MARCH IS NATIONAL READING MONTH & BELMONT AT PARK BRIDGE IS GETTING A LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
PLAN TO ATTEND THE LITTLE FREE LIBRARY DEDICATION FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2024, AT 2:30 P.M.! Belmont at Park Bridge in Alpharetta, Georgia, has some really fun and exciting news—we’re getting our very own Little Free Library! And it’s extra special to our community because it was hand-crafted by Octavio Camejo, one of our maintenance technicians, in his shop. Dedication During National Reading Month The timing for the 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 8, 2024, ribbon-cutting and dedication of our Little Free Library couldn’t be more perfect, because it’s happening during National Reading Month! An effort by the National Education Association (NEA), this is part of Read Across America, the nation’s largest ongoing celebration of reading. The program focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources that are about everyone, for everyone. Placing A Premium On Education Part of the reason our residents choose to live at Belmont at Park Bridge is because they place a premium on education, and our upscale apartment community is very close to excellent schools, including Ocee Elementary School, an easy five-minute drive at just a little over a mile away. Of course, reading is one of the very fundamentals of getting a good education. But did you know that there are also positive cognitive and emotional effects of reading on child development? According to the Child Mind Institute, studies have shown that it helps children develop language skills and amass “background knowledge,” build empathy, and learn how to manage challenging feelings. Free Book Sharing Belmont at Park Bridge decided to become the home of a Little Free Library because of its commitment to building a strong community, which is a goal it shares with the nonprofit. The global book-sharing movement got its start in 2009, and since then has expanded to include more than 175,000 libraries in 121 countries. It’s all about inspiring readers and expanding access to books! Why Does Book Access Matter? The United States is facing growing literacy crisis, with more than 30 million members of its adult population unable to read or write above a third-grade level. Studies have repeatedly shown that books in the hands of children have a meaningful impact on improving literacy. The more books in or near the home, the more likely a child will learn and love to read. But two out of three children living in poverty have no books to call their own. Little Free Library book-sharing boxes play an essential role by providing 24/7 access to books (and encouraging a love of reading!), especially in areas where books are scarce. How Does It Work? A Little Free Library is a free book-sharing box where anyone may take a book or share a book. It functions on the honor system. You do not need to share a book in order to take one. If you take a book or two from one, try to bring some to share to that same library, or another in your area, when you can. Registered little libraries have a primary caretaker, called a Little Free Library steward. The steward is usually the person who puts up the library. The steward takes care of basic maintenance like keeping the library clean and inviting, but it is up to everyone who uses the library to keep it stocked with good books. Encourage Reading! We can’t wait to see all the different kinds of books our community members will share through the Little Free Library! And we can’t wait to “get caught reading” by our kids! Children imitate what they see the adults around them do. So, when they see us with a magazine, newspaper, or novel, it tells them that reading is the cool thing to do. Some tips on encouraging reading: Keep books everywhere you spend time. Put them in the car, in every room of your apartment home, and tuck them in backpacks and purses. Make them easily accessible. Visit the library often (in addition to our new Little Free Library!). Knowing how to use the library and learning the benefits of a library fosters a love of reading as well as genuine respect for the services libraries provide. Read to your children. No matter their age, reading aloud strengthens their vocabulary and language skills. It also opens opportunities for discussion. Have your children read to you, too. You never know what you might learn! Mark Your Calendars! Again, the dedication of our special Little Free Library will be Friday, March 8, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. We picked the time to make sure that everybody’s kids would be home from school in time to attend, and it promises to be a fun family affair, complete with festive refreshments! So, mark your calendars and plan to join us then! Sonya Sandoval, Community Manager and the Team at Belmont Park Bridge
Love is in the Air at Belmont at Park Bridge!
Need some ideas about how to celebrate your Valentine/Galentine/Palentine this year? The Idea Specialists™ at Belmont at Park Bridge—one of Alpharetta, Georgia’s most picturesque and luxurious apartment home communities—are here with ideas that go above and beyond a box of chocolates! Bonbon Hugs & Cocktail Kisses Not that there’s anything wrong with a box of chocolates, especially if they’re those divine truffles from Kilwin’s at Halcyon! Which will be even better if you savor them at home in comfort with a special Valentine’s Day cocktail like Love Potion No. 9, a triple berry pomegranate martini with strawberry vodka and Chambord—and a little dry ice for magically romantic presentation. Another fun one to try might be the Clover Club, a pink drink that pre-dates Prohibition that was created as the signature sip of a group of high-powered businessmen who met at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The sweet and tart concoction combines grenadine, gin, and lemon, and the classic egg white foam gives each sip creamy body and frothy texture. And if you want to show that someone special in your life a little extra love, you could whisper sweet nothings in their ear while feeding them sweet somethings that you made yourself. Check out Delish for recipes for everything from cannoli bites to red velvet ice cream. Romantic Dining Oh, wait, did Belmont at Park Bridge Idea Specialists™ just eat dessert first? They certainly did, LOL. But not to worry, they’ve got dinner covered, too, whether you want to eat in or go out on the town. One of the wonderful things about living at Belmont at Park Bridge is gourmet kitchens with enough counter space to make cooking a truly enjoyable experience. It’s Delish again with the win for recipe ideas for tempting and tasty romantic meals. The Idea Specialists™ are real fans of their creamy steak fettucine paired with a winter rainbow panzanella salad of colorful, roasted squash and beets tossed in a tang-sweet dressing with fresh herbs, grapefruit, blue cheese, and toasted sourdough. Pretty and satisfying! Somewhere Special Sometimes you just want to celebrate somewhere special. This year, the Idea Specialists™ are making reservations at Halcyon’s Ocean & Acre, where of course they’ll start with some oysters and bubbly! In addition to the classic menu—which celebrates both local farm communities and coastal cultures with signature smoked meats, seasonal produce, and shareable seafood dishes—the Valentine’s Day chef specials will include including an Alabama jumbo lump crab and avocado salad, pan-roasted halibut, braised short rib, and a white chocolate ricotta cheesecake. Yummy! A Delicious Date Night Looking for other ideas of ways to mark the occasion, especially if you have a conflict on February 14th? Then Date Night at Avalon every Monday through Thursday (excluding Valentine’s Day) might be just the thing for you and your sweetie! With multiple participating restaurants and complimentary valet parking, you can count on a festive experience that’s both easy and delicious!
CELEBRATE THE 4TH OF JULY ALL SUMMER LONG AT BELMONT PARK BRIDGE—AND OUT & ABOUT IN ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA!
Celebrate summer poolside at Belmont Park Bridge—and out and about in Alpharetta, Georgia, where there’s always something fun to do! Lounge In Luxury Our upscale apartment community’s resort-style saltwater pool is one of the coolest things about living here (no pun intended, LOL!). Lounge in luxury while snacking on some fresh fruit you picked up at the Downtown Alpharetta Farmers Market and sipping on “the” cocktail of summer 2023, a Hugo Spritz. The refreshing drink is named after a boutique hotel in Florence, Italy, where it’s often used to welcome travelers when they arrive after a long day of hiking. With elderflower liqueur, usually St. Germain, as its signature, it’s an alternative to the more-common Aperol Spritz, which has its roots in nearby Padua. (You can pick up what you need for the recipe at Total Wine & More in Alpharetta’s North Point Market Center.) RECIPE FOR THE HUGO SPRITZ Ingredients Elderflower Liqueur (St. Germain) Sparkling Wine (Prosecco or Cava) Sparkling Water (or Club Soda) Mint (Leaves) Lime (Slices Directions To make one Hugo Spritz, start with a wine glass half full of ice. Pour in 1/2 ounce of elderflower liqueur. Top with 4 ounces of the sparkling wine, then finish with 1 ounce of sparkling water. Gently stir to combine. Taste a sip; add more sparkling water or wine to as desired. Garnish with fresh mint leaves and lime slices. Avalon Nights Live One way to enjoy yourself in town is to take advantage live music in the Plaza every Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Avalon Nights Live! Bring your tailgate chairs and blankets—and your family and friends so you can dance the night away! An event bar operates out of the back of Avalon’s Concierge; no coolers are permitted. Home By Dark And once again the beloved Home by Dark at Brooke Street Park Concert Series has returned to delight Belmont Park Bridge music lovers old and young. Plan to bring a blanket and picnic to enjoy a night of stories, songs, and inspiration you’ll never forget. Take Me Out To the Ballgame If you want to venture just a little farther afield, plan a drive down into the city to catch hometown homerun heroes the Atlanta Braves at play at Truist Park. Peanuts, Cracker Jack, draft beer, and a hotdog and some popcorn will make your outing complete!
OUSTANDING CHARACTER, EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE–OCEE IS THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR BELMONT AT PARK BRIDGE FAMILIES
One of the things that makes living at Belmont at Park Bridge great is its proximity to excellent schools, including Ocee Elementary School, an easy five-minute drive at just a little over a mile away. And families don’t have to make that drive every day if they don’t want to! Instead, most choose to take advantage of the bus service offered by the Fulton County Schools Transportation Department. Drivers are trained to operate safe, clean, and well-maintained school buses. Their mission is to deliver students safely to school on time and in a frame of mind ready to learn. Students are delivered to school under the dry bus awning, early enough to participate in the breakfast program, and will never be counted tardy regardless of arrival time! Rated in the top 10% of all schools in Georgia by Public School Review, Ocee places an emphasis on clear and concise expectations for students, which helps foster a fun yet focused learning environment. From hands-on science experiments to interactive math and reading exercises that incorporate current real-life examples—like learning to use a debit card—the teachers at Ocee are always looking for unique ways to engage their students. “Ocee Elementary School placed in the top 10% of all schools in Georgia for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 10%, and reading proficiency is top 10%) for the 2020-21 school year.” —Public School Review Ocee is an A-rated school on Niche in all categories—academics, diversity, and teachers. And with class sizes at an average 14:1 student to teacher ratio, the teachers are able to get to know the kids in their classes for the unique individuals they are. “Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be A Problem Solver” –The Ocee Way This is a school that understands parent participation in a child’s education is paramount, which is why it offers Ocee Parent Universities, lecture-style sessions hosted once a month that discuss topics relevant to parenting an engaged student. “Building Literacy Skills at Home” and “Supporting Your Virtual Learner” are just two examples. It also offers students and their families support with after-school programs like tutoring and YMCA, as well as a wide variety of vendor-provided activities: Art Discover Science Debate Chess Kids Yoga Ocee student groups include Chorus (fourth- and fifth-grade), Reading Bowl, and Reading Academy. The team at Belmont at Park Bridge knows that families considering where to live also want to review primary source data about the school their children will attend, which is why we want to make it easy for everyone to find the Georgia Schools Grade Report on Ocee, issued by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement. The last one issued was for 2019; the state notes that for school years 2020 and 2021, various pandemic-related issues resulted in a lack of data for most metrics, which meant no grades were issued. We would love for you and your littles to call Belmont at Park Bridge home—and become proud Ocee Otters! We get so much enjoyment out of greeting the kids and hearing about their days when they get off the school bus, especially when we are having one of our ice cream socials for them. Call us at 770-762-2644 or email belmont@arlingtonproperties.net to schedule your tour and see for yourself everything our pet-friendly upscale apartment home community has to offer!
Looking for a New 1 Bedroom Apartment in the Heart of Alpharetta?
How about an apartment community with amenities like a brand-new fitness center, indoor racquetball court, resort-style pool with sun deck, two lighted tennis courts, and beautifully landscaped walkable spaces? Welcome to Belmont at Park Bridge, located at 150 Rockberry Lane, in the prestigious 30005 zip code, and our much sought-after 1-bedroom apartment home favorite, The Derby. Choosing The Derby floor plan offers residents reimagined living in a jewel of an apartment, a spacious open floor plan, ample closet space, and a private patio or balcony with outside storage. Add a wood-burning fireplace, gourmet kitchen with gas range, silver mist or black appliances, and a serving bar and dining room ideal for entertaining—and you have to ask–what more could you want? (High-speed Internet? We have that too!) There is one more thing—location, location, location. Located at the center of North Fulton’s prestigious business corridor, near John’s Creek, Avalon, and the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, Belmont at Park Bridge offers the convenience you desire and the value you love–all at one location. There is one more thing—location, location, location. Located at the center of North Fulton County, Belmont Park Bridge enjoys it highly-rated and celebrated school system. In the heart of Alpharetta’s prestigious business corridor, near John’s Creek, Avalon, and the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, Belmont at Park Bridge offers the convenience you desire and the value you love–all at one location.
It’s Almost Valentine’s Day — and Belmont at Park Bridge is Feelin’ the Love!
It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and the Idea Specialists™ at Belmont at Park Bridge—the premier name for affordable luxury apartments in Alpharetta, Georgia—are feelin’ the love! Whether you’re planning on celebrating solo, stepping out with your sweetheart, or picking out just the right gift for your pet, they’re here to help with links and tips, dates and times. The Languages Of Love One thing to keep in mind when planning on how to mark this February 14th romantic holiday is what “language” the person you care about speaks when it comes to the way want to be shown love. Pastor and counselor Gary Chapman first created this concept and wrote about it in The 5 Love Languages, which goes into details. The languages are: No. 1: Words of affirmation No. 2: Acts of service No. 3: Gifts No. 4: Quality time No: 5: Physical touch The Belmont at Park Bridge Idea Specialists™ found a great about love languages here: IDEAS.TED.COM Best Picks For Him & Her Maybe you’re already fluent in your partner’s language and know that they like the combo of presents with your presence. USA Today has compiled a 2023 Gift Guide with best picks for him and her and options running the gamut from personalized boxer shorts to wildly fun bath bombs. Looking for something a little more practical? Roost knows what works in gourmet apartment kitchens, and shares the skinny in 9 Space-Saving Kitchen Gadgets For Every Apartment. Why not go ahead and get yourself a Valentine’s Day gift, too? The Idea Specialists™ swear by the Instant Pot Duo Mini 7-in-1. Puppy Love Belmont at Park Bridge is extremely pet-friendly, allowing residents to have up to two fur-babies per apartment and featuring pet stations throughout the community. So of course the Idea Specialists™ were delighted with this fun find at 1800-Flowers for your Fido—a squeaky plush toy bottle of “champawgne” and accompanying flute. For your feline bestie, they found a “purrrfect” catnip-laced pounce toy at nearby Hollywood Feed on McGinnis Ferry Road. An Evening Out If you want to enjoy an evening out, Alpharetta offers options! You can get together with your girlfriends for champagne flight specials and $5 sweetheart shots at Hobnob Neighborhood Tavern at Halcyon’s Galentine’s Party Saturday, February 11, 2023; the DJ will start at 8 p.m. Then, Hobnob will feature a Valentine’s Trivia competition Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at 7:30 p.m., complete with bonus prizes for couples. Publix Aprons® Cooking School at Alpharetta Commons is giving you two chances to participate in their Valentine’s Day Wine and Dine experience; Monday and Tuesday February 13 and February 14, 2023, both from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The demonstration class menu will include chorizo-stuffed calamari tubes, pan-roasted Porterhouse, chocolate ancho pot de crème, and, of course, wines to sample. For upscale restaurant ambiance, look no farther than Secreto Southern Kitchen & Bar on Winward Parkway, with its special three-course Valentine’s Day holiday menu, $75 per person. Starters include lamb lollipops and Oyster Rockerfeller; there’s pan-seared black cod with crawfish risotto as a main option; and it could prove quite difficult to choose when it comes to dessert, with red velvet brownie, warm buttermilk-glazed carrot cake, and tuxedo chocolate mousse cake all listed. 💕💕 ‘Belmonte’ at Park Bridge 💕💕 Did you know that Belmont comes from Belmonte? That’s “beautiful mountain” in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian, and it’s been used as a proper name throughout the centuries to refer to a certain sort of inhabited terrain. And on that note, the Idea Specialists™ will say ciao!
Cuddle Up & Get Cozy in Your Belmont at Park Bridge Home
There’s no better time than the first month of the year with its cold and wet weather to cuddle up and get cozy in your Belmont at Park Bridge apartment home. And it’s also a great time to take advantage of traditional January white sales to score some fur-friendly linens for your luxurious bedrooms! Pet-Friendly Bedding The Alpharetta, Georgia, pet-loving community’s Idea Specialists™ are here with some guidance on dog-friendly (and cat-friendly!) bedding, but first, a little bit of historical trivia: A fellow by the name of John Wanamaker—of Philadelphia department store and U.S. Postmaster General fame—came up with the idea of selling bed linens at a discount during the slow sales month of the year way back in 1878. Sheets and such were available only in white then, thus the name “white sale.” Now of course you can get a luxe duvet cover in every color of the rainbow, with high thread count sheets to match. And that count is important, because a higher one means a tighter weave in the fabric, which translates into a lot less pet hair becoming embedded in the fabric! The Belmont at Park Bridge Idea Specialists™ love the feel and durability of Chateau Home Collection Egyptian cotton sateen weave sheets, which come in solids and stripes. They also love Rover, which has great reviews on other options. Cocktails & Mocktails By The Fire Talk about cozy: The perfect place to relax and enjoy a cocktail is in front of your modern apartment’s wood-burning fireplace, whether you’re enjoying time alone or sharing your space with your favorite human. Not sure what to sip on a cold Saturday evening? Not to worry! The Idea Specialists™ found 40 easy to prepare recipes at Liquor Laboratory. If none of those tickle your tastebuds, then craft a concoction of your own by following this simple three-part formula: Start with a primary spirit. Add an element of balance, something to contradict the core’s flavor and give your drink more depth. Finished with a dash of seasoning to enhance the core. The Idea Specialists™ also found this fun article on mocktails, which are perfect if you’re participating in “Dry January,” which began in 2012 as an initiative by Alcohol Change UK, a British charity, to “ditch the hangover, reduce the waistline and save some serious money by giving up alcohol for 31 days.” Comfort Food Cooking in your well-appointed kitchen is another great way to spend a winter’s evening. The Belmont at Park Bridge Idea Specialists™ found “23 Winter Comfort Food Recipes That Are Cozier Than A Fluffy Blanket” over at PureWow and can’t wait to work their way through the list, starting with Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe. Yum!
Feeling All Holiday Festive at Belmont at Park Bridge in Alpharetta, Georgia
The holiday season is in full force, and that has the Idea Specialists™ at luxury apartment community Belmont at Park Bridge in Alpharetta, Georgia, ready for festivities! Gift-Giving Fun Part of being party-ready means having a variety of gifts on hand, both for gracious hosts and games of Dirty Santa. You can pop down to The Ballog on Market Street and check out all their distinctive offerings from local, independent, and socially conscious artisans, like this lovely lavender Thistle Farms Room Spray crafted by women survivors—and, for your dog-loving friends, a Foggy Dog Squeaky Toy. (Of course the Idea Specialists™ had to mention that in particular because Belmont at Park Bridge is such a pet-friendly place!) Want something utterly silly for a down-and-dirty $10 and under gift exchange? How about this tin of bacon-themed bandages from the Accoutrements Store on Amazon? Yummy Goodness When you get home from the party and want to snuggle up by the fire and sample some seasonal goodies, what better way to indulge than with Hot Chocolate Eggnog? The Idea Specialists™ found an easy recipe for it on Food.com. And they found a nice bottle of Hennessy VS on the bar cart, perfect for that little extra kick. Don’t have a favorite non-alcoholic eggnog and aren’t up to making it from scratch this year? You can always rely on Southern Comfort, a New Orleans original. The company puts out two special seasonal products each year: Southern Comfort Egg Nog and Southern Comfort Vanilla Spice Egg Nog. Splash a little in your morning coffee for some extra yum! Ready To Ring In 2023? If you’re looking for a way to ring in the new year, Awesome Alpharetta once again does not disappoint when it comes to outings and events. Get yourself ready to dance the night away at Roaring Social, Alpharetta’s own speakeasy (“hidden” behind the respectable storefront of RoSo Clothiers on Milton Avenue). General admission for the evening is $150 and includes an open bar, culinary delights, bowling, party favors—and, of course, a midnight champagne toast as December 31, 2022, rolls into January 1, 2023. Or go ahead and make reservations now to enjoy an evening out at one of Alpharetta’s great restaurants (there are almost too many to pick from!). The Belmont at Park Bridge Idea Specialists™ are thinking about Ocean & Acre on Halcyon Way because they never disappoint when it comes to special occasions—and their signature smoked meats and shareable seafood dishes will pair nicely with some special New Year’s Eve bubbly! Drunken Bangs Island Mussels for the table it shall be! Cheers!
Bowled Over at Belmont at Park Bridge in Alpharetta, Georgia
If you haven’t checked out the options for upscale living at Belmont at Park Bridge in Alpharetta, Georgia, be prepared to be bowled over at the amenities offered! With private patios and balconies, outside storage closets and incredibly pet-friendly stations throughout the community, Belmont at Park Bridge affords its residents beautifully landscaped grounds and luxurious spaces for leisure. And along with that, the Idea Specialists™ at Belmont at Park Bridge are always on hand to provide quality of life suggestions and ideas! In keeping with the bowled over theme, they’ve decided the focus of this month’s blog should be —you guessed it—bowls!! Form & Function From our first cereal bowls to our grandma’s mixing bowls, bowls are part of our memories. They can be pretty, they are certainly functional, and they come in all shapes, sizes, and patterns. Apartment Therapy, always informative, has a great piece on how to use bowls in all manner of ways. The Idea Specialists™ have long been fans of using wooden bowls to hold keys and spare change by the front door, and ceramic ones for lipsticks and the like in the bathroom. They also love the convenience of having a kitchen counter garden with herbs and greens in a large metal bowl—healthy and pretty! And speaking of healthy, they’re all about some all-in-one bowl meals like the ones the Food Network has featured in “24 Wholesome Bowls to Power Your Day.” Chicken quinoa bowl? Yes, please! Bacon and broccoli rice bowl with fried egg? We know what our new go-to breakfast is going to be! Fun & Funky Looking for some fun and funky options? Check out Uncommon Goods for everything from bowls made of record albums to sculptural bowls that could be featured in an art museum. Or, plan an outing with friends to All Fired Up on South Main Street to select and personalize a pottery bowl of your choice—or to Main Event on Davis Drive for another kind of bowl entirely. Strike! Tailgate Yummies It’s football season, so of course the Idea Specialists™ at Belmont at Park Bridge have some ideas about tasty treats to share in bowls on game day, whether you’re tailgating onsite or on sofa! This month, they’re linking to What the Fork for some recipes for gluten-free goodies like jalapeno poppers and loaded “totchos.” Yummy! Kickoff Here are some convenient links to key college football schedules: Georgia Bulldogs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Morehouse Maroon Tigers Holiday Planning While it might still feel like summer outside a lot of the time, the fall and winter holidays will be here before we know it. The Belmont at Park Bridge Idea Specialists™ have scoped out a couple of possibilities for you to go ahead and put on your calendar, starting with this year’s North Georgia Running Company Thanksgiving Day Gobble Wobble. The starting gun for the 10K will fire at 7:45 Thursday, November 24, 2022, at 7:45 a.m.; the one for the 5K at 8 a.m.; and the Kids 1K Fun Run will start at 9:15 a.m. Another is booking a little December getaway to Barnsley Resort in Adairsville, where festive décor and more than 1 million lights adorn historic manor house ruins and an English-inspired village throughout the winter holiday season. Their Light Up the Holidays promotion includes luxurious inn and cottage accommodations, a $50 activity credit, and the resort’s exclusive Woodlands candle. Spa treatments, clay shooting, axe throwing, horseback riding, golf on the Fazio Course, or just a walk about the grounds—there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Here at home, the Alpharetta Holiday Market is set for Saturday, December 10, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Alpharetta Community Center. And you’ll have two chances to see Santa Claus that day—first at the Market, where you can get a free photo with the jolly old elf from 10 a.m. to noon, and then at his cozy North Pole-inspired village at Avalon as the day goes on. Ho-ho-ho!
Back to School Means Shifting into High Gear — The Belmont at Park Bridge Idea Specialists™ in Alpharetta, Georgia, Have Tips on How to Manage
Even if you don’t have kids at home, back-to-school season seems to kick everyone’s schedule into high gear. That’s why the Idea Specialists™ at Belmont Park Bridge in Alpharetta, Georgia, have put together this timely online care package for residents of their upmarket apartment community, complete with tips for getting organized and making the most of your commute. Get Organized Some days it can be hard enough keeping up with yourself, right? That’s why online calendars and organizer apps are so wildly popular, especially the easy-to-use Google Calendar. Whether it’s just you and your partner trying to avoid scheduling conflicts—or you’re figuring out how to get your eldest to soccer practice at the same time the middle child has an orthodontist appointment and the toddler has ballet—having all the info easily accessible from your phone is a modern day-must! Others to check out? Greenlight, a relatively new debit card app for kids, and “electronic corkboard” Trello, a long-time professional project management that can be used for collaborative meal planning and so much more. Plan On It While the Belmont at Park Bridge Idea Specialists™ are all about the mod cons, they are also all about a good solid hard copy planner; sometimes it’s just quicker and easier to jot down notes and times and dates by hand. FindThisBest did the work for us and provides the details on a range of academic year planners ranging in price from $4 to $27. Routine Maintenance Make your mornings go more smoothly by establishing—and sticking to—a set routine. Deciding on the next day’s clothes, setting the coffee to come on automatically, and having easy breakfast options ready to go are a few things you can do to get a jump on the day ahead. Mommy Nearest has more suggestions for those with little ones to manage. Our favorite? “Wake yourself up early.” Make The Most Of Your Commute Living at Belmont at Park Bridge means you’re conveniently located to so many things. Ferrying schoolchildren to-and-fro? Creek View Elementary, Webb Bridge Middle School, and Alpharetta High School are all within a 5-mile radius. And, the picturesque suburban retreat is at the center of North Fulton’s prestigious business corridor, just a mile-and-a-half away from the Georgia 400/Old Milton Parkway interchange, which makes commuting to work easy most of the time. For those other times? There’s always the radio (commercial, public, subscription), and audio books—Audible offers many of its Top 100 best sellers free with a 30-day trial. You can also spend some quality time with the rave-reviewed Ten Percent Happier Podcast with Dan Harris, who describes himself as “a fidgety, skeptical journalist who had a panic attack on live national television, which led him to try something he otherwise never would have considered: meditation. He went on to write the bestselling book, 10% Happier.” Recent shows have covered topics like being present, how a Buddhist monk deals with anxiety, five ways to be less distracted, and what sadness can be good for. Meal Management Made Easy Getting food on the table every night can pose a challenge even when schedules aren’t hectic, no matter how well-appointed your Belmont at Park Bridge gourmet kitchen. Here are some ideas from the Idea Specialists™ about making mealtime a little easier to manage. Take advantage of Alpharetta’s incredible local restaurant scene without ever leaving home by subscribing to GrubHub+ and having dinner delivered at your convenience. com does a good job of breaking down the benefits of paying the monthly fee, and makes this important note: “With a GrubHub+ membership, GrubHub matches donations to No Kid Hungry through Donate the Change to feed food-insecure children around the country.” Go to one of the convenient area Publix locations and pick up some of their tasty Publix Aprons® premades: Meal Kits, Ready to Cook Meals for One, and Ready to Cook Entrées. Try a meal delivery service that offers pre-made and DIY meal kits. There are many options to consider; one that’s very popular is Home Chef. You can read a review of it Alpharetta Events Looking for something fun to do sometime soon? As usual, Alpharetta does not disappoint when it comes to offering up a little something for everyone. Because Belmont at Park Bridge is such a pet-friendly community, we’re especially excited about Yappy Hour, on the calendar for Saturday, August 20, 2022, from noon to 4 p.m. The Hamilton Alpharetta on Milton Avenue is partnering with Tito’s Vodka for a fun event that will include dog-themed cocktails, live music, swag giveaways, and doggy portraits, with proceeds going to PAWS Atlanta. Woof! Alpharetta Food Truck Alley will be back on the fourth Thursday of the month, August 25 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. It’s a family-friendly event featuring live music, but seating is limited, so bring a blanket or chair. And speaking of live music, go ahead and plan in advance on making the scene at the Outlaw Music Festival Friday, September 9, 2022, at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre. Everybody’s favorite red-headed stranger Willie Nelson will be taking the stage with a lineup that includes Jason Isbell, Billy Springs, and Larkin Poe.
