Southbrook Apartments & Townhomes
August 2011
Birthstone: Jade, Peridot
Flower: Gladiolus
1st - Rent Due
7th - Friendship Day
12th - Backpack Drawing
16th - Topeka Public Schools
First day of School
20th - Washburn University,
First day of Classes
23rd - Pest Control:
5201-BLDG 1,2,3,4,5,6 & 8
5231-BLDG 1,2,3,4,5 &6
Christy
Property Manager
Tammy
Assistant Manager
Erin
Leasing Consultant
Kert
Maintenance
Matt
Maintenance
From the Manager's Desk...
HOT HOT HOT!
Kansas has not surprised us this summer with cool temperatures! However, with the arrival of August, we've almost made it through the hottest months and cool air will be on it's way to us soon!! This month we gear up for the school year to start again and we would like to help you prepare for it. From August 1st - 12th, come by the office for your FREE pick of back to school supplies, limit 2 per person. On August 12th, we will draw for a backpack filled with fun supplies.
- Christy
Southbrook Apartments & Townhomes
5201 SW 34th St.
Topeka, KS 66614
(785) 273-6116
southbrook@midlandmgmt.com
Office Hours
Monday-Friday:
9:00 am - 6 pm
Saturday:
10 am - 2 pm
Thanks for visiting!
Be sure to bookmark this page and visit every month to stay connected with our community!
Green Cleaning
Toss away those harsh chemical cleaning products and replace them with eco-friendly, non toxic household cleaners. It's very simple to create your own cleaning products that are better for you and your family, as well as your pocket book. You can make your own glass cleaner, furniture polish and even laundry detergent with just a few common ingredients you likely already have. To get some great recipes for cleaning products, click here.
Chocolate, anyone?!
If you haven't heard the exciting news yet - Topeka announced at the end of June that the Mars Chocolate company plans to build a $250M plant right here in our backyard! It will be built in the Kanza Fire Commerce Park south of Topeka and will produce over 900 jobs. This is exciting news for the City of Topeka and we welcome this new business!
BLT Pasta Salad
Ingredients
* 12 ounces corkscrew-shaped pasta
* 1/2 cup milk
* 12 ounces lean bacon
* 3 medium ripe tomatoes, cut into chunks
* 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
* 1/2 cup mayonnaise
* 1/4 cup sour cream
* 4 tablespoons chopped chives or scallion greens
* 5 heads Bibb lettuce, quartered, or 5 cups chopped romaine hearts
Directions
Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water as the label directs. Drain and toss with the milk in a large bowl; set aside. Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Discard all but 3 tablespoons drippings from the pan. Add the tomatoes, thyme and garlic to the pan and toss until warmed through; season with salt and pepper. Crumble the bacon into bite-size pieces; set aside 1/4 cup for garnish. Toss the remaining bacon and the tomato mixture with the pasta. Mix the mayonnaise, sour cream and 3 tablespoons chives with the pasta until evenly combined. Season with salt and pepper. Add the lettuce; toss again to coat. Garnish with the reserved bacon and the remaining 1 tablespoon chives. Serve at room temperature.
Stretch Your Budget-Couponing 101
Coupons are a great resource for saving money. Think of coupons as "free money". Would you walk by a dollar on the ground without picking it up? So why would anyone pass up "free money" in the form of coupons? The great thing about this method of saving money is that it is very easy and requires no special skills to get started. Items required for coupon clipping are a pair of scissors and the desired coupons. So, gather your tools and start clipping!
Generally, it is also a good idea to have some method of organizing your coupons. You can purchase a coupon organizer (typically found at craft and department stores) or create your own method of organizing your "free money". Once you have clipped your desired coupons, place them in a coupon organizer or place them in labeled envelopes. Titles for your envelopes can include: Today's coupons, Beverages, Snacks, Health, Beauty, Frozen foods, Cleaning supplies, Cereal, Entertainment, Dining, Dessert, Pets, Soups/Sauces, Condiments and Dairy. So where can you find these valuable items? They are all around you. If you like a particular brand or manufacturer, a visit to their website may also reveal coupons. Websites such are great sources. Typically, you have to provide an email address or sign up for a newsletter in order to receive the coupon. Sometimes, manufacturers will even offer free samples.
Tip: Did you know you can use more than one coupon on the same item? Use a manufacturer's coupon in conjunction with a store coupon for even more savings.
Besides manufacturer websites, some of the biggest sources of coupons include SmartSource & Redplum. These companies provide coupon inserts that can be found in your local Sunday paper, making it well worth your purchase. However, if you don't usually buy the Sunday paper don't fret! Some neighborhoods provide residents with free (well you paid for it with your county tax) local county or city papers and some editions are chocked-full of coupons.
Companies deliver deals right to your mailbox. Examples of offers include deals on automotive care, household maintenance, local drug stores and pizza parlors. Look out for special sales and promotions as well! If you live nearby two or more different grocery stores or retailers you may become the unexpected beneficiary of a "price war" in your neighborhood. Over the course of one month, my family saved $50.00 on our grocery bill as a result of a "price war". We were knowledgeable about the coupons because we had checked our "junk mail". So instead of tossing out those papers that gather at your front door and in your mail box, sort through it... you may be throwing away your "free money".
Tip: Look out for merchants that double and sometimes even triple your coupons' value.
I love a good bargain, so I never overlook store sale papers. I know that some shoppers may consider sale papers as mere distractions to the ultimate goal. But, please trust me on this. You simply have to grab the sale paper at the entrance of the store. You might feel ridiculous if you later realize that you could have saved 10% on a recent shopping trip because there was a coupon or special in the store circular. Some department stores even offer shoppers gift cards for purchasing certain items or for using their pharmacy to fill a prescription. The only way to be aware of these specials is to read the store circular or sale paper. When using your "free money" there are some important points to remember. Be sure to check the expiration dates on your coupons. One exception is the bedding and household apparel store, Bed Bath and Beyond. It does not matter how old the store coupon is, this retailer will accept it.
You may use as many store coupons as you have items to purchase (one per item). As with any coupon, always be sure to look for restrictions and specifications. Most importantly, only clip coupons for items that you already use. Buying an item solely because you have a coupon will cost you more money in the long run.
Tip: For extra savings, match your coupons with store sales for rock bottom prices!
