Gables Pressler

Top 10 Ways to Repurpose Old Flowers

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:51:23 -0400

We hope you had a lovely Mother’s Day on Sunday and you were showered with love and flowers. Unless you received paper ones, those flowers won’t last forever. Here are some creative tips to keep old flowers around forever.

1. Preserve flowers by pressing. You can press old flower petals in a book.

2. Scrapbooking. Once that flower has been preserved in a book, you can use it to scrapbook.

3. Framing. Glue that preserved flower to a piece of fabric, and hang it in a frame.

4. Take a photo. You can always preserve them by taking their photo.

5. Make potpourri. You can combine dried flowers with a jar of fragrant oil. Allow them to dry and place them on a sheet of wax paper. Once dry, your home will smell wonderful!

6. Make Candles. Add the dried flowers to candle wax when making your own candles.

7. Make a wreath. Utilize the dried flowers to make a wreath for your front door. You can find supplies at your local craft store.

8. Decorate the edges of a picture frame. Use the dried flowers to decorate and spruce up a photo frame.

9. Hang dry and use as decorating baskets. Instead of pressing them, you can hang dry your flowers. Once they are dry, you can use them to decorate baskets around your home.

10. Add to your bath water for a touch of romance. Light candles and throw in the petals from your old flowers to make for a romantic evening.

This article was inspired by another blog post from Financial Interactive

Nothing Tastes Better Than Home Cookin'

Tue, 01 May 2012 14:50:28 -0400

Who has a mother, grandmother, husband, aunt, sister, or brother (the list could go on) that makes the “best” (insert soul food word here)?! I venture to say that everyone has someone that makes the BEST something…right? I thought so.

Well I have a hankering for some comfort food and want to include the whole nation of Gables Residents to help me out. Send in your BEST known recipe for something that goes in a cast iron SKILLET! Post it, just tell us what it is, post a picture and hide the recipe to make me jealous…whatever you want!

While you are at it, check out these skillets in the shape of each state! FeLion Designs was on today’s Thrillist for the Nation, and well, it prompted this blog. Plus I thought it could be a cool gift idea for somebody. There is a state for everyone!

Made in America cast iron skillets and photo : http://felionstudios.com/

“The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” What do you get more...

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:42:43 -0400

“The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports”

What do you get more excited for…Mint Juleps or Fun Hats? Both or neither are also acceptable answers, but if you say neither, you have to tell us what is your FAVE at the Kentucky Derby!

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/experience/traditions

"Apartmentites" Living Happy

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:25:46 -0400

Apartment Living = Happiness! I know what you are thinking, there are a lot of other things that make you happy, but given that we specialize in apartments, we thought we would share! The benefits of living as an “apartmentite” as they put it, are six fold in this particular article, but we know there are more and would love to hear what you think!

Tell us what makes you happy living at your property!!

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Apartment-Living-Is-Your-Recipe-For-Happiness&id=800720

It's So Easy!

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:38:32 -0400

When it comes to making eco-friendly changes, it’s the little ones that really add up to make a difference! Doing just a few things, a tiny contribution if you will, on this giant planet can actually help! It’s painless, really. Plus it’s just courteous – I mean, depending on how long earth stays in business, you might have some family members living on it. So, let’s help make it a little bit easier…for family! Cheers!

Pledge Here – it only takes a second. Well, maybe 20 seconds if I’m honest.

Did you know?

Over 50 years, a single tree can generate $31,250 worth of air pollution control, recycle $37,500 worth of water, and control $31,500 worth of soil erosion.
4 Trillion…the number of non-degradable plastic bags used worldwide annually.
60 Minutes…every hour Americans throw out 2.5 million plastic bottles. (I go through like 5 a day! Time to buy a CUP!)
1 Light Bulb…if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR rated light bulb, we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for a year, save about $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year… equivalent to the emissions of 800,000 cars.
5% Wasted…the small amount of energy that electronics use when they are off can add up! It’s estimated that 5% of electricity in the U.S. is wasted on products that are turned off.

Just sayin’…pledge with us! Pick one from the link above, but you can do all four if you want!

B.C.B.C...Short for Breast Cancer Buddy Check

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:32:38 -0400

Call your buddy this weekend! It’s Buddy Check time!

Today I am including a link from Caring.Com written by Melanie Haiken for you to read. It’s short, yet powerful, and gets right to the point. This particular article was actually written a few years ago, but the message is still the same – catch it early. It could save your life.

And just as we said last time:

Besides sending this to everyone you know as part of the obvious “Buddy System”, we encourage those of you who have personal stories to send them to us so that we can add them to OUR monthly blog. One instance shared could end up saving another person’s life. If you wish to tell your experience or the experience of someone close to you, email marketing@gables.com.

Source: http://www.caring.com/blogs/caring-currents/the-keys-to-catching-breast-cancer-early

Time To Get Healthy!

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:37:02 -0400

Time To Get Healthy!:

National Public Health Week is still going on! Never too late to start. Take the weekend and make a change!

It's Not Always About the Finish Time

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:32:06 -0400

All over the world, local road races are taking place! Sure, they are typical with regard to distance and general activity; however, some of these races are quite… how shall I say it… unique? Location, weather, clothing, and other obscure dynamics all play a part in making some of these local races “the thing to do” because they are just that wacky! Run It Fast found 15 of the most unique and interesting races worldwide! Undoubtedly the list goes on, including The Color Run that yours truly just participated in. It is known as the Happiest 5K in the World! Who would NOT want to run through rainbows of paint!? Anywho, enjoy the snippets below from Run It Fast, and comment on ones not listed that everyone should know about!

15. Kona Underpants Run, Kona, HI - Started because three triathletes got a little fed up with visiting athletes parading around town in their Speedos all week, well before the event necessitated stripping down.

14. Freeze Yer Gizzard, International Falls, MN - A “celebration of winter running” The average low in International Falls in January is -8 degrees, but it can get much colder, with a record low of -55.

13. Crystal City Cave Run, Crystal Springs, MO - The Crystal City Cave Run is held in a particularly unique location – an abandoned sand mine. The course website also promises that you’ll also run “under an air shaft and probably through a couple ankle-deep puddles and quicksand-like areas.”

12. Santa Speedo Run, Boston, MA- The Santa Speedo Run (now officially SSRun) is held every December in Boston and requires participants to dress in a Speedo like garment and not much else (although holiday flair is encouraged).

11. Night of the Running Dead, Salt Lake City, UT - Every runner decides pre-race if they are a zombie or a human, and humans are then given a two minute head start upon which the zombies proceed to try to run them all down.

10. Filthy 5k Mud Run, Fargo, ND - The Filthy 5k makes sure participants get down and dirty by running participants through a course of mud and water that includes areas where runners have to crawl.

9. Beer Belly Run, Green Bay, WI - The Beer Belly Run luckily doesn’t require an actual beer belly to enter, but it’s a particularly awesome two mile race because every half mile means a beer station.

8. Big Man Run, Worcester, MA - The Big Man Run started as a race that required a starting weight of at least 190 pounds and included stops for hot dogs and beer.

7. Runyon 5k, New York, NY - The course winds its way entirely within Yankee Stadium, winding its way through concourses, up and down ramps and stairs, and of course features a long stretch around the actual playing field.

6. Krispy Kreme Challenge, Raleigh, NC - The Krispy Kreme Challenge sounds like a drunken dare, and it actually started that way. In the Krispy Kreme Challenge runners have one hour to run 2 miles, eat a box of a dozen glazed Krispy Kreme Donuts, before running back the two miles they came.

5. Warrior Dash/Tough Mudder - The Warrior Dash and Tough Mudder are both national events with multiple locations. The Warrior Dash is a 3-4 mile event with milder obstacles (walls, mud, fire pit, etc.) Tough Mudder courses vary in length from seven-twelve miles and feature 17-20 obstacles that encompass everything from running up a hill while being sprayed by high pressure fire hoses to running through live electrical wires.

4. Midnight Run, Laugardalur, Reykjavik, Iceland - The race is part of the week of solstice celebrations and takes place in a time in Iceland where there’s no darkness at all.

3. Impossible 5k, Woodstock, GA - The race takes place LATE NIGHT 1:50am. The kicker is this race takes place when Daylight Savings Time kicks in, so you can finish up in 25:00 and be done at 1:15 AM, making this the only race in the world where you can have a “negative” finishing time.

2. Ice Marathon, Antarctica - The Ice Marathon takes place in the most desolate and remote spot on earth – Antarctica. The Ice Marathon is the southernmost race in the world, and takes place just a few hundred miles from the South Pole.

1. Man vs Horse Marathon, Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales - The Man vs. Horse Marathon is one of the most interesting races in the world. The race started in 1980 as the result of a bar bet where one man posited that over a significant distance a human being would be the equal of any horse.

Cheers to the Mom and Pop Stores!

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:43:52 -0400

Today is National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day! Ergo, today we shall recognize small business owners, particularly husband and wife business owner teams! To celebrate the important contribution these special businesses make to our community, find one in your neighborhood and pay them a visit!

These are just a few reasons Mom and Pop stores are great:

Little more interesting
Local fare and goods
Nicer customer service (most of the time)
Shorter lines
The shopping is fun and makes you happy
Better advice and knowledge of products
Create unique cities and neighborhoods
Fun looking signage
Products you can’t find just anywhere

If you know of a great mom and pop store near you, let us know! And get there today!

Go Away Allergies

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:45:08 -0400

Check out some of these tips from Best Self Magazine for making allergy season a bit more tolerable. Obviously some of these can only be done if you own and are able to renovate, but you never know who is reading!

Enjoy!

Tips for an Allergy-Free Home

Clean regularly with the right tools. Choose cleaning solutions with minimal or no chemical scents, odors or VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which can trigger asthma symptoms, depending on their ingredients.
Vacuum rugs and carpeting frequently. Choose a vacuum cleaner that can effectively pick up allergens, has a HEPA filter and is tightly sealed so particles do not escape.
Remove shoes and brush off clothes before coming indoors. This will help cut down on pollen and other allergens.
Wash pillows and bedding often. Use pillows that can withstand frequent washing, and ensure your washing machine is able to reach a water temperature of 130°F to kill dust mites and their eggs. Consider purchasing dust mite resistant mattress and pillowcases.
Use vinyl or wood blinds and simple shades for windows. These window treatments do not promote as much allergen accumulation as drapes and curtains.They can also be more easily cleaned on a regular basis.
Keep indoor plants that are less likely to trigger allergic reactions. Plants that are less likely to trigger symptoms include begonia, cactus, orchids, peace lilies or even herbs like bay, parsley or thyme.
Seal your windows and doors. For drafty doors, buy door strips or weather stripping to close the gaps or consider replacing with a proper-fitting door if gaps are significant. For drafty windows, re-caulk any exterior or interior cracks with a low-chemical, latex-free caulk.
Choose hard surface flooring, such as wood, linoleum or vinyl. Avoid plywood or pressed wood wall paneling, particleboard, frames, fiberboard and insulation, as many of these items release high levels of VOCs.
Invest in a good central heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. If you have an HVAC system, be sure it has a replaceable or washable high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and be sure to clean or change the filter. In addition, ducts throughout the house should be unobstructed and large enough to circulate air throughout.

-Courtesy of HGTV’s Carter Oosterhouse

-Source - www.bestselfconnect.com Atlanta Best Self Magazine

Any Drapers Out There?

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:05:41 -0400

Photo: http://draping.tumblr.com/

You’ve “Planked,” you’ve “Owled,” you’ve “Tebowed,” and now we want to see you “Draping” Don Draper Style!

Simply drape the arm, take a pic, and post on our wall!

Let’s see how many likes you can get!

Have a great Thursday!

Example from a Gables Residential Property below!

What's In Your Head?

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:42:14 -0400

Here at Gables Residential, we are big on “Taking Care of the Way People Live.”

I want to write about taking care of the mind (in one way, of course.)

It’s simple. It’s true. It’s achievable.

Let me paint you a little picture…

A techno version of the Cranberries’ “Zombie” is permeating the room. Muscles are burning, sweat is dripping, and bodies are starting to exhaust. Gripping onto the handlebars tight, many are thinking about giving up, giving in to the resistance and pain.

The instructor, full of fire, determination, endurance, and hope tells us to look up. (After all that is where our eyes would be if we were on a real bike)…and she says this:

“The mind controls the body. The brain will control what you do. So, what’s in your head?”

“What’s in your head” is actually a repetitive lyric in this song for those of you who don’t know the 90’s alt-rock band, the Cranberries, and given that a question was asked, I began to think about what exactly was in my head.

My head: “I cannot do this anymore, I want to stop.”

What I was thinking was slowing me down. She continued to encourage us to push harder with words of optimism and truth. “We have all ‘been through’ something, and we are here to show we have gotten through it. Keep going, as we will get through this too.” Looking around, there was a renewed spirit radiating throughout each individual. We pushed harder.

Sure…this particular instance is concerning a morning spin track in the hills, but the message is versatile and worth thinking about.

We do have the power to change our mindsets, and it is amazing what that can do. Venture out of your comfort zone and keep a positive mind; that is when change happens.

Cheers!

Image Source: Believe to Achieve

So Your Pooch Can Celebrate Saint Patty's Day Too!

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:14:22 -0400

St. Patrick’s Day is this weekend, and your pets want to celebrate too! Check out this green treat for your furry friend!

St. Patty’s Day Patties Recipe

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

4 strips bacon, cut into small pieces

4 cups green peas, drained (about two cans)

2 tablespoons water

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix dry ingredients. Fry bacon and reserve drippings; cool. Put peas in blender or food processor and blend. Mix blended peas and bacon with drippings; add dry ingredients and mix well. Knead dough and pat out or roll to under 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters to desired shape and place on lightly oiled cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes or until browned. Cool and serve.

Source: www.dogtipper.com

Recipe and Photo below by Paris Permenter and John Bigley

15 Minutes a Month

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:08:17 -0400

It’s Buddy Check time everyone! We mentioned last month (on Valentine’s Day to be exact) that we would send out a blog once a month reminding you to Buddy Check! Well it’s been about a month and here we are!

Check this out…Below I have listed 7 tips to think about while conducting your Breast Self-Exam; however, if you are like me, you may not even know the correct way to administer such a thing. So, with that being said, go to “This Link”, and get the step-by-step, how-to instructions to help you do it right!

Just a Few Tips for Doing Your B.S.E:

Pick a day and do it every month on that same day.
Remain calm while you are doing your exam so that your body doesn’t tense up producing knots. We certainly don’t want to mistake a knot for something troublesome.
Write down and tell your doc if you feel any changes or irritations.
Remember to have an annual clinical exam and a mammogram.

And just as we said last time:

Sources: www.EmoryHealthCare.org and www.about.com

Too Much Tossing?

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:46:43 -0500

Well…there goes the 84^thbag of carrots – 3 of which were actually consumed …AGAIN! It never fails, every time I hit the grocery store, I buy a bag of those mini carrots with the intention to munch on them at work with a little hummus instead of gobbling up processed granola bars or consuming the whole trail mix jar in the office mail room; however, I end up eating pita chips with the hummus, and the carrots never sound good at 10am or 3pm when I want my snack. Ergo, I waste yet another bag of those darn carrots!

Do you find that you waste food from time to time or a lot? Maybe you end up buying too many perishable choices at one time, or in my case, choices that you don’t really want but feel you need to like because they are the “smarter choices?”

Check this out: http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-avoid-wasting-food-46510

This blog from theKitchn will give you 3 great tips on how to avoid food waste, (which I am fairly confident 80% of us are guilty of), and it also includes some other helpful links to implement your eliminate-food-waste-strategy!

Let us know if you have any tips too!

Happy Friday Eve!

You've heard of food trucks? Here comes the fashion truck

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:33:32 -0500

You've heard of food trucks? Here comes the fashion truck:

Food Trucks…Cool. Fashion Trucks…Also Cool! What will they think of next?

Why Must I Be On A Budget?

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:56:56 -0500

…because the economy is down, because you decided to at the strike of 2012, and because there are actually fun ways to do it! This blog, however, is focusing on “home project budget savings”, so by nature, that is a little more fun. I will refrain from going into budget spreadsheets that are probably a little more helpful, but oh so boring to blog about…

This is the last New Year’s Resolution Help & Reminder Blog…”Becoming a little more budget conscious.”

I’m not going to go into detail here because this blog has too many great ideas and it is virtually impossible to pick the best one to emphasize, but check out Apartment Therapy’s blog articles on Budget Living (link below). There are some eclectic and truly one-of-a-kind ways for saving money and getting crafty!

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/categories/budget_living

Cheers!

Upcycling You Say?

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:33:39 -0500

The DIY trend is really taking off again, and Upcycling is all the rage now!

It’s simple. Upcycling is simply reusing one old object to spice up or change another. Exhibit A - old mantle turned into a funky tufted headboard in the picture above. Cute? YES!

Check out these unique and cheap upcycling ideas! We’ve even included projects for the pets! After all, we are kind of obsessed with our fuzzy dwellers… Happy Friday EVE!

Martha Stewart Upcycled Pet Projects

Apartment Therapy Project Restyle Upcycling Ideas

Poetic Home

Oops! Was That One of My NYE Resolutions Too?

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:29:16 -0500

Spirits and libations are fun and relaxing, there is no question about that; however; there are plenty of reasons not to drink alcohol, such as pregnancy, personal desire, health, OR because you RESOLVED to not drink as much 1.1.2012! (still aiming to prevent you from dropping your NY resolutions like a bad habit 4 weeks in , when in fact they are specifically intended to be good habits)

Whatever the reason…it’s kind of a drag when folks at a party are sipping on attractive adult beverages, and you are sipping on a diet coke out of the can. Time to get tricky! Mocktails are where it’s at for this New-Years-Resolution-Get-Back-On-The-Bandwagon-Blog! Fun looking, cooler than a can, and the benefits are 4 fold!

Why mocktails can (and do) rock:

Fewer calories
Less expensive
Higher in nutrients
Everyone can enjoy them

Innovative recipes:

ALSO, if wine is your weak spot, not all Alcohol-free wine is gross. Try Arial and Sutter Home. NA wine could also make a good base for other drinks. I am totally making this up, but perhaps virgin sangria could be concocted with said NA wine?

For those who truly love the taste of some liquors: Make your own syrup by mixing alcohol and sugar and bringing the mixture to a boil, this will burn off the alcohol and create a nonalcoholic syrup with the flavors of the original libation.

Cheers!

Because We Have to Help One Another...

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:17:16 -0500

Residents, associates and all followers of our blog, today is Valentine’s Day and to show our love, we have decided to roll out a Breast Cancer Awareness Monthly Buddy Plan! Once a month we will send out a reminder blog with stories and/or info to remind you to “check yourself before you wreck yourself,” in the words of Ice Cube!

We got this brilliant idea from (Safeway/9News.com Buddy Check 9). It’s an email/newsletter that one of our associates gets sent to them monthly, and we think it is great! Ergo…we are going to use our social media channels as a means to get the reminder out to YOU!

OH YES! You can be part of our blog!

Besides sending this to everyone you know as part of the obvious “buddy system”, we encourage those of you who have personal stories similar to the one in the link above to send them to us so that we can add them to OUR monthly blog. One instance shared could end up saving another person’s life. If you wish to tell your experience or the experience of someone close to you, email marketing@gables.com.

Why we are doing this:

We want to remind you to perform routine breast self-exams, and depending on your age and health history, to schedule clinical breast exams and mammograms. Your health is precious and you only get one body, so it is imperative to be proactive with it.

AND, because

1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, &
Over 30% of women are diagnosed after breast cancer has spread beyond the localized stage.

THAT, my friends, is why we are so passionate about this.

Now for a shout out…

Ladies in your 20’s, start self-examining.
Women in your 20’s and 30’s get a clinical breast exam about every three years.
To all our 40+ year olds, have a clinical breast exam and a screening mammogram every year (as long as you are in good health).

Sources: www.EmoryHealthCare.org and the National Cancer Institute

Put yourself first and take care of business peeps. It’s worth it.