Posts about Apartments in Baltimore

Moving Tips

Did you know summer is the most active season for moving? Tis the season indeed, and here at 520 Park Avenue we've already noticed the influx of interested renters! So many find moving to be stressful, while we're over here excited to welcome new residents to our community. But whether you're a first time renter or a renting veteran, you should utilize the tips below to help make your move less stressful: Use Your Friends If you have friends or family that live close by, ask for their help. This will help save on movers since most relatives and friends won't mind being compensated with drinks and food. They're people that you can trust with your valuables, which will help you stress a little bit less. Hire Movers If you don't have friends or family close by, hiring movers can also be beneficial. Although this will require monetary compensation, most movers come insured, meaning if something happens to your items, you will be paid for the damage or loss. Be sure to read the fine print on a moving contract to understand their hours, pay and, most importantly, if they offer everything that you will need. Get Organized From grouping items together in boxes to having a labeling system, being organized during a move can cut stress down more than you think. At least group everything that you'll need within the first day or two of moving into the same box so it is all easily accessible and you won't have to dig for individual items in multiple boxes Pack Smart Packing up, unpacking and everything in between can be the main source of stress for many people. If you're packing breakables, make sure that they are packed with packing paper or bubble wrap to ensure nothing gets broken. You could also consider packing your fragile items with clothing so it takes care of two things at once. Another helpful tip is to pack small amounts over the course of a week or two, instead of trying to pack up your entire life the night before a move. Although moving can be a daunting task, taking your time and making sure you're organized in every way possible can make it better. Moving should be an exciting time, not one to worry about. What are some other tips you have that have helped make your move easier? Share your ideas so others can take advantage!

How Rude

We all encounter them--a line jumper at Starbucks, a snippy colleague, an opinionated in-law! Half the time, rude people don't even realize they're being rude, because, perhaps, that's the way they've always behaved. So instead of getting heated over a silly comment from a person you consider rude, take a deep breath and cool your head before responding. And keep these helpful tips in mind: Remember, sometimes the rude person is you . Maybe not today, but there've been times when you were rude. And you're not a bad person. So next time somebody's rude to you, remember that they're human just like you, and rudeness alone doesn't mean they're a bad person either. Don't take it personally (even if it's personal). When someone's rude, especially if they're making personal comments about you, it's easy to get upset. But you have a choice about how you react. Take the power out of their rudeness by choosing to treat it as their problem, not your problem. Find out why. People have their own reasons for being rude. Perhaps they've had a bad day, or they're in a hurry and think there isn't time for manners. Perhaps they don't even realize how rude they've been. You won't know until you ask! Stay calm and simply say, I think that's pretty rude. Why are you treating me like this? The answer may surprise you. Be objective and analyze the rudeness. So somebody was rude to you. What did they do or say? Was there any sense in it? If you view the situation objectively, you'll realize that most rudeness is senseless, so you can cheerfully ignore it. On the rare occasions when there's logic behind the rude behavior, staying objective lets you address the root of the problem instead of the rudeness concealing it. Don't join the drama club. Do you feel like yelling at the rude people around you? Don't. Joining in the drama will only escalate the situation. Whether you're dealing with a drama queen who's doing it on purpose, or an inconsiderate oaf whose rudeness is unintentional, keep your dignity intact by not letting rude behavior provoke you into a tantrum of your own. Let it drop and walk away. Rudeness is hurtful, but removing yourself from the situation is the fastest and surest way to avoid more rude behavior from the same person. Walk away, even if they're still talking to you! If they're a stranger, you'll never have to deal with them again. If they're a friend or colleague, they'll soon learn that being rude to you gets them exactly nowhere (and maybe that will prompt them to be nicer next time). Consider offering help. Some rudeness is a simple case of bad manners. But often, a person who's rude to you does so because they feel frustrated about something, and if it's within your power to resolve their frustration, you may see them switch from rudeness to gratitude in seconds. A word of warning, though: only offer help if you can provide it immediately, as an offer of help "later on" can add to their feelings of frustration. Understand rudeness as a habit. Some people are rude simply because they're always rude. Once rudeness becomes a habit, it can be difficult to shake off even if they truly want to behave better. Habitual rudeness should never be taken personally; it's just a pattern that's hard to break. Which brings us to the next point. Don't try to force a change. You can't make someone be polite if they want to be rude. In fact, trying to force a change in their behavior will often make them behave worse instead of better. Sometimes your best option is to accept that their rudeness is not your fault and let them find their own solutions. Fight rudeness with kindness. Don't let rudeness make you respond with more of the same. The best way to defuse rude behavior is to stay friendly and helpful, giving the other person a chance to calm down and adjust their behavior to match yours. 520 Park Avenue

Working From Home

For those of you who work from home, you've likely settled into your routine and rarely take your work elsewhere. But what happens when your roommate suddenly takes up guitar lessons? Or your dog won't shut up about the poodle he spots in the parking lot? You need a retreat, and now. But what other wifi-enabled building also houses the gadgets and supplies necessary to get your job done? If you've never taken advantage of 520 Park Avenue 's community Business Center, now's the time! By working from the comfort of our Business Center, you'll obviously see an immediate difference in your bank account, and you're saving yourself from the suit and polished shoes every day. And have you noticed you're even saving on food? But if you visit our Business Center, you'll get free coffee to boot! In the Business Center, you have the quiet and privacy you need to get your work done, but company is there when and if you need it! Between the office staff and other residents coming and going, you'll get the human interaction everyone needs without the bother of colleagues a few feet away from you constantly. I bet you don't know anyone who enjoys meetings. (No amount of free coffee and donuts can make up for having to sit in a stuffy conference room next to the pen-clicking guy from sales!) When you work remotely, you'll not only be able to choose your breakfast and your seat, but you can also be much more effective. With just a few clicks, you can have 10 people on a video call that'll probably last just 15 minutes instead of 45. And you can use the chat function in the video call to quickly share docs (forget making copies or having everyone search their emails) or to add important comments without interrupting anyone. Good thing we have such fast internet and WiFi, huh? You'll also learn to avoid being distracted by your TV at home or your next load of laundry. And, in fact, you should find yourself getting more done when you work outside the home, but not necessarily in the office. That's because you can control your working situation much more, you don't have to worry about co-workers stopping by to "just ask a quick question" (and 20 minutes later...), obligatory socializing when you grab more coffee, or offending someone by shutting the door to your office. When you're remote and need to really concentrate, you can just change your status in the group chat to "do not disturb" and buckle down. Even if you don't want to work in our Business Center every day, it's here for you when you're ready for a change of scenery! And it comes with free coffee (and sometimes some leftover treats!), company when you want it, and every office supply you would need to get your work done.

Easy Workouts in the Fitness Center

You pass by it every day - that door in the building marked "Fitness Center." Isn't it about time you used it? Many ignore their community's fitness center, opting either for larger, full-service gyms or forgoing exercise altogether. But what 520 Park Avenue 's fitness center lacks in equipment, it makes up for in convenience - it's open 24/7, just steps from your door! And through the useful tips below on how to take advantage of the fitness center, you'll be breaking a sweat in no time. One benefit an on-site gym offers is that residents rarely overlap with other tenants, meaning you can run your own interval-training workout (like the ones listed below) using multiple pieces of equipment at a time. Each workout can be scaled for either the fitness fanatic or the absolute beginner. Let's Start With The Basics It is suggested that a regimen of bodyweight movements done in a small space can be made more difficult by simply adding weight. Things like squats , pushups and lunges can be easily learned, then you drill on the mechanics and get it right before going more intense. Making sure you're doing each exercise right is key, especially in a space where you'll typically be working out alone. You can't throw weights in your hands if you don't know the proper way to squat. Focus On Your Core Your core is like your car's transmission; it's where much of your power comes from when you exercise. Concentration on exercises from your core to your extremities, avoiding machines that take away any core stabilization - and avoiding targeted movements like bicep curls. Instead, focus on the way you feel opposed to the way you think you'll look. Keep Track Of Everything Another perk of having the fitness center to yourself is there's no one to compete with, it's just you against yourself. One of the best ways to keep yourself motivated is by measuring your own fitness level. If you keep track of everything you do and then revisit it, you can see yourself building results. By setting a tangible goal and keeping on top of yourself, you're going to perform and feel better. Here are a few self-propelled workouts to test in Overlook's fitness center. Give them a try, you might surprise yourself. In 10 minutes, complete as many rounds as possible of: Beginner: 5 sit-ups, 10 push-ups, 15 walking lunges Advanced: 5 v-ups , 10 man-makers with dumbbells, 15 walking lunges with dumbbells Complete three rounds, as fast as possible of: Beginner: 10 squat jumps, 100m sprint on the treadmill Advanced: 10 goblet squats , 100m sprint Four 400m runs on treadmill with a two-minute rest in between run. Complete all movements as quickly as possible: Beginner: 100 squats for time, pausing at the start of every minute to complete four burpees Amateur: 100 dumbbell front squats, pausing at the start of every minute to complete four burpees.

Apartment Hunting Checklist

Apartment hunting can be a fun and exciting experience, especially if it's your first one. But there's so much to look for and so many questions to ask when touring different communities that it can be difficult to keep track of it all. Lucky for you, we've put together a checklist of what to do before and during your tour at each place. Bring a notepad with you, or enter all of the information into your phone or tablet--you'll be glad you did. And you're already off to a good start if you're reading this; it means you've looked into one of the best apartment communities in Baltimore! Bring a camera and flashlight or use them on your smart phone. Take photos to remind yourself about the place and to document any issues. And if you end up signing a lease, your photos will document the rental's conditions before you moved in. If possible, visit the building and spend time in the neighborhood both day and night. It might be much noisier at night than during the workday, and you'll want to be sure you feel safe and comfortable with the area. Ask if the building is submetered, meaning the individual tenants receive bills from each utility (electricity, natural gas, water). If so, ask to see recent bills to get an estimate of costs. Read reviews of the buildings online. Look for reviewers who provide pros and cons, not just a rant. Walk through the actual unit you'll be renting, not just a model, especially if the building is not brand new. You'll want to make sure there are no lingering scents of pets or smoke. Last, but certainly not least, ask to see the lease. Then don't just look it, read it - even the fine print. If there's something you don't like or understand, talk about it with the leasing specialist or property manager. 520 Park Avenue

Cooking Hacks to Save You Money

Living in such a fast-paced, exciting urban area, it's easy to get carried away with experiencing everything it has to offer, especially the restaurants. But dining out every meal can burn a large hole in your pocket, fast, and can put you in a compromising position with your health & weight. Some argue cooking at home is inconvenient, time-consuming and soaks up what little space you have in your city side apartment. Luckily there are ways to hack the system and cenare all-interno (dine inside) on little money, with no fancy gadgets necessary, and save yourself some calories to boot. Here are some genius at-home cooking tips from the experts at Food & Wine . Breakfast: Poaching the perfect egg is easier than it looks. The secret is starting with a simple household ingredient: distilled white vinegar. First, soak your eggs in the vinegar for about five minutes. Crack our egg into a small dish or bowl, making sure not to break the yolk. With a pan of simmering water on the stove, slide your egg from the dish into the water. You'll notice it immediately begin to cook; use a spoon to move it around the water to cook evenly. After about four minutes, remove it from the water with your spoon and your egg is perfectly poached and ready to eat. Fresh, homemade pancakes are delicious and fun to make, but they often leave a big mess in your kitchen that you won't enjoy cleaning up later. Make it mess free by throwing your ingredients in a zip-lock bag and mix your batter either with a whisk or kneading it by hand. Gather the batter into one corner so it resembles a cake-icing bag and cut the tip. This provides you with the ability to make perfectly round pancakes, just the size you want, or even create other shapes like hearts, diamonds, or whatever you come up with! Lunch: Deviled eggs are a summertime staple and a beloved treat among folks of all ages. But the only thing worse than having bits of shell stuck to your hard-boiled egg, is mangling the egg whites while trying to make your precious picnic favorite. Using a simple household teaspoon will help you effortlessly peel your hard-boiled egg and make your life simpler. Take the cooked egg and hit the bottom of it (the widest part) on your counter or hard surface. Gently peel away only a small portion of the shell. Take the teaspoon and slide it under the thin layer of skin that sits between shell and egg. Carefully move the spoon around the egg to remove the skin and shell. Voila! The hardest part about eating kiwi is cutting off the tough skin and wasting most of your fruit in the process. Similar to the hard-boiled egg, cut off the stem-end of the kiwi, only about 1/8 of an inch. Then take your teaspoon and slide it under the skin, moving it around the whole thing until it lifts away. You can gauge your progress by using your thumb and feeling for the spoon underneath the skin, careful not to press it into the fruit. Pinch the kiwi out of its skin and there you have it, effortless fresh fruit. Sandwiches always taste better on a fresh baguette from the local bakery. But if you've had your loaf long enough that it begins to sag and the ends are hard, it's no longer fresh and appetizing. Or is it? Next time your baguette has gone stale, run some water over the loaf to lightly coat it. Throw it in the oven at 450 degrees for 5-7 minutes. When it comes out, the exterior should crackle and crunch when you press it, and the inside should be soft and fluffy. Dinner: Oyster Bars do all the work for you, and for good reason--it's hard to shuck an oyster shell. However, you can save money by eating the delicate meat at home, and with this tip you won't kill yourself trying to pry it open. If a stubborn one is giving you trouble, pop it in the microwave for about twenty seconds. The heat will help expand the oyster shell and make it easier for you to crack it open. Then, using a knife, insert it at the hinge, where the top and bottom shell meet. Once the knife is partially in, use a turning motion of the wrist to open it the rest of the way, almost as if you were turning a door knob. But you'll want to make sure your wrist does not bend, and that your whole arm is creating this motion. If that still doesn't work, though, throw in the towel and head over to Ryleigh's before you hurt yourself. Dinner parties aren't complete without decadent gourmet cheeses as an appetizer. But cutting these soft cheeses smoothly and cleanly is sometimes difficult and can mangle your expensive Brie. Using simple unflavored dental floss will solve that issue. Just as you would floss your teeth, wrap the ends around your fingers so the string is taut, and slide it down the roll of cheese until it breaks through the other side, a clean cut. For triangular cuts, place the floss at the ends of the triangle, long-ways. Criss-cross the two ends as the string moves along the cheese smoothly. And there you have it, clean cut cheese for your party platter. Poaching salmon is one of the healthiest ways to prepare this delicious fish. An easy and mess-free way to poach salmon is by placing the filets in a zip-lock bag (add seasonings and lemons, if desired) and lowering them into a boiling pan of water. After a few minutes, remove the bag from the water with tongs, and pinch the ends of the salmon while still in the bag. If it begins to flake away, the filet is cooked and is ready to serve medium rare. For medium or medium well, place the bag back in the water for a few more minutes. Now that you have a few cooking hacks under your belt, you can skip the pricey plated dinner and host your own gourmet meal right in your 520 Park Avenue apartment home.