St. Patty's in Atlanta

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Can you believe that we are already two full months into the year? It seems like only yesterday we were sending 2015 off with a bang to welcome in the new year. 2016 has treated us well so far. The luck seems to be continuing this month as it’s almost St. Patrick’s Day! There are some exciting events happening this weekend and next week surrounding the green holiday. Even if you’re not Irish, you can still celebrate because you know what they say: everyone is Irish on St. Patty’s.

Tomorrow a 10 hour celebration is kicking off on Buckhead Avenue. The whole street is getting shut down by the massive party for St. Patrick’s Day. You get 10 full hours of bands, DJ’s and entertainment. After 2 PM everyone must be 21 and over. It is a drinking holiday after all. To remember the celebration, make sure you purchase your very own t-shirt. Using the promo code TEAMDRINKINGSHIRTS, you’ll receive $5 off your purchase. Spend the day, sipping drinks with your friends and listening to an awesome lineup of bands. Turnstile, The Josh Brannon Band, Justin and U2 tribute band Desire will be there to entertain you. Buckhead Avenue is only a 20 minute drive away from Clairmont Reserve Apartments so you don’t have far to go for the party.

The same morning, you can see the St. Patrick’s Day annual parade in Midtown Atlanta. Starting at noon and ending at 1:30, you can cheer on the 5K runners as well as enjoy the parade participants. Just before the parade, face painters will be around to decorate you beautifully. Celebrate your (adopted) Irish pride for one day of the year with a parade. What could be better than that?

If you’re an early riser you can participate in the Kegs and Eggs St. Patrick’s Day edition. From 10 AM until 2 PM, enjoy tasty breakfast foods complemented by tasty beers. There are multiple bars participating so you’ll have tons of options to choose from.

It doesn’t matter if you’re full-Irish, half Irish or not Irish at all. Everyone is Irish on this green holiday so we should celebrate accordingly. The culture and traditions of the holiday should be celebrated. How do you plan on getting your green on?

Valentine's Day for College Kids

Valentine’s Day is here! The day to show your boyfriend or girlfriend a little extra love. No pressure or anything! It can feel pretty stressful to plan something romantic and extravagant and have it go off smoothly. We’ve rounded up some of the best events in our area to give you a few ideas for your fabulous Valentine’s Day weekend. Let us take the pressure off!

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The Atlanta Botanical Gardens are having a garden party on February 13th in honor of Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s in the Garden is a fabulous night of music, dancing, cocktails, desserts and gorgeous flowers. Spend the evening taking turns gazing at the flowers and your date. Stroll through the conservatories, hand in hand with your date while sipping drinks from the cash bar and munching on tasty treats from the best caterers around. Guests will receive a long stemmed rose upon entry as well! Get your tickets early for this evening of dancing amongst the flowers. Find out more information about the Botanical Gardens and their schedule here.

Dad’s Garage Theatre Company is putting on a special Valentine’s Day improv show that will have you clutching your stomach in stitches. They say nothing bonds people together quite like laughter so bring your date and get to giggling. Whether it’s your first, third or 100th date, you’re both sure to enjoy the comedy stylings of the improv group. Dad’s Garage Theatre is located only 15 minutes away from Clairmont Reserve Apartments.

For the fit couple, have you ever dreamed of running through Atlanta with your loved one in February in your underwear? Yes? Then you’ll love the Cupid’s Undie Run taking place on February 13th this year. Strip down to your skivvies with your date and take to the streets to raise money for charity. The race is only 1 mile so you don’t have to be experienced runners in order to complete the run; it’s just for fun! The party kicks off at noon so make sure you’re there early to make the most of it. Last year the run raised $3.5 million for the fight against NF so this year we have to make sure to do even better! Find out how you can register for the run here.

Don’t let the idea of Valentine’s Day stress you out. We’ve got you covered this year!

What's Going On: February Events

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The first month of 2016 is finally coming to a close. How did it measure up for you? Did it exceed expectations or did it fall flat? No matter how January leaves you, we’re positive that February will knock you off your feet. With so many exciting events going on and Valentine’s Day just around the corner, you’ll have no excuse to be bored!

February 6th
Using the brand new Atlanta Streetcar, Mardi Gras party goers are in for a treat. You’ll get an all access pass to the streetcar and you’ll be parading around Atlanta all day! Along with your ticket to the streetcar, you’ll receive Mardi Gras beads, and 5 complimentary shots or drinks at participating locations. Costumes are most definitely encouraged for this parade! The parade will take place in Downtown Atlanta so you won’t have far to travel to get to the festivities from Clairmont Reserve Apartments.

February 5th-7th
From February 5th through the 7th you can taste the best wine Athens, Georgia has to offer. This function will benefit the Classic Center Cultural Foundation which supports culinary and performing arts scholarships in high schools and colleges. Multiple events will be going on throughout the weekend so make sure you don’t miss these. Experience food and wine tastings as well as a silent auction. Don’t forget brunch on Sunday too! Find out more information on the events occurring as well as ticketing information here.

February 13th
Love is in the air at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens on February 13th. From 7 until 11 PM you can enjoy delicious cocktails, desserts, beautiful flowers all while dancing the night away. Stroll with your loved one through the gardens while sipping on your cocktails. For those married couples looking to do it all over again, you can meet for a romantic vow renewal ceremony in the gorgeous Rose Gardens. Spend your Valentine’s Day with your loved one in the most beautiful location around, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. The Gardens are located only 15 minutes away from Clairmont Reserve.

There are so many exciting events happening at the beginning of February that you’ll never have a dull moment. Just don’t forget about your school work!


What event are you most looking forward to in February? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.

Tackling Finals Without Stressing Out

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Finals are finally upon us unfortunately. Whether you’re a freshman or a super senior, finals are probably the most stressful time of the semester. Don’t freak out! There are some simple ways to calm yourself down and plan out your studying in a manageable way. If you’re tearing your hair out and biting your nails down to the beds you’ll need some of these tips.

Start out with a plan. Write out each of the classes that you need to study for. Give them a ranking based on the difficulty of each class. Use stars like Netflix: the more stars the better the movie/the harder the course. You know those movies on Netflix with 1 ½ stars? You might watch them but not right now? You’ll study for those classes but just not right this second.

Once you’ve gotten your courses written down, split them up by what you know you need to study. If it’s a comprehensive exam (*GASP*) then break it up by the chapters or the units you covered in the class. If you have a study guide, even better! Use that to break up what you learned into sections.

Breaking things up into smaller sections makes it seem a little more doable. So take each of those units and give them a designated day that you’ll dedicate to studying the crap out of them!

Find your quiet place. When it comes time to study, you might want to avoid the library. Everyone will be at the library and your chances of running into someone you know is elevated. And you know you’re going to run into that one guy in your class who’s totally ready for finals and wants to chat you up for 30 minutes while you’re clearly trying to study.

Instead, try to go somewhere off the beaten path. Panera Bread and Starbucks are good options but they might be a little too close to campus. They could end up being just as crowded as the library. Try My Chocolate Coffee. They’re a little away from campus so you might be able to find more peace and quiet there.

Take it easy. If finals are getting the best of you don’t hesitate to take a step back and take some time to yourself. A hot cup of soothing tea is never a bad idea for calming nerves. If tea isn’t for you try exercise. Getting your frustrations out with a little sweat isn’t just good for your mind, it’s good for your body obviously! Emory University has a wide range of fitness classes to fit your schedule. Want something heavy? Try Cardio Kickboxing or Cycling. Need something to mellow you out and ease your mind? Try Pilates or any of the numerous yoga classes offered. There’s something to fit everyone’s needs and schedules.

Don’t let finals stress you out too badly! Sure they’re important, but so is your mental health. If you plan your studying out and keep yourself relaxed, you’ll be able to handle your finals with no problems!

What are your best studying tips? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!

Friendsgiving

Not every college student has the opportunity to go home to their families for the Thanksgiving holiday. Some live too far away and don’t have enough time and money to make it back home. Others just choose to stay in their college town. Maybe they have a job and want to make the big bucks working Black Friday. We can’t blame you! Instead of struggling to get home with your family, why not gather a group of friends together for a Friendsgiving dinner? Much more laid back than a family Thanksgiving and with fewer people asking what you want to do with your life and when you’re going to get married. Enjoy a much less stressful evening with your friends!

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If you’re going to have it at your apartment, plan ahead. Nothing is worse than scrambling last minute to the grocery store to find something that you need for the dinner. Make a list the week before and go to the grocery store to get everything you need early. If you get everything down on paper, it not only makes it easier to make sure you get everything but it makes your trip less frantic.

To alleviate a little of the pressure off of the host, have a potluck. Everyone cooks their own dish and brings it together for a big feast. Make it even more interesting by having everyone creating their favorite dish rather than a traditional Thanksgiving dish. You get to enjoy favorites from all of your closest friends while spending time together.

You don’t have to cram 20 friends in your apartment. It can be much easier to get a group together and go out to dinner instead. It takes the pressure off of the host and those cooking the meal. Put the burden on someone else! Mediterranean Grill on N Decatur Road is an awesome and interesting restaurant for a different spin on a Thanksgiving meal. They aren’t offering specific Thanksgiving fare for the holiday but their regular menu is already spectacular. Try the gyro plate (pronounced ‘yee-ro’) or a shish kabob plate for a great alternative to your typical Thanksgiving dinners. Friendsgiving calls for new traditions!

After dinner, bring everyone back to the clubhouse. Watch a flick borrowed from our DVD library and throw it up on the plasma screen. It’s a great way to unwind before the stress of the holidays kicks in.

Going home to spend Thanksgiving with your family is great but it’s more fun to enjoy a dinner with all of your friends that you made with your own hands (or ordered from a restaurant). Do you and your friends have a Friendsgiving tradition?

7 Tips for Picking a Roommate

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Freshman year is like a roulette wheel: you never know what kind of roommate you’ll end up with! Once you’re able to get your own apartment later in your college career, you probably won’t be able to afford an apartment on your own, but you do get the freedom to choose your own roommate. Living situations are very important so you need to make sure you make a good choice. Luckily, Life Edited gives us some great tips for choosing a roommate. Check out these 7 tips and then go to Life Edited to get the full list.



1. Think ahead. If there’s one factor that leads to more horrible living situations than any other, it’s haste. You find yourself needing a place to live yesterday, and suddenly you are rationalizing living with the guy who can’t stop talking about his pet boa constrictor. And while many good people find themselves on their ass needing a place to live ASAP, as a rule, people who plan ahead, seeking out their roommates a month or two in advance, are also the kind of people who pay their bills on time and are considerate to the people they live with.

2. Get habituated. Find out how your prospective roommate(s) live. Do they watch a lot of TV? Stay home all the time? Never home? Like hanging out? Like being alone? Work all of the time? Like loud music? Hates loud music? Vegan? Partiers? And so on. Get as much information as possible before you move in together. No one will be a perfect match, but honestly ask yourself if, on balance, these habits are things you can live with.

3. Pay attention to the details. Looking for a potential roommate is like dating–only more intimate. Don’t dismiss the red flags. Look and listen for tip-offs for how the other party lives. If you’re at their place, are there dirty dishes in the sink? Excessive beer cans in the trash? More than one game counsel attached to the TV? Did the prospective roommate bring up his/her jealous ex more than three times during your interview? Maybe these things are coincidences, but probably not. If you notice more than a couple red flags, chances are these things will get worse with time and exposure.

4. Come clean. Few things can be as contentious as cleaning habits, as everyone has a different idea of what constitutes clean. Do you expect your house to be spotless and tidy all of the time? Are you okay with a little clutter? Are you a slob? There is no right way of living, but it’s important people’s habits are similar. If you’re trying to assess how clean someone is in an interview, ask about his/her cleaning habits. If she says “it’s not a big deal,” she is probably pretty messy. If he suggests a regular cleaning schedule or splitting the cost of a housecleaner (a very good idea), he is probably a neatnik. People can have different politics and tastes and live felicitously together, but if you have mismatched cleaning habits, forget about it.

5. Money talks. Besides dirty dishes, money matters can strain an otherwise happy roommate situation. Get with your prospective roommate about every bill, the portion expected to pay and estimated monthly amounts. Get reasonable assurance that all parties have the ability to pay for said bills (employed roommates tend to be preferred). This is a good time to bring up food costs. Some roommates are okay with sharing food and food costs, but many are not. Get clear how you want to handle that.

6. Friends are good…sometimes. Just because your good friend needs someone to live with, it doesn’t mean it should be you. Many friendships have been destroyed after living together. Treat your friend as you would anyone else–honestly evaluating whether he/she would be compatible with your lifestyle.

7. Do a background check. This might seem a bit cold, but the fact is unless you’ve known someone for a while, their history can be quite iffy. Running a credit report or criminal background check can help ensure you’re not moving in with an unsavory character. If someone objects, particularly to a credit check, you might ask yourself why.

8 Ways to Eat Healthier in College

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Eating healthy in college can get overwhelming. Everywhere you look is pizza and other unhealthy foods calling your name in the dining hall. Though you want to overcome the temptations of unhealthy food, you’re not quite sure how to go about it. Buzzfeed gives us these 8 ways to eat healthier in college. For more tips, visit Buzzfeed.



1. Eating healthfully does not have to mean dieting.


“My biggest advice is to not start dieting when you get to college,” Ryan Andrews, R.D., Coach at Precision Nutrition in Toronto, Canada, told BuzzFeed Life. At least, not on your own. That’s because without the proper supervision of a nutritionist you may end up adopting unhealthy eating habits, body image issues, or other health problems.

However, if you are interested in losing weight, gaining weight, or changing your body composition, make sure to check in with a doctor and nutritionist first so that they can help you set realistic goals and offer support and guidance along the way.

2. Focus on adding whole nutritious foods instead of restricting the “bad” ones.

Instead of thinking about what you shouldn’t eat, think about what you should eat. “It’s best to take a whole food approach and focus on adding fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins, and good fats,” says Andrews. “You should still eat as little processed foods as possible, but with a whole food approach you don’t have to worry as much about calories and extra bad stuff because you’re hitting all the nutritious food groups and getting the vitamins and minerals you need.”

3. And choose healthy foods that you actually love to eat. (They exist.)
“You should enjoy your food and go into it thinking ‘what do I like and how can I build healthy meals from that?’ and it’s so much easier,” says Andrews.

Plus, certain foods affect people differently, Andrews says, so it’s also important to pay attention to how different foods affect your body and energy levels. Just because a food seems healthy, that doesn’t mean it’s right for you and your digestive system. “Before you worry about cutting fat and sugar, learn the basics of which nutritious foods make your taste buds and body happy.”

4. Don’t let your class schedule dictate your meals.

Ideally you would be hungry when you get up, break for lunch, and sit down to dinner — but sometimes your six-hour clump of classes isn’t conducive to that. So try to plan your meals around your schedule to the best of your ability and stick to it, Rachel Paul, M.S., R.D., founder of The College Nutritionist, told BuzzFeed Life. Then don’t forget to pay attention to body cues and eat when you’re hungry — even if that means packing a lunch and some snacks for your five-minute breaks.

5. Stock your dorm with all of the snacks that aren’t junk food.

“The two years I lived in dorms I would stock up on apples, baby carrots, cans of vegetable soup, oatmeal packets, things like that and just keep them by my desk.” — Emily Anne Hart, Facebook

6. Always keep an emergency granola bar in your backpack for when you’re hangry.

“Hanger is the ultimate downfall of healthy eating. When I wait to eat until I’m starving, I end up grabbing any quick foods I can, including candy, chips, or other junk foods! Always have an emergency snack in your purse or backpack, such as a Lara Bar, so you never get to that ‘hangry’ point! — Ellie Jane Holcomb, Facebook

Some granola bars are better than others, so Paul recommends bars with whole ingredients, about 10 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, and no added sugar.

7. Sneak protein into every meal or snack to stay fuller longer.

8. Beans and rice are a perfectly acceptable, cheap, and nutritious meal.
“Beans and whole grains are often forgotten but they’re super important because they’re full of fiber, protein, and they’re satisfying,” Andrews says. “You can do Mexican beans and rice, lentil soups, chickpeas from the salad bar — even tofu and tempeh because they’re soybean-based.”