Blog Posts

Super Bowl Sunday Entertainment

Super Bowl LII is coming up soon on February 4th, and this month, the StoneGate Apartment Homes Blog is taking a look at past Super Bowl commercials as well as sharing who will be performing for this year’s halftime entertainment. Read on for more! Super Bowl Commercials Who can forget the epic 1999 Budweiser Frogs commercial or the striking Dodge Ram Trucks “Farmer” commercial ? Every year, millions of viewers tune in, not just to watch the football game, but also to catch the commercials. Super Bowl commercials have morphed into something more than just another ad on TV interrupting your program. They encompass the peak of advertising prowess, typically being humorous, heartwarming, and sometimes politically charged. One article about the commercials explains, “Super Bowl commercials have become a cultural phenomenon of their own alongside the game itself; many viewers only watch the game to see the commercials,” and a Forbes article cites that as high as 50% of the Super Bowl Audience tunes in just for the commercials. Take a walk down memory lane and browse this these old Super Bowl commercials dating back to this 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner commercial . Super Bowl Halftime Show Past Super Bowl halftime performers have included Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Madonna, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Prince, The Rolling Stones, U2 and many more. This year, Justin Timberlake will be the celebrity guest . SBNation goes on to report that rumor has it that he will be releasing a new album in 2018, making the Super Bowl halftime performance the perfect timing. It’s rumored that a significant percentage of viewers tune in simply to see the halftime show. You won’t want to miss it. To stay up-to-date on what’s happening leading up to Super Bowl LII, keep tabs on the official NFL Super Bowl website: NFL.com where you’ll find access to scores, schedules, league news, videos, stats, and fantasy football. Enjoy the super bowl via the big screen in our Club House, right here in Williamsville, NY and thanks for reading today’s post on the StoneGate Blog this week!

Sign Me Up Classes for the New Year

If one of your goals 2018 is to try something new, then this blog post is for you! We’ve pulled together some classes to take in the Williamsville, NY area that you can sign up for, or to at least give you some ideas about what is available. Perhaps you can take an art class and create a piece to showcase in your apartment at the StoneGate Apartment Homes or take that social dance class you’ve been meaning to for years — or even a cooking class. Read on to see if there’s one you haven’t tried before that may pique your interest. Create a work of art in just one night at Pinot’s Palette . This is what the website says about the event: “Join us for an unforgettable evening of friends, fun, beer, wine and painting in East Amherst! We provide everything you need for a great night out.” Who knows, you may just bring home a masterpiece to display in your apartment or give as a gift. There is no shortage of places to learn to dance here in western New York . Whether you want to brush up on your social dancing skills or branch out into salsa or swing dancing, there’s a class for you! Step Out Buffalo has rounded up a variety of cooking classes for adults to explore in the western New York area. If you’re looking for a new culinary challenge, you’ll be sure to find something on this list to suit your tastes. And for something a little bit different, how about taking up fencing? It’s never too late to learn a new skill, and western New York has several fencing clubs to choose from, so get ready to say, “En garde!” this month. A great way to help make classes more affordable (and maybe consider a class you haven’t tried before) is to use Groupon — you can find some great discounts. Have you taken classes recently? What was your experience like? Please share in the comments so we can all try something new.

All About Nutcrackers

For people all over the country and those in Williamsville, NY, December means an annual visit to see The Nutcracker ballet. Tchaikovsky’s music whisks us away to a land of enchantment as we follow Clara, Herr Drosselmeyer, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and of course the titular character, Nutcracker. The nutcracker, given to Clara by Herr Drosselmeyer (a talented toymaker) harks back to the actual beginnings of toy nutcrackers. Today The StoneGate Blog has a brief history of nutcrackers, as well as ideas for where you can get one for your apartment and where you can see the ballet in the area. Nutcrackers come in all sorts, from inexpensive discount soldiers to handmade German pieces, soldiers, storybook characters, famous people, and everything in between. A quick Internet search will yield dozens of examples. Nutcrackers were originally functional wooden tools designed for cracking nuts, and the makers would sometimes carve them into whimsical characters. Eventually the functionality was secondary, and the dolls became decorative while retaining the visual jaw-dropping function of cracking nuts. One story about the origin of nutcrackers places them in the German Ore Mountains — the German: Erzgebirge region, where a craftsman from Seiffen first carved them. The making of nutcrackers spread throughout the region. Wilhelm Friedrich Füchtner, known in Germany as the “father of the nutcracker,” was instrumental in the popularization of the novelty. They became popular as gifts, and by the mid 1800s they were being produced in factories. Nutcrackers were a European thing until after the Second World War, when American soldiers came home with them for souvenirs. The story, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, by Hoffman was adapted as a ballet, and by the 1930s had become quite popular throughout Europe. It also played an important part in boosting the popularity of nutcrackers in America. For a more in depth look at the story, check out Nutcracker Ballet’s synopsis of The Nutcracker Ballet Story: The Most Common of Many Variations or watch this short but encompassing video that captures the story of The Nutcracker in five minutes . Today nutcrackers are often featured as holiday decorations or collectibles. Christmas Treasures carries the Steinbach line of nutcrackers, and you can also find high-end German made nutcrackers at Erzgebirge-Palace . Don’t worry if you missed The Nutcracker at the Shea Theater. You can still catch a performance December 10th at Configuration Dance Theater & School of Ballet at The Nutcracker in the City of Light 2017 . The website says it’s “a timeless holiday classic is set at the turn of the century in Buffalo, NY, renowned city of light. This unique production is a traditional holiday favorite you won’t want to miss!” We hope you’ve enjoyed this bit of history about nutcrackers and the ballet! Thanks for reading along with us this year. Happy holidays to everyone in our apartment community here at StoneGate Apartment Homes.

Decorate with Snowflakes at Your StoneGate Apartment

Take a page from Mother Nature’s book and decorate with snow — snowflakes, that is — of the warm indoor variety. Add a whimsical touch to your StoneGate Apartment Home here in Williamsville, NY this winter by creating some of these fun snowflakes for a wintertime theme for your apartment. We have directions for several DIY snowflake variations. DIY 6-Pointed Paper Snowflakes from Instructables If you’re a little rusty when it comes to making paper snowflakes, this clear, concise tutorial will help you create beautiful snowflakes in 11 illustrated steps. It all begins with a square of paper and a pair of scissors. 3D Paper Snowflakes from Wikihow These snowflakes take the fold, cut, and unfold concept a step further. With a little more work you can have a 3D masterpiece. Make some of various sizes to hang in your windows or from the ceiling. Snowflakes from Cardboard Tubes From the blogger: “The process is pretty easy. Each of the tubes are flattened, cut into 1 inch segments of different lengths, and then spray-painted white (or whatever color you prefer). The different size loops are hot glued together to make the snowflake shape.” This Fun and Facts with Kids post has nine different snowflake patterns to create. Try your hand at the Flying M, Stars and Diamonds, Acorns and Hearts, and more! Branch out in mediums other than paper with your snowflakes. Try these projects for making snowflakes out of lace, clothespins, and pipe cleaners! Lace Snowflakes from Aunt Peaches Lace is lovely to look at, but we don’t often get out grandma’s lace tablecloth for everyday use, so perhaps it’s time to use it as the basis for a family heirloom. This blog teaches you how to make beautiful snowflakes from lace (get yours from a thrift shop if you can’t bear to cut up grandma’s tablecloth!). Clothespin Snowflakes from Stephanie Lynn These snowflakes bring an old-fashioned feel to holiday decorating. They can be made as a plain and simple ornament, or you can add glitter, feathers, or other bits and pieces to jazz them up. Use them as gift toppers, tree ornaments, or wall hangings. Frosted Pipe Cleaner Snowflake Ornaments from Stephanie Lynn Frosted snowflakes make beautiful ornaments for your holiday decor. All you need to make these is white pipe cleaners, spray adhesive, epsom salts, fishing line, and acrylic sealer. These snowflakes sparkle — just like the real ones! We hope you have fun recreating a childhood favorite! If you’re hosting a holiday party, snowflakes make a simple, easy-to-make decoration. Put extra large snowflakes under clear glass plates for an instant eye-catching table setting. What other creative uses can you come up with for snowflakes? Let us know in the comments and thanks for reading today’s post.

Thanksgiving Stories to Listen to & Books to Read

In keeping with this month’s Thanksgiving theme, the StoneGate Apartments Blog has rounded up some stories to listen to and books to read. Though not around at the time of the first Thanksgiving, Williamsville, NY certainly has an interesting history , perhaps a legacy from those hardy Jamestown settlers who brought us turkey and pumpkin pie among other things. Stories to Listen To The Thanksgiving Goose This story touches on the importance of being thankful. The central character, Guy, learns an important lesson about the true meaning of this holiday. The Origin of Thanksgiving While this story does not capture entirely what happened years ago, it does serve as a good message. We often enjoy a holiday without actually thinking of where the holiday came from or why we celebrate it. This story is a good reminder of that. Books to Read 1607: A New Look at Jamestown by Karen E. Lange, Ira Block (Photographer) “ 1607: A New Look at Jamestown is the last word on America's first colony. With expert appraisal of new archaeological evidence, this National Geographic title stands alone for timely authority and visual appeal. “Karen Lange's gripping narrative incorporates analysis of the latest discoveries from the Jamestown site. The text has been researched with the help of National Geographic grantee Dr. William Kelso. The pages come alive with Ira Block's stunning photography, detailing newly discovered artifacts, and highlighting authentic Jamestown reenactments. Compelling new theories, a National Geographic period map, and stunning reenactment photography take us back to Jamestown in 1607, where the course of our country's history changed forever.” Thanksgiving: The True Story by Penny Colman “Every year on the fourth Thursday of November, Americans celebrate with a Thanksgiving meal. But what is the origin of this tradition? Did it really begin when the Pilgrims and Native Americans got together in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts? “In her signature narrative nonfiction style, Penny Colman paints a fascinating picture of this cherished American holiday. She examines numerous Thanksgiving claims which were antecedents to the national holiday we celebrate today, raises the turkey question—does everyone eat turkey on Thanksgiving?—and shows Sarah Josepha Hale's instrumental role in establishing the holiday. Get ready to delve into the rich past of Thanksgiving in an enlightening history that uncovers the true story.” The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare “Orphaned Kit Tyler knows, as she gazes for the first time at the cold, bleak shores of Connecticut Colony, that her new home will never be like the shimmering Caribbean island she left behind. In her relatives' stern Puritan community, she feels like a tropical bird that has flown to the wrong part of the world, a bird that is now caged and lonely. The only place where Kit feels completely free is in the meadows, where she enjoys the company of the old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond, and on occasion, her young sailor friend Nat. But when Kit's friendship with the ‘witch’ is discovered, Kit is faced with suspicion, fear, and anger. She herself is accused of witchcraft!” We hope Thanksgiving will be a wonderful holiday for everyone here at StoneGate Apartment Homes! Thanks for reading today’s post!

Gratitude Done Write Keeping a Gratitude Journal

As we contemplate a Thanksgiving feast featuring turkey along with all of the trimmings and a slice of pumpkin pie, let our minds gravitate toward the reason behind the holiday — giving thanks. Gratitude abounds in November and today the StoneGate Apartment Homes Blog has some ideas about how to express gratitude this month and all year long, via gratitude journals. Buy or make a gratitude journal for yourself (and your Thanksgiving day dinner guests too!). Yelp provides The Best 10 Cards & Stationery Shops in the Williamsville, NY area if you like a physical journal. Whatever type of journal you use, take a few minutes every day to make a note of three things that you are grateful for in your life. They can be big or small. The point is to seek out and write down what you’re grateful for. When life starts getting you down, you can go back and read what you’ve written for a lift. If you’ve got kids, help them create their own gratitude journals. There are several types of journals that can serve this purpose; from a simple notebook to a leatherbound heirloom style journal, or even an online chronicle, there are options: We love these gratitude journal choices provided by Etsy — combine the convenience of buying something already made with the charm of creative individuality, with tons of designs to fit your personality. Creating your own, personalized gratitude journal is a great way to get invested in the habit of expressing gratitude regularly. The Positive Psychology Program shares a list of templates to help you out with the project: 67 Templates, Ideas, and Apps for Your Diary . Help your kids or grandkids jump on the gratitude bandwagon too. The Happy Housewife has some easy-to-follow directions to create your own journal: Gratitude Journals for Kids . Gratitude 365 is an app which provides a “beautiful and easy way” to write your gratitude journal. It includes a daily entry and the option to add a daily photo, plus the ability to share your entries on social media should you wish to do so. It’s available for both Apple and Android. Now that you have a journal, what do you fill it with? It can be as simple as listing three things every day that you are grateful for, or it can be filled with your hopes, dreams, and detailed descriptions about the blessings you have in your life. The best part about a gratitude journal is that you can decide what to include. If you are more comfortable working from a writing prompt, we like these 52 Gratitude Prompts for Journals or Conversations from Bounceback Parenting. What avenues do you use to express gratitude? Let us know in the comments! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in our apartment community here in Williamsville, NY.