Posts about Holidays and Celebrations

Mother's Day Ideas

It’s May and there’s nothing like springtime in WNY. We hope you are enjoying the flowers and the warmer weather here at our Autumn Creek apartment community. May also means that Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Are you prepared? We’ve got some ideas to help you get ready in our post today. What are your resources? First, take into account your resources. If you are short on cash, there are plenty of other things you can do that are just as — or even more — meaningful as a purchased gift. A heartfelt letter about why you love and appreciate your mom is priceless. Include specifics about what she taught you, favorite memories, and things you learned from her. If your mother lives in the same area, you could prepare a favorite meal, or send or take her the fixins for an easy-to-make dinner for a night when she’s too tired to cook. Be creative in your efforts. Do you have a plan? Second, plan ahead. Be prepared ahead of time so you aren’t scrambling at the last minute for a gift for Mom (you don’t want to end up with a cheesy mug). How about getting a printed book filled with pictures of you and your mom? It will bring back a rush of shared memories. And, if you do let it slip and need a last minute gift, shop online and have a gift certificate to her favorite store or website (can you say Amazon ) delivered to her inbox. Just remember to get her something she will enjoy, not something you would like for yourself. Send Her Flowers Third, if you ran out of time and didn’t plan ahead, flowers are always a great gift idea, especially if they come with a card that you can write a thoughtful note on. Keep in mind that if you’re not in the same state as your mother, you can always surprise her with coming home to a beautiful bouquet of bright vibrant flowers from 1800-Flowers , or, if she’s not into flowers, edible arrangements . We hope that you have a wonderful day remembering your mom (or other special mothers in your life) this month. Where are your favorite places to pick up flowers in the East Amherst, NY area? Let us know in the comments.

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.

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.

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!