Spoil yourself at home this Valentine's Day!

Valentine’s Day is all about indulging yourself… and we have a variety of dreamy suggestions for a romantic holiday right in your own home. Some of these might take some planning, but they’re worth it!   

1.)  What’s the most romantic spot in your home? In front of the fire of course! So light it up and actually relax in front of it! Grab your significant other and enjoy the warm glow.

2.)  Share a quiet meal with your partner. Whether you cook from scratch or order take out to eat at home, it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive, but something you can enjoy together. 

3.)  If you don’t already have one, invest in a good stereo system. Connect it to your wi-fi/Bluetooth, and you can listen to your most romantic tunes all over the house!  This is a great way to tap into one of the five senses and really set the tone you’d like for the evening.

4.)  Take a “Spa Day”. Relax in a bubble bath. Give yourself a mani-pedi. Wear your PJs all day and veg on the couch. Unplug your technology and enjoy the quiet.  You don’t have to have a scheduled appointment at a salon to reap the benefits of a spa day.  Not having to leave the comfort of your own home makes it that much more relaxing!

5.)  Go to bed early. It’s a fact that we live in an “always-on” world. Pamper yourself with some extra sleep. Cuddle up with your sweetie, and decompress. But first, splurge on some new sheets, fluffy blankets, or new sleepwear.  Investing in a clean and comfortable bedroom is a great way to ensure a good night’s sleep, whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day or any other day of the year!

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.

A new Virginia Home means new holiday traditions!

Every family has its traditions for the holidays – touch football games on Thanksgiving, taking the annual photo of “the kids”, traditional Polish/Italian Christmas Eve dinners, eating Chinese food and going to the movies on Christmas Day.

           

We took a completely unofficial poll, and came up with even more family traditions. Try adding one or two of these to your family’s celebrations to make spending the holidays in your new Virginia home that much sweeter, cozier and more memorable!

1. Sitting by the fire, sipping hot cocoa and telling stories from years past

2. Baking cookies / cupcakes / gingerbread men from secret family recipe book

3. Playing a holiday round of golf

4. Lighting the menorah together

5. A new tree ornament or decoration every year

6. Reading a favorite Christmas story together

7. Listening to Christmas music from Thanksgiving Day until Christmas

8. Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade

9. Picking pollyannas for Christmas / Hanukkah

10. Opening one present on Christmas Eve

11. Video chatting with relatives who are far away for the holidays

12. Staying in your PJs all day on Christmas

13. Going to Midnight mass / services on Christmas Eve

14. Letting the youngest (or oldest) member of the family open presents first

15. Caroling at the local nursing home

16. Laying under the Christmas tree when the lights are on

17. Bringing treats or gifts to those who have to work the holidays (nurses, firefighters) 

18. Watching favorite holiday movies snuggled together on the couch

19. Lighting luminary

20. Hiding one present for each child

Top Ten Reasons to Buy a NEW Virginia Homes Home!

 A Lifestyle That Meets Your Needs

o   Our communities are designed for every life style and family. No fads here, just homes and communities that stand the test of time.

·       Everything Is All New, Under Warranty!

o   Your new Virginia home, and the products that comprise it, are brand-new and under warranty.

·       Low Maintenance, High Performance

o   Virginia homes have open floor plans that reflect the way we live today. They're also made of cutting-edge building products that require less care & maintenance, and save energy & money.

·       Being the First to Cook in Your Own Kitchen!

o   Every Virginia Homes kitchen includes brand new, never been used before appliances, countertops, and gorgeous cabinetry. Our kitchens are simply delicious!

o   


·       Experiencing that “New Home Feel”

o   It's possible to replace all of the windows in a used home with today's high-performance windows… and add insulation, and replace dated appliances, cabinets and countertops. But why bother? Buy a brand new, all-you Virginia Homes  home!

·      

      Have It Your Way

o   One of the most appreciated benefits of owning a brand new Virginia home is customization. You get to pick your cabinets, flooring, carpets, light fixtures, etc. In older homes, this isn’t the case. You would have to renovate or just live with the décor.

·       The Green Factor

o   At Virginia Homes, our homes aren’t just energy-efficient, they’re HERS rated!  The Home Energy Rating System is the nationally recognized system for inspecting and calculating a home’s energy performance.  With our score of 50, our homes perform about 50% better than a standard new home!

·       Unsurpassed Quality!

o   Every Virginia Homes home is built with expert craftsmanship and meticulous care. We are committed to the highest integrity in the industry.

·       Our Commitment!

o   Choosing Virginia Homes makes building the home of your dreams easier. Our experienced sales, construction and customer care professionals are here to help you with the purchase and building process, and for years to come. 

·       Unbelievable Value!

o   Building with Virginia Homes means getting more home for your money. From our extraordinary craftsmanship and customer service, to our included features and beautiful neighborhoods in prime locations, we build value into everything we do.

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.

Host Thanksgiving in Your Virginia Home!

You look forward to Thanksgiving each November. Your mom, aunt, or even your sister always seem to pull it off without a hitch. But now you have your own home, and you've been picking up some subtle vibes that maybe, just maybe, could you host this year? Well, don't sweat it. You can do it – and make it look effortless.

Invite early

The key to a stress-free Thanksgiving is to plan early. Once you commit to hosting, the first thing you need to do is invite every single person you want to come. Even if your friends and family are spur-of-the-moment types, they very likely commit to Thanksgiving dinner plans by the first week of November, so start putting feelers out there ASAP. And don’t make assumptions, actually invite. Invite anyone you would want to have at dinner, and then let them tell you if they can make it or not.

Be organized

Planning and organizing isn't just nice, it's imperative to make sure you don't find yourself with missing ingredients, a house that’s a mess, and three hours of cooking still to be done when your guests arrive. That means making lists of everything you need to do for your dinner, preparing a schedule for the weeks leading up to dinner, and writing shopping lists before you head to the store for ingredients and supplies.

Plan your menu sooner rather than later

Thanksgiving will be here before you know it, and you need a plan of attack. The first step? Figure out what’s on the menu. And decide if you’d like your guests to bring something. Chances are your guests will want to bring things… you just have to tell them what you need. And when your vegan friend asks what you’re going to be serving, you can show her the menu and ask if she would like to bring a vegan dish to share with the group.

Cook in advance

Don’t stress out by trying to cook everything on Thanksgiving day. Create a timeline, and figure out what can be made ahead of time. Casseroles can be premade. Vegetables can be chopped and ready to steam. Obviously some things can’t be cooked early, like the turkey, but almost everything else in the meal can be prepped and ready to just pop on the stovetop or into the oven.

Serve what you really love

Turkey and mashed potatoes are classic Thanksgiving dishes, but aren’t necessarily everyone’s cup of tea. Why not start your own tasty tradition? If everyone loves Aunt Betty’s lasagna, then serve lasagna alongside the turkey!

Set the table(s) in advance

As long as you don't have to worry about pets or small children destroying your dining room table, set it several days before the holiday. That way you won't be scrambling to find the best china that's somewhere in the basement; cleaning the dust off the wine glasses that are on that high shelf in the kitchen; and counting the flatware only to discover you don't have enough right before the first guest rings the bell.

Offer snacks before dinner

Tasty appetizers benefit the cook as much as the guests. They stay busy munching while you finish up in the kitchen! Try nuts, crackers and cheese, crudité or hot apps.

Keep the kids busy

For children, it seems like Thanksgiving dinner takes foreveeeer to land on the table. Keep 'em occupied with cute and crafty projects they can assemble with a favorite relative.

Move the decorations off the table.

Free up prime dinner-table real estate by moving oversize arrangements to the buffet. And don't bother with elaborate floral fantasies. Just go "shopping" in your backyard for branches of holly, crab apple, or bittersweet berries. Then bring in-demand items — butter, gravy, cranberry sauce — to the middle of the table.

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.