Community Blog

Before I got married, I lived the apartment life on the fly, breezing in and out like I owned a revolving door. Pretty much everything was a cluttered, disastrous mess. Then … in steps the new hubby with his weird and mysterious cleaning ways, and I must admit, I was thrown for a loop!

When a couple  combines lives in a limited apartment space, it becomes essential to pull the loose ends together and make sense of it all. There simply isn’t enough room to have ‘his space’ and ‘her space’. It’s an all for one, one for all deal.  Therefore, organization is a must!

Without a doubt, the most changed space in our apartment has been the kitchen. When I was single, I rarely cooked. It’s just not fun to pull together an amazing meal for one. Something about complimenting myself on the effort of meal preparation and a job well-done would leave me feeling – ironically – empty. Maybe I didn’t exude the proper enthusiasm? Maybe I didn’t appear sincere? In any case, when I started cooking for the two of us, it was clear that things in our apartment kitchen would have to change.

By CHANGE, I mean – OVER HAUL. Gone were the days of shoving the pots and pans in the cabinet, slamming the door shut and crossing the fingers. Nothing good ever came of the avalanche that inevitably followed. And when it was my husband who was buried under the rubble, I’d find him clawing through the debris cursing the rogue pot lids and threatening a hostile kitchen takeover.

While it can be said that my husband is wonderful at keeping things clean , organized and orderly, it CANNOT be said the he is a wonderful COOK. He is, in fact, a LOUSY cook so I wanted to establish my dominion over the kitchen early in our relationship. A hostile takeover was NOT in that plan. In order to remain in control, I had to ORGANIZE MY APARTMENT KITCHEN! PRONTO!

I started at the top (literally) and worked my way down. The stuff I rarely used, I stored up high while keeping the gadgetry that I used most often stored down low where I could easily reach it. I donated the items I never used to GOODWILL just 10 minutes south of here. The rest was a matter of logistics and masterful coordination.

Since Storing a hand mixer has all the elements of a Stephen King horror novel, I needed a way to contain that particular beast. I bought a lovely little basket and threw the entire dang thing in it – detachable beaters and all.  Now, it’s a delightful compliant appliance that fills my every mixing desire. I keep it strategically stored in the cabinet above the dishes – out of the way, but easily reached – all set for my next Betty Crocker moment.

How about you? How do you keep your apartment kitchen organized?

CALLING ALL MUSTANG PARK POOCHES!

You and your human are invited to the 2010 Pooch Pool Party Saturday, Sept 11 1:00p to 4:00p at Rosemeade Rainforest Aquatic Complex!

There’s no better way to bid summer a fond farewell than with a big pool bash with your human! You and your canine buddies deserve a nice, cool end of summer SPLASH in the pool, right? At the Pooch Pool Party you can swim, frolic and play with other dogs and meet some new humans, too! There will be plenty of petting and scratching to go around, so tell all your friends to save the date!

For those of you who like to DRESS UP for a party, you’ll have a chance to show off your duds in the Dress Up Competition. There will also be a contest to see which pooch and human combo most resembles each other!

Bring 3 bucks for admission and a towel for your final summer fling at Rosemeade! For more information, call Carrollton Athletics at 972-466-9833.

Are you struggling to create the perfect resume’? Are your questions getting in the way of getting it done? Get the help you need in creating a resume that GETS NOTICED  at the Carrollton Public Library!

Writing a resume’ that gets noticed in the competitive market is tough. There are about a million layouts to choose from and everyone approaches cover letters differently. Which way is best for you? Should you use bullet points? Numbering? How long should it be? It feels like the questions are endless! But don’t lose heart …

Your questions shouldn’t stop you from creating a first rate resume’! If you’re unsure about interviewing, references, layouts or cover letters – you’ll find the answers September 11 from 1 – 3pm at the Library.  Let the experts at the Library help unravel the resume’ mystery in this FREE CLASS called Resume’ Writing That Gets Results.

All you need is a current Carrollton County Library Card and a thumb drive to save your work. There is no registration – it’s a first come/first served deal.

You’re just 5 minutes away from 4220 N. Josey Lane. Make plans to make your resume’ the best it can be and GET NOTICED … FOR FREE!

Celebrate the last few days of summer during DOLLAR DAYS at the Dallas Arboretum.

Through the rest of August, guests pay only $1 admission. One buck gets you in the door to enjoy the wonder of the gardens and not only that, guests will find great dollar deals at the Hoffman Family Gift Store where lots of cool stuff will be on sale for … you guessed it! ONE DOLLAR! Worried about the heat? Stop by The Lula Mae Slaughter Dining Terrace for crisp iced tea and sodas for just a dollar or enjoy a walk through the cooling misters of Palmer Fern Dell.

If you’d like, roll head over heals down the Martin Rutchik Concert Lawn behind the Camp House or do some Time Travel with the Texas Pioneer Adventure. Go on a search to discover the hidden animal sculptures of Lay Ornamental Garden and chill while you count the fish in the Koi Pond.

Take your camera and catch the summer beauty and color of the Dallas Arboretum while they last!

DOLLAR DAYS ends August 31st! Plan your trip today!

When it comes to car safety, being prepared for an emergency is the obvious way to keep things from deteriorating into an all-out disaster.

If circumstances have ever forced you to pull over to the side of the road, you know how important it can be to have the right tools in your trunk. Oftentimes, it’s not until we’ve actually experienced the emergency that we realize what kinds of things we need to have on hand.

The experts at Edmunds have compiled an extensive list of items for a comprehensive emergency kit. But you can pare down their version to meet your own needs. At the very least, you should have a spare tire and jack, a set of 12-foot jumper cables and a first aid kit that includes bandages, gauze, adhesive tape, antiseptic cream, instant ice and heat compresses, scissors and aspirin.

How about you? Are you prepared?

Not a morning person? Short of installing a zip line straight to the coffee pot, here’s some great tips for making your mornings a little less rocky. Remember: The KEY is found in how you handle the night before!

COFFEE: Set the timer on your coffee pot to start brewing so it’s ready when you are. I contend this one act alone is like giving your self a morning hug!

SHOWER: Set out your bath towel and wash cloth as well as slippers if you wear them.

CLOTHING: For Pete’s sake, lay everything out all the way down to your skivvies! Take the time to do any necessary wrinkle blasting at that time. No one wants to yank out the ironing board in the morning.

BREAKFAST: Set out the necessary this-n-that to make the transition from bed to bowl easier.  If a happy little cereal bowl, spoon and box of Lucky Charms are already sitting there waiting, all that’s left to do is pour the moo-juice. Badda-bing, you’re all set!

LUNCH: Pack your kids lunch before bedtime. This gives you the time to add a little love note or a rubber spider or whatever makes you happy. Why rush a thoughtful gesture, right?

How about you? What do you do to make mornings a little easier?

Hobby time is ME TIME and that is a healthy thing!

Our lives can get NUTS! The demands of a career alone are enough wear us out. The demands of a family alone are a full-time job. Then we go and combine the two and what do we have? CA-RAZY days and sometimes looong nights! And with cell phones, email and all the other ways we’re connected,  many of us don’t have enough down time!

In comes a delightful and relaxing HOBBY to save the day!

The benefits of having a hobby are many.  By its very nature, a hobby is all about YOU and what YOU enjoy. You get to set your pace and play by your rules with most hobbies giving you ample room to roam and explore your craft in your own way.  Hobbies provide relaxation and an opportunity to unwind, give back and grow, all of which improve health, lower blood pressure and provide an emotional outlet.

Psychologist Michael Brickey, Ph.D., author of Defy Aging says, “Hobbies can be thought of on three levels. The first is as a diversion. Hobbies help us pass the time. The second is as a passion. When a hobby becomes a passion, we become truly engaged in doing something we love. It not only helps us pass time, it makes us unaware that time is passing. The third level is as something that creates a sense of purpose. We all need that.”

To explore a hobby that involves all three levels would provide the best benefit. Poetry, ceramics, gardening and the like engage the senses, promote creativity and act as exercise for the brain.

I’m a rock collector. I’ve snagged stones from all over the country from rivers and lakes and mountain streams. I know NOTHING about geology and don’t really care to.  What I love  are the colors and texture of rocks and the joy they bring when they sparkle in my rock fountain.  I can stand in a river all day long hunting for rocks to add to my collection.  It is my peaceful center.

If you don’t have a hobby, stop to consider what kinds of activities you enjoy the most.  If you need some inspiration, visit Hobbytown at 2100 Dallas Parkway. Wander the aisles and see what grabs ya!

How about you? Do you have a hobby?

What to do this weekend? Maybe just stay in and relax? I know it can be hard getting out of the house at times on the weekend, but sometimes all you need is a little incentive. Like a Weekend Date Night held by one of the best restaurants in the city! That sounds splendid.

Ferré Ristorante e Bar is offering a Weekend Date Night every Friday and Saturday for you and yours. If you have kids, get a babysitter and get ready to enjoy a romantic night at the best Italian restaurant in Dallas. You each will get a three-course meal for only $30 per person. You get any appetizers, any entrees and one of their delectable desserts and they will throw in a bottle of champagne–on the house!

Maybe you’ll try the Bruschetta Ferré, the Linguine Pirate and finish up with the Crème Brulée or what about the Calamari Fritti with the Veal Piccata and the Tiramisu to finish things off? Whatever you have a taste for (as long as it’s Italian), they will have! And you’ll be satisfied. Trust me.

Like I said before, get the kids a babysitter and go enjoy your night out on the town! Because you’re worth it.

Photo courtesy of rutlo

It’s hard to believe that it’s August already and summer is starting to wind down, but I guess we have to face reality at some point, huh? But, it’s not over just yet and there are still plenty of events left in the season; including concerts! I don’t know why but I love going to concerts in the summer, probably because it’s so beautiful being able to be outside and enjoy beautiful music.

And Dallas is one of the best places to catch a good concert pretty much any time of the week! No matter what kind of music you like, you can find someone performing somewhere. And it’s sometimes good to just get out and do something with a few friends, like a concert.

So, now that I’ve written your ear of about concerts, let’s find a few upcoming Dallas concerts that you might be interested in.

• Melissa Etheridge – Wednesday, August 3rd; McFarlin Memorial Auditorium. Melissa’s latest album, The Awakening, was well received and even won her an Academy Award for her inspiring song for the film An Inconvenient Truth, “I Need To Wake Up.” Tickets are going for $35 to $100, so get cracking and get your tickets for tomorrow’s concert!
• Crowded House – Thursday, August 5th; House of Blues. Well known in the 80s with such hits as,  “Don’t Dream It’s Over” and “Something So Strong,” Crowded House disbanded in 1996 only to get back together a decade later. And they have enjoyed much touring success ever since and will be here on Thursday ready to rock you! Tickets are $27 to $45, your choice.
• B.o.B. – Friday, August 6th; House of Blues. Newcomer B.o.B. aka Bobby Ray has made a quick impression and huge splash in the music industry with hits such as “Nothin’ On You” and “Airplanes.”  He continues to impress even those that are difficult to impress with a diverse setlist and open mind. Tickets are only $7.11 for this concert!

Whatever your genre of music, you have a pretty good selection this week and these are only a few of the performers. There are definitely more, you just have to find them. Good luck Mustang Park!

I know it’s rainy and gloomy now, but just wait until Thursday when that sun is beaming on you again and you’re going to be needing something refreshing to cool off! That’s when this Cold Stone Creamery comes in to play. They currently have promotion where you can get 2 for $5. I know what you’re asking yourself, “Two what?” You get Two Like It Size Cups with one Mix-In for 5 bucks. That’s a good deal!

You can print out as many coupons as you like, but you can only use one per customer. So, that means…indulge! Well, until August 15th at least. And I know I just told you to indulge, but please do so in moderation. We don’t want any sugar comas! Enjoy.

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