Blog Posts

DIY Holiday Tree Ideas

Build your own holiday tree as a fun way to switch things up and save money and space this year! Our Renaissance Place Apartments Blog has a few cool ideas for creative and unique alternatives to an actual tree for your apartment. Read on for inspiring ideas. Photo Tree Hang pictures on a wall so that they form the shape of a tree. You will be able to share your memories with guests and keep your focus on what matters most — the people you love in your life. Learn how to build your own photo tree from Oh Honestly . Cardboard Tree This tree gives you the freedom to make it as personalized to you as you’d like! Just get some cardboard, an Exacto-knife, glitter, paint, and other supplies you hope to decorate with and have at it. Running with the cardboard cutout idea, you could even make your tree out of a cardboard cutout of a person or celebrity if you already have one. Just stick a hat and some tinsel around it for a festive touch. Get full instructions from Chatelaine on how to make a cardboard tree. Floating Christmas Tree Save precious floor space by choosing a floating tree made from holiday ornaments. This tree is super modern and elegant and promotes a sophisticated atmosphere. Get a full tutorial from Not Martha . Washi Tape Tree Washi tape is already an invaluable tool for apartment living. Stock up on some rolls this season if you haven’t already (they may even come in your favorite colors for this time of year!). You can mimic the tree shapes shown in this Brit + Co article , or you can make one up yourself! We love the freedom that comes with this idea that takes up no space. What other cool alternative tree ideas have you discovered? Share them with us in the comments. Thanks for reading. Have fun crafting and decorating your Renaissance Place apartment here in Williamsville, NY this month!

Celebrate December with Holiday Activities

Today the Renaissance Place Blog is sharing activities with a holiday theme to do at your apartment this month. From decor to fine eating, we think you’ll love these ideas! Coming up in mid-December, National Gingerbread House Day on December 12, is the perfect thing to spend some creative time together with family and friends. Whether you create a perfect mess or a masterpiece, your apartment will smell amazing, infused with the spiciness of fresh gingerbread. For some inspiration, skim through Good Housekeeping’s post featuring 40 of the cutest gingerbread houses to make over the holidays . If you don’t have time to make homemade gingerbread for your house, pick up a kit at your favorite grocery store or order online for home delivery. December 12th also gives us the chance to celebrate and fill our apartments with the beautiful plant associated with wintertime: the poinsettia! Available in red, green, white, and even a white and green blend, these plants spruce up any home. You can also decorate with this wine bottle poinsettia craft or bake this poinsettia cheesecake in honor of the flower. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the to-do that is caused by the December holidays, so we are taking our readers back to something simple — snowflakes! Decorate your apartment with an array of snowflakes, just the thing to introduce some wintertime fun when the holidays are nearly over. Today we’ve got tips and directions for making snowflakes, so pull out the scissors and paper and let’s get started. This Fun and Facts with Kids post has nine, count ‘em, nine different snowflake patterns to create. Try your hand at the Flying M, Stars and Diamonds, Acorns and Hearts, and more! We hope you have a wonderful holiday season here in Williamsville, NY this month. We look forward to seeing all of the creative ways you light up the holidays! Thanks for reading our post today.

DIY Thanksgiving Decorations

Today we’re excited to share a few DIY projects that are perfect for celebrating Thanksgiving in your Renaissance Place apartment. Some of these can be gifts, others can be centerpieces for your table, and two probably won’t last long after dinner. Enjoy these DIY Thanksgiving decorations at your Thanksgiving celebration in Williamsville, NY — or wherever you may be this year for the holiday. Our first decoration idea comes from the House of Lavande blog, which is an extension of the upscale jewelry boutique in Palm Beach Florida. These Thanksgiving Fortune Cookies really caught our eye! The folding process is simple and the result perfect for this upcoming holiday! Here’s a note from the author of the idea: “Give thanks inside a thanksgiving fortune cookie! Have them at the table tailored for specific guests, or have people fill them out and read them all as a group later in the evening. The creative options are endless!” If you’re looking for that perfect Thanksgiving candle, then look no further. Spark & Chemistry has the perfect solution: Apple Candles . You’ll need a knife, melon baller, and pen for this crafty project to work. Head to a local grocery store here in Williamsville to find apples with that perfect fall color! We love this idea for Pumpkin Tic Tac Toe ! This project is great, especially if you have a lot on your plate while preparing for Thanksgiving. If you have kids running around, this tic tac toe table will help keep them distracted while you continue working! Have you ever decorated with pears? This Thanksgiving Pear Decorations idea comes from Jessica Burns. We love it because of how simple yet effective it is! Just remember: “Word to the wise – don’t do these too far in advance. They only last for about 2 days before the bruising around the outside of the letters starts to show. I would do these the day before Thanksgiving”. Thanks for reading today’s post! We wish you the best as you prepare for the upcoming holiday. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone here at Renaissance Place Apartments.

Traveling for the Holidays

Welcome back to the Renaissance Place Apartments Blog. We are excited this month to share some tips for traveling during the holidays with members of our apartment community here in Williamsville, NY. Our post today is focused on tips for traveling via air (but many of them are suitable for road trips as well). Whether you are traveling this month or next, keep these pointers in mind as you prepare to travel. Tips for Traveling from Renaissance Place Apartments Make a Checklist The last thing you want to do is leave behind something important when you’re going on a trip — especially documentation. Make a checklist a week before you go. Add items as you remember things you need, and cross them off your list as you pack. Cash — It’s a good idea to bring cash in varying amounts so you can tip, buy something at the airport, and for emergencies. Put cash in several different places, so you won’t be caught without means in an emergency situation. Device for Audio or Ebooks — Whether you use a Kindle, Nook, or your smartphone, having something to read is a huge plus. Be sure to download the books you want to read/listen to onto your device before you leave home, and make sure your device is fully charged too. Phone & Charger — Along with these, bring an extra charger and sound-blocking earbuds — all are definitely necessary when flying. Water Bottle — Dehydration happens when you fly. Be sure to take a water bottle with you (empty it before you go through security). Because you never know what the water will taste like in the airport, choosing a water bottle that has a built-in filter is a smart move. The blog writer recommends CamelBak Groove, saying, “the filter in the Groove helps make my water tasty!” Snacks — It’s a given that the snacks the airline provides may not be enough to get you through the waiting time in the airport and the flight, so take your own snacks. Keep in mind the messiness factor, how much space they will take, and how easy they are to open. Healthy options are a plus, and be sure to include some protein. Bringing your own snacks is typically less expensive than purchasing airport food. If you’re going to be needing a meal during your airport wait, pack it up in a collapsible or disposable container, to conserve space. If you will be preparing a special Thanksgiving dish once you arrive at your destination, be sure to bring the recipe with you or take a picture so you’ll have it on your phone! What are your favorite holiday travel tips and traditions? What do you focus on as you travel and once you arrive? Leave your holiday travel tips with the rest of the apartment community in the comments! Thanks for reading our post today. Happy Thanksgiving!

Apples and Pumpkins Creating the Perfect Fall Dessert

Bobbing for apples is one way to get a taste of their crunchy goodness this October, but we think they taste better served up in a delicious dessert. This month Renaissance Place Apartments Blog is bringing members of our community here in Williamsville, NY apple- and pumpkin-based recipes to try out. Invite folks over for dinner and feature one of these desserts. Apple-Based Dessert Recipes Apple Cider Cream Pie from Food & Wine A creamy and luscious pie infused with apple cider! For the crust: flour, cornstarch, sugar, salt, unsalted butter, cold milk, and apple cider vinegar. For the filling and topping: apple cider, sugar, sour cream, salt, eggs, heavy cream, and cinnamon. Apples never tasted so good! Apple Tart with Almond Cream “The thin, crisp pastry shell is filled with a layer of almond cream made from both finely ground and coarsely chopped nuts that give the tart layers of texture. The thinly sliced apples on top caramelize as the tart bakes.” Pumpkin-Based Dessert Recipes Pumpkin-Gingersnap Tiramisu This seasonal take on a traditional Italian dessert will blow your mind. This frozen treat is creamy and flavorful with all the spices of ginger snap cookies and pumpkin pie. Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies from Leelalicious Much like a granola bar, these healthy pumpkin cookies are perfect for breakfast or an easy on-the-go snack. Not only are they made with whole grain, they are also gluten-free. You will need coconut oil, honey, old-fashioned oats, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, ground flaxseed, pumpkin pie spice, sea salt, and pumpkin puree. What are your favorite recipes featuring apples or pumpkins? Are you a fan of pumpkin-spice everything? Please share your favorite recipes in the comments so we can all try something new this month. Thanks for taking the time to read our post today! Happy Halloween to everyone here at Renaissance Place Apartments.

Halloween Books, Music, & Movies for a Spooktacular Month in WNY

Welcome to fall in Williamsville, NY autumns are wonderful to experience, and this month we have the added lure of it being the month of Halloween. Renaissance Place Apartments is here to help members of our community get into the spirit of the month with suggestions for books, music, and movies hitting theatres this month. Books to Set the Stage for Halloween October is a great month to read those spooky, fun books you always wanted to try but weren’t in the mood to before. So cozy up in your beautiful Renaissance Place apartment with a mug of hot cider and one of these books for a great introduction to October! And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie “First, there were ten—a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they're unwilling to reveal—and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder. One by one they fall prey.” The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales by Edgar Allan Poe The eerie tales of Edgar Allan Poe remain among the most brilliant and influential works in American literature. Some of the celebrated tales contained in this unique volume include: the world's first two detective stories -- "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Purloined Letter"; and three stories sure to make a reader's hair stand on end -- "The Cask of Amontillado", "The Tell-Tale Heart", and "The Masque of the Red Death". Music to Get in a Spooky Mood Music is an amazing vehicle for setting a mood, so we suggest using it to help you (and your friends, coworkers, and family) get into the swing of things this October. Here are a few of our favorite Halloween-themed songs for starters. “This is Halloween” by Danny Elfman This song from The Nightmare Before Christmas is upbeat and fun, but also eerie and reminiscent of a creepy chant. “Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett This fun song tells the story of Dr. Frankenstein watching as his monster comes to life and begins to dance. Watch the video to appreciate Bobby Pickett’s very expressive face. “Thriller” by Michael Jackson Thriller stands supreme as the most downloaded Halloween-themed song of all time! It is also one of Michael Jackson’s top hits. This incredibly catchy song even includes a signature dance. Go ahead, bust a move! Catch a Movie at a Williamsville Theatre this Month While you may be content to stay at home this month and watch classic Halloween-themed movies — can you say, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown — these movies coming out in theatres will fill you with the requisite thrill. Venom Director Ruben Fleischer brings his skills to the table in this movie starring Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, & Woody Harrelson. “Eddie Brock acquires the powers of a symbiote, he will have to release his alter-ego ‘Venom’ to save his life.” Opens nationwide October 5th. Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween Whether you’re a fan of the books or you simply want something to bring the Halloween spirit into your life, head to a theater near you to be scared silly! As IMDb says, “Halloween comes to life in a comedy adventure based on R.L. Stine's 400-million-selling series of books.” Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween comes to theaters on the 12th, so you can enjoy this delightfully frightful movie all month! Halloween Mike Myers returns for a final encounter on October 19th in this epic sequel. “Laurie Strode comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.” What are your favorite ways to invoke the Halloween Spirit? Let us know in the comments so we can all try something new. We hope everyone in our apartment community has a spooktacular month!