Laurel Chase Apartments

ENJOY CALADESI ISLAND

2011-08-18T14:22:00.000-07:00

In 1921, a hurricane roared onshore just north of Tampa Bay, Florida, battering the area’s fragile barrier islands. The force of the storm opened a new inlet between the Gulf of Mexico and the inner Sound, slicing the barrier island in two between Honeymoon Beach and Clearwater Beach.

Cut off from easy access, the tip of the island that was home to Clearwater Beach was so remote that locals began thinking of it as a separate entity which eventually became known as Caladesi Island.

The northern tip of Caladesi, with its spectacular white sand beach, is a 30 minute walk from the main beach. Photo courtesy of Florida State Parks.
A lesser visited and relatively unknown beach destination for many years, Caladesi Island entered the spotlight when it was discovered by Dr. Stephen Leatherman. Every year since 1991 Leatherman, better known as as “Dr. Beach,” has been ranking America’s top ten beaches. In 2008 he named Caladesi the best beach in America. Fortunately, the Florida Park Service began acquiring the property on Caladesi Island in 1966, ensuring that it will be preserved in its natural state for generations to come. Today there are only three ways to reach Caladesi Island. Most visitors pay a $10 fee and hop aboard the passenger ferry for a 15 minute ride from Honeymoon Island State Park, but it can also be reached by private boat or by walking. From Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach, Caladesi is a little more than an hour’s walk.

Caladesi Island may well be the best beach in Florida for shelling
Getting there may be a bit of a chore, but it is definitely worth the effort. Caladesi Island has three miles of spectacular white sand beaches with shallow, calm waters that lend themselves to swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking. The exquisite clarity of the Caribbean-like turquoise water is best seen from the air, as in the above photo of the northern tip of the island.

Because the sand is not raked or manicured by machines, Caladesi’s beach contains more seaweed and beach rubble than found on other public peaches, but this also provides beach-goers with an opportunity to scavenge for interesting things that have washed up. Coral and ballast from old shipwrecks are occasional finds, but the real treasures are Caladesi’s abundant, unblemished shells, which are tossed up on the beach by the warm currents of the Gulf Stream. While collecting live shells is prohibited, a short stroll along the beach will net dozens of collectible specimens, including olive shells, conchs, cowries, clam shells, and sand dollars.

In addition to the beach, Caladesi offers numerous other activities. Rent a kayak and paddle through the mangrove tunnels on the bay side of the island or walk the nature trail behind the dunes for a close-up view of the maritime hammock. Boaters can enjoy day use or overnight stays in the 108 slip marina, or in calm weather, anchor offshore. Visitors who arrive later in the day are usually treated to spectacular sunsets.

Even on stormy days, Caladesi sunsets are spectacular
Facilities at Caladesi Island include a concession stand, covered picnic pavilions, picnic tables under the palms, restrooms, changing rooms, showers, and a drinking fountain. Equipment rentals, including chairs, umbrellas, beach wheelchairs, and kayaks, are available from the rental shack on the beach. Ferries run on the hour, every day of the week, beginning at 10 a.m. The last ride over to the island is at 3 p.m. each day, and the final return trip is 4 p.m. Visitors who arrive by ferry are limited to a four hour stay

HOW TO STAY SAFE IN A STORM

2011-08-18T14:20:00.001-07:00

There’s no way to know where lightning will strike. It can, in fact, hit the same place twice. And, it’s even been recorded to strike up to 25 miles away from the actual storm.

So how do you defend yourself against something you can’t possibly predict? The key is to be smart in whatever situation you’re in.

Outside
As a general rule, lightning strikes tall things that conduct electricity. So first, stay away from tall things:

The Science of Lightning
It’s common knowledge that lightning is electricity. But how does electricity come out of clouds?

Turns out, ice is to blame. As tiny chunks of ice tumble about in a storm cloud, they separate out into positively and negatively charged ions. The positive ones drift to the top of the clouds and the negative ones drift toward the bottom. Electricity — and lightning — occurs as electrons move between the two charges.

A similar process occurs between the moving storm cloud and the ground: the negatively charged cloud bottom causes a positive charge to build up on the ground, which in turn causes electricity — something like 100 million volts of it — to flow from the cloud to the ground.
•Don’t stand under tall trees, especially ones that stand alone.
•Stay away from fields, beaches, and other areas where everything around is shorter than you are.
•Stay off mountains during a storm — or at least get below the tree line.
Secondly, stay away from likely-to-be-struck materials. You can’t do much about conducting electricity yourself (the human body is pretty good at it), but you can at least make sure you’re not doing anything to enhance it:

•Get out of the water, including puddles. Even rubber boots won’t help much.
•Avoid touching anything made of or containing metal.
Of course, your best bet for staying safe is to find shelter. However, common outdoor shelters can be just as dangerous as no shelter in a lightning storm. When lightning hits something like a house or school, it travels through the wiring and pipes — which are grounded — and the dangerous current ends up going into the earth where it can’t do any harm. When lightning strikes something like a shed, however, you won’t have that protection.

So make sure you choose your shelter appropriately. You want something that’s fully enclosed — no picnic shelters or open garages — and has plumbing and wiring.

Inside
Being inside a plumbed and wired building is safer than being outside, but there are still some precautions to take. Remember lightning does travel through wires and pipes. So, avoid them. Stay away from sinks, toilets, and bath tubs as well as any electronic devices you’re likely to interact with, such as computers, video game consoles and corded phones.

When is it safe?
Stay inside until at least 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning or crash of thunder

PICK UP AFTER YOUR PET

2011-08-18T14:18:00.000-07:00

Pet waste affects water quality
Every time it rains, thousands of pounds of pet waste wash down storm drains and into streams, rivers and lakes. If not disposed of properly, pet waste flows directly into nearby streams and creeks without being treated at wastewater treatment facilities.

A recent U.S. Geological Survey study of streams and creeks in the Kansas City region showed that bacteria associated with pet waste is the source of approximately 25% of the bacteria in samples collected from local waterways.

When pet waste is disposed of improperly, water quality isn’t the only thing that suffers — your health may be at risk, too. Adults working in their gardens, children playing outside and family pets are the most at risk for infection from some of the bacteria and parasites found in pet waste

What you can do:
•Pick up pet waste from your yard. It is not a fertilizer.
•Carry disposable bags while walking your dog to pick up and dispose of waste properly. When you dispose of pet waste in the trash, wrap it carefully to avoid spilling during collection.
•Bury the waste in several different locations and keep it away from vegetable gardens.
•Contact your local parks department to inquire about providing pet waste stations in area parks, along trails and in public places where people frequently walk their dogs.

DRINK UP!

2011-08-18T14:16:00.000-07:00

What do you, the trees, and a hamster have in common? Give up? You all need water. All living things must have water to survive, whether they get it from a water fountain, a rain cloud, or a little bottle attached to the side of a hamster cage.

Without water, your body would stop working properly. Water makes up more than half of your body weight and a person can't survive for more than a few days without it. Why? Your body has lots of important jobs and it needs water to do many of them. For instance, your blood, which contains a lot of water, carries oxygen to all the cells of your body. Without oxygen, those tiny cells would die and your body would stop working.

Water is also in lymph (say: limf), a fluid that is part of your immune system, which helps you fight off illness. You need water to digest your food and get rid of waste, too. Water is needed for digestive juices, urine (pee), and poop.

Your body can help you stay properly hydrated by regulating the amount of water in your system. The body can hold on to water when you don't have enough or get rid of it if you have too much. If your pee has ever been very light yellow, your body might have been getting rid of excess water. When your pee is very dark yellow, it's holding on to water, so it's probably time to drink up.

You can help your body by drinking when you're thirsty and drinking extra water when it's warm out. Your body will be able to do all of its wonderful, waterful jobs and you'll feel great!

YOU ARE INVITED!!!!!!!!

2011-08-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

To our end of summer grill party!!!!

Saturday 08/20/2011 at the pool, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm.

Residents Only please.

Smart ways to pay less for gas!!!!

2011-07-10T19:43:00.001-07:00

Here are 8 great ways to save money on gas whether you cover a lot of ground for work or are gearing up for a fun summer road trip:

Tip #1: Buy discounted gas gift cards from various vendors at sites like PlasticJungle.com and GiftCards.com.

Tip #2: Buy gas in the morning or at night when it's cooler so less evaporates from your tank.

Tip #3: Don't idle for more than a minute because that wastes more gas than restarting the engine.

Tip #4: Fill up during the middle of the week because gas prices rise on Thursdays in anticipation of weekend travel.

Tip #5: Lighten your load--every extra 250 pounds of weight in your vehicle burns an extra mile per gallon of gas.

Tip #6: Download an app for your smart phone that makes it easy to find the cheapest gas prices like GasBuddy or CheapGas!

Tip #7: Ask a mechanic about the lowest octane gas recommended for your vehicle--the manual may recommend high octane even though it's not necessary.

Tip #8: Drive with your windows closed on the highway (to save as much as 10%) and open the windows and turn off the air conditioning in stop-and-go traffic.

These tips were inspired by energy expert, Chris Faulker, CEO Breitling Oil & Gas.

Summer time energy saving tips!!

2011-07-10T19:42:00.001-07:00

These tips are designed to help you choose effective ways to reduce your energy bills. Some measures may not be relevant depending on climate, the age of your home and appliances, and past improvements made to your home.

The savings numbers are based on your total summer electric bill. Equipment mentioned must be electric powered for estimates to be accurate.

Also check out our What To Do Before It Gets TOO HOT! page.

FAST AND FREE

The average home spends about $1,900 a year on energy costs. But you can lower your energy bills and help save the environment at the same time!

Be a speedy chef

Nothing is more energy efficient for cooking than your microwave. It uses two-thirds less energy than your stove.

Push a button to wash your dishes

Surprise! Your dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand. Then let dishes air-dry to save even more!

Fill up the fridge

Having lots of food in your fridge keeps it from warming up too fast when the door is open. So your fridge doesn't have to work as hard to stay cool.

Cutting back unnecessary energy use is an easy way to reduce energy consumption while saving money. Here are some additional suggestions you can do at home, at absolutely no cost to you.

Turn up your thermostat

Set your thermostat to 78 degrees when you are home and 85 degrees or off when you are away. Using ceiling or room fans allows you to set the thermostat higher because the air movement will cool the room. Always take into account health considerations and be sure to drink plenty of fluids in warm weather. (Save: 1 - 3 percent per degree, for each degree the thermostat is set above 72 degrees)

Use your appliances wisely

To help prevent electricity outages, avoid running your appliances during peak hours, -- from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. -- or anytime an electricity emergency is declared.

Do your laundry efficiently by using the warm or cold water setting for washing your clothes. Always use cold water to rinse clothes. (Save: 4 percent)

Line dry clothes whenever you can. (Save up to 5 percent)

When you need to use the dryer, run full loads, use the moisture-sensing setting, and clean the clothes dryer lint trap after each use. (save: 0.5 percent)

Conserve energy by running your dishwasher only when it is fully loaded, and turn off the dry cycle and air dry dishes instead. (save: 1 percent)
Operating swimming pool filters and cleaning sweeps efficiently

Reduce the operating time of your pool filter and automatic cleaning sweep to fourto five hours, and only during off-peak time. (Save: 1-2 percent per hour of reduction)
Eliminate wasted energy

Turn off appliances, lights and equipment when not in use. (Save: 2%)

Unplug electronic devices and chargers when they aren't in use-most new electronics use electricity even when switched "off." Turn computers and printers off at the power strip. (Save: 1-2 percent)

Unplug or recycle that spare refrigerator in the garage if you don't really need it. This will save you up to $150 per year! (Save: 10-20 percent)

INEXPENSIVE ENERGY SOLUTIONS

Make a quick trip to your local hardware store to purchase inexpensive energy-saving tools and equipment.

Replace air conditioner filters

Dirty filters restrict airflow and can cause the system to run longer, increasing energy use. Replace filters monthly for maximum benefit. (Save: 1-2 percent)

Plug your home's leaks

Weather-strip, seal, and caulk leaky doors and windows and install foam gaskets behind outlet covers. (Save: up to 2 percent)

Choose ENERGY STAR® products

Buy ENERGY STAR® certified table lamps and light fixtures, and replace your incandescent light bulbs that are used more than two hours per day with ENERGY STAR® compact fluorescent bulbs. For example, install compact fluorescent bulbs in your porch light if you leave it on overnight. (Savings: for each bulb you'll save 0.2 percent for each hour the bulb operates on a typical day. Therefore, replacing an incandescent bulb that burns 10 hours per day will save 2 percent)

Buy ENERGY STAR® certified torchieres. (Save: up to 1 percent for each hour/day that it's on)

Install an ENERGY STAR® programmable thermostat. (Save: 1-3 percent)

GOOD ENERGY SAVING INVESTMENTS

Planning to do some remodeling soon? Time to replace old appliances? Consider these energy efficiency suggestions when you make purchases.

Install a whole house fan

A whole house fan is permanently installed in your attic and draws cool air into your home through the windows while forcing hot air out through your attic vents. Use after sundown when the outside temperature drops below 80 degrees, and in the early morning to cool your house and help reduce your air conditioning use. (Save: up to 5 percent)

Install window shading

Install patio covers, awnings, and solar window screens to shade your home from the sun. For additional future savings, use strategically planted trees, shrubs and vines to shade your home. (Save: 5 percent)

Solar control window films applied to existing glass in windows and doors is an effective method to reduce peak demand during hot months and conserve energy anytime air conditioning might be required. In addition to the energy management benefits, the use of these films can also reduce exposure to ultraviolet radiation and reduce glare. Vist the International Window Film Association for more information. (save 5-10 percent)

Invest in a new air-conditioning unit

If your air conditioner is on the way out, buy an ENERGY STAR® air conditioner. (Save: up to 10 percent)

Seal your ducts

Leaking ductwork accounts for 25 percent of cooling costs in an average home, so have your ducts tested and have any leaks or restrictions repaired by a qualified contractor. Note: duct cleaning is not the same as duct sealing. As of October 1, 2005, if you install a new central air conditioner or furnace, your ducts will have to be inspected. (Save: 10 -20 percent)

Replace your refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR® model

Refrigerators with a top or bottom freezer design can save you an additional 2-3% on your bill compared to a side-by-side design. (Save: 10 percent)

Increase attic insulation

If existing insulation level is R-19 or less, consider insulating your attic to at least R-30. (Save: 10 percent)

Keeping your kids busy this summer on a budget!!

2011-07-10T19:41:00.000-07:00

By: Mp Nursing

Summer is fun-filled. Summer is relaxing. Summer is…”I’m boooored”? Uh-oh, those dreaded words no parent ever wants to hear. So how do you keep the kids busy during summer vacation? How do you fill seven days a week with activities for the kids over summer vacation without overrunning your budget?

First of all, put the kids to work!
•They can run a lemonade stand. Lemonade stands teach finance, sales and customer service lessons!
•Planting a garden is something you can do together with either flowers or vegetables. Periodic watering and weeding reinforces responsibility.
•A sponge, soap and hose make the perfect car wash. This allows them to have fun on those hot summer days with the other kids on the block, while helping the neighborhood parents cross something off the honey-do list.
•Letting the kids paint the fence may seem like a bad idea (depending on their age), but not if they’re using a brush and bucket of water (or a hose). You might end up with a clean fence, and they’ll definitely have fun helping you out!
•There are always plenty of chores around the house: have them help clean out the garage, their rooms, the game closet…the list goes on. If you hide some goodies in the area to be cleaned, it can even become a treasure hunt.
Secondly, keep them thinking!

•The local library may have kid-centric reading programs planned for the summer. Whether or not they do, though, try to fill at least a good portion of one day a week with books. It’s important to keep them sharp for September.
•Nature walks will give them plenty of exercise, and kids always find cool stuff along the way. Let them collect interesting leaves, acorns or other natural flora, which you can help them learn more about on the internet.
•Museums and zoos offer great learning opportunities (as well as tons of energy-sapping exercise), and many offer ‘kids-are-free’ days. Identify your kids’ interests…do they like music? How about a tour of that local guitar manufacturer? Do they like airplanes? A trip to the airport will prove exciting for them! Be creative.
Lastly, let them have fun!

•Look around the house for things that would make a good obstacle course in the yard. Have the kids help design it, then turn them loose and let them compete!
•Summer means swimming. If you, the neighbors, family or friends don’t have a pool, check to see if local community pools are available. Or buy a Slip & Slide for the backyard and hook up the hose!
•Movies are a nice break from the heat, and during the summer lots of theatres run money-saving specials for the kids.
•Organized sports like baseball teach good sportsmanship and offer the kids tons of opportunities to make new friends. Local communities offer teams over some of the summer months.
Remember the main objective is to keep them busy and let them have fun. But also remember the side objective…to tire them out so they sleep as soundly as you long to! Rotate activity days with other parents so you can even steal a few hours of precious time for yourself.

What are your favorite inexpensive summer activities for kids?

Tips to organize your space

2011-07-10T19:38:00.000-07:00

How did we get here?

A junk room almost always has an innocent, accidental beginning. One day guests are coming for dinner and, in a mad dash to clean up the apartment, a load or two of flotsam and jetsam gets piled in the extra room. Maybe there never seemed to be time to sort it, only add to it, and before you knew it, your once spare room is anything but. Now it is loaded with items you might need, but can’t imagine having the hours or energy to sort through. Welcome to Hoarders: Chapter 1. It’s time to get serious about organizing your space and taking the room back from the junk.

Give the junk an identity
Mark your calendar for a weekend or a day off, roll up your sleeves, turn on some great music, and enter your junk room. This time, it’s personal. Come equipped with several boxes or bags, and put the junk you find where it belongs. Put old mail and paperwork in a box or bin and carry it to your desk. Place piles of clothes in the hamper to wash or hang up, if they are still clean. Get your sports equipment or shoes into a closet where they belong.

Now, when every bit of your “junk” has been revealed as something useful or as garbage to be dealt with appropriately, clean the room as never before. Then, sit down in your former junk room with a snack and favorite beverage, or take a nap on the guest bed that was hiding under all that stuff.

This is your new room. Now that you have reclaimed this “extra” square footage of apartment living space, odds are good that you will never again relinquish it so easily.

Sort or suffer
Clutter is the bane of many existences. It saps our time and our enthusiasm. Everything is harder to find and accomplish in an apartment where too much stuff gets in the way. So, keeping your space organized isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about mental health, too. A clean home is, truly, a happy home.

Piles can be insidious. They crop up when you’re not looking and seem to grow over-night. The next day, a counter or table is covered, and you keep pushing the stuff aside to make room to live in…don’t let it get that far!

In order to keep a healthy balance in your apartment, you really must commit yourself to regular decluttering Otherwise, you will be tempted to carry piles of stuff back to what was once the junk room.

When the mail comes in, don’t stack it: sort it. Separate bills and important mail from junk mail immediately, and deal with each appropriately. When the coats and shoes come off, store them where they need to go. The greatest aid in keeping your living spaces livable is not to wait — deal with your belongings right away, every day.

Get organized
Even with the best of intentions, we may need some help staying clutter free. If your entryway is often a bottleneck of potential junk, install hooks, a hall tree or storage bins so that coats and shoes always have a place to go. If paper is your poison, place small bins on a table or counter with family members’ names on them so that everyone can sort his or her own mail and papers. And if toys or office items never seem to make their way back to their proper places, consider placing a basket or bin in the front area of your apartment so that you can easily ferry those things back where they need to go.

Okay, junk room, your days are numbered! Reclaim the space and make your apartment livable again by dealing with clutter before you have to hide it away in your valuable living areas.

Have a great weekend!

2011-04-22T12:15:00.001-07:00

Decorating tips for spring

2011-04-22T12:12:00.000-07:00

Does your apartment lack a personal touch? Perhaps what you need are the kinds of decorative accents that can make your place truly feel like home. We’ve got some ideas on how to transform your bland or blank interior into something that reflects your very own style.
Say it with a pillow
When you think “decorative accent pillow” you might imagine a brocaded horror with tassels and lace. Not a turn-on perhaps. But how about something a little more up-to-date, like a Bob Dylan version, or one of these trendy throw pillows? (You can even design your own.) With an endless variety of patterns, designs and fabrics to choose from, the decorative accent pillow has come of age, and can be an integral piece of your apartment style plan.
Candles
Candles are one decorative item that add light, style, ambience and even fragrance to your apartment. You can find them in inventive shapes, sizes, and smells. Candle holders come in an endless variety of designs and materials. Reasonably priced, candles are a great accessory to add to your apartment style arsenal.
Got tchotchkes?
You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for cool home decor accents. IKEA, Pier 1 Imports, and Cost Plus World Market are all retailers offering interesting table-top items in a world of styles. Online, try cool vases from Hipster Home, or all kinds of boxes, books and ephemera from CB2. Check out Urban Outfitters for wacky novelties, toys from yesterday and today, and decor knick-knacks. Target features many stylish decor items to choose from, as well.
Climb the walls
Even with minimal accessories, you can dramatically impact your apartment’s style with what you put on the wall. Frame old family photos in rustic frames, or look for favorite movie posters to put up. You might frame colorful pages from a picture book for a novel display. You can hang original art, paint-by-numbers pictures or antique license plates. Whatever your fancy, create an interesting wall display with it!
If your apartment is missing decorative accents — lucky you! Now you get to begin the hunt to collect cool-looking items that will give your apartment the style and personality it craves.

Apartments and pets, how to make it work.

2011-04-22T12:10:00.002-07:00

Wendy Boswell — When moving into a new place, a pet can be a dealbreaker if you don't prepare your case ahead of time (and check out the pet policies!). Rental advice site LiveSimply has written up a short and sweet how-to on persuading landlords to accept pets:

1: Provide your landlord with written statements from former landlords that commend your pet's behaviour and verify that your rental unit was well-maintained while you and your pet occupied the premises.
2. Invite your landlord to meet your pet and view the pet's behaviour.
3. Offer the landlord a 'pet deposit.'
4. Inform your landlord in writing that you will pay for damages caused by your pet during your lease.
5. Don't bring the fact up until the last minute. If the landlord has invested sufficient time into you, they are more likely to be persuaded. Although this could backfire and really annoy them.

Keeping your apartment cool

2011-04-22T12:10:00.000-07:00

As the temperature rises, so does the cost of cooling your home, especially if you use an air conditioner. Obviously, the best way to keep your home cool during the summer is to use an air conditioner to keep the temperature down, but there are other options that don’t raise your energy bill quite significantly. Air conditioners may offer tempting temporary relief from summer heat, but they’re a huge environmental no-no. You may be cooling your home, but the fossil fuels you’re burning in the process are only making your summers hotter. This summer, leave the air conditioner in storage and try these environmentally-friendly alternatives instead. Fundamentally, the idea is to minimize sources of heat and remove built-up heat from inside.

Fans and Ceiling Fans

If you’re looking for ways to beat the heat, a ceiling fan can be a great investment for your home. This one appliance can make a room feel 6 or 7 degrees cooler, and even the most power-hungry fan costs less than $10 a month to use if you keep it on for 12 hours a day. Good fans make it possible for you to raise your thermostat setting and save on air-conditioning costs. Fans don’t use much energy, but when air is circulating, it feels much cooler. Ceiling fans are best, but a good portable fan can be very effective as well.
You should remember that even mild air movement of 1 mph can make you feel three or four degrees cooler. Also make sure your ceiling fan is turned for summer – you should feel the air blown downward.

Ready to Save ?

2011-03-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

In today's economy we all need things that will help us SAVE

Save time, Save energy and SAVE MONEY!

Below is just a helpful hint from your leasing staff at Laurel Chase.

Go to WWW.CouponSuzy.com

Free Coupons For 1,000's of Products.

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The Official Coupon Suzy website as seen on television....

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Choose from over 100 coupons each week, and save over $90 on your grocery bill!

St Patrick's Day Fun Facts

2011-03-17T12:06:00.000-07:00

St. Patrick was born in 385 AD somewhere along the west coast of Britain, possibly in the Welsh town of Banwen. At age 16, he was captured and sold into slavery to a sheep farmer. He escaped when he was 22 and spent the next 12 years in a monastery.

St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD.

In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green ribbons in their hair

Many cities have a St. Patrick’s Day parade. Dublin, the capital of Ireland, has a huge St. Patrick’s Day festival from March 15-19, that features a parade, family carnivals, treasure hunt, dance, theatre and more. In North American, parades are often held on the Sunday before March 17. Some paint the yellow street lines green for the day! In Chicago, the Chicago River is dyed green with a special dye that only lasts a few hours. There has been a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Boston, Massachusetts since 1737. Montreal is home to Canada’s longest running St. Patrick’s Day parade, which began in 1824.

Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.

Enjoy the holiday!

Spring is in the air!!

2011-03-03T14:02:00.000-08:00

http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/2007Q2/la_0407_spring_cleaning.pdf

Check out this checklist from Martha Stewart to keep track of all your Spring Cleaning to-do's. Speaking of Spring Cleaning, the maintenance staff will be around Friday, February 25th to change A/C filters and check the systems. We will send out paper notices to everyone's door later in the week.

Happy Cleaning!

Spring Break Ideas

2011-03-03T13:59:00.000-08:00

1. Rent a vacation house. If you’re going away for more than a few days and need more space than one room, it can be more economical to rent a house rather than to stay in a hotel. Browse HomeAway for a thorough selection of vacation homes throughout the world for rent. In some cases, staying for a week — a luxury you might have over spring break — can help you save even more money.

2. Go camping. If you stick to government-owned camping sites, there’s a good chance you’ll be able find deals you wouldn’t necessarily find at private-owned sites. You can visit Recreation.gov to start planning a low-cost camping trip. The website isn’t perfect, but you can browse for campsites with certain amenities and use this as a starting point for researching your vacation.

3. Travel as a student. If you’re a full-time student, part-time student, or part of the faculty or staff at a learning institution, you may qualify for better fares. Student Universe is a fare search engine like Kayak that offers student rates.

4. Take a road trip. The Mother Road is a website dedicated to this route, and it has turn-by-turn directions for travelers who want to avoid newer road improvements like bypasses, opting for as authentic a drive as possible.
Of course, not all road trips need to be as focused as this; if you have the time, as might be the case for spring vacation, replacing a flight with an interesting drive could lead to new adventures.
5. Take a cruise. Spending your vacation on a cruise ship stopping in several ports can be a good way to experience a wide range of activities and a variety of locales in a short period of time.
6. Day trips in your local city. Although the travel bug often leads people outside of the United States, there’s often a lot to do and see close by.
7. Go on a photography safari. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to have a great experience with your camera. If you take an organized photography tour, your vacation could be fairly expensive, but access to superb outdoor photographers can change the way you think about the art and craft. To save money, organize your own photography safari by taking any vacation with the sole purpose of coming back with amazing images.

8. Tour vineyards and wineries. Most wine tours are a few hours long, so this isn’t an activity can take over your entire vacation. This isn’t an activity geared towards students or families, obviously. It’s better suited towards couples who are interested in what could be a romantic opportunity. Many wine tours are educational, as well.

9. Participate in a volunteering group. More for students who are looking for a different type of vacation, whether to enhance their résumé or to enhance their set of life experiences, joining an organized group volunteering event can affect life-long values and help introduce you to like-minded individuals. The United Way markets this opportunity as an “alternative spring break,” with projects such as helping underachieving children in Newark, New Jersey and learning how to plan fundraising events in Boston, Massachusetts.