Photo by: AndreasReh

Go Back to School
It’s no secret that college graduates earn significantly more over a lifetime than those who didn’t graduate from college. Invest in yourself and advance your education since you won’t have the added expense of rent.
Top Earning 2 Year Degrees

• Dental Hygienist- employed in dental offices and responsible for cleaning and polishing the teeth and giving guidance regarding healthy oral care.
• Computer Specialist- Offer technical support, provide network assistance and network security.
• Paralegal-often employed by legal firms to help and assist lawyers prepare for trials, hearings, consultations and more

Photo by: Sisoje

Travel
That vacation you’ve been dreaming of taking for so long could be a reality if you don’t have to pay rent for an entire year! If you’re interested in the road less traveled, check out some of these vacation spots across the globe.

Pay Some Bills
The average American has a sizable amount of debt and with the economic situation we’re facing, many of us continue to increase that debt. In ApartmentGuide.com’s newest sweepstakes, you might have the opportunity to take care of some of your debt. You won’t have to pay rent for a year because the grand prize winner will receive 15,000 to cover their rent for the year. How great would that be?

Photo by: coreay

Other things you could spend the extra cash on….

• Save for a Rainy Day
• Buy a Greener Car
• Upgrade my rental to luxury apartment living with all the amenities

Photo By: Inspired N 07

Garden Events
I bet you didn’t know you do more than just tour the flower gardens here. Cocktails in the Garden is an on-going event beginning in the spring and continuing into the fall. Enjoy the DJ who will be playing music while visitors enjoy signature cocktails that correspond to specific plant exhibits. Another popular event is the Children’s Garden Storybook time.

Photo By: Jennandjon

Classes at the Gardens
In addition to the gorgeous botanical exhibits and the fun events throughout the year, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens offer a variety of classes. Some classes like Kitchen Herb Gardening and Orchid Care clinics are favorites. But, there are also classes you wouldn’t expect like Tai Chi in the Garden and Advanced Flower Photography.

Photo by: K8Lynn2007

1. Set realistic goals – If you have made 5 New Year’s resolutions, you are doomed for failure. Be realistic and pick one thing you really want to do and be specific. Don’t say just “lose weight”, change that to “lose 10 pounds by May 1st.”

2. Break it down – If your goal is to lose 10 pounds or exercise 3 days a week, break it down even further. Write down monthly, weekly and daily goals that will help you get to your long-term goal. It is really hard to lose weight, exercise, save money or stop smoking if you don’t know what steps you are going to take to get there.

3. Tell everyone! – You need a support system to help you stay on track. Tell your family and friends what your goals are, and even better, see if you can find a buddy to do it with you. It is great to have someone you are accountable to, and who can share your discouragements and your triumphs.

4. Reward yourself – Give yourself a weekly and monthly reward. Now don’t be discouraged by set backs, but if you have a great week, you accomplished your goals, then celebrate! Put a picture on your refrigerator of something you really want for your reward WHEN you reach your final goal. It will motivate you every day!

5. Keep a journal – write down your long-term goal, and break it down into monthly and weekly goals. Then everyday, keep track of what you accomplished or did not accomplish for that day to measure your success. Don’t beat yourself up if you messed up, but you may see a pattern of things that may help you or hurt you accomplish your goals.

Look at your New Years resolutions, and put these tips into practice if you have not already. It takes 21 days to create a habit and 6 months for it to become part of your daily life. If you mess up today, remember tomorrow is a new day. You have only failed if you quit…so be realistic, reward yourself for baby steps, and keep on keeping on!

Photo by: Allison

You can assemble these do-it-yourself Christmas gifts in your Atlanta apartment with very little effort and just a little creativeness. Just pick the recipes that you want to use, decide what type of container you want to put it in, and then shop for the ingredients and containers that you need.

Cinnamon Vanilla Nut Cappuccino Mix

• 1 (8 oz) jar instant coffee granules
• 2 (8 oz) jars vanilla nut-flavored nondairy creamer
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 cup powdered sugar

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, spoon into jar or plastic bag. Attach a recipe card with the following instructions.

1. Place 2 Tbsp of mix into a mug.
2. Add 6 to 8 oz of boiling water.
3. Stir and enjoy!

Hot Spiced Tea Mix

• 2/3 cup instant tea with lemon
• 1/3 cup instant orange breakfast drink mix
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp crushed cloves
• 2 tsp cinnamon

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, stirring well. Spoon into jar or plastic bag. Attach a recipe card with following instructions.

1. Place 2 tsp of mix into a cup.
2. Add 8 oz boiling water.
3. Stir and enjoy!

Photo by: melanie cook

Banana Nut Bread Mix

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• ½ cup whole wheat flour
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup chopped walnuts

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Spoon into a 1-pint jar, tapping jar to settle ingredients. Attach a recipe card with the following instructions.

1. Banana Nut Bread Mix
2. 3 large bananas, mashed
3. ½ cup butter, softened
4. 1 teaspoon vanilla
5. 2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9×5x3 inch loaf pan. Place mix in a largebowl. Add butter, eggs, mashed bananas, and vanilla. Beat well with an electric mixer.Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Invert bread onto wire rack to cool. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1½ cups semisweet chocolate chips

In a 1-quart jar, layer ingredients in the order given, combining flour, baking soda, and salt. Attach a recipe card with the following instructions.

1. hocolate Chip Cookie Mix
2. ½ Tbsp vanilla
3. ¾ cup shortening
4. ½ tsp butter flavoring
5. 2 Tbsp milk
6. 1 egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, empty mix, stirring to combine. Add shortening, milk, vanilla, butter flavoring, and egg. Beat with a spoon or electric mixer until well blended. Drop by rounded Tbsp 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes or until light brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet before removing to a
wire rack. Enjoy!

Photo by: Curtis McCormick

Dressing Up Your Gifts

For the drink mixes, you may use a 1 pint jar, or you may put enough in a plastic bag for 5 or 6 servings and tuck it inside a nice holiday mug or tea cup. You may even use an empty potato chip canister or oatmeal box for packaging, put the ingredients in a plastic bag inside the container and cover the container with Christmas wrapping paper.

There are some great sheer fabric bags that are also available. And finally, don’t forget to handwrite or type out the instructions on a tag and attach with some colorful raffia or holiday ribbon. Have a merry, gift making evening in your Atlanta apartment assembling these tasty homemade gifts!

For more holiday gift ideas and jar mix recipes, check out the following sites.

• Gifts from the Kitchen
• Gift in a Jar Mixes

Photo by: Josh Hallett

History of the Pink Pig

The Pink Pig began as a child-size monorail that circled the toy department in the old downtown Atlanta Rich’s. After a number of years, it was moved to the rooftop of the old building. The front car of the train had the pink pig’s face, and the last car had a curly tail. The original train featured Priscilla the Pig, and a second train was later added to the track named Percival.

After the closing of the downtown store, the Pink Pig was set up at the Festival of Trees at the World Congress Center in Atlanta. During the Rich’s-Macy’s era, a new and improved Pink Pig was created. However, the monorail was replaced with a child-sized train. The train was set up on the upper-level of the parking deck at Lenox Square Mall under an enormous pink tent. The original Pink Pig monorail cars were restored in Sugar Hill Georgia and can now be found at the Atlanta History Center where they are exhibited.

Where to Find the Pink Pig in 2008

This year the ride will take place below the large tent at the Lenox Square Mall. The ride travels along train tracks to carry children and parents through a life-sized storybook that includes the original Pink Pig and her friends. Macy’s is encouraging Atlantans to celebrate family memories this holiday season along with Priscilla, an Atlanta holiday tradition. So get out of your Atlanta apartment and visit the Pink Pig and create a new holiday tradition. Children and adults are sure to have a fun, festive time.

The Macy’s Pink Pig will ride until January 4th at Lenox Square located at 3393 Peachtree Rd in Buckhead. Tickets are available for $3 at the Pink Pig kiosk inside Lenox Square. A portion of the ride’s proceeds will benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Photo by: FrenchKheldar

The Atlanta Thrashers

The Thrashers NHL franchise started in 1999. Before that, Atlanta had been without an NHL team since 1980 when the Atlanta Flames left the city for Calgary, Canada. In 2007, the Thrashers clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The team ended up losing to the Rangers in the quarterfinals, but won their first division championship ever.

• Atlanta Thrashers 2008-2009 Schedule – Check out this season’s schedule so you don’t miss a game.
• Thrashers Team Roster – Get stats and info on your favorite players.
• Thrashers Game Ticket Information – Check out special ticket packages, season tickets, Chick-fil-a Family Nights and All You Can Eat Tickets at Phillips Arena.

Photo by: FrenchKheldar

Gwinnett Gladiators

If Phillips Arena is too far away from your metro Atlanta home or you prefer to keep up with minor league hockey, consider heading down to the Arena at Gwinnett Center to cheer on the Gwinnett Gladiators. The team originated in Alabama as the Mobile Mysticks and moved to north Atlanta in 2003. Since their move to Atlanta, they have appeared in ECHL playoffs every season. In 2006 they even made it to the Kelly Cup Finals, but ended up losing to the Alaska Aces.

• Gwinnett Gladiators Roster – Learn more about the team and its players.
• Gladiator Ticket Information – Check out ticket packages, theme nights, group discounts and individual game tickets. Tickets start at $11.
• 2008-09 Gladiator Schedule – Take a look at the schedule to plan your next trip to a game.

Amateur Atlanta Hockey

If you’d rather play than sit in the stands and watch, check out the Atlanta Amateur Hockey League. You have to be at least 18 or older to play in the open league and member dues required for registration are around $400. If you’re under the age of 18, you can play with parental permission in the recreational league. And, if you’d like to try the sport but don’t have any experience, try the beginner league to get a feel for the ice.

Photo by: Wendy

What Women Think…

In general, high-heeled shoes give the illusion of longer, skinnier, toned legs. Walking around on 4-inch stiletto heels engages your leg muscles and can even make your calf muscles more defined. Plain and simple, women want to look taller and they want to look slender. High heels do both.

High heels have been proven to cause foot pain and injury. Many women admit to regularly wearing shoes that are painful and uncomfortable to walk in. So why is it that high-heeled shoes are a wardrobe staple for so many?

What Doctors Think…

High-heeled shoes force the foot into a painful position. Slanted forward, weight is concentrated on the ball of the foot instead of distributed across the arch. Toes are bent upwards and crunched together. And, the raised position of the heel causes the Achilles tendon to shorten. This causes a whole host of problems, not only in your foot, but throughout your body.

Common Problems From High Heels…

• Shortened, tighter and more painful Achilles tendon
• Metatarsalgia- joint pain in the ball of the foot
• Morton’s Neuroma- nerve and sensation problems
• Foot deformities like hammertoes, corns and bunions
• Altered posture and back pain
• Knee osteoarthritis

If You Just Can’t Live Without High Heel Shoes

When you go shoe shopping, you should focus on fit. This can be difficult because shoe sizes can vary greatly depending on the style of the high heel and depending on the manufacturer. So start with the shoe sizers in the stores, and take into account the width of the shoe as compared to your foot, the thickness of the heel and the shape of the toe.

• Wear shorter heels, 1 ½ to 2 inches, reduces the severity of pain and stress on your body.
• Wear high heels to events where you will be seated or not on your feet for long periods of time.
• Bring extra, more comfortable, shoes with you when you wear heels so you can change shoes if necessary.
• When possible, put comfort insoles and cushions in your high-heeled footwear.

Related Articles:

Easy Ways To Get Fit While Working: Deskercise 101

Photo by: Stanley Fong

Programs at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens – Youngsters can learn about nature, art and having fun all at the same time. This 1345 Piedmont Avenue, Northeast, attraction offers a full schedule of kids things to do. Programs range from drop-in classes that cover such topics as rainforests and spiders to honeybees and beyond. The cost for non-members is $6 per child plus regular admission. Members pay $5. The gardens also offer live performances, puppet shows and other adventures for young learners.

Programs at the Atlanta Center for Puppetry Arts – Located at 1404 Spring Street, Northwest, this fun, educational venue runs a full program of classes for young learners in kindergarten all the way through the 12th grade. Programs range from puppet creation workshops to lessons on international puppetry. The prices range from free with admission to about $14 per student.

Photo by: Patrick Fitzgerald

The Atlanta Zoo – 800 Cherokee Avenue, delivers a number of fun educational opportunities for youngsters and adults alike. Zoo School, for example, covers a variety of different topics and has classes geared for pre-K pupils all the way up to high schoolers. Classes include self-guided tours, full programs and even classroom experiences. Classes cost $13 a student and include admission to the zoo.

Photo by: Lee Coursey

The High Museum of Art – This 1280 Peachtree Street, Northeast, museum is found in Midtown Atlanta. It offers a number of educational programs designed for entire families to take together. From its Saturday Studio to its Family Fun Days, there are plenty of opportunities here for youngsters to learn about the arts. Costs vary depending on the program.

Finding fun and interesting kids classes in the Atlanta area is easy. If you’re looking for something different to engage your children, you’ll find many opportunities waiting just outside your door.

Photo by: Alexander Ljung

Save Your Gas with Online Apartment Searches

If you’ve been to the gas pump in Atlanta lately, you know that gas prices are outrageous, and most families are saving their fuel for work and school commutes. Spending money on extra gas for leisure activities isn’t really an option, and driving around the city all day looking for an apartment is a major gas waster.

However, with Allhomes.com, you can search for apartments using a map. There are thousands of detailed listings for apartments, new homes and rentals houses to search through. You can see where apartments are located across town without having to drive around to see them.

The location of the apartment should be a major factor in your apartment search. You want to make sure it’s close enough to your workplace, your children’s schools and the businesses you frequent often. This will save you a lot of gas in the long run as well.

Narrow Your Search Criteria to Save Money

Be picky about where you live. You want to find an apartment that meets your needs economically. Look for apartments that offer paid utilities. If you could find an apartment that includes gas, water and garbage pick up in the rent price, you could easily save yourself $60 to $100 per month.

Cable and internet bills can be the worst. You could be paying over $100 for these household utilities right now. Most people don’t want to give up their cable, but you could do without the internet. Lower bill payments by finding an apartment complex that has a business center with internet access.Then you could do without paying for internet in your apartment and save anywhere from $20 to over $50 a month.

The same goes for fitness. If you exercise frequently and require a gym membership, find an apartment complex that offers a gym, tennis courts, basketball courts or a running trail. You’ll be able to cut the cost of a membership and save a few bucks.

Search During the Off Season

Photo by: TheTruthAbout

Prime apartment hunting season takes place in the Spring and Summer. The weather is perfect for moving and hitting the pavement for an apartment search. However, you may not find as many specials and deals during this season since the demand for apartments is higher.

Searching for apartments in the Fall and Winter may not sound like fun, but it may land you a better deal on an apartment. Because people aren’t out searching for apartments in the Winter months, landlords and apartment complexes are more likely to offer deals to fill up their vacant units.

In addition to finding great apartment deals, moving company rates are cheaper and easier to find in the off season. Even if you had planned on trying to move yourself, you might find that using a moving service is cheaper than you thought it would be.

With rising prices on necessities and uncertain economic times before us, saving money is on everyone’s mind. And, by using the apartment search tips above, you’ll not only save money on your initial search but also on your living expenses after you move in.

Photo by: Kathryn Harper

Finding Inspiration

Making the most of the fall season is fairly easy when it comes to interior decorating. If you’re living in an Atlanta home, you might even have an edge on the proposition. Just take a drive into the countryside outside the city proper and you’ll find more inspiration than you could ask for. Stone Mountain in the fall is particularly breathtaking with its yellows, oranges and reds. Chances are you might live near a park, too, that can serve as an excellent source of inspiration.

Ways to Add a Touch of Fall

Now, to get started in redecorating your apartment for the season, you’re going to want to start brainstorming how much or how little you want to do to spruce your place up for fall. These ideas can help:

Photo by: Daniel Greene

Use fabrics – One of the best ways to give an Atlanta apartment a fall feel fast is to change out window treatments. Take down those light summer curtains and put up heavier fabrics in their place. This move could save you a bit on heating costs as winter closes in, too. Fall colored linens and blankets will also add a warm touch to your home decor.

Use foliage – Seasonal flower arrangements are a fast and easy way to update home décor for the fall season. Look for flower arrangements at home decorating stores, or make your own using silk flowers from craft shops or those you find on your own while out exploring the beautiful parks and trails in the Atlanta area. Of all the apartment accessories, flowers can be the best since they don’t take up too much space.

Small touches – There are a number of little things you can do to update your home décor for the fall season. Simple things like picking out fall colored pillows, placemats and even picture frames can work wonders. If you really want to bring the scents of the season indoors, try buying some candles that have outdoors scents, such as pine. Or, if you like the baking and cooking that tends to go along with the fall season, consider candles with fresh apple pie scents or even vanilla and cinnamon.

Transforming Atlanta apartments into seasonal showplaces is not as difficult as it sounds. With a few little touches, you can have your home ready to greet fall with open arms.