September can be a hectic time of year. We are no longer jetting away on tropical vacations or relaxing on the lake. Instead, we are getting our kids back to school and preparing our home for another busy year ahead. In order to lower stress levels and keep things organized while making the seasonal transition, read these great tips!

1. Keep a calendar. Some people like to use their cell phone calendars, others like a hand-held planner. Whatever your preference, start recording dates for important meetings, football practice and piano recitals before you forget.

2. Organize your documents. Get a file cabinet and designate specific folders for important documents. Bills, medical charts, permission slips, etc. They can all find an organized place to live.

3. Meal plan. Spend some time on Sundays planning out your family meals for the week (including lunches) so you aren’t looking for quick fixes in a rush during the week.

4. Cook extra. If you are cooking a big meal, double the recipe! You can freeze your extra food and easily thaw it out for dinner on a busy week night when you have a lot on your schedule.

5. Give everyone a job at home. Chores not only teach responsibility, they can be helpful to you! Delegate the laundry sorting and dishwasher emptying to family members to take some of the load off yourself.

It’s back to school for many local towns so we wanted to share some money-saving tips! Buying notebooks, pens and folders for school doesn’t seem like much, but it can certainly add up! Before heading to your local office-supply store with your list, check out these tips!

1. Check out what you already have. If you have a home office or a supply closet at home, take a quick sweep and see how many items you may already have on hand before you buy them brand new.

2. Check out your local Dollar Tree. There’s no need to spend too much on certain items. Instead, spend only a dollar on lots of desk-essentials.

3. Read your local flyers. It’s the time of year for back to school items to be on sale. Read your local store flyers and see who is offering the best prices on items before heading to your “usual” store.

4. Stick to your list. Make a list of “must-haves,” (which is usually provided by your child’s teacher) and stick to it. There’s no need to buy unnecessary amounts of supplies.

5. Set a budget and stick to it. Give each of your children an amount they can spend and don’t go over. This is also a great lesson for them to learn how to budget!

We’re certainly not wishing summer away but the unofficial end of the season is quickly approaching! Celebrate the end of hot, summer days by hosting your family and friends for an end of summer party with these great ideas!

1. White party – Have all of your guests wear white to celebrate the end of summer! Labor Day is quickly approaching and a lot of our white clothes will soon get packed away.

2. Luau – Nothing says summer more than a Hawaiian-themed party! Buy some leis and drink out of coconuts outdoors.

3. Fiesta – Host an end of summer fiesta by serving frozen margaritas, chips and salsa and guacamole to your friends.

4. Beach party – Live near the ocean? Now’s the time to host your friends for an end of summer event on the sand! Setup some volleyball nets, lounge chairs and umbrellas and catch some rays before September gets here.

5. Garden party – Host your friends outdoors in your garden for fancy finger foods and fun! Fresh-cut flowers and fancier attire will make this event feel elegant and fun.

6. Sunday brunch – Soak up the sun by serving your guests a summer, Sunday brunch! Fresh fruit, mimosas and french toast will sure to be a hit.

7. Classic BBQ – Fire up the grill and serve your guests some classic BBQ foods one last time. Finish the day with s’mores and some backyard games.

Today is National S’More Day! Who knew? We couldn’t finish out the day without finding a way to celebrate so we’re offering up 6 tips for making the perfect s’more! Go ahead and make some tonight!
1. Use a long stick that isn’t too thick for your marshmallow. Have two thin sticks? Even better!

2. Unless you like the taste of burnt marshmallow, don’t let yours catch on fire! Toast it just long enough so it’s golden.

3. Want to bring your marshmallows to another level? Stuff them before you toast them! Small, chocolate candies like Hershey’s kisses or Rolos work great inside.

4. You already know you’re going to want another s’more after you eat your first one. Kill some time by roasting a few marshmallows at once.

5. Have your supplies ready to go. Don’t start toasting your marshmallow if your graham crackers and chocolate are nearby and ready to go!

6. Have clean-up materials nearby. S’mores are notorious for being very sticky. Make sure you have something readily available to clean your hands when you’re done enjoying!

In the spirit of our Princeton Gives Back contest beginning this week, we wanted to share with you all 10 easy ways you can “pay it forward” on a daily basis! Read the list below and share with us which acts of kindness you practiced!

1. Say what you’re thinking – Walk by someone and think “I love that shirt.” Instead of keeping it to yourself, tell them! Giving a compliment can brighten someone’s day.

2. Pick up an extra coffee. While in the drive thru line in the morning, ask the cashier to add the bill for the person behind you to your order.

3. Give up some food. There are probably some items in your pantry that you can do without. Throw them in a box and drop them off at your local food shelter.

4. Offer a helping hand. See someone struggling to get on the bus or having a hard time carrying their groceries? Give them some assistance.

5. Not in a rush? Check to see who’s behind you in line at the grocery store and offer them your place. A mom shopping with kids is sure to appreciate this!

6. Take a picture! See someone taking a “group selfie?” Offer to take the photo for them. They’ll be grateful and have a better photo.

7. Feed the meter. Have some extra quarters floating around your car? Take a minute to feed someone’s meter so they can avoid getting a parking ticket!

8. Leave a little extra. Next time you’re dining out, think about leaving a little extra tip for your waiter or waitress. Write “pay it forward” on the check so they can continue the cycle.

9. Hold the door. See a mom or dad with a stroller in the parking lot? Try getting ahead of them so you can hold the doors.

10. Write a positive review. Love the place you live or the shop you order pizza from? Visit their Facebook page or Yelp account and leave them some love. It will be sure to make them smile!

We’re all guilty of racking up a big grocery bill! By the time we’ve gone up and down every aisle in the supermarket our shopping carts can overflow. The next time you are heading to the store to fill your pantry, remember these tips so you can keep your grocery bill on the low side!

1. Plan your weekly menu. By thinking ahead of time what you want to eat for meals throughout the week, you’ll not only save money you’ll also save time at the store. Making a menu keeps us from throwing lots of random, unnecessary items in our carts.

2. Make a list and stick to it. When you write out your shopping list, try to write it in order of the flow of the store. You can follow it as you go up and down the aisles and avoid going off track and overspending.

3. Buy items that are store brand when you can. Store brand items can be significantly cheaper than name brand and most of the time you won’t even be able to tell the difference (other than having more cash in your wallet!)

4. Avoid coupons that say “buy one get one.” Typically the items that are offered in these deals are items you don’t even need in the first place. What’s even worse is that the stores tend to mark up the prices on these items anyway so you’re actually paying for the “free” item in the long run.

5. Make sure you’re not hungry! Food shopping on an empty stomach can force us to make some bad decisions. Make sure you’ve recently eaten so you aren’t basing your grocery choices off of your growling stomach.

The warm weather is officially here and while we can sip lemonade and jump in the pool to stay cool, we have to remember our pets too! Hot days can lead to dehydration and heat exhaustion for our furry friends. Keep reading for some great tips to keep your pets cool and safe this summer!

1. Make sure your pet has plenty of cold, fresh water at all times. If you’re traveling or taking long walks, remember to bring a bowl and water with you so your dog can hydrate.

2. If you’re going to be leaving your pet alone in the house for a long period of time, remember to leave the air conditioner on for them. They get hot sitting in a stuffy house too!

3. Never leave them in the car even if the windows are cracked. The temperature inside of a car can rise very quickly on a hot day. Keep your pet safe by leaving them home or taking them with you if you exit the car.

4. Be mindful of their paws. On really hot days it’s not a good idea to walk with your dog. Not only can they get over-heated, but hot pavement can burn their feet.

5. Make sure they have shade. If your dog likes playing outside, make sure there is a shady area for them to lie down when they’re ready to take a break.

We can’t believe Independence Day is right around the corner! If you are planning to host a celebration for the 4th keep reading to learn our tips for throwing a great 4th of July party at your home!

1. Decorate in red white and blue – People love getting decked out for the 4th of July so make sure your home is looking Patriotic for the event. Get red, white and blue tablecloths and cups and blow up matching balloons for color.

2. Set up an activity for kids – Remember this post we wrote last year? (<a href=”http://apartmentrentalnews.com/article/creativity_corner_presents….diy_july_4th_parade_wands”>DIY 4th of July Parade Wands</a>) Take a look and learn how the kids at your party can make some 4th of July parade wands to stay busy.

3. Have plenty of cold beverages – July 4th is notorious for being hot! Make sure your guests have plenty of cold drinks available to them to stay hydrated. Fill a few coolers and label them with what’s inside so people don’t have to dig through them to find what they’re looking for.

4. Make festive desserts – A red, white and blue trifle or star-sprinkled cupcakes? Why not make both? Your guests (especially the kids) will love devouring these.

5. Make room in the shade – Have plenty of umbrellas and shaded areas available to your guests so they can step out of the sun if needed.

6. Add a sunscreen and bug spray station – If your party is going to take place outdoors, think about filling a bucket with sunscreens and bug sprays for your guests to use. Place them in a central place that’s easily accessible.

7. Dress the part – Pick up some fun items from your local party store for your guests to wear. Think beads, glasses and hats that are inspired by Uncle Sam!

Whether it’s your desk at work or the one in your home office, it’s important to keep your work space clean! Stacks of paper, pieces of mail and other items can really start piling up causing a cluttered mess. Follow these five steps to keep your desk neat and tidy every day!

1. Clean your cluttered piles weekly. Designate a time of the week (maybe Friday after lunch) to spend some time going through your piles of paperwork and other clutter and put things back in their place. Shred anything that is unwanted to get rid of it for good.

2. Make sure everything has a home. You can purchase stack-able, plastic holders for all of your desk supplies at your local office supply store. You will feel much tidier if all of your pens, flash drives, notepads etc have a place to call home.

3. Clean your keyboard and wipe down your work space weekly. Use an air duster to clean the keyboard and wipe down your desk and phone with a disinfectant.

4. Use file cabinets. Misplacing important documents can be easy to do if you don’t have a proper filing system in place. Hang some folders and start organizing your paperwork to keep it out of sight.

5. Start labeling. Whether you like to use a label maker or you trust your own penmanship, having things labeled will certainly give your workspace a sense of organization. You can label your trays for outgoing mail, our drawers on your file cabinet and your folders.

The official start to summer is only days away which means there are many sunny beach days ahead of us! If you like spending your weekends relaxing on the sand, keep reading to find out what is on our list of beach essentials. Keep these items in a bag and in your car so whenever an impromptu beach day presents itself, you’ll be fully prepared!

1. Sunscreen
2. A beach chair
3. A good book
4. A cooler
5. A big hat to keep the rays off your face
6. A towel and a beach blanket
7. Sunglasses
8. An umbrella to shield the sun
9. Toys for the kids
10. Snacks
11. Wet wipes to clean sand off your hands
12. A change of clothes
13. A sweatshirt or long sleeve shirt just in case
14. Flip flops or sandals
15. Bottled water