It’s almost Super Bowl time! This year, throw a party they’ll never forget!

Everyone knows that the real reason people go to Super Bowl parties is the food. Here are some ideas for a memorable menu! (First rule, by the way: Make sure your guests arrive hungry and leave full!)

1.     Mini foods are in! They are easy to serve and devour. Just place them on a toothpick or stick for a lovely presentation.

2.     Incorporate foods from each team's city, or include the teams' colors in your recipes.

3.     Make sure there's more than a boring old six-pack filling the cooler! Try creative cocktails and craft beers.

Once you’ve got the menu down, it’s time to decorate! Here are some ideas for festive decor!

1.     Create bags of football-themed confetti for celebrating TDs… or fumbles!

2.     Gather jerseys, old trophies and football paraphernalia that you may have  around. They’re free… and free is always fun!

3.     Astroturf! This grassy imposter can be used to cover tables, create coasters, and even embellish your food spread.

Be prepared for downtime. In case conversation dies down or there’s an unexpected black out, having a few Super Bowl party games is a great idea.  Drinking games, trivia games, betting games… the list is endless!

In the end, Super Bowl parties are mostly about cheering and booing together. So have fun, and focus on food, football and friends.

Virginia Homes has been building new homes in Central Ohio for 60 years.  Visit www.Virginia-Homes.com for more information or call (614) 764-1953.

Follow through with your New Year’s Resolutions!

It’s a time-honored tradition to make resolutions for the new year. We vow to improve ourselves – to eat healthy, exercise more… the list is endless.  This year, take the initiative and see how many resolutions you can keep – right from the comfort of your own home!

1.     Eat healthier – Load up the fridge with lots of fruits and veggies. Vow to cut back on take-out and fast food. Take the time to sit down and eat with the family.  (It’s healthier and good for the kids!)

2.     Exercise more – Take advantage of your bonus room and turn it into a yoga studio. Or a mini gym. And schedule time to exercise every day. No excuses!

3.     Spend more time with family – Schedule family dinners, game nights, movie nights – whatever your family likes. Hunker down in the family room with some popcorn and a plan to spend uninterrupted time together as a family.

4.     Read more – You know that pile of books that’s been sitting unread for ages? Create a reading nook for yourself. Find a comfy chair, a good light and a shelf or table, and settle in. (Don’t be surprised if you keep finding kids in your nook, though!) 

5.     Get organized – Declutter your drawers and desk. Sort paperwork, bills, mementos and mail. Find a spot in the kitchen or office that’s just for paperwork & bills, and create a system for sorting things as soon as they come in. Clean out the closets – and see how much space you have!

6.     Create & follow a budget – Get yourself on a healthy fiscal track.  Once you have your bills sorted (#5), then you can create a budget to track your spending habits.

Virginia Homes has been building new homes in Central Ohio for 60 years.  Visit www.Virginia-Homes.com for more information or call (614) 764-1953.

President Charles Ruma wins 2014 BIA Award!

Congratulations to Virginia Homes President, Charles Ruma, who recently won the Building Industry Association (BIA) of Central Ohio 2014 Irving E. Schottenstein Builder of the Year award.  Visit our Facebook page to join the conversation and to see how partners, homeowners, friends and family are congratulating Charles on this honorable award!

Virginia Homes has been building new homes in Central Ohio for 60 years.  Visit www.Virginia-Homes.com for more information or call (614) 764-1953.

Home for the Holidays

Imagine… it’s the perfect snow day or lazy afternoon during winter break for the kids; the snow is blissfully falling outside as you sip your hot chocolate in front of a crackling fire. This typical holiday scene is almost always too good to be true, often interrupted by frantic children or the electricity going out. But you still crave that moment of winter serenity where you can finally enjoy the beauty of the holiday season. Here are a few simple ways to enjoy peace this winter.

Winter Wonderland – Create your own winter wonderland in your home to keep your kids’ imagination flowing and entertained. Snow days are the perfect time to build forts with bed sheets and read books by flashlight.

Christmas Lights  – Prepare beforehand, for snowstorms and blizzards by keeping extra water bottles, batteries, and blankets around the house. Early preparation can make that disastrous power outage all the less stressful.

Frosty the Snowman – …Should stay outside! All too often our floors become sopping wet with melted snow from snow boots trekking across the hallway. Invest in a shoe and coat rack and keep them, and the wet boots and coats, in your garage in order to prevent unnecessary mopping after shoveling and frolicking outside.

Chestnuts Roasting – Whether by an open fire or you are decorating gingerbread houses, cooking and baking are the perfect holiday activities to keep you and your family’s faces smiling and your stomach’s full.  

Whatever activities you choose to do this winter, we hope that it brings happiness and joy to you and your family!

Virginia Homes has been building new homes in Central Ohio for 60 years.  Visit www.Virginia-Homes.com for more information or call (614) 764-1953.

How to Host a Thanksgiving Dinner

Whether you are hosting for a family of five or fifteen in your cozy home, throwing a Thanksgiving party can be extremely intimidating. No need to quit the idea of entertaining cold turkey. If you follow these four C’s of Thanksgiving, you will be sure to have a warm and welcome home for all to enjoy.

Cleaning – Making sure your entire house is spick and span before your guests arrive can be a challenge, especially if you have little ones running around. Focusing on cleaning your home one room at a time can relieve the overwhelming stress of fall-cleaning. Make it simple, start near your front door and work your way back. Another way to get things done efficiently is to vacuum and dust while your turkey is cooking in the oven!  A watched turkey never cooks!

Creating – Fall decorations and centerpieces for your family table are a great way to set a fun and festive atmosphere.  If you’re no Martha Stewart, don’t worry, holiday decorating is now easier and more affordable than ever with an abundance of DIY crafts all over the internet . 

Cooking – From stuffing the perfect turkey to mashing the perfect sweet potatoes, cooking the most delectable Thanksgiving dinner is a tall order and can take hours of preparation. More importantly, it can also be a time for experimenting with new recipes and showing off your inner top chef! Whether you are making a traditional turkey or a veggie tofurkey, be thankful for all that you have on your table to eat.

Caring – The most important thing about Thanksgiving is not whether your house is clean or your turkey is basted to perfection, but rather that your friends and family are around to celebrate with you. Giving thanks together is the ultimate gift, but topping that off with a beautifully decorated table with gourds and gobbles of food is just the cherry on top of your apple pie.

Be thankful for all that you have and all that you are able to give this Thanksgiving. The rest will fall right into place!

Virginia Homes has been building new homes in Central Ohio for 60 years.  Visit www.Virginia-Homes.com for more information or call (614) 764-1953.

Decorating Your Virginia Home for Fall

The sun is shining, the leaves are blowing, and the kids are all in school. This only means one thing; summer has officially left the building and fall has come in swinging. The change of seasons brings the change of clothes in the attic, fall cooking recipes, but most importantly, fall decorations to beautify your home. 

If you are bored, want something simple to afford, then welcome aboard to decorating with a gourd! Garnishing your front porch or tabletops with gourds, cornhusks, and other fall vegetables is a simple, yet refreshing new look to add to your interior design! Harvest decorations can work particularly well in your dining room. For example, if you are having company over, use mini pumpkins as place settings to add flare and color to your dining room table.

If you are more into color, try decorating with popular fall colors, such as browns, greens, and oranges. Using these colors upon a white or neutral backgrounds will make the fall colors pop as brilliantly as the fall foliage.

Finally, nothing says fall like a set of spooky decorations for Halloween. But this fall, try to mix it up a bit by creating some pumpkin chic and trading the traditional jack-o-lantern for modern stripes or scallops.

We leave you with these tips, so remember: do not fall behind, and get to decorating your home for the new season.

Virginia Homes has been building new homes in Central Ohio for 60 years.  Visit www.Virginia-Homes.com for more information or call (614) 764-1953.

Welcoming Pets Into Your Virginia Home

According to The Humane Society, the key to helping your new pet make a successful adjustment to your home is being prepared and being patient. It can take a while for you and your pet to adjust to each other. The following tips can help ensure a smooth transition.

Gather your supplies. Prepare the things your pet will need in advance… a collar and leash, food and water bowls, food, and, of course, some toys. And don't forget to order an identification tag right away.

Plan your pet's arrival. Try to arrange the arrival of your new pet for a weekend or when you can be home for a few days. Get to know each other and spend some quality time together. Don't forget the jealousy factor—make sure you don't neglect other pets and people in your household!

Be patient. Be reasonable in your expectations. Life with you is a different experience for your new companion, so give him time to adjust.  A new cat may need up to 2 weeks to relax into her new environment.

Give your pet a safe quiet place. Cats appreciate the chance to observe their new family’s routine from a small, dark space or one high above the action. Dogs instinctively like a den, so a crate is the canine equivalent of a room of his own.

If a crate isn't an option, consider some sort of confinement to a dog-proofed part of your home.

Pet-proof your home before giving your new friend run of the house. Put away harsh cleaning products, human medications and household poisons. Re-home any poisonous houseplants. Lock away any breakables and remember to keep the toilet lid down.

Be prepared for housetraining. Assume your new dog is not housetrained. Check out housetraining tips for puppies. Be consistent, and maintain a routine. For cats, set up a litter box in a quiet, low-traffic area. Unsure of what litter to use? Non-clumping litter is recommended for kittens under ten weeks of age.

Make sure all your pets are healthy. If you already have dogs or cats at home, make sure they are up-to-date on their shots and in good general health before introducing your new pet. Take your new pet to the veterinarian within a week after adoption. There, he will receive a health check and any needed vaccinations. If your pet has not been spayed or neutered, make that appointment!

Once they’re settled in, let the games begin!  Dogs need an active life. That means you should plan plenty of exercise and game time. From jogging to playing fetch, or just going for a long walk together, your dog will love spending time with you. Young cats or kittens love to play. Stock up on interactive toys such as feather wands and kitty fishing poles to engage attention and direct energies toward a positive pursuit.

Virginia Homes has been building new homes in Central Ohio for 60 years.  Visit www.Virginia-Homes.com for more information or call (614) 764-1953.