Category: Rachel Fay (4)

The Power of Pillows and Poufs

Your SF furnished apartment should be a place that expresses you.  Whether its a tiny dorm room at your school or a shared housing space in San Francisco, your San Francisco housing is somewhere you should feel comfortable in. You should be proud to show it off to visitors!  This may seem difficult to do when you’re ballin’ on a budget. But here at Urbanests, we want to help you find San Francisco room rentals that are both affordable, functional, and that feel like a real home. These decorating tips are easy, affordable, and help make your temporary housing feel as cozy as possible, on a dime.

I am here to tell you how to create a Pinterest-worthy apartment under $60.  And it all comes down to two things: pillows and plants. Today’s blog post is going to focus on all the ways you can use those pillows and poufs to transform your small space. Keep an eye out for part two, where we cover creative ways to transform your space using plants!

PILLOWS 

One way to turn drab into fab is by spicing up your budget furniture with fun pillows.  

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It may be likely that you picked up your couch on the side of the road with a “FREE” sign on it.  Or maybe you’re rocking the mattress-on-the-ground look in your San Francisco room rental. Whatever your situation, your short stay apartment can all be salvaged with the right pillows.  

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Screen Shot 2018-04-04 at 12.54.01 PMThese beds (even the ones without frames, sitting on the ground) are all aesthetic and utterly gorgeous, and made possible fully by their pillows.  Pillows can be as vibrant or as neutral as you like – but the key is to have them, and a lot of them!

 

PILLOWS & POUFS

Tired of people sitting on your bed every time they hangout at your apartment? Find a cheap chair or stool.  

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Throw a colorful bohemian pillow on any boring neutral colored chair and it’ll become the hottest seat in the house.

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Plenty of stores are stocked with fluffy white stools that have your name written all over them.

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If you don’t have much space and can’t find room for a permanent piece of furniture, find yourself a floor pouf! You can store one of these guys under your bed and take it out only when you have guests over.

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You can find all the best budget pillows at places like Home Goods, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Cost Plus World Market, Ross and Target.  Also check out your local thrift stores for some one-of-a-kind- finds!

Tune in the next few weeks for another post on how to freshen up your small space!

 

If you want to know everything there is to know about house plants, check out our post here.

If you want other decorating tips to save some cash and style your space using everyday objects, check out our post here.

Don’t have a San Francisco room to spruce up yet? Check out our open San Francisco room rentals here.

 

(All images courtesy of Pinterest.)
Post made by contributor Rachel Fay.

 

 

All the Places You Need to Know About to Maintain Your New Year’s Fitness Goals

It’s early February.  By now you may have given up on your New Year’s resolution to get outside of your short term rental in SF, lose 5lbs, eat more greens, go to yoga once a week with your roommates in San Francisco, or whatever it is you kicked off 2018 thinking you were going to achieve.  Maybe you’re losing steam because you realized just how much a membership at Equinox costs, or that sometimes pizza really just tastes better than kale.  Well this is here to re-motivate you! Get off the couch in your San Francisco furnished apartments and get moving! Keep reading to discover health inspired places you might not have known existed!

PART 1: PLACES TO GET YOUR BODY MOVING!

Screen Shot 2018-02-08 at 2.44.45 PMYelp.

Yoga to the People

A donation based yoga studio dedicated to bringing people together through the love of yoga. This is a great place to experience a top quality yoga session without paying top dollar.

2973 16th St., 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103

OR

64 Shattuck Sq., Berkeley, CA 94704

Screen Shot 2018-02-08 at 2.44.58 PMThe Sweat Report.

Ritual

Fast-paced hot yoga set to upbeat music and candle light. More than just yoga, this is a sweat-filled rhythmic workout.

586 6th St., San Francisco, CA 94103

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Katie Sweeney, Haute Living.

SALT

With classes ranging from barre to HIIT, you’re bound to get sweaty at this full body workout fitness studio.

327 Divisadero St., San Francisco, CA 94117

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Foursquare.

Bold

Practice the Lagree method in the calming environment of the Bold studio.

3167 College Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705

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HIT Fit SF.

HIT Fit SF

This fitness studio is known for its fiery boxing, TRX and circuit training workouts.

2345 Harrison St., San Francisco, CA

OR

1150 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA

If group fitness classes aren’t your thing…

You can still get off the couch and go outside your San Francisco housingYou can go for a run along Ocean Beach or through Golden Gate Park. Try climbing the stairs to Coit Tower a few times.  If you really feel like busting your quads, bike up and down the infamous hills of San Francisco. Checkout this guide to all the best pull-up bars in the city if you’re looking for an upper body workout.

And be sure to keep an eye on event calendars to stay up to date with all of the upcoming community workout sessions in your neighborhood!

 

Did we give you some good ideas to get you moving? Keep an eye out for Part 2, where we discuss all the places (outside the kitchen in your furnished housing) in San Francisco that will help you feed your body right to meet your New Years resolutions!

More blog posts here. 

Hey, rest is an important aspect of fitness too. If you are looking for a short stay apartment in San Francisco click here!

Post made by contributor Rachel Fay.

It is the coziest time of the year! Your student housing in San Francisco has just gotten almost unbearably cold, which means you need to know where to go to get that cozy cup of cocoa you have been craving so bad. We have you covered:

  1. Dandelion Chocolate

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(Ramblist Media)

Head on over to the fun and eclectic Mission District to find a variety of chocolate infused hot beverages from this little shop known for its handmade chocolate treats.

740 Valencia St, San Francisco

  1. Ghirardelli

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(JMA Ventures LLC)

Looking for a classic cup of cocoa right on the San Francisco Bay? You’ve found it.

900 North Point St, San Francisco

  1. The Chocolate Dragon – Bittersweet Cafe and Bakery

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(Chocolate by the Bay)

This cafe embodies the funky artistic nature of Oakland.  Try their Champhurrado! A Mexican hot chocolate with hints of anise and piloncillo.

5427 College Ave, Oakland

  1. Timeless CoffeeScreen Shot 2017-12-21 at 10.54.16 AM

(NOSH: Emilie Raguso)

This cozy coffee shop native to Piedmont Ave in Oakland now has a location on College Ave right in Berkeley! If you’re feeling extra festive, stroll through Elmwood to see the trees aglow with string lights.

4252 Piedmont Ave, Oakland

2965 College Ave, Oakland

  1. Perch

Unknown

(Good Coffee)

Perch is the perfect pitstop near Lake Merritt to choose between a classic hot cocoa and a Mexican hot chocolate.

440 Grand Ave, Oakland

  1. Hive, the place to bee

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(Oakland Grown)

In case the clever name isn’t enough, this Oakland cafe has a neat modern vibe with a delicious food menu as well!

2139 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland

 

Don’t feel like leaving your San Francisco housing? Stock up on packets of your favorite instant hot chocolate and watch one of these digital fireplaces roar on your computer screen from the comfort of your couch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY3J3Y_OU0w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjKyHNtJKNk&t=11406s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p91kHbSksW4

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geDhhWvl1II

While you’re at it, you can browse our available single rooms in San Francisco here, or check out our other San Francisco blog posts here!

Post written by contributor Rachel Fay

 

Autumn is upon us! Your SF furnished apartment is a small space that demands to be cozied up! This DIY fall wreath is cheap and easy, and it adds a festive flare to any home, just in time for Thanksgiving.

Here’s what you need:

  • Green floral wire ~$2
  • A circular base (wreath wire is ideal, I used a “Surface Saver ring”) ~$3
  • A whole bunch of greenery of your choosing! $7-15
    • Ideas: eucalyptus, oak branches, dried wheat, baby’s breath, bouquet fillers, cinnamon sticks etc. anything that catches your eye

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Start by gathering a small bunch of whatever you want as the the body of your wreath. I used orange-tinted greenery. Wrap wire around the bunch and wrap it around your circular base, attaching your first bit of greenery to the wreath.

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Continue this in the same direction until your entire circle is covered.

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Now for the fun part! Attach small bundles of flowers, berries, etc to give your wreath some pizazz. You can go for a manicured look or something a bit more wild – whatever your heart desires!

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The final step is to hang it on your door!

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The best part? You can use any excess greenery you have to make fun fall bouquets, to make your shared housing in San Franciscoo even more cozy.

 

Pro tip: get some friends to join you for a wreath making party. Spread all your supplies on the ground, light some autumnal candles, turn on your favorite playlist or current binge watch and get crafting!

 

Here’s some more wreath inspo from Pinterest:

 

 

 

 

Don’t have a small space to cozy up? You can browse our available single rooms in San Francisco here.

Or check out our other San Francisco blog posts here!

Post written by contributor Rachel Fay.