Blog Posts

How to Hide Your Holiday Gifts in Your Apartment

One quintessential part of the holiday season is opening up surprise gifts with friends and family. But if you live in an apartment, it can seem nearly impossible to find enough available hiding places. With some craftiness though, you can find hiding spots in the most unexpected places. Follow our tips to keep the surprises intact. 1. Wrap them The best place to hide holiday gifts from the kids and the rest of the family? It's right in plain sight. If you wrap or bag your gifts as soon as you take them home, you don't have to worry about prying family members. You can leave them right out in the open and no one will know what they are. Just make sure you let everyone know that they're "off limits" until the right time. 2. Leave gifts in the car If you drive an SUV or hatchback, you should have plenty of space in the back where you can just throw a blanket over your gifts to hide them. 3. Switch with a friend or neighbor What's the fun in prying for hidden gifts if the ones found aren't even yours? That's the idea behind this holiday gift hiding place. If you have a friend or neighbor in a similar situation as you, switch gifts with them until you're ready to present them – you keep their gifts in your apartment and you keep yours in theirs. Let your family know and maybe even hang some "Not Yours" tags on the gifts in case they're eventually found. 4. Empty holiday storage bins It's time for us to collectively admit it – we all have a few of those bulky, plastic storage containers filled to the brim with holiday decor and fanfare that we dust off once a year, empty out for a few weeks, and then put back away. Why not use those containers as storage for gifts while they're empty? Those containers only spend a few weeks of the year empty and it just so happens to coincide with the time you need extra storage, so why not? 5. Use decoys If you're hiding the gifts from little ones, you might be able to get away with a little box-label deception. Hiding gifts in plain, sealed boxes labeled with boring items like "expense reports" or "mileage logs" will almost guarantee your kids stay away. Some older kids may be a bit keener, so be cautious if you use this method! 6. Rent a short-term storage unit Most major storage unit companies offer some month-to-month or short-term rentals. Some of these units can be quite small and, as a result, quite affordable. If you have a lot of presents that need to be hidden, it might make sense to pay for a month of storage space in an external facility. These units will likely range between $35 to $80 per month. You could also share a storage unit for this purpose with a friend or neighbor to reduce the costs. If you choose to do this, make sure you ask all the necessary questions and don't unknowingly get roped into a longer-term agreement than you realize.

You're Doing Thanksgiving Wrong

If there’s one meal at which family drama is on full display, it’s Thanksgiving. Expectations and emotions run high, and there are a lot of moving parts to cause friction. Even the late great Anthony Bourdain, who was seemingly immune to the criticism of others, felt the pressure to pull off the most anticipated meal of the year. In fact, he dedicated a whole chapter to Thanksgiving in the book Appetites: A Cookbook. There, you’ll find recipes from Tony that are capable of distracting from any and all uncomfortable conversations. Below, a list of exactly what you’re doing wrong for the big day. ââ 1. Don’t start cooking on Thanksgiving Day. Preparing your whole meal in one day— even two—is a recipe for system failure. Order your fancy farmer-raised turkey now. Or, if you are going to buy a more plebian bird from a regular market, get your hands on it no later than the Monday before Thanksgiving. 2. You’re not planning well enough. Plan for three days—that’s right, three days—of full-on Thanksgiving prep. Make a list of everything that needs to get done and follow it. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving, you should be organizing your supplies and tools, making sure you have enough roasting pans, mixing bowls, and storage containers ,and banging out advance vegetable prep. 3. You’re not giving yourself enough time to thaw everything out. Do not wait until Thanksgiving to lay out your non-perishables and frozen items. The vast majority of holiday turkeys are sold frozen, and it takes about six hours per pound to defrost in the refrigerator. No amount of prayer, salting, or hastily applied hairdryers can speed up this process if you’ve waited until Wednesday to thaw a 12-pound bird. Your microwave isn’t big enough. You can jolly it along a bit with a cold water bath, which thaws the meat at approximately 30 minutes per pound, but do not float your turkey in your bathtub. 4. Don’t forget to make stock when it’s all over. It’s liquid gold for cold weather. Stock is the underrated superhero of the Thanksgiving meal, the product that comes out of nowhere to save almost everything except your pie. You should make stock out of your Thanksgiving turkey carcass—but the use of a good, dark, gelatinous-when-refrigerated stock that you have on hand before the meal is what’s going to upgrade your stuffing and gravy. Buy about five to seven pounds of turkey wings and necks as the base for a deeply-roasted stock, or invest in a couple of quarts of the best-quality turkey stock you can find a few days (or weeks) before the holidays. Use the stock made from your Thanksgiving birds for winter soups and stews. 5. You only make one turkey? That’s hilarious. My top Thanksgiving rule: Prepare a stunt turkey and a business turkey. My motto is “never let ‘em see you sweat.” To impress guests, roast and artfully arrange a small turkey, using any and all manner of garnishes and props, including (but not limited to): chop frills, rainbow pinwheels of skewered citrus fruit slices, maraschino cherries, curly kale, lit sparklers, and crisp, new $100 bills and/or gold leaf. While guests admire your artistry (and drink your Burgundy), carve the larger, roasted business turkey in the kitchen. The stunt turkey should be edible, of course. Use it to supplement the meal as needed, or lean on it entirely for care packages and day-after leftovers. (See below.) 6. Don’t throw away the fat. Do not discard the copious amounts of grease your bird has generously provided you with; use it to boost flavor. Butter is good, but turkey fat is better for delivering quintessential flavor. Save the grease that runs off the roasted birds and use it for the gravy and as a moistening agent for your stuffing. 7. Don’t try anything crazy. This is not the time for wild experimentation. Stick with tradition on Thanksgiving . You have 364 days of the year to experiment with the cuisines of the world, your dehydrator, and your sous vide machine. Give the people what they want on Thanksgiving: the likes of buttery mashed potatoes, savory stuffing with mushrooms or chestnuts or oysters, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, cranberry relish, bacon-enhanced Brussels sprouts, creamed onions, pumpkin or apple pie with real whipped cream, and above all, a straight-ahead bronzed turkey, roasted in the oven. 8. Don’t give it all away at the end of the meal. A good turkey sandwich, enhanced with a layer of stuffing and gravy, eaten in peace after your guests have gone, is the whole point of hosting Thanksgiving in the first place. By all means, send your friends and family home with care packages—but first, make sure you’ve tucked away enough additional stuff for yourself.

Taking Care of Your Teeth....Yes, You Read That Right

The following may seem like no-brainers, but the reality is most people don’t properly take care of their teeth and gums. It’s one of those things that if we don’t do it now, we’ll regret it when we’re older. Wise up! Brush twice a day. Floss. And read on…. Tooth Decay (Cavities) Teeth are meant to last a lifetime. By taking good care of your teeth and gums, you can protect them for years to come. Tooth decay is not just a problem for children. It can happen as long as you have natural teeth in your mouth. Tooth decay ruins the enamel that covers and protects your teeth. When you don’t take good care of your mouth, bacteria can cling to your teeth and form a sticky, colorless film called dental plaque. This plaque can lead to tooth decay and cavities. Gum disease can also cause your teeth to decay. Fluoride is just as helpful for adults as it is for children. Using a fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinse can help protect your teeth. If you have a problem with cavities, your dentist or dental hygienist may give you a fluoride treatment during the office visit. The dentist also may prescribe a fluoride gel or mouth rinse for you to use at home. Gum Diseases Gum diseases (sometimes called periodontal or gingival diseases) are infections that harm the gum and bone that hold teeth in place. When plaque stays on your teeth too long, it forms a hard, harmful covering, called tartar, that brushing doesn’t clean. The longer the plaque and tartar stay on your teeth, the more damage they cause. Your gum may become red, swollen, and bleed easily. This is called gingivitis. If gingivitis is not treated, over time it can make your gums pull away from your teeth and form pockets that can get infected. This is called periodontitis. If not treated, this infection can ruin the bones, gums, and tissue that support your teeth. In time, it can cause loose teeth that your dentist may have to remove. Here’s how you can prevent gum disease: Brush your teeth twice a day (with a fluoride toothpaste). Floss once a day. Make regular visits to your dentist for a checkup and cleaning. Eat a well-balanced diet. Don’t use tobacco products. Cleaning Your Teeth and Gums Knowing how to brush and floss the right way is a big part of good oral health. Here’s how: every day gently brush your teeth on all sides with a soft-bristle brush and fluoride toothpaste. Small round motions and short back-and-forth strokes work best. Take the time to brush carefully and gently along the gum line. Lightly brushing your tongue also helps. Along with brushing, clean around your teeth with dental floss to keep your gums healthy. Careful flossing will remove plaque and leftover food that a toothbrush can’t reach. Rinse after you floss. If brushing or flossing causes your gums to bleed or hurt your mouth, see your dentist. Your dentist also may prescribe a bacteria-fighting mouth rinse to help control plaque and swollen gums. Use the mouth rinse in addition to careful daily brushing and flossing. Some people with arthritis or other conditions that limit motion may find it hard to hold a toothbrush. It may help to attach the toothbrush handle to your hand with a wide elastic band. Some people make the handle bigger by taping it to a sponge or Styrofoam ball. People with limited shoulder movement may find brushing easier if they attach a long piece of wood or plastic to the handle. Electric toothbrushes can be helpful. Dentures Dentures (sometimes called false teeth) may feel strange at first. When you are learning to eat with them, it may be easier if you: Start with soft non-sticky food; Cut your food into small pieces; and Chew slowly using both sides of your mouth. Dentures may make your mouth less sensitive to hot foods and liquids. They also may make it harder for you to notice harmful objects such as bones, so be careful. During the first few weeks you have dentures, your dentist may want to see you often to make sure they fit. Over time, your mouth changes and your dentures may need to be replaced or adjusted. Be sure to let your dentist handle these adjustments. Keep your dentures clean and free from food that can cause stains, bad breath, or swollen gums. Once a day, brush all surfaces with a denture care product. When you go to sleep, take your dentures out of your mouth and put them in water or a denture cleansing liquid. Take care of partial dentures the same way. Because bacteria can collect under the clasps (clips) that hold partial dentures, be sure to carefully clean that area. Dental Implants Dental implants are small metal pieces placed in the jaw to hold false teeth or partial dentures in place. They are not for everyone. You need a complete dental and medical checkup to find out if implants are right for you. Your gums must be healthy and your jawbone able to support the implants. Talk to your dentist to find out if you should think about dental implants. Dry Mouth Doctors used to think that dry mouth (xerostomia) was a normal part of aging. They now know that’s not true. Older, healthy adults shouldn’t have a problem with saliva. Dry mouth happens when salivary glands don’t work properly. This can make it hard to eat, swallow, taste, and even speak. Dry mouth also can Alzheimer’s Diseased to the risk of tooth decay and infection. You can get dry mouth from many diseases or medical treatments, such as head and neck radiation therapy. Many common medicines also can cause dry mouth. If you think you have dry mouth, talk with your dentist or doctor to find out why. If your dry mouth is caused by a medicine you take, your doctor might change your medicine or dosage. To prevent the dryness, drink extra water. Cut back on sugary snacks, drinks that have caffeine or alcohol, and tobacco. Your dentist or doctor also might suggest that you keep your mouth wet by using artificial saliva, which you can get from most drug stores. Some people benefit from sucking hard candy. Oral Cancer Oral cancer most often occurs in people over age 40. It’s important to catch oral cancer early, because treatment works best before the disease has spread. Pain often is not an early symptom of the disease. A dental check-up is a good time for your dentist to look for early signs of oral cancer. Even if you have lost all your natural teeth, you should still see your dentist for regular oral cancer exams. See your dentist or doctor if you have trouble with swelling, numbness, sores, or lumps in your mouth, or if it becomes hard for you to chew, swallow, or move your jaw or tongue. These problems could be signs of oral cancer. Here’s how you can lower your risk of getting oral cancer: don’t smoke; don’t use snuff or chew tobacco; if you drink alcohol, do so in moderation; use lip cream with sunscreen; and eat lots of fruits and vegetables.

3 Signs of a Good Leasing Office

We believe you’re in the right hands here in our community. But how can you be sure? If our office ever falls short of the expectations below, please let us know right away! 1. Responsive and keeps open communication with residents. When your dishwasher breaks, or you’re having pest problems, a good Leasing and maintenance office will be responsive in a timely manner. We always handle repairs and keep you in the loop. 2. Respects your privacy. We understand that while you are renting our apartment, you are creating a home for yourself and deserve privacy and respect for boundaries. Except for emergency repairs (burst water line and like),we promise to give you notice if we need to stop by the apartment and will schedule the visit so that you can be home. We will not make changes to your apartment without asking you, or give negative feedback about your decorating style or how you are using the space, as long as you are not in violation of your lease. 3. Explains your rental agreement clearly and answers your questions honestly. Are you in charge of your own utilities? Which ones? Do you have a grace period for late rent? Where are you allowed to park a car if you have one? A good Property Manager will write out the rental agreement very clearly so that everyone is on the same page for what the rules are, and what the expectations are. Nothing is worse than finding out that something is written and finalized in the lease when you didn’t mean to agree to it. We will help to make sure you understand everything and know what you’re getting yourself into. â When you’re moving into your first apartment, you are probably also starting a new job or new school and you have enough to worry about without having to deal with a bad Property Manager! Luckily we feel confident you won’t have any trouble in our quaint community!

8 Things Successful People Do on Their Lunch

Do you consider yourself a successful person? We believe everyone possesses the ability to be successful. Reaching the heights of success can take time, though, it’s not always a hurdle jump away. Fortunately, you can shorten this journey through one simple step: making the best use of your lunch hour. If you’re like most people, you have five hours per week that you can use to reach your goals faster. Read on to discover how to make the best use of those five hours: 1. Leave the office This gives you a break from distractions and an opportunity to refresh yourself. If you simply sit at your desk for lunch every day, you can expect managers and coworkers to ask you to do more work. By escaping the throws of office duties, you’re regenerating your brain, getting your blood flowing and allowing your focus to rest on things simpler and less stressful. So leave, scat, make like a bread truck. Just don’t forget to go back. What about those times when you simply have to stay at the office? There are ways to work around that requirement as well (see the next tip). 2. Do a weekly review Maintaining control and perspective over your life doesn’t have to be hard. That’s why successful people have mastered review habits. For example, you can review the past week’s sent emails during lunch to determine what follow up actions are needed. Alternately, you can review your calendar of appointments for the rest of the week. This can be applied to your personal schedule as well. Heck, it is lunch after all isn’t it? These practices put you back in command of both your work and personal time and keep your life on track. Tip: To get started with the weekly review, read Why You Need A Weekly Review To Become More Productive . 3. Get exercise Successful people know that exercise is vital to maintaining mental focus and health. Successful people get exercise during lunch in several ways, such as going to a fitness class, going for a walk and even putting in a few quick push-ups. Exercise is also a great way to cope with workplace stress . Some companies, like HBO, even offer yoga classes on site ! Take the time to ask your HR department about the company’s wellness program–you don’t know what’s available until you ask. In accordance with tip #1, getting the blood flowing provides the mental and physical relief your mind & body needs to perform at its peak. 4. Build career assets Assets are resources that grow in value over time. Checklists are a resource that successful people regularly use to avoid mistakes and guarantee high quality (check out Learn How To Build A Checklist In 6 Steps ). The time you invest to build a career asset will save you plenty of time in the future. Here are other career assets easy enough to build over your lunch hour: Standard Operating Procedures : a sequence of steps that explains how to do important parts of your job. These procedures can cover how to produce reports, your personal sales process and other aspects of your work. Career Portfolio : a collection of documents (e.g. performance reviews, copies of emails from happy clients, PowerPoint presentation templates) that prove all of your skills and accomplishments. Professional Contact List : write up a contact list (use a paper notebook or a spreadsheet to start with) of the 100 most important people in your career–include their name, title, company, phone number and email address. If you are laid off suddenly, you will need a copy of that information at home for reference. 5. Build relationships Breaking bread and sharing a meal with another person is one of the best ways to build a relationship. Successful people know that meeting somebody once at an event is just the start of building a relationship. The next step is to spend more time with that person. Lunch is a great way to develop a relationship because people tend to open up about their lives and go beyond business concerns. By delving into personal (but not too personal) information, you and your new contact feel comfortable with one another and trust each other enough to do business together. And remember, first impressions, body language and vocabulary are key! To learn more about networking and career advancement, read 9 Bulletproof Ways To Get Ahead in Your Career . 6. Eat for health, not entertainment What you eat for lunch has a significant impact on your results. That’s why successful people tend to avoid pasta and other carb-heavy meals at lunch, they make you lethargic and groggy. To improve your energy and keep moving, eat almonds, walnuts and other proteins. Foods high in protein fuel the brain. Relying on sugar to get you through the day is simply not effective—you’ll crash and burn by 2:30. In addition, consider avoiding foods with strong smells or sauces during the work week; spilling food on yourself during the work day is frustrating! Keep your eating for “entertainment”–desserts and the like–to the evenings and weekends. 7. Run personal errands Successful people understand the importance of staying focused at work. That’s why they avoid making personal phone calls during business hours as much as possible. However, we all know that life is full of pressures. For example, you may need to pick up prescriptions. One way to improve your productivity is to use a pharmacy nearby your office, so you can go there during your lunch break. To take this principle a step further, adapt Mike Hardy’s time chunking approach. You could designate the Friday lunch hour for personal errands and reserve Monday lunch hours for professional growth. Either way, incorporating a small portion of your personal life into your work day relieves some of the pressure in your home life, and it’s well worth it, however small. Tip: Learn how to cut down on the time needed to perform chores by reading Hate Chores? Make Them Less Painful with These Tips . 8. Take a nap Successful people understand the value of being well-rested. Entrepreneur Michael Hyatt has explained 5 reasons you should take a nap every day . Putting in a 20-30 minute nap does a great deal to increase your productivity and mental clarity. Specifically, napping has been shown to improve heart health and improve efficiency. Not sure where to take a nap? Look around if your company has a wellness room or a quiet room. Such rooms may serve as a useful nap location! As an alternative, look for a quiet office or a meeting room (though you run the risk of being “caught” napping). Tip: Learn How To Design The Perfect Nap , if you’re just getting started with the napping habit.

How to Build the Best Burger Ever

Who doesn’t love a good burger? There are a lot of joints that boast mouth-watering creations, and it’s great to be able to head down the street for one of your favorites. But have you ever wanted to take your favorite burger and make it your own? The good news is you don’t have to be a top-rated chef to build an amazing burger, you just need to understand the anatomy of one: The bun Must be buttered and toasted, first and foremost, no matter what type of bread you use. But you should definitely choose between brioche, Kaiser roll, pretzel or ciabatta. The meat Should be local. Organic or not is your choice, but fresh is best—just say no to frozen! Cook the beef to medium and nothing else. Sometimes I like my burger with a little char-taste, so I enjoy grilling. But occasionally I crave the greasy juiciness of cooking the patties on the stove. Aside from the beef, bacon is obviously a magical pairing, but I love adding some other types of meat like pulled pork, chicken, or crab. Vegetarian? No sweat. Black bean burgers have their own special taste that can really set your burger apart. To make your own, follow our favorite recipe here. The cheese: Can be almost any type you conjure. Popular picks include American, Swiss, cheddar and provolone, but I like to get creative with unconventional choices like goat, brie, Gouda, cotjia and gorgonzola. If you want to get real sassy, pile two (or seven) different types on there. The toppings: Are where you’ll really stretch your culinary legs. I’ve had burgers from all over the country and for me it comes down to taste and texture. One of my favorites includes caramelized onions, bacon, pear glaze, avocado and arugula. Another favorite is smothered in peanut butter (don’t knock it till you try it!) I love mixing sweet and salty, but some folks prefer traditional burgers like the classic bacon cheeseburger. The best part of making your own at home is the freedom to customize, so grab the main ingredients, see what’s already in your fridge, and get innovative. Throw a “build your own burger” dinner party and have everyone bring a different kind of cheese or topping. Experiment with new tastes and you just might find your next must-have, mouth-watering sandwich!