It’s finally fall which means it’s finally pumpkin spice season. That means pumpkin spice lattes, of course, but there is so much more you can do with this tasty combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Here are some of our residents’ favorite fall recipes:
Spice Up Breakfast
Start your morning with these pumpkin sticky buns. How about a slice of warm pumpkin bread to get those creative juices going? Your kids will devour these pumpkin spice pancakes. Not a pancake person? Treat yourself to this pumpkin pie French toast bake.
Spicy Cookies
Skip the gingerbread and bake a batch of these pumpkin spice cookies for your next party. Love cheesecake but don’t want to put the work in? Let us introduce you to pumpkin cheesecake cookies. Of course you could also go the brownie route. You’ll want to dip these biscotti cookies in your coffee all season long.
Savory Spice and Everything Nice
Who says you need to be sweet on pumpkin spice? It works well in savory dishes like Moroccan chicken with couscous. Add some warmth to this beefy butternut squash chili. Pumpkin hummus? Trust us — it’s good. Substitute pumpkin spice in your jerk chicken recipe.
Non-coffee Drinks
Skip the latte and try pumpkin juice instead. Pumpkin spice milk is great for kids. Hosting an adult party? Break out boozy pumpkin white hot chocolate. This milkshake is worth baking a pie for.
Just Dessert
Let them eat pumpkin layer cake! Wow your dinner guests with this pumpkin spice trifle. Skip the pumpkin pie and serve cheesecake instead. Or don’t skip it. Just add a little booze.
With your kids grown and flown, it’s time to build a smaller nest. Moving from a larger home to a smaller one requires some thought. You’ve accumulated a lot of stuff over the years, and you can’t move it all into your new home. So what do you do? We have some ideas.
Assess Your Future Lifestyle
Before house hunting, think about your future. Do you want to travel, start that business you’ve always dreamed of or indulge in your favorite hobby? Thinking about this now will help you determine the type of home that will suit your needs and preferences.
Choose a Location
Your future plans will be a key factor in deciding where you want to live. Many empty nesters want to stay in the same neighborhood, while others want a fresh start. You might want to move closer to your children. If amenities are important, look into master-planned communities like Balmoral.
Choose the Right Floor Plan
The right floor plan should enhance your new lifestyle. If you know you will be taking care of grandchildren, you may need an extra bedroom. Starting a home business? A study should be on your list. A single-story home will allow you to age in place.
Get an Early Start
You can begin preparations for the move long before you find a new home. Give yourself plenty of time to downsize. The process can be emotional, so starting early allows you to take it step by step without feeling rushed.
Configure Your New Space
If you purchase a new home in Balmoral, you will get a floor plan from your builder. Use this to figure out what furniture to bring and what to leave behind. Consider downsizing to smaller, more versatile pieces that fit your new space. Multi-functional furniture can help you maximize the utility of your limited square footage.
Sort It Out
Downsizing involves getting rid of clutter. Sort items into categories such as keep, donate, sell and discard. Focus on what truly adds value to your life and consider the practicality of each item in your new space.
Don’t Get Too Sentimental
As you begin to pare down, you are likely to come across a garage full of old toys, baby clothes, photos and other items of sentimental value. Moving it all into a smaller space might not be feasible. Think about why you kept them. If you can’t remember, it’s time to say goodbye.
Give the Kids a Heads Up
If your grown children still have items stored in your home, involve them in the decision-making process. Discuss what items they’d like to keep and establish a timeframe for them to retrieve their belongings. Ask them if they would like any of the things you are planning to give away.
Digital Media and Documents
Digitize CDs, DVDs and important documents. This not only saves space but also reduces clutter. Cloud storage and digital media libraries are great options for accessing your content without the physical discs.
Seek Professional Help
If you find downsizing too overwhelming, bring in a professional. They can help you let go of things and set up an organizational system for your new home.
Move to Balmoral
Build your new nest in Balmoral! Our builders offer smaller floor plans sure to meet your changing needs. Our amenities can help you make new friends, keep grandchildren occupied and enhance your lifestyle. Visit us today.
If you’ve ever found yourself rummaging through cluttered shelves in search of that elusive spice or can of beans, you know a well-organized pantry is the heart of a functional kitchen. How do you do it? Here are a few tips to keep the pantry of your new Balmoral home as tidy as the day you moved in:
Take It All Off
Whittle down your inventory to just the basics. Take everything out and give it a once over. Throw out expired items. If you have items that have never been opened, donate them to a food bank. The result will be a more streamlined, organized pantry.
Choose Your Categories
Categorize the items left on your counter. Choose categories that make sense to you such as baking supplies, canned goods, spices and condiments. Doing so will help you choose the best organizational tools for each category.
It’s Crystal Clear
Clear containers allow you to see what’s in the box. You also know if you are running low. Pastas, rice, dried beans, nuts, cereals and baking supplies are great candidates for clear bins.
Get Out the Label Maker
Some pantry items —like different types of flours, look the same. Label your containers to prevent mix-ups. Other items like nuts can go rancid, so add the date to your label.
Get Creative
Use a Lazy Susan to organize bottles and condiments. To find what you need, just give it a spin. For smaller items like spices or packets, use an over-the-door organizer. Adjustable shelving units or risers create additional vertical space and prevent items from getting lost in the back.
Don’t Forget the Kids
If you have young children or teens, you know they are going to rummage around. Instead of expecting them to put everything back the way they found it, create a family bin. Use one with dividers and fill it with bottled water, snacks and crackers. That way, they can rummage in the bin, not your shelves.
Regular Check and Rotation
To prevent ingredients from going stale or spoiling, perform regular pantry checks. Take inventory of what you have and rotate items to use older ones first. Make a habit of checking expiration dates and donating any unexpired items you won’t use to local food banks.
Purchase a Balmoral Home
Balmoral builders know the value of a good pantry, that’s why most of them are walk-ins. To see what life with an ordered pantry could be like, visit our model homes today.
Humble ISD schools open their doors for the 2023-2024 school year on August 9. For some, it will be for the very first time. Starting kindergarten is an occasion for celebration and a few understandable jitters. Here are a few tips for ensuring a smooth start:
Read Books About Starting Kindergarten
A great way for parents to start the conversation about kindergarten is by reading books designed to address the topic. Clifford Goes to Kindergarten, The Night Before Kindergarten and The Pigeon Has to Go to School provide opportunities for discussion and understanding about what to expect, making it a fun and interactive way to ease anxieties.
Take a Tour
Take your child to visit their new school. Show them the classroom, playground, school office and restrooms. This will help your child become more acquainted with the new surroundings and reduce anxiety about the unknown. If possible, meet your child’s teacher ahead of time.
Help Them Make a Friend
Your child doesn’t have to go it alone. Children in the same neighborhood are zoned to the same schools. In Balmoral, that means kindergartners will attend either Groves or Ridge Creek elementary schools. See if you can set up a kindergarten meet-and-greet event before school starts. That way your child will know a few kids before school starts.
Practice Social Skills
Practice social scenarios with your child. Simple things such as introducing themselves, asking to play a game or share a toy and asking the teacher for help. This will give your child confidence in the classroom.
Be Positive
If you are nervous about your child’s first day of school, your child will be. Children often take cues from their parents and caregivers, so exhibiting confidence and optimism will help ease their fears.
Create a Morning Routine
Start creating a morning routine at least a week in advance. Have your child help make breakfast, let them decide what to wear and set aside time for a calming activity before you take them to school. This routine will help your child feel secure and ready for the day ahead.
Practice Saying Goodbye
Practicing brief periods of separation in the weeks leading up to the first day. Arrange playdates or short stays with relatives or close friends to help your kindergartener become more comfortable being away from home.
Saying Goodbye at the Door
On the first day of kindergarten don’t linger at the door. Put a smile on your face and say goodbye with a reminder of what time you will be picking them up. You can cry in the car. Don’t sneak away as that will cause even more anxiety.
Be Patient
Some kids transition seamlessly to kindergarten. Others need time to adjust. Be patient — separation anxieties are normal and will pass. Before you know it, they will be well on the way to a positive educational experience.
Balmoral homes are built for the 21st century and beyond. Homes come with enhanced home automation features designed to make your life comfortable, efficient and enjoyable. However, simply owning these gadgets is not enough. To truly reap the benefits, you need to know how to maximize their potential. Here are some tips:
Check Your Wiring
You can’t optimize your smart home technology if your wiring is out of date. All Balmoral homes are built with the latest Cat 6 wiring, allowing you to make the most of your home technology now and in the future.
Your Network Matters
Smart home devices are connected to your Wi-Fi router which in turn runs off your broadband internet connection. You need a strong, reliable provider to ensure your system doesn’t go down when you need it the most. Balmoral residents benefit from the Xfinity fiber distribution network which allows you to control devices easily and quickly when you aren’t at home.
Your Hub is Your Friend
Integrating new home technology optimizes the performance of all your devices. Doing so can save you money and optimize your bandwidth. A smart hub like the Honeywell Tuxedo Touch included in Balmoral homes also allows you to control all your devices from a single app on your phone or tablet.
Consider Upgrades
Basic home automation systems usually include a smart thermostat, lights, door locks and garage door openers. You can upgrade these systems at your builder’s design center. A key aspect of this is creating a cohesive ecosystem. Choose products that are compatible with popular smart home platforms like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit. This will allow you to control multiple devices through a single interface and automate various tasks.
Get to Know Your Voice Assistant
Digital voice assistants like Alexa, Siri and Google Home allow you to control your home technology with your voice. Familiarize yourself with how they work. Most allow you to set up routines and skills. These are a series of pre-programmed commands that can control multiple devices. A “wake up” command set up for a certain time can turn on your alarm, open the blinds and brew your coffee.
Enhance Your Home Security
Balmoral homes are prewired with the latest electronic monitoring system allowing you to install smart security cameras, doorbell cameras and smart locks to monitor and control access to your home remotely. Alerts and notifications are sent to your phone or tablet. It’s worth upgrading the base system to ensure your comfort and peace of mind.
Stay Updated
Stay informed about firmware updates and new releases for your devices. Embrace upgrades to take advantage of improved functionality, security patches and compatibility with the latest innovations. Many devices are set to automatically update but you can turn this feature on or off depending on your preferences.
Connect with Balmoral
Unlock the full potential of new home technology by making the move to Balmoral. Visit today to learn whyBalmoral homes are the smart choice.