Netflix Addicts Beware

(Image courtesy of Brian Cantoni)

Spring is here and that it’s the perfect time to...binge-watch Netflix on the weekends! Just because the days are getting warmer and longer doesn’t mean that you need to immediately run outside, there are tv shows you need to catch up on!

Just in case you’ve forgotten about all the great tv you missed, we’ve got you covered. This list, courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com, lists all the best shows that you can start watching on Netflix right now. All that’s left to do is sit back, relax and enjoy. Don’t worry, you can soak up the sunlight after you’ve had your fill.

1. House of Cards
Two Seasons

Ruthless, cunning Congressman Francis Underwood will stop at nothing to conquer the halls of power in Washington D.C. His secret weapon: his gorgeous, ambitious, and equally conniving wife Claire.

2. The Walking Dead
Three Seasons

In the wake of a zombie apocalypse, survivors hold on to the hope of humanity by banding together to wage a fight for their own survival.

3. Scandal
Two Seasons

A team of Washington, D.C., lawyers makes scandals disappear, handling government crises while coping with problems of their own.

4. Breaking Bad
Five Seasons

A high school chemistry teacher dying of cancer teams with a former student to manufacture and sell crystal meth to secure his family's future.

5. Top of the Lake
Seven Episode Mini Series

When pregnant, 12-year-old Tui tries to kill herself in a freezing New Zealand lake, Detective Robin Griffin has plenty of questions for the girl.

6. Twin Peaks
Two Seasons

"Who killed Laura Palmer?" is the question on everyone's lips in a secretive small town, but as an eccentric FBI agent learns, the answer isn't easy.

7. Orange is the New Black
One Season, New Season begins June 6

Piper Chapman’s wild past comes back to haunt her, resulting in her arrest and detention in a federal penitentiary. To pay her debt to society, Piper trades her comfortable New York life for an orange prison jumpsuit and finds unexpected conflict and camaraderie amidst an eccentric group of inmates.

8. American Horror Story
Two Seasons

Exploring humankind's unsettling capacity for evil, this darkly twisted drama plays upon the power of supernatural fears and everyday horrors.

9. Mad Men
Five Seasons

Set in 1960s New York City, this series takes a peek inside an ad agency during an era when the cutthroat business had a glamorous lure.

10. Hemlock Grove
One Season

The mangled body of a teenage girl is discovered outside a rusted Pennsylvania steel town, where every resident harbors a dark secret. Suspicions and accusations mount as a manhunt for the killer intensifies, even as evidence mounts that the suspect is not a man at all.

Cat Cafes Make the Community Purr

We’re proud to be a pet friendly community here at the Berkeley Central Apartments—and it makes us even prouder to be located in a neighborhood that shares the same values.

You might’ve heard rumblings about the popularity of “Cat Cafes” in farawar places like Japan. But it seems that this novel type of new business is now making its way into the Bay Area. By the end of this year, the Berkeley area should be home to not one but two cat cafes. Both Oakland’s Cat Town Café and San Francisco’s KitTea are currently finalizing locations.

Not only will you be able to play with cats at these cat cafes—you’ll also be supporting a charitable cause. Both cafes, in fact, will be affiliated with local animal rescue organizations.

Ann Dunn, founder of the Cat Town rescue and longtime Oakland volunteer is optimistic that these new cafes will encourage customers to become cat owners themselves:

“The only reason we’re doing this is to get cats out of cages and get them adopted quickly,” she said. “You couldn’t choose a worse environment for a cat than a shelter.  So many cats have a cage reaction, and you have no idea what the cat is really like. All you see is their fear.”

“Ann and Cat Town already have three years of experience of being a rescue, on top of the years of experience working with Oakland Animal Services. So I feel like we have the rescue thing locked down. So, if we have a kitten who’s having a problem adjusting at the cafe, we have so many foster homes standing by who can take over.

 Click here to read the full article from KQED!

A Clean Home Is A Happy Home

(Image courtesy of Plage Vinilos y Decoración)

If you’re like us, you know that when your apartment gets messy you feel stressed and irritated. Who knew that happiness in your daily life could be as easy as keeping your apartment clean from day-to-day? We know you’re probably thinking that keeping your house spotless is impossible between all of the other responsibilities and FUN things you want to do during the day, but we’re here to tell you that with a few small adjustments anything is possible!

Just imagine coming home to a cleaner, more organized apartment after a busy day. Doesn’t that just sound relaxing? These tips from apartmenttherapy.com will have your space looking fresh and clean in no time. Keep reading to learn more

1. Have a vision for your space.

The first step toward a lighter life and less cluttered home is to have a vision for your life and your space. Picture it in your mind and use that image as motivation to make the tough decisions.

2. Have a plan.

Go on the offense and plan ahead, for example, have a blueprint for your wardrobe - choosing simple basics that coordinate with one another will ensure that you have an open, airy, unstuffed closet no matter its size.

3. Before buying, ask yourself, “Is it useful? Is it beautiful?"

If the answer is no, don't allow the item to enter your home, even if it may be free or was a gift.

4. Don’t let it get past the front door - shred, trash, donate, or recycle it.

Immediately shred personal papers, recycle junk mail, and trash garbage - don't let it pile up on your landing strip or counter. Keep a donation box in the back of your vehicle and drive it to your favorite charity as soon as it becomes full.

5. Follow the "one in, one out" rule.

If you buy a new dress, donate one to charity. When your child gets a new stuffed animal, have them choose one to give away. Make sure it's done immediately and don't be afraid to make substitutions. It's okay to get rid of a blazer when you purchase a pair of pants - as long as it's making space in your closet.

6. Utilize an outbox.

If you're finding it difficult to get rid of something due to an emotional or financial connection, or you're just afraid that you might need it "someday", an outbox is a no-pressure way to get started on decluttering.

7. Have a place for everything.

If you know where something belongs it's much more likely that you will actually put it away. Items that don't have a home are the ones that pile up in the corners, cabinets, closets and on the horizontal surfaces of your home. Eventually, if left unchecked, those piles can become overwhelming sources of stress.

8. Follow routines and complete the cycle.

Those with clean, organized homes have a very simple secret - they follow small routines throughout the day. After dinner the dishes are washed and put away. When they get the mail it is opened and action is taken. The coat is hung up immediately upon entering the house. Completing the cycle is all part of this - putting clothing in the washer but failing to switch it to the dryer will leave you with moldy, musty-smelling clothing that needs to be rewashed and the dirty laundry piles up. Failing to unload the dishwasher in the morning leads to a pile of dirty dishes in the sink.

9. Be a problem solver.

Too many bulky CD's and DVD's? Toss the plastic cases and use paper instead. Overwhelming piles of old family photos? Digitize them. Keep losing your keys? Create a landing strip. When something threatens to overwhelm you or becomes a source of stress, set aside time to research or think about a solution for the problem and take action.

10. Be content with what you have.

There's the old saying "less is more". Being content with what you have is truly the key to a lighter life.

What habits do you follow in order to maintain a lighter life and an uncluttered home? We'd love to hear about them!

2014 San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Parade

With St. Patrick’s Day creeping up this coming Monday, the 163^rd Annual San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held tomorrow, Saturday, March 15 at 11:30am. Starting at the corner of Market and Second Street, there will be over a hundred colorful floats, Irish dance groups, and marching bands making their way toward Civic Center Plaza, where the parade will conclude.

The theme of this year’s event? “A Tribute to the Irish Workers of America,” celebrating the city’s Irish culture and history, presented by the United Irish Societies of San Francisco. You can get more information on the parade over at its facebook page, at www.facebook.com/SaintPatricksDaySF.

Here’s some more information, courtesy of Fun Cheap SF:

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade celebrates and showcases the Irish community, Irish culture and character in all its forms. Featured groups from throughout the Bay Area’s Irish community including schools, youth organizations, labor unions, cultural groups, as well as the San Francisco Police and Fire, will proudly march up Market Street.

Click here for more information on the 2014 San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Parade!

Spruce Up Your Space

(Image courtesy of jawcey)

No matter how much care you’ve taken in decorating your apartment, after awhile your carefully chosen curtains and wall art will start to look a little stale after awhile. Looking at the same pieces of art and knick knacks in the same spots every day can begin to take a toll on your eyes and your senses after a few months. When you get that itch to redecorate you don’t need to feel like you need to start over from scratch-there are few simple steps you can take to rejuvenate even the most bland apartment.

Adding a few extra decorations or moving around the pieces that you already have displayed in your apartment can make a world of difference! So before you head for the dumpster with the canvas prints you were in love with last year take a second to rethink your apartment layout. These ten tips, courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com, walk you step-by-step through the quickest ways to give your apartment a boost when you feel like it needs it. Keep reading to learn more:

1. Bring the outdoors in with houseplants.

A little green can go a long ways towards bringing life into your space. Choose something low maintenance, like a succulent, if you have a less than green thumb.

2. Add a few throw pillows.

Throw pillows can add both color and texture, and go a long ways towards making a room feel finished.

3. Hang some art.

Frame it up or get creative. You can find great art on Etsy or at the thrift shop, or hang a masterpiece by your kid — anything that resonates with you or just makes you feel happy.

4. Buy fresh flowers.

Flowers add a lot to a space and feel decadent, but don't have to cost much. A bouquet from the grocery store in one bold color can have a great impact.

5. Add a shot of color.

Whether you pick up a bright throw pillow or paint a wall, bringing in color is the quickest way to bring about a dramatic change.

6. Cozy things up with a throw.

Throws add texture and warmth, inviting you and your guests to get comfortable.

7. Make it personal — display something meaningful.

Putting a sweet note or personal photo on display makes a house feel more like a home, and brings in a bit of your personal history.

8. Set out books and magazines.

Keeping reading material within reach invites you to sit down and make yourself at home, and is a great way to keep guests occupied.

9. Light some candles.

Scent can have a big impact on how we experience our environment, and the glow of a candle also brings a bit of warmth to a room.

10. Turn on some music.

Music is one of the easiest ways to set the mood and liven things up in an instant.

Need to Take Inventory? There’s an App for That

Even if you rent an apartment as opposed to owning a home, it can be tough to keep track of all your supplies, furniture, electronics, clothes, and, well, you get the point—the list goes on!

It may seem silly to take inventory on your home, but there’s a new app called Encircle that makes the job a whole lot easier. Knowing exactly what items and how much you have on-hand at home can be a great way to stay ahead on your errands and save time and money by making it easier to shop in bulk. It’s also a great way to get some peace of mind!

Here’s the lowdown, courtesy of the good folks at TechSupportAlert.com:

The Encircle app for Android and iOS helps you create and maintain a home inventory in a stylish and easy to navigate layout. It looks good on a phone or a tablet, and is easy to understand and use.

After you start the app, you're asked to create an account with an email and password. You'll receive a confirmation email with a link to tap. It's a good idea to review the app's privacy policy. They suggest you might want to disable geo tagging in your photos. Geo tagging means that the GPS location is imbedded in any picture you take. This can be disabled in most camera apps settings. The developers are responsive and reply to help enquiries.

Click here for more info on Encircle: Home Inventory!

Shades You'll Be Proud To Draw

(Image courtesy of dora_c)

One of the best parts of moving into a new place is the opportunity to inject your personality into your new surroundings - but due to lease restrictions it may be difficult to add too many updates. Obviously, every apartment has windows and with a little creativity yours can be a great opportunity to add color, texture and excitement to your apartment.

Just because you live in an apartment doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to deal with plain white curtains or blinds. This article from renters.apartments.com has all the basics you need to get you started designing your own curtains. Keep reading to learn more:

Creating Your Own Design

Before beginning anything, you will want to decide on a plan for a design. Look through the HGTV website or magazines for ideas, or go to a hobby or craft store to look at their stencils for design ideas. Rather than covering an entire piece of fabric with a design, Martha Stewart suggests using stencils or fabric cut-outs to create a border. In addition to saving time, you'll get a more customized look.

For an even more unique look, arrange the images so that they're not in order. Randomizing or skewing them will create a high-end look that will be uniquely yours. You can either paint on stencils, or cut shapes out of fabric. Martha Stewart provides a template for a ginger flower that can be used as the shape. If you intend to use stencils and paint the design on the fabric, you will have a longer list of required supplies, and the project will take longer to do. If you don't have a sewing machine, take advantage of no-sew hemming tape. You can find that in fabric stores.

Customize Store-Bought Curtains or Drapes

HGTV's Design Star finalist Alice Fakier offers tips for people who want to create their own look without having to spend a lot of money. Dress up store-bought drapery or curtain panels by adding trim. Depending on the look, you might want to add braiding, tassels, balls or beads. For a simpler look on a sheer curtain, add a border of elegant ribbon.

Be sure to measure the width of your window and the height from the place where you'll place your curtain or drapery rod to the floor. If your window is off center, or in an awkward place, you may want to purchase wider panels to create a sense of symmetry or make your room look larger. If you live on a ground floor or within view of other apartments where people can look into yours, consider purchasing panels that are lined. In addition to providing you with privacy, the liner may help keep heat and cool air in during the respective seasons. This will potentially lower, or at least moderate your utility bills.

The design of your curtains or drapes will depend on several factors, including the look you want, the purpose for which they will be used, and where they will be in your apartment. For a bedroom, you may want something that blocks light - especially if you work at night. Long curtains will give the illusion of taller ceilings. Sheer, lightweight curtains will allow light to enter, something that is important in smaller spaces. If your apartment already has window blinds, adding sheer curtains may allow you customize an otherwise generic-looking apartment with a design that is uniquely your own.