A Clean Commode Is A Happy Commode

(Image courtesy of Kim)

Even in the biggest bathrooms, space can be an issue. There always seems to be a wealth of half-empty shampoo bottles, toothbrushes, hair care products and other essentials hanging around-if you’re not careful things can get tight very quickly.

Though we each have our own particular essentials in every commode, that doesn’t mean that the space can’t be stylish, controlled and organized. These tips courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com will be sure to have your bathroom looking more spacious in no time!

1. Keep only the products you use daily in a small bathroom

What hair and makeup products do you actually need to get ready each morning? Which do you actually use when you shower? If you're lacking in lots of bathroom storage, remove everything you only use occasionally — special hair products, medicine, first aid — and consider finding another spot in your home to keep it. (Yes, if you have a small bathroom you probably have a small home, but maybe there's a titch more storage somewhere else!)

2. Create and disguise new storage

If you absolutely can't get rid of all of the items, assess your storage situation and see where additional or hidden storage can be installed. If you've got under counter storage, maximize it. These under sink storageideas can easily be applied for bathroom storage. Over the door solutions work, but use sparingly since they don't really hide the clutter well. Install small or narrow cabinets with doors in tight spots for a custom, hidden storage look.

3. Collect, corral & beautify

Trays are an old organizing trick that's always in style; use them to turn a pile of unsightly hair and make-up products into something resembling decent. Baskets and boxes work great on open shelves and tucked uniformly on ledges and in corners. In fact you could make your own today! Want to take it up a notch? Transfer beauty products into new or DIY (and labeled) bottles and containers that are all uniform and nicer to look at so your bathroom counter doesn't look like a drug store.

4. One in, two out rule

For every new lipstick you bring into your bathroom, toss or give to a friend two shades that don't work and you'll never wear. Same applies to shampoo, conditioner or whatever products are causing clutter piles in your bathroom.

5. Pick up and put away daily

This is more chore reminder than actual organizing tip, but some people still need to hear it! You can't let even one bottle stay where it's not supposed to be in a small bathroom — it'll look cluttered instantly. Figure out the decluttering and storage methods that work for you, and then stick with it daily until you create a habit.

May is National Bike Month in Berkeley

With the weather starting to improve, spending time outdoors becomes a priority. And whether you're a seasoned bicyclist or haven't pedaled on two wheels since childhood, we invite you to bust out your bike and enjoy the fresh, spring air.

After all, May is National Bike Month, and there are a bunch of ways you can use two wheels to get stuff done, or just to enjoy some low-impact exercise. Cycling can be a great activity between friends, family, or roommates. It's great exercise and can reduce stress. It can also save you money on gas or public transportation, if you live close enough to work that you can bike.

And, of course, biking has no carbon footprint, so it's good for the environment!

If you're interested in participating in National Bike Month, browse this searchable map, which will point you toward local bike shops, cycling groups, events, and more! If you're feeling particularly ambitious, try organizing a local cycling event. Here's a guide for planning an event, if you so please.

There's also Bike to Work Week, from May 12 to May 16, culminating with Bike to Work Day on Friday:

One of the league's sponsored activities is Bike to Work Week. Culminating in Bike to Work Day on Friday, people are encouraged to leave their fuel-burning vehicles in the driveway and enjoy the warming weather on a bicycle to and from work instead, if possible.

According to the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey, the share of Americans commuting by bike has grown by 47 percent since 2000, according to the league's website. Additionally, more than half of the U.S. lives within 5 miles of their workplace.

Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to giving biking a try. It's sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast. 

In 2013, more than 30,000 riders logged almost 19 million miles in the second year of the online competition. In 2014, the group is aiming for 50,000 riders to pedal more than 30 million miles between May 1 and September 30.

Click here for more information on National Bike Month, on Berkeley Patch!

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.