Posts about Uncategorized

StoneGate - Award Winning Living

What’s better than one award for resident satisfaction? Two! That’s right, for the 2nd year in a row, StoneGate Apartment Homes has received the coveted ORA (Online Rated Property) Award, marking our apartment community among the Elite 1% in the nation for 2016. This is out of 63,000 properties that were surveyed by J Turner Research , complete with a nod from Multifamily Executive . And that is just for starters. ApartmentRatings.com also recognized our property based on outstanding resident satisfaction, ranking us for the award in the approximate top 5% of the total properties listed on the site! We’ll take it. Of course, neither of these recognitions would have been possible without the caliber of people who make up our community. It is the individuals who work, play, and live here in our corner of Williamsville, NY that make our community what it is, and we want to take a moment and say thanks! We appreciate you and all that you do for our community. We’re gratified by the reviews our residents have the taken time to share, which made these awards possible, and for the 100% recommendation given. Here’s a sampling of our reviews : “Clean and quiet environment, which is highly appreciated. Friendly neighbors, community activities for everyone, friendly and welcoming staff. Maintenance requests are handled in a timely fashion. — Barbara H.” “Excellent place to live. I like to live at Stonegate. The property is well maintained and the staff members are all friendly and very helpful. The buildings are kept in good repair. The location is so convenient. It is quiet and the surroundings are safe. The residents are nice and get along with each other. There are many activities for anyone who chooses to participate. These apartments are like little houses. We have our own laundry facilities, attached garage and private patios. Neighbors seem to care about neighbors and are alert and aware of each others needs. — Kathryn B.” “Spacious and lovely, especially love the floor plan and room sizes. Friendly, private, safe, upscale compared to other complexes that I have toured. Due to the great floor plan you never feel claustrophobic or penned into a small space. I love living here. — Patricia T.” Our commitment to creating a wonderful place to live remains strong. We are delighted to provide the amenities and customer service that make life easier all the way around. Thanks for reading today’s post.

National Pecan Day

For those who keep track of such things, July 12th is National Pecan Pie day — but pecans are not just good in a pie. Today the StoneGate Apartment Homes Blog shares some fun facts about pecans as well as several recipes featuring pecans in this post. Pecans can be used in a variety of dishes, from adding a sweetish crunch to your morning yogurt to garnishing a spinach salad, to topping a casserole, and to serving as the main ingredient for desserts. They make a delightful toasted, salty-sweet treat that is purchased from vendors at street markets, fairs, and festivals, or they can be sprinkled atop a creamy dish of French-vanilla ice cream. Pecans definitely pack a nutritional wallop as evidenced by these facts: — Pecans contain more antioxidants than any other nut variety, according to ORAC values. — Pecans can help reduce the risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol levels. — Pecans contain more than 19 vitamins and minerals. — Pecans are a natural, high-quality source of protein and are naturally sodium free Add a handful of pecans to your morning cereal, take some to work to snack on during the day, add some to a lunchtime salad, or stir them into a parfait. There are so many great ways to enjoy them! Here are a few recipes you may want to try out on the 12th (or any day this month). Here’s a two-for-one from Cutestuff Cooks with recipes for both Sweet Toasted Pecans and Texas Pecan Squares. This Spinach/Pecan/Strawberry Salad looks delightful over at the I Wash . . . You Dry Blog , which features simple recipes with easy cleanup. And a post about pecans wouldn’t be complete without a recipe for Pecan Pie . This recipe is from The Pioneer Woman Cooks , and it has wonderful step-by-step directions along with pictures and a delightful commentary. We hope you have the opportunity to bake and/or eat pecan pie on the 12th. We suggest making an extra pie and giving it to a friend. Or, bring a pecan pie to work to share with co-workers. If you don't have time to bake for Pecan Pie Day, head over to your favorite Williamsville, NY bakery to pick up a pecan pie. Do you have favorite pecan recipes? Share with us in the comments!

Take Advantage of Our Fitness Gym

In our last post we talked about ideas for reducing stress during the busy summer, which includes getting regular exercise. One of the perks of living at StoneGate Apartment Homes here in Williamsville, NY is access to our on-site fitness gym — a great resource for getting in a workout. In fact, come on over and see how we’ve refreshed the fitness center. We love the new bright blue paint and think you will too! When was the last time you used it? If you are a regular user, then good for you; we’re preaching to the choir. However, if it’s been awhile or if you’ve never used the fitness gym, learn more about how you can start taking advantage of this great amenity in today’s blog post. We understand that sometimes it is difficult to get motivated to start or to stay motivated to keep going day after day, week after week, month after month. But think of the benefits — looking better and feeling better, not to mention the long-term health benefits of regular exercise. In today’s blog post, we’ve pulled together some tips for getting the most out of your exercise time. Set a Regular Time for Exercise Working out at the same time every day will help make it a routine habit and part of your day. Try a variety of times to find the one that works best for you. Then stick to it. Create a Routine How you start, what exercises you do, and how you cool down all come into play. Explore the different types of workouts available to find one that works for you. (A Google search with the terms “workout in fitness center” brings up hundreds of hits.) If it’s been awhile since you have been exercising regularly, WebMD provides a good overview of appropriate questions to ask before you start a workout . Track Your Progress Whether you mark your progress in a notebook or use a Fitbit, tracking what you are accomplishing is a great way to reinforce the choice you made to exercise. It creates motivation on those days you just want to pull the covers over your head instead of going to work out. Set Up a Support Group Having a workout buddy can be a lot of fun, and it helps to have someone to be accountable to, as well. If you know your friend is going to be knocking on your door, you are more likely to get out of bed and head out to the gym. Having an on-site fitness gym is awesome. Instead of driving across Williamsville to get to the gym, you can just stop by the one in our apartment community. Please share a comment about how starting a fitness program has impacted your life!

Busy Summer It's Time for a Time Out

Summertime can be stressful because of all the activities, travel, and celebrations we add to an already busy schedule, so it’s not surprising that many Americans become stressed out at some point during the summer months. Today, the StoneGate Apartments Blog has some ideas about how to fit in some time to relax and destress this summer. Try some of these ideas the next time you feel stressed. Get Physical Take time to exercise, even if it’s something as simple as a walk. Turn off your electronics and concentrate on being out in nature. Notice the details around you, and experience it with all of your senses. Spend time regularly at our fitness center. It’s filled with the equipment you need to get a good workout, and exercise is a proven stress reliever. Schedule a massage. It’s amazing the stress relief that can happen when you are able to physically relax your muscles. Perhaps try a hot rock treatment or Reiki. Take time out for a nice long soak in the tub, complete with bubbles and relaxing music in the background. Take a nap. There is much to be said for the restorative properties of getting some shut-eye; even a twenty-minute power nap can help you feel better. Take a Mental Break Sometimes simply taking a mental break will provide the stress relief you need to make it through the rest of the day. Take time to read a chapter of a book or an article you’ve been wanting to read or to meditate. Play a game, do the crossword puzzle or a word search — something that doesn’t take a lot of concentration can be just the ticket for letting off some steam. Relax with a seasonal drink. A cool glass of lemonade or iced tea is a great end to a day. Watch your favorite campy summer movie or listen to your favorite beach music. Offer Gratitude Take time to say thanks. Often, when we are focused on the good things in our lives, it helps us put all the other things that cause stress in perspective. So take time to send a note, text, or email to someone who has made a difference in your life and say thank you. Be aware of the things that cause stress and eliminate the ones you can from your life. As for the others, simply being aware that they can cause stress can be helpful. For further understanding, this article defines some of the most common causes of stress . Take time to enjoy the summer season right here in the Williamsville, NY area, or simply retreating to your apartment for awhile. Let go of the things that don’t matter, and celebrate life! Thanks for reading today!

Concierge Services, Not just for Hotels

With a touch of French chic, the word concierge brings to mind a certain level of elegance, and of course service. Merriam-Webster defines concierge as “a resident in an apartment building especially in France who serves as doorkeeper, landlord's representative, and janitor,” and a usually multilingual hotel staff member who handles luggage and mail, makes reservations, and arranges tours; broadly,” as well as “a person employed (as by a business) to make arrangements or run errands.” But what does that have to do with StoneGate Apartment Homes? Amenities, that’s what. Our concierge services are just one of the amenities we offer to members of our apartment community. Opinion is divided when it comes to the origin of the word. The first known use of the word was circa 1697. According to a Wikipedia article , concierge is a French word possibly derived from the Old French cumcerges, itself related to the Medieval Latin consergius or the Latin conservus. Another possibility, suggested by French authors as early as the 19th century, is that "concierge" is a contraction of comte des cierges "count of candles"— a servant responsible for maintaining the lighting and cleanliness of medieval palaces. However it came to us, concierge service is a growing industry worldwide. Traditionally the concierge serves guests of a hotel, a business, or residents of an apartment with duties similar to those of an office manager, or perhaps receptionist. The field is growing, and it is not uncommon to find concierge services in hospitals, shopping malls, airports, on college campuses, associations, and even churches. In an apartment setting, the concierge may, for instance, provide relevant information to residents and guests about other apartment amenities. StoneGate Apartments homes, here in Williamsville, NY, is pleased to provides concierge services for our residents. Try it out the next time you need information or a helping hand. We would love to hear what your experience with our concierge services was like. Please feel free to leave a comment.

It's a Netflix Mystery Night

After a long, busy day it’s a relief to walk into your StoneGate apartment knowing relaxation awaits, and what better way to relax for the evening than catch something on Netflix. Today we have three mystery series we think members of our apartment community may enjoy. So collect a drink and some snacks and tune in. Murdoch Mysteries In this period piece, set in Toronto, Detective William Murdoch uses his skill and interest in breaking scientific discovery to help solve his cases with the assistance of Doctor Julia Ogden, whose highly skilled forensic abilities provide clues for the detective’s investigation. Catch seasons 1-7 on Netflix. Notable Quote: “I'm not entirely sure I can envy a future where everyone wastes their lives staring at a screen watching made-up stories.” — Detective Murdoch The Bletchley Circle From a review on IMDb : “A group of women who worked at Bletchley during the war return to their undervalued prewar existences until one of them happens upon a line of enquiry regarding a spate of murders of young women. She finds old colleagues from the Bletchley years and they form the eponymous circle to crack the code of the killings. Not believed and told to back down by all men in their lives and the authorities they fight alone to attempt to solve some pretty gruesome murders.” Notable Quote:”If I tell you the truth, I'm breaking the law. They'll lock me up anyway.” —Susan Broadchurch A seemingly calm and friendly seaside town becomes a town wrapped in secrets when the death of an eleven year old boy sparks an unwanted media frenzy. As the town's locals start to open up about what they do and don't know, it falls upon the police to catch the supposed killer. Notable Quote: “You don't eat fish and chips? What kind of Scot are you?” —DS Ellie Miller What is your favorite mystery series? Please share in the comments so we can all check it out. Thanks for reading the StoneGate Apartment Homes Blog. PS: If mysteries on Netflix simply aren’t your thing, may we suggest heading on out to your favorite Williamsville area movie theater and catch what’s currently playing on the big screen. Movie Insider has details.