THE W3 LIFESTYLE M I N I Z I N E
beautify
THE PATIO
SEPTEMBER 2010
FALL POLLEN
SPRING’S GOT NOTHING ON IT
SHOP TO EARN MONEY
DISCOVERY AT MANDOLI
DESIGNS TO
AND AVOID BEING SCAMMED
CHECK OUT “FLIPPING OUT” REVIEW
COMMUNITY INFO - W3 LIFESTYLE 2
DISCOVER AT MANDOLIN Community Manager
Letter from the Community An apartment community cannot “buy” their status as a W3 Lifestyle designated community. As a W3 Lifestyle community they have been identified as being the Best of The Best by providing Superior Resident Services and Superior Product Quality for apartment dwellers. As a W3 Lifestyle designated community they receive a variety of services from us to support their commitment in being the absolute Best of The Best. For example, a customized community newsletter which is called the Minizine due to its Magazine quality design and size, consistent monthly resident events, resident appreciation programs, and so much more. This allows W3 Lifestyle communities to save thousands of dollars which then can be committed to other areas of the community to enhance resident services and general community appeal. If a community does not hold the W3 Lifestyle designation, then it simply is not the Best of The Best under our terms and expectations... or at least they will not “commit” to consistently being the Best of The Best. Either way, if we were you - it is a W3 Lifestyle designated community that has committed to providing YOU with the absolutely best place to live...and therefore is the only thing to be looking for in your next apartment home. Many “say” they are the best, but ONLY the communities that truly “mean” it have committed to it with receiving our W3 Lifestyle designation.
Assistant Community Manager
Maintenance Supervisor
Maintenance Technician
Phone (281) 955-7555 Fax (281) 955-7587 Email discoverymandolin@ pegasusresidential.com Web www.PegasusResidential.com
David Wolfe 770-886-1881 ext. 901 david@w3lifestyle.com Have a Review You Would Like to Share? Share with us your experience with a Movie, Restaurant, Night Club, or anything else you think your neighbors could benefit from.
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Email Your Review to: review@w3lifestyle.com Once your review is emailed it becomes property of W3 Lifestyle, LLC and may be published
You’re W3 Lifestyle Designated: Now What?
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ow you live in a W3 Lifestyle designated community, congrats!! That means that you are living in the best of the best communitiies and you receive the best programs possible. In our monthly minizine, we encourage the residents and the staff to contribute a couple of articles whether it be about a fundraiser going on or a community party. Don’t worry, your articles that you send are put into your specific community’s minizine. I also encourage for you to share with us that favorite local pizza joint or the best dry cleaners in town. They can advertise in your minizine for a very low price and your local companies also tend to give discounts with their ads as well!
yummy goodies and refreshing drinks. Another favorite (mine personally) is our Sweet & Stylish event. The Sweet & Stylish Party is fun with lots of delectable sweets such as cupcakes, chocolate, strudels and some sweet tea or lemonade. The Health & Wellness Expo offers residents a more healthy choice with vegetables and fruits along with vendors who promote staying healthy and strong. We also do teeth whitening at the expo for only $49! You leave feeling great about yourself from the Health & Wellness Expo. Another great event we have is the Jazz Under the Stars. Kick back with your neighbors to an evening with food and music from the likes of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fritzgerald.
We also have very special events coming up for each community. Our Meet and Greet is always a hit and a great way to get to know your neighbors. It features
Last but not least is our Holiday Party to end the year with in December. It will be a great time to celebrate the happiness of being with great friends and neighbors.
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f you’re like many 20- and early 30-somethings — aka Generation Y — money concerns are probably hitting you in a way they haven’t before. Your paycheck, assuming you have one, probably doesn’t go as far as you’d like. Even if you’re in tip-top shape, health insurance can be pricey. And fewer companies offer pension plans, even as prospects for Social Security remain unclear. Perhaps not surprisingly, more than half of employees between 21 and 32 say that they’re living paycheck to paycheck, according to a recent survey by insurer Metlife. Nearly three-fourths of respondents are concerned about making ends meet. Fortunately, you can get off to a sound financial start with these nine tips. 1. Respect debt Debt can be devastating if you don’t get it under control, says Wes Moss, a Certified Financial Planner, or CFP, 4 W3 LIFESTYLE - oXYGen Financial
and director and chief investment adviser with Capital Investment Advisors in Atlanta. It limits your career choices, your chances of buying a house and often leads to tension in personal relationships. Moss acknowledges the dilemma, as your 20s and 30s can be expensive decades. You’re outfitting a place to live and may need to buy a car and work wardrobe. At the same time, you’re at the low end of your earning potential. You need to closely track spending and cut waste to avoid running up credit card balances. 2. Save To start, you need a cash cushion to cover any periods of unemployment, as well as unpredictable expenses. Then, begin saving for retirement as soon as possible, says Sarah Young Fisher, a CFP and owner of Fisher Advisers in Lancaster, Pa.You’ll need to learn to be a savvy investor, says
income or if family members would need to hire someone to cover the work you do at home, life insurance is a must. 6. Consider housing options Your living arrangements need to be safe, inexpensive enough that you can build your savings and flexible enough that you can move if your career demands it.One option is to head back to your parents’ home for a year or two. “If you can grin and bear it, it’s a great way to get a financial buffer quickly,” Moss says. Of course, you need to be disciplined about stashing away the money you’re not spending on rent. Renting an apartment with roommates helps you stretch your housing budget and learn to live with someone else. That’s good preparation for marriage, says Fisher. 7. Budget While major outlays are hard to overlook, you also need to track smaller, ongoing expenses, like lunch money and gas for the car. These add up, and the totals can shock you.Consider that a modest dinner out each week at $30 will leave you $1,560 poorer by next year. If you find number crunching tedious, check out online tools that can automate the process. 5 W3 LIFESTYLE - oXYGen Financial
8. Have the money talk Sure, discussing money with your significant other isn’t the most romantic of conversations. But it’s better to find out now if your future better half is hiding thousands in debt. “Ask the questions that might be uncomfortable,” says William Bailey, associate professor in the School of Human Environmental Sciences at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. 9. Prepare before starting a family It sounds crass to consider finances when you’re thinking of starting a family, but you need to be realistic. Cut corners all you can, but kids are expensive. In addition to the gear you’ll need, a baby typically means some time away from work. Start putting some money away before you’re knee-deep in diapers and Onesies.While the economy has been hard on almost everyone, you have a few things in your favor. First, you have time for the market to recover. Moreover, you should be able to halt any bad financial habits before they become ingrained. Of course, the economy will change at some point. Even so, the key to financial security remains the same, according to Kamenetz: “Live within your means and put something away.”
Robert Manning, author of “Credit Card Nation: The Consequences of America’s Addiction to Credit.” That means understanding the tax implications and costs of different investments. advertisement
to finishing school.”What about getting an additional degree? While learning more is always great, take a pragmatic approach. That may mean heading to a vocational school for a certification, even if you’ve earned a four-year degree. “It’s more practical and cheaper than graduate school,” says Anya Kamenetz, author of “Generation Debt” and a writer with Fast Company magazine.
3. Assess your career “You are your biggest asset,” Moss says. Today, it’s not unusual to earn more than $1 million over a lifetime. “Think long and hard about where 5. Get insured and how you’ll earn You’re not invincible. Arthur Benz an income,” he says. Moreover, given that Vice President, oXYGen While you want a one illness or injury Financial, Inc. career you enjoy, you can bankrupt you, President, oXYGen Financial also want to consider health insurance is Insurance, Inc. how different paths will a must. If you can Request a FREE Financial impact your financial get it through your consultation: security.When you employer, consider it. abenz@oxygenfinancial.net change jobs, roll over It’s usually a better to a new retirement deal than options account any money you have in available to individuals.You’ll also retirement savings with your old want disability insurance in case employer. Here’s why: Spend the an illness or injury keeps you out of money and you’ll pay penalty and work for some period of time. “The taxes, which can top 25 percent. probability is low, but the impact is severe,” says Todd Katz, senior vice 4. Rethink education president with MetLife. In this economy, you need to take Homeowners or renters insurance is a hard-nosed assessment of your smart. Even if your furnishings are education plans. If you started castoffs, replacing everything would college but didn’t finish, go back, add up. Moss says. “The rewards are huge Finally, if others depend on your oXYGen Financial - W3 LIFESTYLE 6
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GetFit StayFit Club "Your Health is Your Wealth" Let This Be YOUR Year to Get Healthy Ardyss Can Change YOUR Life Benefits: Highest Antioxidants Increased weight loss Help with Immune System
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HASH BROWN QUICHE
Ingredients 3 cups shredded hash brown potatoes 1/3 cup butter, melted seasoning salt to taste 1 cup diced cooked ham 1/4 cup chopped onion 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese 2 eggs 1/2 cup milk salt and pepper to taste
Directions Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
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Press hash browns onto the bottom and sides of a 9 inch pie dish. Drizzle with melted butter, and sprinkle with seasoning salt. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until beginning to brown. In a small bowl, combine ham, onion and shredded cheese. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and a little seasoning salt. When crust is ready, spread ham mixture on the bottom, then cover with egg mixture. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C.) Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until filling is puffed and golden brown.
Flipping out Bravo’s Reality Show That’s Full of Shenanigans! By Sierra Bennett
Flipping Out’s Jeff Lewis is the boss of his own house design company. He flips houses into beautiful works of art. Lewis is a boss that is tough and knows what he wants. Knowing what he wants, he expects his employees to get that done. This give for some crazy antics when he “flips-out” but you can’t help but like him with his crazy sense of humor. Real Estate 10 W3 LIFESTYLE - ENTERTAINMENT REVIEW
investor Jeff Lewis started off redesigning houses and flipping them to sale. Now because of the economy and his unique eye for design Jeff has clients who want him to do renovations for them. He now has his own small business and really works on making sure the redesigns are given his full attention. Therefore Lewis doesn’t take up more clients than he can chew. “Flipping Out” also allows viewers to witness the attention to detail and how much work is put into getting a renovation started. Recently they started working on the renovating the restaurant, “Casa Vega” which has dined for the likings of movie stars. On this season so far with “Casa Vega” Jeff tries to renovate the restaurant without stepping on the orginal owner’s toes because that’s what the owner’s daughter wants to avoid. Luckily it seems as though she have formed a bond with Jeff Lewis and his staff that’s strong. Another renovation that is being done this season is with a lady named Barb. Now Barb is eccentric, crazy and adorable. Jeff just loves her and treats her as on the best of his clients. Trace, an intern with Jeff Lewis Design, likes his personal space and Barb is a hugger so you know some things are going to insue. If you want to watch “Flipping Out” it airs on Bravo, Tuesday nights at 9pm.
The Crew Lowdown JENNI PULOS Executive Assistant to Chief Operating Office at Jeff Lewis Design. She and Jeff are constantly making snarks at each other providing great entertainment for us. She is also an aspiring actress and singer, which gives Jeff something to pick on her for. ZOILA CHAVEZ Jeff’s full-time housekeeper who is constantly smart-mouthed and is at odds with his pets. She also has what Jett Pink calls “ a lazy bone.” JETT PINK The house assistant who also is a musician and father along with “the best house assistant ever.” He is the calm in this chaotic group. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes as well. SARAH BERKMAN Sarah is more or less Jeff’s dimwitted personal assistant. However she is family, her sister married Jeff’s brother so there isn’t much that can be done about that. At least she brings a laugh in a much needed situation. TRACE JAMES LEHNHOFF The intern at Jeff Lewis Design, Trace is quiet and has a don’t care attitude even when he does. Jeff thinks Trace will have a full time position (or great business partner) once he graduates from college.
ENTERTAINMENT REVIEW - W3 LIFESTYLE 11
www.MBUSA.com
ANOTHER POLLEN SEASON STARTS The oftenforgotten allergy season, but not for sufferers! Written By Donell Ducote, fnp-c, aprn submitted by Leslie Morris
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nyone who lives in the Atlanta area knows about spring pollen. The “yellow fog” settles in during March and covers roads, vehicles, porches and lawns. But the fall pollen in this area is also quite problematic for many allergy sufferers. This is invisible pollen so it is not so easily noticed as is the yellow dust of
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spring. This fall may be a dry one which could lead to pollen counts staying elevated for days due to the lack of rain to “wash it away”.
pollen after being outdoors can be helpful.
Fall can also bring higher mold counts due to the fallen leaves which stay Fall pollen comes from weeds which damp on the undersides. Raking are abundant in the ditches and fields leaves and cleaning under bushes in Northeast Georgia. Even if you live will cause increased mold exposure. in the inner city, this pollen will reach For many, mold is a potent allergen you as it blows for miles on the autumn causing increased nasal and eye breezes. Pollen counts start rising in symptoms as well as asthma. Weed late August or early September and pollen which has fallen on your lawn stay high until the first will be stirred up by frost kills the weeds in raking and cutting “Take some preventive late October or early grass in the fall. Use November. Due to measures if you are caution with yard work the fine particle size, an allergy sufferer.” if you already have this pollen penetrates increased allergy nasal mucosal lining symptoms in the fall. and airways. It aggravates nasal symptoms as well as asthma. For The fall is a beautiful time of year to some children and adults, eczema be enjoyed for cooler temperatures (itchy, dry skin) can flare. and amazing colors. Take some preventive measures if you are an Staying indoors with windows closed allergy sufferer. Use daily medication will ease symptoms somewhat but during September and October, see this is the time of year when there is your primary MD or allergist, and limit finally a break from the oppressing time outdoors if needed. heat of summer and outdoor areas become inviting again. Using daily Article from Allergy and Asthma Clinic antihistamines and nasal steroids can of Northeast Georgia. Contact the ease symptoms for many. Spraying Clinc at : 770-534-0534 lots of nasal saline to wash out the
HEALTH - W3 LIFESTYLE 15
Designing a Nice patio In a Few Simple Steps There is no difference if it is autumn or spring for you to come up with fresh ideas for a cozy patio. With my advices it is easy to build a relaxing place to stay in. Pick my ideas and I will reveal the secrets of patio building. There are only a small number of things for you to put attention to while planning your patio. No need for special knowledge for you to begin. There are basically three things: lightning, picking 16 W3 LIFESTYLE - COVER
furniture and heating. There are other things may be added to the scheme depending on the functions your patio would have.
be installed in just a few hours and there is no danger of short circuits. Just be sure to read the manual.
It is a good idea to add shades to the The fire pit can be a nice place to patio in order to be used during the start with. Everybody knows that sunny days. The purpose of shades prehistoric people used to gather is to limit the quantity of light coming around the big fire to eat and worm to your sitting area. There are really up. Hot flames warm the place and hundreds variants of shades to put share coziness. With small fire pit in a patio. Starting with just basic in the center of your ones and ending with patio it is easy to relax exotic. Thousands in the dark. “Never order furniture of different types of There is two types of off the internet. You shades are currently fire pits can be used in available in online want to try out chairs the patio. Standalone stores. Within just half before purchasing.” an hour spent in your devices can be moved around or even took browser you can order way from the patio any design you like. when not in use. The build in pits looks bigger and steady because Furniture is last, but not the least part build of bricks or boulders. of the patio concept. You and your family will be spending a lot of hours A couple of advices may come handy in patio chairs. That is why it is so when talking about the lightning. important to do a little research to pick You can set up a very romantic up the right set of outdoor furniture. It place without spending a lot of has to be comfortable to use and its money. Perfect illumination can be design should match the patio style. implemented with a number of modern low-voltage bulbs available You may use aluminum furniture, but in hardware stores. Some of those my advice would be to pick the wicker installed around the patio cause the ones. Wicker chairs are made from place to have a unique atmosphere. ecological materials that are way more Using of low voltage allows them to gratifying to the eye and lighter when W3LIFESTYLE - COVER 17
moved around. Modern wicker chairs are fully water repellent so there is no need to worry about humid protection. They are at the same time easy to be cleaned with modern solutions. My other tip would be never to order furniture via Internet. You should always try the chairs before buying. Go to the nearest hardware store and sit down on a chair for a few minutes to be sure that it is comfortable and your back feels nice in it. Wicker chair cushions bring the final touch to your patio. When matched with shade color, it makes the whole set look just adorable. The main objective for chair cushions is to hold waist in comfortable pose and protect your back. There are two types of wicker chair cushions can be purchased: flat or puffy. Try both and see which you like most. Be sure to take measurements of your seats before buying cushions to get the right size. There were just some simple tips on patio planning. You may be still not set with the color scheme or have other doubts. Here is my last tip: find ideas by browsing photo sites where people sharing their ideas. Visit any one of them (Google images for example) and look for patio pictures. Hundreds 18 W3 LIFESTYLE - COVER
of brilliant patio ideas will come up instantly! I hope you will have the patio of your dreams very soon! Read More at: http://www.bukisa.com/ articles/307064_designing-nice-patioin-a-few-simple-steps
10 Real And Legitimate Mystery Shopping Companies To Make Money With
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ystery shopping is a great and fun way to make some extra cash. Here are 10 real and legitimate mystery shopping companies you shop for and get paid doing so. Mystery shopping is a great and fun way to make some extra cash. You get to shop and get paid for it. The only problem with mystery shopping is actually finding a legitimate mystery shopping company to work for. Mystery shopping has been bombarded with scams of all kind, specially in the past few years. Many people have become victims of these mystery shopping scams, and instead 20 W3 LIFESTYLE - SHOPPING
of making money, lost money. Be careful when looking for mystery shopping work, so you don’t become another victim of mystery shopping scams. One thing to keep in mind is that no legitimate mystery shopping company requires a registration fee. If you come across a company or a website claiming to be a legitimate mystery shopping company, asking you for money, know that its just another scam. With that said, here are 10 real and legitimate mystery shopping companies you shop for and get paid doing so. Beyond Hello. Beyond Hello specializes in mystery shopping and provides
additional services that help clients measure their customers’ experiences. Certified Reports, Inc. (CRI) They evaluate theater and everything related to it, like Seating Capacity, Sneak Previews, Audience Reaction, Lobby and etc. A Closer Look, Inc. A company that documents guest feedback and specializes in the hospitality industry like restaurant, hotel, health club, spa and healthcare industry, like dental, medical markets. Your assignments can be found on their website.
independent contractor. They provide On-line training sessions for those who are new to mystery shopping or wish to learn more. All-Star Customer Service. In An award wining mystery shopping company. project includes Shops in retail, banking, sales, hospitality, apartments, restaurants and other industries. Online training too. Site has listing of available jobs. Ardent Services. Provides comprehensive evaluation services including CustomerService,Merchandise Integrity, Store Standards, Competitor Performance Comparison, Competitor Price Comparison, Associate Integrity and Associate Morale.
A&A Merchandising Ltd. It is a marketing services company that specializes in retail merchandising, Be careful when channel and back office corporate looking for mystery programs. shopping work, so AboutFace. Anyone over the age of 18 may become a shopper. Pays all shoppers via PayPal.
you don’t become another victim of mystery shopping scams
A Top Shop Most shops pay $10-20 per hour. Some shops include benefits such as reimbursement for meals, movie tickets, merchandise, hotel stays, etc.
Confero The Service Resources Group. Focuses on Retail, grocery, and automotive shops.
Greet America, Inc. If you are dependable and a hard worker, join the professional Greet America team as an W3LIFESTYLE - SHOPPING 21
e s i t r e v d A e r e h Get in front of every resident in all of the best of the best communities across 6 States!
Marci Alt (404) 377-4297 marci@carmaproductions.com
• indefinate shelf life! • Discount for business owners who are residents of a W3 Community! • ask about our other advertising perks! • Find out how to get in front of the nations most loyal consumer!