Get extra space out of your apartment

Making extra space in your apartment can sometimes be tricky.  Even the with the roomiest apartments, it seems that you can always use more space, right?  Luckily, there are creative people out there who care enough to share there ideas with you on how to make the most out of the space that you have.  Here are a couple tips I found in an article published recently by Reader’s Digest…

“My pantry isn’t big enough.”  Add shelves to your door. If your walls and floor are jammed with cans and boxes, look behind you: Is the back of your pantry door being used effectively? Install narrow shelves or hanging racks on the door to hold frequently needed items such as spices, condiments, and snacks.

“I don’t have much room to store out-of-season clothes.”  Use vacuum seal bags. You can store seldom-used clothes in very little space if you use vacuum-seal bags, which are available at hardware stores. The clothes compress and are totally safe from insects and dust.

You can actually get Space Bags vacuum bags at Target (2201 Cobb Parkway Southeast, Smyrna).  They should go for around $12.99 for a set of 3.  Hope this info helps…and good luck organizing!

Save money on renter’s insurance

Do you currently carry renter’s insurance?  Tamarron Apartments strongly advises their residents to get a policy.  It’s really not as expensive as you may think.  In fact, you can save money on your policy in quite a few ways.  Here is an article I found about saving money on renter’s insurance.  Check out this video too.

Say goodbye to damp clothes

There is nothing worse than having to put on slightly damp clothes that haven’t completely dried in the dryer.  Am I right?  Admit it – we’ve all done it a time or two.  You’re in a big hurry to get somewhere and the outfit you needed to wear is still dirty.  So you quickly run it through your washer and dryer before running out of the apartment, knowing that the clothes probably needed an extra 20 minutes in the dryer.  Now they’re damp and you have to suck it up.

The next time you’re in that situation, try the tip in this video.  And if the tip doesn’t help you, I’m sure you’ll at least find Betsy Sue amusing!

Protect your pet! Get him registered!

Have you registered your pet yet?  The Atlanta Humane Society requires all the pets in the city to have a license. 

Pet licenses are important because they help in the recovery of lost animals and also act as proof that your pet has had its (legally required) rabies vaccination. Should your little furry kid escape and is found wandering the streets, you are more easily located if they are licensed. The alternative is far worse, unidentified pets are usually thought to be strays and can end up at the local shelter.

So how does the licensing work? All you have to do is go down to the Animal Control facility at 981 Howell Mill Road (corner of 10th St.) with your proof of a 1-year or 3-year rabies vaccination and get the license. Attach the tag they give you to your pet’s collar and voila…you now have a licensed pet!

Learn great gardening tips and secrets

Any green thumbs out here in Tamarron? Sometimes I wish I was. Gardening is certainly both a science and an art. Some have the knack, some don’t…just ask my plastic plant that died on me last year. Although I am thinking about starting one of those hanging tomato plants. Anyone have one?

In any case, for those that are interested, on May 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Keep Smyrna Beautiful will be hosting their annual Smyrna Garden Tour. Tickets available for $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the tour. All proceeds benefit the new Community Garden project at North Cooper Lake Park. Gardeners will be on hand to share their secrets with you.

Smyrna has fabulous gardens and this year Keep Smyrna Beautiful gives you a chance to get an inside look at the gardening talents of our active and resourceful citizens. For more information, contact Keep Smyrna Beautiful at 770-431-2863.

Cash rules everything!

You may have noticed that gas stations are starting to offer a different, higher price for credit cards. This isn’t technically allowed- unless it is marketed as a “cash discount.”  In other words, if you fill up your car and find that you’ve been charged more than advertised because you paid with a credit card – that’s not allowed.  If, however, you decide to pay with cash because you saw an advertised “cash discount” to the “regular price” – that’s ok.  A subtle distinction, but an important one.

(There is something called a “convenience fee” that some institutions are allowed to charge if they do not typically accept credit cards in their normal course of business. The example VISA gives is a utility company where the customary way is to pay by mail or in person. The rules for charging this fee are somewhat complicated and there are loopholes, etc.)

Did you find this advice helpful? If so, check out more little-known credit card tips in this article titled 10 Things You Might Not Know About Your Credit Card. If you have any credit card advice or tips that you’d like to share with the community, be sure to leave a comment!

Cheap, green tips!

Here are a few energy saving tips, courtesy of The Baltimore Sun,  that everyone here at Tamarron can use to help protect the environment.  Happy Earth Day, folks!  Enjoy the planet!

• Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs in the light fixtures you use most, and you’ll save on your electricity bill, since about 15 percent of most bills go toward lighting.
• Use surge protectors to eliminate energy vampires — electronics like your television that sap electricity even when they’re not in use.
• Carry a reusable mug and avoid buying beverages in containers that have to be thrown away.  Pack a few reusable bags and get a discount at some supermarkets. Invest in reusable food containers for storing leftovers or packing lunches instead of purchasing disposable sandwich bags or plastic wrap that also has to be discarded.

Final Fogelman Four (or Five)

Hey Fogelman folks…the 2010 NCAA Basketball Tournament is wrapping up this weekend and if you’ve been following, you know that it has been ripe with upsets. As for the Fogelman Bracket Challenge, it’s still too close to call. There are numerous scenarios that can play out, each one resulting in a different winner.

Here is what we know…

• If Duke wins, Richard Call from Stewarts Ferry in Nashville, TN will be your 2010 Champion. Way to go, Richard! But don’t count your cookies yet…
• If West Virginia wins, then Jon Hawks will take the crown. I’m a Big East Conference fan, so I must admit that I’m in Jon’s corner. Jon, we’re not sure which apartment community you’re representing so if you’re reading this, make sure you drop us a note.
• If Michigan State wins the tournament, then Amanda Hill will be our official champion. However, because she is not officially a Fogelman property resident, she is disqualified from collecting any prize. Any prize would go to the first runner-up that is actually a resident. Sorry, Amanda. Maybe you should consider moving to a Fogelman community J
• And if Butler wins, well, here’s where it gets a little tricky. Because no one gave them a fighting chance at the beginning of the tournament, there is no clear cut winner at this point. It all depends on who they play in the Championship. If Butler defeats West Virginia in the title game, then Janelle Crandall from Metro 67 in Memphis, TN will walk away with the prize. If Butler defeats Duke, the title goes to Dani Soto from Hampton Woods in Shawnee, KS.

Good luck to each of the finalists! Don’t forget to tune into CBS to watch the tournament semifinals tonight starting at 6pm, and then the Championship game on Monday, April 5 at 8pm.

Fogelman 2010 NCAA Bracket Challenge Leader Board: Are you on it?

The first weekend of the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is in the books and the leader board for the Fogelman 2010 NCAA Bracket Challenge is set. With 50+ bracket submissions, this is sure to be a tight race.

A few interesting statistics developed among the Fogelman residents that participated. Among them…

• 31% of the participants picked Kansas to win it all.
• 14% picked Kentucky
• 12% picked Duke
• 7% picked Syracuse

Here is the leader board after the first two rounds of the tournament along with their pick to win the whole thing…

1. Kim Martin (Kansas), 46 pts.

2. Garrett James (Kansas), 44 pts.

2. Kate Asselin (Kansas), 44 pts.

4. Amanda Hill (Michigan State), 43 pts.

4. Heather Towe (Kansas), 43 pts.

6. Zach Hightower (N/A), 42 pts.

6. Chris Gholston (Syracuse), 42 pts.

6. Janelle Crandall (Kansas), 42 pts.

6. Dani Soto (Kansas), 42 pts.

10. Melissa Rosenthal (Kansas), 40 pts.

The tournament itself is proving to be one of the best in years, with major upsets and Cinderella stories playing out as the field battled to join the ranks of the “Sweet 16”. Northern Iowa’s upset over Kansas in the second round will definitely shake up the Fogelman Bracket Challenge leader board in the coming weeks.

If one of your neighbors has made it on the leader board, be sure to drop them a note of congratulations on your community’s Facebook page and cheer them on. And make sure you stay tuned to all of the drama in both the NCAA tournament and the Fogelman Bracket Challenge. I’ll post a new update next week.

The Regional Semifinals play out today and tomorrow (Thursday and Friday, March 26-27), with the Regional Finals being played on Saturday and Sunday, March 27-28. Check your local CBS affiliate for game times.

The Sound of Silence

True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable.  ~Dave Tyson Gentry

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