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.

Getting Fit without the Trip

Here at Berkeley Central, our residents get discounted memberships to the gym at the local YMCA, among many other convenient amenities.

But sometimes, you can’t make it to the Y or your local gym. However, you can still get a decent workout and even drop some pounds, simply by working out in the comforts of your own apartment.

That’s right! You can still lose the weight without committing all that time and money. If you’re serious about a healthier lifestyle, consider this article from ApartmentGuides.com, which walks us through some ways to get fit at home, that won’t cost you a single dime! Here are some of their strategies:

Take the stairs.Taking the stairs instead of the elevator is an easy way to get some exercise into your day.

Sure, it’s tempting to use the elevator if you don’t live on the first floor. But taking the steps is an easy way to get a little exercise into your day, and it’s often faster than waiting for the lift. Even if you’ve got a carload of groceries that require multiple trips to get everything inside your apartment, that’s more exercise you’re getting as a result. Did you know that taking the stairs whenever possible was one of Bruce Lee’s core fitness tips? He also recommended purposely parking your car far away from your destination so you have to walk further, and standing on one foot to improve your balance as often as possible.

Stock your cabinets with healthy food. Many apartments have small kitchens, which is perfect if you’re on a diet. Less cabinet space means less room to stuff them with junk food. This will require some self-control when you go grocery shopping, but try your best to keep only healthy food at home, and then you won’t be tempted to eat junk.

Do some at-home exercises. Thanks to Netflix, YouTube and other streaming sites, there are countless ways to exercise without leaving your own living room. Have you heard of the one-song workout trend? You can squeeze an entire workout in the time it takes you to listen to one song – perfect for the days you just don’t have time for a long workout. And there are endless videos that’ll guide you in aerobics, yoga, pilates or any other form of exercise.

Click here for even more ways to get fit at home!