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A light brown puppy was found on 7/19/2011 in the Auston Grove parking lot yesterday.
She appears to be a lab mix and approximately 4 to 5 months old. She was found with a collar, a bandana, and leash.
Please call our office at 866-766-7492 if you are the owner or may know the owner. She is a very sweet little girl and needs her owner(s)!
Auston Grove Apartments Pool Party
Help us kick off the summer at our first Pool Party of the year on
Tuesday, June 7th from 6 PM to 8 PM!
A Live DJ will be present and Pizza will be served!
We will be hosting the First Annual Auston Grove Corn Hole Tournament!
The winner will receive a $50 Best Buy Gift Card!
*Call 866-766-7492 or email leasingoffice@austongroveliving.com
to enter your 2-person corn hole team into the tournament*
Whether you’re telecommuting on a regular basis or just occasionally getting some work done at home, you’ll want to set up your home office to maximize efficiency. This means not only having the basics for work, like a comfortable desk space, but also making sure you have all the technological tools you need to work from home. Here are some suggestions for equipment that can help you work remotely.
A computer and monitor.
This goes without saying, right? Depending on how and where you work, the best setup might be a small laptop or “netbook” and a separate monitor, giving you portability without subjecting you to constant eyestrain.
A fast Internet connection.
If you can’t get online quickly and consistently, your productivity will suffer. Your apartment community manager or a neighbor may have advice on which Internet provider in your area is the fastest and most hassle-free.
A wireless router.
Plug your modem into a router and you’ll be able to set up your computer anywhere in your apartment and still connect to the Internet. This can be especially useful if you share your desk or office space.
A printer and scanner.
You can find an “all-in-one” printer/scanner/fax machine combination, or buy only the components you need separately. Choose a multifunction machine if you need to save space; look for plenty of internal memory, and test it before you buy, if possible. (If your work requires attractive graphics, however, spend the money on the printer and scanner; you’ll be able to scan and e-mail documents you might otherwise fax.)
Anti-virus software.
You’ll need anti-virus software even if you’re not working from home, but it’s even more vital if clients’ data is at stake. Talk to your office’s IT department; they might be able to provide you with software and regular updates.
A Webcam.
If your office has video conference calls, your colleagues will be able to see you (dressed and ready for work, no less!), making you seem a lot more “present” even when you’re not in the office. Many computers now come with built-in Webcams; if you use video conferencing frequently, you might want to upgrade to a higher-quality stand-alone camera.
Conference calling.
Your employer may already have an account with an online conferencing provider, such as WebEx. You may also want a headset to make phone calls easier. If you make a lot of international calls, consider using a service like Skype to connect abroad.
Tech support.
Your company may provide technical support to telecommuters, but if it does not, you’ll need someone to speak to if your computer crashes. Support.com is a relatively new company in this field. Best Buy’s famous Geek Squad is another option for assistance.
Tornado Safety: Best Location in an Apartment
Tornadoes are very quick and usually come without much notice, having your plan in place will protect you and the items in your apartment. First and foremost, once you hear that there is a possible tornado near your apartment, or that the conditions are right for a tornado, move to shelter immediately.
If you live in an apartment that is on an upper floor, get to the lowest level of the building that you can immediately. This could be an underground parking garage or a neighbor’s first floor apartment. If you live in a high-rise apartment building, you may not have enough time to get to a lower level, so picking a place in the hallway in the center of your building is the best idea. A closet, bathroom or interior hall without windows is the safest spot in your apartment during a tornado.
Also ask your apartment leasing manager if there are any storm shelters in your complex or building.
Tornado Safety: Other Apartment Safety Tips
Once you have relocated to your safe place, lie down on the floor and cover yourself up with pillows, blankets and even mattresses for protection from falling objects and debris. If your apartment’s safe place has a heavy piece of furniture, such as a large table, get under that for extra protection. Wearing a bicycle or similar helmet will help protect your head from injuries caused by flying debris.
It is also a great idea to keep an evacuation kit handy. This kit should include a portable radio, flashlight with extra batteries, credit card and cash, first aid kit, spare set of keys, personal identification and anything else of importance or of value to you. Having all of this together near the safe place of your apartment will save you time and worry during a tornado threat.
Tornado Safety: After the Tornado
If a tornado does come near your apartment, please use extreme caution when exiting your home. Watch out for fallen utility lines and tree limbs that may not have fallen yet. Make sure that everyone is alright and provide assistance to your neighbors that may need attention. Finally, remember to take pictures of damage to your property for your insurance claim.
Can cats and dogs live together in peace? Could your cat get along with another cat?
Whether you’re blending households with a roommate or partner who’s bringing a pet or adopting another animal for your current menagerie, you will have to figure out how all these creatures will share space. You may need to play guidance counselor for your furry friends, and we’ve got some tips to help you get started.
When You Can Choose Your New Pet
If your current pet is an older one, consider how it will feel about having a young puppy or kitten underfoot. Youngsters can often make an older pet feel young again. On the other hand, if your current pet is a real curmudgeon, you might want to avoid a young animal that may make it crankier. In either case, don’t leave old and young pets alone together until you see how they get along together.
Consider how different breeds might get along. If you are looking to adopt a new pet, you might be successful in choosing its characteristics and temperament based on the new pet’s breed. Also, if possible, make a point to spend some time observing the new animal before you adopt. It’s a good idea to try to match energy levels and easygoing natures to difficult ones, though the truth is that chemistry between animals, like people, is fairly unpredictable.
If you bring together two or more dogs or cats of different sexes, make sure they are all spayed or neutered so you don’t end up with a litter on your hands!
Making Introductions
Whether you are inheriting pets from a new roommate or a significant other or bringing a newly-adopted pet into your household, the way the animals meet could have a lot to do with how they end up getting along. For dogs, meeting in a neutral location, such as a park that neither one has been to before, is a great way for them to get to know each other without territorial disputes. Be sure the dogs are each on a leash and handled by a different person, in case they have to be separated.
Watch the animals’ body postures. If there is teeth-baring, deep growls, or stiff-legged stances, separate them, encourage them, and then reintroduce them. Once the dogs are in the same space, use plenty of positive reinforcement with each one to encourage them to get along.
With a Cat in the Equation
Cats, typically temperamental, can become even more so around dogs or other cats. Before introductions happen, keep the animals in different, but nearby, rooms so they can get used to the smells and sounds of the other. After a few days, let them share space in small bursts to see how they get along.
You may discover that a cat ends up claiming a certain part of the apartment for its own, at least initially. Keeping the dog’s bowls and the cat’s bowls, litter box and scratching post in separate places should help give your persnickety kitty the space it needs.
No matter what combination of pets you try to unite under a single roof, make patience and gentle support your priorities. Your new animals will need to adjust to new humans and a strange apartment, as well to their peer critters, so give them a chance to be scared and uncomfortable while they settle into their new home. In most cases, with time, animals that initially can’t stand to be in the same room together end up becoming good friends – or they at least learn how to tolerate each other.
Tax Day and Earth Day are not official holidays, but that doesn’t stop retailers from treating them as such. Each year, more merchants tie giveaways and other promotions to the two days, turning April into a freebie fedding frenzy. But businesses aren’t just being nice when they offer “tax day bites” and other goodies.
They get something out of it, too. Offering free products or samples is a good way to introduce a new product, generate lots of foot traffic, get positive buzz and possibly make some additional sales. Here are a few “freebie” samples:
Music is the heartbeat of a city, and in the Raleigh area, this especially rings true. Thousands of fans make the pilgrimage to Greater Raleigh for big-budget touring shows at major venues like Time Warner Cable Music Pavillion at Walnut Creek or the RBC Center, but there are a large number of smaller, more intimate venues that serve as brief stops on the road to fame.
Featured Event - Jimmy Buffett & The Coral Reefer Band - April 19, 2011
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band will perform at TIME WARNER CABLE MUSIC PAVILION for one night only on Tuesday, April 19 at 8pm, as part of Jimmy Buffett’s “WELCOME TO FIN LAND” Tour 2011. Learn more »
Featured Video
Auston Grove will be hiring part time grounds help this Summer and wanted to see if any residents were interested before we posted to the public. This position is for grounds assistance and will entail outside work, climbing stairs and light lifting. Duties will include but not limited to help with many different projects, cleaning and grounds trash pick up however, no experience is necessary. The position is for the months of May, June, July, August and September. It is for 20 hours per week (almost any schedule can be accommodated). This position will pay $13 hour but doesn’t include any benefits or rent reductions. It is simply a way to make some extra Summer cash. Please contact Chris Jones at (919) 217-9995, cpjones@hhhunt.com, or stop in the office.
Auston Grove will be hiring part time grounds help this Summer and wanted to see if any residents were interested before we posted to the public. This position is for grounds assistance and will entail outside work, climbing stairs and light lifting. Duties will include but not limited to help with many different projects, cleaning and grounds trash pick up however, no experience is necessary. The position is for the months of May, June, July, August and September. It is for 20 hours per week (almost any schedule can be accommodated). This position will pay $13 hour but doesn’t include any benefits or rent reductions. It is simply a way to make some extra Summer cash. Please contact Chris Jones at (919) 217-9995, cpjones@hhhunt.com, or stop in the office.
If achieving a “work-life balance” were easy, there wouldn’t be so many articles and advice books on the subject. But what does it mean to achieve a “balanced life?”
When you are able to maintain balance, you don’t feel as if your life is overwhelmed by any one task. You’re not spending so much time working that you don’t know what your non-work self is like, and you’re not constantly stressed by an unmanageable to-do list. You feel that you are actually living, rather than just rushing through the days.
Here are some suggestions on how to bring your life more into balance.
Prioritize sleep, exercise, and eating
When many responsibilities all call for our attention, it becomes easy for us to allow some of our most basic and healthful needs to be downplayed. Proper sleep and exercise help ensure our bodies are operating at full capacity, and they leave us feeling more relaxed as we live out each day. Pay attention to your body’s needs and rhythms, and honor them as best you can.
Prioritizing eating and the food you choose does not necessarily mean that you have to spend more money on food, or even force yourself to eat more healthily. It does mean being mindful of what and when you are eating. If you know you spend four out of five work lunches wolfing down something at your desk, allow yourself the freedom of a planned lunch out. And if you’re going to eat ten Oreos in a row one afternoon, make sure you enjoy them.
Identify and rethink your coping behaviors
If you’re very stressed, chances are you’re using something - maybe shopping, alcohol, or those Oreos - to help you feel better. While coping mechanisms are understandable human traits, you may want to think about alternative healthy activities that would allow you to relax without potentially draining your budget or leaving you feeling poorly.
Maintaining balance in your life means being aware of the things that stress you and attempting to change them or cope with them before you feel compelled to resort to behavior that will be counterproductive to your well-being. Instead of spending money, for instance, focus on another activity you enjoy. Instead of drinking or eating more than you will enjoy in order to relieve your stress, take the time to figure out why you would want to do those things in the first place.
Schedule time for quiet
Whether it’s prayer, meditation, yoga, writing in a journal, or just sitting and paying attention to your breath, having a few protected minutes of quiet in your day can be healing and revitalizing. Invest this time in a restful activity — watching TV, checking Facebook, or playing video games may not work as well for helping you feel more balanced.
Figure out what you can let go of
If you are simply trying to cram too much into 24 hours, you may need to cut some activities out of your packed schedule. It may not be obvious at first what you need to drop. Some experts recommend tracking your time; others, tracking your moods. Has one of your friends turned into an emotional vampire? Is that side project that once seemed so exciting now exhausting? Is your Saturday night out leaving you feeling bleak on Sunday? An honest appraisal of the events and relationships in your life may help you prioritize and potentially change some of them for the better.
Assess the “work” part of the work-life balance
Keep in mind that taking steps like these to improve your work-life balance may not go far enough to mitigate the negative effects of a job that is simply not suited to your personality, no matter how much that job pays. If you can’t leave a job that you find awful immediately, then make yourself a promise that at a definite date in the future - three months, six months, a year from now - you will re-evaluate your options. Write down your escape plan, as if you were formalizing a contract with yourself. If you find you have trouble clearly evaluating all the pieces of your life, you might want to consult a therapist, spiritual leader, or trusted friend to help you talk it all out.
Whether you “live to work” or “work to live,” you can always strive to streamline your life and make all its pieces work together more smoothly. Balance is an important goal for being happy with the things you have to do, as well as the things you want to do - and may help you deal with the difference between the two.
