Blog Posts

Celebrate Pi Day at Autumn Creek Apartments

Sometimes winter seems to go on forever, just like π (pi), but in good news, spring weather is on its way to East Amherst, NY, and we’ve got some ideas about how to celebrate Pi Day (3.14) at your Autumn Creek apartment. Celebrate Pi Day Learn About Pi Expand your knowledge about the mathematical equation of pi. If you are a lover of math, this might be the best way to celebrate. We found this article from Wired called 6 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Pi . Bake a Pie Yes, we know it’s Pi day, not Pie Day, but they sound just the same, so why not use the day as an excuse to bake and eat some pie? If you really feel that bad about it then bake your pie in a pi symbol shaped pan . Try one of these 50+ Classic All-American Pie Recipes from Country Living for starters. Eat Pie for Every Meal If you are hardcore and you love food, this might just be the best way for you to celebrate. Start off your day with a slice of pie, have some pie for lunch, and treat yourself to more pie for dinner and dessert. Show the world that your love for pie knows no boundaries. Mix up your servings with savory and sweet pies to avoid the sugar overload. Go Out for Pie If you’d rather get out of your apartment or you are not much of a baker, make a visit to one of these bakeries in the area for a slice of your favorite type of pie with some friends. Dress Up Embrace your inner nerd and dress up like the Pi symbol. You could also dress up like an actual pie to be punny. Spread awareness about the holiday with your costume. We hope taking time to celebrate Pi Day will warm your heart, even if the temperatures in the city still reflect wintertime weather. Thanks for reading our post today.

Black History Month

February is Black History Month. In today’s Autumn Creek Apartment Blog post, we have a little background about this holiday as well as a list of books to read in celebration of this month, plus activities in the area to participate in and learn more about black history. Enjoy your month here in East Amherst. The Origin of Black History Month : “Black History Month, or National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history.” Books to Read in Appreciation of Black History Month: 28 Days: Moments in Black History that Changed the World by Charles R. Smith Jr., Shane W. Evans (2015) “Each day features a different influential figure in African-American history, from Crispus Attucks, the first man shot in the Boston Massacre, sparking the Revolutionary War, to Madame C. J. Walker, who after years of adversity became the wealthiest black woman in the country, as well as one of the wealthiest black Americans, to Barack Obama, the country's first African-American president.” Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine (2007) “A stirring, dramatic story of a slave who mails himself to freedom by a Jane Addams Peace Award-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist.” The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles (2004) “This is the true story of an extraordinary 6-year-old who helped shape history when she became the first African-American sent to first grade in an all white school. This moving book captures the courage of a little girl standing alone in the face of racism.” The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson (2001) “Clover's mom says it isn't safe to cross the fence that segregates their African-American side of town from the white side where Anna lives. But the two girls strike up a friendship, and get around the grown-ups' rules by sitting on top of the fence together.” We hope you have a chance to learn something new this month! Check out these events in the WNY area that will be focused on Black History Month . Thanks for reading today’s blog post.

DIY Escape Room for Valentine's Day

It’s February and that means that Valentine’s Day is coming up soon, including non-stop advertising for hearts, flowers, and candy. Like many of us, you may be looking for a different way to celebrate the holiday here in WNY. Now we’re not advocating that you throw an anti-Valentine’s party, but how about doing something different this year at your Autumn Creek apartment? We’ve got the perfect idea, do a DIY escape room adventure, for Valentine’s (or just for fun). If you’re a little hazy on the whole thing, this video gives a great overview of what to expect from an escape room adventure . Here are some things to take into account if you decide to create your own escape room in or near your East Amherst apartment. Consider the theme. Whether you want to go with a whodunit, a time-pressure escape, or the seemingly impossible, coming up with a theme is the place to start. If you’re going with a Valentine’s Day theme, perhaps discovering the most romantic place in the city is the goal. Is there something unique about our East Amherst community that you can build a theme from? What about ghost stories or local landmarks? Do you have a favorite book or genre? All of these could be a springboard for your escape. This list of Wacky Escape Room Theme Ideas will help get your creative juices flowing. Gather the supplies. Next, take a look at the layout of your home as well as checking to see what you may already have on hand that you could use for your escape adventure. Do you have a locking briefcase, chest, case, box, or other lockable containers? What about locks? Because, of course, you will need several different kinds of locks to use for your escape room — from alpha-numeric locks to combination locks to padlocks, and even a hasp lock, finding the keys and figuring out the combinations are all a part of the fun. Other supplies you need are the items that will create your escape room staging. Choose items that speak to your chosen theme (or choose a theme based on the items you have on hand). What about a clock, a map, or a globe, an old-school camera, an old-fashioned ornate key? All can be a part of your set. Clues can be highlighted for each one of these items. Some other items you will want to include in addition to your locks and staging items are a set of pens to write clues that will show up with a UV flashlight and notepads for your guests to keep track of everything. Puzzles work well for an escape room. One fun idea is to put a simple puzzle together, flip it over and write your message/clue on the back. Use normal things in a new way. Have fun figuring out your set pieces and how they fit into the escape. Come up with the riddles, puzzles, and clues. Once you have all of the pieces, it’s time to put it all together. Figure out clues that lead your detectives from one clue to another, or to another key or riddle. In the end, once they solve everything, they will have all the pieces they need to escape the room or solve the main riddle/question. Do a test run-through. After you’ve done the run through (invite a select group over to do a test run), refine your experience and send out invites for your escape room party! If a complete DIY is not your cup of tea, another option is to purchase an escape room kit or game that has everything you need to do an escape room party. Have you been to a commercial escape room? What was your favorite thing about it? Let us know in the comments.

Winter Driving Tips for New York Weather

If you’re a native to New York and even if you’re relatively new to East Amherst, you might be familiar with how the roads can get scary this time of year. However familiar with driving in the winter you may feel you are, it’s always good to remind yourself of some important winter driving tips. Today the Autumn Creek Apartments Blog has a few pointers for driving in the winter! Be prepared. Keeping yourself mentally and physically prepared and your supplies suitable for the winter immediately puts you on the right track for winter driving. Prepare not only your vehicle and your expectations for driving but also your schedule so you don’t have to rush while you’re out on the road. If you can’t or don’t want to check your car yourself, take it into an auto shop to ensure all your car’s fluids are at the levels they should be and the air pressure in your tires is also where it should be. Check that your engine is running smoothly, all tubes are secured, your heating and air conditioning works, your wipers don’t leave streaks, and other parts of your vehicle are in good shape. Then prepare what goes inside your car for everyday use and emergencies: Stock your car with a car window defrosting spray , an ice scraper with a brush, an emergency kit, blankets, water, and non-perishable food items. Check out these 15 things to have in your car for the winter for more ideas. Be cautious. All the preparation in the world doesn’t protect against accidents or the unfortunate consequences of aggressive or careless winter driving. “More than 800 people die each year in the U.S. in vehicle crashes caused by snow, sleet and freezing rain,” according to Glenn Coin on winter driving for Syracuse.com. While you may be prepared, nature is nothing to be messed with. Remember that you don’t have all the control, so respect that and be careful. A big part of that means slowing down . You may not have to go at a snail’s pace, depending on the situation of the road you’re on. But increasing your following distance and slowing down — especially when you’re turning, merging into traffic, switching lanes, or merging onto highways — can minimize your risk for sliding. Remember also to be a defensive, alert driver as you drive, as you (hopefully) would in normal conditions. Use your blinker when turning or switching lanes. Avoid cutting people off. Try not to get worked up when others don’t do their part for creating a safe space. And pay attention! Every good driver contributes to a safer driving experience for everyone. What are your best tips for driving in the winter? Share with the rest of our apartment community by leaving a comment! Thanks for reading. Good luck, and be safe!

How to Save Energy in the Winter

East Amherst, along with the rest of New York, can get chilly in the winter, as you may have already noticed! It’s tempting to turn up the heat and keep it high all season long, but this can waste a lot of energy and money. Today the Autumn Creek Blog has a few suggestions inspired by U.S. News’ 10 ways to save on energy costs article ) for how you can cut down on energy usage and stay comfortable in your apartment this season. Switch to LED lights for holiday decor. We’re pleased to say that we’ve switched over to LED lighting here at Autumn Creek. We hope you like it! In addition to the lighting we provide, if you’re stringing up some lights for ambiance or holiday decorating this year, save energy by switching out your incandescent lighting to LED lights, which use at least 75 percent less energy and last 25 times longer than older lighting. These are also safer to use in a home, but be sure to always unplug these lights and other appliances when you’re asleep or out of the apartment to further conserve on energy. Clean. Having a clean space is a great first step to saving energy because it enables your things to work properly and heat up the apartment the way they’re intended to, without being crowded up by gunk. As Niccole Schreck mentions in her article, “keeping your furnace and vents properly maintained will reduce energy consumption and help you save.” Use a humidifier. This is another great tip we were excited to learn from Schreck. As she mentions, “moist air feels warmer and holds heat better, so a humidifier can help you feel comfortable when your thermostat is set at a lower temperature.” Houseplants can also help add humidity to your home and help you on this quest to feel warmer without turning up the heat so much. Use resources for free or inexpensive heat. Opportunities for free heat may seem few and far between, but there are small ways you can make the most of them in your home. Open up your blinds and let in the sunlight. Take out your warmest, thickest blankets and comforters — and better yet, clean them right before you go to bed so you can cuddle up with warm, fresh-from-the-dryer sheets and blankets. Sweaters, scarves, thick socks, and slippers can also help you feel more comfortable. If you’re a fan of hot chocolate or cocoa, make a cup when you’re feeling chilly for a nice treat that not only satisfies your cravings but also helps you feel warm and toasty. What are your best tips, tricks, hacks, and ideas for cutting down on energy usage? Share with the rest of us by leaving a comment! Thanks for reading. Good luck. We hope these ideas help!

Host a Holiday Dinner at Autumn Creek Apartments

Bring some excitement to your holiday get-togethers by throwing a holiday dinner party! Today the Autumn Creek Apartments Blog is here to give you some ideas and to remind you of essentials not to forget when it comes to throwing your own holiday dinner party, in your apartment this month. Prepare your setting. Start by deep cleaning your apartment a few days ahead of time. Prepare in advance any dishes you can warm up the day of. If it helps, write out a schedule of when you’ll accomplish each necessary task so you ensure you don’t forget anything. Decorate You can go as simple or intricate as you wish in your decorations. Streamers, tablecloths, napkins, and centerpieces easily set a tone and can be made or bought at little expense. Consider using or purchasing holiday-themed dinnerware as a special festive touch. Ask for and Accept Help Every party is different, so however many parties you may have thrown in the past, it’s a good idea to take advantage of a few extra sets of hands for preparing food, decorating, and cleaning up. Ask anyone you live with to help with cleaning beforehand, too. You can even make your party a simple potluck-style gathering to make preparing food easier on you and your budget! Be Friendly and Personable Sometimes the people you invite over can come from different stages of your life. Encourage others to get to know each other, and be friendly and personable as well. Ask about people’s lives and be willing to genuinely listen to their answer. Keep things non-controversial yet meaningful. Be open to ideas for playing group games, if that’s how things go when the dinner talk is over. Above all, relax and enjoy an evening with friends in the warmth of your apartment. They may forget what the entree was, the other guests who were there, and what day it was, but they will remember how you made them feel as a guest in your home. We want to wish everyone in our East Amherst, NY apartment community happy holidays! Thanks for taking the time to read our post.