Blog Posts

DIY Halloween Costumes

Sick of spending way too much time googling DIY costume ideas? Well, you're in luck. We spent hours scrolling through every corner of the Internet to dig up the most amazing and creative costumes so you don't have to. Keep reading for DIY costume ideas - they range from outfits you can put together in minutes to projects that only advanced costumers will be brave enough to tackle. Bag of Jelly Beans What you need to do : Get a clear trash bag, cut holes for your arms and legs to fit through. Print the nutritional facts on the back of the costume, just like what you see on the backs of candy bags. Fill up the bag with colored balloons for the jellybeans, and tie up the trash bag near your neck with a ribbon. Mime What you need to do : Get some cheap white face paint, and paint your face with it. Wear black clothes or a striped white and black top if you have one. White gloves will complete the outfit, but they aren't necessary. Derek Zoolander What you need to do : Get a patterned headband, blue eyes (or contact lenses), and an arresting gaze. Dark eyeshadow and purple lips preferred Mugatu What you need to do : Wear a gray sweater with the word "Mugatu" in black stuck on it. Find black cloth for the collar, end of the sleeves, and midsection. Don't forget a white stuffed dog. The hair is really important as well, so you might want to invest in a wig Mary Poppins What you need to do : Get a black umbrella, long black skirt, white collared button-down shirt, red bow tie, white gloves, black pantyhose, and a black hat. Home Improvement Wilson What you need to do : Get popsicle sticks to make the fence, beige floppy hat, and a brown plaid shirt. Jellyfish What you need to do : Get a clear umbrella. You can use all kinds of materials as the stingers, such as thin strips of bubble wrap, string, ribbons, or fabric Lady Gaga What you need to do : Get different shades of face paint and eye shadow, and watch this YouTube tutorial . Grumpy Cat What you need to do : Get white face paint, lots of brown eyeshadow, and a sponge for blending. Wear a white outfit, brown cat ears, and a brown tail. Comic book character What you need to do : Get bright color clothing and comic book makeup . Pippi Longstocking What you need to do : Get wire and ribbons for your hair. Don't forget to dot your face with freckles Men in Black What you need to do : Wear a black suit, put on shades, and you'll have your top secret Men in Black costume Trolls What you need to do : Gel up your hair, and spray it with temporary hair color. Wear a nude top, some colored shorts (or go all nude, if you prefer!), and you'll have a really cool-looking troll entourage. Firefox What you need to do : Get an orange outfit that includes furry orange ears, a tail, and fingerless gloves. You also need a globe, which you can make using an inflated ball and painting it. I choose you, Pikachu! What you need to do : Get a yellow outfit and felt and cardboard to make the ears and tail. Don't forget to paint your cheeks red! Vincent Van Gogh What you need to do : Make sure you do a good job painting your face so you resemble a painting. Complete the look by painting your outfit. Napoleon Dynamite Deb What you need to do : Get a pale pink- and white-striped polo shirt, side ponytail, pink fanny pack, and a plastic box with plastic jewelry. Lamb Chop & Shari What you need to do : Get a lamb puppet, big permed hair, and a colorful blouse Quailman What you need to do : Get a green sweatshirt, red cape, khaki shorts, white briefs, and a brown belt TSA Agent What you need to do : Construct a "gate" for people to walk through, and wear a light brown button-down shirt and dark brown pants. 520 Park

Betta Fish Perfect for Apartment Living

A Betta Fish Can Be the Perfect Apartment Pet! You might have seen or even felt sorry for the brightly colored and elaborately-finned fish kept in small cups individually at the pet store. These beautiful fish, called Bettas or Siamese Fighting Fish, are popular pets and intelligent animals that can thrive in an apartment setting and make great company. If you've ever thought about getting a pet, but don't want to commit to taking it for walks every day or cleaning a litter box, consider a Betta fish. They're smart, require very little maintenance, and are relatively inexpensive to care for! Caring for Your Betta Fish in Your Apartment Contrary to what many people think, Bettas require space and stimulation and can't survive for very long in that plastic cup they came in from the pet store - or even in a small goldfish bowl. It's important to remember that these fish aren't just for decoration - they're living creatures that need your daily care, even if that care is minimal. Here are some facts you may not have known about caring for these fascinating fish: For every inch long your fish is, he will require one gallon of water. Most Bettas require at least a 2 to 3 gallon tank to be happy. Bettas do require a tank with a filter, air pump and thermometer. Bettas prefer a water temperature of around 72-82ºF and need clean and flowing water. Provide stimulating items for your fish to explore and hide in. Plants, rocks, and decorations are all good ideas to include. Just make sure you're choosing non-toxic items specifically for fish tanks! Bettas can't survive on regular fish food. Make sure you're buying food specifically formulated for Betta fish! Clean your Betta's tank regularly and use clean, filtered water. Many pet stores sell water purifier specifically for Betta fish. Bettas do not necessarily have to be kept alone! Females can be kept together, and males can be kept with other species of fish. Just remember the one inch of fish per gallon rule! While we know Baltimoreans love their dogs, we here at 520 Park understand not everyone is a fan. Sometimes it's simpler and cleaner to adopt a fish instead. And don't worry, there won't be a pet rent associated with your Betta Fish!

Eating Clean at Restaurants

Everyone knows it, Baltimoreans love their food. And it's likely you eat out at least 7 meals a week. Come on, admit it! With so many amazing restaurants in this city, it's easy to say hell with your diet. But eating clean is important, and there are ways to keep the calorie count down while still enjoying all that Baltimore has to offer. Whether you're an experienced dietician or just trying to watch your figure, here are some tips anyone would find useful on how to eat clean at restaurants: Plan ahead, and know the ingredients,check the restaurant's website beforehand for their nutrition section, and shoot for a meal with as little processed ingredients as possible. Look for buzzwords. Organic, locally sourced, grass-fed, antibiotic- and hormone-free, sustainably raised are, yes, a bit trendy, but they can also serve as indicators that the restaurant is concerned and conscientious about its sources. When ordering a salad, pay attention to what they put in it and ask yourself, honestly, if it's healthy. Many chain restaurants make an effort with under 500 calories or "fit" dishes, but still load it with flavor-enhancers. Be mindful of all components and remember its ok to substitute or take away certain ingredients. Avoid creamy dressings, and always ask for it on the side. If you order a burger, check if they have wheat buns, and stick with veggie toppings instead of bacon, cheese or other fatty garnishes. While a deli turkey sandwich is always better than a greasy burger, you should still be aware that most thinly-slice deli meats contain a lot of sodium and preservatives. If the restaurant offers freshly carved turkey or chicken, order than instead. Try to choose lean meat like chicken or turkey over red meat like ham or beef. And when considering the sandwich, also be aware of the toppings and dressings/condiments. Remember, creamy=fatty. When eating Mexican, choose corn tortillas over flour tortillas. Flour tortillas (even the whole wheat varieties) are higher in calories, fat and sodium. Or nix the tortilla altogether and ask for a lettuce wrap. You'd be surprised how you don't miss the taste of a tortilla. Choose a dish that is mostly veggies, and opt for avocado or guacamole instead of sour cream. Ask if they make their own salsa. Fresh salsa won't have as many preservatives or sodium, but store-bought salsa is still better than sour cream. At Chinese restaurants, very little of their food is clean. Ask for simple steamed vegetables and brown rice (not fried). A little bit of soy sauce is okay, but one tiny packet holds 520mg of sodium, one quarter of your DAILY intake, so tread lightly. Remember that you're human, and you can't restrict yourself forever. For your mental health, order that huge plate of pasta, but only every once in a while . To keep the calories down, though, drink lots of water in between bites. It takes 15 minutes for your brain to recognize that you're full, so chewing slower will reduce the chance of over-eating/ingesting unnecessary calories. Drinking all that water will also help you fill up faster. This can be applied to any meal, clean or not. Side note: talking more means less food is going in your mouth; consider dining with a chatty Kathy! Dab your pizza with a napkin (or two) before eating. That grease you see on top is actually fat that melted away from the cheese when it was heated. Blotting your pie can save about 40 calories and 4 grams of fat per slice. Steak is not the worst thing in the world, but your sides can be. Choose steamed vegetables or a side salad instead of fries or loaded baked potato. If you still want to carb it up, choose a simple baked potato and use as little butter as possible. As always, stay away from soda. But if you must, ask for lots of ice, and order a water with it as well. The more ice in your cup, the less soda you'll consume (while still satisfying the craving). And when you run out of soda, you'll drink more water while waiting for the server to refill your soda. Lattes are amazing, but they are also jam-packed with sugars and sweeteners. Decide what you absolutely must have in order for it to taste right, and stick with those few ingredients. Telling them what to put in it gives you control over your calorie and sugar intake. We here at 520 Park utilize these tips regularly and encourage everyone to eat clean both at home and on-the-go, and exercise weekly, if not daily. Please remember to take your health seriously--be mindful of your food choices and practice fitness activities that you find fun!

Benefits of Honey Water

Water is good for you, we all know that. We hear no end that we should be drinking more and more water. After all, water is a vital component for our bodies, let's not forget that we're made up of 80% water! Which is actually a very strange thought when you overthink it. Water basically maintains all of our everyday bodily functions from transporting vital nutrients and oxygen to helping with our day-to-day digestion of food. So we've successfully established we NEED it. But fancy making your water even more helpful to your system? Just add honey. Yes, honey! I know what you're thinking. It's full of sugar. But it's so sweet? How can honey be healthy? Fear not friends, honey is actually pretty damn good for you. Drinking a glass of warm honey water everyday can increase your health and even prevent against disease. Yep you heard right, THIS is what will happen if you start drinking honey every day! Your Skin Will Become Clearer Yep! Honey is a natural anti-oxidant which means it helps to flush away any waste and thanks to antibacterial properties it helps to keep your skin clean and clearer than ever. This infographic gives a pretty good overview as to why and how you can get better skin by using honey, anyone up for a DIY honey exfoliator? You Will Boost Your Immune System Honey owns some pretty impressive immune system boosting properties. Be sure to buy raw, organic honey to gain maximum benefit from the bacteria killing assets! It's full of enzymes, vitamins and minerals that will protect you against any nasty bacteria. You Will Lose Weight So your first thought is probably BUT SUGAR. Yes there is sugar in honey but it's totally different to white sugar, its natural sugar! These natural sugars will help to satisfy your everyday sweet cravings for naughty treats such as cake, sweets, chocolate and cola. In fact if you swap your sweetener packed drinks for honey water you'll be saving up to 64% more calories ! Your Sore Throat Will Improve There's a reason warm honey water is a winter favorite, it can help to soothe a sore throat and warm you up in the colder months. Honey is a natural remedy for respiratory infections and the common cough, so next time you have a pesky winter cold, reach for the honey (raw and organic though of course). You Will Flush Out Toxins Honey and warm water is one of the best combinations to flushing out waste from your system. Say goodbye to toxins and hello to a detox. Oh and a quick tip - adding lemon will improve this even further by helping to increase urination. Just saying. Your Blood Sugar Levels Will Regulate As we've discussed, whilst honey does contain a fair amount of sugar, it's not the same as white sugar - the combination of fructose and glucose actually helps the body to regulate your blood sugar levels, it's also said to lower cholesterol too. Not bad. Your Gas Will Reduce I know, I said gas *eww*. But seriously, if you suffer from bloat or feel gassy on the regular then a mug of warm honey water will help to neutralize the gas in your system. You'll feel half a stone lighter in no time. You'll Be Preventing Risk Of Heart Disease And that's got to be pretty good right? The flavonoids and anti-oxidants in honey are also pretty handy at helping to prevent and reduce your risk of heart disease. Research has shown that honey slowed down the oxidation process of bad cholesterol in human blood - which can have a harmful effect on your heart leading to attacks and even a stroke. We'll even let you use the hot water tap at 520 Park lobby to give you a fresh start to the day!

3 Natural Odor Eliminators

Got a stinky gym bag? Living room need some refreshing? Already have some essential oils lying around? Perfect! Below are 3 recipes for all natural, green, odor busters that are sure to freshen up any fabric or air space. Even if you don't already have these ingredients in your cabinet, we highly recommend purchasing them, as they can be used for multiple purposes. Essential oils have also been found to benefit the mind and body; i.e. relieving headaches, helping you fall asleep, sinus relief, curbing appetite, etc.). But first: get that 520 apartment smelling FRESH! LEMON + CLOVE AIR FRESHENER SPRAY Perfect for any time a room needs a little freshening up. The lemon and clove is great warm scent for fall, but you can use your favorite essential oils too - get creative! 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup vodka (or rubbing alcohol) vodka is odorless and evaporates quicker 5 drops lemon essential oil 5 drops clove essential oil spray bottle Add ingredients to a spray bottle and shake to combine. Spray 2-3 sprays in any room that needs a little freshening. LEMON + PEPPERMINT GARBAGE CAN FRESHENING TABLETS This concoction works great in the bottom of garbage cans and diaper pails. Place one or two anywhere a little odor absorption is necessary. Toss when odors aren't being absorbed any longer. 1/2cup baking soda 1/3 cup Epsom salt About 1/4 cup water 10 drops of your favorite essential oils Ice cube trays Combine the ingredients and make a dry paste and spoon a tablespoon at a time in each compartment. Don't fill to the top because the mixture will expand a bit. Allow to dry out completely overnight and/or in the sun. Once the tablets have hardened, carefully turn the tray over onto a clean surface. Place 1-2 in a garbage can - it should last at least 2 weeks. Store tablets in an airtight container for 3 months CITRUS + TEA TREE FABRIC SANITIZER SPRAY If you need to sanitize/freshen a pillow or a pair of shoes, this spray will become a new favorite. 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol 2 drops citrus essential oil 4 drops tea trea (melaleuca) oil Add ingredients to a spray bottle and shake to combine. Spray on shoes and fabric to freshen - let dry completely before using. If you are concerned about water on fabric, test in an inconspicuous area first.

Steve Smith for Hall of Fame

If you're asking who's the toughest wide receiver pound for pound in NFL history, the slam-dunk winner is Steve Smith . If you're naming the top trash talker, few would rank higher than Smith. If you're asking whether he's a Hall of Fame wide receiver, that's up for a compelling debate. Smith, who announced Monday that he's retiring at the end of the 2015 season , is certainly in the conversation based on his impressive numbers and longevity. Others might argue that Smith is a notch below the likes of other great receivers of his time like Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and Marvin Harrison. There will be plenty of time to put Smith's career in perspective. He won't be eligible until the Class of 2021. But why should we wait? Let's make the case for Steve Smith's Hall of Fame candidacy right now: -Smith needs 638 yards in his final season to crack the NFL's top 10 in all-time receiving yards. Four of the six eligible players in the top 10 are in the Hall of Fame. The two snubs have been Harrison and Isaac Bruce, and it might be a matter of time before they get in. -Since his rookie season in 2001, Smith has the third-most receiving yards in the NFL (13,262), according to ESPN Stats & Information. -He has produced eight 1,000-yard receiving seasons. In comparison, here are the 1,000-yard seasons for the last three receivers to reach the Hall of Fame: Cris Carter (eight), Andre Reed (four) and Tim Brown (nine). It should be noted that eight different quarterbacks threw passes to Smith in those eight 1,000-yard seasons. -Smith and Brown are the only players in NFL history to eclipse 13,000 receiving yards and 4,000 return yards, according to the Ravens public relations department. They are also the only players to post 900 catches and score a rushing, receiving, punt return and kickoff return touchdowns. -Smith was the last receiver to win the receiver Triple Crown, leading the league in catches, yards and touchdowns in a single season. He accomplished this in 2005, when he caught 103 passes for 1,563 yards and 12 touchdowns. Only two other receivers have done this -- Sterling Sharpe in 1992 and Jerry Rice in 1990. Of course, Sharpe caught passes from Brett Favre and Rice had Joe Montana. Smith hauled in throws from Jake Delhomme. -Smith's team finished in the top half of the NFL in pass attempts in just one of his eight 1,000-yard seasons. In 2007, he made 87 receptions for 1,002 yards receiving while catching passes from a 44-year-old Vinny Testaverde and 23-year-old Matt Moore . In 2008, Smith finished third in the NFL with 1,421 yards receiving despite the Panthers throwing the fewest amount of passes in the league that season. Does this mean Smith has a good shot at making the Hall of Fame? It really depends on whether there is another logjam at wide receiver when Smith becomes eligible. Harrison has failed to make it the last two years, and Bruce didn't make the list of finalists in his first try. The receiver group gets more crowded over the next couple years, when Owens (2016), Hines Ward (2017) and Moss (2018) are eligible. If Smith reaches the Hall, it probably won't happen immediately. Smith's numbers are comparable to Brown, who waited six years before getting the necessary votes to get inducted. Still, it would be a mistake to count out Smith. Few believed a 5-foot-9, third-round pick would become one of the top receivers of his era.