Friday, October 8, 2010

I HEART Cupcakes!!


What is it about cupcakes that makes most people smile? Is it that a cupcake is a bundle of yumminess in a small, pretty package? Is it the fact that you aren't committed to just ONE flavor of cake or frosting? Or is it the SPRINKLES (yes, cupcakes MUST have sprinkles!)? What has me in this cupcake fantasy world, you may ask? Last night I was looking through my cupcake recipe book to see what delightful little cakes I should make for a football game party at a friends house this weekend and I found it so hard to decide what to make! Do I make vanilla cakes? Chocolate? Strawberry? Lemon? All of the above? And should I put the same kind of frosting on all of them? So many options! Then I got distracted because I started to wonder WHERE cupcakes originated so I started looking online to see if anyone knew. I found that the term "cupcake" was first used in a book of recipes from 1828 and since hearth ovens were used primarily around the turn of the 20th century, muffin tins were used to bake cakes because they required less time to bake than a large cake. According to the Food Timeline website, food historians are unsure of the origin of the name CUPCAKE - could be because they were baked in cups (before the muffin tin came along) or if it is because the ingredients used to make the cakes were measured out by the cup. Either way, I am soooo glad that someone came up with the concept! And after reading about cupcakes, I decided to run to the cupcake shop around the corner from my house and get myself a treat to eat while I decided on what to bake. In the end, I decided to make chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting and sprinkles (told ya, GOTTA have sprinkles!!) and strawberry with cream cheese frosting and fresh strawberries on top. I think everyone will enjoy them!

Enjoy your weekend and keep it clean!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

First Day of Fall


Today is the first day of fall!!! It really doesn't FEEL like it though (it's still kinda warm in most areas of the country). I know there is a lot of technical science stuff behind the change of seasons but I prefer to think of it simply as a beautiful change to our everyday scenery. It will be very nice to see the colors in the landscape change and to feel the air turn crisp. The fall season brings to mind so many different things - football (yes, I know, I have mentioned that before!!), pumpkin carving, a warm mug of apple cider, gingerbread cookies, long walks in the park while wearing a SWEATER. What does autumn call to mind for you? It's a little premature but as soon as I can pile up some leaves, I'm jumping right in!!!

Enjoy the rest of your week everyone and be sure to keep it clean!!

Friday, September 10, 2010

FOOTBALL!!!!!


It's here!!!!! Football season is upon us. I know football isn't for everyone but for many, it signifies the end of summer. There is nothing better than going to a football game on a chilly Friday night with a thermos of hot chocolate and a blanket. Don't like braving the elements to take in a game? Watch it at home with your family or a few friends. Prefer getting in on the action? Play some flag football over the weekend. Do you like being more hands on? Help coach a pee-wee football team. One can learn a lot from watching football. It takes teamwork and a combined effort to get that ball into the endzone or to keep your opponent from scoring. Football is a little bit like life - you have to have good teammates to support you, it takes a lot of work to keep moving forward but every once in a while, if you are lucky, you catch a Hail Mary pass and score the winning touchdown.

So go on, get out there! Toss the ball around. Get some grass stains on your jersey. Afterall, life's a game so have some fun!

Until next time, keep it clean (ish - grass stains, remember?).

Friday, August 13, 2010

Friday the 13th!


Happy Friday the 13th guys!!!! I know today is supposed to be a day full of bad luck but I tend to believe that luck is what you create yourself.
Ever wonder where the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th came from? There really is no written evidence for Friday the 13th superstition until around the 19th century. Some people think that it's the combination of two old superstitions - 13 being an unlucky number and Friday being an unlucky day (Friday? Unlucky? That's the best day of the week!!). One theory is that in numerology,
the number twelve is considered the number of completeness, as reflected in the twelve months of the year, twelve signs of the zodiac, twelve hours of the clock, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve apostles of Jesus, twelve gods of Olympus. The number thirteen was considered to be irregular. There is also a superstition, thought by some to derive from the Last Supper or a Norse myth, that having thirteen people seated at a table will result in the death of one of the diners.
Can you believe that the British Medical Journal even did a study on this back in 1993? The study was titled "Is Friday the 13th Bad for Your Health?" . Yep, a study done to find "the relation between health, behaviour, and superstition surrounding Friday 13th in the United Kingdom". The study found that, even though many people chose to NOT drive their cars on Friday the 13th, there were more vehicular accidents than on other "normal" Fridays. Isn't that crazy?
If you don't feel like tempting fate, have that bowl of Lucky Charms cereal, listen to Stevie Wonder sing "Superstitious", stick a rabbit's foot in your pocket, avoid black cats and walking under ladders!! I'm going to head home and watch the classic Friday the 13th movie instead :-)

Until next time, keep it clean!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Rain!


Lots of rain the last couple of days! For the most part, lots of folks have been stuck indoors. I know I got to do some laundry last night (with my handy-dandy Azuma washer and dryer!!) and watched a movie.
Want a few ideas for things to do when it's raining outside? Give these a whirl"
  1. Take some pictures outdoors - I know, not exactly an indoors activity but there are some really beautiful things to take pictures of if you don't mind getting a little soggy.
  2. Catch up on some reading.
  3. MOVIE MARATHON!!! (One of my personal favorites!).
  4. Play board games.
  5. Bake something! Nothing like the smell of freshly baked cookies in your home to chase away the blues.
  6. Spend time on your hobbies.
  7. Clean out your closet or dresser drawers.
Those are just a few ideas. See what kind of rainy day fun you can come up with!

Until next time, keep it clean!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Happy Independence Day!


Today marks the day that, during the American Revolution, the original thirteen colonies declared independence from Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence was signed on this day in 1776 and the rest is history! Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending a picnic or barbecue. Patriotic themed decor is generally colored red, white, and blue in keeping with the colors of the American flag. Communities across the country have parades and fireworks displays happen in the evening at places like parks, fairgrounds, or town squares.
So why are you sitting around reading this blog? Get out and enjoy some July 4th activities! Go to a BBQ or take in a baseball game or a patriotic themed concert in the park!

Until next time, keep it clean and enjoy our nation's birthday!

Friday, July 2, 2010

Photos from NAA Conference!


Hello out there! The NAA Conference in New Orleans was a HUGE success! There are some great photos of the conference and of the AZUMA Leasing booth posted on our Facebook page.



Check out our photo album at:

http://bit.ly/cIF8lh





Thursday, June 17, 2010

AZUMA in The Big Easy!


It's summertime and things sure are hopping around the AZUMA office. One thing that we are all very excited about is the National Apartment Association Conference and Exposition being held in New Orleans this week! The conference brings together over 5,000 professionals from the multi-housing industry for training and networking. It's an exciting event and AZUMA Leasing is proud to be a Platinum sponsor! A few members of our AZUMA family are attending the conference and look forward to being on hand to answer questions about our service and our products. If you happen to be in New Orleans today through Friday, drop by our booth (Jessica, Danny and our President/COO, BJ will be in booth number 913) and say hello!

Until next time, keep it clean!

Exciting AZUMA News!


AZUMA Leasing is very pleased to announce that Phillip E. Bogucki has joined our company as Vice President of Sales. Mr. Bogucki is a 19-year veteran of the leasing industry specializing in appliance rentals to apartment tenants. He most recently served as an executive with the Boston-area based Mac-Gray Corporation. Mr. Bogucki is known in the industry for improving operating income and high customer service ratings. AZUMA President B.J. Rosow said, "AZUMA is honored that someone with Phil's industry stature chose AZUMA Leasing as his new home. Phil's standards for quality and service match those of AZUMA and we are excited to join forces with him as we continue our longstanding commitment to serving our customers."

AZUMA Leasing and all it's employees would like to give a warm welcome to Mr. Bogucki! Welcome aboard, Phil!


Friday, May 21, 2010

Happy Friday!


It's that time again......FRIDAY!! I'll try to contain my enthusiasm but I'm sure I'm not alone in my love of Friday's.
Not sure what to do on a Friday night? Here are a few suggestions:

  • Have some friends over for game night! Balderdash, Taboo, even the old standard Charades are always good for a few laughs. Ask your friends to bring over some snacks and make it a potluck game night. It's inexpensive and is a guaranteed good time.
  • Head downtown! Take a walk and find a restaurant that has outdoor dining. People watching is always good entertainment.
  • KARAOKE! I have several friends who LOVE doing this and it always makes for a fun evening. The good thing about karaoke is that you don't have to be the world's greatest vocalist to enjoy it. If you aren't shy, give this one a try!
  • Enjoy some live entertainment in your city. Go online and see who is playing at different music venues around town or maybe find out if there is a comedy club where you can check out some up and coming comedians. If you're lucky, you may even be able to find some FREE shows around town (and how can you possibly say no to that??).
  • Go to a movie. I know, I know - you do this all the time but there is something relaxing and enjoyable about sitting in a theater while noshing on popcorn. Invite a big group of friends to see a silly movie and blow off some work-week steam. Or if you don't want to go out for a movie, invite them over and have a "themed" movie night complete with snacks. Idea - if you will be watching 80's flicks like Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles have foods you would have had back in the day like PB&J sandwiches, Capri Sun juice, Fruit Roll Ups, Pizza Rolls. You get the idea.

Well, hope these ideas help you come up with your own Fun Friday plans! Remember, do what you like and like what you do and a good time is just around the corner.

Until next time, keep it clean!!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

AZUMA News!!


On May 10th, AZUMA Leasing began providing washer and dryer rentals in the Richmond, VA area!! We are very excited to be a part of such a historic community!

A few historical tidbits of information about the lovely city of Richmond:
  • The Powhatan Indians inhabited much of the Richmond area until 1607.
  • Richmond became a settlement between 1607 and 1609.
  • The city of Richmond is named after the London suburb of Richmond-upon-Thames and was given this name by William Byrd II.
  • Richmond served as a trading post trading furs, hides and tobacco until it became a city in 1742 and later became the state capital in 1782.
  • In May 1861, Richmond was declared the Capital of the Confederacy
Richmond boasts many attractions devoted to it's historically-rich and diverse culture.
  • The Historic Downtown section has cobble-stone streets and homes that were once occupied by Edgar Allan Poe amongst others.
  • Maymont Park is considered to be one of the most beautiful urban parks in the country. The land for Maymont Park was donated to the city of Richmond by a wealthy landowner and now has numerous fountains, an Italian-inspired garden and a peaceful Japanese tea garden. There is also a petting farm for children with sheep, lambs, chickens and other animals.
  • The American Civil War Center and Richmond National Battlefield Headquarters is the site of the iron foundery that supplied items to the Confederate Army. The goal of the center is to be the definitive museum on the Civil War and showcases information and items from both sides of the battle.
  • The White House of the Confederacy was the mansion used by Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the Civil War.
  • Interested in a walking tour? Swing down to Monument Avenue to walk the old brick roadway and take in the statues and beautiful homes.

What's not to love about Richmond? With it's history and charm, AZUMA Leasing is very happy to add Richmond to our AZUMA family.

Until next time, keep it clean!

Friday, May 7, 2010

A Brief History of the Washer

Ever wonder how we went from pounding and rubbing our clothes on rocks to the slick, in-home washers we have today? I was wondering that myself and decided to do a little research (afterall, we are in the business of renting washers and dryers so it only makes sense to know how we came to have the equipment we rent!).

A looooong time ago, people use to take their clothing and linens to a nearby river to wash them. Rubbing the laundry on rocks helped to flex the cloth and make it easier for soap (made of animal fat) to penetrate the fibers to get it clean. This eventually led to the advent of the wash board but this still required rubbing the clothes but at least a basin of water could be used instead of a river! People traveling by water would sometimes place their clothing in a bag, toss it over the side of the ship and let the ship drag the bag through the salty water for several hours.

In the early days before running water, gas or electricity, doing laundry was very laborious and time consuming. Imagine (if you can) - one wash, one boiling and one rinse use to use approximately 50 gallons of water (that's the equivalent of about 400 pounds). The water wasn't in your home so you had to pump it from an outdoor well and then carry that water inside to be heated on your woodburning stove and THEN transfer the water to the wash basin to START the wash process. To conserve time, many women would reuse the warm soapy water after the least soiled clothing was washed, then use it for progressively dirtier clothing. And when all of that was done......you'd get to do it all over again! WHEW!!

The earliest washing machines had tubs made of wood. Later, metal tubs allowed a fire to burn below the washtub to keep the water warm during the washing process. Electricity was not common in many households until the 1930's so most washers were hand operated. Later, automatic washers were connected to sink taps to have a temporary water supply attached. By 1940, 60% of electrically wired homes had an electric washing machine. Water removal by spinning didn't come into play until electric motors were developed since spinning requires that the tub be moving constantly to properly wring out the clothing and by the 1950's, most American manufactured washing machines had a spin-dry feature. A University of Montreal study found the advent of the washing machine to be an important milestone in the liberation of women. Women were now able to enter the workforce because they were free from the drudgery of doing the wash!

In the last century, washing machines have gone from being a luxury to being an item of daily necessity in most households.

Hope you enjoyed the little history lesson! Until next time, keep it clean (which is a lot easier now that you don't have to beat your clothes on rocks!).



Friday, April 30, 2010

National Arbor Day


April 30th is National Arbor Day. Arbor Day is a nationally recognized celebration to preserve and care for trees. Trees play an integral part in our day to day lives. They provide foods that we eat, give shade to shield us on a hot, summer day, clean the air that we breathe (trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the air) and countless other things.

A little bit about Arbor Day:
It was founded in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska.
An estimated one MILLION trees were planted on the first Arbor Day (that's a lot of trees!!).
Arbor day is celebrated each year on the last Friday in April (although each state has its own state Arbor Day holiday as well).

There are many ways to celebrate Arbor Day. How about........

  • Organizing a beautification project in an area park or schoolyard
  • Ask co-workers, friends and family to recycle paper (newsprint, magazines, etc.) and for every pound recycled, plant a tree
  • Take a walk with your family or friends and see how many different kinds of trees are in your area
  • Volunteer with a local tree-planting organization to make a difference in the quality and beauty of your community
  • Plant a fruit tree in your backyard
  • Visit a botanical garden and take in a lecture on caring for trees
Trees do some pretty amazing things for our environment. Did you know that ONE tree can absorb as much carbon in a year as a car produces in 25, ooo miles? Or that trees lower air temperature by evaporating water in their leaves? Or how about trees cutting down on noise pollution by acting as natural sound barriers (and they are MUCH prettier to look at than a large noise reduction wall!). Makes ya wanna go hug a tree, doesn't it?

For more information on Arbor Day and tree preservation, check out the following websites:
National Arbor Day Foundation – www.arborday.org
American Forests – www.americanforests.org

Until next time, keep it clean! Now get outta here and go plant a tree!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Earth Day


HAPPY EARTH DAY!!! Earth Day was created to inspire awareness and appreciation for our environment. The very first Earth Day celebration was on April 22, 1970. The celebration has been expanded in many communities across the country (and the world) as EARTH WEEK (April 16th through April 23rd). All of these celebrations focus on environmental issues and ways we can ALL make a difference to preserve our planet.
There are so many things that we can do to make that happen. Ya know the phrase "reduce, reuse and recycle"? That's just the tip of the iceberg but it's a GREAT place to start!
REDUCE - Think twice about the number of goods you purchase. Do you REALLY need to buy that book or can you check it out from your local library? Are you able to walk to the grocery store instead of driving thereby reducing the amount of gas you consume? Install a low-flow shower head to reduce your water consumption.
REUSE - Instead of tossing things out because they are worn out or stained, etc., find a new use for the item. Be creative!! How about covering old cereal boxes with brown paper and using them as shipping boxes for sending items to friends and family? It works and it saves you a couple of bucks on a new box for shipping. Try using coffee grounds and tea leaves as natural plant fertilizer. Instead of tossing out those nylon mesh vegetable bags (you know the ones that bulk onions and some citrus fruits are packaged in), wad it up and use it as a scrubber for various cleaning tasks around the house. Buy a stainless steel water bottle and refill it with water instead of buying a plastic water bottle (you are REDUCING the amount of plastic for recycling and REUSING the water bottle by doing this!!).
RECYCLE - Take old magazines to work for others to read while on lunch breaks or take them to local bookstores for reselling. Make a compost pile in your backyard with organic matter that you have leftover from your kitchen (egg shells, vegetable and fruit peels, etc.). You can then use the nutrient rich compost to fertilize the veggie garden you started so you don't have to drive to the grocery store (you see where I'm going with this?).

All of these things are SIMPLE and INEXPENSIVE. It's really about making small changes and then working towards the larger ones. So think about it, give it a shot and help preserve this wonderful place we all call home.

Until next time, keep it clean!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Drum Roll, Please!!


I'm sure you all are anxious to find out what the new name is for our adorable mascot. After a week of receiving votes from all of our customers, the winner is ...........
SUDZ!!!!!
Isn't that a terrific name? Everyone here at AZUMA Leasing is happy to have a name for the little guy and would like to thank everyone that participated in the vote. I'm sure that Sudz would also thank you if he could!

Keep an eye on future blogs because I will likely have lots of stories to share about our buddy Sudz!

Until next time, keep it clean (but before you leave, check out a little dog trivia)!

  • An American Animal Hospital Association poll showed that 33% of dog owners admit that they talk to their dogs on the phone or leave messages on an answering machine while away.
  • At the end of the Beatle's song " A Day in the Life", an ultrasonic whistle, audible only to dogs, was recorded by Paul McCartney for his Shetland sheepdog.
  • Dogs have fewer taste buds than people - probably fewer than 2,000! It is the smell that initially attracts them to a particular food.
  • Every year, $1.5 billion is spent on pet food. This is FOUR TIMES the amount spent on baby food!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Bow Wow!!



Hey guys, AZUMA Leasing needs your help! See the adorable little guy on the left? He's been our mascot, pet and buddy for years but he does NOT have a name (shame on us!). AZUMA Leasing is asking you to help us pick a name for him. The names to choose from are: Max
, Zeke
, Sudz
, Jake
, and Sammy (pretty cute, huh?). To cast your vote, simply visit www.azuma.com, follow the link at the bottom of the screen and cast your vote for your favorite name! When the voting ends, I will enter the puppy's new forever name here in our blog.

In honor of our much loved mascot, here is a healthy peanut butter treat that you can share with that special pooch in your life (and they are super easy to make!).


Ingredients:

1 c. whole wheat flour

1 c. spelt flour (if you don’t have it, use wheat flour in its place)

1 c. quick-cooking rolled oats

2 TBSP flax seeds

1-1/4 c. warm water

1/4 c. natural peanut butter (crunchy or smooth - leave that up to your doggy!)

Directions:

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Next, mix the flour, oats and flax seeds in a large mixing bowl.

Add the peanut butter and stir in the water.

Knead the dough (should feel like Play-Doh) on a lightly floured surface. You want to add in more flour, little by little, until the dough is no longer sticky.

Roll out the dough until it’s approximately 1/4″ thick. Bring out those cute cookie cutters you have been stashing (bones, fire hydrants, flowers, etc.) and cut into cookies.

Bake for 20 minutes and then turn your oven off. By allowing them to cool in the oven, you’ll get crunchy biscuits!

Makes 24 biscuits (depending on the size of the cookie cutters you use!).

I hope your pup enjoys them! Until next time, keep it clean!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Springtime!


March 20th marked the first day of SPRING! So many things come to mind when one thinks of spring: flowers blooming, trees getting a fresh crop of green leaves, warmer weather. One thing that also comes to mind is SPRING CLEANING. Need a washer and dryer to help with some of that cleaning? Call AZUMA Leasing at 800/707-1188 (or visit our hassle-free website - www.azuma.com) and get started on tackling all of your spring-time laundry. I don't know about you, but every spring I pull out all of my warmer weather clothes from storage and stick the winter stuff in it's place. Having a washer and dryer makes it so much easier to get that chore done (I mean - who wants to smell like stale clothing?).
Spring is a time of renewal and growth for all living things. It puts a spring (no pun intended!) in our steps and a smile on our faces. Springtime moves us back outdoors after being cooped up all winter. It's THE perfect time to get out and do some gardening (an organic veggie garden, perhaps?) or to take long walks in the park.
So, find some fun stuff to do and get out there! Enjoy the longer days and fabulous weather or take the time to renew yourself and your home by recycling or donating all of those unused items you have been keeping in your home so you can spring forward into the great season ahead.

Until next time folks, keep it clean!

Friday, March 12, 2010

Rats!



Ever have one of those days when you KNOW you shouldn't eat fast food/junk but you just can't help yourself? Or you reach for a doughnut for breakfast when you KNOW you should be having oatmeal and fresh fruit? Yep. That's how it has been for lots of folks here at AZUMA Leasing this morning. What is it about fast food that makes us crave it? It's not good for us and has little or no nutritional value. According to sciencenews.org, junk food may be addictive (so THAT'S why I want pizza every Friday night!!). A study performed on rats at the Scripps Research Institute shows that the area of the brain that senses pleasure is effected by the high-fat and high-calorie diets. The more junk the poor little rats ate, the more they wanted and the more they needed to get the same pleasurable sensation. Interested in learning more about the study? Check out the link to the article here (http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/48605/title/Junk_food_turns_rats_into_addicts). It's pretty interesting stuff (and you will undoubtedly feel some sympathy for the little rats)!
In the long run, all we gain with the frequent trips through the drive through and local bakery is WEIGHT and high blood pressure and diabetes and......shall I go on??
So when looking for something quick for dinner, forgo the burger and pickup a salad. Better yet, visit eatingwell.com for some great recipes!!

Until next time my friends, keep it clean!!

Friday, February 26, 2010

Snow Day



Can you believe we had SNOW on Tuesday? It looked like we were inside of a snowglobe!! People were bundled up in their coats, hats and scarves (items that they probably received as Christmas gifts but hadn't had the opportunity to use!). But, you know the stories you hear about Texas weather changing at the drop of a hat? It's true! The snow was kinda light and the flakes were big but it was a special treat for us. There is something about snow that brings out the child in everyone. People tossed snowballs at each other and built snowmen (okay, they were itty bitty mini snowmen but snowmen, nonetheless). We had a momentary winter wonderland.
The next day, it was sunny and BEAUTIFUL!! You would never have guessed that we had snow the day before. As wonderful as the sunny weather is, there was something special about our snow day. Snow seems to slow people down and help them to appreciate the simple things - a nice warm mug of hot chocolate (can't forget the marshmallows!), a warm coat, the laughter of a loved one. Maybe snow days are meant to make all of us take a deep breath and enjoy life.

Until next time folks, keep it clean.

Friday, February 19, 2010

TGIF!


TGIF!!! Ever have one of those weeks where a lot has happened but when you go back at the end of the week to replay all of the events in your head, it's a blur? That's kinda how this week was. I'm sure you have heard by now of the plane that was intentionally crashed into an IRS building here in Austin. I won't sensationalize it by talking about it but it's just a relief that more people weren't hurt.

After such a hectic and stressful week, I'm sure we could all use a little R&R. Looking for something fun or relaxing to do this weekend? There are so many options! The theatre, parks, shopping, staying in and watching movies - all are good options to take one's mind off of the whirlwind that was the previous week. Local newspapers and news websites are a couple of places to look if you are needing ideas for some weekend activities in your area.

We have had a busy week here at AZUMA Leasing (and we like it that way!). Check out our website (www.azuma.com) if you are in need of a washer and dryer. You can also call our customer service department at 800/707-1188 if you prefer setting up your delivery by phone. We are open Monday through Friday so we are going to go home this weekend, recharge our inner batteries and be back bright and early Monday morning to assist our customers.

Well, that's all for now. Until next time, keep it clean!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Green


We are supposed to get a bit of a cold snap in the next day or so - maybe even a little SNOW (although we are being told by weather forecasters that if we DO get snow, it won't stick). The wet, sleety weather should clear up for the weekend. The Austin Marathon is this Sunday (Valentine's Day) so I'm sure all of those runners will welcome the cool but not wet conditions. The Austin Marathon is one of the "greenest" marathons in the country according to Runner's World. That's a big nod for our city and our efforts to go green. Curious about the Austin Marathon? Check out the write up at Environmentally-Friendly Races at Runner's World.com. AZUMA Leasing is also doing it's part to go green. We are now providing our customers with paperless invoices and lease agreements. Not only does it cut back on the amount of paper that we are contributing to landfills, but it cuts back on energy costs (less electricity is used in the printing, folding, mailing of the invoices AND the US Postal system has a few thousand less bills to deliver so it may save on gas and emissions). It's a small step but it is a step in the right direction. There are lots of small things that we can all do to protect our environment and produce less waste - using "green" bags instead of plastic bags when shopping, reading newspapers online instead of getting the traditional kind on newsprint, buying used books instead of new, buying locally grown foods. Going green is also a good way to get creative and reuse things or repurpose them (turn an old T-shirt into a green bag or a pillow case!). Little steps can make a BIG difference. Give it a try and see what unique things you can do to save money and the environment. (How about getting an in-unit washer and dryer from us? Renting from AZUMA Leasing will help you save gas, release fewer emissions into the air and MONEY). Give us a call at 800/707-1188 if you would like to set up a delivery and get started on saving some "green"!

Until next time, keep it clean!!

Friday, February 5, 2010

Game Time


Last week I mentioned how wonderful the weather had been here in Austin. No sooner had that blog been posted when we got a good soaking and some cold weather (well, cold by Texas standards. It was about mid-40's for a few days in a row - BRRRR!!). Today is the first day that it hasn't been raining cats and dogs. (Speaking of dogs, check out my buddy Rover at his Twitter page - http://twitter.com/AzumaRover
). The cold, icky weather kept me indoors for a few days. Watched some TV, read some books, did some laundry. Not only do I work at AZUMA Leasing but I am also a customer! It was pretty nice to have the washer and dryer in my home and not have to worry about going to the laundromat in less than favorable weather. If you want to get a set for yourself, give AZUMA Leasing a call at 800/707-1188. We are more than happy to get you set up with a set of your own!

The Super Bowl is this weekend! YAY!! Time for friends and family to gather and watch some good, all-American football. The Super Bowl has almost become a national holiday of sorts. People plan for MONTHS on what they will serve, where they will gather and who will be invited. It's hard to believe that football season is now drawing to an end. What is one to do with all of those empty hours on a Sunday afternoon? Maybe that is the reason that football is primarily a fall/winter sport. If we sat around watching TV during the spring and summer, we wouldn't be outdoors appreciating the fantastic sunshine!

Lastly, if you get a chance, please visit my good friend DOMINIC at his Twitter page (
http://twitter.com/AzumaRover
). Today is his birthday and I know he would appreciate your well-wishes. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOMINIC!!!!

That's all for now! Until next time - keep it clean!


Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Fresh Start


Hi there, hello and howdy! This is the first AZUMA Leasing blog so I suppose the best place to start is at the beginning by introducing us to you - our readers.
AZUMA Leasing is an appliance rental company based out of Austin, Texas. We are a nationwide company and specialize in the rental of washers, dryers and refrigerators* (*in some service areas). We rent mostly to people in apartment communities but we also rent to people who live in condos and homes. Don't live in Austin, you say? No worries! We service about 45 markets nationwide and will be able to get a washer and dryer right over to you!

Enough about that - let's move on to the fun stuff! It's the beginning of a new year and things are pretty good here in Austin - great weather, fun things to do and see, excellent music and food. Doesn't get much better than that! People near our office are out running and taking advantage of the beautiful weather. Our year is off to a busy and productive start here at AZUMA Leasing. We are renting out washers and dryers like hotcakes (mmmm...hotcakes with syrup! YUM!)!!!! How about your start to the new year? What sort of things are you planning on doing this year to give you a FRESH START?

Until next time, keep it clean!