Blog Posts

March Madness! It Is Coming to WNY

It’s mid-March, spring is just around the corner, and it’s time for March Madness! Get into the spirit of all things basketball by hosting a March Madness gathering at your Windsong Place apartment here in Williamsville, NY. In our post today we’ve got all the details covered to help you plan your best party yet. Invites With selection Sunday over with, it’s time to take a look at the March Madness Schedule and choose a night to host your party and get invites out ASAP. To help you out, Evite has a great selection of basketball themed invites that make it easy. Food What’s a party without eats? Decide whether you are doing a full meal or just a variety of snacks. If you are doing all the food yourself or going with a potluck. If you do go with a potluck, an easy way to do that is for the host (you) to a meat dish, and ask guests to bring sides and desserts to go with it. Alternatively, if you are doing snacks, be sure to include some healthy options among the goods. If you’re feeling creative, add some dishes/desserts that evoke the whole basketball theme like serving cupcakes decorated to look like basketballs , basketball cake pops , or serve turnovers (we hope your team doesn’t make too many!). Decoration & Music Because there are so many teams, each with their own home base and colors, it may be easier to simply stick to the fundamentals and common ground. Utilize colors like orange and black, which are found in any basketball, so your party is inclusive and fitting no matter which team is on the court. Start with neutral basketball colors, and if you want to you can easily add your favorite team’s colors from there. Having some light music playing can take the pressure off of the lulls in conversation, and can be a great way to set the mood for the festivities. If you’re feeling a bit out-of-touch with what’s being played at games these days, universities and professional teams often have playlists online that they play to get everyone fired up at the game. But you can also go with the soundtracks from basketball video games or basketball-themed movies — like Space Jam or Like Mike . Most importantly, enjoy spending some time with friends and family cheering on your favorite teams. It’s the perfect way to welcome springtime in WNY.

3.14 Reasons to Love Pie Day

In this post, Windsong Place Apartments is featuring pie recipes to help you celebrate Pi Day on March 14th. Calculate the volume of a sphere, recite as many numbers of pi as you can remember, and have some delicious pie on Pi Day at your apartment here in Williamsville, NY. The delicious memories will last forever. Savory Pies Spicy Chicken and Pickled Jalapeno Pizza If you love your pizza with a bit of a kick, this recipe is for you. Whether you follow this blogger’s recipe for homemade pickled jalapenos or buy your own, they do their job wonderfully by adding a little excitement to your typical pizza. Check out this recipe for a helpful photo tutorial to making a perfect crust, tender chicken, and a tasty pizza. Caramelized Onion, Bacon and Spinach Pizza This is another fun way to spruce up your typical pizza and channel your inner cook for a delicious, restaurant-quality pizza pie. You’ll feel like a gourmet cook as you lay out the spinach and sprinkle on bacon bits. Then cook, let it cool, and enjoy your night of fine dining! Shepherd Pie — Beef and vegetables in a simple tomato sauce, topped with creamy mashed potatoes with cheddar cheese melted over the top. Can you say “hearty meal?” And, it’s still a pie, which makes it the perfect dinner for Pi Day. Who said pie was only for dessert? Dessert Pies Pecan Pie from The Pioneer Woman Cooks blog gives you step-by-step directions complete with pictures for this tasty treat. The commentary is delightful, too. Peach Pie with a lattice top from Taste of Home is sure to please everyone at your table. With this easy-to-follow recipe, the pie will be on the table in no time. Coconut Cream Pie with a recipe from the Pillsbury kitchen is a must-have for Pi Day. With a toasted coconut topping, this pie speaks creamy and crunchy. Mmm tasty! Grandma’s Lemon Meringue Pie . What’s not to like? This blend of sweet and tart is a great way to enjoy pie. And bonus: there is no milk in the recipe, so it can be served to people who are lactose intolerant. Of course, if you don’t want to fuss in the kitchen, simply head out to your favorite place in Williamsville for a slice of pie on the 14th, or any other day in March! Thanks for taking time out to read our post.

Helpful Apps for Apartment Decorating

Thinking about decorating or redecorating your space here at Windsong Place Apartments? Maybe you need a change of pace to beat the winter blahs, or you just found a great idea on Pinterest that you want to try out. We’d love to help you out; that’s why we’ve gathered a list of handy tools. But they might not be the kind of tools you’re thinking — these are some great tablet and phone apps for redecorating. Palettes This is a great free app for creating color schemes. Maybe you were inspired by a lovely bouquet of flowers or by a friend’s adorable outfit — just snap a picture, and the app will create an instant collection of color swatches based on your photo. Photo Measures Don’t get to the store and then realize that you left your list of measurements at home! Just snap a picture of the room with Photo Measures and then jot down all the measurements right on the photo. Finding what you need is even easier when you can refer back to the real site. Home Design 3D This app is awesome —build a three-dimensional model of your home, fill it with furniture, and then start moving the furniture around to see where it will fit, where it won’t, and what configurations look best. Save yourself a lot of guesswork and back pain — get your furniture right the first time. Flipp Once you’ve got an idea of what you want to add to your home, use Flipp to get coupons for home decorating and home improvement items from DIY items to the perfect accent piece for your wall. Have any other great apps for moving or decorating? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll share them here for all the members of our Williamsville, NY apartment community.

How to Make Valentine's Day Special for Anyone

Valentine’s Day is coming up in a few weeks! For some people, this is a beloved holiday that lets them partake in and enjoy some love. For others, it can be a difficult time. Make it special, no matter who you’re spending it with or how you have felt about it in the past, by treating yourself and others, in or out of your Windsong Place Apartment in Williamsville, NY. Try some of these ideas to have a great time! Make plans. Before the big day comes, you should be prepared for it! Just the act of setting aside time for something — whether it’s for yourself or someone else — makes it so you are more likely to do that thing, and to do it wholeheartedly, without worrying that you’re missing out on other obligations. This lets you truly bask in whatever you’re doing, helping you do it for the right reasons and appreciate the spirit of the holiday. This spirit behind your action is what will resonate with whoever you’re interacting with, making it that much more special. Serve others. Looking outward is a great way to bring in the warm fuzzies. Look for ways to serve someone else this month, whether it’s related to Valentine’s Day or not! Service ideas can include anything from donating your clothes to a shelter, thrift store, or a specific person in need to making a meal or treat for a neighbor who could use some cheering up. Donate funds, donate your time, or just be present with whoever you’re spending the day with. It will make a difference! Make it a day about you. Of course, Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be something people can only joy with others. If you need some time to rest and recuperate from the week, set aside time to treat yourself. Do whatever helps you refresh and feel good about yourself. Drink plenty of water, eat healthy foods throughout the day, and indulge in a light treat so you can feel great without going overboard. What are your favorite ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day or make it special as you go about the day? Let us know in the comments! We hope you enjoy these ideas or any others you have this month. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Winter Soup Recipes

In this post, the Windsong Place Apartments Blog is featuring a few of our favorite soup recipes to help you get through the rest of the winter. Use your apartment kitchen to make a delicious bowl of your favorite soup before the month is through. We hope that you enjoy the soups that we’ve included on our list, or head out to your favorite Williamsville restaurant and order soup for lunch — we know that Western New York has some amazing eateries! Chocolate Soup with Croissant Croutons from Sugarhero! This chocolate soup is the perfect dessert. It’s made with an orange, milk, half-and-half, semi-sweet chocolate, cornstarch, cold water, yolks, salt, and vanilla extract. The croissant croutons and whipped creme fraiche are the perfect toppings for this sweet dessert. Creamy Tuscan Garlic Tortellini Soup from The Recipe Critic Make this soup in fifteen easy minutes. It’s a delicious option for anyone who doesn’t have a lot of time to cook or prep their meals. The spices and other ingredients blend to make a delicious and decadent meal. 20-Minute Chicken Parmesan Soup from Chelsea’s Messy Apron This easy 20-minute chicken parmesan soup is perfect for those stressful days after work when all you need an easy meal. We love the textures and flavors in this delicious, mouth-watering soup. Yellow onion, minced garlic, dried parsley, Italian seasoning, dried oregano, paprika, basil, salt, and pepper season this soup. Loaded Potato Soup from Butter Your Biscuit Loaded potato soup is the ultimate in comfort food. We are fans of this creamy, flavorful soup. Use carrots, celery, onion, cream cheese, garlic, and cheddar cheese to make this dish. Top this potato soup with bacon, cheddar cheese, salt, pepper, tortilla chips, sour cream, and more of your favorite toppings to finish off the dish. The Best Mushroom Soup from Will Cook for Smiles The best mushroom soup really is the best. We love the mix of mushrooms (feel free to use your favorite kind of mushrooms in this recipe), onion, vegetable stock, seasonings, and more in this dish. This is the perfect cheer-up soup for a cloudy day. Where’s your favorite place to get soup in WNY Leave us a review of your favorite soup place and your favorite soup recipe in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

Benefits of Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community where you live. There are so many different ways that you can volunteer here in Williamsville, NY and the surrounding area. Find a cause that you are passionate about and get involved! Our Windsong Place Blog is sharing a few of the benefits that come along with volunteering in today’s post just in time for the Martin Luther King Day of Service coming up on January 21st. Benefits of Volunteering Making Connections Volunteering allows you to connect with others around you in a meaningful way. You will make new friendships, improve your social skills, and expand your network. You will also have the satisfaction that comes from being a part of something bigger than yourself. New Skills You often learn and develop new skills when you volunteer and these new skills can be beneficial for furthering your career. You can gain experience in an area that interests you through volunteering and then add that experience to your resume. Health Benefits You feel good when you serve others, but there may be even more health benefits behind volunteering. Volunteering may also help you stay physically and mentally healthy. Serving others is helpful in combating depression, as well as counteracting the effects of stress, anger, and anxiety. Boost Your Resume Having volunteer experience on your resume is a good sign to potential employers. It shows that you care about something and that you are self-motivated. While we don’t recommend volunteering only to put it on your resume, it can act as an extra motivator to help you take the leap. What is your favorite thing about volunteering? What benefits have you seen in your own life from volunteering? Share your thoughts and experience with the rest of our Williamsville apartment community in the comments. Thanks for reading our post. We hope you enjoy getting out of your apartment and volunteering this month!