Blog Posts

Summer Grilling at Windsong Place Apartments

Summer has arrived in full force here in Williamsville, NY, and what better to do in the summertime than have a barbeque? We have picnic areas complete with charcoal grills here at Windsong Place Apartments, just one of the awesome amenities we provide to residents of our apartment community. This month we’ve got tips and tricks for grilling the best burgers, plus some general grilling tips. — After the grill is preheated is a good time to clean it, if necessary. Use a long-handled wire grill brush to clean off charred debris from prior cooking. Scrape again immediately after use. — To prevent foods from sticking, oil your hot grill rack with a paper towel soaked in vegetable oil. Hold it with tongs and rub it all over the rack. Never use cooking spray on a hot grill. — Use a grill basket for foods that might fall through the grill rack or that are too cumbersome to turn over one by one, like vegetables, fish, tofu, and fruits. — To avoid soaking bamboo skewers each time you need them for kabobs, soak a big batch once for an hour or so. Then drain and freeze them in a plastic freezer bag. When it’s time to grill, pull out as many skewers as you need. — Use stainless steel mixing bowls for preparation. They are easy to clean and dishwasher-safe, they don’t hold odors, and they will not react with acidic ingredients. (The last quality is important, as many barbecue sauces, brines, and marinades contain a lot of acids.) Now that you have the low-down on grilling, it’s time to give it go. One American mainstay is, of course, the humble hamburger. We found this great guide geared toward creating the perfect burger: Tips on How to Cook Perfect Hamburgers on the Grill . We hope you will plan on many picnics and barbeques this summer. What are your favorite foods to grill or take on a picnic? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading today’s post.

Playground Etiquette at Windsong Place Apartments

Having a playground in our apartment community here in Williamsville, NY means a place for families and friends to gather and socialize and for the kids to get in some exercise. Knowing how to be a good neighbor at the playground is important. So today the Windsong Place Apartments Blog is focusing on some basic playground etiquette tips. Be Courteous When Communicating When you are asking another parent or a child for cooperation, choose your words wisely so you don’t become part of a power match. For example, rather than informing another parent that it is time for her whiney child to stop his annoying behavior, you might gently suggest to the child an appropriate behavior. Saying something like, “My daughter would like to use the slide too, so let us know when you are about finished,” is more polite and effective than yelling, “Your kid has been using the slide long enough!” Keep the Germs at Home If your child is not feeling well, skip the trip to the playground. Your neighbors will thank you for not spreading germs around on the playground equipment. If you and your child are going stir crazy, perhaps a walk will do the trick without exposing others to unwanted germs. Be Prepared It’s a good idea to be prepared for the unexpected at the playground. Putting together a playground pack can save the day. Include tissues, wet-wipes, band-aids, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a plastic bag. Having these sorts of things can help you avoid the little emergencies that sometimes happen at the playground. Scraped knee? A quick wipe down, a bandaid, and a kiss will get a kid back to the slide in no time. And if you have sunscreen you won’t have to cut your visit short if the sun is in full force. Take water bottles too. Enjoy the playground! Bring your children or your grandchildren and keep these tips in mind to help everyone have an enjoyable outing. What is your favorite thing to do at the playground? Please share in the comments.

Summer Reading at Windsong Place Apartments

The Windsong Place Apartments Blog brings some summer reading book recommendations to members of our apartment community today, along with information about our local library. The Williamsville Branch of the Buffalo and Erie County Library system located in Williamsville offers a variety of programs to area residents including clubs for children and adults, local historical documents (materials about the history of the village), and the Amherst Bee (on microfilm) going back to 1879! Check out their website for more details and plan a visit soon. It’s the perfect place to while away a summer afternoon browsing among the books. Book Suggestions Historical Fiction: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer garnered a 4.1 (out of 5) stars on Goodreads reviews. It tells the story of the Island of Guernsey under occupation by the German Army during WWII and the aftermath. Written as a series of letters, it is by turns charming, humorous, and compelling. A quote from the book kind of sums it up: “Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books.” And this is definitely one of the good books. Young Adult: Ready, Player One (soon to be a movie) by Ernest Cline is set in a futuristic dystopian society where real life is lived virtually, and loner teenager Wade Watts, a gamer and puzzle solver, only feels alive when he’s in the virtual utopia known as OASIS — but the game turns real, with players willing to kill to reach the prize. If Wade is to survive he has to win. It’s a page turner, with glimpses of teenage angst. Mystery: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers is the first in a three-book series about assassin nuns and fifteenth-century politics. Admittedly, it takes some doing to work your mind around the premise, but once accepted, the mystery takes over, and the story carries the reader through, leaving a thought-provoking path in its wake. Or if you don’t think too much, it can simply be a quirky mystery series. Biography: The Hidden Life of Otto Frank by Carol Ann Lee. Goodreads reviews claim, “In this definitive new biography, Carol Ann Lee provides the answer to one of the most heartbreaking questions of modern times: Who betrayed Anne Frank and her family to the Nazis? Probing this startling act of treachery, Lee brings to light never-before-documented information about Otto Frank and the individual who would claim responsibility.” Sounds fascinating. Take time to visit the Williamsville, NY branch library soon, and feel free to share your favorite books in the comments so we can all add to our “to read” list.

Buff It Up - Tips for Cleaning Stainless Steel

One of the nice things about living at Windsong Place Apartments is having stainless steel appliances available in your apartment. Stainless steel adds a touch of elegance to the design. In today’s blog post, we will present some tips to keep your stainless steel looking like new. We have five ideas to get you started: First Tip: What NOT To Do Don’t use abrasives — scrubbers or cleaners — especially those containing chloride. Steel wool or steel brushes can ruin the finish on your appliances and cause scratches which can lead to rust. Second Tip: Get Rid of Fingerprints First clean with hot water and mild soap, rinsing and buffing with a clean cloth. Get into the practice of cleaning your appliances every time you do the dishes. Periodically buff your appliances with stainless steel polish, lemon oil, or a silicone based spray. Apply with a lint-free cloth and buff and dry with another clean cloth. Third Tip: Always Follow the Grain! When you are cleaning your stainless steel appliances, it is important to follow the grain. Following the grain brings out the beauty of your appliances. Fourth Tip: Use Hot Water and Mild Soap for Cleaning Your Stainless Steel Hot water and mild soap are your go to, to clean your stainless steel appliances. Be sure to use a non-abrasive scrubber (a nylon scrubbie works well) and rinse away the soap residue before buffing with a soft terry towel. Fifth Tip: Get Rid of Scratches with Cleaner The Today Show’s Lou Manfredini uses Siege Stainless Steel Scratch Remover to get rid of the marks that are a little deeper than fingerprints or smudges. Check it out. There you have it, five tips for keeping your stainless steel appliances in top-notch condition. Now sit back and look at them shine, and then head out to your favorite Williamsville, NY area restaurant for dinner, because who wants to mess up a perfectly clean kitchen? Thanks for reading today’s blog post.

International Astronomy Day

April 28th is International Astronomy Day, and the Windsong Place Apartments Blog has several great ideas to help you celebrate the stars. We have snacks, crafts, and activities for your International Astronomy Day celebrations. We hope that you have a great time celebrating here in your Williamsville, NY apartment or at an activity with the Buffalo Astronomical Society. Snacks Swedish Cinnamon Star Bread from Del’s Cooking Twist This swedish cinnamon star bread is a delicious and decadent dessert. It takes a little while to make, but it’s well worth it! Our favorite part of this recipe is the cinnamon filling. Use sugar, butter, and ground cinnamon to make it. Cucumber Goat Cheese Sandwiches from Framed Cooks These cucumber goat cheese sandwiches are easy to make, and they’re the perfect International Astronomy Day lunch. All you need to make this treat is goat cheese, cream cheese, fresh chives, and white bread. You can make this recipe a little bit healthier by using low fat cream cheese and wheat bread instead. Crafts DIY String Art Star from Tatertots & Jello This craft is a wonderful activity for your International Astronomy Day festivities. Use colored string for an even more colorful and festive craft. Feel free to paint the piece of wood any color you would like to personalize this craft. Button Moon Collage from Adventure in a Box This button moon collage will look great on your wall on International Astronomy Day. Make this cute collage with cardstock paper, packing tape, and buttons. Visit your local craft store for the supplies you need to make this craft. Activities The Buffalo Astronomical Society This society is made up of interested people from a wide variety of backgrounds who share a common interest in the science of astronomy. They describe themselves as, “for more than seventy years, a meeting place for Western New Yorkers who share in common a love for the wonders of the universe." This month the society will be hosting several events . April 1st is the Public Observing Night at the Beaver Meadow Observatory from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm where members of the BAA will “take you on a tour of the night sky.” Telescopes for viewing the night sky will also be available. April 22nd is the society’s Annual Dinner Banquet. It will be held at Rizotto’s Ristorante this year. April 29th — Astronomy Day — the group will be hosting an interactive exhibit at the Buffalo Museum of Science from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Do you have any Astronomy Day activity ideas for us? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Living at Windsong Place Apartments

Welcome to the Windsong Place Apartments Blog! Our apartment community is located in Williamsville, New York. We are excited to bring you information about apartment living, local events, lifestyle tips, and recipes on the new blog. We will help you stay up-to-date with book, movie, and dining reviews. Don’t be surprised to find information about the latest holiday or national month designation, which can range from poetry to pecans and everything in between. We also feature DIY projects we think our readers may enjoy completing. Blogging is just the newest feature on our website. You can also pay rent and make make maintenance requests from the comfort of your apartment! Today we are highlighting the amenities available in our apartment community here at Windsong Place Apartments. Whether you need to finish up the day’s work in the business center or you want to relax with friends in the clubhouse, we’ve got you covered. Finishing up a project is very doable, even if you don’t have a computer — you can pop into the business center to use a computer, printer, and more. Enjoy the contemporary furnishings of the clubhouse and the stone and wood detailing that create a lovely ambiance for relaxing or entertaining friends. Along with these amenities, we also provide a 24-hour fitness gym, basketball court, and swimming pool to help members of our apartment community maintain their fitness goals or simply relax. Entertaining children or adults is covered with our kids activity zone playground, our toddler and children’s playground, or our picnic area complete with charcoal grills. For our residents who have pets, we provide an on-site dog park. Life at Windsong Place Apartments is convenient, and that includes your interaction with our staff, too. They work hard to take care of our community. If you’re not already a resident, schedule a tour soon and find out why so many people call Windsong Place Apartments home. Be sure to check back each month to see what’s new on our blog. Thanks for reading today’s post!