My Pad

Pumpkin Festivals

Did you know that Life is good^® has a Pumpkin festival? Did you know that they hold a Guinness World Record of over 30,000 pumpkins being carved in Boston?? That’s amazing!! 

 

It’s true, though. Since 2003 over 225,000 people have attended a Life is good Pumpkin Festival for pumpkin carvings, games and live music. The event has raised over one million dollars for various children’s charities.  

 

In 2007, Life is good Pumpkin Festival will be held in 8 different states, including: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Texas and Virginia. The beneficiary of the proceeds from these events is HomeAid; a leading provider of housing for today’s temporarily homeless.

  

According to Life is good, thousands of pumpkins were carved and lit, and thousand of children’s lives will be touched as a result of the money raised and donated to kids in need. 

 

For more information about the festivals in your area, visit www.lifeisgood.com

 

Hope everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween!

 

 

From your friends,

ForRent.com

 

 

Source: www.lifeisgood.com

 

Top 5 Autumn Decorating Ideas

The change in weather brings chilly temperatures; why not bring new warmth to your apartment! One way to do this is by decorating your home with autumn colors. Rich shades of reds, yellows, oranges, browns and greens will add a cheery and cozy atmosphere to your space.

            

Below are additional ways to welcome your guests in style this season:

                

	A Wreath A beautiful autumn wreath is a great way to greet your guests as they enter your apartment. You could purchase one or create one of your own using a mixture of colorful leaves and berries. Regardless, choose one that reflects your style!
	Pumpkins Galore During this season pumpkins will be all over the place, as it doubles as a symbol for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Make sure you get maximum visual impact in your apartment on both occasions. You can use a variety of sizes and place them all over your house or have a collection placed in the front foyer.  However you choose to use them, they are a MUST for decorating your home this fall!
	Candles When you or a guest arrives in your home, you want it to be warm and inviting. Using fragrant, colorful candles of different shapes and sizes, will help you attain the friendly environment you want while also adding an extra flare for decoration. (Please make sure you don't leave burning candles unattended)
	Calling all Cooks If the atmosphere inside and outside your home is changing, so should your menu! The fall is a great time to break out the seasonal recipes (old or new) and bring your family and guests together. You can even go the extra mile and make the food decorative as well; such as Mini Pumpkin Cakes, or Pumpkin Casseroles, making your feast truly festive for autumn!
	Stunning Centerpiece The piece de résistance to your autumn décor is the centerpiece of your table. Whether its flowers in a gorgeous vase, apples in a basket surrounded by leaves or a candle opera, having a marvelous centerpiece is essential for the final touch for your home.

Seal the Deal with the Landlord!

So you’ve gone to ForRent.com and searched hundreds of apartments for rent in your area. You’ve narrowed your search based off your criteria and set up appointments at the apartment communities to view their available apartments. Please DON’T GO UNPREPARED!!

 

These appointments that you set up are important. Each time you visit an apartment community you are in essence visiting a potential landlord. So make sure you have all your ducks in a row.

 

Be sure to make a good impression. You need to show up on time, if not a little bit early, for your appointment. If you are late, it could indicate to the Landlord that you are late on other things in your life (i.e. bills). It is also wise for you to look the part. You are trying to convince this person that they should trust you in their apartment community and want to have you as a resident. Try to present yourself in a good and clean manner!

 

Part of making a good impression is showing interest in the apartment community. So ask questions. You can get the information that you need as well as show the landlord that you are truly interested in living in the community. Be prepared with a list of questions that range from apartment availability, deposit(s), lease terms, etc.

 

The above mentioned steps that are all controllable by you. The following things you may not be able to change before you meet with them: your finances and your pets. If you have financial problems or even an eviction history on your record, it’s important to re-establish your credibility. You need to come prepared with proof that you can pay for rent, such as pay stubs and bank statements or even your history of paying bills on time for other services. While having a blemish on your credit history may deter the landlord, being upfront and honest will show them you take accountability.

 

If you already have a pet, chances are you have experienced the difficulty of locating a good pet-friendly apartment.  For more help, visit ForRent.com to search for pet-friendly apartments in your area. After you found a few that qualify with your criteria, it’s vital to show the landlord that your pet will be well-behaved in the apartment community. I’ve heard of potential residents offering the landlord a chance to meet with his/her dog to observe their behavior. It’s also good to be prepared for any additional questions that may arise, so bring a copy of the animal’s records, showing their shots, health history, etc. This may seem like a lot to do, but you want to assure the landlord that you will be a good resident, that includes your animal.

 

The selection process for your perfect apartment can be intense. There are many factors that come into play such as: location, amenities & price. Similar to how critical you can be, the landlord will be as critical to make sure they are placing a good resident into their apartment community. So make sure you’re that apartment resident!

 

After 55 Housing & Resource Guide complements SeniorOutlook.com

After 55 Housing & Resource Guide is owned and operated by For Rent Media Solutions, a division of Dominion Enterprises.  As a one-stop source for the adult age 55 and beyond, After 55 Housing & Resource Guide serves all the housing needs of this vast demographic.  The publication is geared towards baby boomers planning their retirement, aging adults, and adult children who are researching housing options for their parents.  The publication complements SeniorOutlook.com, the online housing and resource guide, and can be found in various locations throughout Florida, as well as major cities across the nation including Atlanta, Columbus, Minneapolis, Phoenix, San Diego and Sacramento.

If you live in these areas, pick up one of our free publications, or go online to view our apartments for rent at SeniorOutlook.com

Dealing with Stress while Moving

UUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!

I know moving can be challenging and is sometimes overwhelming but it doesn't have to be so stressful. I know how hard it is to pack all your stuff and move (I've moved three times in 2 years!). So to help with all your future moves (and mine), here's some advice that I've found that'll make the process smoother.

Ask for help. With my last move, I definitely broke this rule of thumb.  I felt like I had to do everything on my own.  By the end I was ready to pull my hair out.  But asking for help is absolutely necessary.  As hard as it may be, relinquishing control is important to keeping your sanity.  So give everyone in your family (or friends) a little task and you'll have less on your shoulders.

Organize.  Keeping your 'To-Do' lists is important in moving.  You need to make sure that you have everything in line and ready to go when you move into your new place.  Make sure you fill out the necessary paperwork, get deadlines set and keep track of all the little things.  You should schedule cut off dates for your utilities to be shut off and take back your cable box; you'd be surprised how things like that will pile up right before you move!  Also be sure and label all your boxes so that when you move into your new apartment, you know what goes where.

Be flexible.  Just like anything else in life, nothing is set in stone.  You can plan and organize all you want, but sometimes things just don't go as planned.  Being flexible and being prepared for any 'snags' you have will make the day go by a lot easier.

For more moving tips or to search moving resources, check out ForRent.com. Their Relocation Center has everything that you need to move including mover's checklist, moving supplies, truck rentals. Hopefully next time you or I move, it'll be much more peaceful!

For Rent Media Solutions™ Lends a Helping Hand During the United Way “Day of Caring”

On September 7, the For Rent Media Solutions office in downtown Norfolk was a little more quite than usual.  Many of our employees participated in the United Way's Day of Caring, an uplifting day of volunteerism in the Hampton Roads of Virginia.  On this day, FRMS employees spent the day working side-by-side with co-workers outside of the office landscaping, painting, cleaning and working on whatever needed to be done at multiple project sites selected by United Way.

Employees made their rounds, assisting everywhere from local residential homes to shelters and museums. Erin Zarate, Marketing Manager, volunteered at a local residence, for a woman who dedicates the majority of her time caring for her child who is severely mentally retarded and physically and medically fragile.  As a volunteer, Erin did yard work and helped paint the woman's garage.  Account Executive, Linda Perryman, volunteered at the Hermitage Museum in Norfolk, Virginia.  While there, she showed off her green thumb, gardening and cleaning museum signs and preparing the flowers for show.  Other volunteer locations included the Dwelling Place and the King House, local family shelters; as well as Meals on Wheels.

At For Rent Media Solutions, helping other is how we do business.  Our company's effort to give aid has extended beyond the traditional business-to-business and business-to-consumer relationships. How do you help in your community?