Apartment Blog

During this holiday season it is important to factor in the safety of all of your family members; even the little furry ones! You’d be surprised what dangers are lurking for your family pet during this festive season. So to help out all of our pet-friendly readers, we have compiled a list of items to watch out for this year. A trip to the veterinarian hospital would not be a pleasant thing!

Ingesting items:
Everyone knows chocolate is bad for dogs. But did you know that onion, grapes and raisins are horrible for them too? Fatty foods like turkey skin or gravy is not good for their stomach and alcohol is toxic! And be aware of things they can get into and eat such as plastic wrap, toothpicks, napkins, disposable plates or flatware. Items likes these can definitely do some damage to their internal organs.  If you are traveling with your animal or having friends staying at your home, make sure all medications are put in a place where curious animals cannot find them.

Safety for your pet:
This is not only about the safety of your animal, but also safety for humans around your animal. A pet that lies down in the middle of the kitchen is an accident waiting to happen. Make sure all of the left-overs are properly sealed and stored away where counter surfers cannot reach.  If serving turkey, make sure the carcass is in a plastic bag and taken out of the apartment. You don’t want to leave it around where any animal can take interest. And be sure to tell your family/friends visiting that feeding your pet is not good for him/her.

And finally, make sure you keep your animals’ routine as normal as possible. If your cats are terrified of people, let them have one room (perhaps a bedroom) to themselves. Or if your dog doesn’t like to be pent up in the house for too long, take him/her out for long brisk walks (for small dogs make sure they are dressed accordingly). Since there will be people coming in and out of your apartment, make sure that your animal wears proper ID tags should they escape in the confusion.

Wishing you and your family, all of them, a very happy and safe Thanksgiving!

With the current economic state many renters are looking for apartments that are ‘cheap’. While the perceived monetary gain may be tempting, it’s important to also look at the safety factors before signing a lease.You should first examine the neighborhood. You have every right to seek out information on whether or not there have been criminal activities. This includes asking the property manager or looking to local authorities. While also examining the neighborhood, you should make sure you visit the property multiples times. Plan on once during the day and at least once during the night. This will help you see how well light the area is and you’ll get a better sense of how safe you will feel when you return home from work each day.

Next, you should check the windows and doors. When you go to a model unit, chances are it’s going to be a better looking home. But check around the community when you visit. Do they tend to be in good shape? You need to also explore the locking mechanisms on the doors and windows. They should always ask when you move in, if the locks have been be changed from the previous owners. Always better to be cautious!

I would also recommend looking at the smoke detector.  This is the most valuable protection you can have-it will save your life! When you choose an apartment, be sure to check where it is located and when the batteries were replaced. Keep a schedule so you know when to change them out again.

Most apartment communities offer, as a paid service, the capability of a security system. They are a great way to protect your apartment. It scares away burglars because it increases the potential and fear of being captured and arrested by the police. But an alarm also does that without anybody getting hurt.

Lastly, protect your belongings by getting renter’s insurance! You can get quotes online by visiting the relocation page on ForRent.com.

Your apartment should be a sanctuary for you and your family, so make sure it’s a safe one.  Take these tips with you when you’re searching for apartments for rent, they’ll really be a lifesaver!

If someone were to say Thanksgiving Day Parade, what would you think of? The most recognized Thanksgiving Day Parade is in fact the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which takes place in New York City.  This parade has become a staple in American culture ever since the movie Miracle on 34^th Street which showed real footage of the festivities.  Of course national coverage by NBC every year has helped. Just thinking of the movie gives me all sorts of warm fuzziness and the merriment of the parade only reinforces those feelings for me. But did you know this annual parade started in 1924 in Newark, New Jersey? Yup, employees of Macy’s marched from the flagship store on 34^th Street dressed in costumes with floats, professional bands and live animals following them (in 1927 live animals were replaced by balloons). At the end of the parade Santa Clause is welcomed into Herald Square.  According to Wikipedia, the first parade had an audience of over a quarter of a million people! It was viewed as a huge success, which is why Macy’s declared it an annual event.

There are actually many Thanksgiving Day Parades all over the US. The nation’s oldest Thanksgiving parade, the Gimbels Parade or now known as 6ABC IKEA Parade, was first held in Philadelphia, PA. There is also the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade of Chicago, IL, the Parade Spectacular that is run in Stamford, Connecticut and others in Seattle, WA, Houston, TX, Detroit, MI, etc.

Returning for just a second to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, an interesting fact to note-the balloons in the parade are designed with safety valves so they can float for a few days. Address labels were sewn into them, so that whoever found and mailed back the discarded balloon would receive a gift from Macy’s[1]. How cool is that??

Anyways, the point is we hope whatever celebrations you are taking part in this Thanksgiving you have a great time! Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks and be with those that mean the most during the Holiday season!

According to Dictionary.com, the very definition of spooky is ‘eerie, scary’; therefore, decorating your apartment ‘eerily’ would be very appropriate for Halloween! To accomplish this look, you will have to go back and think of the things that frighten you. Below is a list of items that are sure to do the trick in accomplishing your Halloween themed décor.

First, your apartment’s exterior…..

Because you are renting you have some limitations as far as how much you can decorate, so be sure and check your lease or management company’s regulations. If your apartment is on the first floor, you could use the yard surrounding your front door and/or patio for decorations.  Items that stick in the ground, like skull heads, are perfect for setting the scary background.  Many retailers have front door murals as well as orange string lights to wrap around bushes, trees or columns.  If, however, you are on the second floor, be sure and use your patio to its fullest advantage. You can have swinging by the railing a ghost like creature or a fake human head with blood trickling down. Use your imagination to come up with something creative and it will be sure to cause fright in any who approach!

Second, your apartment’s interior…..

Those who decide to enter after seeing your spooky landscape, do so at their own risk! This is where you really can create the spooky atmosphere. Set the mood with candles. This will provide that Halloween glow around the house (safety first-be careful where you place those candles so they won’t be easily knocked over).  You can also have jack-o-lanterns greet your guests as they walk in, or have them awaiting unsuspecting guests getting ready to use the restroom! White sheets can cover your furniture, fake spiders scattered around and of course a spooky centerpiece for your table!  Another item that will really add to your homes creepy effect is Halloween music. My personal favorite is Purple People Eater, but hey, that’s just me!

Decoration Tip 
A really good, and CHEAP, decoration idea for your party-instead of purchasing streamers is to cut colored construction paper into thin, long pieces and make a paper chain!

Last but not least, your food…..

The only gross effect you want in food is the looks-not the taste!! In addition to the normal Halloween treats-cough, cough…candy-you’ll want to serve some items that are themed with the creepy appeal but are actually substantial. Besides the Monster Munch and Apple Bites we’ve posted, you can also have cheese balls shaped as pumpkins or a jack-o-lantern pizza. You have the ability to take a traditional appetizer or meal and make it appropriate for your Halloween party!

Well, I hope these tips have helped you with ideas for your Halloween party. If you have any really good ones to add, please do! The scarier………the better!

I’ve written previously about the fear seniors have regarding the loss of independence. Sometimes growing old without having to move from their original home isn’t an option. Moving to a smaller, more manageable dwelling, such as an apartment or condo, is better than a nursing home where seniors lose a majority of their independence. Before such a move can take place there are four factors to consider in order for this shift to take place; security, exercise, health and socialization.

Before moving into a new environment, you need to make sure it’s a safe one. This advice is as true for young adults as it is for the after 55 demographic. The locks on the doors need to work properly. Not answering the door to strangers is an obvious and being able to identify suspicious people is important. Also, make sure you have all the information for the fire and police departments by your telephone. For extra precaution, you can look for an apartment community that is gated, such as mine, which also has a security officer out every night.

The second factor would be exercise. Exercise is important for all age groups, particularly for older adults. Is the community you plan on moving to a safe environment for you to walk around? Or is there a nearby mall for you to travel to? How about a fitness center? These issues need to be considered before you move anywhere as they are important for your health.

Speaking of health, this is another factor that has to be thought about before relocating. If you move, will you be able to properly care for yourself? Will you be able to get your own groceries, get them to the kitchen and prepare yourself a meal? Making sure your body has the nutrition it needs as well as daily exercise will keep you healthy and able to be independent longer.

The final factor, at least for these tips, is socialization. Older adults need to interact with a variety of people. Having meaningful interactions with people promotes a feeling of hopefulness and well-being. Not to mention keeping your mind sharp.

So as I’ve mentioned before in a previous blog, After 55 or not, For Rent Media Solutions strives to improve the apartment hunting process for all apartment seekers. Your independence and peace of mind is important to us. Check out our apartments for rent on SeniorOutlook.com and look at the communities you think would fit into these four categories!

Source: Unionsentinel.com

Brick Township, New Jersey