Apartment Blog

In one of the forums I participate in, I came across a question regarding renters insurance and whether it’s worth the extra cost. There were many answers supporting each side of the question. Some commented that it wasn’t worth the extra expense because, really, how often do you get burglarized, flooded or have your apartment catch on fire. Others noted that the benefits of having it outweighed the expense-even if you don’t ever have to use it. So let me interject some of my opinions….

I personally feel safer having renters insurance. The peace of mind alone is worth the annual cost of $140. With that being said, I’m about 80% sure I’m never going to need it. However, hearing the stories on the news about fires that have engulfed an entire apartment building reassures me that I made the right choice. Whether I actually use it or not, I know that I am covered and that gives me peace of mind. Also, as one forum participant commented “it’s not just the insurance on your stuff, but also covering you for liability”. This is important! If someone gets injured in your home, having renters insurance will protect you!

So what is your opinion? I’ve stated mine and clearly I am advocating that everyone should have renters insurance. So if you happen to be in the market for renters insurance, check out our website!

If you feel like having a traditional Irish meal this St. Patrick’s day, what better way than having Steak & Guinness Pie? Exported from MasterCook, check out the below recipe to make your own…

Steak & Guinness Pie

Ingredients:
2 1/4 pounds of Round Steak
1 tablespoon of Flour
1 teaspoon of Brown Sugar
1 tablespoon of Raisins (optional)
5 Onions
10 fluid ounces of Guinness
8 slices of Bacon
Parsley Chopped
1 Recipe of short Pastry*

*For double-crust pie in deep pie dish, Cut the steak into bite sized cubes, roll in seasoned flour and brown in the lard with the bacon-chopped small.

Directions:
Place the meat in a casserole dish. Peel and chop the onions and fry until golden before adding them to the meat.  Add the raisins (if wanted) and brown sugar.  Pour in the Guinness. Cover tightly and simmer over a low heat or in a very moderate oven (325-350F) for 2½ hours.

Stir occasionally and add a little more Guinness or water if the rich brown gravy get too thick.  Meanwhile, line a deep pie dish with half the pie crust and bake it blind.  Then add the Guinness/beef mixture from the casserole dish, cover with the top layer of pie crust and bake until finished.  Probably about 10 more minutes.  Serves 4

Source: http://fp.enter.net; Exported from MasterCook

Life is full of stress and headaches, especially from the world-wind excitement of buying Valentine’s Day gifts. So in honor of you, we want to post some tips to help you relax and focus on yourself for a change!!

Something that always helps me to relax is taking a bath. I love just sitting in a hot water with my eyes closed. It’s very relaxing. I feel like my mind can just take a break from all the things I worry about & for a moment, I soak up the steam and calm all my nerves.

Whatever way you take a bath will work. If you prefer some salts or turning off the lights and only using candles. Maybe you like hearing some soft music in the background? Whatever you prefer is what you should do. And no matter what other tasks you ‘could be’ doing or whoever may be knocking at your door, take as much time as you need! This is ‘me’ time!!

After your bath don’t rush to get dressed. While in your bath robe or towel sit and put some lotion on your legs and arms. Apply a good layer and just enjoy the feeling of being rejuvenated. This would also be a perfect time to do a mud mask for your face if you’d like! This is still apart of your ‘me’ time so don’t try and multi-task. You’re worth the extra time you’re putting into yourself. Otherwise, you’ll rush into doing something else and never really give yourself the amount of time it needs to unwind.

So once you’ve applied the lotion or any other type of beauty product, you can get dressed. My recommendation is to dress in comfortable clothes. If you don’t have a pair of silky pajamas, I urge you buy a pair. They feel beautiful on your skin. Other fabrics that would feel wonderful would be cotton, micro-fiber, a chenille blanket, etc.

And finally, the end to a wonderful pampering session is to actually do an activity you want to do. Maybe you want to have a cup of tea, hot chocolate, or coffee, sit and read a book. Or maybe you want to catch up on your favorite soap or do your nails. Whatever activity you enjoy (doesn’t necessarily have to be alone-although that’s usually when you take care of your needs versus someone else’s) do it! After unwinding, taking some time to do something you want to do will really make the ‘me’ time really worth it!!

It’s been a really long time since I’ve taken the time to do this, so I think I’m due for one!! I wish all of you the best pampering session as well! 

This is the season for love! And let us tell you why you’ll love using our site…….

1. Easy to navigate site.
2. Searching for your next apartment can be done by searching close to military branches, colleges/universities, city/state, and property name or by zip/distance.
3. Great descriptions for you to get a feel for the communities.
4. Tons of pictures that will actually give you a better look at the apartment community.
5. A video of the apartment community AND surrounding area to give you more insight of the environment you are moving to.
6. Loads of floor plans available.
7. Room planner for majority of our floor plans. This allows you to arrange your furniture layouts prior to seeing the unit!
8. Multiple ways for you to contact the apartment communities such as phone numbers, email and texting services!!
9. Awesome Relocation Center (link) to help you on your move and getting settled!
10. The Apartment Living Blog (link) to provide you with tips and advice on apartment living!

So visit ForRent.com today! And let us help you find your perfect place!

Everyone has experienced road rage. Whether you’ve been on the receiving end or directing it towards a fellow driver, it’s not fun. Larger metropolitan areas tend to have the majority of traffic therefore they have some of the most aggressive drivers. The number one city that topped the list for most aggressive drivers (for the second year in a row) is……….Miami, followed by New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Washington.

The most courteous cities, regarding hostile drivers, are Portland, Pittsburg, Seattle, St. Louis and Dallas.

Do you live in a city with high road rage?? The AAA website offers a three-step plan to avoid being a victim of aggressive driving.

1. ‘Don’t Offend’ which simply means do not cut off other drivers, don’t drive slowly in the left lane, don’t tailgate and DO NOT gesture to other drivers.

2. ‘Don’t engage’ other drivers, which basically means do not cause trouble. Don’t look the other driver in the eyes (stare them down) and call 911 should you feel that you are in a dangerous situation.

3. ‘Forget Winning’ If someone has done #1 or #2 to you, let it go. Don’t let it frustrate you till you become angry. Try to put yourself in the other driver’s shoes and free yourself from any aggravation.

I know on my daily commute to work I sometimes feel the need to bang on the steering wheel to alleviate my frustrations, but what about you? Do you have any constructive methods to help you release your frustrations while you are on the road?

Source: AOL AUTOS, ‘Road Rage and Aggressive Driving’ by Craig Howie

Okay, so I was searching on the web and I found this cool article on MSN.com. (I copy and pasted the text for you below.) As you all know, my boyfriend and mine’s favorite Christmas movie is the Grinch. Read what the article says about Grinch lovers like us and figure out what your favorite Christmas movie says about you!!

Article:

By Margot Carmichael Lester

Your new guy says he can’t get through the holidays without watching A Christmas Story at least three times (he even has the leg lamp). Or it’s your new lady friend who sings all the tunes from Santa Claus Is Coming to Town in the shower. We asked pop culture mavens Alexis Bondoc, columnist for IntrepidMedia.com, and Ian Williams, an author/director/filmmaker, how a person’s all-time fave Christmas show reveals his or her dating M.O. Read on for some intriguing insights!

A Charlie Brown Christmas
Alexis: The fella who never misses this show is probably a classic guy who already knows how to dress and laugh. Slip him a CD by Vince Guaraldi (who did the jazzy numbers on the show) as a gift.
Ian: If your girl loves this show, deep down, she may want to don a black turtleneck and get existential—this show has a message. But she always has time to dance (who can resist that music!) and maybe she can make clouds of dirt like Pigpen.

A Christmas Story
Alexis: Aww… He’s got a wistful, nostalgic sense of humor and can probably remember every Christmas morning growing up. But, more importantly, there’s more than a slight chance that he didn’t get that one certain gift that every other kid on his block got — the Radio Flyer wagon or the super-cool robot set — and can still remember that deprivation NOW. Will you be the one to indulge him now?
Ian: Your romantic partner is something of a happy medium: corny, yet cool. Not cool in a desperately hip way, but subversive enough to keep things interesting. She hasn’t forgotten what the wonders of childhood were like—and doesn’t want to.

Bad Santa
Alexis: If this is your guy’s favorite seasonal show, then hold your horses. This guy is the Anti-Santa who would probably be happy to make a bunch of gift deliveries with a bottle of Jack Daniels. His ideal vision of Christmas probably involves telling little kids they don’t need Barbies or that Mickey isn’t a real Mouse and that he lives next to a 7-Eleven instead of the North Pole. Run, run, run. Unless you’re happy spending your time with the embodiment of Life’s Little Destruction Book…
Ian: Most likely, your lady was waiting for a movie like this long before it came out. Finally, someone told a Christmas story without much of a moral… and with lots of cringing along the way. Not one for nostalgia, your girl probably wants to order Chinese food rather than prepare a feast. If you are equally dark in your outlook, well, merry, merry!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Alexis: You don’t have to worry about this guy at all. He’s offbeat, sure, but he’s got a good heart. He probably loves celebrating Christmas with a delightfully creative and witty sense of humor instead of tradition. He’ll probably surprise you with completely novel ways of marking the holiday season.
Ian: The girl who loves this one is a sucker for ritual, and why not? We all know what happens to the Grinch, but the magic is in the retelling. The Whoville song is treacly and boring, but the Grinch’s theme, with jazz glissandos and rich baritone, make it a yearly must-see. But you must ask this woman: Does she identify with the Grinch… or the Grinch’s poor dog? That will give you some important clues!

It’s A Wonderful Life
Alexis: If your guy likes Frank Capra’s all-time classic, you can put good money on the fact that he’s as classically appealing as Jimmy Stewart—and probably as thoughtful, too. Thoughts count a lot with this kind of guy; make sure yours are up to snuff.
Ian: Like Crowded House sang, “Wherever there is comfort, there is pain,” and don’t your baby know it! She gets It’s a Wonderful Life as it was meant to be: not a sing-songy holiday card, but a deeply sad reflection on dreams deferred. She’s a deep-thinker… and probably a keeper.

Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Alexis: Any guy who picks this stop-animation classic is probably as unique as little Rudolph is. He probably celebrates Christmas — and lives his life — with a playful and creative streak. I mean, this is a guy who lives for the island of misfit toys and the Bumble! He’s probably quite a character.
Ian: Yikes. Easily the most anesthetized and goofy of the Xmas specials, Rudolph has the subtlety of a “Hang in There!” cat poster. Repetitious and cloying, it goes down like a bowl of red frosting. Your girl might be cute, but she’ll put antlers on your dog and giggle like she was the first to think of it. Consider yourself warned!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Alexis: The guy who loves this one is manly enough to really get down with Christmas and the classics, especially if he’s a Fred Astaire fan. This guy truly loves the holiday. You will celebrate every possible tree-lighting, sidewalk chorus group, eggnog-pouring moment, and you will do it with a smile on your face.
Ian: If your baby’s favorite is this one, she’s probably a Goth chick. No other Santa origin myth is quite so dark. Sure, Fred Astaire narrates, but St. Nick as an unwanted orphan? Hunted like a criminal? We knew Santa’s psyche was complicated, but we didn’t know he needed therapy.

Now, we’re not saying you should take any of these interpretations as the gospel truth. There are, of course, exceptions to every rule. But you should learn a little about yourself. What’s more, adding these insights to other information could help you figure out if you and your sweetie have a future full of holly-jolly Christmases together—or if your holiday honey will leave you feeling like your heart got run over by a reindeer. Ho ho ho!

Margot Carmichael Lester’s work also appears in Go magazine.

Seeing as this is my favorite Christmas movie of all time, I thought I’d share why I love it so much and ask for all your thoughts! The basic story line as you all know is about the Grinch who hates Christmas. So much so, that on Christmas Eve one year, annoyed at all the holiday cheerfulness, he decided he’d stop Christmas from coming! Sneaking into the Who’s houses and stealing all their toys, decorations, Christmas trees and even the ‘roast beast!’ But the greatest lesson for the Grinch and movie viewers to learn is that Christmas spirit goes deeper than tinsel and toys.

Now I personally don’t have a preference between Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Ron Howard’s version with Jim Carrey. I like Dr. Seuss’ version because it was the one I grew up with. I love the animation and the narration by Boris Karloff. I also feel the music was one of a kind; especially ‘You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch.’ However, I thoroughly enjoyed Jim Carrey as the Grinch in the 2000 remake. Jim Carrey is great for the part, not only for his usual crazy antics but also in part by his facial expressions which actually mimic the original Grinch character! I have to give kudos to the directors/writers for being able to reinvent a beloved childhood classic into an hour and a half magical tale. Both versions are definitely wholesome family entertainment for adults and children alike. I give them my highest recommendation and hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

We often feel that we need to go overboard with the holiday season in order to show how much we care. Decorations need to be plentiful; gifts need to be expensive, etc. It’s no wonder so many are going into debt during the holiday season!

If you’re like me and hate the idea of going broke in the next few weeks, take a look at some of these ‘frugal’ tips to help you with the added expenses.

Reducing, reusing and recycling are definitely the motto here. If you don’t like the idea of re-gifting because you think it’s impersonal or tacky, just think of it like this: you have received a gift that is not your taste (a glass vase for example), however your best friend LOVES vases and would kill to have the ‘stunning’ piece you’ve received. Should you really keep the gift in a box to collect dust or should you give your friend joy by offering it to her? Other economical gifts would be to make coupon books for your loved ones. Include activities such as breakfast in bed, dog walking, shoulder/foot massages, etc. Everyone gets what they want!! And while you are already shopping for extra groceries during this time of year, why not pick up a couple extras of what you’re buying to make a holiday gift basket. For example, a baking basket can include, cake mix, spatula, vegetable oil, icing and a $5 gift card to your local grocery store for items such as milk and eggs-total cost less than $20!

You could also reuse some items for your holiday parties this year. Instead of purchasing something for everyone, play secret Santa or holiday gift exchange. That way you’ll save money not buying multiple gifts and everyone can dedicate more effort into getting one person a gift they’ll like. Another idea that is more of a multifunctional party idea is a gift wrapping party. Have each person bring wrapping supplies (i.e. gift wrap, tape, ribbons, etc.) and let the conversation flow while whittling down your checklist. (You could also have it be a pot-luck so everyone can eat while working!)

Decorating your home doesn’t have to be costly either. There are many inexpensive ideas you can use to add holiday spirit. Just check out our blog ‘Cheap and Easy ways to add Christmas Spirit to your Apartment’.

Here’s wishing you and me a debt free holiday season this year!!

Can you tell if this tree is real or fake?

With Thanksgiving behind us, the hunt is on for the ideal Christmas tree! Along with this honored tradition is a decision to make: real or fake? In today’s society, your decision on which tree to purchase can speak loads about you as a person.

So how does one choose? Below are some facts about each to help you decide.

With a real tree you get a warm fuzzy feeling when you bundle up and go searching for the perfect one. You also guarantee the smell of pine in your home for the entire holiday season. And of course, an environmental bonus- a real tree is biodegradable. Bet you also didn’t know that more than 100,000 Americans are employed by the live Christmas tree businesses, so you’d also be supporting local economies (not overseas workers) by purchasing a real tree.

However, with an artificial tree you get to reuse the tree for many years to come, which is kind of like recycling. The endless supply of pine needles on your floor will no longer be there and you won’t have to worry about pesticides that are used on real trees! They are easy to set up and easy to store. Plus, you can always buy candles that smell like pine trees to get the full effect!

So seeing the benefits of each, which one would you choose? I can say that last year was the first year I made a purchase of an artificial tree; all the previous years I had a real tree. And it looks like I’m not the only one. Artificial trees are steadily gaining market share. About sixty percent of U.S. tree-displaying homes are putting up artificial trees! Taking a quick poll of co-workers, half have real Christmas trees and the other half have fake.

Another cool thing I read about is that San Francisco’s Department of the Environment started a neat program. For $90, the city will bring a live, 7 to 9 foot potted tree to your home for you to decorate. After Christmas, the city will retrieve it and plant it in one of San Francisco’s tree-starved neighborhoods. The downside; the city doesn’t offer pines! But despite that minor flaw, the program proved to be successful, as it sold out of its stock of 100 in just four short days!

What are your opinions? Has anything you read here changed your views?

I watched “Santa Baby” the other night on ABC’s Family Channel, apart of the 25 Day’s ‘til Christmas special. So here’s a little movie review for those of you who haven’t seen it or would like to. Don’t worry, I’m not going to give away too much information….you still have to see it!

Mary Class, played by Jenny McCarthy, is a smart, capable, hardworking business woman in the Big Apple (New York City). She has her own consulting firm and is kicking butt! And as soon as her business takes on a huge project, her mom calls to say that her dad has had a heart attack. Mary hops on a plane to go home and help. But where is home? Why, the North Pole of course because Mary’s father is the real Santa and Mary’s actual last name is Claus!!

With Santa in bed wearing his p.j’s, Mary eagerly decides she must take over for her father until after the holidays. Otherwise Christmas is in jeopardy for everyone! Using her executive skills, Mary begins modernizing the toy making process. She turns the mail room into a data-processing center, changes the shapes of candy canes and even tries to replace the notorious elves with machines!! Her father, Santa, however does not approve at all (and we think she’s gone a bit overboard too). He believes things should stay the same; after all, it’s worked his way for centuries. Of course the plot thickens with a love story between Mary’s old flame Luke, who lives in Polaris, and her conflicting feelings for her current boyfriend from New York.

The story really explains a father and daughter’s journey to understand each other better and settle the differences that initially drove them apart. With the comedic actress McCarthy playing Mary, the first ever woman Santa, this movie is truly a cute spin on a Christmas tale and teaching us all lessons of love, forgiveness and respect! I give it a thumbs up! You should absolutely watch it this holiday season!