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Art Institute of Pittsburgh Student Wins $10,000 in ForRent.com’s Video Contest

ForRent.com^®, announced the grand prize winner and the top 10 finalists of its "If Only Your Apartment Furniture Could Talk" video contest.

Drum roll please.............................................................

The grand prize winner is Brendan Walsh of "Furniture Talk." Brendan is a 20 year-old student from Steubenville, Ohio, majoring in digital media production at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. His video gives viewers a "fly on the wall" point of view of the conversations their apartment furniture has when they're not around. One couch tells the story of his lazy owners and why they should win $10,000 to add more furniture to their apartment. Watch this video at http://www.winapartmentfurniture.com/video/view/26.

"Social media is my life," says Walsh. "In fact, I even created a Facebook group for my video submission to gain more views and votes. It's like a chain reaction. I tell 10 people, they tell 10 people, and it spirals."

The winning videos on WinApartmentFurniture.com were selected from more than 50 submissions created by ForRent.com enthusiasts from around the country. Each responded to the challenge to create a short video creatively telling ForRent.com, through the eyes and voice of their apartment furniture, why they should win $10,000. In addition to Walsh's $10,000 grand prize, the top 10 finalists will receive iPod Shuffles. These videos can be viewed at http://www.winapartmentfurniture.com/pages/finalists.

The finalists includes great videos such as ‘Small Apartment Sickness', submitted by Dane Boedigheimer of Riverside, CA, which was a great parody of Pee Wee Herman's Play House. The musical melodies of ‘Help Me Out Bro', submitted by Tyler Poppe & Leland Grant, and British sounding suicidal sofas in ‘Couch Talk', submitted by Alex Farnham, were among the top ten. Creatively speaking, ‘College Bound' by Michael Marencik, ‘Mikey' by Nick Kanellis and ‘Tiffany needs a dream house' by Jana Dowling really showed off their skills. And who could forget the ForRent.com lovers ‘Me and my mattress' by Ryder Darcy in San Francisco, CA, ‘I need my own place', ‘Get Discovered' and ‘ForRent.com-Redcat Film'. "I love it when a plan comes together."

"This contest provided a unique way for us to reach out to our brand community, allowing them to express their creativity and appreciation for ForRent.com and For Rent Magazine," said Terry Slattery, vice president and general manager of For Rent Media Solutions^TM. "We want to thank everyone who participated in the contest, for helping make it such a success."

‘Super Stoked' grand prize winner Brendan Walsh said, when asked what he was going to do with the $10,000, "First I have to pay out to my roommate and 2 friends that helped make it. We are poor hungry college students so we'll head over to the grocery store so we can eat real food and no more Ramen noodles!" Congratulations to all the winners!

Bring a Smile to Your Face-Vote for your Favorite Talking Furniture Videos

Saying our consumers are creative is an understatement! They are brilliant. The videos that were submitted to our “If Only Your Apartment Furniture Could Talk” video contest are comical, entertaining and witty. Sure to crack a smile on your skeptical face.

Just check them out! You’ll hear all the bad jokes from the change stealing, remote swallowing couch. Or join in the discussion as rental couches grumble about their lazy owners. And you’re heart strings will get strung in this true story of star crossed lovers in ‘Sectional Healing’ (gotta love the play on words there, also). And lastly, listen to the garage sale couches as they threaten to leave their owner in ‘Funny Talking Furniture’.

We could watch these amusing videos over and over again. But we wanted to share the wealth with you! So do the same and brighten someone’s day! Send them the link to www.WinApartmentFurniture.com

Only 6 more days left!

Win $10K in ForRent.com’s “If Only Your Apartment Furniture Could Talk” Video Contest

ForRent.com knows your apartment furniture has been through thick and thin. If only it could talk and tell your story, what would it say? Submit an original video to www.WinApartmentFurniture.com by June 15, 2008, creatively telling through the eyes and voice of your apartment furniture why YOU should win $10,000 towards new apartment furniture. Does your apartment scream FRAT house? Or has your couch seen better days (specifically those from the 70’s)? Then let us know! Grab your video camera, don your director’s hat and create a 2-minute or shorter original video. Acceptable video formats include MPEG, QuickTime and Real Media, among many others. Maximum file size is 100 MB.

 

From June 15, 2008 to July 6, 2008, the public may vote on those videos posted on the Website by visiting the Website and following the voting instructions.

On or about July 21, 2008 Sponsor’s internal review panel will choose one Grand Prize Winner and ten Finalists. The Grand Prize Winner will be that entry with the highest score, and the Finalists will be the ten entrants with the next highest scores, based on the following factors:

 

The total number of user generated Internet votes received (250)

Overall quality and appearance of video – voting by Sponsor Panel (250)

Creativity and originality – Voting by Sponsor Panel (500)

Promotion of ForRent.com and/or For Rent Magazine – Voting by Sponsor Panel (250)

 

***Internet votes shall be calculated at one point per vote, with a maximum of 250 points, regardless of the number of votes received.  In the unlikely event of a tie, the video with the earliest upload time will be deemed the winner.

 

The first 100 entrants to submit a video in compliance with all of the Official Rules will receive one ForRent.com Can Hugger. Ten finalists will each receive one iPod shuffle 1GB model. One Grand Prize Winner will receive a $10,000 AmEx gift card.

 

View Official Contest Rules here

ForRent.com Launches New Blog

We want to thank everyone for stopping by and viewing our blog! We are pleased to announce that we have moved to ForRent.com! That’s right; our blog is now hosted on our website. So we really are the ultimate resource for apartment seekers and renters alike. Whether you are searching for a pet-friendly apartment, condo, duplex, townhouse, loft, one, two or three bedroom apartment, we can provide you with over 50,000 listings nationwide. Or if you’re already renting your dream apartment, we have various resources to provide you with tips/advice on decorating & entertaining, organization, safety, recipes and more!

 

So check out our new location! ForRent.com’s new and improved Apartment Blog at http://blog.forrent.com/

 

Thanks!

Steak & Guinness Pie

If you feel like having a traditional Irish meal this St. Patrick's day, what better way than having Steak & Guinness Pie? Exported from MasterCook, check out the below recipe to make your own...

Steak & Guinness Pie

Ingredients:
2 1/4 pounds of Round Steak
1 tablespoon of Flour
1 teaspoon of Brown Sugar
1 tablespoon of Raisins (optional)
5 Onions
10 fluid ounces of Guinness
8 slices of Bacon
Parsley Chopped
1 Recipe of short Pastry*

*For double-crust pie in deep pie dish, Cut the steak into bite sized cubes, roll in seasoned flour and brown in the lard with the bacon-chopped small.

Directions:
Place the meat in a casserole dish. Peel and chop the onions and fry until golden before adding them to the meat.  Add the raisins (if wanted) and brown sugar.  Pour in the Guinness. Cover tightly and simmer over a low heat or in a very moderate oven (325-350F) for 2½ hours.

Stir occasionally and add a little more Guinness or water if the rich brown gravy get too thick.  Meanwhile, line a deep pie dish with half the pie crust and bake it blind.  Then add the Guinness/beef mixture from the casserole dish, cover with the top layer of pie crust and bake until finished.  Probably about 10 more minutes.  Serves 4

Source: http://fp.enter.net; Exported from MasterCook

How to host an ‘Eco-friendly’ St. Patrick’s Day Party

Green doesn’t just have to be the color for your party, make it the theme!! Green living can extend to how you entertain! Making it green is easy on the environment and easy for you to do! Mimicking the tips we’ve already given you for St. Patrick’s Day Party Ideas, we’ve matched some eco-friendly ones. Check out these tips:

Tip 1: Invitations
As I always suggest, send out electronic invitations. Besides giving your party a more casual tone, you also save on paper that is just going to be thrown out later.  Or if you’re party is going to be formal and dictates having an invite, try to use recycled paper invitations.

Tip 2: Decorations
Just for the sheer expense, I always try to recommend fun crafty ideas for holiday decorations. Take a look at our St. Patrick’s Day Party ideas. But it turns out, not only will these save you money; they are also more environmentally friendly! Making your decorations would be a creative and a fun thing for you and your friends or kids to do.  And as much as it hurts, my favorite party staple that I always recommend--balloons--is actually pretty bad for the environment! They often end up in the ocean where they are consumed by sea life, which eventually die from balloons blocking their digestive system. So looks like all my ballooning days are over! 

Tip 3: Food & Drinks
A cute and easy idea to avoid waste is serving finger food. By serving finger food, you alleviate the need to have utensils or plates.  Your guest can just have their little sandwiches, cheese & crackers, cookies, chips on napkins.  And if you want to save on purchasing cups, offer your guests canned or bottled beverages. You can recycle them when they are done!  Wow, this tip allows you to save on a little bit of money as well! Cha-ching!

Tip 4: Entertainment
If you’ve read our blog about St. Patrick’s Day  Party ideas then you know we suggest doing contests, having music or a movie playing in the background.  These ideas don’t require too many materials. But another idea I’d like to add is doing Karaoke! You don’t necessarily have to have a machine (although it helps), but just grab a bunch of your already ‘tipsy’ friends for some movin and groovin and perhaps a little singing!  This should make for a lot of entertainment!! 

While we are making suggestions about how to make your St. Patrick’s Day party more eco-friendly, please remember these tips can certainly be used for your other parties.  If you’re having a Birthday celebration soon, think about using some of these ideas. Not only are you helping the environment but you also may be saving some money in the process!! Bonus!!

Source: Progressivekid.com

St. Patrick’s Day Movie

“The Quiet Man” Movie Review

I’m not sure how many of you have actually seen this classic film of an Irish tale.  But I truly recommend it. Being that I have a father who is a John Wayne fanatic, I have seen numerous movies starring him. ‘The Quiet Man’ is probably one of only two that I am able to sit all the way through!

This movie is of an unusual love story between a man and a woman with their cultures colliding.  John Wayne plays a gentle man from America, Sean Thornton. He has returned to the Irish village where he was born to retreat from a horrible memory of his last fight as a prize fighter where he accidentally killed his opponent. Burdened with his death, he seeks peace and comfort.  After his welcome home he encounters Mary Kate Danaher, played by Maureen O’Hara, in one of the most breathtaking scenes of the movie.  The red-haired colleen is herding a flock of sheep across a meadow. With the lush Irish landscape, Sean is mesmerized by her presence.  Once he realizes she is unmarried, he is determined to pursue her. This is where Sean is forced to learn the education of Irish culture and tradition. “Uh uh, no patty fingers if you please.”  From their first encounter Mary Kate and Sean reveal a passion and desire to be with one another. But the constant conflict between Sean, Mary Kate and her brother, Will, makes for an engaging story. The momentous retrieval of Mary Kate from the train station, where Sean literally drags Mary Kate 5 miles to a field where her brother is working, is compelling. With the cute and quaint town joining in all the festivities of this dispute, including waging who the winner might be, you’ll be laughing at the whirl wind brawl!

I’d recommend ‘The Quiet Man’ to anyone. It’s a heart-felt romantic movie that is such a joy to watch!

Source:  speakeasy.org

Traditional Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day

If you plan on celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day this year, make sure you do so with traditional Irish foods.  Here’s a great recipes for Corned Beef and Cabbage that you can make this holiday!

Corned Beef & Cabbage with Horseradish Sauce

Serving Size: 8               
Categories: Beef, Irish                            

Ingredients (Amount & Measure)
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1      Onion
   4      Cloves-whole
   4      pounds Corned beef
   2      Parsley sprigs
   8      Peppercorns-whole
   2      pounds of Cabbage
   1      cup Sour cream
   1      tablespoon Prepared horseradish

Work Time: 15 minutes   
Total Time: 3 hours 45 minutes

Directions:
Peel onion and stick with cloves.  Put corned beef, onion parsley and peppercorns in a large pot and cover with water.  Cover, bring to a simmer and cook gently until tender, 2-1/2 to 3 hours.  Cut cabbage into wedges and core. Add to the pot, cover and simmer until tender, about 30 minutes. Combine sour cream with horseradish.  Serve the meat and cabbage with some of the broth ladled over all and the horseradish on the side.

Nutritional Value:
Per serving: 553 calories, 36g protein, 40g fat, 2808 mg sodium, 11g carbohydrates, 135 mg cholesterol.

*Exported from MasterCook*

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Source: http://fp.enter.net

How are you doing on Lent?

As everyone knows, Lent is in progress. This is a time when many people choose to give up something in their life for 40 days. The standard is to sacrifice something in your diet, such as chocolate, candy, etc.  Many health conscious individuals give up something diet related, enabling them to adhere to their program. But what some fail to realize is that the true purpose of Lent is for your sacrifice to help you recognize the blessings that are taken for granted most of the time.

According to AmericanCatholic.org, “Lent is about conversion, turning our lives more completely over to Christ and his way of life.  That always involves giving up sin in some form. The goal is not just to abstain from sin for the duration of lent, but to root sin out of our lives forever.”

Now I am just as guilty as the other health conscious individuals because I gave up chocolate this year for Lent. While I could make the argument that chocolate is considered a sin to my diet, I have no plan to give up chocolate for life.  So I am not really taking the true meaning into my lifestyle.  But that hasn’t always been the case for me; one year I gave up swearing and had a jar to collect money from myself should I ‘slip’ up. That period of time has impacted my vocabulary ever since.

So whether you gave up sugary treats, smoking, swearing or whatever-my question to you is…how are you doing? Have you been able to maintain some resistance towards the something you gave up? In my opinion, if you follow through on a goal you set for yourself (no matter what that goal may be, e.g. giving up chocolate for 40 days) then you have made an improvement in your life and maybe one day you’ll be ready to take on something bigger!

I hope everyone is doing well with their goals! Good Luck!

Source: AmericanCatholic.org

The Claddagh Ring

I’ve always been fascinated by claddagh rings. I’ve seen them all over jewelry stores and a friend of mine from high school had one. So I decided to do a little research and let everyone, who didn’t already know, what it’s true meaning is!

This traditional Irish ring is a symbol of love, friendship and loyalty.  It originated in the Irish fishing village of Claddagh, located just outside the walls of Galway. The designs of the ring give you its meaning: the heart symbolizes love, the hands represent friendship and the crown signifies loyalty.

Depending on how the claddagh ring is worn on the hand usually tells the wearer’s romantic availability, or lack thereof.  When worn on the right hand with the heart facing out, the person is still searching for love.  When worn on the right hand with the heart facing in, he or she is in a relationship or ‘someone has captured their heart’.  When the claddagh ring is worn on the left hand ring finger, facing outward, it indicates the wearer is engaged, and when the ring is worn on the left hand, facing in, it generally means the person is married.   

The claddagh ring is recognized worldwide and many people of Irish and non-Irish descent wear it. It is used as both a cultural symbol and as an engagement/wedding ring.   What I found amazing was that there are many legends of how this ring came about, including gifts from the heavens for doing charity work and unforgettable love.  However it came to be, this ring is truly valuable to the Irish culture and indeed signifies the cherished qualities of love: heart, friendship and loyalty.

Source: thecharmingtouch.com