Blog

It’s Getting Warm!

January 22, 2016 9:44 pm

Get outdoors this weekend and enjoy the amazing weather while it lasts. It is Minnesota after all!

Apartment Decor: Area Rugs

November 3, 2015 10:31 pm

Do you have area rugs from your days on wood floors? Don’t get rid of them! Even with your wall-to-wall carpet, they still have great uses!

  • Use an area rug in a large room to create a defined room space
  • Place an area rug in your bedroom and build a reading space around it
  • Employ a small area rug in your kitchen for a cozy breakfast nook

If you think creatively, you can make your old things work in your new home! Good luck!

 

Keep Warm This Halloween

October 28, 2015 5:16 am

With the weather feeling more wintry by the day, we found this great video from KSTP on how to keep warm this Halloween!

Halloween Safety For Kids

October 26, 2015 5:04 am

Halloween is a great time to be a kid! We all have great memories of dressing up and running around with other kids in the neighborhood. However, it is important to make sure your children are also safe while they collect their candy and treats.

 

Our friends at Safe Kids have some great tips on how to make the holiday both fun and safe!

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Their top tips are:

  • Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors. Since masks can sometimes obstruct a child’s vision, try non-toxic face paint and makeup whenever possible.
  • Have kids use glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
  • Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, remind them to stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
  • Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.
  • When selecting a costume make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.

Click here to download a comprehensive list for your family!

Tips For Dealing With A Noisy Neighbor

October 7, 2015 6:00 am

Shared walls can come with unwanted noises from those around you. If you find yourself in a situation where the noise is effecting your life and enjoyment, here are some tips to handle the situation.

1. Talk with your neighbors

Sometimes neighbors are not aware of how loud they have become. Politely explain the situation to your neighbor in a non-confrontational way and let them know how their level of noise is effecting you and ask if they can help with the situation.

2. Add White Noise

Things as simple as a fan can sometimes help. If it isn’t enough, you may find purchasing a white noise machine helpful.

3. Noise cancelling headphones

Usually used when you are on noisy flights, these can help eliminate the noises that are irritating you at home as well.

4. Soft earplugs

Trying to get a good quite night of rest, a set of earplugs can help block all but the loudest of noises.

If you have tried multiple things and had no luck, contact your management company and make them aware of the issue and file a complaint if necessary. Also, be aware of local noise ordinances (usually 11:00 p.m.) and contact the police if the level of sound is truly disturbing the peace.

 

Making Storage Space in Smaller Rooms

September 24, 2015 2:22 pm

Working with small spaces is not always easy. If your kitchen, bathroom or bedroom is smaller than you would like, just finding a place to store all your stuff can be a real challenge.

 

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make the most of small spaces and make sure all your possessions are safe and sound. These creative ideas can help you enhance even the smallest room and make the most of the space you do have available.

 

Go Overhead

If your rooms are short of floor space, move up instead of out. Make use of the space above your head to store items you would otherwise not have room for. Installing a shelving unit over the toilet or a storage rack above the pantry can double your storage space. Hanging a storage caddy from the shower head gives you a handy place to store your shampoos, conditioners, soaps and other toiletries.

 

Choose Nesting Bowls and Frying Pans

Replacing your mismatched bowls and frying pans with nesting models can more than double the storage space in your pantry. If you are tired of shoving your cookware into a limited space, it might be time for a space-saving upgrade.

 

Make Use of Your Wall Space

When floor space is limited, wall space becomes even more precious. From your bike to your cooking utensils, you can hang almost anything on the wall. Choose sturdy hooks, make sure they are anchored properly, and start putting your possessions in their place.

 

Create an Attractive Storage Solution with Baskets

A set of large baskets can be the solution to your storage problem. Baskets can be used to store anything, and they are more attractive than milk crates, shelving units and other popular storage solutions. Mix it up with different size baskets, and move them around the room for an ever-changing look.

 

Build a Wall of Bookcases

Bookcases are good for far more than storing books. A good set of bookshelves or group of bookcases can storage everything from knick-knacks and souvenirs to movies and CDs. A built-in recessed bookcase is the best choice from a space perspective, but a set of low-profile bookshelves is a close second.

 

Use Behind-the-Door Storage Solutions

From shoes to sweaters, you can store your clothes behind the closet door and save precious shelf space. You can purchase ready-made storage pockets that fit behind the door, or create your own with low-profile shelving.

 

Look Underneath

There is plenty of space underneath your bed, so do not let it go to waste. A plastic storage container is perfect for storing papers, out-of-season clothes or anything else you need only occasionally.

 

Living in a small home or apartment does not have to mean giving up your favorite things or dealing with constant clutter. With a little creativity and imagination, you can make even the smallest space more versatile.

Apartment Decor: Hang Curtains

September 14, 2015 6:49 pm

We are always looking for fun decorating ideas to brighten up our spaces. Today our tip comes from Apartment Therapy and it is a good one…Hang Curtains!

I know that it seems like a pain to go through the trouble, but it can make an incredible difference in warming up your space.

 

For more apartment decoration tips, visit Apartment Therapy!

 

Money Saving Tip: Save With Cable Alternatives

September 8, 2015 8:01 am


 

 

 

 

 

 

When you are looking to cut your budget, sometimes the big ticket items, like cable television, get overlooked as a “must have” and dismissed as impossible to scale back.

We have a few alternatives to cable television that may help you save big money over the long run.

If you all ready have high speed internet access, there are several companies and products that offer you some of the benefits of cable without the cost:

1. Hulu Plus: Hulu streams most of the major networks to your television (using either a computer gaming system or stand alone box).  At $9.99/month, it allows you to watch your favorite shows the day after broadcast at a fraction of the cost of cable.

2. Netflix: Netflix offers you a wide range of movies, documentaries and television series on demand and can be streamed directly to your television. At $7.95 a month, Netflix offers you some of the same great programming options without burning a hole in your budget.

3. Amazon Prime: Amazon offers a streaming service with multiple television series and movies free with a purchase of a Prime membership ($79/year). Not only do you get great content, but free 2-day shipping on all your Amazon purchases.

If you are still committed to cable television for one of many reasons, it is worth looking at the current promotions offered by your cable company to consolidate services (internet, phone, etc.) for some packaged savings.

 

Making Your Move Easy!

August 26, 2015 9:41 pm

Moving to a new apartment can seem daunting. Packing, unpacking, cleaning- it’s exhausting! Here are some tips to make your move less stressful.

1. Start early- Don’t procrastinate! If you are moving in 30 days, do NOT wait until the week before you move to start packing. The sooner you start packing, the less you have to rush. You can take your time, and make sure things are packed well, and in an organized fashion.

2. Label, label, label! If you’re packing up an entire house, it’s possible to have over 100 boxes of “stuff”. Make sure you are packing like items with each other (for example, all canned food items together, and all towels together). As you pack, number each box and write a short description on the outside. Maintain a separate numbered log that gives greater details as to what’s in each packed box. That way, if a week before you move you realize you must find Aunt Nancy’s cookbook, a quick look at your list would reveal it’s in box #4.

3. Clean as you pack- As you pack each box, evaluate the necessity of the items. It’s better to get rid of unused items before the move rather than spend the time and energy moving them to a new home, only to throw them away or donate them soon after.

4. Make some money- This recommendation relates to tip #3. Weed out the items that you no longer need. Plan a yard sale before you move, or list the unneeded items on a local yard sale site, or eBay. Make some extra money from your unwanted items to help finance your move!

5. Organize what needs to be done- Make a list of everything that needs to be accomplished, and when. For example, if you need to rent a truck to move, make sure you’ve rented it far enough in advance. Contact the postal service to request a change of address and mail forwarding. Having everything written down means you can physically check off the items as you do them.

Moving can be a stressful event, but with these tips, you can reduce the stress and ensure it goes smoothly.

FREE Family Fun: Como Conservatory & Zoo

August 19, 2015 11:28 am

In summer, finding something fun to do and FREE on the weekend for a family can be a challenge. Luckily for Twin Cities residents, Como Zoo and Conservatory is open and it offers a wide range of activities for the whole family. Whether you want to picnic, play mini-golf or visit the beautiful animals or stroll amongst the gorgeous flowers – it is all there in one place!

Be sure to visit their website for visitor information!

 

Decorating Your Apartment On A Budget

August 10, 2015 4:21 pm

If you’ve just moved into your first apartment, you’re probably on a tight budget with little free money to spend on lavish furnishings and apartment décor. By being resourceful and creative, you’ll discover you don’t need a lot of money to create a tasteful apartment dwelling. Here are some ideas for inexpensive apartment decorating:

Buy smart

 

If you’re decorating your apartment on a budget, forget heading to high priced furniture and art stores. Instead, discover the amazing world of estate sales, garage sales, and thrift stores. Pick up a copy of the Friday paper and make a listing of estate, garage, and yard sales in your area. Visit these sales as early as possible on Saturday morning for the best selection. You’ll be amazed at what’s offered and how inexpensively it’s priced. If you see an item you’d like but can’t afford, check back towards the end of the sale. If it’s still there, the owners will most likely be ready to do a significant mark down. Check local thrift stores in your area for bargains on dishes, glassware, and kitchen supplies. You can usually find gently used items in beautiful condition at an excellent price.

 

Find new uses for common items

 

Think creatively a bit about how you can use common, inexpensive items to create functional art. Buy a set of inexpensive wine glasses and some tiny glass pebbles at your craft store. Fill the wine glasses half way with glass pebbles and use them to anchor a votive candle. You can also use sand or small beads to fill the wine glass. Need a cheap table? Place a clear, round piece of glass on top of a large, sturdy ceramic vase. Create a completely new piece of functional art by gluing interesting bowls to plates or gluing the bottoms of two bowl together to serve as the base for a centerpiece. The possibilities for transforming common objects into cheap art are endless.

 

Frame it

 

It’s easy to find quality picture frames cheap at yard sales and estate sales. Buy as many as you need to decorate your apartment. Find creative ways to fill those frames. Get out your camera and take your own nature photos or photos of local landmarks in your area. Buy old vintage books at the same estate sales and frame some of the more unusual prints. Enclose some beautiful fabric or handmade paper in a frame. Create your own artwork with paint and a little elbow grease. Budget artwork can instantly transform an apartment and make it look homey.

 

As you can see lack of money doesn’t have to compromise your sense of style and good taste. Creative apartment decorating can liberate your creativity and your bank account.