Blog Posts

Love My Apartment!

Hello Autumn Creek! This month we’re hosting a “Love My Apartment Contest” for residents of our apartment community here in East Amherst, NY. It’s easy to participate — simply send a photo of your favorite space in your home to us and we will upload the photos to our Facebook page where everyone can then vote on the submissions. The winner will receive a $50 gift card! We’re excited to see all the creative spaces here at Autumn Creek Apartments! How to Enter Take a photo of your favorite space in your home & send it to [email protected] . Include a note about why you love it. To vote, head to our Facebook page , click on the photos tab, open our Contest Photo Album, and comment “love” on your (one) favorite picture. Spread the word! Anyone who has liked our Facebook page can vote, so invite your friends, family, and coworkers to vote for your photo. It’s as simple as that! The contest runs from March 1st - March 29th. The winner will be announced on March 30th and will receive a $50 gift card. If you don’t already have a favorite space in your apartment, this may be an excellent time to create one. We have some ideas to share to spark your imagination. If you don’t have a good sense of what style you like, use this Decorating Style quiz from Better Homes & Gardens to help you figure it out. Ideas for Decorating Your Autumn Creek Apartment Add Flowers & Plants Flower arrangements are an easy way to add a spring accent to your decor. Put together a traditional arrangement of springtime flowers. Martha Stewart has some lovely ideas for unique combinations of flowers and containers to help you get your imagination going or simply follow the directions to create the arrangements that are shown. Another fun twist on unusual containers for spring flower arrangements comes from Better Homes and Gardens — re-purpose an outdoor birdbath to create “living artwork” featuring a “display of moss, spring-flowering bulbs, and pussy willow branches.” Get the directions here . Rearrange the Furniture Rearranging the furniture can definitely make things feel refreshed and like new. Before you strain your back though moving the armoire multiple times, trying to get it in the perfect place, try one of these apps and create a room layout before actually moving everything. Floor Plan Creator (Android, Free) “Create detailed and precise floor plans. See them in 3D. Add furniture to design interior of your home. Have your floor plan with you while shopping to check if there is enough room for a new furniture.” Magic Plan (iOS, Free) “MagicPlan quickly creates professional floor plans & work estimates. It measures rooms and draws floor plans just by taking pictures. Simply add objects, annotations, photos and attributes to generate reports or complete estimates.” Check out this page for more room arranging apps for both iOS and Android. Take a look at these ideas for adding color to your apartment without painting from a post in the WNY Luxury Apts Blog. We look forward to seeing what you’ve done with your East Amherst, NY apartment!

Floor Plans at Autumn Creek

Our Autumn Creek Apartments Blog is sharing some ways to make the most of the space in your East Amherst, NY apartment today. Our floor plans feature well-designed, spacious areas, and our apartments include huge walk-in closets, balconies, patios, and elegant finishes such as wood-style plank flooring, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances. Our private entries are a feature all of our residents appreciate, too. We provide a great space, and in today’s post, we are sharing some tips to help you find balance and serenity by using the ancient Chinese art of feng shui in your living space. What is feng shui? Feng shui is an ancient Chinese art and science that was developed over 3,000 years ago. Feng shui teaches how to balance the energies in any given space. A positive balance of energies is also believed to bring about good fortune such as increased health, success in the workplace, and a fulfilling love life. Feng means wind and shui means water . Wind and water are associated with good health in Chinese culture. The 5 Elements of Feng Shui There are five elements associated with feng shui which can be used to bring more harmony and balance into your home. The five elements are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Using the 5 Elements Each feng shui element has corresponding colors associated with it. Using specific colors is the easiest way to increase harmony in your home and incorporate these elements. Green and brown represent the element of wood and symbolizes growth and creativity. Red, orange, purple, pink, and strong shades of yellow represent the element of fire which symbolizes transformation and vitality. Earth is represented by light yellow, light brown, and other earthy/sandy shades and symbolizes strength and stability. White and gray are the colors for the element of metal which symbolizes mental clarity and intelligence. The colors associated with water are blue and black and symbolize relaxation and inspiration. Other Aspects of Feng Shui Some other important aspects to remember when incorporating feng shui into your apartment decorating are lighting, open spaces, a lack of clutter, and a mixture of different shapes and colors. Feng shui is more about the feelings invoked by a space, so use your own judgment to achieve the balance that you desire. Want to learn more about the art of feng shui? Check out this article from Real Simple on Feng Shui Decorating Tips . Thanks for reading today’s post. PS: If you’re not a resident, but are thinking of moving to Autumn Creek Apartments, check out our floorplans via a virtual tour .

Will You Be Mine? Ideas for Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching! If you need ideas for your plans, read on! Today, the Autumn Creek Apartments Blog has date ideas for your holiday that are sure to work for anyone here in East Amherst, NY. Making your plans now and making reservations is necessary to help your date night go smoothly! Something Classically Romantic There’s nothing wrong with dinner and a movie, especially if that’s what you and your date enjoy! Check out what movies are being released in theaters in February so you can see if this might be something to make for quality entertainment on a special night. And be sure to take special care for that delicious dinner! Reserve tickets, make reservations, order ingredients and gifts, and set up your table before the big day so everything can go off without a hitch. These sorts of dates are great for people who thrive off of the consistency of a relaxing night out or in. Something Creative or Sentimental Exercise your creativity by taking a class to learn how to paint, do pottery, or dance! Learning a new skill is always a fun and worthwhile pursuit. Doing so with someone you care for can be even more memorable. You can also exercise that creativity while staying in: Try some of these 50 Romantic Date Night Ideas . We love the ideas to write your love story together in a notebook or to have a fondue night at home. Play some get-to-know-you games to continue to learn about each other, especially things about before you met, or reminisce about your favorite memories together for a stress-free evening. Something Active Whether you’re hitting the ice rink, the rock climbing gym, or the nearest park for a peaceful stroll around town, these sorts of activities can help you stretch, wake up, and get the blood flowing before a hearty meal. They also give you opportunities to bond with and learn from each other while creating memories you’ll cherish. Of course, many of these activities can be enjoyed when it’s not Valentine’s day, or even if you’re not in a relationship — so simply celebrate this February! Thanks for reading today’s post.

Super Food for the Super Bowl

It’s the new year, and that means that Super Bowl LII is coming up soon, this year it’s on February 4th. The game will be played in Minneapolis at the U.S. Bank Stadium with all the traditions that have become customary surrounding it. While you may not be traveling from New York to Minnesota for the game, you may be enjoying it at your Autumn Creek Apartment or in the Club House, and what’s the game without some snacks to accompany it? Today we have a variety of recipes to share which are the perfect game-day choices. Snack Options Giant Philly Cheesesteak from Delish What does a bundt pan have to do with this? It forms the bread crust, that’s what! You will need refrigerated French bread dough, olive oil, an onion, bell peppers, sirloin steak, provolone, and salt and pepper to pull off this hearty snack. Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs from Damn Delicious Gather together ground chicken, Panko, an egg, garlic powder, onion powder, green onions, salt and pepper, buffalo sauce, and bleu cheese dressing for these meatballs. They’re so delicious; you don’t want to miss out on these! Loaded Potato Skins from Delish With just a few ingredients you can turn basic potatoes into a treat you won’t be able to get enough of. These fully loaded potato skins are easy to make and delicious to eat. Start with russet potatoes; add olive oil, salt, bacon, cheddar cheese, sour cream and green onions — eat! Touchdown Brownies from The BakerMama To add something sweet to your snack table, try out these Touchdown Brownies. You’ll need the following ingredients: unsalted butter, semi-sweet chocolate chips, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, caramel bits, crushed pretzels, chopped pecans, caramel sauce, and mini pretzels. Healthier Snack Options Pesto and Turkey Cucumber Roll Ups from Ambitious Kitchen Cucumbers, pesto, cheese, spinach, and other vegetables combine to make a healthy, tasty, roll up that is as fun to make as it is to eat. A bonus is that they can be made a day ahead of time. Just be sure to store them in an airtight container until you’re ready to serve them. Ginger and Garlic Shrimp from Food & Wine This delectable dish blends a multitude of flavors into a mouth-water whole. Season shrimp with parsley, garlic, basil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper, grill — then dip the grilled shrimp into a tangy tomato-based dipping sauce. Cauliflower Pizza Bites from Wicked Spatula Pizza muffin? That’s right, these pizza bites are both good for you and fun to eat. Mix grated cauliflower, eggs, oil, and seasonings together for the crust, then add your favorite meat and vegetable fillings. Bake in a muffin tin, then serve hot from the oven with your favorite marinara sauce. If none of these recipes tickle your fancy, and you don’t want to do just chips and a store-bought dip or a veggie tray, check out these 12 scrumptious Super Bowl food ideas from DIY Projects. Enjoy the super bowl via the big screen, right here in East Amherst, NY. Contact the Leasing Office today to reserve the Club House for a Super Bowl Party! Thanks for reading today’s post on the Autumn Creek Apartments Blog this week!

Prepare Your Apartment for the New Year

Winter has arrived here in East Amherst, NY, and that’s a good time to stay in at your Autumn Creek Apartment, and we don’t blame you! While you’re indoors, perhaps a little more than usual, take some time to prepare your apartment for the new year with the tips we’re sharing in today’s post. #1 - Declutter and Clean After the holidays you may still have piles of wrapping paper and cardboard boxes lying around. Take some time to just throw away or recycle everything you don’t need. This is especially important if there are children in the apartment. They may have lots of toy packaging and extra materials in their spaces that need to be tossed. Once all the trash is out, take some time to do some simple apartment upkeep, like vacuuming, wiping off surfaces, and picking up. #2 - Put Away Holiday Decor If you decorate for the holidays and seasons, then this step is important for you. Maybe you only have winter decor up. If so, you still have time to enjoy those decorations. If you think it’s time to take down the holiday decor, though, spend some time packaging it back up. If you notice that you have decor that you never used or that needs repairs, maybe it’s time to give the decor away or throw it out, or repair it before packing it away again. Put wrapping paper and other holiday materials away. Take time to put things away in an organized manner; you’ll thank yourself when you pull it out next year. #3 - Organize Space for New Items If you have new gifts lying around the house, this is a great time to reorganize your apartment to make room for them. If you got a new TV or other electronics, throw out or sell old items rather than letting them take up unnecessary space. If you got any new furniture items, reorganize your living space to accommodate them. What are your best tips for organizing your home at the start of a new year? What other things in your home should you check while you’re doing your sweep of your apartment? Share your thoughts in the comments! Thanks for reading.

Holiday Movies to Watch in December

We daresay that you, like many other residents here at Autumn Creek, looked forward to December, not only for the holidays, but for the holiday movies that made an appearance each year. From Frosty the Snowman to Rudolph and the Peanuts gang, there are plenty of specials to watch. We have some suggestions for holiday movies you may want to revisit this year! A Christmas Carol (2009) — Animation, Drama, Family An animated retelling of Charles Dickens' classic novel about a Victorian-era miser taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions. A Christmas Story (1983) — Comedy, Family In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie attempts to convince his parents, his teacher, and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun really is the perfect Christmas gift. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) — Drama, Family, Fantasy An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed. The Polar Express (2004) — Animation, Adventure, Family A young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express. During his adventure he learns about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas. Serendipity (2001) — Romance, Comedy A chance meeting in a department store brings a couple of strangers together over a pair of gloves. Will they see each other again? Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack star in this holiday movie adventure. The Holiday (2006) — Romance, Comedy Two women troubled with guy-problems swap homes in each other's countries, where they each meet a local guy and fall in love. Of course, not everyone is interested in watching movies in their apartment. If that’s the case for you, head out to your favorite East Amherst theater and catch what is currently playing on the big screen. These new movies are opening soon, and you can find out what is playing that you may want to see. However you watch movies, we hope you take some time out this month to enjoy several. Happy holidays to everyone in our apartment community! Thanks for reading today’s post. Next time, we’ll have some ideas about ringing in the new year!