5 Essential iPhone Apps for Students at Penn State

If you are a student on the go at Penn State University, there are plenty of iPhone apps that can make your life easier. From transportation scheduling, keeping track of homework or even just showing your loyalty to Penn State University, here are some essential iPhone apps if you are a student at Penn State. These iPhone apps work with you iPod touch allowing you to take full advantage of Penn State University’s campus-wide free Wi-Fi network via AT&T.

PSU Live – Free

Stay connected to the Penn State University with The Penn State Live iPhone App. Thousands of Penn State students are  already are using the iPhone app to access Newswires, PSUTXT, Twitter, Facebook, the Penn State Live Web site and mobile Web site to stay informed about the latest in news, research and sports at Penn State.

Pigskin Penn State -$0.99

Show your school’s colors with Pigskin Penn State for iPhone. You can follow the Penn State Nittany Lions football team. With this application, you get the schedule of game dates and times and it updates you on game summaries and other scores provided by ESPN.com. An essential tool for Penn State football fans, don’t miss out on the premiere Penn State Athletics Football news feed.

CATA – Free

Are you tired of standing in the cold, wondering when the next White Loop is going to show up? You’re in luck because there’s an app for that. The new bus-tracking iPhone application from the Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) displays the real-time locations of CATA buses through Google Maps, allowing users to check bus schedules, locations and the closest stop from their current position from their phone.

MyHomework – Free

Never forget a homework assignment again with MyHomework app, a simple and easy to use iPhone application that allows you to keep track of your homework, classes, projects and tests while interacting with fun, easy-to-use user interface. MyHomework’s design resembles a notebook with sections that are separated by colorful “sticky pads.” Quickly enter your class schedule and use it to differ between homework assignments. Assignments are color-coded according to late, next day or upcoming so you can easily identify which homework takes priority.

Apartment Guide – Free

Did your roommate kick you out? Search free apartment listings on the go. This free app has apartment listings near the Penn State Campus making it easy for you to quickly find a new place to stay. With up-do-date listings, the Apartment Guide iPhone app is easy to navigate, offering detailed search results according to category, price and location. The app also lets you easily bookmark your favorite apartment listings near Penn State so that you can refer to them later.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Philadelphia
Image: williamhook (Flickr)

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Biggest Easter Egg Hunts in the D.C. Area

If you are looking for an Easter egg hunt for the family, Washington, D.C. offers plenty of them. Of course, the biggest event is at the White House, but even if you do not get a ticket to the famous annual Easter Egg Roll held on the White House South Lawn, you can still get involved in some of the biggest Easter egg hunts in the D.C. area.

 

Image: Switzerland County (Flickr)

2010 Easter Egg Roll
Where: White House South Lawn
When: April 5
Cost: Free (if you are selected)

This year’s theme is “Ready, Set, Go!” promoting health and wellness to children. To coincide with the First Lady’s “Let’s Move!” campaign to combat childhood obesity, all of the activities will encourage children 12 and under to lead healthy and active lives. Here is the catch: you have to win a lottery ticket to this event. If you are one of the lucky ones who were selected through an online lottery system, you can enjoy live music, sporting events, cooking stations, storytelling and, of course, Easter egg rolling.

Eggstravaganza at Tudor Place
Where: Tudor Place Historic House and Garden
When: April 3
Cost: $7 for children, $10 for adults

Touted as “the largest Egg Hunt in Washington D.C.,” the Eggstravaganza at Tudor Place offers an exhilarating Egg Roll Contest, exciting games, egg decorating and spring basket crafts. Get your picture taken with the Easter Bunny, who is available for pictures all morning. You can also enjoy a self-guided tour of Tudor Place’s 5.5 acres of beautiful gardens. Be sure to bring a basket, a spoon and one hard-boiled egg per child.

Easter Monday –Celebrating the African American Family
Where: Smithsonian National Zoological Park
When: April 5
Cost: Free

Rain or shine, the Smithsonian National Zoological Park will offer visitors a variety of special family activities, entertainment, food and special opportunities to learn more about animals. Easter Monday has been a Washington-area multicultural tradition for many years, and this year will feature special performances such as African drumming, gospel music and storytelling. The Pathways to Freedom Peace Quilt will be on display, honoring the work and life of civil rights activist Rosa Parks.

Bunnyland at Butler’s Orchard
Where: Butler’s Orchard in Germantown Maryland
When: March 27, 28, April 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 & 11, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. each day
Cost: $8 for children and $6 for adults

This small, family-friendly zoo in Germantown, Md., has annual Bunnyland festivities around Easter. Families can participate in a day’s worth of events, such as an Easter egg hunt, pony rides, raffle tickets, candy, face painting, Easter pictures, and even a hayride down the Bunny Trail.  If that is not enough to entice your kids, how about the Rubber Ducky Derby, the Pedal Tractor ride, giant slides and plenty of food vendors offering hot dogs, veggie pitas, popcorn, cookies and more?

Easter Egg Hunt at Ida Lee Park
Where: Ida Lee Park in Leesburg, Virginia
When: March 27, noon – 4 p.m.
Cost: $6 per child in advance, or $8 at the gate

There are more than 15,000 eggs hidden throughout Ida Lee Park at this annual Easter Egg Hunt. Egg hunts are separated by age group. Other activities in the park include a moon bounce, a jumbo slide, a fire truck train, face painting and balloon artists.

Easter Egg Hunt at Morrison House
Where: The Morrison House Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia
When: April 11, 2 p.m.
Cost: $38 for adults, $28 for children

Make reservations soon for this popular Easter event, as spaces fill up quickly. The Morrison House has a regular Story Time Tea program, but this Easter it will incorporate a special Easter party and egg hunt that includes a reading of “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.” Kids will have a chance to make their own Easter basket, indulge in a spread of candy, treats, tea, and sandwiches and participate in an indoor/outdoor egg hunt throughout the main level of the hotel and in the courtyard. Plus, the Morrison House makes it interesting for adults too. One golden egg will be hidden, containing a gift certificate for an overnight stay and dinner for two at The Grille.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Washington, D.C

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International Earth Day is March 20

International Earth Day, also known as the Equinoctial Earth Day, is celebrated on the March equinox (around March 20) to mark the precise day that the equinoxes and solstices are considered to start or separate the seasons. It’s not to be confused with regular Earth Day on April 22,which marks the birth of the modern environmental movement.

Image: Fredcamino (Flickr)

What is the History of International Earth Day?

The idea of a global holiday called “Earth Day” was proposed by John McConnell at the 1969 UNESCO Conference on the Environment. John McConnell was an altruistic humanitarian interested in religion, science and peace. San Francisco was the first city in the world to celebrate International Earth Day as Mayor Joseph Alioto issued the first Earth Day proclamation on March 21, 1970. The United Nations first celebrated Earth Day on the March equinox in 1971. This was also the first time ever that the United Nations celebrated Earth Day. After word got out, celebrations were held in various cities, such as San Francisco and in Davis, Calif., with a multi-day street party.

Who Celebrates Earth Day?

The United Nations celebrates Earth Day each year on the March equinox, which is often March 20. There are also national block parties, festivals and many retail and hospitality-related events. Earth Day is observed around the world by numerous groups concerned with the environment. In the United States, cause-oriented college students get involved in marches and rallies that bring awareness to the environment.

Where is Earth Day Recognized?

International Earth Day is celebrated all over the world.

How is Earth Day Celebrated?

Earth Day is traditionally observed at the moment of the equinox by ringing the Japanese Peace Bell, which was donated by Japan to the United Nations, and the Earth Society Foundation organizes the event at the U.N. Celebrations occur worldwide to correspond with the one held at the U.N. The U.N. peace bell is rung three times to mark the day, and a minute of silence is followed.

Do Earth Day Events Make a Difference?

Maybe, but it is mostly a feel-good holiday for those who like a reason to celebrate and want to feel good about helping the environment. While International Earth Day was created to bring awareness to the environment, it is questionable whether or not the holiday actually benefits the earth. If anything, it makes people think a little more about recycling, briefly contemplate the use of energy and allows them to wear hemp sandals and buy T-shirts with earth-centered logos on it.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Detroit.

 

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How to Move a Mattress into an Apartment

If you have ever moved furniture, you know that one of the hardest things to handle is a mattress, especially if you have to climb stairs. Even with two or three people, there seems to be no easy way to grab a mattress. Here are some tips and advice before trying to conquer moving a mattress on your own.

Photo by St Gleam (Flickr)

Never Use the Mattress Handles

Ever wonder why mattress manufacturers put such flimsy handles on the sides of the mattress instead of the ends where it is easier for two people to lift vertically? Believe it or not, mattresses with handles were not designed to move and transport a mattress at all. So, if you have ever ripped off mattress handles while moving, you are in the majority of people who use mattress handles against the manufacturer’s intentions. While it may not seem logical, most mattresses handles are only provided for product positioning, not for exerting great force, such as attaching a rope to them and hauling the mattress to another floor.

Buy a Mattress Bag

You can purchase a specially-made mattress box or bag from a moving company. Mattress bags keep your mattresses and box springs clean during moving or storing while protecting against soil, dust and water damage. Many plastic mattress bags have built-in handles, but they are not very sturdy for transporting, so do not rely on them for transporting up a stairway.

Rent a Truck

Unless you have a large car with a roof rack, and you have experience with transporting large, awkward objects, tying a mattress to the roof of a car nearly always ends in disaster –especially if you have a king-sized mattress. It is not worth losing your mattress on the road. Even if you are moving your mattress a short distance, it is best to rent a small moving truck or pick-up truck. Home improvement stores have truck rentals for as low as $19.95.

Use a Moving Strap or Sling

Moving straps are sturdy tools for moving bulky furniture and would work fine for carrying a mattress up a flight of stairs. However, if you want to get even more specialized, one particular company makes a mattress strap sling carrier called the EZ-Sling. The EZ-Sling makes it easy for two people of different heights to carry and deliver an oversized mattress. For $19.95, you have greater control, helping you avoid swaying, wobbling and hard-to-balance hassles.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Washington, D.C.

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Storage Options for Small Places

Living in a small apartment can be tough for storing things, especially if you are used to living in a house with a garage, basement, attic or work shed. If you live in a small apartment or condo, here are some storage options that could make your life easier, more organized and clutter-free.

Image: Editor B (Flickr)

Use Vertical Space

In limited square footage, the only way to go is up. Make use of every inch of your walls with shelving. Your apartment doesn’t have to look like a warehouse if you choose your shelving carefully. Tall bookcases from Ikea are a great place to start. With attractive boxes and magazine holders, you can stash away things that you don’t want visible while arranging other things on display.  Installing wall shelves are another good way to use vertical space. You can stagger them on the wall next to pictures or paintings.

Use Hanging Lights

Not only are they modern-looking and stylish, but hanging lamps can free up some valuable space on night tables or dressers. Simply attach a hook to your ceiling (from a stud) and drape the cord through for a suspending lit pendulum. Lights are not the only items you can hang from the ceiling; you can either find or create hanging clothes racks, hanging shelves and custom beds designed to drop from above.

Use Space Under Furniture

Beds take up a lot of space in the bedroom, so using the space underneath makes perfect sense for small apartments. If you don’t already have a high bed, you can buy stackers for your bed frame, allowing you more space for storage. Retail stores such as Walmart, Target and Home Depot sell under-bed storage boxes that are perfect for stowing away seasonal clothing and shoes, holiday decorations or a surplus of fashion accessories such as hats, scarves and purses.

Choose the Right Furniture

When shopping for furniture for your small apartment, look for furniture that can be used for more than one purpose. A futon, for example can be a seating for the home office and also an extra bed when you need to convert the home office into a guest room.  If you have a small bedroom, a king-size sleigh bed is not the best choice. Consider beds that do not have headboards or footboards. For the living room, forego that clunky coffee table and purchase stackable nesting tables that can be easily rearranged to fit the occasion. For living rooms, padded storage ottomans are great for small spaces as they can be used as a sitting stool, foot rest and a place to stash blankets and other items.

Rent Storage Space

Some things just can’t be stored in an apartment. If push comes to shove and you really need extra storage, ask your landlord what storage options are available in your apartment community. Just by asking, you may be surprised to find out that there are inexpensive (or free) storage closets located in your own apartment complex. If the apartment manager cannot help you, you may need to bite the bullet and rent a storage unit.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Philadelphia.

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