Apartment Blog

Are you experiencing some difficulty decorating your apartment? As I’m sure you already know, decorating a small space so that it looks good and works well can be a challenge. There are several factors to take into consideration when you’re trying to figure out the style, space limitations, paint restrictions, budget, etc. So I’ve compiled some quick apartment decorating tips that should help get your creative juices flowing.

While you’re focusing on the aesthetics of your room make sure you remember it needs to be functional as well. You’ll need places to store your mail, groceries and paperwork. Whatever requires your daily attention must be readily available! You can have organization without sacrificing your style just by having colorful/patterned/textured containers to store those items in. Various shelving units also help with organization. Multi-functional pieces, such as storage ottomans which provide seating and storage, are a bonus as they make your smaller space work better for you.

If you’re in an apartment like mine, you aren’t allowed to paint the walls. This makes it tough to express your true design. However, there are plenty of alternatives to paint for putting color on your walls. For example, you can do a temporary mural, a large framed poster/artwork, fabric, etc. One thing I’ve tried at my apartment is cling stickers. I found them at the Dollar Store! In my guest bathroom there are little shells and fishes swimming on my walls! It’s completely different than any other decorative element I’ve tried, but it works and best of all: they don’t hurt the walls! So don’t be afraid to think outside the box when you are decorating your space.

Given that you may or may not be able to paint, accent pieces play an important role in getting the maximum impact. In any room you’ll notice the items that carry the most weight, meaning the items that have more vibrancy or add an interesting element to the space. They can include lamps, vases, curtains, pillows, etc. Whatever your motif, add an accent color, shape or pattern with these items; it’ll provide the extra glam that you’re looking for. For example, a paper lantern floor lamp or a unique arch lamp will create visual interest while being functional and cohesive to your design.

I hope these tips help you on your way to creating your stylish apartment. Do you have any more useful ideas to share? I know we’re all in the same boat trying to find unusual decorating ideas with our restrictions, so let your ideas flow!

I’ve always been fascinated by claddagh rings. I’ve seen them all over jewelry stores and a friend of mine from high school had one. So I decided to do a little research and let everyone, who didn’t already know, what it’s true meaning is!

This traditional Irish ring is a symbol of love, friendship and loyalty. It originated in the Irish fishing village of Claddagh, located just outside the walls of Galway. The designs of the ring give you its meaning: the heart symbolizes love, the hands represent friendship and the crown signifies loyalty.

Depending on how the claddagh ring is worn on the hand usually tells the wearer’s romantic availability, or lack thereof. When worn on the right hand with the heart facing out, the person is still searching for love. When worn on the right hand with the heart facing in, he or she is in a relationship or ‘someone has captured their heart’. When the claddagh ring is worn on the left hand ring finger, facing outward, it indicates the wearer is engaged, and when the ring is worn on the left hand, facing in, it generally means the person is married.

The claddagh ring is recognized worldwide and many people of Irish and non-Irish descent wear it. It is used as both a cultural symbol and as an engagement/wedding ring. What I found amazing was that there are many legends of how this ring came about, including gifts from the heavens for doing charity work and unforgettable love. However it came to be, this ring is truly valuable to the Irish culture and indeed signifies the cherished qualities of love: heart, friendship and loyalty.

Source: thecharmingtouch.com

Do you and your sweetie want to go away somewhere for Valentine’s Day but can’t because of money? Then why not go to destination YOUR HOME!! If you can’t go somewhere for a romantic weekend, why not create one in your apartment? Here are some ideas to help you decide how you want to decorate your ‘paradise’ this year!

Pick an Idea or Theme! If you and your honey are beach bunnies and would love to go somewhere warm and exotic, why not decorate your place for the tropics? Or if you would prefer a smokey mountain retreat, decorate like a log cabin. There may not even have to be a specific theme besides Valentine’s Day. The decorations could simply be the atmosphere of love. The possibilities are endless!

Prepare Your Apartment! So you’ve come up with an idea of how to decorate, so make sure you prepare your setting. Valentine’s Day is one day when it’s okay to go ALL out!! Because all the special touches let your ‘special someone’ know how much they mean to you. So if you’re planning a tropical get-a-way have some flowers, island themed decorations, bikini, etc. If you’re planning on doing Valentine’s as the theme be sure and use lots of flowers (even a bouquet in the bathroom for a surprising touch) and balloons!

Set The Mood. So you’re preparing your apartment with all the appropriate décor, be sure to set the mood using candles and/or music. It can play with your theme too, beach music for beach theme. Or love songs for Valentine’s theme. (Of course love songs will work regardless of the theme given it’s for Valentine’s Day!) Another idea is to strategically place a setting in front of the fireplace of your apartment. Whatever you choose keep in mind you want to try and create some intimacy and magic!

Food/Beverages. You can really use this topic to your advantage, make it whatever you want! If you both have a specific cuisine you like, prepare it (or order it in…). J Or go with the theme that was picked (i.e. island food for beach theme, or heartier meals for a mountain/camping theme). It’ll be an extra something special and an expression of your love!

Have some Pre-Planned Entertainment. This is where your island retreat can really take off! Plan to do a Hawaiian dance for your sweetheart! Or should you be celebrating Valentine’s Day, watch his/her favorite movie (mushy or otherwise)! Have some portion of the evening dedicated to whatever your sweetheart would like to do! This is the ultimate gift you could give your ‘special someone’.

One year I decorated my boyfriend’s room with posters, streamers, balloons, a teddy bear and a giant card. You would have thought I gave him a new entertainment system by the way he reacted. He was so surprised and appreciative that I would think to do something like that! So trust me, your sweetie will enjoy the surprise and it’ll be a fun memory for you as well! J Happy Valentine’s Day!

Many critics of this holiday would have you believe that this holiday was invented by the greeting card companies. That commercialism is how this holiday formed. But that just isn’t so. Yes, in present time Valentine’s Day is a highly commercialized holiday, ranking as the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas. But does anyone really know the history behind Valentine’s Day? Well, here’s a little synopsis to ease your cynical mind:

Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14^th (duh!). It is the day in which lovers express their love for one another traditionally by the giving of candy, flowers and other gifts. It is named after two early Christian martyrs named Valentine; Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni.

The day itself wasn’t actually linked as a romantic holiday until Geoffrey Chaucer in the middle ages.  Chaucer wrote a poem in honor of the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia.  The poem goes like this:

For this was on seynt Volantynys day

Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese

[choose] his make [mate].

And thus Valentine’s Day became associated with the desire to find one’s mate (i.e. the Lovers holiday). One can only imagine customs that made it what it is today; finding one’s mate, proving ones love, showing ones love, gifts for your love, etc. So while the greeting card and jewelry businesses thrive around February, the actual day has history & meaning.

According to a new research study by Clarity and The EAR Foundation, one of the biggest fears for senior citizens is the loss of independence. This fear even outweighs the fear of death for most!

This study produced some key statistics for seniors. For example, “the vast majority of seniors (89%) want to age in place or grow older without having to move from their homes.” 1 And because they are so determined to maintain that independence, half of them are open to using new technologies to help them do so.

Clarity president, Carsten Trads says “….Independent living is a key determinant of quality of life for seniors….” Therefore this shows that not only do older American’s value their ability to live independently, but they will also try any means to enable them, i.e. technology.¹

This study also showed that almost half of seniors are comfortable using personal computers, Internet and email. “Seniors are clearly more open to technology than many people believe,” commented Trads. ¹

So in essence seniors are willing and able to be independent, and are open to using technology to help them attain that independence.

Here at For Rent Media Solutions, we are committed to providing resources that make apartment hunting for seniors uncomplicated. After 55 Housing and Resource Guide, a For Rent Media Solutions publication, worked in collaboration with the AARP Foundation to create Exploring Life After 55, an annual supplemental publication geared towards adults age 55 and beyond. This new publication serves as an education resource, addressing subject matter important to baby boomers that are planning their retirement, and aging adults and adult children who are researching housing options for their parents. The first issue covers a variety of topics including: an assisted living and health check list, a description of housing and care options, estate planning basics, how to guard against identity theft and so much more! Exploring Life After 55 will be published once a year and distributed to AARP Foundation offices nationwide as well as to local industry events and senior centers.

In addition to Exploring Life After55 and After 55 Housing and Resource Guide, For Rent Media Solutions offers online resources at SeniorOutlook.com. Resources include: moving services, storage, Medicare and Medicaid information and more. SeniorOutlook.com also helps our consumers navigate through the website by providing ‘How to Use SeniorOutlook.com’ instructions to help make the process easier.

We at For Rent Media Solutions strive to improve the process of apartment hunting for all apartment seekers, After 55 or not. Your independence and peace of mind is important to us. Please let us know if you have any suggestions as to how we can improve our services.

Source: Research Brief: Seniors Want to “Age in Place,” and Want Technology to Help; Thursday, November 8^th, 2007.

You’ve seen recent posts about how you can do more to protect the environment and conserve our resources, such as recycling and reusing. But what other efforts are being done around you that you may not even know about? Did you know that apartment communities are making great strides to improve their communities to increase their ‘going green’ efforts? It’s true!

It all starts with construction. Recycled materials can be used, low VOC paints, carpets and other indoor products are making their way as well as heating and cooling systems that are geothermal based (meaning it draws upon the earth’s temperature to supplement traditional systems). Many products are out there for construction companies to use, such as biodegradable linoleum and industrialized recycled polmer (for carpet tiles).

So why aren’t all apartment communities being converted using more environmentally friendly efforts? Well that’s a simple answer, money! “Green construction is often looked at as costly and can seriously hurt the project’s bottom line. Using environmental design is normally estimated to cost as much as 15 percent more than traditional jobs[1].”

Even so, the costs for going green may increase for the developers but they do the exact opposite for the tenants. Having more energy efficient & water saving devices in the apartment community will help drive down costs for residents, which is ultimately what every renter wants!! And given the increased demand of environmentally friendly communities, I’d say resident’s voices are being heard. Many renters expressed that they would pay more in rent if they would be living in a building that makes efforts to conserve and recycle. Because when you think about it, having those amenities will actually save you more money in the long run with reduced electric and water bills!!

So ask your apartment community if they’re doing their part!

[1] Daily Record, The (Baltimore), Jun 25, 2004 by Ezra Fieser

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

Since we’ve posted information about Christmas and Hanukkah, I thought I’d post a brief history of Kwanzaa as well.

Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26^th (today) till January 1st and is a holiday for honoring family, communities and African Culture. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili, a Pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language. It was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor in the department of black studies at California State University at Long Beach. This celebration is held for seven days, one day for each of the below principles.

Day One: UMOJA (Unity)

This principle promotes togetherness among families, communities and races.

Day Two: KUJICHAGULIA (Self-determination)

This day is about creating and living with each others’ unique identities.

Day Three: UJIMA (Collective work and Responsibility)

On the third day, those who celebrate Kwanzaa encourage each other to embrace individual problems as issues that the community can solve.

Day Four: UJAMAA (Cooperative economics)

Ujamaa promotes entrepreneurship that will benefit the community.

Day Five: NIA (Purpose)

People strive to improve the community with their vocational skills.

Day Six: KUUMBA (Creativity)

Kuumba is closely related to Nia. Kwanzaa stresses any creative work that will make the community a better place for present and future generations.

Day Seven: IMANI (Faith)

The last night of Kwanzaa encourages people to believe in each other and the victories won by their ancestors.

Kwanzaa isn’t a religious holiday, so it is not uncommon for a family to celebrate both Christmas and Kwanzaa.

Do you or somebody you know celebrate Kwanzaa? Tell us a little bit about your traditions?

Source: OfficialKwanzaaWebsite.org

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.

What is the true meaning of Christmas? Why desperately shopping last-minute for the perfect gift of course; which just so happens to be the subject of this holiday-themed movie.

The story line is about a workaholic dad, Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger), who is trying to get the hottest toy of the season, Turbo Man action figure, for his son Jamie (Jake Llyod) on Christmas Eve. Of course, all the stores are out of it and have been since Thanksgiving!! As Howard races from toy store to toy store, he runs into mail carrier Myron Larabee (Sinbad), another neglectful dad hunting for the Turbo Man doll. Arnold Schwarzenegger has many humorous scenes in which he is attacked by a rogue band of elves and angry mothers at a mall and let us not forget he is also in a super hero costume!

Although this was not my first time watching Jingle All the Way, I still found it enjoyable to watch with the holiday inching forward. Arnold Schwarzenegger is amusing as a suburban man trying to undo all his wrongs by getting his little boy what he wants this year. Throughout the movie we are all rooting him on to beat the odds and get the toy! I found it to be a fun seasonal treat that will thoroughly entertain you and your family.

Source: Star Pluse