Inside this Edition:
- Important Dates to Remember
- Updates at Hales Property Management
- Getting Spooky: The Top 10 Halloween Costumes for 2014
- How to Cut Your Energy Bill Without Effort
Important Dates to Remember
- October 28The 2014 Condo, HOA, Co-op & Art Expo at the Navy Pier Convention Center
- Oct. 24- Nov. 1 Chicago International Children’s Film Festival
- November 14 McCormick Tribune Ice Skating Rink Open
- November 22 The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
- November 25 Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Daley Plaza
Hales Property Management Updates
Don’t miss us at this year’s The Chicagoland Cooperator’s Expo at the Navy Pier Convention Center. The Condo, HOA, Co-op & Apt Expo, on Tuesday, October 28 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., is the must attend event for board members, trustees, property managers, building owners, and real estate professionals. And this year’s show is bigger and better! It’s a place to learn, network with board members and managers and meet face to face with vendors and service providers. Also, don’t miss the free seminars/events, advice booths and exhibitors.
Come say hello at our exhibit booth located here. We look forward to seeing you at the show!
Getting Spooky: The Top 10 Halloween Costumes for 2014
1. Minions
Gru’s assistants have been crazy popular ever since the original Despicable Me came out in 2010. Because of last year’s uber-successful sequel, they’re in peak fashion once again.
2. Game of Thrones
The HBO series has brought the fantasy style to the mainstream, giving adults everywhere a chance to release their inner nerd.
3. The Hunger Games
Fans of the series will be anticipating the release of Mockingjay: Part 1 in November. Might as well get into costume 3 weeks early!
4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Michael Bay’s recent reboot breathed new air into the franchise. Whether you decide on to go as a ninja turtle or as April O’Neil, the costume is sure to be a success.
5. The Lego Movie
Grossing nearly half a billion dollars, The Lego Movie surprised everyone with its popularity. It’s time to relive your childhood by dressing up like a Lego character. The options of characters are nearly endless. These five options should give you a good head start on brainstorming for this year’s costume. Whatever costume you choose, the key is to own it and make it your own!
How to Cut Your Energy Bill Without Effort
Being green doesn’t require as much effort as it used to, thanks to new technologies for the home. Here are 5 ways to cut your energy bill with very little effort:
Reducing Energy Usage
- Program your thermostat to turn down/off when you’re out of the house. This is the easiest way to save hundreds on your energy bill over the course of the year, and takes about 5 minutes.
- Use the dishwasher. Surprisingly, running the dishwasher when full is actually more energy efficient that hand washing all those dishes over time. Finally, an excuse to be lazy!
- Replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs (compact fluorescents), which are now cheaper than ever. Look into LEDs if you’re interested in a higher cost up front but even more savings in the long run.
- Turn down the temperature on your water heater. It’s unlikely that you ever use your faucets/shower on their hottest setting, so why not save some energy? Set the temperature so the hottest temperature you’d ever use is the hottest setting.
- Unplug your laptops and electronics when they’re not actively charging. Did you know that one laptop that’s consistently plugged in can cost you $75/year alone.
