Author Archives: FultonHomes

Creative Upcycling Inspirations and Ideas

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We love getting new things and while it can be hard getting rid of our old stuff as well, perhaps with some clever tricks, you can repurpose your old stuff and create new innovative ways to incorporate them into your home. Upcycling is a great way to reuse old material and create a higher quality purpose for it. So, stop throwing away old containers and wired hangers and start converting the old to create something unique and useful. Here are our top five creative ways to upcycle your waste and repurpose it for something beautiful:

Textiles

Have an old favorite sweater with a hole in it or one that you have and do not fit anymore? Maybe you love the pattern on it, or perhaps you like the way it feels. You do not have to get rid of it though, just upcycle it into a different article of clothing. You can easily make some cozy slipper socks for your home. Take the sock size you would like to replicate, and cut out the shape twice and sow it together to create a sock! You can go a step further and take an old pair of slippers or water shoes and remove the rubber bottoms from them and attach them to your socks. You now have a comfortable pair of slippers you can wear around the house.

Glass

Have old mason jars in your home? These can serve hundreds of purposes, but we think they work great for storing foods. You can create hanging mason jars in your cabinets or pantry. Place the lid against the bottom of a shelf or cabinet. Drill a screw into the lid to hold it in place. You can now twist your mason jar to allow it to hang. Fill these with pasta noodles, spices, seeds, or anything you would like. These are great for creating more space while making a more organized pantry.

Tires

Ever blow out a tire and have a worn tire removed from a rim? Some shops will charge you to dispose of the tire. Instead, ask for the old tire back. You can repurpose the old tire into a planter for flower bushes or small trees. You can make a creative pattern and cut it into onside of the tire. After, turn the tire inside out, and you are ready to go. You can paint it to add some color as well. Just fill it with the dirt and seeds then enjoy!

Upcycling hacks are brilliant ways to repurpose your old goods. If you have never considered upcycling before, these are perfect beginner projects. You can deep dive into more upcycling ideas and be even more creative. For more repurposing tricks and hacks, make sure to subscribe!

How to Have a Successful Move

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Moving is one of the most significant stress factors in life. We become “nester” and find comfort staying in our old ways of lives; however, change is vital for growth, and sometimes that demands moving homes. Do not let this task feel like an encumbering burden because with a little time-management and a game plan, your move will go smoothly. Plus, you can eliminate your stress by stick to these five simple guidelines for moving:

Make a Game Plan

The first step is to make a game plan. Determine how many days you have until your move. Perhaps a month or maybe a week? Using this time, write out the rooms you will need to pack. You can set goals to accomplish each day to break up the workload. Additionally, you need to price and schedule a moving truck or movers. Write out a game plan for moving day including a timeline of the day to help ensure everything goes smoothly.

Time to Pack

Do not pack any of your necessities at first. You do not want to go for a month without toilet paper or toothpaste. You may want to go to a local grocery store for some free boxes if you do not have them. If not, many moving truck companies can sell boxes to you as well. Once you begin to pack, remember to set aside important documents and hand deliver these items to your new home yourself.

Be Sure to Label

Labeling is important. Not only should you label the contents of the box, but you should label what box goes in what room. You should also label if boxes are heavy, medium, or light for packing purposes as well as have stickers that say if things are fragile. Labels will help your loading an unloading process as well as your unpacking experience.

Hire a Babysitter

Moving day will demand a lot of attention and so do your kids. Plus, you do not want to jeopardize your children’s safety on moving day. With so much going through your mind on moving day, do not forget to hire a babysitter or dog sitter. You have a lot to worry about during the day and having your children monitored by someone else can help alleviate some stress.

Settling in

Welcome to the neighborhood! You may want some of your time dedicated to networking and meeting the community. Even if stress levels are high this day, be smart. You are new to the neighborhood, and your emotions can make a first impression. Be sure to wave to new neighbors and smile!

If you chose Fulton Homes, we are incredibly excited about your new adventure. You will find that our homes are built to last by standing the test of time. Welcome and thank you for choosing Fulton Homes.

“You’re Proud to Own. We’re Proud to Build.” – Fulton Homes

Tips and Tricks for Creating a Guest Bedroom Getaway

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It is always rewarding to host guests. Creating an atmosphere which is inviting and welcoming is key to being a good host. If you plan on allowing your guest to stay overnight, you will need to prepare a guest room. Plus, having the perfect guest room does not need to cost you an arm and a leg. You should, however, treat your guest how you would want to be treated. There are several elements which can make your company’s stay a better experience. Here are our top guest room essentials to ensure your visitors have an impeccable stay:

A Place to Rest Their Head

A comfy bed can make or break your company’s stay. Make sure your guests are provided with clean sheets and extra pillows/blankets. You do not want them to be too warm or too cold; therefore, provide them with a complete set of sheets and additional items to make their stay welcoming. They can feel awkward asking for more items, so make sure you provide above and beyond what they are expecting.

A Place to Unpack

Depending on your company’s stay, they may have clothes they need to be unpacked. Providing an adequate amount of storage whether in a dresser or closet space is a must. You may also want to give a hook on the back of the door for them to hang their jackets, purses, or hats. Do not be shy about giving them enough hangers because again, you want to provide extra and beyond their needs.

A Place to Recharge

Do not forget to provide the room with basic amenities. Remember to have a clock and provide enough outlets for your guest to be able to charge their electronics. You may even want to provide some phone chargers in the room as well. You can also make the room more enjoyable by adding a television, radio, and even Bluetooth speaker. Your guests will love the extra thought you put into the space and enjoy their getaway a little more.

Being a good host is satisfying, and creating the perfect guest room is a fun challenge. Do not overcrowd the room with décor, but remember that less is more. We hope you enjoyed these tips and tricks. For more expert ideas, visit us at Fulton Homes.

Summer Safety Tips for Toddlers & Small Children

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As we get to enjoy the warmth that spring weather brings to the Arizona days, we want to share with you some basic tips to keep your toddlers healthy and safe this season. Did you know that injuries are the leading cause of death in children under four years of age? Many injuries occur because we as parents are not aware of just what our children are capable of doing. Your child can walk, run, jump, and has the ability to seek, hunt and find! With all of their newly discovered capabilities, they do not understand what danger is or how to avoid it when playing. It is our job as parents, grandparents or caregivers to protect our children from injury and we have listed a few basic safety tips to help:

Outdoor Grills

During the warm months, grilling outdoors is a favorite, plus it does not heat the home. You have already taught your child the word “hot” and how “hot” objects can burn you. Now, you will want to teach toddlers that outdoor grills can burn just like the stove can inside the home. Please keep in mind that it is your job to put away charcoal, lighter fluid and grill utensils. Also, if you do not clean out the grill and cover it up once it has cooled down, it can lead to ashes being blown into little one’s eyes and cause unwanted damage.

Outdoor Patios

Keep in mind that outdoor patios can be very slippery after it rains (during monsoon season) and can cause many accidents; therefore, you will want to teach your little ones “no running” and to please stay off the wet area until it has time to dry.

Yard Work

Experts also recommend that you please make sure children are inside when you are mowing or doing hazardous yardwork at all times. You cannot hear them, and if you are running over rocks and sticks, they become projectiles that are waiting to impale a little one, or an adult for that matter! When storing lawn mowing equipment, make sure toddlers cannot access the area because there is a multitude of dangers just waiting to happen even when the machine is sitting still.

Jungle Gyms/Swing Sets

These playsets are wonderful outlets for children to play and climb on, but never leave them to play alone. Also, you must make sure that the integrity of the set is in good working order and shows no signs of rust and wear and tear. One tip is to put wood chips under and around the play area to absorb the shock of potential falls.

Pool Area

Please pay particular attention to the pool area. Children should never be left alone in the pool area. Children should wear Coast Guard-approved life jackets when in the pool area. This rule will give you peace of mind. As a caregiver, you can begin to teach them how to swim at a young age. It will give you added peace of mind if you encourage them to always wear a life jacket no matter what their skill level may be.

Additionally, you may want to add a fence around the pool area with a locked gate for added safety. But, do not forget you might not be aware of what your child can do at this age, like climbing. Encourage your little ones to not climb the gated area.

We hope you found these tips helpful as a precautionary measure to keep your children and their friends safe. Our best advice is never to leave children/toddlers unattended.

For more expert tips and tricks for families, be sure to view our “Family Fun” blog section here.

Five Things That Make Your House Look Messy When It Is Clean

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The dishes have been washed, the floors are mopped, and all the kid’s toys have been put away in their proper place, but it seems like no matter how much you tidy up, your home it still looks chaotic. You would be surprised by how small clutter, technology, and a host of other factors can make your house look messy even when you have undergone a deep cleaning. To help, here are some ordinary things that can be affecting the overall aesthetics of your home’s interior:

Tangled Wires

The fifty-inch television in the living room that is probably your pride and joy could be the very thing that is making your house look untidy. Get creative and find a way to mask tangled wires and plugs. Free your walls of HDMI cords as well as cords from the DVD player. Keeping such wires exposed can look tacky and takes away from the room’s decor.

Left-Over Laundry

Are you still trying to find time to fold and put away last week’s laundry? Try to find a place other than the corner of your bedroom or the living room to store clean laundry. There is no doubt that it takes away from the interior. All you have to do is find some time to put things away in their proper place.

Cluttered Countertops

Do you own enough beauty products in the bathroom to stock aisles? Find a way to remove as many products from your counters, and try finding other areas in the home where you can store some products. You can even find new creative ways to create additional under the sink storage. This same method should also be applied when it comes to clearing your kitchen countertops. Getting rid the clutter on your countertops will result in a crisp, clean and streamlined look.

Unmade Bed

We have been told since childhood to make sure the bed was made. Somehow that concept goes out the window on those rushed mornings. Making your bed every day will instantly make things look neat, but it also creates the perfect opportunity to show off your stylish bedding.

Messy Entryway

Is your entryway littered with coats and shoes blocking the doorway? Use storage bins to make space for your bookbags, shoes, and jackets. You can even install additional hooks to hang your belongings and remove them from the floors.

When you begin to see clutter overtaking your home, it can be the perfect chance to tidy up and make your place look brand new. We recommend focusing on these five areas to help make your place sparkling. For more expert tips and tricks, be sure to visit us weekly at Fulton Homes. Thanks for reading!

How to Successfully Organize Your Laundry Room

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Laundry rooms are commonly overlooked when it comes to organizing the household. Since laundry rooms are not seen that often, homeowners wonder if they are really that important. Simply put, yes. Like we always say “an organized home is a happy home.” While you may decide to focus on other rooms, every room of your house has the potential to be fully functional. Whether it is small or large, we have five tips for maximizing your laundry room’s use. Let’s take a look!

Tip 1: Money, Money, Money

Have you ever been washing your pants and find a bunch of random stuff in the pockets? We sure have! That is why we suggest putting out a mason jar for all the coins and miscellaneous items you may find in your pants. This will keep your pockets clean and washing machine happy.

Tip 2: We’re Hooked

Do you need a place to store your ironing board? Drill two coat hooks into your wall, and you instantly have a new holder! Plus, you can get creative and find two decorative, antique hooks from a thrift store to add style and function.

Tip 3: Southern Charm

If you are an iced tea lover, you may have an extra iced tea dispenser around your home. Use the extra dispenser to store your detergent. This will avoid the need for bulky bottles and accidental spillage.

Tip 4: If You Got It, Use It

If you do not stack your washer and dryer, you can use their tops for sorting clothes and storage. Just add a wood block to the top of the machines, and you have instantly created a countertop!

Tip 5: (Re)Attracted

Some laundry rooms are not big enough for a clothing rod, but a retractable clothing line may do just the trick. Attach the clothing line from one side of the wall to the other wall. This will give you space to hang your clothing when you are in a pinch.

We hope you enjoyed these five simple tips! Be sure to check back weekly for more expert advice.

Tips and Tricks for Decluttering Your House

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Certain areas in your home can quickly become cluttered and never seem to look organized. While this can hurt any room’s visual aesthetics and make rooms feel uninviting, by creating a weekly declutter program, you can spend once a week keeping areas in your home in check. Plus, it can be as simple as a task to throw on top of your current chores. To help, we made an easy checklist to make sure vulnerable areas in your home stay mess free this spring.

Entryway

Your entryway is your home’s first impression. Unhung coats, messy shoe areas, and keys can wreak havoc on these areas. Try to find time at least once a week to organize this area. Everything should have an assigned spot. You can also spend this time shaking out your welcome mat and dusting/mopping the area if it gets dirty from constant traffic.

Refrigerator

If you buy your food weekly, it is essential to keep the refrigerator and freezer clean and throw away any old foods. These can not only add to the clutter but can begin to make the fridge smell bad. When you buy new foods, make sure you are eating the oldest foods first. Scheduling your weekly fridge clean out on the same day you go grocery shopping can help you stay organized when you get your food.

Trash

Another important area in the home is your trash and recycling. These areas can begin to smell bad as well if not kept in weekly maintenance. If you throw away foods early in the week, consider wrapping them to prevent the spoiling items from making the whole house smell. Your trash should be scheduled for weekly disposal to keep your home from becoming messy.

Closet

Laundry is another area in the home that can be a daunting task but can quickly clutter an area. Make sure you schedule weekly or biweekly times to do your laundry. You should organize your empty hangers throughout the week to make it more convenient when hanging your clothes.

Coffee Table

Coffee tables can easily become the main focal point of living rooms and dens. Make sure you do not clutter them with mail and magazines. These areas should be cleaned weekly, if not daily. Always take your coffee cups and wash them after use. Consider the time it can take if you allow this area to get out of hand. Staying on top of this area’s maintenance is imperative to a functional design.

Experts believe that it can help to write down the days you plan on keeping these areas decluttered. Put them in your calendar until they become an automatic habit.

How to Have the Perfect Tea Time

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Imagine enjoying the beautiful outdoors while slowly sipping on a fresh cup of tea that you made all by yourself. Not only did you brew this tea, but you lovingly filled the tea bag with your favorite herbal blend. Tea is the perfect treat for warm or cooler weather and has an immense amount of health benefits.

Why You Should Drink Tea:

  • Tea contains a high level of antioxidants which help us to look and feel young. Who does not want that?
  • Tea can promote healthy weight loss.
  • Tea is great for your smile. Drinking tea helps fight cavities and unwanted erosion (that is something to smile about).
  • Tea is great for when you are ill. Tea can help boost your immune system and help you to recover faster. Try adding in honey and lemon to your tea for extra benefits.
  • Tea has less caffeine than soda or coffee and a lot of times, it contains less sugar.

Supplies to Make and Brew Your Own Tea Bag:

  • Your absolute favorite loose leaf tea
  • 1 Coffee Filter
  • 1 Writing Utensil
  • 1 Pair of Scissors
  • 1 Needle
  • 1 Piece of Thread

Step One. Pick up your coffee filter and your writing utensil of choice. Now, draw a circle on the coffee filter.
Step Two. Take your needle and thread and begin to sew around the circle you just drew. You will need to leave 1/4 of the circle unthreaded (this is where you will insert your tea leaves).
Step Three. Grab your scissors and begin to cut out the threaded circle.
Step Four. Fill your teabag with your favorite loose leaf tea.
Step Five. After you have filled your tea bag, you will begin to sew the opening closed.
Step Six. Time to brew your tea. Place your teabag in a boiling cup of water and let it sit for about five minutes. If you want to make a pitcher of iced tea, make about ten teabags and let them steep in a pot of boiling water for five minutes. After they have time to steep, place your tea pitcher in the fridge and let it sit overnight. The next day you can pour your tea over a glass of ice and voila, you have delicious iced tea.
Step Seven: Sip and enjoy!

Personalized teabags are great gifts for friends and family members! Next time your loved one is sick, try making them a couple of personalized teabags. Your special touch will make the gift extremely meaningful.

Tips for Tackling Your Daily Household Chores

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With the high demands everyday life, household chores can become quite a daunting task. We dedicate all our time to work, family, friends, events, and even our physical health that it can seem overwhelming to set aside time for chores. Unfortunately, the longer you procrastinate your daily housework, the more encumbering the task becomes. To help, we put together five general rules that you should establish in your own space to prevent your chores from piling up on you. Developing these tricks in your daily life can help keep your home looking clean and well-kept. Let’s take a look!

One-Touch-Method

The one-touch-method is a great trick to start using in your own space. It is a general rule of thumb that declares, when you return home, you can only touch your belongings one time. For example, do not just come into your home place your mail and your coats in a temporary spot that you will “get to later.” Everything must be sorted and placed away at time of arrival in your home. It will help ensure a cleaner space and prevent clutter from accumulating.

Empty Countertops

If you struggle with clutter or chores building up in your home, you should try to keep your countertops always clear of everything. Do not allow anything on your countertops. Everything should have a designated place in a drawer or cabinet. It makes it very easy to identify items on your counter space. This minimalist approach may take a couple of extra seconds to put away coffee makers or blenders, but it prevents chores from accumulating throughout the week.

Everything Belongs Somewhere

This brings us to our next great trick: everything in your home should have a designated place of residency. Your cleaning supplies, your books, your tools, even your shoes should all have a place they are continually stored. This will make it easier to find your belongings and take care of chores as they come throughout the day. When you are done with an item, return it to its assigned location.

Laundry and Dishes

Here are two chores that will never go away: laundry and dishes. With dishes, try to clean as you cook. Do not allow downtime in the kitchen while food is boiling or in the oven. It can be an easy way to help prevent the buildup in the sink. When you are done eating, account for cleanup time as well. You can also wash your clothes every night or establish a laundry day for later in the week.

Try to tackle a few of your chores every day to prevent them from accumulating. Tasks can quickly become overwhelming, but with a little time management, they can become less daunting. Remember to establish days in your week to work on more significant projects in your chore list. For more great tips, make sure to subscribe!

How to Create a Stylish DIY Tabletop Fire Pit

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There is nothing more romantic than relaxing by the fire on a breezy Arizona night. Just the idea of socializing by a warm fire sounds peaceful and alluring to all busy homeowners. The outdoors is the perfect setting for get-togethers and deep conversations. Make a statement at your next social gathering with a Do-It-Yourself Tabletop Fire Pit. You will find that tabletop fire pits are stunning! They bring warmth and beauty to your outdoor space, plus they are easy to create!

Supplies:

  • Ceramic Planter/Pot
  • Lava Rocks
  • Gel Fuel Cans (This can be bought at any home improvement store or online retailers).
  • Lighter or Matches

How to make a Tabletop Fire Pit:

Preparation: Gather all the supplies from the list above and find a place outside to work on this project.

Step One: Once you have found a spot to work, place your lava rocks inside your ceramic planter. The ceramic planter you choose is completely based on your personal style. Since you will be filling the planter, look to purchase a larger ceramic pot for this project. The lava rocks should fill 3/4 of your ceramic planter.

Step Two: Now place your closed gel fuel cans onto of the lava rocks you just put in your planter.

Step Three: After you have positioned the gel fuel cans, you can continue to fill your planter to the top with your lava rocks. Make sure to place them surrounding your fuel cans and not on top of them.

Step Four: Leave the lids on until you want to lit your fire pit. Keep in mind the fire will only last approximately one and a half to two hours; therefore, wait to burn your fuel cans until your guests arrive. 

Pro-Tip: Gel Fuel Cans are great for outdoor fires because the wind will help produce a greater flame.

This tabletop fire pit is perfect for outdoor gatherings! Amaze your guests with this stunning, hand-crafted fire pit. The best part is that you made it all on your own. Just please make sure that the flame is entirely out before going back inside for the night.