Abberly Crest Blog

There are all kinds of races coming up in Southern Maryland, and perhaps living in an apartment in Lexington Park, MD you are inspired to participate in one or two of them.  The spring is the time when community races, cancer walks and 5K’s start. Hopefully you are inspired to start running.

If you are interested in running one of these races successfully it is best to start training at least 8 weeks  or more in advance (training time required depends on length of race) to prepare your body. Watch the video below for tips.

Have you done your taxes yet? There are many benefits to living in an apartment in Lexington Park, MD but you may not think that tax deductions are one of them. If you rent, you're probably better off taking the standard deduction. There are, however, a few deductions you may be able to claim even if you take the standard deduction.

There are tax credits specific to renters in Maryland.  The Renters' Tax Credit Program is a plan that provides property tax credits for renters. It is designed to be similar in principle to the Homeowners' Tax Credit Program.
 
For example, the Maryland Renters' Tax Credit Program requires that a rental be a taxpayer's primary residence to claim the credit that could be as high as $750. The renter is also required to have lived at Abberly Crest or other rental property for at least six months of the year in which the credit is claimed.

As a renter, you often get more for your dollar spent. By renting at Abberly Crest, you can live in a beautiful community full of apartment amenities and you don’t have to spend money on home maintenance.

There are other potential tax deductions you shouldn't overlook:

• Interest on your student loans.
• Hybrid car deduction.
• Classroom expense deduction. If you worked as a teacher last year and used your own money to buy classroom supplies, you can deduct some of that on your tax return.

Keep in mind too, that if you use your apartment home as a home-based business, you are entitled to deduct expenses for the business use of your apartment. These expenses include your monthly rent, renters insurance, and utilities. A home office deduction is available to you as a renter.  

If you are searching for an apartment in Lexington Park, MD and you are on the go, take advantage of mobile technology to make your apartment search more efficient and more effective. Mobile search is available literally at your fingertips.

Check your toolbox
You may currently use mobile technology for everything from checking the weather to downloading movies, but have you thought about how you can go mobile with your apartment search? GPS and mapping tools simplify your search by pinpointing apartment locations that are located in Lexington Park or in a desired area. And many apartment communities and apartment search guides have Facebook pages where you can get a quick overview of what tenants are saying and what a community has to offer.

After find a potential apartment, use mobile technology to instantly go online where you can read reviews and compare apartment communities to others nearby. Use your mobile device to jot down notes electronically and take pictures. Then you can e-mail pictures and thoughts directly to your partner, roommate or friends.

No apartment search would be complete without submitting an application, which you can also quickly do from your mobile device once you find your dream apartment. That way other renters won’t beat you to the punch!

Socialize your search
Taking advantage of mobile technology can help you locate, preview and contact apartment communities. Before you sign the contract, you may want to go mobile to get opinions on your decision. Logging in to Facebook on your smartphone gives you quick access to your friends so you can post questions about your apartment choice and get immediate feedback.

Making a move and choosing a new apartment in Lexington Park can be challenging, so maximize your mobile technology to make decisions faster and get a jump on the hottest apartments on the market.

Original article – Moving Today

It is the season of the candy cane. Use them as a tree ornament and on gifts. But there are other things you can do with candy canes too.
 
There are some terrifically simple ways to use the candy cane to sweeten some favorite treats. For example:

• Serve a candy cane as a stirring stick with a cup of hot cocoa or coffee.
• Crush a candy and sprinkle it on vanilla ice cream.
• Sprinkle them on iced Christmas cookies.
• Dip the curved end into melted chocolate and cool on a wax paper line tray for a new twist.

• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 1/4 cups butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup white sugar, or as needed
• 1 cup finely crushed peppermint candy
• 3 tablespoons milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheets, or line with parchment paper.
2. Beat 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar with the butter, peppermint extract, vanilla extract, and egg in a mixing bowl at Medium speed until well blended and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce speed to Low, and gradually mix in the flour, baking powder, and salt until well blended, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy using a wooden spoon.
3. Place the white sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll a small amount of cookie dough between your hands to make 3/4 inch diameter balls. Roll in sugar. Place 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
4. Bake in preheated oven until light brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove and cool on racks.
5. Meanwhile, to make the glaze, stir the remaining 1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar together with the milk in a bowl until smooth. Drizzle cooled cookies with the glaze, and sprinkle immediately with the remaining crushed peppermint candy.

• 4 ounces Unsweetened Chocolate
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 3 large eggs
• 2 cups granulated white sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 5-6 ounces of chocolate squares with peppermint filling, unwrapped
• 4 small candy canes, crushed

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.
2. In the top of a double boiler or in a heatproof bowl over barely simmering water, melt the unsweetened chocolate and butter, stirring occasionally until smooth. Cool to room temperature.
3. In a large bowl with an electric mixer or whisk, beat the eggs, sugar, vanilla, peppermint extract, and salt until combined. Beat in the chocolate mixture. Gently stir in the flour. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
4. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the brownies comes out clean. Arrange the mint squares on top in one layer and return the brownies to the oven until they are just melted, about 1 minute. Evenly spread the chocolate with a spatula and sprinkle with the crushed candy canes. Cool completely before cutting into 2-inch squares.

• 1 tablespoon superfine sugar
• 1 tablespoon hot water
• 2 ounces vanilla vodka
• ½ ounce white creme de menthe
• 1 teaspoon whole milk
• 1 small candy cane (for garnish)

• In a microwave-safe cup, heat the sugar and water for 30 seconds or until the sugar dissolves.
• Spread crushed candy canes on a piece of waxed paper.
• Fill a martini glass with ice cubes, swirl it around, then tip out the ice. Fill a metal shaker with ice and add the vodka, creme de menthe, sugar mixture, and milk. Shake vigorously and strain into a martini glass. Decorate with the candy cane.

Enjoy the Holidays from Abberly Crest.

At our apartments in Lexington Park, MD the fall season is about to start. Cooler weather is about to cause us to spend more time indoors. Do you want to do some fall redecorating in your apartment home? Here are some apartment decorating ideas that will not break the bank.

Fresh paint-  For minimal money you can dramatically change any room’s appearance with paint and a few basic supplies. Pulling a vibrant color from a room’s patterned upholstery or rug and putting it on the walls can have a dramatic effect.

Throw rugs -  Now is the time to think about what the floors will feel like on chilly mornings. Roll up or throw down a rug as the seasons change. A soft area rug could really pull all the colors together in a room, and reduce echoes from hardwoods and tile.
 
Add Fabric -  Fabric can really brighten up a one-,  two-, or three bedroom apartment.  Plain sofas can be livened up with patterned pillows. New place mats are a great way to change the presentation of a meal. Pair a contrasting color or a pattern with plain plates. Dining room chairs or bar stools can be recovered for a whole new look.

Add photos to the wall -  Use family photos and mismatched frames to fill a blank wall space in a family room or hallway. Lay them out on the floor and make a grid. Play with the design until it feels balanced and looks good. If you have trouble following the pattern, make paper bag cut-outs of the same pictures and tape them to the wall for the placement of the frames.

New Hand Towels - New towels and a bath mat in can give your bathroom a whole  new look.

Have fun making some colorful changes in your apartment homes at Abberly Crest.

Moving into your new apartment in Lexington Park, MD certainly takes a bit of adjusting. You have to get familiar with the space, the roads, and the people around you. Like people, pets need time to become accustomed to a new home and new faces too.

If you’ve just moved into a new apartment with your pet, using your pet's favorite food bowl, bedding and toys will help in getting your pet to feel at home. If your pet will have free-roam of your apartment, let the him/her come out of their cage when it they want by leaving the door open.

Try to keep your pets routine as normal as possible during all phases of the move. If you regularly feed, exercise or play with your pet at certain times, continue to do so. This may help reduce the chances of it getting upset.

Hopefully you have been able to get a recommendation for a veterinarian from your previous vet, if this move was not local for you. Once you yourself are settled in, locate and visit a veterinarian. Abberly Crest is a pet-friendly apartment community, so feel free to ask us any questions.

Golf is a great way for women of all ages and skill levels to connect with friends and family.

Market research shows that many women are turned off by golf. Golfing does have its nuances and there’s quite a learning curve. But it is worth learning the game to spend several hours outside with friends and family on a weekly basis. Many public courses and private clubs in our neighborhood offer some kind of "Ladies Day" and various group golf lesson packages designed for women. And, women executives enjoy many business benefits with golf. According to a survey conducted by the Golf Digest Companies Research Center, "22 percent of women executive golfers have closed business deals on the golf course."

Cheers for Isabelle Beisiegel, or "Izzy" as she is known, made golfing history last week by being the first woman to earn a place on a men's professional golf tour.

In the Lexington Park area there are plenty of golf courses to choose from including Cedar Pointe Golf Club, Chesapeake Hills Golf Course and Brenton Bay Golf and Country Club (which has a ladies golf association).

So grab some new friends from around your apartment home community and hit the golf course, have some fun, and maybe close a business deal or two.

Spring is a time for rebirth and regeneration for our homes and for the outdoors. Flowers and plants in indoor gardening and outdoor landscaping has become part of our everyday lifestyles. The right floral touches can enhance the atmosphere of the interior of our homes. You can become an instant interior designer with some greenery in your living room or turn your bathroom into a spa escape with some orchids or other interesting flower.

Dress up your spring table with a display of tulips, a few stunning bouquets or some garden fresh cut flowers. Fresh blooms also make the perfect last minute hostess gift or to bring along when meeting the new neighbor.

Why not try your hand at designing your own arrangement? Choose a few bunches in different shades of the same color or those with lots of contrast. Display your flowers in decorative containers for a finished look. Traditional vases are nice, but for a more creative feel, use a mason jar or pretty teapot.

Bright blooms aren’t the only way to add vibrant color. Vegetables, herbs and other plants are beautiful too and using heirloom seeds can promote sustainable living!

The impact that plants have on our interior and exterior environments is undeniable. They clean the indoor air of organic compounds, provide oxygen and some even chase away bugs. Plants and flowers have something for everyone. Floral elements give us a “feel good” factor that we enjoy amidst the confusion of everyday life.

Spring parties are an excellent excuse to break out special bottles of wine.   Simple spring main dishes of glazed ham and grilled lamb chops, or garden parties of spring salads and appetizers are all wine-friendly. But even spring vegetables, brunch casseroles, and chocolaty dessert parties can go well with wine. Enjoy your gatherings with family and friends and pair up your courses with some delicious and fun wines.

To begin
Start off with a light white wine that feels and tastes like spring. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect wine to share with apps and snacks. Try Kim Crawford, a grassy, herbal, grapefruit-scented wine that is also a great value.

Sauvignon Blanc or Grüner Veltliner from Austria are also great choices for a wine to share with vegetables or a first course spring salad. Hofer Grüner Veltliner is made from organic grapes and comes in a liter bottle, so you gain an extra two glasses.

The Main Meal
A Riesling is the classic accompaniment to glazed ham; the wine's acidity works well with the sweet glaze. The rich and fruity Australian Jacob's Creek Reserve Riesling is a perfect choice.

Grilled Lamb and red wines are a natural match.  A bold, rich California red wine like Peju's Persephone Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2005 is perfect with roasted lamb. Two other great choices are the 2005 Les Deux Rhônes Chateaufeuf-du-Pape,  which is a blend of Grenache and Syrah that tastes of cherries and has a bit of spice, or an Italian Chianti like the 2004 Il Molino de Grace Chianti Classico Reserva .

Dessert
All desserts go great with after-dinner coffee of course, but try a vibrant, tropical Chardonnay like the 2006 Miner Wild Yeast Chardonnay. But if chocolate truffles and cakes are your dessert of choice, Port with chocolate is a classic pairing. Of course, you could simply serve a sumptuous after-dinner wine that's a dessert all in itself, like Canadian ice wine from Konzelmann Estate.

Abberly Crest Apartments is a pet friendly apartment community located in a pet friendly neighborhood. Our beautiful landscapes and many walking paths provide pet owners and their pets plenty of walking space within our community. However there are some days you want to go beyond our apartment borders.

Minutes from Abberly Crest Apartments on Willows Road in Lexington Park, Maryland is one of St. Mary’s County best dog parks. Lancaster Park has a separate area for small and big dogs including a fenced off-leash dog area, benches, and water for the dogs. This dog park is an easy walk from Abberly Crest Apartments.

Are you looking for a pet friendly apartment community and neighborhood in St. Mary’s County? Abberly Crest offers the best living solutions for apartment renters and their furry friends. For more information, contact our offices today at 1-888-843-0096.