It’s more than schmoozing…
There are many different ideas when it comes to Networking. Many people have found new jobs while at a neighborhood event, playing golf or attending a child’s sporting event. Just by chatting with the person that you are with can equate into something positive. Some people hear of networking and think of just passing out your business cards or going to a job fair. It really doesn’t have to be that formal. Have a couple of initial questions that you can ask anyone and then tailor them to what that person or group does for work. Who doesn’t like to talk about the company that they work for?
Here are a couple tips to keep in mind when you are networking with others..
• Keep emails short and to the point
• You don’t need to know the most people, just the right people
• Go beyond your industry
• Ask if people want to be connected
• Make it a point to follow up
• Develop the habit of introducing people
• Don’t have any expectations
• Use social sites like LinkedIn or Facebook
It is that easy.. now get out there and talk it up.. The more people that know about Princeton Properties and what we have to offer, the more profitable we will all be!

At some point in almost every social butterfly’s life, we’re going to want to invite people into our home for food, drink, and fun. When that home is an apartment, however, lots of questions come up. Am I allowed to have a group of people in my apartment? Will people want to actually come and hang out in my little space? Do I even <em>have</em> enough space for a party? How loud can the music be? Is this really a good idea? With a little creativity and a lot of consideration for your neighbors, you can probably pull off a lovely apartment party – so read on for some tips to make it marvelous!

– First, don’t go overboard and invite anyone & everyone. Keep the guest list small and keep your small space in mind!
– Next, check in with your management office. Let them know what you’re planning and find out if it’s actually ok. You don’t really want to risk that phone call from them the next day, do you? You know the one: “Good morning, Miss Party Pants. I’m calling because I received several complaints from your neighbors about an apparent ruckus in your apartment last night…”
– Speaking of your neighbors, you should also check in with them, too – all of them. The ones across the hall, to your left, to your right, above, and/or below you. And don’t spring it on them the day of your gathering; give them a couple of days’ notice! Tell them you’re having guests and ask them to come directly to you if they’re being bothered. Wouldn’t you rather see neighbor Mary in her nightgown at your door than Officer Killjoy? Yep, you would.
– Don’t forget about your neighbors after you’ve told them about the party. Keep the music at a reasonable volume and gently remind guests not to scream like banshees.
– Use your space wisely! Keep the food and beverages in an area where there’s enough room for people to move about easily and make sure there’s plenty of seating so people don’t feel on top of each other.
– Don’t skimp on the food options! Having more food than you need and getting stuck with leftovers is better than your guests needing to stop for fast food on the way home.
– More bodies in your apartment means it’s going to get a little warm in there…but if you open the windows, you could freeze everyone out. Be aware of how hot or cold it is and watch for shivering or melting party guests.
– Have some music playing in the background, just in case you run into the dreaded awkward silence (which you won’t, because your friends are awesome – right?). Just in case.
– Did we mention that you should be conscious of your neighbors?

Sounds like a lot of work, but it’s all absolutely worth it and can make for a wonderful night in!

As the weather is starting to improve, I am so excited to see my favorite ice cream shop now open for the season. For the past 3 years, my husband and I will treat ourselves to this delicious homemade ice cream. Dick and June’s are located on Elliott St in Beverly and serve many different flavors as well as frozen yogurt. While there are only a few picnic tables available, the majority of people enjoy standing and socializing as they have their tasty summertime treat. My personal favorite is mint chocolate chip while my husband loves the butter toffee flavor. If you are ever in the Beverly area I certainly suggest stopping by!
What is your favorite flavor? I bet they serve it at Dick and June’s!

I hope this blog doesn’t bum anyone out, that is definitely not my intention in writing it. I am writing about this subject to remind everyone just exactly how precious life is, and that each day is absolutely a gift and not a given right.
Just yesterday one of my parent’s best friends passed away. He had a very long and hard fight with cancer. In fact, he was diagnosed almost 7 years ago with pancreatic cancer. It was stage four. And yes, this cancer is one of the stronger forms that normally ends a life with in months. He was so much stronger than that, and was on what some would say “borrowed time” for the past 7 years. I say he was blessed and a fighter. Of course we are going to miss him very much, but we are so happy that he is no longer in pain.
Times like these always make you think about those important to you and those around you. I think instead of sad things happening to make you truely value life, we should try to live every day as though it was your last, and to realize every day is a gift and not everyone gets one.
Here are some ways that I am going to try to enjoy the “present” of today:
Smile more, it takes too much work to frown and it isn’t very pretty.
Pay it forward. This doesn’t mean you have to spend money, but it can be in the little things… donating clothes, paying for a strangers coffee at Dunkins, help someone with thier groceries, bring in extra left overs for you and your co-workers to share, pick someone flowers!
If you love someone or many people, tell them. Don’t wait. Why wait?
Stop and smell the roses. SLOW DOWN. we are always running here, doing this.. just slow down.
Enjoy life. Quit thinking of the things you don’t have or wish you had, and enjoy the people and things in your life.
I know that “D”, my parent’s friend, definately lived his life to the absolute fullest. Enjoyed his friends, family, and his church. Surrounded himself with an amazing support system and he truely did shine. Even at his lowest point, he still smiled, paid it forward, loved, slowed down, and enjoyed life.
Remember to embrace today, it is called the “present” because it is just that, a present.

Living without a yard can have its drawbacks. However, even apartment dwellers can make their patio or balcony into an outdoor oasis. Target is selling “small spaces” patio sets which are functional, comfortable, and cute! Plus, you could invest in a decorative space heater – it’s like sitting beside a fire pit on those breezy summer nights. To spruce up the area, plant some annuals like daisies and evergreen in bright colored pots. If you like to entertain, you can pick up some sturdy wicker cubes that can be tucked under your patio chairs, used for storage, and topped with a pillow for extra seating. Bring out portable speakers for your iPod, wrap some twinkle lights around your banisters, and you’ve got all of the makings for a relaxing summer afternoon!

During a recent visit to a friend’s house, I stumbled upon a simple, easy and more importantly, yummy appetizer. I am a huge fan of caprese salad and anything dipped in balsamic vinegar so this recipe was just perfect! Let me introduce the caprese salad skewer. Salads are near impossible to serve as a party appetizer, but salad on a stick?! That is genius! Using skewers was super fun and really easy to clean-up. I was such a fan of this appetizer that I recreated it over the Easter holiday, the caprese skewers were the hit of the party, a simple and colorful appetizer. Try it!

<strong>Ingredients:</strong>
Cherry Tomatoes
Fresh Mozzarella Balls (small, roughly the same size as the Cherry Tomatoes)
Olive Oil (we used blood orange olive oil, but any style will due)
Fresh Basil
Balsamic Vinegar
Salt and Pepper
Pitted Black Olives
Skewers or Long Toothpicks

1. Drizzle serving plate with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

2. Chop/Tear up the Basil into bite sized pieces

3. Skewer tomato, mozzarella, olive and piece of basil. Repeat

4. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and balsamic. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.

Voila, Caprese Skewers!

Looking for the Best Thai food in the Portland area… Well it’s a bit to the north?

When you are done shopping the outlets in Freeport, Maine stop by Thai Garden located at 491 US Route 1 Freeport, ME 04032.

The family owned restaurant has a welcoming atmosphere, fun bustling energy, and quick take-out. The main draw for me is the authentic family recipes passed down from generations. Thai Garden has the best sweet and sour, dumpling, and satay peanut sauce I have ever tasted. I have tried to make my own sauces, even with my extensive culinary background, and can not even come close. 5 stars in my book!

My favorite picks are: Fresh Shrimp Spring Rolls -$5.95- served with sweet and sour sauce, Tempura Vegetables – $5.75- (usually consisting of carrots, broccoli, sweet potato, acorn squash, summer squash, green bean, red and green peppers, and a huge onion ring) –served with sweet and sour sauce, Kanom Keap-$5.50- (pork and chicken mixed with green peas and water chestnuts wrapped in a wonton skin and steamed) – served with a ginger sauce, and Chicken Satay -$6.75- (chicken marinated in Thai herbs and spices with coconut milk) served with a creamy peanut sauce, Pad Thai with Vegetables -$9.25, Paad Pik-King – $9.25 – stir fried string bean, carrot, and lime leaves in a hot pik-king coconut sauce, and Lemongrass Roasted Duck -$16.95 – thinly sliced fresh lemongrass, onion, red and green peppers, and mushrooms in a spicy lemongrass sauce over roasted duck.

More of a Chinese food fan but tired of the MSG hangover?…Try the Chicken Lo Mein -$10.50 , Spicy Shrimp Fried Rice -$1195 , and Crab Rangoons – $6.50.

After completing 8 years of sampling I have concluded that Thai Garden is hands down the best Thai food in the area. They combine fresh ingredients, extensive authentic menu choices, and reasonable prices. Open Monday-Saturday 11:00Am to 9:00pm, and Sunday 4:00PM – 9:00PM, 207-865-6005 Check them out!

<img src=”{filedir_2}Carrot.jpg” alt=”” height=”250″ width=”250″ />Though cafeteria food isn’t anyone’s idea of high cuisine, Piccadilly Cafeterias throughout the south are the go-to place for great comfort food. One of Picadilly’s signature items, the infamous carrot soufflé, is loved even by people who wouldn’t eat a carrot stick to save themselves. (This describes most of my family.) It’s lightly sweet, golden brown, powdered sugar-dusted deliciousness. Everyone goes back for seconds of this casserole. (This also describes most of my family!)

My mom is acquainted a member of the family that founded Piccadilly in Baton Rouge in 1944. When the topic of the carrot soufflé recipe has come up, the lady has insisted that the original recipe is a secret. That may be the case, but this recipe is very, very close. If you’re looking for something new to serve with ham for Easter, give it a try!

<strong>Carrot Souffle</strong>

1 1/2 pounds peeled carrots (about 9 medium)
1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add carrots and cook until very soft, about 20 minutes. Drain and mash.

To the warm carrots add melted butter, sugar, flour, baking powder, vanilla extract and eggs, beating with an electric mixer until smooth.

Transfer the mixture to a buttered 2 quart casserole dish. Bake for 1 hour or until top is light golden brown. Sprinkle lightly with confectioners’ sugar before serving.

A QR code or “Quick Response code” is a matrix barcode similar to UPC codes scanned by cash registers. These codes are designed to provide immediate access for any type of data the designer chooses. While some see QR codes as a marketing fad I think that they have a practical place in our lives. We crave instant information and as long as QR codes meet that need I think they will be around for while.

Here are a few QR placements in action:

1. Rock the vote. In the 2010 presidential election about 91 million American’s voted out of a total 217,342,419 eligible voters,
while around 122 million voted for the next American Idol. Until we can text in our votes for president, Rock the vote
volunteers have outfitted themselves with t-shirts featuring a QR code. People interested in voting simply scan the shirt and
are brought to a site where they can register, adding a little life to a process that can seem like drudgery to the gen-y crowd.
http://www.psfk.com/2012/03/t-shirt-voter-registration.html
2. The Home Depot has started using QR codes in a practical way. They have started placing QR codes on items that are
commonly purchased in large quantities by commercial customers. Maintenance technicians can download the app and
scan everything from shower heads to tubes of caulking. Once scanned these items are placed in their online shopping cart
taking the time out of managing inventory and ordering.
http://hdsupplysolutions.com/shop/home

3. QR codes just can be just for fun. There is a team at Facebook that is working to paint huge QR codes on the roofs of
buildings around the US. There is nothing practical about this, just good old nerdy fun.
http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/facebook-paints-giant-useless-qr-code- roof-headquarters-139202

4. A Portuguese artist Nuno Serrao is using QR codes to accompany pieces of art. People coming to view these works can
scan the code to access a soundscape that accompanies the piece, creating a unique experience for gallery visitors.
http://mashable.com/2012/02/25/qr-codes-art-music/

5. Soon Princeton Place Apartments in Worcester MA will be placing QR codes throughout corporate furnished apartments.
These codes once scanned will bring guests to a tutorial video for the item they scanned. You’ll find them on thermostats,
TV remote, appliance, anything that residents might need a little help using.

Where have you seen noteworthy QR code placement recently?

As a hobby esthetician I LOVE trying out tons of new skincare, bodycare and makeup, but I always find myself going back to my tried and true products. Although everyone’s skin is different, and everyone’s makeup preferences are different, I have this nagging need to share my favorite products so that someone else with dry, sensitive skin and zero free time might stubble upon this and fall in love with “my” products too. So, without further ado, here it is:

• Fresh Soy Face Wash – so gentle, but gets everything off!
• Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Gentle – fruit enzymes and a scrub in one step…
• Kinerase Intensive Eye Cream (the ONLY one that keeps my eyes smooth)
• Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
• Guerlain Terra Cotta bronzer
• Bobby Brown Shimmer Brick highlighter
• Bare Minerals eye shadows – the widest array of colors, can be used dry or wet, last forever and are all natural…
• Dior Diorshow Blackout mascara
• Aveda Hand Relief – smells amazing, stays on through hand washing, but doesn’t feel greasy!
• Korres Guava Body Cream
• Fresh Sugar Lip Balm (keeps chapped lips at bay)

There are a couple of items I’m still up in the air about, as far as claiming them as my all-time favorites. Serums and Moisturizers tend to be a big problem for me. Currently I’m digging Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum and Aveda Green Science Firming Face Cream. What are your favorite products? Any suggestions??