Blog Posts

Books to Read that Are Perfect for December

Winter has come to East Amherst, NY, and that means it gets darker sooner, and being inside your warm, inviting, Autumn Creek apartment is a lovely place to be when a busy schedule doesn’t keep you out and about until all hours. While busy is good, it may be nice to take a break from the holiday hustle and bustle, and we’ve got just the thing to help you relax. Take time out to read a book. We have some suggestions that make good reading in December, particularly. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens “Scrooge, the most miserly of all misers, is shown the true meaning of Christmas by four ghostly visitors — his partner Marley, and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet To Come. By Christmas day, he has learnt his lesson and is willing to enter into the spirit of things.” Little Women by Louisa May Alcott “Little Women is the heartwarming story of the March family that has thrilled generations of readers. It is the story of four sisters -- Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth -- and of the courage, humor and ingenuity they display to survive poverty and the absence of their father during the Civil War.” Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan “In the bleak winter of [1940], Nazi troops parachuted into Peter Lundstrom's tiny Norwegian village and held it captive. Nobody thought the Nazis could be defeated--until Uncle Victor told Peter how the children could fool the enemy. It was a dangerous plan. They had to slip past Nazi guards with nine million dollars in gold hidden on their sleds. It meant risking their country's treasure--and their lives.” Books to read this month are great, but if you don’t have a lot of spare time for reading, may we suggest watching a holiday movie? Last December we shared some of our favorite movies to watch in December . However you decide to relax this month, we want to wish everyone here in our apartment community happy holidays!

Tips for Making the Most of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Giving Tuesday

Make plans now to participate in Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday where you can combine shopping and giving over the course of just a few days. Heading out to shop on Black Friday is a time-honored tradition for many Americans, and Cyber Monday is a great follow-up option to pick up things you didn’t get on Friday. Giving Tuesday— a relative newcomer to the arena— is focused on giving back. Learn more about all three in our Autumn Creek Blog post today. Black Friday Black Friday, the shopping day to beat all shopping days, is a great way to get good deals on gifts, and even big-ticket items you may want to get for your apartment, so whether you are looking for deals on electronics like laptops, cell phones, or flat screen TVs, we’ve got some advice to help you succeed in your shopping quests, so before you head out to find the absolute best deals, take a look at this advice from Consumer Reports: Top 10 Black Friday Shopping Tips . Cyber Monday Similar to Black Friday, Cyber Monday is a great time to score amazing deals on electronics such as laptops, cameras, cell phones, gaming systems, and so much more. Like Black Friday, many deals are only available in a limited supply or during a certain window of time. To find out what sort of Cyber Monday deals your favorite stores will be having this year, visit TheBlackFriday.com and click on your store’s logo to be directed to their ads and offers for Cyber Monday. Target, for example, is offering an additional 15% off in stores and online on Cyber Monday and the Sunday before Cyber Monday. Most stores offer free shipping so it won’t cost you any more than it would if you bought it in stores. Giving Tuesday November, particularly Thanksgiving, is all about giving thanks, and what better way to express gratitude for all you’ve been given, than by sharing your bounty? Giving Tuesday, celebrated the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, got the official nod back in 2012 as a movement to support and celebrate the act of giving worldwide. Giving Tuesday started as an effort to help bring the focus of the holidays back on what they are really about — giving. Visit givingtuesday.org to find local nonprofit businesses near you to volunteer at. You can also donate to one of the many charities associated with the Giving Tuesday movement. #GivingTuesday Get prepared to head out for the best in East Amherst shopping options, and remember to set aside some funds for supporting giving Tuesday or providing service here in East Amherst, NY.

Thanksgiving Planning Made Simple

Thanksgiving day is coming up. Are you ready? The Autumn Creek Apartments Blog is sharing some simple steps you can take to prepare for the upcoming holiday this month. Take your holiday preparations one step at a time to avoid becoming overwhelmed by everything you need to accomplish, and enjoy a Thanksgiving filled with friends, family, food, and fun. Plan Your Menu Decide on what dishes you are going to serve at your Thanksgiving feast. Let your guests know what will be on the menu and if there is anything not on the menu that they would like, to make it and bring it. When planning your menu take into account any food allergies, preferences, or specific accommodations any of your guests might need. Get the Ingredients First, start by making a list of all the ingredients you will need to make everything on your holiday menu. Check your apartment pantry and fridge to see what you already have, and then head to your favorite grocery store in East Amherst, NY to buy the rest of the ingredients you don’t have early in the week. Be thrifty and look for deals, use coupons, and don’t worry too much about getting name brands. Off-brand ingredients or the store’s brand tend to be less expensive and usually just as good. Create a Cooking Schedule Plan ahead of time how you plan on cooking everything and what to cook first. Start dishes that will need more time in the oven early on. Prep some ingredients the day before and store them in the fridge overnight to save time on the day of the feast. Know where all your cooking utensils, pots, and pans are so you won’t have to waste time searching for them when you need them. Set the Table Have the table all set and ready with a tablecloth, placemats, plates, cups, utensils, and any place markers or festive decorations or centerpieces. Once the meal is all ready you won’t have to worry about getting the dishes out. Clean up Make cleanup a breeze by giving everyone assignments and tasks ahead of time. If everyone knows what they are supposed to do and what is expected of them beforehand, the clean up will go much more quickly. Making sure several people are involved in the cleanup process will also ensure the daunting task doesn’t end up falling on one person. What other tips would you add to our list? Share your ideas with us in the comments. Thanks for reading our post! We wish everyone here at Autumn Creek a happy Thanksgiving!

Costuming Your Pet: Tips from Autumn Creek Apartments

Last year we on the Autumn Creek Blog we shared some fun ideas for Halloween costumes . This year we’re back with more costume ideas — for your pets! That’s right, dress up your fur baby for a Halloween photo op or to accompany you on your annual Halloween adventure. We’ve included some guidelines for how to safely costume your pet, as well. The two of you will make a splash in our East Amherst, NY neighborhood, as well as our apartment community! Pet Costume Ideas from Autumn Creek Apartments UPS Delivery Driver Another great costume from Chewy California Costumes, this is perfect for any of you who do not sew. If you’re taking your pup along with any trick-or-treating you or your kids will be doing, this will be a delightful guest at anyone’s door. A Purrrfect Queen Is your cat the one in charge in your apartment? Well, now they can be with this adorable Queen Robe Pet Costume. This fur-trimmed velvet cape and crown are the perfect outfit to match your cat’s “royal” attitude. Just be sure to find yourselves some comfy servant clothes to wear while hand feeding her. There are all sorts of costume ideas for pets and owners to inspire you. Whether you’re dressing up as iconic characters from a fairy tale or a classic movie you love, you can find something that will be perfect for you and your pet. We especially love this Shaggy, Velma, and the Mystery Machine costume idea for fans of the show. Tips for Costuming Pets How long will you and your pet be dressed up for? Make sure your outfit will be comfortable for the duration of it. Does your pet even like to wear clothing or costumes? Pay attention to their body language and adjust or be willing to take off their costume completely if they’re uncomfortable. Will your look be appropriate for the variety of settings you’ll inevitably be in throughout the day? Make accommodations so you can be. Will it be easy to slip on and off or otherwise adjust so you and your pet can go to the bathroom easily? Make it so! Don’t block their ability to stay in touch with their senses, so keep things out of their face and nozzle. Dressing your pet in a costume for the first time can be tricky. Petful.com has some great tips. We hope you have an awesome October here in New York and that whether you dress up with your pet or not, that your Halloween holiday is spooktacular.

Classic Halloween Movies & New Releases to Watch in October

It’s October and for many members of our WNY community at Autumn Creek Apartments, that means it’s time to break out Halloween-themed movies for the season. Today we have some suggestions for classic Halloween-themed movies to revisit, as well as movies coming to the theatres in the East Amherst, NY area. Gather up some friends and host a movie marathon this month or head out on the time to get begin a spooktacular month. Classic Movies to Watch for a Halloween Movie Marathon at Your Apartment The Addams Family (1991) Con artists plan to fleece the eccentric family using an accomplice who claims to be their long lost Uncle Fester. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld; Stars Angelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd. Sleepy Hollow (1999) Ichabod Crane is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the decapitations of 3 people with the culprit being the legendary apparition, the Headless Horseman. Directed by Tim Burton; Stars Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon. Beetlejuice (1988) A couple of recently deceased ghosts contract the services of a "bio-exorcist" in order to remove the obnoxious new owners of their house. Directed by Tim Burton; Stars: Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton, and Annie McEnroe. Head to a WNY Theatre and Catch a Halloween-Themed Movie in October Venom Director Ruben Fleischer brings his skills to the table in this movie starring Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, & Woody Harrelson. “Eddie Brock acquires the powers of a symbiote, he will have to release his alter-ego ‘Venom’ to save his life.” Opens nationwide October 5th. Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween “Halloween comes to life in a comedy adventure based on R.L. Stine's 400-million-selling series of books.“ Writer Rob Lieber is back with another adventure for the Goosebumps crew. Directed by Ari Sandel this is a comedy suitable for the whole family. In theaters on October 12th. Halloween Mike Myers returns for a final encounter on October 19th in this epic sequel. “Laurie Strode comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.” We hope you have a fabulous October and get your fill of movies. Don’t forget the popcorn. Thanks for taking the time to read our blog. Next time we’ll have ideas for pet costumes; don’t miss it!

Take Care of Your Car in East Amherst, NY

Here at Autumn Creek Apartments, we are pleased to provide the option of garages as one of the amenities we offer. It’s awesome to have a place to house your car, especially with winter weather coming up in a few months! This month our post is all about taking care of your car — whether it’s in or out of a garage. Give it a Wash Few things feel better than looking at a freshly washed car. You have a few options when it comes to washing your car, depending on how well you want to take care of it. The first option is to go through a car wash. It’s quick and easy, and you don’t need to worry about doing it yourself. The other option, often preferred by car enthusiasts, is to wash it yourself. Doing this ensures your car isn’t scratched and scuffed by harsh machines. There are many tutorials on YouTube and tips online on how to wash your car, so if you are worried about knowing how, find the right resource for what you need! Detail the Interior Your vehicle may easily get a bit dirty outside from the weather, road conditions, or just the act of driving when you’re out and about in East Amherst or going on a road trip. And the inside of your can can also gradually get messy, so take some time regularly to clean it. Start by removing all trash, clothing, and other items that don’t belong in the car. Then dust your dashboard and vacuum, being sure to get the vents (use a sponge painting brush or a feather duster to get inside the cracks). Use a squeegee to remove pet hair from fabrics and try these other hacks to make your car cleaner than it’s ever been . Check, Change, and Refill Fluids Whether you do this on your own or at a shop, this is vital to the health of your car. Things to check include your car’s oil, windshield wiper fluid, radiator fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and air conditioning coolant. Check out these tips for checking these 7 fluids for details about how to do so. For more tips about cars and driving, take a look at our March blog, which featured helpful car-related apps for navigating New York, finding repair shops, and finding the best-priced gas for your car. Thanks for taking the time to read our post today! Have a great month here in East Amherst.