Category Archives: Family Fun

Triangular Kitchen Island has Multiple Uses

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While most kitchen islands are rectangular, sometimes another shape provides additional functionality. Take a look at this island in the La Quinta model at Oasis at Freeman Farms. The modified triangle shape has several functional advantages.

Kitchen triangle: The classic shape for the most functional kitchen space is a working triangle, with oven, stove, refrigerator and sink in easy reach of each other. The trimmed edge of this island on the kitchen side creates an actual open triangle for cooking. The extra space makes this tidy kitchen feel more spacious, especially if two or more cooks are working together.

Eating space: The cropped edge on the great room side of the island provides room to spread for three and can hold up to five people comfortably, as you can see in the photo above. This space works well for quick breakfasts with someone playing short-order-cook at the stove or for homework with a parent’s help while they fix dinner. Remove the chairs and the island creates a perfect stage for party appetizers.

Cleaning with a view: After dinner at the dining table, dishes can be brought to the island and placed in the dishwasher while the cleaning crew chats with the rest of the family or guests. With the sink/dishwasher area set up in the island, post-meal clean up clean-up doesn’t isolate the tidying team.

Well-lit: The pendant lights provide additional spot lighting for any tasks completed on the island, while adding a contemporary element of style to the space. Between the lights and the island itself, the kitchen area is clearly defined without being separated from the rest of the home’s living area.

Thoughtful design makes this great-room kitchen functional and fun, with an island shape made for functionality, whether as part of a simple family dinner or entertaining a group of friends.

Outdoor Living Space

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As we move through Arizona’s short and easy winter months – all two of them – it’s time to think about one of the best times of year here – spring. From about February until the heat finally comes upon us, we can spend serious time outside. Fulton Homes always factors appealing outdoor options into its home designs.

This patio, part of the La Quinta model at Oasis at Freeman Farms, provides a secluded space to enjoy our perfect weather. This inviting side patio shows the four F’s of working outdoor space –four smart decisions that make the space particularly appealing and effective. Take the time now to determine what you need to do to make your outdoor area ready for spring.

Function: What do you want to do with your outdoor space? Before you choose furniture and accessories, it’s smart to determine how the space will be used.

Flooring By continuing the inside tile choice outside, the space feels like a continuation of the indoor area. This makes both the indoor room and outdoor patio seem larger more integrated. Choosing tile also makes it easier to keep the patio clean and attractive.

Furnishings: Creating an outdoor space with a feel similar to indoor areas is easier than ever given the wide variety of sun and rain resistant fabrics and cushions. This patio is spacious enough to include a comfy conversation corner and a place for al-fresco dining. The consistency between the outdoor furnishings and the indoor pieces further the connection between the two areas.

Fountain: A wall-hugging fountain adds warmth to an outdoor space, both visually and aurally – with the sound of splashing water helping to reduce stress and creating an inviting ambience.

Well, alright, the fountain shouldn’t really count as the fourth F – it is optional. But if you spend some time in an outdoor space with a fountain, you may quickly determine that it is a necessity. To help you decide, we’d like to invite you to visit this outdoor area – currently on display in our La Quinta model home.

Create Luck in 2013 with these Traditions

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Many people know about eating black-eyed peas for luck on New Year’s Day, and in the U.S. we often toast with champagne and kiss each other as the clock hits midnight. But there are a number of other traditions across the world to celebrate the coming of the New Year. Here are a few fun ones.

Lucky yellow: In a number of countries in Latin America, it’s seen as lucky to wear yellow underwear. Some say that if you receive it as a gift it’s even luckier. Could this story have been spread by underwear manufacturers?

Bang the walls with…bread? Some people in Ireland will hit walls and doors with a loaf of Christmas bread at midnight. This is said to bring abundance during the New Year. It’s also supposed to scare away evil spirits, but I don’t think they would be afraid of bread!

Take your luggage for a walk: In Columbia and Mexico some people believe that if you carry a suitcase around the block at midnight, you ensure that the next year will be filled with travel and adventure. The suitcase can be empty, so maybe the adventure will involve losing your luggage?

Chair leaping and dish throwing: Danes celebrate the coming of a new year by leaping off furniture. They also throw china plates at the doors of their friends – breaking them to ensure good luck. The people with the most broken crockery are seen as having many friends. They’d also better have a large dustpan and sturdy broom!

However you celebrate the coming of the New Year, here at Fulton we hope 2013 is a wonderful year for you and your family!

Planning a Simple New Year’s Eve Celebration

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You don’t have to spend a lot of money or invite a crowd of people to have a fun New Year’s Eve party. Here are a few suggestions to make your evening special.

Choose guests strategically: Invite a handful of your favorite people. Two or three couples or a few close friends makes a nice gathering. Smaller groups give everyone more of an opportunity to relax and interact.

Focus on little foods: Pick up a half-dozen frozen appetizers at your grocery or warehouse store. Options range from mini-tacos to bacon-wrapped scallops, depending upon your budget and preferences. You may want to add a couple of interesting cheeses with several types of crackers. Plan to stagger the treats throughout the evening. You may want to end with holiday cookies or serve a dessert. Include some hearty choices so people don’t miss having a regular dinner.

Plan a little decadence: Consider having one luxury item such as shrimp cocktail or scallops, and pick up a few particularly tempting dessert choices such as the items shown in the photo to the right. Bring some bling to your table with bright gold and silver beads or confetti. Pick up a nice bottle of sparkling wine for midnight and include the option of sparkling juice for those who don’t drink.

Plan for fun: Horns, hats, noisemakers, sparklers can all make midnight more entertaining. Have people write their resolutions for 2013 on small pieces of paper and put them all in a box or bowl. You can then pull them out to read one-by-one and have people guess whose resolution each one is.

Have fun yourself: Plan ahead so that food and drink are easy enough that you can spend most of your time with your guests rather than fixing things. By keeping things simple, you all can have a lovely time.

Adding Natural Elements to Holiday Decorations

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Even if you prefer an artificial tree you can add natural features to your holiday celebrations. Pine cones, seed pods and nuts still in their shells bring the season to life.

You can add some character and even bling to a natural arrangement. Consider touching the edges of your pine cones with white paint to resemble snow, or add some glue and cover the tips of various natural pieces with glitter.

Holiday greens provide a nice addition to any tablescape. Local warehouse stores and groceries have bouquets of pine and holly and other greenery, and these will bring charm to any holiday decoration. Place small branches under holiday ornaments or treats to add a special touch.

Fresh pine wreaths and poinsettias can be picked up at those same stores, or take a trip to a florist for a larger selection of options. The smell of fresh pine when you walk into a home makes the holidays more vivid.

If you have pine trees or firs such as a juniper on your property, you can just trim off some smaller branches and create your own green decorations. Be careful with pine branches, cones and needles, however. Freshly-cut pieces often drip sap that can damage furniture. Place wax paper or foil under the edges so that the sap is safely captured.

Whole spices such as nutmegs, cinnamon sticks and star anise make a nice addition with both looks and scent for the holidays. Notice the clove-studded oranges above. Use a sharp knife first to make the holes in the orange, then stick whole cloves in to make a sweet-smelling decoration. In this case a bit of fake snow adds to the holiday mood. Even without our own snow here, we can conjure the memory of winter weather by bringing nature into our festivities.

Perfect Pet Presents

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Whether you have pets yourself or friends and family have pets, the holiday season is a great time to remember to shower your furry buddies with gifts. As you contemplate the right options for the kitten or puppy in your life, here are some ideas and safety factors to consider.

Toys: If you want to give something such as a stuffed toy, stick to those made for animals. That little Santa at a discount store may be tempting, but the fabric, stuffing or trim may not be pet-friendly. You would also miss out on that all-important squeaky factor, disappointing some dogs that actively look for the squeaker when given a new toy.

Treats: A nice box or stocking filled with treats is almost always a welcome gift. Be sure to check with the owner to avoid food allergy issues. If you’re feeling adventurous, how about making homemade dog biscuits or cat crackers? There are numerous recipes available on the Internet, and people and pets appreciate something you bake yourself.

Unlike cookies for people, dogs and cats are not fussy about how their treats look. If they smell like peanut butter, bacon, or tuna and salmon for a cat, they will be thrilled with your gift.

Wrapping for pet gifts is also casual. Most pets don’t care about ribbon or tags, with the possible exception of kittens that see them as a fun extension of the gift. The best option is plain tissue paper with a minimum of tape. This enables even the least adventurous to open their own presents.

One last tip: Don’t put pet presents under the tree until just before it’s time to unwrap. Animals are not at all good about waiting and may dive into the celebration a bit early.

Edible Holiday Gifts

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One of the nicest gifts for friends and family is something you make yourself. This year, how about baking some holiday treats?

Cakeballs – a new baking craze, make lovely gifts.  These are made to look like holiday ornaments. Whether on a stick or just piled in a bowl, these provide a different kind of treat; one tasty, sweet bite.  For extra fun, set these upright in a cup filled with holiday candies.

To make your gift extra special, how about giving it on a plate made of holiday candy? This little tray was created by setting peppermint hard candies together on a piece of parchment paper set on a baking dish, and baking for a short time in a low oven just until the pieces melt into each other. Let cool and then gently peel off. This also works with candy canes and peppermint sticks. Just be sure to use with hard surface treats. Moist ones will melt your dish!

Even if you’re not a skilled baker, treats such as chocolate-dipped pretzels can make a great gift. You can find baskets and other suitable containers at dollar stores and cake specialty shops. Whatever you decide to make, gifts like these are as much fun to assemble as they are to give!

Holiday Safety Tips

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Happy holidays can quickly disappear when safety is not given priority. Just a few precautions can keep your holiday celebrations merry. Here are a few basics.

Trees: If you want a live tree, choose one that is very fresh and free of mold. Before you buy your choice, shake the tree gently. If green needles fall, the tree is too old already. Also check the trunk for signs of mold and check for a musty smell. Sometimes storing them for too long or in less-than-optimal conditions leads to trees that are dry enough to be fire hazards. If you find more than one or two trees with these problems, find another lot. To keep your tree fresh for the rest of the season, cut at least one inch from the bottom of the trunk, and make sure your tree holder can handle at least a gallon of water. Check and fill the water daily.

Lights: Never put electric lights on a metallic tree. Never string more than three sets of lights together. Throw away any light sets or extension cords that are damaged or worn. Consider LED lights because they are cool to the touch. Make sure cords don’t become tripping hazards.

Decorations: If your household has children or pets, pay attention to the ornament and decoration choices. Small glass balls look tempting and can draw the attention of children. Tinsel can also prove a real risk to pets that will eat anything that looks interesting.

Take a few minutes to factor safety into your holiday plans and you and your family can have a holly jolly time!

Holidays and your Pets

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Most of us want our pets to be part of the upcoming holidays, but it’s important to treat them appropriately so that they have fun, too. Here are some suggestions to make everyone’s holiday brighter.

Don’t give a puppy or kitten as a holiday gift. While it seems like a great present, this is not the best time to introduce a new pet to your household. It can be particularly traumatic for a baby animal to be placed in a box, or even badly wrapped like in this case. It’s clear that this poor new pet is concerned about what kind of household he has come into. Instead, give a stuffed pet with the promise of a real one in the next few weeks. That way you can ensure that your new family member has a quieter and more successful transition to your home.

Holiday costumes are a matter of personal pet preference. As you can see in the photo to the right, the Pekinese is pleased with her holiday jacket while the miniature boxer is embarrassed and unhappy. He seems particularly horrified that someone took a picture of him dressed this way. Remember that pets have their dignity. Also, keep any costumes safe and simple. Your pet may chew and swallow elements of the costume that are particularly disturbing, such as buttons, so keep an eye out for unsafe behavior.

Finally, never put your dog in the position of the poor pooch to the left. Not only is he forced to wear a very mortifying headdress, the cat is totally free of embarrassing holiday garb, leaving her free to laugh at the dog. Even if you are a cat lover, you have to know that this isn’t right.

So with just a little consideration, both your family and your pets can have a safe and happy holiday.

Making Thanksgiving Memories

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Would you like your Thanksgiving celebration to be more memorable this year? Here are just a few ideas to spark up the day.

Talk across the generations: For many people, as many as three or four generations of family members gather together. Take special advantage of this by planning some conversation starters that will get everyone involved.

Questions could include “What was your favorite Thanksgiving and why?” “What were the holidays like when you were a child?” or “What’s your favorite holiday food?” Add any other questions you think of and write them on pieces of paper or make a list. No matter the age range of your guests, the opportunity to share memories will contribute to a nice event.

Get everyone involved: If you have children, include them in the Thanksgiving preparations. Have every child take responsibility for one dish. Or if they’re too young for this, have them decorate the table with Thanksgiving-themed drawings or make name-plates or menus. Teach them the right way to set a table. Also ask Aunt Harriet to bring her famous potatoes, Uncle Bob to bring a nice bottle of wine or any other combination that works for you and your guests.

Remember the first Thanksgiving: Have your children research the first Thanksgiving feast and then tell about it at your own table. This gives them a chance to contribute to the discussion and reminds everyone of why we celebrate every year.

Say why you’re thankful: Before, during or after the meal, ask everyone to express what they are most thankful for this year. This is another reminder that the holiday is about more than food. And whether you have two or twenty at your Thanksgiving table, have a lovely memory-filled day.