Along with Mother’s Day, graduations, Movie Monday’s at Belmont, and Memorial Day, May marks the occasion of one of our favorite celebrations here at Belmont at Park Bridge in Alpharetta, Georgia. That’s right, it’s National Pet Month! We are definitely a pet-friendly upscale apartment home community, with nearby walking areas and pet stations throughout the property so that you and your furry friends are able to enjoy the outdoors together.

Love Is A 4-Legged Word

Our Idea Specialists™ consider cat hair to be a fashion accessory and never met a dog they didn’t like. Sot it was a real pleasure for them to spend a little time on the old Google looking for some fun ways to treat themselves and their fur babies. While on the search, they learned that National Pet Week is also a thing, always observed during the first full week of May. It’s sponsored by the Auxiliary to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to foster responsible pet ownership, recognize the human-animal bond, and increase public awareness of veterinary medicine.

Could the theme for 2024 be any better? It’s “Love is 4-legged word.” Hugs and pets all around!!

And cookies, dog cookies, too! At Unexpected Pooch in Halcyon, where you also can get high-quality food and supplies for both canines and felines.

Gifts For Grads & Moms

While the traditional gift of cash to graduates might seem boring, it doesn’t have to be if you put it in a pop-up bouncing gift box filled with confetti. Fun!!

The Belmont at Park Bridge Idea Specialists™ some moms themselves, think these packages from Spoonful of Comfort will help the strong feminine presence in your life have a “soup-er” Mother’s Day! (They also understand that you might just be tempted to treat yourself to of their yummy goodies to enjoy in your comfy clothes in the privacy of your own luxury apartment.)

And, the Idea Specialist™ also found the perfect combo of pet love and a present for both your favorite moms and favorite grads in a custom watercolor painting on canvas. Just upload a photo of your four-legged friend and Texture of Dreams will do the rest!

Flowers & Food

After giving Mom some flowers (of course!), you can’t go wrong with taking her out for a special meal on her special day. Awesome Alpharetta has links to different events, shops, and restaurants with Mother’s Day offerings, and South City Kitchen at The Hotel Avalon is featuring a “Sparkling & Sweet Mother’s Day Brunch & Dinner.” Both seatings will include a take-home gift of boxed assorted macaroons. So yummy. So, so yummy, just like their hazelnut chocolate cake, which is one of the dessert selections.

Make Memorial Day Memorable

The Idea Specialists™ know it might seem a little early in the month to be planning your friends and family Memorial Day gathering by the gorgeous Belmont at Park Bridge resort-style pool or at one of our charming picnic areas, but advance planning is never a bad thing! Speaking of the pool—our team is working hard to have our pool open by Friday, May 24, so we can all enjoy it Memorial Day weekend! Stay tuned…

This year, they’re for sure including grilled peach caprese salad on the menu, with the freshest of peaches and tomatoes from the Downtown Alpharetta Famers Market. There are lots of recipes out there for this spring and summer classic, but our group is particularly fond of this one at How Sweet Eats (and not just because food personality and cookbook author Jessica Merchant says glitter is her middle name, LOL).

We’re also fond of a nice sangria by the pool, and Southern Living has a great piece on which wines to use for it. If you don’t already have a favorite way to make yours, check out this white sangria on Dinners, Dishes & Desserts.

Honoring Their Memory

Watching the National Memorial Day Concert, featuring the National Symphony Orchestra with guest performers, is an annual tradition for the Idea Specialists™. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Chiefs of Staff also participate in the concert, offering their leadership perspective on the value and honor of military service and acknowledging the challenges that veterans and their families face.

Always broadcast and streamed by PBS the Sunday night before Memorial Day, the concert honors our country’s veterans, servicemen and women, and military families, and all those who died in America’s wars. Its goal is to unite the country in remembrance and appreciation of those who gave their lives for our nation and serves those who are grieving through the mission put forward by Abraham Lincoln in his second inaugural address, “Let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.”