Apartment Blog

The count down is on! Super Bowl XLIII is five days away and the game is shaping up to be a good one. Everyone is looking forward to the traditional festivities for their Super Bowl party, such as the manly (or womanly) bonding, yummy food, friends, etc. However, according to Extra, the average person eats about 1,200 calories in snacks alone on Super Bowl Sunday?! That’s insane! Participating in this time honored tradition can be detrimental to your diet!

Well, take a breath….we’re providing you with two recipes that are for the healthy conscientious. Feel free to snack on these bad boys, in moderation of course, guilt-free!

Fresh Tomato Salsa

From Eatingwell.com Ingredients

• 4 cup(s) diced tomatoes (5-6 medium)
• 3/4 cup(s) finely diced red onion ( about 1 small)
• 1/4 cup(s) red-wine vinegar
• 1 1/2  jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
• 1/2 cup(s) chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
• cayenne pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Combine tomatoes, onion, vinegar, jalapeno, cilantro, salt and cayenne in a medium bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

With only 21 calories per serving and 0 grams of fat, you can snack happy with this recipe! J Be sure to serve with reduced fat or multi-grain chips for an added health bonus!

   

Spicy Blue Cheese Dip

From Eatingwell.com 

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup(s) reduced-fat sour cream
• 2/3 cup(s) crumbled blue cheese
• 1 tablespoon(s) distilled white vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) cayenne pepper

Directions

1. Whisk sour cream, blue cheese, vinegar and cayenne in a small bowl.

This blue cheese dip is perfect compliment for buffalo wings (again, moderation is key) or with a tray of veggies!

My father use to say ‘what do you get the person who has everything? A box to put it all in.’ (yes, my father is corny like that) But seriously, what do you do when you have a gift to purchase for someone and it appears that they literally have everything!?! 

Here are a few suggestions from the team at ForRent.com if you really wanna ‘wow’ someone who has everything…..

1. Unveil their inner Monet.  Local art studios and recreation centers typically offer classes starting at the beginner level and work their way up to advanced.  A class like this will let them try a hand at their pottery, wine slumping, or mosaics skills (the list goes on).  Pick a class you think would be of interest and see if it results in a new hobby.

2. Personalized wall art.  You pick the letter-shaped photos and the word; a first or last name is classic, but words like laugh, joy, and peace look great too!  A gift like this can’t be copied!

3. Go local.  Ever been complimented on a one of kind piece that you bought when visiting such and such a place?  Offer someone the same experience by bringing them back something unique from your travels.  Not only are you giving them something they couldn’t find themselves, but you are also supporting small, local businesses at the same time.

4. Everybody wants a good laugh!  Gifts from the heart are great, but every once in awhile someone needs to be thrown for a loop, why not be the person to do so?  Gifts like the below “Ignorance is Bliss” and “Bittersweet” scales are sure to be a hit and are definitely hard to come by.  You’ll walk away knowing this gift will be the source of much laughter! (www.uncommongoods.com)

5. Give to more than just them.  Sometimes people really do have everything and another knick knack isn’t the answer.  Organizations like Farm Africa (www.farmafrica.org/uk) allow you to make a sustainable purchase that benefits those in need under the name of a friend or family member.  Farm Africa actually has you purchase an animal that will be given to families in poverty; these animals help them overcome their poverty.  You can also adopt endangered species through certain organizations and send that animal’s information to your gift recipient.

Does your friend or family member feel passionately about a different cause?  Give them a TisBest Charity Gift Card and let them decide what to support.  All they need to do is log on to http://www.tisbest.org/ and choose from over 200 charities to contribute your predetermined gift amount toward.

6. Cooking Lessons.  Some people need to learn the basics, some people want to go gourmet, and some people would love to learn more recipes that fit their on the go lifestyle.  There are cooking classes out there that cover all these needs.  You could select a gourmet cuisine they may be interested in or lend them a hand with some beginner basics; either way this hands on gift lets them walk away with more than a good food sampling.

You should also check out available classes in your area for wine making or making beer. What an interesting trait to say you have learned? Who knows, you could inspire them to make some for your present next year!! Go for the skill they’d learn and the experience they’d have while doing it.

7. Have you, yourself learned a trade? Why not put it to good use! If you’ve taken scrapebooking lessons, put your talent to work for a friend. If you are a skilled photographer, why not utilize your skills with a photographer the person would love. It’s the personalized gifts that really take the breath away of the recipient. So go ahead….get creative!

8. So they may have everything, but have they done everything?  Think through things they have mentioned wanting to do, but either put off or chickened out.  Maybe they have always wanted to learn to ski, so you buy lessons or they think skydiving looks fun, but are too afraid to sign up.  This gift may take more thought, but they are sure to remember it.

 9. Feeling especially green this season?  Purchase a tree or several in your favored friend’s name and let them feel good about helping to sustain our planet.  Places like http://www.arborday.org/ and http://www.americanforests.org/ make giving gifts like this as easy as planting seeds.

10.  How many people can say they have a star named after them? This is something my brother did for one of his girlfriends and I thought it was the sweetest thing. You can literally name a star after a friend or loved one. Go on http://www.starregistry.com/ for the process!

11. Photo gifts. I am a personal fan of Walgreens.com photo center. They have a really nice collection of gifts you can do for anyone. One year I did a calendar of photos for my mother. There are also mugs, pillow cases, aprons, mouse pads and more! Or you could take a photo that you have, that the recipient would like, and enlarge it. Frame it with a matte and it’s a one of a kind piece of art!

12. Coupon book. This works if you’re a little financially strapped during the holidays as well (who isn’t these days). In a book I created, I had a coupon for various tasks such as: FREE dog sitter one night, hot chocolate and a movie, dinner at your favorite restaurant, NO boys allowed-girls night out, etc. I also incorporated my skills at their disposal whenever they should need it (which I’m sure will happen since I’ve already offered it and they have a coupon saying I’d oblige). This was extremely appreciated as it came from the heart and literally is a gift that keeps on giving (until the coupons run out)!

We hope these gifts have inspired you and given you something to get for that one difficult shopper on your list!  Happy Shopping!

Re-gifting….YAY or NAY?? While some find this concept absolutely repulsive, others find this completely acceptable. If you find this option, re-gifting, ‘okay’ then you might want to check out these tips before doing so! Believe it or not, even re-gifting has rules…..

1. Hold onto the gift a full season or holiday, this way enough time passes that it may be forgotten by others
2. Give it to someone in another social circle, for example if Grandma gives you your thousandth trinket make sure to steer clear of family and pass it on to a co-worker or friend
3. Make the most of White Elephant opportunities- half of the gifts given are gags anyway so use the game as an opportunity to unload unwanted items
4. DONATE them at the holidays- those angel trees never share about the person’s interest or hobbies, so you’re safe dropping off something “random”, just make sure it serves as a little extra in their bag and not the primary gift
5. Embellish it- feel like it was shafty when you got it?  Then add something to it like a gift card or bow to make it worthwhile…then pass it on!
6. Consignment shop here you come- this is mostly limited to clothing and accessories, but if your special gift fits the bill then take it in and see what you can make!  Note: this mainly benefits you and the store, but shouldn’t the gift have benefited you initially?  I see no crime here.
7. Door prize!  Ever throw parties like ornament decorating, holiday book club, wine tasting, or Bunco???  Why not giveaway a nice little treat to the first person in the door?
8. Is Secret Santa going on at work?  Make sure you sign up to participate and empty out your stack of “desirable” gifts to that special name you drew.  The plus to this is, you make space in your closet and seem generous at the same time!
9. Obligation gifts…we all know what these are!  Next time someone unexpectedly gives you a gift during the holidays, be prepared.  Have your gift wrapped and ready, they’ll appreciate you thought of them as well and it saves you from spending money on people who didn’t make your shopping list the first or second time around.
10. Knock, knock- The holidays are the perfect time to build a relationship with your neighbors.  They will appreciate the gesture and hopefully will remember it the next time you ask them to keep an eye on your apartment when you’re away!
11. And they didn’t even see it coming!!!  Take time to re-gift presents to people who wouldn’t expect anything in the first place.  Your mailman, maintenance staff, kid’s bus driver, office receptionist, and security guards work hard everyday- give them a little something to show that you notice!
12. Lend a helping hand.  Have you ever been to something where a person forgot to bring a gift or was unaware they needed one?  Save them from shame and let them use yours.

Thinking about throwing a holiday get-together? ‘Tis the season for elusive, ugly and tacky Christmas sweater parties!  Tacky sweater parties are a perfect theme for a fun yet festive party. Follow these tips to throw a successful tacky Christmas sweater party this holiday that is cost effective.

1. Send Invitations: Send out an evite to all of your guests and have the image be a picture of you or your grandparents in their favorite holiday sweater. Be sure to provide all of the details (especially the fun ones like the games and prizes included).

2. Find the Best Tacky Christmas Sweater: The best part of the party is OBVIOUSLY the sweater. Here are some ideas on places to find these fabulous outdated fashion statements: Garage Sales, Family Members (aka. Grandma and Grandpa) and Thrift Stores.

3. Don’t Forget Accessories: Accessories can often times make the tacky sweater that much tackier! Go to your local drug store and look for lighted pins, reindeer antlers, Santa hats, tinsel and more!

4. Make a Centerpiece: Creating a neat centerpiece that can actually be devoured is ideal. Make a ginger bread house with candy and icing to use as a centerpiece for the food table. Something tells me that this will be eaten after tip #9.

5. Provide an Award: Have a trophy personalized that says “Tackiest Sweater Award 2008″. After all of the guests have arrived, simply have them write on a piece of paper who they think should win and then count up the votes.

6. Food: Select a potluck style that will work best for you and your guests. For example: (1) appetizers only, (2) bring your favorite dish, (3) assign each guest to bring an appetizer, main dish, or dessert, or (4) as the host, you will provide the main dish (a turkey, ham, etc.) Try and coordinate this in advance so you don’t have duplicate dishes.

7. Beverages: There are a variety of factors to consider when selecting your beverages for your party. It’s important to have something available for everyone’s likes and dislikes. Be sure to have a variety of mixers on hand as well as non-alcoholic drinks. Having a pre-made themed beverage also saves time and money while still being festive.

8. Keep the Bathroom Line Entertained: All those beverages can certainly call for a long line at the restroom. Decorate your bathroom door with wrapping paper, ribbon and a bow and have people sign the door and write a message on the wrapping paper. The messages are bound to be great conversation starters and ice breakers.

9. Play Games: Set up a scavenger hunt with two teams. Create a checklist of all the items to provide to each team. Each team is then responsible for taking a picture of each checklist item as proof. Here are some checklist ideas: Find a street name that has a Christmas theme, take a picture with your team in your sweaters in a 7-11, sing a Christmas carol to a stranger as team, Find a Santa and sit on his lap, kiss someone under a mistletoe, find something showing one of the 12 days of Christmas etc…) This is absolutely hilarious.

10. Give Prizes: The winning team of the scavenger hunt or games that you play can receive prizes. Some good prize ideas are DVD’s, gift cards, candles, books etc… Wrap them up and put them under your tree. You could always go the gag gift route as well.

Best of luck with planning your next Tacky Christmas Sweater Party. Do you own a festive sweater that makes your friends laugh/cringe? Send it my way, and it may appear on our blog. (Please include your name, city and a brief description of the photo.)  

Spring is here! YAY!! But as the warm weather approaches, so does all the pollen and allergens that can aggravate your sinuses! Its not just outside allergens that can help create a Rudolph nose, but also the inside of your apartment! Here are a few tips that I’ve found helpful to allergy proof your home!

Concentrate on the Bedroom!

According to Angel Waldron of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, you spend about 80 percent of your time in your bedroom! So it’s logical that should be the first place you start. Believe it or not, dust mites live in your bed! Somewhere around two million of them! They take residence in your pillows, mattresses, bed springs, blankets and comforters. “These mites are the number one indoor allergen, and their population peaks in July and August.”[1] So do your part in controlling them and it’ll go a long way toward helping your allergies. Be sure to wash your linens in the hot cycle frequently. Another tip is to purchase allergen-proof pillows and bed covers. I had both of them growing up and they helped relieve my symptoms!

Manage the Pet Hair!

While I’m an animal lover as much as the next person, there is some pet dander that I just can’t be around-specifically cats! And apparently I’m not alone. “Approximately 10 million people are allergic to cat dander, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation.”[2] Cats have the most allergens followed by dogs and rodents. So to control your animals’ dander make sure you keep your pet off your furniture, including your bed! Bathing your pet once a week also makes a big difference in cutting down on allergens.

Keep Pollen Out!

With the warmer weather coming, people tend to have their windows and back doors open to let in the fresh air. I know I love doing that! Turns out that could be a huge contributor to my allergies! Doing that brings the pollen inside your apartment! So if you don’t want the runny nose, watery eyes, and stuffed up feeling-keep those windows and doors closed! Especially during the time of day the pollen count is at it’s highest, which is between 5:00-10:00 am.

Get Rid of Mold!

Who wants mold in their apartment? I know I don’t! The very thought of it gives me the shakes, but it happens! The biggest hotspots for mold happen to be in your bathroom and your closet! The bathroom is one of the wettest places in your apartment. The combination of heat and dampness is optimal for mold growth. So make sure you do your part to prevent it from starting. A few tips to help with bathroom mold is to make sure you circulate the air before and after your shower. Use the fan during the shower and open the door for 5-10 minutes afterwards. Also be sure to stretch the shower curtain after your shower so all the water can drain and the material can dry out. Wash your bathtub, shower door, walls, etc, if you see any mold. Use rubber gloves and a mixture of bleach and water. Doing these few steps will not only prevent your allergies, but also your health and the appearance of your apartment!

So there you have it. A few tips I’ve learned from AOL Real Estate about how to allergy proof your apartment! I know this spring the outdoor allergens are going to create difficulty for some, but at least when you get inside you won’t have to worry about too many irritants!

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[1] Realestate.aol.com/article/_a/allergy-proof-your-home/20060501110209990001[2] Realestate.aol.com/article/_a/allergy-proof-your-home/20060501110209990001

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!