Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Some Tips For Making Your Holiday Guests Feel Welcome

Thinking about having friends and family over for the holidays? If you are, make sure your home is welcoming. Everyone wants to feel at home no matter where they go. Here are a few tips on how to make your home comfortable and welcoming to your holiday guest:

1. Take the walk to your front as your guest would. Is the sidewalk cleared? Is the light on outside?

2. Make room for your guest's coats. Whether it is on the coat rack or in a spare bedroom, make sure you have room to place your guests coats and that are easy to get to when your guest is ready to leave.

3. Is there enough room for everyone to sit? Situations can become uncomfortable if you have guests standing to eat or even just to make small talk.

4. Don't have your home completely spotless. A quick clean over the entire house will be just fine. Clean your countertops, sweep the floor, run the vacuum and have a towel hanging in the bathroom and a full roll of toilet paper and you should be good to go.

5. Set the mood for your gathering. Have candles burning with a subtle scent, you don't want anything too overpowering. And of course, make sure that lit candles stay out of the traffic and up high enough that the little ones aren't tempted. Dim your lights; if you don't have a dimmer shut the lights off and just have your holiday lights on to light the room. (Make sure there are enough that people can still see, though!)

6. Be a gracious host and thank everyone one for showing up to your lovely home. There's nothing like a host who goes out of their way to thank each person.

7. Have FUN and make the best of the gathering!!

Monday, November 15, 2010

An Easy Way To Jazz Up Your Thanksgiving Table!

Thanksgiving is upon us… the family, the friends and the wonderful smells of the Turkey and stuffing cooking in the oven. Everyone gathering at the table awaiting the plentiful meal that is about to be spread before them. But wait, there’s something missing. What about the centerpiece? At the Thanksgiving table, isn’t it always traditional to have the cornucopia adorning the table? What about something different and exciting that will have your friends and family saying, “My, oh my, who created that beautiful centerpiece?” Well, I have a fantastic idea for you!

Every year I try and make a different and creative centerpiece. This year, I am going to let you in on my idea. Please feel free to use it and take all of the credit for it!

First, take a small to medium sized pumpkin and cut the top off and hollow it out. You are left with the perfect new vase to put flowers in! This year I’m thinking that orange and yellow Gerbera daisies are going to be the cream of the crop. Sunflowers are also going to add a nice touch to the mixture of flowers. Add a few red mums and… VOILA! You have a unique and creative centerpiece for your Thanksgiving Day table. Of course you can use whatever flowers you would like to use. I’m just giving you an example of what I am going to be using. Set your new masterpiece on the table and you will have a beautiful and unique centerpiece that everyone will be talking about.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Homemade Chili Warms Up A Chilly Evening!

Well, it’s getting to be that time of year! The weather is trying to decide if it wants to stay warm or go straight to winter. My favorite part of colder weather is home-cooked food. What better way to spend an evening than in your nice, warm and cozy home with all of the wonderful smells of a home cooked dinner and dessert?

I would like to share with you one of my favorite recipes that I love to cook in the cooler months of the year. It’s easy to put together and definitely easier to eat! I hope you all enjoy this recipe.

Chili

Ingredients:
• 1 ½ pounds ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 green bell peppers, chopped
• 5 (15 ounces) cans kidney beans with liquid
• 1 (28 ounces) can whole peeled tomatoes, with liquid
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder

Directions
In a large skillet over medium high heat, sauté the ground beef for 5 to 10 minutes, or until browned.

Transfer to a slow cooker. Add onion, green bell peppers, beans and tomatoes to the slow cooker. Season with chili powder to taste.

Cook on high setting for 4 hours, or until all vegetables are tender. ENJOY!

Darla Watson
Leasing Consultant
Resident Manager
The Hammocks at Orchard Park

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Don’t Miss the 5th Annual Halloween Party

We’d like to invite everyone to our 5th Annual Halloween Party on Sunday, October 31st, from 3:30 - 5:30 pm. Festivities will include Trick or Treating, Pizza & Pop and Ghostly Goodies at the clubhouse! We will meet to Trick or Treat at 3:30, and will be back at the clubhouse by 4:45 for the Pizza Party!

As in previous years, if you would like to participate in the Trick or Treat portion of the fun, please put your apartment outside light ON between 4-5 pm on Halloween night. We would ask you leave your light off if you don’t want the kids to ring your doorbell.

For those of you who would like to volunteer to help or bake some ghostly goodies for the Pizza Party, please call or stop by the office.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Lenny's Corner

We will be coming around in October to replace furnace filters. Please remember that utility rooms are not to be used for storage under any circumstances and should be left locked at all times.

Please be respectful when driving through the property and remember the speed limit is 20 mph. We ask that you are considerate with the volume of your car radio when driving through the property. Please only park in marked parking spots or in front of
your garage (if you have one) and please obey the stop signs.

Please place cardboard/boxes in the cardboard recycling container in the back of the recycling center (large green container to the left of the regular newspaper/plastic bins). If you have any very large boxes or other items that you require assistance disposing of, please call the office for further instructions.

We all want a clean place to live! Keeping the property clean, disposing of garbage properly (including recycling), and loading of the “household” garbage compactor is the responsibility of all residents. Please do not throw garbage on the grounds or put garbage with the recycling (bins are marked clearly). Garbage is also NOT to be left in front of your apartment doors or on patios and balconies (animals can tear into it and spread it around the property), and garbage bags laying around are unsightly to other residents. If you have any questions or require a copy of the garbage & recycling guidelines they are available at the office.

THANK YOU!

Lenny Dobucki
Maintenance Supervisor

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Just a Few Little Items...

Hello Everyone,

We’ve been very busy at the leasing office this summer, so I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome all of the new residents.

“Thank You” to all of you who attended and/or helped with this year’s summer pool party. It was a nice day, the food was great, and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Now that it is “Back to School” time, please drive slowly and watch for children as they wait for the bus in the morning and get off the bus in the afternoon.

You are all probably aware that I’m going on maternity leave soon. I’d like to introduce Sarah who will be helping Darla full time in the office until I return.

Time-Warner has been making changes to their basic channels; if you need a new channel guide please stop by the office!

Don’t forget we now have a new community bulletin board at the mail center. We will be happy to post items for you.

Have a Great Fall & Go Bills!

Jen Butler

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Welcome Summer & all of our new residents!

I’d like to thank everyone for their support and patience during our recent sealing and striping of the roads & parking areas. The coordination of this exercise is always a challenge but the result is worth the inconvenience.

The Hammocks at Orchard Park now has a Facebook Page. We are posting Hammocks events, pictures of the property, etc. Check out the pictures of our new fountain and benches in and around the pond. We welcome you to “friend” us!

Just a reminder: Please drive carefully and at a slow speed through the complex as there are many residents out walking or on bikes this time of year. The speed limit on the property is 20 mph.
The pool is open! Please obey the pool rules and the lifeguards instructions in order for everyone to have a safe and enjoyable season at the pool. Children under the age of 16 are not allowed in the hot tub for safety reasons. Parents please stay on site and supervise your children. ALL residents and accompanying guests must sign in with the lifeguard on duty - there is a $3.00 fee per guest for a one day pass (anyone not a registered resident is required to pay a guest fee each visit). You can purchase a season guest pass (for one guest, ie. Grandchild that visits every wknd) for only $30 from the lifeguards or office staff. Please see page 4 of the newsletter for pool rules and we will be delivering updated rules to your door.

Our summer social/pool party will be held on a Saturday, July 24th from 3-5 pm. This is a family friendly event for all Hammocks Residents. Please stop by to have some food and refreshments and join in the fun! Anyone who would like to volunteer to help, or offer suggestions/ideas to email Leasingconsultant@thehammocksatorchardpark.com

We will be having a Patio Decorating Contest during the month of July. Residents are encouraged to be creative and colorful! The judging and awarding of prizes will take place on August 3rd.

If you have any large household items to dispose of (ie. Furniture, mattresses, bed frames, etc.), please call Waste Management at 716-495-5000 to arrange pick-up/payment.

Don’t forget to refer a friend to move into the Hammocks - have them put your name on the back of the application and once they sign a minimum 1 year lease you will receive a $200 referral fee.

The office will be closed for holidays on Sunday & Monday July 4 & 5.

Happy Fourth of July!
Jen & Staff