“May it be to the world, what I believe it will be … the signal of arousing men to burst the chains … and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form, which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. … For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them. “

 -Thomas Jefferson, on the Declaration of Independence and the celebration of the 4th of July

 

Sure, we love the picnics and food, gathering with our friends and family and watching fireworks, but how did the 4th of July start and why do we do these things?

In grade school, we learn that the 4th of July has something to do with George Washington and the official break of the US colonies from British rule.  And that is true.  But here’s how the great nation of the United States came to be.

When the States first were settled, England was in charge, and taxed the colonists harshly.  What was completely infuriating to these people was that although a good amount of their income went to King George III, they had no representation in Parliament.  Basically, they had no say in creating the laws which taxed them mercilessly.   When tempers flared, and protests began to occur, the British sent troops to the States to quell any rebellions.  The situation eventually became worse and worse and war was on the horizon.

Richard Henry Lee of Virginia was actually the first person who introduced a resolution to the Continental Congress to declare the US free from England on June 7, 1776.  A few days later, on June 11 of the same year, a committee comprised of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston, met to create a more formal document that stipulated why the US wanted to be free of British rule and the basic elements of what the new government in the US represented.  This document, after several revisions, was what became known as the Declaration of Independence and was officially signed into law on July 4, 1776.

The celebration we now know as the 4th of July actually began in Philadelphia on the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Declaration.  Congress was adjourned early and celebrations with bonfires and fireworks continued throughout the evening hours.

The 4th of July was not declared a legal holiday until 1941.

Did you know?

• Fireworks were invented in China somewhere around the 2nd century BC.
• Marco Polo discovered fireworks on his travels, brought them back to Italy, the eventually worked their way over to Western Europe and reached the United States in the early 1500s.
• Three American Presidents died on July 4th.  Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died in 1826 and James Monroe in 1831.
• June 14th is Flag Day.  This is the day that the Stars and Stripes were authorized by congress as the national flag.
• Seven of the thirteen stripes on the flag are red.  The stripes represent the original 13 colonies of the US.
• On the first US flag, the stars were displayed in a circle so that no state would be higher or above the next.  A star was added each time a new state was annexed into the Union.

For most parents, late August and early September means back to school. This is the time to start buying school supplies for your children–clothing, bags and the inevitable decisions and arguments about whether to buy brand name or no name products.

If you are a parent buying for your grade school children, you have been learning the ropes for a few years now. Even so, if your child is new to school or you are doing your own school shopping for the very first time, you can learn from a heads up on how, what and where to purchase the items you need.

Here are five tips that will help you save money AND keep your sanity!

** PURCHASE EARLY **

Wait too long and you are sure to find the shelves void at all of your favorite discount stores. If your biggest concern is getting a good deal, start shopping early.

There will be plenty of supplies on special by August. Do not forget dollar stores for low prices on pens, paper and a myriad of additional essential items.

If you have waited too long already, your first bet is stationary or office supply stores. While they may not always be the cheapest, they are more likely to keep their accessories in stock. You will also protect yourself from running about considering they are sure to possess all things you need.

** BUY IN BULK **

If you have a few friends that require supplies for their kids (or college buddies), ponder buying in bulk at membership stores or other bulk stores.

You may not be capable to get everything you need but essentials like paper, pens and the like can be loaded up and split among everyone, saving you money.

** BUY THROUGH YOUR SCHOOL **

If your school has not previously brought in a pre-packaged purchasing system, inquire about it. If each classroom has a basic package then parents and students can split the costs of the bulk order.

Not only will this mean better cost savings - it additionally saves you all the hassle of finding supplies, shopping around or dealing with complaints about brands or colors.

Your new apartment is amazing. It’s the right size, has all the features you’ve been looking for and is in a great location. There’s only one problem—you’ve got nowhere to park your car. Take it from someone who knows, driving home every night and having nowhere to park your car can quickly turn a dream apartment into a nightmare. Apartments.com has some tips to help make finding a home for your car even easier than finding a home for yourself.

Consider All Your Parking Options
Street parking is sometimes the only option for many apartment-dwellers but there may be other choices.

• Read the parking signs carefully. Many people pass up spots that are legal because they misread the posted hours or other information. If a residential parking sticker is available, buy it. The extra fee will be worth the time you’ll spend searching for parking spots.

• Your landlord may have parking spots available near your apartment for an additional monthly fee. If you were told your building’s lot was full, inquire if another building in your area has extra spots. You may be able to rent one there and have only a short walk to your apartment.

• Look on local advertising websites to see if anyone is renting out a spot near you. In some cities, listings for parking spots are becoming almost as common as listings for apartments.

• Technology will soon be able to help you find a parking spot. A new service called “SpotScout” will connect drivers through any web-enabled device. A driver who is leaving a space in the near future can “Spotcast” their space to other drivers. When the space is successfully received by another driver, the drivers can rate each other as to how the transfer worked. The service is being test-marketed in Boston, New York and San Francisco.

Look for Alternatives
If none of the above options work, looking into other transportation options is your next best bet.

• Taking a bus or train may make your commute easier as well as relieve your parking issue. Investigate the routes near you for reasonable options.

• Carpooling can also save you from the need to park your car every night. Check in newspapers and online for local ads for people interested in carpooling. You can also post an ad at a community center. Make sure to state in your ad what days you are willing to drive and the general route you’d like to take.

Picking out furniture for your child’s room can be both fun and exasperating.  The trick is to balance the scales somewhere near the middle of fun and practical.  Bedroom furniture with themes or colorful motifs may be fun and can add character to your child’s room, but if they don’t have enough storage, or if they can be quickly outgrown, they may not be the right choice.

When buying bedroom furniture or a bedroom set for your child, it is wise to look five or even ten years down the road and see if you can picture a more grown up version of your little one still getting use out of it.  Not that it’s always a necessity for a child to be stuck with the same bed or dresser forever, but having that choice is far better than being forced to replace perfectly usable furniture.  Unless you have a little linebacker or power forward on your hands, a twin or double bed could last in to their teens.  That is, unless it’s carved out of a plastic racecar or looks like something out of the Barbie playhouse.  This is especially important when buying for ages 10-12.  These “tween” years are the transition period when action figures and dolls are replaced by skateboards and make up.

Storage is always a concern in a child’s room.  Whether it is clothes, toys, sports equipment, or school stuff, there never seems to be enough drawers and shelves to house everything.  There are a few ways to add storage and still save space, however.  Raised beds, such as captain’s beds, can provide tons of storage with under bunk drawers, while study lofts can do the same and also give your child a built-in desk area for studying.  Other options include bookcase headboards, armoires, and media cabinets.  A desk with a top hutch unit is also a great way to add storage while not sacrificing floor space.
Visit http://www.eco-furniture.com for more decorating ideas as well as a HUGE selection of bedroom furniture, including platform beds and bedroom sets.

If home is where you lay your hat, then perhaps it should also be where you tend your garden. Flowers, herbs, even vegetables—they are all possible to grow, even from your urban efficiency apartment. Yes, if you have a window, then a garden of possibilities is within reach! If your green thumb hasn’t yet made its debut, here are a few tips to get you started:

Choose plants that will thrive in your environment. A local florist can direct you to choices that will work for your temperature, humidity, and sunlight levels.

The most eye-catching boxes are within a couple of inches of the size of the window. You don’t want your budding garden to rob you of your view.

Flowers have style too. Choose ones that match the exterior of your building. Sunflowers and daisies may both be beautiful, but each has its place. Choose sunflowers and other wildflowers to jazz up a boring exterior. Daisies and similar perennials are good backdrop flowers for overwhelming architecture.

Alright, so you’re ready to get dirty. Now what? The right container sets the stage for a dramatic floral production. Choosing it is easy if you know what you’re looking for:

You might have a container lying around that will work. Just be sure it has a large enough opening, isn’t too shallow and hasn’t previously held any chemicals.

If you don’t have one, take your window measurements to any home and garden center. Boxes come in a wide variety of materials, so be prepared to do some serious shopping.

Frugal types may opt for plastic, which is somewhat less aesthetically pleasing but financially sound. Wooden boxes should be rot-resistant and durable. For the environmentally savvy, organic choices such as matted straw formed into a box shape are available.

For the experienced gardener or those highly adventurous, a heavy terra-cotta or cast-iron box is a consideration. Formal architecture such as brownstones look tres chic with this kind of material.

It is imperative to walk through your potential new apartment before you move in. Insist to the landlord that you see the actual apartment that you will be renting and NOT a model. For your convenience, Apartments.com has compiled this checklist for you to use as you complete your walk through. If there are any items that need to be repaired or replaced, make sure the landlord does this before you move in. If there is a significant amount of things wrong with the apartment, you might just want to pass on that particular apartment.

Look for:

• Sufficient safety features including smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors. Look inside the apartment as well as in the hallways and in other common areas.

• Leaks in plumbing. Check out faucets, toilets and the pipes under kitchen cabinets.

• Check the water pressure in the unit. Also check the water temperature. How hot does the water get and how cold does it get. A good tip is to turn on the water in the shower when you walk into the unit and see how long it takes to get warm/hot (your bathing preference). Keep the shower on while you complete the rest of your walk through. The temperature should remain comfortable by the time you leave the unit. If the water is cold by the time that you leave, there’s a good chance that you could run out of hot water in the mornings. Not a good thing.

• Find out if there is an in-unit water heater or if there is one that is shared by multiple units. This will also affect the amount of hot water that runs to the apartment.

• Even though the water heater might be large enough, if it is shared, your neighbor upstairs might like to take early morning, hot showers that last an hour… Regardless of the size of the heater, if you shower after your neighbor, you’ll be cold.

• Check the water heater and furnace to make sure that these are free of rust. Look for rocks, stones or other debris on the outside of the heater or furnace. This debris or chipping may indicate leaks. These leaks could possibly indicate carbon monoxide problems. Again, not a good thing.

• Make sure that all appliances in the unit work properly and are not damaged. If there is no washer and dryer in the unit, ask to see the common laundry area. Make sure the common area is well maintained and is well lighted. Make sure that access to the common laundry area is limited to residents only.

• Look for any evidence of insects or rodents, both on the floor in visible areas as well as inside cabinets, drawers and closets.

Recently, Apartments.com conducted a poll to current renters about their thoughts on crime prevention.

It’s really no surprise that 97% of the people that took the survey said that when they look for an apartment, crime rate plays a significant part in where they choose to live. By selecting apartment locations in perceived “safe” neighborhoods, renters are more likely to feel at ease in their homes.

According to the National Crime Prevention Council, the organization best known for McGruff the Crime Dog®, apartments are eighty-five percent more likely to be victimized by burglaries than other types of housing. The Apartments.com survey, however, revealed that 78% of renters feel extremely to moderately safe in their apartment and that being a victim of a violent personal attack is the number one crime concern to renters (37%) followed closely by theft/burglary (33%). Even though you may feel safe, you still need to practice vigilance and prevention to avoid becoming a victim of property theft or other crimes.

Most renters are proactive about protecting themselves and employ one or more measures to prevent crime in their apartment. Renters identified installing deadbolts (44%) as the most common protective measure in their apartments. Twenty-five percent arm themselves with mace or pepper spray and twenty-three percent use light timers.
The National Crime Prevention Council offers this safety checklist to avoid crime in apartment communities:

Inside the apartment: Renters should make sure that they have a deadbolt installed on entry doors. A wooden rod should be inserted in tracks and pins in the overhead frame of sliding doors to prevent them from being lifted out. Renters should know exactly who has copies of entry keys, if your landlord will not, or can not, tell you who has copies of keys, you can request that your locks be re-keyed. Around the building: Renters should be comfortable with speaking to the landlord or building manager if there are suspicious persons on the property. Building managers should keep mailboxes, garbage receptacles, laundries, walkways, entrances, elevators, hallways, stairways and other public areas well lit.

Get to know the neighbors: Renters and building managers are encouraged to join or organize an apartment or neighborhood watch group. Building management and renters should work together to identify and solve potential crime hazards such as proper lighting and suspicious persons.

Apartment communities are also mindful of creating a safe environment for their residents. Fifty-nine percent of renters state that their management company/landlord has installed deadbolts or other heavy duty locks on apartment doors, twenty-five percent of renters live in gated communities and twenty-one percent live in communities where there is an organized neighborhood watch program. According to the National Crime Prevention Council, 20 million people participate in Neighborhood Watch programs in the United States. If you live in an apartment building that does not currently have a Neighborhood Watch program, speak up! Talk to your landlord and other tenants about starting one today. For more information on how to start a Neighborhood Watch program, visit the National Crime Prevention Council website at http://www.ncpc.org/.

This article was created from survey results generated by the Apartments.com What Renters Want monthly survey. If you have an idea for a survey topic, or would like to receive information on how you can make your voice heard by responding to one of our surveys, please send us an email at whatrenterswant@apartments.com.

Having a pet can brighten up any apartment.  However, if your landlord won’t allow a cat or dog, you may need to think outside the box.  Apartments.com has assembled a list of some of the best untraditional pets that can make your apartment a much livelier place.  Before getting an exotic pet, you need to check local regulations to see which varieties are allowed in the home.  It would probably be best to check with your building management before getting one of these pets, even though your lease may forbid only cats and dogs, your landlord can easily claim your security deposit if one of these exotic friends has its way in your apartment.

Sugar Gliders
Looking for a cute, friendly pet that needs your undivided attention?  Sugar gliders are marsupials native to Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia.  They are accustomed to living in trees in family groups and will carry their social tendencies into your apartment.  You will need to have a good amount of time to devote to spending with your sugar glider or else consider getting two so that they can keep each other company.  Lonely sugar gliders may stop eating and die, so make sure you are willing to make a commitment to this animal before adopting them.  The gliders weigh 95-160 grams and are primarily gray with black stripes.  They are nocturnal and have excellent night vision.  When sexual maturity is reached (about 1 year), the male develops a large scent gland on the top of his head.  Insects, nectar, fruit and vegetables are the most common sugar glider meals.  Gliders will live for 10-15 years in captivity.

Hermit Crabs
For those who want a pet that is a bit less high-maintenance, the hermit crab is a great choice.  These little pets can climb, dig and walk on your shirt.  Fill a fish tank with gravel, shells of various sizes and water and food dishes that are shallow enough for your crab to get to.  You will need to give your crab water and food daily.  Commercial food is available at pet stores or you can prepare it yourself by cutting up a fresh supply (every 24 hours) of fruit and vegetables.  You will also need to sprinkle your crab with lukewarm water daily in order to keep him from drying out.  About once a month you need to clean out the tank in order to keep you crab’s home safe and healthy.  Hermit crabs lose their exoskeleton at uneven intervals.  Many people think their crab has died as it will become dormant for about two weeks.  Continue to water him daily and he will be fine.  Hermit crabs love to play so allow them to climb on you as often as possible.

Pot-Bellied Pigs
They’re affectionate, extremely intelligent, readily trained, playful, clean and relatively quiet.  Pigs can be trained just as easily or possibly easier, than dogs, and many people think they are a great alternative.  The downside of having a pig as a pet is that the intelligence of this animal requires stimulation and he/she can get destructive if bored.  You will need to have the patience to train your pet and teach it to respect you.  As you might expect, pigs are relentless in their search for food and so you must keep all food locked up and put away.  You’ll also need to provide an area for your pig to “root,” an instinctual need to dig with their noses.  A small patch of dirt outside will be necessary unless you don’t mind your pig overturning items in your home.  Your pet will require a high quality food, regular vaccinations, hoof and tusk trims and to be spayed or neutered.  Pigs will live an average of 12-18 years, so be sure this is a commitment you want to make.  More and more abandoned pigs are ending up in shelters because owners cannot handle their porky friends.

Ferrets
These pets are growing in popularity because of their playful demeanors and their domestic nature.  It is best to have a pair of these because they can get very mischievous when bored.  A ferret owner needs to realize exactly how mischievous these animals can be, including their ability to hide under sofas and in dark corners.  Ferrets need a high-protein diet of either high quality cat food or a food designed especially for them.  They can be trained to use a litter pan like cats and to stop gnawing on things like dogs.  Although they have a reputation for being biters, they are no more likely to bite than a cat or dog is.  Ferrets live for six to eight years and are susceptible to disease, so trips to the veterinarian may be necessary in the same frequency as more traditional pets. 

Whether you’re crossing the country or crossing the street with your pup, you should always make sure that both you and your dog are safe and comfortable. You know you need to “click it or ticket” but what’s up with the pup? Here are a few tips to help you prepare for any trip with your best friend.

Safety First

Sure your dog loves to stick his head out the window and feel the cool breeze, but along with cool breezes come dirt, debris and bugs. Try driving with your hand, palm facing the front of your car, and see exactly how many things hit your hand, and how many of those things actually hurt. Now imagine if those things hit your pup in the ear or the nose or the eye. Ouch. Although Buck might love the feel of the open road, unless you get him a pair of doggles (visit http://www.doggles.com/), just say no.Even though you might feel completely cool in your car, you’re also not covered in fur. An animal can get overheated much faster than a human, especially if the weather is sunny or the dog has a dark colored coat. Crack the window or keep the air directly on your pet to keep him cool. If you’re planning an extended trip, you may want to consider installing sun shades on windows or use a vehicle with tinted windows in the back.

Remember to keep your pet hydrated. When a dog is excited, and who’s dog isn’t excited to take a car ride, they pant. When a dog pants, he is losing liquid, so make sure to take a portable water bowl and a gallon or more water with you when going on long drives.

This is perhaps the biggest, worst, more horrible thing you can do to an animal… Under NO CIRCUMSTANCE, none at all, should you ever leave your pet locked inside a car alone. Cars heat up fast. Even in low sunlight and average outdoor temperature, the inside temperature of a car can easily, and quickly, reach dangerous levels. Air quality inside the locked car deteriorates rapidly as well. Your pet can get overheated and have difficulties breathing in just a matter of minutes. If you are going somewhere that your dog is not welcomed, either leave him at home or, if you’re on an extended trip, find a local kennel that would be able to board the dog for a short period of time.

If you’re going on an extended trip, make sure that your dog’s tags either have your cell phone number or another number where you can be reached, on them. In the horrible situation that you lose your pup, it won’t do any good for a finder to be calling your home phone number.

The best way to keep your pet safe when traveling is to keep your pet restrained. You need to wear a seat belt, and so should Fido. Say you’re in a bad accident; your pet, if not restrained, will be injured in the same way, or worse, as a human would be in the same accident. If your dog is crate trained, and your vehicle has enough room for the crate, that’s all you need. Now if you don’t like that idea, car restraints can be found at most pet stores.

From ghoulies and ghosties,
Long-leggety beasties,
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us.
-Anonymous

The ghosts of all things past parade,
Emerging from the mist and shade
That hid them from our gaze,
And, full of song and ringing mirth,
In one glad moment of rebirth,
And again they walk the ways of earth
As in the ancient days.
-John Kendrick Bangs

Have you picked out your Halloween costume yet? Bought bags and bags of candy? Are you planning a horror-filled party this season? What about carving a pumpkin or visiting a haunted house?

Halloween is chock full of so many fun and festive traditions, but how did we ever come to celebrate this time? Why is it all about ghosts and goblins and horror? Question no more, here you’ll find the scoop and the skinny. From skeletons to bobbing for apples, we’ve explained the reason for the season!

The History of Halloween
Over 2000 years ago, Celts in Europe (the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France) celebrated the Druid festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). Roughly translated, Samhain means “the end of summer”. The Druids believed that the year had two parts, the time of light and the time of darkness. Samhain was the date that marked the end of the light half of the year and beginning of the dark half. (Beltane is the celebration that welcomes the light half of the year and the festival of the beginning of spring and summer.) Many believe that this was the most significant holiday to the Druids as their beliefs dictated that all beginnings came from dark silence. During Samhain, the Druids believed that the line between life and death became blurred and spirits were enabled to walk the earth. The dead were celebrated and divination was rampant.

When the Romans conquered these countries, Samhain was combined with the autumn Roman holidays of Feralia and Pomona. During Feralia, the spirits of the dead were remembered and celebrated. Pomona was a festival for the Roman goddess of the same name. Pomona was the goddess of fruits and trees and she was symbolized by the apple.

With the arrival of Christianity to this area, Pope Boniface IV declared November 1st as Alholowmesse, which translates to “All Saint’s Day”. This day was intended to celebrate all saints and martyrs of the Catholic Church. Alholowmesse was eventually anglicized into the more commonly known holiday as All Hallows, thusly; October 31st became All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. In attempts to gain more Catholic followers from the Pagan and Roman traditions, the Catholic Church eventually added November 2nd to the holiday schedule. This day, known as All Souls Day was more akin to the older traditions of Samhain and Feralia, as the spirits of all the dead were memorialized.