Nicotine Withdrawal Leads to Road Rage!

As you all know I have been utilizing Chantix to help me quit smoking. Things have been moving along swimmingly and I have had no real side effects from the drug or from nicotine withdrawal. I’m thinking this really isn’t so bad, it even kind of feels like I haven’t smoked in months. Until I got a little too confident and thought, eh, I don’t really need the medicine, it’s no big deal I forgot to take it today… the day of my road trip home from Tulsa to Dallas. Now, the reality is I have been a non-smoker for all of ten days and what I discovered on my drive home is that my best friend Chantix really is the reason I’m not dealing with overaggressive agitation.

Love you, Miss you, Wish you were here!

Okay, seriously I feel like I’ve been climbing a mountain for two days and I’ve only made it two feet up the side! And it’s not even that I’m having a craving, my friend Chantix is really doing his job, I’m just missing smoking. Already? Wasn’t I ready to do this? Will I ever not miss them? These are the questions I’m asking myself while driving past the Parker exit on Central Expressway this morning (this would be a trigger, by the way). My hand just automatically reached for my purse, hmmm…

The Venue Apartments Partners with Nationaly Syndicated Morning Show

The Venue Apartments, is partnering with a popular nationally syndicated morning radio show for a family in need! The Kidd Kraddick in the Morning show recently spotlighted Bekkie Floriana and her mom on air after meeting her at one of Jenna’s Glamorsquad makeovers at a local hospital. Bekkie Floriana is diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) for the second time since she was 5 years old. ALL is a fast-growing cancer of the white blood cells, which are the type of blood cells that the body uses to fight infections. Doctors found a malignant mass on her head and started very aggressive treatment immediately. Bekkie and her mother were flown to Dallas and placed in an extended stay hotel when doctors told them they had to stay in Dallas for two years while Bekkie undergoes chemo for 52 weeks straight! Bekkie and her mother had no choice but to leave her 13-year-old brother Dylan with friends in their hometown because they do not have the means to take care of him at the moment.

Finger on the trigger…

The trigger points that is. All smokers have trigger points, those exact times or events that prompt us to light a cigarette. Usually we have one trigger point in particular that we never, ever miss no matter what. For many it’s that first cigarette in the morning with a cup of coffee. Because I don’t like coffee and the sheer lack of time in the morning at my house my first trigger happens as I drive out of the school parking lot where I have just dropped off my little darlings.

The "kick butt" Journey Begins...

Hello quitters and supporters! My name is Lyndie Fallen and I have volunteered to blog about my quest to quit smoking. I figure the added pressure would be just what I need to be successful! Join me in my journey, I am sure there will be laughs and tears as the smoke free weeks unfold.

Lyndie Shares!

Lyndie Fallen, Advertising Coordinator for Milestone has accepted the great smoke out challenge and has pledged to quit November 18th, 2010.  Lyndie will share her daily successes and struggles with us all as she takes her journey to a smoke free lifestyle.

Stay Tuned!

Quit Smoking Today with Help!

Empathy Pledges Welcome

For our non-smokers why not commit to give up something else (soft drinks, candy, chewing tobacco) to support your co-workers in their quest for better health. Stopping for 24 hours might lead to a lifetime.

Employee Assistance Program –EAP

Employee Connect offers you and your family members free, confidential access to a wide range of health and well being information seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Employee Connect included up to 3 face to face counseling session per year per unrelated topic. 1-877-757-7587.

Milestone Selected as Top 100 Employers in DFW!

Milestone Management was not only chosen as one of the Top 100 Places to Work in the DFW area...we ranked 16th in the mid-size category. A big thanks to everyone for making this such a great place to work! Now go do your best touchdown dance. Learn more about the Top 100 Places to Work in Dallas at Dallas Morning News.

Apartment Professionals Kick Butt

This year Milestone is a participant in the industry wide initiative to encourage associates (and their family members) to stop smoking.  The logo that was created for this initiative features the wording Apartment Professionals Kick Butt.  It obviously has a double meaning….first, all our associates are awesome and excel at what they do, but secondly, if desired, they can kick the smoking habit that robs them of time, money and health.  Milestone will continue to provide support, resources and encouragement to all those who want to Break the Habit of smoking.  Congratulations to all those who do!

The Great American Smoke Out

The American Cancer Society is marking the 35th Great American Smokeout on November 18 by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risk. Quitting smoking is not easy, but it can be done.  To have the best chance of quitting successfully, you need to know what you're up against, what your options are, and where to go for help.

Hip to Be 4Square!

Use Foursquare to post tips about your community and capture drive-by traffic in a new and improved way! Great drive-by stoppers:

“Check out the dog park it’s woofa-licious!”
“Poolside party every 1st Saturday! Stop by and cool off.”
“Don’t forget to get your free Monday Starbucks at the office!”
“Easy online rent payments here!”
“Cure Wednesday blues with hot cookies in the Leasing Office!”

How does it work?
Foursquare users (about 3 million strong) in your surrounding area can access these tips (via their mobile phone) by clicking “tips nearby”.

Adding your own fun tips is an easy and quick way to get your name in front of more people! Be creative and informational!

How do you add tips?
1. Go to FourSquare.com
2. Create Account
3. Find your location and add a tip!

In a nutshell, Foursquare is a mobile check-in service that allows regular customers to get points every time they visit their favorite restaurant, bar, coffee shop, apartment or whatever. The ranks of users are constantly growing. There are numerous benefits to marketing on Foursquare, however for now we are carefully watching its potential (while trying a few things behind the scenes.) So be prepared to hear more about it from your friendly marketing department!

You may already have tips written about you, so check it out. See tips posted about The Enclave at Bear Creek below as an example. Finally, you do not need to claim your listing. Milestone has already done this.

Master of Impressions

im·pres·sion n.

1. An effect, feeling, or image retained as a consequence of experience: After visiting that property, I have a great impression of the Milestone team!

2. The point in which an ad is viewed by a person: Your Google banner had 100,000 impressions last week.

3. A vague notion, remembrance, or belief: I have the impression I have seen those apartments before.

Here is something to think about:

573,139. The number of views (impressions) Preston Green’s landscaping gets each week.
145,707. The number of views (impressions) DFW’s web ad gets each week.

While the marketing workshop is busy working to improve your virtual presence, YOU should be working on your REAL-world presence! Eye-catching landscapes, bright lights, clean patios, and green grass will go a long way to making a great impression upon your IMPRESSIONS. Sound simple, basic, and easy? It is…Don’t lose sight of your biggest advertisement, your look.