a must-have for your cupboard. Check out some of its many household uses here.

Olive oil  

A frying pan staple, this wholesome oil will come in handy in many instances. And remember, even though it's fattening, it’s good fat!

Pasta 

Cheap, quick and easy to make — a box or two of pasta should always be in your cupboard. You never know when Uncle Tony might stop by for some spaghetti.

Soy sauce 

Like vinegar, soy sauce plays a major role in many dishes, especially Asian dishes. It offers an umami-packed saltiness and can add a lot of depth of flavour to your recipes. Check out some great recipes for this food staple here.

Parmesan

Who doesn’t love cheese? Shaved parmesan is what makes a Caesar salad so delicious, and the secret ingredient that adds rich flavour to countless pasta sauces. We prefer buying good quality parmesan in block form and grating it fresh but powdered parmesan will kick up just about any savoury dish too if you’re on a budget. Be sure to keep this exquisite cheese in your fridge at all times.

We hope you use this list to stock up on food items that will come in handy over and over again.

For more information on Timbercreek Rental Communities across Canada, please visit our website.

There is nothing more important than the air we breathe. Air pollution is usually something we think of as an outdoor, environmental issue that we have little power over. What about the air inside our home? Indoor air quality is really important for good health, and something you have the power to improve. You can opt for an air purifier appliance, or go for something as simple and beautiful as an air cleaning plant. Adding one of these amazing air cleaning plants to your home will help you breath easy.

Spider Plant

Spider Plants are a very easy plant to grow and keep healthy. They help you stay healthy in return by filtering air pollutants such as formaldehyde and xylene. These plants like bright, direct sunlight and don’t require much watering, making them ideal for beginners and those lacking green thumbs.

Dracaena

There are over 40 varieties of Dracaena plants, from 3 inch cuties to towering specimens, making it easy to find the type that is right for you. They are great at scrubbing the air of pollutants such as benzene. Pet owners may want to steer clear of this plant as they can be toxic to cats and dogs.

Aloe Vera

In addition to filtering pollutants such a formaldehyde from the air, Aloe Vera plants can offer various other health benefits. The succulent leaves are filled with a gel that's loaded with vitamins, enzymes and amino acids. Aloe vera gel is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and is great for healing wounds.

Peace Lily

When you give Peace Lilies a chance, they reward you with their beautiful flowers. It's easy to fall out of touch with your plants’ needs, but these guys droop a little to let you know they need water. If you take care of them, they’ll repay you by extracting carbon monoxide and formaldehyde from the air.

Boston Fern

Caring for your Boston Fern isn’t difficult, but they do require specific conditions to thrive.Keep them in a cool location, with indirect light and high humidity, and they will thrive and clean your air, while looking beautiful.

Bamboo Palm

The bold and beautiful Bamboo Palm thrives in bright light. They are great air filters for benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene, partly because they can grow so large and leafy. They can stand anywhere between 4 to 12 feet tall, making them a dramatically lovely indoor addition.

Timbercreek Communities hopes that this list of the best air cleaning plants for your home helps to add a little beauty and a breath of fresh air to your life.

For more information on Timbercreek Rental Communities, please visit our website.

Being a renter rather than a homeowner certainly has its benefits — no mortgage, no lawn care, and no buyer’s remorse. However, being a tenant means you typically need to make the most of your time, space and money. That’s why the team at Timbercreek Communities has pulled together this quick list of the best laundry hampers for apartment living. These hampers stay out of the way, leaving you with more open space to enjoy.

Collapsible 

Whether your laundry journey includes a trip around the block, or a trip down the stairs, a collapsible hamper is a great option because it can easily be stored in small areas (even zipped up in your backpack), while you wait for laundry to finish. Check out these thrifty pop-up baskets from Bed Bath and Beyond – complete with a durable and ultra-convenient side pocket for detergent.

Under-the-bed 

Shoving items under the bed is usually a lazy approach to organization, but in this case, it’s genius. Under-the-bed hampers take all the unsightliness of laundry right out of the equation, and allow you to maximize your room space at the same time. Check out this cute, convenient and inexpensive storage box from Ikea.

Back-of-the-door 

There’s nothing better than a good opportunity to de-clutter your apartment. Ok, maybe weekends, beaches and chocolate take the cake, but, de-cluttering is pretty great, too! With a back-of-the-door hamper, you can free up floor space as quickly as you can hang up a coat. Check out this simple, sleek over-the-door hanging hamper from Wayfair.

Wheeled 

Lugging laundry around can be exhausting – give yourself (and your back) a break, and make laundry a breeze with a wheeled basket. These handy hampers are stylish, practical and will make laundry feel like less of a chore.

Corner

Isn’t it great when things pair together perfectly? Peas and carrots, wine and cheese — your bedroom and a corner hamper. You need one of these in your life! The Bay has a perfect option which will free up space in your bedroom and even freshen up your laundry with a special enzyme enhanced fabric lining. It’s the hamper of the future!

We hope you find the right laundry basket for you, one that makes life a little easier and maximizes the space in your rental.

For more information on Timbercreek’s Rental Communities in provinces all across Canada, please visit our website.

Did the holidays break the bank this year? There’s no need to panic! Now that life is getting back to normal, Timbercreek Communities has you covered with 5 ways to ease back into frugal living after the Holidays.

Plan and Prepare Your Meals

Waiting until you are hungry is not the healthiest or most cost effective way to eat. You will likely grab fast food you’re craving instead of preparing a healthy well-balanced meal. Preparing meals at home is healthier and less expensive than eating out often, especially when you plan ahead. This can mean anything from making a grocery or meal list and sticking to it, to cooking a week’s worth of meals and keeping them in the fridge or freezer. Here are some helpful tips to get started with meal planning.

Use the 30 Day Rule

A very effective way to curb impulse purchases is to apply the 30 Day Rule. It’s very simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Whenever you feel the impulse to splurge on anything from new shoes to a new car, don’t. At least, not yet. Write down the item you think you want and the date on your phone, piece of paper etc. After 30 days, if you still want that item and can pay cash for it, consider purchasing it.

Have Friends Over for a Potluck Rather Than Going Out for Dinner

Spending time with friends and breaking bread (or whatever you like to eat) is one of life’s greatest simple pleasures. Unfortunately, it can also be very expensive. You don’t have to become a hermit to save money. You can continue to enjoy the company of good friends and good food by hosting a potluck dinner party at your Timbercreek home.

Drink More Water

It may seem strange that something as simple as drinking more water could help you save money -- until you think about it for a minute or two. Drinking more water means you won’t need to purchase other liquids like coffee, soda or tea. Take a refillable water bottle with you when you leave your apartment to avoid buying drinks during the day. Drinking water before a meal can also help you stay fuller longer, which means you will spend less money on food.

We hope that these suggestions will help you ease back into frugal living fast.

For more information of Timbercreek Rental Communities near you, please visit our website.

There’s no denying it, Canadian winters can be harsh. They leave our bodies cold and shaky and can do a number on our state of mind and well being. For many of us, dreary winter days can lead to the winter blues. For some this may mean feeling a little down, for others it can trigger true depression. Winter can be a bummer for anyone, but don’t let it get you down. Here are a 6 ways to beat the winter blues from the team at Timbercreek Communities.

Stay Active Outdoors

Harsh winter weather may make you feel like hibernating, but it’s important to get outside and stay active. Studies have shown that 1 hour of aerobic activity outdoors is as effective as 2.5 hours of light therapy indoors. You don’t have to do jumping jacks outside in a snowstorm to reap the benefits of getting outside this season -- go for a brisk walk, run, ski, sled, do whatever you enjoy. Exercise of all kinds helps to improve mood, reduce stress and can combat feelings of depression.

Light Therapy

If it isn’t possible or convenient for you to get outside for an hour of activity during the winter, light therapy may be an effective treatment for you. This simply means sitting, even working, near a light therapy box that simulates outdoor light. It’s believed that this treatment affects your brain’s chemistry and eases symptoms of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).

Stay Warm

Something as simple as staying warm during the winter can have a positive effect on your mood. Being cold can make you depressed. Stay warm by keeping your home between 64F and 70F (18C to 21C), wear warm clothing and footwear, and enjoy hot drinks and food. Studies have shown that staying warm can reduce the winter blues by as much as 50%.

Eat Well

The cold weather can cause many of us to crave more carbohydrates. Too many carbs can lead to weight gain, which can reduce energy and negatively affect mood. A healthy diet full of vegetables and fruit can make you feel much better. Be sure to eat enough hot, nutrient dense foods, especially during the winter.

Maintain or Cultivate Healthy Relationships

Feelings of isolation are not good for our mental health. When we feel down, we are less likely to socialize, and when we stop socializing, we feel down. Break the cycle by seeking out and talking to friends and family, or by joining a club or team. If you are experiencing the winter blues or feelings of depression, don’t keep it to yourself. Reach out and talk to someone you trust, or talk to a mental health professional, or a doctor.

Stay Active and Engaged

A little solitude can be a healthy thing, depending on how you spend that time. Rather than sitting still and watching TV, stay active, even when you’re home alone. Take up a new hobby, make something, meditate, do some yoga, or write a song. Do anything that makes you feel engaged and active mentally and/or physically.

Timbercreek Communities hopes that these ways to beat the winter blues improve your mood this season.