Posts about Holidays and Celebrations

Celebrating Memorial Day in Williamsville

Memorial Day is coming up at the end of the month. Despite evidence to the contrary, it is not just about getting together with friends for a barbeque. Memorial Day, which used to be called Decoration Day, dates back to the 1860s. It was originally created as a way to honor the war dead of the American Civil War, which claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history to date. Several years after the war, General John A. Logan, a leader for a Civil War veterans organization, called for a nationwide day of remembrance for the purpose of “strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country. . . . and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.” Subsequently, the first nationwide day of remembrance was set for the 30th of May, 1868, and over 5,000 participants decorated the graves of 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Later, Decoration Day came to honor all veterans of all wars, and the name and date of the observance were changed, becoming Memorial Day. In 1971 the date changed to the last Monday in May and it became an official federal holiday. Each year on Memorial Day, a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time wherever you happen to be. Today, all across America, Memorial Day is observed with speeches and parades. Here in New York, Williamsville will be holding a Memorial Day parade, May 27 from 2:00 - 4:00 PM according to the Williamsville Business Association Facebook Page . According to the page, the parade begins at the high school and makes its way down in front of Village Hall. Memorial Day also unofficially marks the beginning of summer, and another American hallmark, the backyard barbeque, is often the kickoff for summertime activities. Perhaps you can get together with friends and plan a “beginning of the summer” barbeque — we will be sharing tips for hosting a barbeque in our next post. Thanks for taking time out to read The Renaissance Place Apartments Blog today. Make plans now to be a part of an awesome weekend.

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in March

It’s time to plan how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day which is coming up on March 17th. In today’s Renaissance Place Apartments Blog, we’ll be sharing some St. Patrick’s Day trivia, recipes to make, and home decoration pieces to create in today’s post. We hope you enjoy this holiday here in Williamsville, NY! St. Patrick’s Day Trivia The Origin St. Patrick’s Day was actually started by persecuted Irish Immigrants in 18th century American cities who were trying to confirm and hold onto their heritage. Irish Ancestry There are actually more people with Irish ancestry in the United States (34 million) than in Ireland (4.2 million). This is most likely a result of the high numbers of Irish immigrants who fled to the U.S. during the Potato Famine and times of economic crisis in Ireland. The First Parade The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin did not happen until 1931. In fact, St. Patrick’s Day didn’t become a national holiday in Ireland until 1903. Irish Recipes Bake Goodies Make fun treats to serve at a St. Patrick’s Day party or at a low-key time in your apartment with a friend. Try making these Mint Brownie Ice Cream Push-Up Pops or these Mint Oreo Truffles that you won’t be able to quit eating. Visit Julie’s Eats and Treats for even more ideas! Eat Irish Food When we say Irish food, we don’t mean anything with green food coloring in it — that’s not Irish. We mean some hearty, traditional Irish dishes that will fill you up and leave you satisfied, like bangers and mash , corned beef and cabbage , or shepherd’s pie . If you want more ideas, check out Genius Kitchen’s 66 Favorite Irish Dishes . Decorate with Shamrocks Shamrock Bouquet from Sweet and Lovely Crafts This bouquet is so simple to make, but a great item to set on your table for some festivity. This is a great craft to do with kids because it’s very simple and just requires cutting and taping. You just need a few items to make it: green patterned paper, a Mason Jar, tape, and skewers. Swinging Shamrocks from Better Homes & Gardens These swinging shamrocks are a fun item to hang from a doorway, over the kitchen table, or in the corner of a room. They’re fairly simple to make. You’ll need the following supplies to make them: cardboard tubes, a hot glue gun, green paint, scissors, and fishing line or string. How do you plan on celebrating St. Patrick’s Day? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

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!