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Chocolate, Ciders, and Steamers

In this post, the Spaces Apartments Blog is featuring several winter drink recipes to help you keep cozy through December. Winter can be a hectic and busy time; relax with a cup of one of these fun drinks this month. We hope that you enjoy our recipes! Slow Cooker Pear Cider from Beard and Bonnet Tired of apple cider? Try pear cider for a change. All you need to make this drink is eight pears, an orange, cinnamon sticks, star anise, ginger, nutmeg, whole cloves, water, and maple syrup. The blend of spices makes this drink perfect for relaxing with after a long day at work. This recipe makes eight servings, so feel free to invite your friends over and share! Apple Cider Slushies from Delish You will probably want to enjoy this treat in the comfort of your heated Spaces apartment. Apple cider slushies are delicious, and they’re not very difficult to make. Apple cider, lemon, and ground cinnamon combine for a simple and surprisingly satisfying winter drink. Creamy Hot Cocoa from Allrecipes Need a classic cup of hot chocolate? Use this recipe to make a dreamy cup of chocolate on a cold Omaha, NE day. This recipe calls for unsweetened cocoa powder, white sugar, salt, boiling water, milk, vanilla extract, and half-and-half cream. Oreo Hot Chocolate from Tastemade We’ve never had a hot chocolate like this hot chocolate before. This oreo hot chocolate might take a little more time to put together, but you’ll love just how chocolatey and creamy this recipe is. Top your cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream and crushed Oreos for a finishing touch. Candy Cane Steamers from In Katrina’s Kitchen Make this recipe for an evening spent relaxing on the couch watching your favorite movie. This candy cane steamer is pretty easy to make and can be thrown together on the fly. Use candy cane syrup, milk, whipped cream, and crushed candy cane to make this delicious treat. What’s your favorite winter drink? Leave us a recipe in the comments. Thanks for reading!

Happy Violin Day

The Omaha Symphony has been an essential institution in Omaha, NE since 1921. Many famous musicians and conductors have found their home at the Symphony. In this post, the Spaces Apartments Blog is featuring several events coming to the Symphony next month. We want to give you plenty of time to get your tickets to these wonderful events. December 13th is Violin Day, so celebrate by buying tickets to visit the orchestra next month. If you are a musician yourself and would like to audition to become a member of the orchestra, you can find information on auditions here . We hope that both December and January are full of music! Schubert’s Sixth Schubert was one of the most brilliant composers of the 19th century. Celebrate Schubert’s Sixth by attending this event. You’ll love this moving and exciting musical event. January 8, 2017 Brahms: Variations on a Theme of Joseph Haydn Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge Schubert: Symphony No. 6 “Music Director of the English Chamber Orchestra and cellist of the Emerson String Quartet, Paul Watkins bring an affinity for English string music to Britten’s virtuosic and dramatic variations. The winsome melodies and jocular mood of Schubert’s Sixth Symphony complete the program.” Shakespeare Festival Shakespeare has been a favorite subject of many famous composers. Next month the Omaha Symphony is holding its own Shakespeare festival. Celebrate one of the greatest writers in the English language by listening to works composed by Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Walton, Berlioz, and Mendelssohn. Attend either one or both days of the festival for an exciting exploration of Shakespeare’s works. January 21, 2017 Prokofiev: Suite from Romeo and Juliet Tchaikovsky: The Tempest Fantasy-Overture Walton: Henry V : A Shakespeare Scenario January 27, 2016 Berlioz: Béatrice et Bénedict Overture Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Are you planning on attending the Omaha Symphony Orchestra next month? Do you play a musical instrument? Leave us a comment and let us know. Thanks for reading!

November Writing

This month the Spaces Apartments Blog is writing about writing. As many of our readers may know, November is National Novel Writing Month. It’s probably too late to start your own novel to finish by the end of the month, but this week we have a few tips to help you celebrate writing. We hope that you find some time to write a little bit this month. Whether you consider yourself a “writer” or not, there are plenty of benefits to writing everyday. Writing can help you develop self-discipline, communicate with others, and even heal. People who write everyday have even been shown to become more creative and more confident through their writing. If you would like a full list of the benefits of writing everyday, you can visit the Huffington Post . Once you’ve decided to start writing, then it’s time to decide what and how you’ll write. If you’ve always wanted to write a novel, then get started! Just because National Novel Writing Month is halfway over doesn’t mean that you can’t start a novel to be finished sometime by the end of this year or next year. If you’re more of a memoir or nonfiction writer, start writing your autobiography. The most important thing to remember is to keep writing. For anyone who wants to keep a journal, just remember this: There are no rules. Keeping a journal can sometimes feel like a drag. Sometimes people feel like they have to update their journals everyday or write a certain amount every week. Write as much as you want whenever you want in whatever way you want. This will help journaling feel more natural. You can even find apps and emails dedicated to helping people preserve their memories. If you’re not a writer at all, support other writers by reading and buying books! Visit your local bookstore here in Omaha and ask for books by local writers — this will help you support novelists and the local community. Do you keep a regular journal? Do you have any tips for us? Leave us a comment and let us know. Thanks for reading!

Events in Omaha

In this post, the Spaces Apartments Blog is featuring several events coming to Omaha, NE this month. It’s getting cold outside but that doesn’t mean you have to stay in the apartment! Get out sometime this month and attend one of these fun events. We have featured a variety of different events — music events, food tours, and shows are all featured. Fall Chrysanthemum Show Recurring Daily October 1, 2016-November 18, 2016 From the website: “ Experience a fascinating fabrication of flowers at the garden’s annual fall chrysanthemum show. Bold mums combine with vibrant colors, rich fabrics, diverse textures and other exotic design elements- representative of the storied Japanese culture.” Old Market District Walking Food Tour Recurring every 2 weeks on Saturday October 1, 2016-December 31, 2016 From the website: “Join us on a tasting adventure. Our tour guides will introduce you to some of Omaha's tastiest and well-loved eateries in the Old Market while delighting you with history and tales of Omaha.” The Jungle Book October 29, 2016-November 13, 2016 From the website: “Mowgli is rambunctious and curious, scrappy and silly. Lost in the Indian jungle, he is adopted by Baloo the Bear, Bagheera the panther, and all the animal friends who call the mysterious wilderness home. This fast-paced retelling keeps you perched on the edge of your seat.” Nebraska Wind Symphony: “Spanning the Globe” November 13, 2016 From the website: “The Nebraska Wind Symphony opens its 40th Anniversary Concert Season with music from around the world. The UNO Faculty Brass Quintet are also featured on a new adaption for concert band and brass of the classic English Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughn Williams.” Yesterday and Today: A Beatles Tribute November 25, 2016-December 31, 2016 From the website: “Billy McGuigan and his brothers are back! This all-request Beatles tribute show will have you dancing in the aisles and singing along to every song. Share your stories and relive your memories with your favorite Beatles songs. No two shows are the same, and every show is a guaranteed exhilarating time!” Are there any events that we’ve missed and should know about? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading!

Halloween in Omaha

The seasons are changing and Halloween is on it’s way! Celebrate this year by attending a local event near your Spaces Apartment. Omaha.com has an awesome list of all the events in the area you can attend! Be sure to check websites of individual events for schedule and ticketing information. Some details may change year after year. Some of our favorites include: Canines in Costume : 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Bayliss Park in Council Bluffs. The Midlands Humane Society sponsors the event. Expect music, a $25 micro-chipping special, more than 20 vendors, raffles, games and prizes for your best furry friend and a costume parade around the park. For more information, visit www.midlandshumanesociety.org or call Terri Gach-Mils at 712-366-2551. VODEC Halloween Haunt Dance : 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs. Costumes encouraged and refreshments provided. Cost: $10 cash at the door. RSVP to Michelle at 712-328-2638. The dance is geared toward individuals with intellectual disabilities. Support staff for individuals who cannot be alone in the community are admitted free with paid guest. The Haunted Trail : Wednesday through Oct. 26 at Cunningham Lake. Guided haunted trail tours will explain the “strange events” that have taken place over the years by the lake with frightful characters and scenes along the way. Admission: $13 for adults, $8 for kids (ages 6 to 12). There will be a $1 discount for any canned good, with a maximum of three cans. All cans will go to the Salvation Army food pantries. For more information, visit www.hauntedtrailomaha.com . Hosted by Omaha Parks and Recreation Department. Halloween Safe Night and Fall Festival: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Papillion-La Vista South High School, 10799 Highway 370. Candy, games, prizes, activities and bounce houses will be offered, along with a costume contest. Canned food donations will be accepted at the door to benefit Sarpy County food pantries. Hosted by the Papillion Recreation Department.

Coffeeshop-style Pumpkin Scone

As the seasons change, Pumpkin is making it’s way into our Spaces Apartment decor and our diet. We love any excuse to incorporate this seasonal ingredient into any meal. Pumpkin adds an earthy flavor and can be sweetened up as well. From desserts to dinner, this ingredient takes center stage however you decide to enjoy it. We’ve found a delicious recipe on Created by Diane that recreates our favorite coffee shop scones. Make a batch and have a treat with your coffee or breakfast every day this week! INGREDIENTS Pumpkin Scones 2 cups all-purpose flour ½ cup sugar 1 T baking powder ½ tsp salt 8 Tablespoons cold butter ½ cup canned pumpkin 3 Tablespoons milk 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground nutmeg ¼ tsp ground cloves ½ tsp ground ginger Pumpkin Icing 1 cup powdered sugar 2 Tablespoons milk ¼ tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground nutmeg ? tsp ground cloves ? tsp ground ginger (orange Americolor food coloring) INSTRUCTIONS Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices in a large bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry knife, until mixture is crumbly with no chunks of butter. In a separate bowl, whisk together pumpkin, milk and egg. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients and form into a ball. Pat out dough onto lightly floured surface and form into a 1-inch thick rectangle (about 9 inches long and 3 inches wide) Divide into three sections and then make each section into two triangles. Bake on parchment lined cookie sheets for 15 minutes at 400 degrees. Scones should begin to turn light brown, let cool on rack. Pumpkin Icing Mix powdered sugar and milk together with spices and apply to scones when cooled. I applied first coat of icing then colored the rest orange and drizzled over the top We recommend you find a local pumpkin patch in Omaha, NE for a fresh pumpkin to bake with. Thanks for reading!