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Inspiring Home Moments
#HomeMoments
ABOUT THIS GUIDEWhatever your idea of a dream home - a place to celebrate, unwind, create, or grow, the place to find it is Homes.com.
Homes.com hopes to inspire homebuyers, owners, and renters at every stage, whether it’s searching for your next home or creating memories in your current one.
In this guide, you will find ways to:
CelebrateGet inspired with party and event ideas
UnwindTake it easy with relaxation and staycation tips
PlayMake family memories with kid-friendly activities
CreateTap into your creative side with Do-It-Yourself projects and recipes
GrowLearn about outdoor and indoor gardening tips
Homes.com is excited to be your partner in inspiring home moments; after all, it’s the personalized moments that make a dream home.
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About this Guide
A Place to Play
Table of Contents
A Place to Create
A Place to Celebrate
A Place to Grow
A Place to Unwind
Concluding Thoughts
About Us
For more inspiration visit the idea gallery
#HomeMomentsShare your Wendy Froehlich, Vice President of Marketing
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Place to Celebrate Budget-Friendly Entertaining Birthday Party Ideas A Place to Unwind Relaxation Tips Staycation Ideas A Place to Play Fun Family Activities Play Places for Kids A Place to Create Inspiring DIY Projects Easy Recipes A Place to Grow Creative Indoor Gardens Simple Landscaping
Concluding Thoughts About Us
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About this Guide
A Place to Play
Table of Contents
A Place to Create
A Place to Celebrate
A Place to Grow
A Place to Unwind
Concluding Thoughts
About Us
Inspiring Home Moments
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#HomeMomentsShare your
A PLACE TO CELEBRATE
Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, a new year, a graduation, or a family reunion, Homes.com wants to help you narrate the stories and memories created with your celebrations, which are the perfect occasions for going all out with festive décor and treats.
Budget-Friendly EntertainingRegardless of whether you have recently moved, are limited on space, or are looking for easy ways to celebrate with your family and friends, staying on budget is important. Here are tips to help you do just that.
Decorate Up Give the illusion of more space by incorporating mirrors and hanging decorations such as lights, balloons, and DIY décor from the ceilings and walls. There are endless amounts of DIY décor ideas, such as bunting, tissue paper pom-poms, and paper flowers that are simple to make and cost effective.
Go Non-Traditional 1. Move away from the traditional sit-down theme and go for a Moroccan-style theme. Use bright colored pillows as seats and bright tablecloths on coffee tables to give a more authentic Moroccan feel.
2. Consider ditching the heavy meal and instead incorporate hors d’oeuvres and finger foods. This sort of buffet-style meal allows people to try varieties of foods without being wasteful.
Go Outdoors Warmer months are ideal for spending time outdoors. Why not celebrate outdoors as well? Consider having a delicious barbeque or add floral prints and up-cycled furniture for a garden-themed party. You can also incorporate the Moroccan theme outdoors, creating a relaxed environment.
There are endless amounts of DIY décor ideas, such as bunting, tissue paper pom-poms, and paper flowers that are simple to make and cost effective.
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About this Guide
A Place to Play
Table of Contents
A Place to Create
A Place to Celebrate
A Place to Grow
A Place to Unwind
Concluding Thoughts
About Us Find this tutorial on blog.homes.com
Birthday Party IdeasBirthdays are some of the most common celebrations at home. Homes.com encourages you to spruce up your birthday party by giving it a theme. Themed parties are exciting and great for any time of the year. Turning another year older doesn’t mean you have to stop having fun!
Camping Party Bring some tents and sleeping bags for an overnight party or use as part of your décor. If you have a fire pit, this is the perfect opportunity to have a s’mores bar. Go one step up from the traditional and include various types of chocolates, marshmallows, and graham crackers. Use mason jars with candles for décor in the evening to give the party a more rustic look.
Nautical Theme Party The nautical theme is always a fun party idea. Incorporate blue and white striped décor, anchors, and sail boats to liven up the theme. Use nautical stickers to turn simple glasses into nautical drinkware. Have skewers with blueberries, strawberries, and yogurt covered pretzels as a treat. Although perfect for summer, the nautical theme can be used any time of the year.
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About this Guide
A Place to Play
Table of Contents
A Place to Create
A Place to Celebrate
A Place to Grow
A Place to Unwind
Concluding Thoughts
About Us Find this tutorial on blog.homes.com
Inspiring Home Moments
A PLACE TO UNWIND
Whether it is after a day of work or a whole school year, unwinding at home is the best way to relax. Leisure activities with your family and friends at home are important moments for you to connect with one another. It’s about enjoying how you spend your time together, ultimately bringing everyone closer as you build a relaxing environment.
Relaxation TipsSometimes, it’s simple activities that can help you and your family unwind. Having a movie night once or twice a week allows your family to come together and relax. Spending time doing outdoor activities is also a great way to unwind while enjoying the fresh air.
Take a Movie In A simple movie night during the week is an easy way to relax with your friends and family. Rent a DVD and make some snacks to enjoy during the movie. Watch a movie outdoors by hanging up a white sheet or blanket and using a projector to play the movie. Bake cookies beforehand or have a popcorn bar for creative snacking.
Enjoy The Outdoors One of the greatest ways to unwind is by exercising in a relaxing way. Go on a bike ride with your friends or family. Go to the park and play a game of Frisbee. Spend a day during the weekend hiking on local trails or taking a fishing trip. Have a picnic in your backyard for lunch.
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About this Guide
A Place to Play
Table of Contents
A Place to Create
A Place to Celebrate
A Place to Grow
A Place to Unwind
Concluding Thoughts
About Us Snack ideas and recipes on blog.homes.com
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Relaxation Tips Continued
Have Quiet Time Create an at-home spa by doing simple yoga exercises, taking a luxurious bath, and meditating.
Simple yoga poses will help you relax as well as get a great night’s rest. Try these 2 poses:
Upside-Down Relaxation: Sit facing the wall. Extend legs up against wall while laying your back onto the floor. Your body should resemble an “L” shape. Do this for 2 minutes.
Child’s Pose: Sit on your heels, and while extending your arms in front of you, lower your chest close to your knees and bring your forehead to rest on the floor in front of you.
A luxurious bath will help you unwind while feeling rejuvenated. Try these spa solutions:
Even out your skin with citrus. Cut a lemon and use it to gently rub your elbows, knees and feet. The acid will soften rough spots and lighten dark areas.
Use a nourishing scrub. Mix 1 cup of granulated sugar with vitamin E oil. Use enough oil to create a thick paste. Gently massage your skin with the scrub in a circular motion.
Meditation is a unique technique in unwinding.
Lie down on your back and slowly inhale and exhale. Focusing on nothing more than inhaling and exhaling will help you relax your body and mind.
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About this Guide
A Place to Play
Table of Contents
A Place to Create
A Place to Celebrate
A Place to Grow
A Place to Unwind
Concluding Thoughts
About Us
Staycation TipsVacations are exciting adventures but they can also be expensive. Staycations are great for helping you discover your hometown.
Be a Tourist Many activities can be found locally, including museums, state parks, and beaches. Find hidden gem-like restaurants to try unique foods. Be a tourist and visit these locations with family or friends for fun and relaxing adventures.
Enjoy Your Community’s Amenities Your community is full of fun and relaxing amenities. Apartment communities and neighborhoods will often provide a pool, perfect for beating summer’s heat. If you have a furry friend, visit the dog park to help you spend quality time with your pet. Also, consider visiting a fitness center, either provided to you by your apartment community or a neighborhood location. Exercising at least 2-3 times a week is one of the key ways to help relieve stress and help you unwind.
Many activities can be found locally, including museums, state parks, and beaches.
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About this Guide
A Place to Play
Table of Contents
A Place to Create
A Place to Celebrate
A Place to Grow
A Place to Unwind
Concluding Thoughts
About Us
Download this eGuide on blog.homes.com
#HomeMomentsShare your
Inspiring Home Moments
A PLACE TO PLAYFamily activities add to joyful moments and lasting memories. Finding the time to play is easy but sometimes finding the right activities that are fun for everyone can take time. Homes.com would like to help you start creating your family’s joyful moments with these family activity ideas.
Fun Family ActivitiesActivities that everyone will enjoy require a little planning. Create a “to-do” list for a month to get everyone’s ideas on play time; this will help everyone feel included. A “to-do” list also helps you get all items necessary for the family activity ahead of time.
Make a Teepee or Tent Build a teepee or tent together out of wooden rods and sheets or use an existing tree for support. Go one step further by decorating it with fabric paint. Your teepee or tent can be for an indoor fort or a backyard camping trip; building it is just half the fun!
Oversized Board Games Board games are great for playing indoors or outdoors. Instead of using your basic game board, build an oversized one. Consider giant checkers, chess, and Twister.
Your teepee or tent can be for an indoor fort or a backyard
camping trip; building it is just half the fun!
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About this Guide
A Place to Play
Table of Contents
A Place to Create
A Place to Celebrate
A Place to Grow
A Place to Unwind
Concluding Thoughts
About Us
Find more creative kid-friendly activities onblog.homes.com
Play Places for KidsPlay time in a place that helps kids’ creative juices flow is not only fun, but it can also be educational! Here are a few fun play place ideas for your kids:
Interactive Walls Chalkboard paint walls are great for getting creative and are fairly inexpensive. They can be used over and over again for artwork. White board paint walls are a newer concept that allow for more vibrant colors, making your child’s artwork really stand out.
Creative Sandboxes Go one step up from the basic sandbox and build one that is as creative as your child’s imagination! Use an old row boat as a sandbox. This will let kids not only play with the sand, but play with the boat as well by imagining themselves sailing the high seas. Also, consider building a teepee sandbox by using sheets or other fabric and sticks over a square sandbox. This will also allow for creative imagination while keeping your child shaded from the sun.
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About this Guide
A Place to Play
Table of Contents
A Place to Create
A Place to Celebrate
A Place to Grow
A Place to Unwind
Concluding Thoughts
About Us
Make your chalkboard with tips on blog.homes.com
#HomeMomentsShare your
Inspiring Home Moments
A PLACE TO CREATELet you and your family’s personality shine through with the things you create at home. Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects are not only an inexpensive way to decorate your home, but they are also a great way to get your family together and give your home true character. In addition to sprucing up your surroundings, Homes.com encourages you to let your creativity show by experimenting in the kitchen. Home-cooked meals are healthier for you and your family and can be relaxing.
Inspiring DIYsThere are endless Do-It-Yourself project ideas for decorating your home. Up-cycling and adding your personality allows you to have the exact piece of art work or furniture that you desire on your own budget. You can find plenty of DIY ideas by visiting the Homes.com Idea Gallery.
Statement Light FixtureCreate a statement light fixture by using egg-crate diffusers, plaster of Paris, Gorilla Glue, PVC parts, brass parts, various pieces from an existing chandelier, and spray paint. Egg crate diffusers are great for creating geometrical shapes and are simple to use.
Up-Cycled Tire TableUsing an old tire, you can create a unique and trendy side table! Finding a tire is not very difficult and the rest of the project includes plywood, wooden legs, rope, glue, screws, construction adhesive, and other basic tools. By repeatedly wrapping rope around a tire, you can completely cover up the old tire and have a sturdy side table for your home or patio.
NOTE: Make sure to wash the tire well prior to using.
Keep in MindAdding a statement piece to a room is a great way to make the room stand out by giving it a unique and put-together look. Up-cycling and repurposing is a good way to reuse old furniture or other various items, such as tires, rather than throwing them away.
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About this Guide
A Place to Play
Table of Contents
A Place to Create
A Place to Celebrate
A Place to Grow
A Place to Unwind
Concluding Thoughts
About Us
Visit blog.homes.com for step-by-step tutorials
Easy RecipesSimple recipes are especially ideal when you have little time, but they are also great for special occasions. Easy recipes make cooking fun for everyone in your family.
Vegetable TartA roasted vegetable tart is filling and easy to make. Whether you are having guests over or are simply cooking for your family during the week, the vegetable tart is a great way to eat healthy.
Ingredients • 1 eggplant
• 1 zucchini
• 4 medium tomatoes
• 1 sweet red pepper
• 4 garlic cloves
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Refrigerated pie pastry
• 4 tsp olive oil
• 1tbsp parmesan cheese
• Minced fresh basil
Directions • Slice vegetables and combine in bowl
• Mix in olive oil, salt, garlic, and pepper
• Bake vegetables for 25-30 minutes at 450 degrees
• Roll out pastry in a 13-in circle of a slightly floured surface
• Sprinkle cornmeal on pizza pan
• Place vegetables in middle of pastry
• Keep vegetables 1-1/2 inches away from edges
• Fold up edges of pastry but keep center uncovered
• Bake tart for 20-25 minutes at 450 degrees
• Once baked, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and basil
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About this Guide
A Place to Play
Table of Contents
A Place to Create
A Place to Celebrate
A Place to Grow
A Place to Unwind
Concluding Thoughts
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Ingredients • Dark chocolate pudding/mousse
• 1 pint whipping cream
• 1 block of 1/3 less fat cream cheese
• 1/4th cup artificial sweetener
• Dark chocolate wafer cookies
• Raspberries (enough to make purée)
• Small piece of dark chocolate (grated)
Directions • Chill pudding/mousse in refrigerator until ready to serve
• Whip together whipping cream, cream cheese, and sweetener
• Blend raspberries together
• In mason jar, assemble ingredients in this order:
• Pudding/mousse
• Cream cheese mixture
• Chocolate wafer
• Raspberry purée
• 2nd chocolate wafer
• Raspberry purée
• 3rd chocolate wafer
• Cream cheese mixture
• Garnish with grated dark chocolate pieces
Easy Recipes Continued
Dark Chocolate Raspberry TrifleNot only are trifles delicious, but this particular recipe is healthier than others. For presentation, use a short mason jar instead of a bowl.
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About this Guide
A Place to Play
Table of Contents
A Place to Create
A Place to Celebrate
A Place to Grow
A Place to Unwind
Concluding Thoughts
About Us
Like This?Find more tasty dishes
on blog.homes.com
A PLACE TO GROWRegardless if it’s indoors or outdoors, growing a garden is both useful and visually appealing. Homes.com encourages you to grow a garden with your family, as it is a great way to spend time together and ultimately provides delicious ingredients for tasty home recipes.
Creative Container GardensAlthough some plants may require other conditions to grow in, herbs as well as various house plants grow well indoors if cared for. Depending on how limited your space is, container gardens may be a great option for you.
TerrariumTerrarium structures for holding your plants are simple to make. Recycle and reuse old mason jars, light bulbs, vases, and other glass containers. This is your chance to be creative! Use soil that doesn’t keep too much moisture in and cover the soil with pebbles once the plants are planted.
Recycled Food ContainersRecycled containers are unique and a non-traditional approach to potting. Reuse and recycle loose leaf tea cans and coffee cans. Add drainage holes at the bottom of the cans. Cans generally require one hole: the larger the “pot” the more drainage holes need to be made.
Keep in MindSetting up a garden in your home is perfect if you are limited on space outdoors and you desire greenery in your home. Indoor plants are pleasant to the eye, easy home décor solutions, and give your home a fresh scent.
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About this Guide
A Place to Play
Table of Contents
A Place to Create
A Place to Celebrate
A Place to Grow
A Place to Unwind
Concluding Thoughts
About Us
Go green with more gardening ideas at
blog.homes.com
#HomeMomentsShare your
Inspiring Home Moments
By utilizing plants to decorate your front yard and backyard, you can transform the look of your home.
Simple LandscapingAdding flowers and plants to your yard can add personality and liven up the landscape. Homes.com can provide you with tips to get your yard blooming and bursting with life.
Easy Curb Appeal By utilizing plants to decorate your front yard and backyard, you can transform the look of your home.
Apply a container garden theme by planting various flowers and outdoor plants in pots of all shapes and sizes, and then group the pots together on your porch, patio, or even along a walkway up to your home. This allows for simple design and gives you the ability to change out pots or plants easily.
If you want a more minimalistic look, consider applying symmetry in front of your home by having the same pot with plants on each side of your home’s front door. Symmetry is naturally appealing to the eye and is an easy way to add curb appeal.
Consider These Plants for Curb AppealZinniasZinnias are annuals that bloom all summer and early fall, giving beautiful pops of color.
MarigoldsMarigolds are annuals that bloom until frost and can grow from a few inches to a few feet tall.
TwinspurTwinspur is colorful and tough enough to handle light frost.
RudbeckiaRudbeckia (also known as Black-Eyed Susan) blooms from late summer to frost while giving pops of dark yellow.
Creeping PhloxCreeping Phlox is a flowering perennial that can handle the cold winter temperatures.
Boxwoods, Barberries, and SmokebushBoxwoods, Barberries, and Smokebush are all shrubs that add color and last through winter.
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About this Guide
A Place to Play
Table of Contents
A Place to Create
A Place to Celebrate
A Place to Grow
A Place to Unwind
Concluding Thoughts
About Us
Simple Landscaping Continued
Gardening Right To have a healthy blooming garden, simple tips can go a long way. Avoid common gardening mistakes, such as over-watering or under-watering your plants, using pots without drainage holes, planting a specific plant species in a shaded area when it requires sunlight, not prepping the soil, and using too much pesticide.
TipsAlways research the plants you plan on introducing to your garden and make sure they are conducive to your climate and region. By researching the plants, you will be much moreprepared for gardening. For more gardening tips, visit blog.homes.com.
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About this Guide
A Place to Play
Table of Contents
A Place to Create
A Place to Celebrate
A Place to Grow
A Place to Unwind
Concluding Thoughts
About Us
#HomeMomentsShare your
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
Homes.com wants to be more than your partner when searching for a new home. We hope to provide you with all the resources to transform your space into something greater.
Remember, whatever your idea of a dream home may be – a place to celebrate, unwind, create, or grow, the place to find it is Homes.com. Share your home moments or join the conversation on social media channels using #HomeMoments.
ABOUT US
As one of the nation’s top online real estate destinations, Homes.com inspires consumers to dream big. From affordable houses to luxurious estates, condos, rentals and more, Homes.com features close to three million property listings and a user-friendly format, making finding your next home or a licensed real estate agent easily accessible. Visitors to the Homes.com blog will find a collection of rich content and posts on DIY projects, painting, gardening and more, providing the ultimate resource for everything home related. From purchasing a first home, to upgrading, downsizing and everything in between, Homes.com is an inspiring and engaging partner in every phase of the home buying process.
Homes.com is a division of Dominion Enterprises, a leading marketing services and publishing company headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia. For more information, visit www.dominionenterprises.com.
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Remember, whatever your idea of a dream home may be – a place to celebrate, unwind, create, or grow, the place to find it is Homes.com. Share your home moments or join the conversation on social media channels using #HomeMoments.
About this Guide
A Place to Play
Table of Contents
A Place to Create
A Place to Celebrate
A Place to Grow
A Place to Unwind
Concluding Thoughts
About Us
Inspiring Home Moments