Do-It-Yourself Christmas Décor for the Whole Family

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It is Christmas time, and we are getting to spend more time with our loved ones. Use this opportunity to help build memories by participating in fun activities featuring creative DIY Christmas décor. Plus, you can let the children join in to make it an all-around fun family activity. Enjoy the spirit of Christmas throughout your home with these five simple DIY Christmas décor ideas:

Ornaments

There are hundreds of fun ways to decorate your tree. You can color-theme your ornaments, add candy canes, pictures, garland, and so much more. Personalize your tree, even more, this year by adding your own bulbs. Get the family together, and have everyone can paint their own bulbs. You can draw cool patterns or funny pictures. This idea is an excellent activity for the whole family. Plus, you will have the memory for years to come.

Mini Wreaths

Mini wreaths are fun, festive décor pieces that you can be used throughout your whole home. Plus, there are hundreds of creative ways in which you can make these wreaths. From rosemary, pinecones, cranberries, marshmallows, and even garland, you can let everyone put their own original spin on their wreaths.

Decorate the Stockings

Decorating your stockings is another excellent way to prepare for the holidays. You can even make stockings for your pets and get creative. Use glitter glue, paint, and other artsy accessories to personalize each stocking! After you are all done, make sure to display them on your fire mantle for everyone to see (and for Santa to find)!

Paper Snowflakes

Are you looking for an expensive do-it-yourself project? Try making paper snowflakes. Simply fold a paper into fourths and cut out a unique design. When you are done, hang your snowflakes around the home with string to make your own Christmas wonderland.

Gingerbread House

Gingerbread men and houses are fun for all ages. Let everyone decorate and create their very own gingerbread man/woman. You can all work together, putting your own touches onto the gingerbread house as well. Display the house and cookies and enjoy eating them after the holiday!

These fun activities can help you start getting into the holiday mindset. Use this time to bond and spend time with your loved ones. These activities are great and fun for the whole family. What are some of your favorite seasonal projects? Let us know below in the comment section and remember to subscribe!

What Are Ranch Style Homes?

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Helena Elevation D by Fulton Homes

Ranch Homes are a very popular style of home found throughout the United States. These homes are typically built on a slab of concrete and are a single-story home. They are highly desired for their ability to have your whole house on one story. They offer an open floor plan which focuses on indoor-outdoor living. And while being a single-story home, you have the ability to add onto these homes fairly easily.

History

Ranch Homes were first built in California right at the beginning of the Great Depression. Homeowners began looking for less formal home layouts and invested at more informal, relaxed home blueprints. Soldiers were returning from the war, and homes needed to be built quickly and affordably. These homes offered a more open floor plan, allowing smaller homes to feel more spacious than traditional-sized homes. This informal living focused on single-story homes with easy access to the outdoors. By the end of the Great Depression, nearly 90% of every house was built as a Ranch and began spreading east throughout the United States.

Ranch Blueprints

Ranches are built as single floor homes directly on the slab. They have a walk-up porch, which offers a more indoor-outdoor style living. Typically, Ranches will have an attached garage, large windows on all sides of the home, and a low-pitch roof. There are several types of Ranches available, all with slightly different variables. California, Suburban, Split-Level, French, and Storybook Ranches all have slightly different details to market to different homeowners.

Ranch Homes Today

Ranch Homes are once again becoming very popular! We are noticing more and more being built every day since open layouts have become the new standard of homes. We are expecting to see Ranch Style Homes to increase by nearly 160% in the next couple of years. From their accessibility to affordability, these homes are great for many potential home buyers.

Did you know that Fulton Homes features an array of Ranch Homes? To learn about our communities as well as our properties, please visit us at Fulton Homes and feel free to contact us with any additional questions.

What You Should Be Hiding Under Your Bed

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As a child, the space beneath your bed used to be a scary place where we imagined monsters lay in hiding, waiting for you to fall asleep. As you grew, so did your relationship with that space. When your mother asked you to clean your room, it became a place to hide the items arbitrarily strewn across your floor. Maybe it is time to shed new light on that space, sweep out all the dust bunnies and make good use of it. With a little creativity and organization, you can use this space to declutter the rest of your bedroom and rob the monsters of their hiding place.

Containers

When deciding what you want to use this space for, store and organize it by time, specifically how often you are likely to use the stuff you are storing. You will not be able to see the rarely0used items that are stored near the middle of the bed, so cardboard boxes work just fine for storage. The items stored near the edges of the bed are going to be visible and used more often, so a more visually pleasing and sturdier storage container is recommended. Containers with wheels can make moving things in and out from under the bed a much easier task.

Layout

Anything you store under the middle of the bed can be difficult to reach and could also be covered by another row of stuff, so make sure it is things you use very infrequently. If you only travel for vacations, suitcases and luggage bags can be useful items to store in the middle of the bed. You can also pack boxes with out-of-season clothing to slide towards the center.

Easy Access Items

In the outer row of boxes, pack things which you may use a bit more frequently, such as extra pillows, blankets, or linens. You can also store items that you use almost daily. In your room, think of possibly storing your shoes here. They are easily accessible and can be organized and spread out when you need to choose the right pair for the occasion and can then be quickly hidden away and forgotten until the next use. If you have children, you can use this space to store their toys, books, puzzles, and games. If you purchase opaque bins, you can toss all the toys in them, quickly freeing up your floor space, and when the kids want to play with them again, they simply pull out the bins.

Decluttering a room can be done without the need to get rid of items. With an open mind, you can find empty space to store things all over your home. Under your bed is just one of many places empty spaces that you can utilize. What other items can you think of hiding under your bed? Let us know below in the comment section!

Tips & Tricks for Keeping Your Home Smelling Fresh

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You can easily master your design, yet if your environment does not smell fresh, your home’s presence can quickly be ruined. You may not be a messy or dirty person; however, our lifestyles can contribute to unwanted odors in our homes. Pets, children, long hours at work, and many other factors can give our rooms a foul scent. You spend too much time making your home beautiful to ruin it with unwanted smells. There are two main ways to tackle this problem: eliminate bad odor and create pleasant ones. Here are some great ways to help enhance the smell of your home:

Drawer Scented Sachets

When clothes and lines sit for extended periods of time, they can start with hold scents. Drawer scented sachets are packets that can be placed at the bottom of all your linen drawers in your home. They can provide a pleasant smell in your drawers and will also help scent your linens.

Scented Dryer Sheets

After washing your clothes and throwing them into the dryer, throw in some scented dryer sheets. Investing in some good fragrance dryer sheets can help put the scent into your clothes. It is especially nice when you wash your sheets. Nothing better than hopping into a lovely lavender-scented bed after a long day at work.

Air Freshener

Air fresheners are another must-have in your home. There are thousands of scents to choose from for your home. Find a scent that you love and apply it to your home. Plus, air fresheners come in a variety of ways to allow them into the atmosphere. You can get a simple spray for manual use or invest in an automatic time-released air freshener. Either way, air fresheners are great for sprucing up your home’s aromas.

Closet Fragrance Freshener

Like your drawer scented sachets, you can also get closet fragrance fresheners. These typically come on a hanger that can be hung in your closet. They are another great way to freshen an area of your home and improve the scent of your clothes!

Candles

Add some warmth to your atmosphere by investing in some candles. Candles are a great way to make your home smell better. Try to find candles that work with your personal taste. You can even invest in seasonal candles like winter scents or spring scents for different times of the year.

Smells can be an essential element to control in your home. Remember, your task is not just to mask smells with new ones. Instead, try to eliminate any unwanted smells in your home first. Additionally, remember to keep your home clean to prevent undesirable odors.

Potting Houseplants

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Nature can be the best healer. Unfortunately, the amount of nature that we interact with on a daily basis continues to decrease. However, potted house plants can be a great way to bring nature into your home. In addition to the health benefits of having live plants in your home, they can also lend a hand in decorating a room. When it comes to decorating, the pot is just as important as the plant. Once you have decided on the correct pot and plant combination, the rest of the process is simple. Following a few easy steps can ensure your plant continues to flourish and thrive in its new home.

Step One: Select Your Plant’s New Home

Choosing the right pot for your plant can be difficult, not because your options are limited but because they are nearly limitless! Nearly anything can be used as long as the item you choose is large enough for the roots of your plant and able to hold soil and water. Once you have decided on a pot, you can begin the steps to correctly transplanting the plant into it.

Step Two: Provide Proper Drainage

The pot you choose must be able to drain correctly. If it does not have drainage holes in the bottom of it, you will need to create your own. A power drill can be the easiest method of drilling holes in the bottom of your planter, just make sure you use the correct drill bit for the material.

Step Three: Place a Tray Underneath Your Plant

Remember to place a tray or plate underneath your planter to catch the excess water that drains from your plant when you water it. If the pot you choose is too deep, packing peanuts or broken pieces of styrofoam can be used to fill the extra space below the plant instead of soil. The packing peanuts or styrofoam also provide additional drainage for your plant, helping to prevent root rot.

Step Four: Prepare Your Plant

Once your pot is prepped for your plant, you need to prep your plant for the pot. Loosen the roots of your plant as best you can so they can spread and fill the new container and knock as much of the old dirt off the base of the plant. The new potting soil you add to your plant will have more nutrients in it than the old dirt surrounding your plant’s base. If your plant is tall or top-heavy, you may need to tie a stake to your plant. Loosely tie the stake to the plant in multiple places along the trunk before placing the plant in the pot.

Step Five: Add the Finishing Touches

Next, have your pot and plant ready to go, place the base of the plant in the pot and fill the rest of the space with potting soil. Moss, gravel, or stones can be used to add a finishing touch to your planter. In fact, it hides the soil and gives your planter a cleaner appearance. It also helps prevent the soil from drying out as quickly between watering.

Whether you are feeling detached from nature or simply need an accent piece for your home, a potted plant can be the perfect addition. Creating the ideal planter and plant combo is a simple task, but it must be done correctly in order to keep your new houseplant alive and healthy.

What have you used as a planter in your home? We would love to hear your clever ideas below in the comment section and remember to subscribe!

The Essentials: Creating Your Spice Cabinet

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Your culinary journey begins in your kitchen. The endless possibilities of foods are at your disposal with the right spices and knowledge. If you are just beginning to create your spice cabinet, there are thousands of spices to explore. However, becoming familiar with a handful of spices can go along way. Here are the top ten spices to begin with when creating your spice cabinet.

Basil

This herb is an excellent start to your spice rack or cabinet. Basil is perfect for helping to spruce up sauces or many Mediterranean cuisines. If you really want to get the full flavor of this excellent herb, you can also invest in fresh basil to keep in your refrigerator or grow your own.

Cayenne Pepper

This pepper is a Capsicum Annuum. It is typically grounded up into a fine powder to use to add spice to food. Try adding cayenne pepper to any dish you are looking to zest up the flavor.

Cilantro

Also known as Chinese parsley, this leafy herb is potent. It can give a distinct flavor to many dishes. Cilantro has a much bolder flavor than parsley. It is also great for bone and heart health, as well.

Cinnamon

Another spice you should have on hand is cinnamon. Cinnamon is made from the inner bark of Cinnamomum trees. It has been used in different cuisines for thousands of years while being a staple in many dessert dishes and pairs excellent with sugar. It also has many health benefits from anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidants and lowers blood sugar levels.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is another great spice. It is rich in antioxidants and tastes great. Plus, it can be used in coffee or other dairy-based dishes. Typically, it is used in combination with cinnamon for holiday sweets.

Onion Powder

Onion powder is a very useful spice in the kitchen. Use this to help add the delectable flavor of onions evenly throughout an entire dish.

Oregano

Oregano is excellent to add to sauces or pizza. This herb strongly complements tomato-based dishes. It also is loaded with antioxidants and an excellent source of fiber.

Parsley

Parsley is a milder herb than cilantro. It can be used to accentuate Middle Eastern or Mediterranean cuisines. Parsley is mildly bitter yet helps lifts the natural flavors in your dish.

Rosemary

This is great for a wide variety of dishes from soups and salads or chicken and fish. Rosemary can help improve digestion and is very versatile. With its distinct lemon-pine flavor, it can easily brighten up any dish you make in the kitchen.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract is essential for many baking recipes. It goes great with almost any dessert that you are looking to create. Help make a bland cake taste delicious with this powerful extract.

There are still hundreds of more spices to explore. These spices are great for kickstarting your spice cabinet and beginning your seasoning adventures. What are some of your favorite spices that we did not mention? Let us know below in the comment section!

How to Maintain a Fresh & Clean Fridge

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The refrigerator is most likely the most-used appliance in your home. It is running twenty-four hours a day and continuously has items taken from it or placed in it. Inevitably, items get spilled, and things are forgotten and left to spoil or rot. Soon your fridge begins to smell and, even worse, work less efficiently. While the colder environment slows the growth of bacteria, it can still grow and spread to other items in your fridge, causing them to spoil at a faster rate. That is why it is essential to keep your refrigerator clean to ensure that what you eat stays fresh, and you remain healthy.

Cleaning

In order to maintain a fresh refrigerator, you should be cleaning it as needed, whether that be daily, weekly, or entirely at least once a year. You will likely open your fridge at least once a day when you do take a quick scan of your items and make sure nothing is past its expiration. If you spill anything in the refrigerator, simply wipe it up right away to keep it from spoiling. Also, make sure that the items you put into the fridge are clean and free of drips and leaks.

On a weekly basis, take a full inventory of everything in your refrigerator, throwing out anything that has gone bad and prioritizing older items. Wipe down the outside of the doors weekly as well by using soap and water and pay special attention to the door handles. The exterior of your refrigerator is constantly being touched and can become home to a lot of germs. Cleaning it can help prevent colds and other illnesses from spreading throughout your household.

It is good to give your entire fridge a thorough deep cleaning once a year. Completely empty out the fridge of any and all items and unplug it, allowing it to reach room temperature before cleaning it. Remove all of the shelves and drawers; it is much easier to wash them separately from the fridge. Scrub down your entire fridge with soap and water, as well as the shelves and doors. This is also an excellent opportunity to clean your door seals. Over time crumbs and dirt collect in the door seals and lessen their efficiency. Cleaning them can help your fridge stay cooler and ensure items remain fresh as long as possible. Lastly, make sure everything is dry before putting your fridge back together, returning any items, and turning it on to the normal setting.

Tips for Maintaining a Clean Fridge

  • Make sure that items are clean before putting them in the fridge.
  • Place items that are defrosting on a plate to keep liquid from spreading.
  • Ensure leftovers are packed in sealed containers. 
  • Keep a box of baking soda in the fridge to keep it smelling fresh. 
  • Coffee grounds, activated charcoal, or cat litter can be spread on a tray and placed in the fridge for a while to neutralize more stubborn odors.

The fridge stores your food and drink, so it is vital to keep it clean in order to keep you healthy. The easiest way to ensure your fridge stays clean is to keep the stuff you put in the refrigerator clean and properly sealed. Maintaining a clean and odor-free fridge is simple as long as you keep up with it. If you have any additional tips, feel free to leave them below in the comment section, we would love to hear from you!

Tips & Tricks for Decorating Your Coffee Table

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Most living rooms are traditionally set up with seating, some end tables, and your coffee table. However, how you decorate your coffee table can say a lot about your style. If you are looking to spruce up your living room, it can be the perfect place to start. Here are some general rules to consider when decorating your coffee table:

Less Is More

Your coffee table is very exposed, and this makes clutter on your table more noticeable. If your coffee table is already home to your remotes or magazines, you may want to consider finding these belongings a new home. Less is more when it comes to decorating your coffee table. You want to add just enough to make a statement without adding clutter.

Complement Color Palette

Your décor may not be the highlight point of the room, but it can enhance your design. Choose décor that complements your overall design, and try to keep your color ratio to the room in check with your décor.

Rule of Threes

When decorating your coffee table, consider the rule of threes. It can be visually-appealing to have three pieces of décor. These should be offset to make a triangle shape. Additionally, you should have a variety of sizes for your décor. Consider having a large, medium, and small element for your design to look complete.

Coffee Tray

Coffee trays and coffee tables go together like salt and pepper. Find a stylish coffee tray to help the aesthetics of your table. While being stylish, they should also provide a functional aspect to the room and can be very convenient to access.

Seasonal Change

Help keep your home fresh and up-to-date by adding seasonal décor. You will want to try to make your décor complementary to the season. In fact, the coffee table is the perfect spot in your living room to swap out with seasonal décor regularly. From Christmas to Easter and everything in between, your coffee table is the ideal place to showcase your décor.

Your coffee table provides a realm of possibilities to help spruce up your design, so make sure you are facilitating this useful piece of furniture in your home. We hope that these tricks will bring your coffee table to the next level. Let us know some of your favorite décor pieces in the comments below, and make sure to subscribe.

Christmas Tree Care and Maintenance

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Christmas is quickly approaching, and it is time to start putting up the festive décor. Of course, what is Christmas décor without the iconic Christmas tree? There something extraordinary about having a real pine for Christmas. Picking out the perfect tree can be fun in and of itself, but maintaining the tree until Christmas comes with a handful of challenges. So if you are planning on having a real Christmas pine this season, it is essential to understand care and maintenance to have it last for the season.

Picking the Tree

When picking a Christmas tree, you need to find a species that can last well into the season without being rooted. Some of the top species of trees are Scotch Pine, Douglas Fir, White Pine, and Balsam Fir. If you are planning on planting your tree after the holidays, you will need to understand that the tree cannot last very long inside. Most trees can only be replanted on if they have been in your home for shorter than five days. If you are getting a tree, check to make sure none of the pines easily fall off when you touch the tree. You want a tree as freshly cut as possible to allow it to last the season.

Care and Maintenance

When you purchase your tree, have the stem re-opened so the tree can easily drink water. When you get it home, keep it away from any heat source that can speed up the drying out process. While Christmas trees may look great by the fireplace, they can dry out quicker. You should create the stand and allow the tree to drink up a gallon of water immediately. Your tree will need to be watered daily to last until Christmas. The best water to use is just plain tap water. You will notice if your tree is dehydrated when bristles begin falling off, or your water stand for Christmas tree is empty.

After the Holidays

After Christmas, you can consider cutting your tree into firewood for your home. You can also have it chipped into mulch to use around your house. If you have no use for your tree, you can consider donating it. Many nonprofit organizations have many purposes in which they can repose the tree from creating energy, enriching zoo animal habitats, or even hiking trails in parks.

Let’s be honest; what is Christmas without a tree? If you have only ever had faux trees, consider having a real Christmas tree this holiday season. The authentic nature and pine scent throughout the home is just one more way to add to the festive season.

Holiday Meals for the Entire Family

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The holidays are full of memorable events, but nothing brings a family together like food. Sitting down with your loved ones and sharing a meal brings a sense of togetherness and evokes feelings of thankfulness and comfort. It provides the assurance that the people who have gathered with you are full and happy.

Today, cooking a holiday meal that can be eaten by the entire family can be a difficult task. Beliefs, preferences, and allergies can make catering to everyone’s needs frustrating and nearly impossible. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives out there that can be used to make holiday dishes available to almost everyone at your table this year.

Plant-based cooking not only ensures that vegetarians and vegans in your family can enjoy your meal, but it also eliminates dairy, making it okay for anyone who is lactose-intolerant. Plus, it eliminates any type of meat which may be avoided due to someone’s religious beliefs.

While drinks are just as important at the dinner table as the food, you can make sure everyone is catered to this year with an easy to make vegan eggnog.

Vegan Eggnog

Ingredients: 

  • 24 ounces silken tofu (crumbled) 
  • 2 cups of soy milk
  • 2/3 cup turbinado sugar 
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt 
  • 1 cup water (cold) 
  • 1 cup rum
  • 4 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
  • 20 ice cubes 
  • Nutmeg for garnishing

Instructions: 

  • Place the tofu, soy milk, sugar, and salt in a blender and blend until the mixture is smooth.
  • Pour the mixture into a bowl and whisk in the water, rum, and vanilla extract.
  • You will want to keep the mixture refrigerated until it is ready to be served.
  • When you are ready to serve the eggnog, blend the mix with the ice cubes until frothed 
  • Enjoy! 

A hearty vegan Shepherd’s pie is an excellent way to ensure all your guests are able to enjoy a warm and filling entree this holiday season.

Vegan Shepherd’s Pie

Ingredients: 

  • 4 Potatoes 
  • 2 tbsp vegan margarine 
  • ¼ cup unsweetened soy milk 
  • Salt and pepper (to taste) 
  • One onion 
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil 
  • 1 ½ cups vegan ground beef substitute 
  • 1 ¼ cups vegan gravy 
  • ½ cup green peas 
  • ½ cup of corn 
  • ½ tsp garlic powder 
  • Dash of cayenne pepper 

Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 350 F 
  • Dice potatoes and chop onions
  • Boil or microwave potatoes until soft 
  • Drain potatoes and mash with vegan margarine and soy milk 
  • Add salt and pepper to add taste 
  • Saute the chopped onions in the vegetable oil 
  • Combine the onions, beef substitute, vegan gravy, peas, corn, garlic powder, and a dash of cayenne pepper in a large mixing bowl and pour into a pie pan 
  • Spread the mashed potatoes over your vegetable mixture 
  • Bake for 30 to 40 minutes 
  • Enjoy! 

The holidays are full of wonderful sweets, so give vegan gingerbread cookies a try this holiday season to ensure everyone satiates their sweet tooth.

Vegan Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients: 

  • 1 cup of vegan margarine 
  • 1 cup of sugar 
  • Egg Replacer for one egg 
  • 1 cup molasses 
  • Two TBSP apple cider vinegar 
  • 5 cups flour 
  • 1/2 tsp salt 
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 TBSP ginger 
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 
  • 1 tsp cloves 
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg

Instructions:

  • Beat the margarine and sugar together in a large bowl 
  • Add the egg replace, molasses, and apple cider vinegar to the mixture 
  • In a separate bowl, combine your dry ingredients: flour, salt, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. 
  • Pour the dry ingredients into the large bowl of wet ingredients and combine well 
  • Let the dough refrigerate for at least two hours to become firm 
  • Preheat the oven to 375 F 
  • Either roll out your dough and cut it into holiday shapes with cookie cutters or form it into ½ inch balls 
  • Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper 
  • Place your cookies on the sheet and bake for 6-8 minutes until done 
  • Enjoy! 

The holidays bring a lot of different people from separate walks of life together. Plant-based options make sure that you are prepared to cater to anyone this holiday season. Feel free to leave a comment below with your favorite go-to holiday dish and make sure to subscribe!