Photo by: Steven

Setting the Thermostat

While you’re up moving around the apartment during the day, you want to be comfortable and not freezing. So, keep the heat at 68 degrees. This temperature is recommended by power companies so you have lower bills and conserve energy. At night, turn the thermostat down a few more degrees. The heat won’t run as often or as long. However there are additional measures you’ll have to take to keep warm if you turn the heat down.

10 Cheap Ways to Keep Your Apartment Warmer

1. Buy flannel sheets - Trade your cotton sheets in for flannel ones. They’re thicker and will keep you warmer. You can easily buy sets of these at Target or other major retail stores fo $20.

2. Hang Thermal Curtains - Since you probably aren’t allowed to winterize your rental like you would if you owned it, hang curtains that will keep the cold air out and the warm air in. Windows can be the a major site for loss of heat in a home.

3. Keep out the draft - If the curtains just won’t do it. Get some tape to put around spaces and cracks around windows. You’ll be able to remove it easier than caulking.

Photo by: Salla

4. Get some Area Rugs - If your apartment is all hardwood or tile, use rugs to keep your feet from feeling the shock of a chilly floor. Hard floors typically feel colder to the touch than carpeted ones.

5. Watch the crack - The crack at the bottom of your door could be letting cold air in. Get a door draft stopper to put at the bottom of your bedroom door or the door to your apartment to keep out the cold.

6. Snuggle up - Trade in your thin summer blankets and quilts for a thick comforter. You can easliy find plain ones of these for $20 or less, but if you want to invest in one that will last you year in and year out, get a nice down comforter to keep warm.

Photo by: caribb

7. Welcome the Sun - On sunny days, remember to open curtains to let the warm rays into the apartment. Drawing curtains closed will keep the apartment feeling dark and cold.

8. Home Cooking - Instead of going out for dinner or ordering in, try cooking something up in your kitchen. The warmth from the stove and oven will permeate the apartment. Try warm dishes like chili, stew, or a warm roast with potatoes.

9. Keep the snow out - After coming in from the streets, leave your wet boots and outerwear at the door. Keep a rug there to absorb the melting snow or sweep it outside. Stepping in a cold puddle as you walk around the apartment is not pleasant.

Photo by: Carol Moshier

10. Get Active - If your building or apartment complex has a gym, use it. It will get your blood pumping too all of your extremities keeping you warm. You’ll also feel healthier and be ready for swimsuit season when the snow melts.

Just making a few minor adjustments in your apartment this winter will help keep you a little warmer and perhaps save you a little extra money. Try these tips and let us know how they work, or if you have your own tips for keeping warm, we’d be happy to hear about them in the comments.

So, what do you need to create delicious dishes in your small kitchen space? Let’s take a look at the items you’ll need and some ideas on what and how to cook with them.

Photo by: doraemon

Microwave

There is no denying that microwave cooking is one of the easiest ways to get around dealing with small spaces. If you know how to handle the buttons, you can whip up an entire meal in a microwave without even raising the temperature in your Chicago apartment. Once you know how fast – or slow – your microwave cooks, you can easily branch out with your own recipes.

• CDKitchen Microwave Recipes
• Big Mama’s Microwave Recipes
• Microwave Recipes from Recipe Zaar
• All Recipes Microwave Cooking
• Cooks.com Microwave Desserts

Large skillet

Photo by: basegreen

This is a must have for any kitchen, small or large. A deep-dish skillet can work wonders for one-dish meals. Simple chop and drop meals like stir frys or omelets are easy to make on the stove and don’t involve a lot of dishes or clean-up. Check out some of the recipes below for one-dish skillet meals.

• Mexican Skillet Meal Recipe
• Hawaiian Turkey Skillet Meal Recipe
• Chicken with Peppers

Crock pot

Photo by: The Flying Enchilada

If your stove can’t handle all the pots you need to cook a meal, the crock pot is an essential that can make one-dish cooking a breeze. All you have to do is throw all of your ingredients into one pot, cover it and six to eight hours later, you have a complete, hearty meal waiting for you. Check out the following sites for crock pot recipes:

• Slow and Simple Slow Cooker Recipes
• All Recipes Slow Cooker Main Dish Recipes
• Southern Food Crock Pot Recipes
• Crock Pot Recipes

Small kitchens can be challenging to navigate for large meals, but there are ways to compensate for a lack of counter space. The right kitchen essentials can make everyday cooking a breeze.

According to JNY In The Classroom, Teachers Face these Challenges

• The nation will need 2.2-2.4 million more teachers by 2010
• Teachers currently rank in the top of respected professions, but in the bottom as a planned career choice.
• 30-50% of teachers leave the profession within 3-5 years.
• Teachers spend an average of $1,200 of their own money each year to outfit their classrooms for basic learning.

Jones New York In The Classroom Benefits these Non-profit Organizations

TeachersCount - Dedicated to addressing the poor retention of young teachers and the growing teacher shortage - by recognizing the originality and creativity of our nation’s 3.2 million teachers, thanking them for their efforts, and rewarding them with valuable services and resources.

Fund for Teachers - Enriching teachers’ lives by offering them the opportunity to self-design summer sabbatical experiences, returning to the classroom re-energized in ways which impact students on a daily basis.

Adopt-A-Classroom - Providing teachers with moral and financial support. By adopting a classroom, participants serve as community partners and donate funds so teachers can purchase classroom resources that are critical to student success.

A Fun Way to Help

A fun and easy way to help is by purchasing a women’s t-shirt. They cost $20 and 100% of the proceeds go to Jones New York In The Classroom.

Photo By: Liquid Paper

For apartment dwellers, living in small spaces brings out the very best in design ingenuity and creativity, allowing the construction of functional spaces where there were once chaotic messes. Hence, the office space in an apartment closet. Here’s how you can create one too.

Inspirational ideas for creating your closet office

• Light, bright and perfectly organized closet desk
• DIY new closet/office
• The Desk Fits! Wide desk meets wide closet
• The Container Store’s Elfa closet system
• Small, but chic San Francisco closet office

1. Select a closet space that is large enough to accommodate your needs.

2. Decide if you are going to purchase a desk to fit your closet, add a shelf to serve as your work space, or re-purpose a piece of furniture you already have. Be sure to measure your closet space and use the dimensions when considering the route you want to go with the desk.

3. What kind of storage do you need? You can install shelving up the closet vertically and purchase boxes, binders, and plastic bins to organize your things and place on the shelves. Or purchase small scale rolling drawers and carts to slide under your desk and hide away your office paperwork and supplies.

4. Don’t forget extras that make your space functional like a power cord, a desk lamp, an organizing tray and, depending on where your office is located, a curtain to tuck it away.

Cool Accessories and Things to Buy

• Cord cover kit
• Shelves
• Rolling storage drawers
• Staple-free stapler
• Canvas file boxes
• Paperweight clocks
• Page up babies
• Mail organizers
• Photo bookends
• Cable IDs

Photo by: Scott Gould

The key to successful packing is being thorough and organized, yet being able to make executive decisions on what to leave behind. You might start by making a packing list. Putting your needs in writing makes you less likely to stray from the required list and throw extra stuff in your bag on a whim.

Get Visual

Once you’ve got your list, get the items out of your closet and neatly lay them out on a large surface like your floor or bed. This will give you a great feeling for how much stuff you’re dealing with and whether it will realistically fit in your suitcase. Make a separate pile for items that will go in your carry on luggage.

Photo by: San Teigen

How to Pack a Suitcase

Most packing experts recommend rolling your clothes to prevent wrinkling and minimize the size of the garments.

• Lay t-shirts, jeans and pants out on the floor. Choose one item to roll first.
• Fold jeans and pants in half lengthwise and fold shirt arms neatly to the back of the shirt.
• Start at the bottom and roll the item up tightly.

Photo by: Jennifer Smith

If you want to be super-organized, match a rolled shirt with a pair of rolled pants and put the outfit in its own separate plastic bag.

Certain items should not be rolled. Keep dress shirts on hangers in dry cleaning bags to prevent wrinkling. Lay them flat in the suitcase. If you have jackets, dresses, skirts or sweaters that cannot be rolled, lay them at the top of the suitcase, putting the lightest items on top.

If your shoes are dirty, put them in plastic bags to keep them from touching your clean clothes. Stuff your shoes with socks or underwear to maximize space.

Toiletries should be minimal. Use small containers and put all of your toiletries into sealed Ziploc bags to prevent any messes. Place the bags in the center of your suitcase where they won’t get jostled around. If you plan to take any liquids in your carry on luggage, check current TSA regulations.

To prepare for your trip from your Chicago apartment, follow these packing tips and you will a successful packer every time!

The options in men’s outerwear are overwhelming. If you’re new to Chicago or are looking for a new coat to weather the upcoming winter season, check out the guide below for selecting coats for men.

Leather Jacket - Leather jackets and coats can come in a variety of forms. Zip front bomber-looking leather jackets are popular, but on colder days, it might be wise to find a shearling leather coat. These types of leather coats are lined with a thick layer of wool and will keep you warmer on those below freezing days.

Trench Coat - A full double-breasted trench coat is a good look over a suit. The length of the coat will keep more surface area of your body warm, and most trench coats are water resistant and will keep the wetness of the snow from seeping through.

Top Coat - Top coats are usually knee-length like a trench but are made with a different type of fabric. Trench coats are not as thick and are typically twill whereas a top coat could be made of wool and may not be belted like a trench. A nice wool top coat would look great over a suit for a business or special occasion.

Barn Coat - A barn coat has a lighter feel to it than a wool coat. Sometimes you’ll find them made of leather, but for the most part, they are made of water resistant cotton canvas with a warm cotton flannel lining. This is a great coat for a casual look and won’t break the bank like a wool or leather coat.

Pea Coat - Nothing is more classic than a wool pea coat. You can find them single or double breasted, belted or three quarter length. There is no denying that the wool will keep you warm. This type of coat is a good look for business or casual attire.

Parka - For days when you’ll be treading through the snowy streets or perhaps taking a ski vacation, you’ll need a nice parka. These are typically made of a water resistant material, include a hood and have a sporty look about them. It’s all purpose and keeps you warm and dry. It’s prefect as an everyday coat.

Before you step out of your Chicago apartment this winter, be sure you’ve found a coat that will keep you warm and happy on those cold, windy streets of Chicago.

Ways To Bring Aromas To Your Apartment

Photo By: Sun Dazed

Some of the best ways to add a touch of fall to your home fragrance include using:

Scented candles – These are excellent for adding ambiance and scent to a single room at a time. Do exercise caution when burning candles in Chicago apartments. These can be a bit dangerous if you don’t care for them, keep them out of reach of children or remember to douse them at the end of the night.

Essential oils – Using essential oils in diffusers is a wonderful way to spread particular scents throughout a home. Although essential oils and diffusers don’t necessarily present the hazards that candles might, it is still wise to keep them away from children and pets. Strategically placed diffusers loaded with essential oils can make a big difference in home fragrance for the better.

Fresh flowers – It’s hard to top bringing home fresh autumn flowers for sprucing up an apartment and making its scent steal the show. Local florists should have quite the selection of fall flowers to choose from.

Fragrance sticks – Simple, affordable and small fragrance sticks, such as those that resemble candles, can also boost home fragrance and reflect the fall season in the process.

Scents Sure To Evoke A Fall Feeling

Photo By: Racineur

There are a variety of ways to adopt a fall theme for home fragrance. Some of the scents you might want to consider include:

Mountain or outdoor scents – Candles and essential oils that offer an outdoor appeal are excellent for improving home fragrance. Depending on where you look and the type of fragrance product you’re interested in, you should be able to find things such as pine scent, mountain scent, certain plant scents and more.

Fresh apples – Nothing says fall quite like the smell of fresh apples. Look for candles, oils and sticks that offer pure apple or apple pie fragrances and you can bring the smell of an orchard indoors.

Cinnamon and sugar – The scent of fresh baked goods is one that screams fall to many. To make Chicago apartments smell like “Mom’s kitchen,” try looking for cinnamon, sugar and vanilla scents.

Bring the smell of fall indoors and you will love coming home to your Chicago apartment. Candles, diffusers and other gadgets can help you get the job done.

Photo by: Lex in the City

Why Ikea is a Smart Choice

IKEA is a unique furniture store offering simple and cost-effective solutions. It’s well known for its sturdy and stylish bedroom furniture, office furniture and living room furniture. Chicago residents can shop at IKEA online or head to the local stores in Bolingbrook or Schaumburg.

One huge plus with IKEA is if you don’t have a knack for decorating, you can buy a complete room ensemble. For instance, a typical trendy IKEA bedroom display might include all of the following coordinating items. You can purchase one item or everything on the list:

• bed with mattress
• comforter and decorative pillows
• night stand
• wardrobe
• lamp
• mirror
• curtains
• wall shelves

Photo by: Ryan & Dana

Browse By the Room

If you go to the website for IKEA bedrooms you can click around and explore different bedroom ensembles. If you find a room you like, you can also click to specifically see ‘all products’ that are in that room, bringing up a list of those products and prices.

Online Design Planner Tool

If you like to play online, IKEA Planner Tools take your decorating plans one step further. The tools allow you to drag and drop furniture into the room and fit them to your exact measurements. You can then view the room in 3-D, see the list of products and costs, save it to the IKEA server and go pick it up at nearest store.

Using these tools, even the most inept decorator can create the hippest look for his or her Chicago apartment rental.

Photo by: Beau Wade

Step #1: The Shower Wipe Down

After taking a shower in the morning or in the evening, take the time to wipe down the surfaces with a sponge. Or a quick spray with a mildew killing bathroom agent on mildew prone spots is also an excellent idea if you don’t have time for a srub down.

Step #2: Toilet Bowl Cleaner

To stop stains from forming on the toilet, work a quick scrub down into a nightly routine. Before or after an evening shower, clean the toilet quickly with a brush. Or, just spray a little cleaner in the bowl and let it set to keep stains from forming.

Step #3: Quick Counter Scrub

Keep on top of bathroom counters by wiping them down as part of the morning or evening routine. A quick wipe down on a daily basis will practically eliminate the need for serious scrubbing later on.

Photo by: The Ardvaark

Step #4: Mirror, Mirror

To keep mirrors looking great, wipe water spots and toothpaste residue off with your bath towel. You could take it a step further by gathering cleaning supplies like paper towels and glass cleaner to shine your mirror as well.

Step #5: Daily Dust

Tuck a small duster under the sink to quickly dust surfaces such as light fixtures or the counter to pick up powdered makeup and loose hair. Running the duster along the baseboards every now and then isn’t a bad idea either.

Step #6: Spic and Span Floors

It’s unlikely you’re going to mop the bathroom floor everyday, but using a duster mop or a swiffer dry dust mop will help keep hair, makeup and dust from buliding up on the floor. Also, dry wet spots on the floor after showering with a spare towel.

Step #7: General Tidying

Keep a hamper in the bathroom to collect clothes and towels. Hang towels to dry on racks or door hooks instead of leaving them on the floor or in the sink.

Photo by: ASurroca

All told, a seven-step daily routine working into a morning or evening pattern can help keep bathrooms sparkling and looking great. There’s no reason to let your Chicago apartment bathroom get grungy and dirty when a few minutes a day can keep the area in tip top shape. And, even if you can’t do this everyday, every 2 or 3 days would be great as well.

Even though the leasing agent took you on a tour of a unit in the apartment complex, do you know which unit you will be leasing? Have you checked it for yourself? Better yet, do you know where it’s located?

In the real estate industry you’ll often hear references made to “location, location, location.” Well location is just as important when renting an apartment. Here are a few things to consider regarding your apartment unit’s location. It’s all about personal preference but consider this when moving to an apartment:

Photo by: Emilie Eagan

Is your apartment unit by the dumpster?

Proximity to the dumpster may seem convenient for taking out the trash. But are you so close that you can smell the trash from your apartment? Even if you don’t smell the garbage, you may be disappointed by the less than pleasing view out your bedroom window if it overlooks the trash from every unit in the apartment complex.

Is your apartment unit overlooking the pool?

Here’s a nice view by anyone’s standards. However, living near any common area like a pool, playground or barbecue area can also mean noise. Kids splashing in the water or music playing at a cookout by the pool could be disruptive if you’re not a big fan of noise. Go for a unit at the back of the complex that may be quieter.

Photo by: Andre Felipe

Is your apartment unit on the top floor?

It’s great for some, not for others. You won’t have neighbors above you so that reduces the noise you’ll hear in your apartment. Top floor units aren’t ideal for people who have problems climbing stairs. Families with young children might not like top floor units either.

Is your apartment unit at the back of the complex?

This could be the perfect place for someone who desires a little privacy and seclusion. But not so convenient if you use public transportation and the pickup location is at the front of the complex. Or if you have kids that enjoy a playground at the opposite end of the complex. Or if the back of the complex is right at the woods, you might not get the sunshine you need for your indoor gardening hobby.

There are several factors to consider when moving to an apartment in Chicago, including the unit’s location. The most desirable apartment locations are often the most expensive units to lease. Depending on the demand, tenants might not have a choice of units. There may only be one available apartment, leaving no other options. Bottom line - think before you sign. Choose wisely!