Photo By: Luke Sugars

Let’s Get Planning

So, how can you plan a surprise party that really dazzles (even if the guest of honor does find out in advance)? Try following these tips for planning and coordinating a party:

Set the date – There are two schools of thought on this front. Some people find the more time they have for party planning the better. Others discover that spur of the moment surprise parties are more likely to remain surprises. Whatever your preference, having a date in mind is necessary for pulling everything else together.

Pick the place – The next thing you’ll need to do is think over the party places that might work for the big surprise. Tampa apartments can work perfectly, so too can apartment clubhouses. You might also want to look into clubs or other venues for adult parties or kids’ party locations for a younger guest of honor.

Send out the invitations – Make sure to get these out in a timely manner and do ask for RSVPs to go to a private cell phone or e-mail, as the guest of honor might find out if they come into a home phone or regular mailbox. Make sure the surprise party invitations are very, very clear about the nature of the event. If you don’t say it’s a surprise, your guests can’t be held responsible for spilling the beans.

Order the food and drink – Once the RSVPs come in, you can start pondering food and drink for the party. Whether you make it or order it, be certain there is enough for everyone. If alcoholic drinks are on tap, be sure to also offer soft drinks for those designated drivers out there.

Set the diversion – You’re going to need a way to get the guest of honor to the party without providing a tip off in the process. Ideas here include telling the guest you’re “trying out a new restaurant,” sending the guest to a movie and having him or her come home to the surprise and so on. Be creative here to really make the event memorable. Do be certain to give guests enough time to assemble and hide their vehicles and themselves.

Photo By: Angie Torres

Party planning for a surprise event is not necessarily easy, but it can be a whole lot of fun. If you take the right steps and try to keep “mum” as the word, chances are you will be able to pull off an incredibly memorable time for the guest of honor and the guests, too.

• Great surprise party tips
• A detailed surprise party How-To
• Surprise party ideas: Decorations, hints, music, invitations, etc.

Family, friends, full tummies. Yes, the holiday season is fast upon us. But don’t run and hide from that high caloric intake or those out of state relatives you haven’t seen for a year. No…throw a holiday party! Better yet, throw a holiday movie marathon!

But, before you butter the popcorn and pop in a DVD, you’ll need to answer the following questions:

Who’s coming? Family, friends, family and friends? Will there be kids? How old is everyone? Any smokers? Who you choose to invite to your movie marathon will affect everything from the type of food and drinks you’ll be serving to what movies you’ll be watching. So, choose wisely.

When will it be held? Before the holidays? After? Keep in mind that your potential guests may be traveling around the holidays, so make sure you give them enough time in advance to check their calendars and get back to you.

What food and drinks will you serve? Hors d’oeuvres or a full sit-down meal? Will there be beer, wine, soda? One idea is to offer different finger foods and drinks in between each film. Besides nourishing your guests after some grueling movie watching, this will keep things interesting enough to get them off their rump and moving around.

Will you have party favors? This is a great way to make your movie marathon memorable. One party favor idea: buy each guest an ornament with a creative title for your marathon emblazoned on it (ex. The Nelson’s 2008 Movie Marathon).

Where will you watch the movies? Is there enough space? If you only have a 500 square foot Tampa apartment, you probably won’t want to invite 20 people. Regardless of how many people you invite, do you have enough comfortable seating for everyone? Bean bags score big here. That stiff, antique dining chair? Not so much.

Are all your electronics in working order? Nothing can dampen the spirits of a movie marathon like broken equipment. So test your TV, DVD player, and sound system to make sure they work. Perhaps now is a good time to treat yourself to that 52’ flat screen, Blu-Ray player, and Bose system you’ve been pining for. Consider it a gift to your guests.

What movies will you watch? The critical question for every movie marathoner. Would your guest prefer to watch a film series like Star Wars or an assortment of films from different genres (action, drama, horror, etc)? You also might think of choosing movies based upon a particular theme? Given the season, you might want to go with a holiday theme. Here are 10 classic Christmas movies you could choose from:

1. A Christmas Story
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas
3. Scrooged
4. White Christmas
5. Nightmare Before Christmas
6. Holiday Inn
7. Miracle on 34th Street
8. It’s a Wonderful Life
9. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
10. Elf

Things to Keep in Mind…

The movies you choose need to be interesting enough to keep people engrossed for several hours. Also, considering that the average film is over 90 minutes long, 3 movies are usually enough to keep people engaged and cheerful without over doing it. If you don’t already own the movies you’ll be using for your marathon, make sure you rent them or borrow them from a local library ahead of time.

Once you’ve taken all of the above issues into consideration, you’re ready to send out the invitations for your wonderful holiday movie marathon and start preparing for the big day. Pace yourself!

It’s difficult to know the proper tipping etiquette for every situation but here’s some basic tipping advice.

Photo by: Manny Hernandez

General Tipping Guide

10% = below average service
15% = average service
20% = exceptional service

Tipping Rules

Restaurant Server – You should leave 15-20% of the before-tax total.

Beauty Salon or Barber Shop – 15-20% for your hair cut/color, plus a $2-3 for the shampoo attendant, if applicable.

Manicurist or Spa Service – 15-20% of the total bill.

Furniture Delivery – $10 per delivery person or more if they help you set up the furniture.

Flower Delivery – This is not mandatory, but a couple of dollars is appreciated.
Bartender – It is customary to leave $1 per drink if you’re paying by round. If you run a tab, leave 15-20% of the total bill, pre-tax.

Coffee Barista – Put change in the tip jar. On multi-drink orders, you could leave a total of $1-2.

Coatroom Attendant – You should leave $1-2 per coat.

Washroom Attendant – $1 is an acceptable tip.

Pizza Delivery – $2-5 depending on the distance the driver traveled to bring the pizza to you.

Takeout Food/Curbside Service – $1-2 dollars for a to-go order.

Buffet Restaurant Server – When the server brings you plates and drinks but you get your food at a buffet, leave $1 per person.

Taxi or Limo Drivers – 10-15% or especially if they help with the bags 15-20%.

Concierge – Pay $3-5 for a simple task like dinner reservations, but leave significantly more if the concierge has jumped through hoops for you. For instance, if you ask this person to get you tickets to a sold out show, a customary tip would be $25.

Airport or Hotel Shuttle Driver – Give the driver $1-2 per person or $5 per party. In general, if it’s a shuttle you pay for you should tip higher than if it’s free.

Porter/Bellhop – You do not have to tip the porter or bellhop for opening the door for you. If they carry your bags you should tip $1-2 per bag, or more than that if they give you a tour of your room. Pay $1 per person if this employee hails a cab for you.

Room Service – A tip is normally included on the tab. You can add on to it if you feel the service was exemplary.

Maids/Housekeeping – If this employee does a good job, leave $3-5 per night for a luxury hotel or $1-2 for an average hotel. Seal it in an envelope and clearly mark it so the employee knows it’s okay to take it. It is not unheard of for housekeepers to take better care of good tippers. They may bring you extra bottled water or provide extra special touches for your room.

Valet Parking Attendant – The valet should get $1-2 per car.

Pool Attendant – $1-2 for each service he or she performs.

Photo by: Here in Van Nuys

You should always leave some sort of tip unless the service is severely lacking. Most employees in service roles are paid less because the management counts on your gratuity to pad out the employees paychecks. Make sure to generously reward employees who provide excellent service. And once you decide how much to tip, be sure you have the correct change on hand.

Photo by: Quack the Wooley Duck

If you want to know how to start a book club, here’s is an easy plan to follow. Taking these steps can help you out:

Step One: Pick the place – Before you even get started inviting members and picking out book genres, you’ll need a location to meet. Tampa apartments are often willing to let book clubs use clubhouse space. You can also check with local libraries, bookstores or just use members’ homes. Set the place or places first, then move on to step two.

Step Two: Choose the genre – While it may be that you want to cover a variety of literary genres, if you have a specific interest in reading and want to share it with others, that’s okay too. Once you select the genre or genres, you’ll find choosing the right members to invite can be a lot easier.

Step Three: Invite members – You can find members for book clubs by asking friends and family, posting notices in your apartment complex, bookstores and libraries. If you want a tight-knit group of only people you know, keep invites limited and personal. Should you want to meet new people who share similar interests, create fliers for posting. If you’d like to expand your recruiting efforts, try starting your own book club meetup group online where you can post dates of meetings, pictures and info about the group.

Step Four: Select the books – Before your first meeting, you’ll want to give members plenty of time to pick up and read a specific book for discussion. Create a monthly or bi-weekly list of books for all members to read. Should you go with a specific genre, this should be relatively easy. If you want to touch all interest points, consider following a best-seller list. Just don’t forget to choose books early and get the titles out to members.

Step Five: Questions – Most meetings will involve a list of book club discussion questions for members to ponder as they talk about the book of the week or month. To create questions, jot down things that interest you as you read the title for the meeting. Or, you can ask all members to bring in a few discussion questions to share. This is a great way to get everyone involved.

Step Six: Meeting setup – To make the event one everyone will enjoy, don’t forget food and drink to go along with each meeting. You might want to take a collection and purchase the items yourself, or have members bring items in potluck style. Either way, don’t forget the food and drink as it can really add to the experience.

Learning how to start a book club can be a fun way to meet others and enjoy great conversation in the process. Whether you meet at your Tampa apartments or a local bookstore, the experience can be enriching and rewarding.

Unfortunately, a lot of people discount the value of online degrees. When the myths and facts about these degrees are understood, their value becomes clear. Whether you want to go for a full degree or just take a few courses to help boost your skills – and value – online programs are worth looking at.

Myths About Online Degrees and Programs

Not convinced? Let’s take a look at the facts about online degrees versus the myths.

Myth #1 – Online degrees aren’t worth the paper they are printed on.

Fact – The truth is there are some programs out there that aren’t reputable, but most are. Look for programs that are backed by college accreditation and check with the accrediting agency to be certain the program “counts.” Some of America’s most noted universities now offer online classes and even full degree programs in certain learning fields.

Myth #2 – Online degrees are scams because ‘anyone’ can be accepted.

Fact – This also isn’t true. The best degree programs will also adhere to the admission requirements of the actual school. Don’t count on getting in unless you meet those requirements.

Myth #3 – Financial aid isn’t available.

Fact – This also isn’t true. As more major colleges and universities offer online degree programs, the funding sources are matching traditional programs. Student loans, scholarships, grants and more are available for online learners.

Myth #4 – The quality of education is diminished.

Fact – Any education is only as good as the work that a student puts into it. Online learning can be rigorous and just as difficult and challenging as classroom-based programs. Don’t expect a “free” ride just because you’re taking classes from the comfort of your home.

Helpful Resources

Below are a few links to help you choose and evaluate online degree programs. You might just find that an online degree is prefect for you:

• Evaluating an Online Program
• Choosing an Online College: Ten Mistakes to Avoid
• University of South Florida Online Degree Programs and Certificates
• University of Florida Distance Learning Programs, Certificates and Courses
• FSU Online Programs

There is more to online degrees than many people realize. Take the time to research programs and schools before signing up. If you do this, chances are you will find a program that suits your needs and can boost your career at the same time.

Photo by: Philip Heede

Waffle Makers From Your Childhood

These waffle makers are pretty rare. You’re more likely to find them on e-bay, craigslist or Amazon than in a regular retail store. If you can get your hands on one though, you and your kids will enjoy them.

• The Snoopy Electric Waffle Iron
• Mickey Mouse Waffle Iron

Photo by: Phil

Easy to Find Fun Waffle Makers

These character waffle makers are easier to find in a store or order online. While they may not hold a candle to the Mickey waffle iron of yesteryear, they are sure to brighten up your morning.

• Cinderella Waffle Maker
• Hello Kitty Waffle Maker
• Woodles Penguin Waffle Maker
• Farmyard Animals Waffle Maker

Photo by: penguincakes

Fun Breakfast Appliances and Gadgets

Not everyone is a fan of waffles. Sometimes you just want a piece of toast, nice fluffy pancakes or a warm muffin for breakfast. Your options for a fun and delicious breakfast are endless. Below are a few appliances that might tempt your taste buds.

• Star Pancakes
• Winnie the Pooh Toaster
• Mickey Mouse Toaster
• Holiday Pancake Pan
• Heart Shaped Muffin Pan

Morning can be rough, and a little fun for breakfast never hurt anyone. So, liven up your Tampa apartment kitchen with some tasty breakfast treats using these fun appliances for ideas.

BailoutSleuth.com was created to help protect Americans. It will keep a public eye on the bailout program, watching for favoritism, political influence or other actions that could undermine the potential returns to taxpayers. Each day you’ll find updates, with the goal being to constantly monitor the government’s deals and look at the people involved in them.

The companion site to BailoutSleuth.com is ShareSleuth.com, a popular site for stockbrokers and journalists. It’s a news-style blog dedicated to exposing securities fraud. The site is funded by billionaire American entrepreneur Mark Cuban.

If you like what you see on BailoutSleuth.com, you can subscribe to the daily feed for regular bailout updates.

Photo by: Caitlin Burke

6 Easy Steps for Planning the Party

Scavenger hunt ideas abound, but if you want a simple way to create an incredible time for the bride-to-be and friends, consider using the clubhouse in your Tampa apartments as the home base for adventure. A step-by-step plan and things to do to pull this off follows:

Step One – The first thing you’ll need to do for planning a bachelorette party is to pick the location. Where to have it will depend on preference. Keep your own apartment or your Tampa apartment’s clubhouse in mind for cost savings.

Step Two – Set the date and send the invites. Do this early so you can get RSVPs from those who will attend.

Step Three – Create the scavenger hunt questions and clues. One very fun way to enjoy a scavenger hunt in the Tampa area is to set up teams and send them out in cars. You can have them solve riddles that lead to specific locations in the Bay area. The stops here can go on and on. From Tampa’s famous Bern’s Steakhouse to the St. Petersburg Pier, you can keep your buddies running for hours while they have fun in the process. Use digital cameras instead of having guests pick up items at the stops. The pictures can and will say a thousand words. Make the stops on the hunt unique and the questions should rattle brains, but not be impossible to solve.

Step Four – Put some prizes together for first, second and third place teams. Trinkets, gift certificates and so on can work perfectly.

Step Five – Plan an after-hunt party. Remember, you won’t want your bride-to-be friend and others driving around with libations. Reserve drinks and food for later, along with gifts for the special lady. Getting married can be hectic, so chances are she’ll appreciate a toast or two at the end of the night.

• How to Select Food for a Bachelorette Pary
• Bachelorette Party Sample Food Ideas
• Bachelorette Party Drinks

Step Six – Relax! Planning a bachelorette party scavenger hunt can take some time, but the party should run itself once you’re finished.

Bachelorette party ideas are easy to come by. If you want to do something that’s truly unique, send the bride and friends on an adventure through the Tampa Bay area.

Photo By: Stian Olsen

Orange is a warm, inviting color. It’s easier on the eyes than yellow, yet it is not as bold as red. Of course, neon orange is not something you want to see on the walls of your apartment, but terracotta orange, melon and orange-browns are appropriate for walls. Like the color red, orange is also known to increase appetites and may be a good color for dining rooms.

Red is typically associated with energy, danger, power, and love. This color has been known to increase blood pressure and raise appetites. Since the color is so strong, it can be unnerving and is best used as an accent. Brown-red shades are more appropriate for walls since they give off a more comforting feel.

• 5 Ways to Decorate with Red
• Decorating With Red
• Desire To Inspire’s Red Dining Rooms
• Designer decorating with red

Yellow is the hardest color for human eyes to focus on and can cause eye fatigue. While this color is known to make people feel happy and energetic, it is also known to cause people to become angry quicker. Pale shades of yellow are best when painting walls; however, it’s probably not a good idea to paint a nursery yellow since it can cause irritation and frustration among babies.

Photo By: Pinky P

Blue has a soothing quality about it that makes people feel relaxed and comfortable. However, blue has the opposite effect of red in the fact that it suppresses appetites. Since blue is known to evoke relaxation, it is a good color for bedrooms. Blue is also associated with cleanliness and freshness, so it may be a good color for bathrooms.

Green also has the same calming qualities as blue. Neutral shades of green such as olive or sage are more accepted in home decor than shades of aqua or yellow-green. Green is known to increase productivity and concentration and may be a good color for home offices or study rooms.

• Think green when decorating your home office
• 27 ways to decorate using green
• Rental Decorating Digest’s cucumber green
• Creating a green color scheme

Brown is a safe, comforting and neutral color. Browns can typically be combined with brighter colors like light blues, pinks, yellows and especially oranges. A medium brown color may be good for walls with accents of brighter colors placed throughout the room.

Photo By: Nia

Purple is a symbol of royalty, especially deep purple. This can be a bold statement, and sometimes lighter shades of purple like lilac are more popular. Since light purple is seen as a feminine color it might be a good paint color for a young girl’s room. Darker purples or mauves are more mature looking for other portions of the apartment, but are known to evoke feelings of sadness.

Black is often associated with elegance. It can give a classy look to your apartment. Black furniture or accent pieces in a predominantly white room can create a stark, dramatic contrast. However, painting the walls black is not recommended and can cause dark rooms to feel small and depressing.

Some of the things you can do right now to enjoy positive change in your life include:

Taking more time for yourself – If you have a Type A personality, chances are you thrive on working around the clock. But, what about your “me time?” Do you ever take any? If you don’t, change this habit and you will thank yourself for it. Even a few minutes a day for kicking back and relaxing can lower your stress level and help you feel more refreshed. Try power napping, reading a chapter of a book, meditating for a few minutes or even taking a weekly yoga class. Or take that European vacation you’ve always dreamed of.

Saving money – If you’re living in Tampa apartments, you’re likely in a decent position to put some money away for a rainy day, a trip or even an eventual home purchase. If your budget is stretched to the breaking point, stretch it some more. Look for areas where you can make cuts and make them. If you have extra money in your budget, bank it. The time is now for saving money for the future. The sooner you start and the more religious you are about banking, the better off you’ll be down the road.

Adopting healthier choices – If you want to get into shape or make better lifestyle choices, the time is now. To dive in, you can start eating healthier, exercising or even choose to quit bad habits like smoking. It’s never too late (or too early) to make good moves to improve your health. Even a light workout routine can make a huge difference in how you look and feel.

Taking more time for friends and family – If your social life consists of e-mails and quick phone calls to friends and family, but little else, it’s probably time for a change. Resolve to create more opportunities for family time. Even simple outings can create lasting memories. If you have lost touch with friends, reconnect. If you don’t have friends living near your Tampa apartments, try social networking to fix this. Joining sites like eHarmony can help out on this front if you’re missing a significant other or just someone to catch a movie with. You could also join a hobby club, get involved in a sport or just start going out more to meet people with similar interests.

There’s no reason to let the next few months pass without making positive changes in your life. Even if you fell flat on your face with your New Year’s resolutions, you can get back on track if you really want to. The time is now and today is your day – live it!