The Big Game is almost here! It’s a time for people to pay attention to commercials. A time for buffalo chicken dip to be spilled in anger. And best of all, a time for you to gather your friends and family to watch the big game together. Check out these pointers on recipes and decorations to elevate your space on game day.

Game-Day Recipes

Whether you’re rooting for a specific team or you’re just watching for the commercials, there’s no doubt that you’ll reach for something to snack on during the game. These recipes are great ways to please your crowd, and are sure to keep hangry football fans at bay in the event of an upset during the game! For an easy recipe that’s sure to please both sides of the field, try out this delicious buffalo chicken dip recipe.

You’ll need:

Follow these steps:

  1. Heat chicken and hot sauce in a skillet over medium heat until heated through. Stir in cream cheese and ranch dressing. Stir until well blended.
  2. Mix in half of the shredded cheese and transfer the mixture to a slow cooker. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top, cover, and cook on low until bubbling.
  3. Serve with celery and crackers. Enjoy!

Adding a couple of cocktails to your Super Bowl menu is a great way to keep the energy up and get people really cheering for their team. In other words, put some team spirit in the air with some spirits in your glass. If you’re rooting for the Chiefs, try the Horsefeather. It’s the unofficial cocktail of Kansas City, and has been described as a “southern take on the Moscow Mule.”

If you’re supporting the 49ers, it only makes sense to sip on a San Francisco. The drink is fruity and slightly sweet. A splash of orange juice in this cocktail pays respect to the Super Bowl kicking off in Miami.

Decide with Decorations

If you’re hosting fans of both teams at your party, you’re already braver than most. To add another level of friendly competition to the watch party, pick up some party supplies showing support for both teams, and let people vote with their plates and cups! This is a great way to let your friends and family support their team, let people vote on a winner, and make sure clean up is easy.

Whether you’re a dedicated fan hosting the rest of your equally-dedicated family or just a casual football fan excited for a chance to invite some friends over, these recipes and decorations are sure to please. For more ways to host a memorable watch party, be sure to Like Lennar on Facebook.

Lennar Jacksonville is excited to announce the availability of brand-new townhome models in the exciting luxury community of Beachwalk! 

“We are pleased to introduce Grand Isles, our brand-new townhomes neighborhood in Beachwalk!” said Matt Figlesthaler, Lennar Jacksonville’s Director of Sales & Marketing. “Grand Isles will join Dorado and The Reef in offering homeowners our trademark Everything’s Included® features, but now in the popular luxury townhome floorplans that we are building for the first time here in Beachwalk! This new expansion of Lennar homes here in Beachwalk brings a new level of affordability to families looking to enjoy both the quality construction of a new Lennar home, the luxury lifestyle that only Beachwalk can offer.”

The Everything’s Included® single family townhomes that Lennar is building in Beachwalk range from the mid 200s, and vary in size from 1,611 sq ft up to 1,751 sq ft.  More information on these beautiful homes can be found at https://www.lennar.com/new-homes/florida/jacksonville-st-augustine/st-johns/beachwalk/grand-isles

About Beachwalk

No crowded beaches for Beachwalk residents! The perfect sugary sand beach frames a turquoise 14-acre Crystal Lagoon, and invites kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, snorkeling, sailing and more. The patented technology features a system of sensors and pulse-based injectors that uses less than 1 percent of chemicals and just 2 percent of the energy required by conventional swimming pool technology to keep the waters sparkling blue at all times. A private beach club on the north shore of the lagoon featuring a restaurant, bars, fitness center, miniature golf course and Laguna Dog, a splash park for Beachwalk pets. A-rated schools nearby, top quality healthcare and medical facilities, additional shopping as well as cultural and entertainment nearby. Additional shops, office and restaurants will create the perfect live, work and play community.

About Lennar

Lennar Corp., founded in 1954 and headquartered in Miami, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Building homes in 18 states, Lennar offers affordable, move-up and retirement homes in communities that cater to a variety of lifestyles. For more information, visit www.lennar.com

A new home can be the biggest purchase of your life; but consider this: You budget to furnish your home. You house all your belongings there. It is where you live, raise your family, and make memories. Following this train of thought, your home becomes a great financial (and personal) investment, so why not protect it? Home insurance is the safety net that helps you repair, rebuild, or replace that which can be susceptible to numerous risks. Continue reading to learn the benefits of home insurance.

1. It is often required by your mortgage lender.

If you need a loan to purchase a new home, most lenders will require you to purchase home insurance (before closing). This protects the lender if your home is destroyed by a fire, tornado, or other hazard. Why does the lender need security? The lender gave you a large sum of money with the agreement that you would pay it back. Your home serves as collateral in the event you are unable to pay your mortgage. When your loan enters default, the lender has the option to repossess and sell your home to recover their losses.

Now, if your home is leveled by a disaster, the threat of foreclosure is less intimidating when there is no physical structure for the lender to repossess. Your lender will expect you to keep paying the mortgage though, whether or not the house is still standing. Your insurance policy can then protect you from paying the mortgage on a dwelling that is no longer livable. So, when shopping for a policy, keep this in mind: your lender often requires you to have at least enough coverage to cover your mortgage amount; but you might consider buying additional coverage to protect your own interests.

2. It protects your home, other structures, and belongings.

Home insurance (or homeowners insurance – they are the same) can cover your home and other structures (whether they are attached to the home or separate), such as your garage, garden shed, deck, or guest house. If a tree falls through your roof during a windstorm or lightning strikes fire to the pool house, your policy can help cover the cost of repair. Most hazards are typically covered, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and vandalism. Often times, though, flood and earthquake coverage are separate policies at an additional cost.

Home insurance can also help you if your personal belongings are damaged or stolen. Material items typically covered include furniture, electronics, appliances, and clothing. You may need to purchase additional coverage for jewelry, furs, and artwork, since those items have greater monetary value.

3. It covers living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable.

The cost to repair and rebuild your home is one thing, but what about the cost for temporary housing? If your family must live away from your home for a time, the additional living expenses can quickly add up. Homeowners insurance often includes coverage for a hotel or interim housing, as well as food, laundry, and storage space. Keep in mind that the event which rendered your home temporarily unlivable must be considered a covered loss. Also, there will likely be a cap on the amount covered and a time limit on how long your policy covers temporary housing.

4. It includes liability protection.

Accidents happen. If a visitor sustains an injury on your property, your homeowners insurance (if it includes liability coverage) can help cover the costs should the injured party seek compensation. This can be their medical bills or lost wages (should the injury cause them to miss several days of work) and even legal expenses if they decide to sue you.

Liability coverage also protects you in the event you (or your family) unintentionally damage someone else’s property. For example, if your son is playing baseball in the front yard, and his home run sends the ball through your neighbor’s closed window, you are likely responsible for replacing it. Another more severe instance may be if you left the grill on, and it catches fire to your neighbor’s property; you are responsible for damages. In either scenario, your homeowners policy can help you with ensuing costs.

5. It helps you avoid large financial hits.

Because your homeowners policy is designed to (1) cover the costs to repair, replace, or rebuild your property, (2) reimburse you for associated living expenses, and (3) help you with liability, you stand a better chance of remaining financially stable following an incident. This means you can potentially avoid or minimize unwanted debt or loss of credit, which can happen if you are left to pay for such losses on your own. This then ties into the last benefit of home insurance which is…

6. It gives you peace of mind.

Knowing you are financially protected from most hazards because of your homeowners policy should be a huge relief. You may have a lot else to focus on – perhaps a mortgage, an upcoming engagement, or saving for next year’s summer vacation; so, would it not be better to have some security should the unexpected happen to your greatest investment? Less stress and worry add up to a better homeownership experience.

If you would like to learn more about home insurance and its coverage, feel free to inquire with the qualified professionals at Lennar Insurance Agency (LIA). Working together with Eagle Home Mortgage, CalAtlantic Title, and other Lennar affiliates, LIA contributes to a seamless, worry-free closing on your new Lennar home.

Additional Source

The Importance of Property Insurance by Daniel Myers

Disclaimer:

This article is not intended to provide any insurance or legal advice. You should consult your own insurance and legal advisors for more information about homeowners insurance generally or your policy specifically.

Lennar Insurance Agency (LIA) is an affiliate of Lennar Corporation, Eagle Home Mortgage, and CalAtlantic Title.  See Affiliated Business Arrangement Disclosure. Use of LIA is not required to purchase a home from Lennar, to obtain a loan from Eagle, or to obtain title services from CalAtlantic Title.

This is not an offer in states where prior registration is required. Void where prohibited by law. Copyright © 2020 Lennar Corporation. Lennar, the Lennar logo, Lennar Insurance Agency, the LIA logo, Eagle Home Mortgage, the Eagle logo, CalAtlantic Title, and the CalAtlantic title logo are U.S. registered service marks or service marks of Lennar Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. Date 1/20.

Do you have a Valentine?

If you’re still searching, let 116 Towns be your match!

Lennar’s newest Low-Maintenance Townhome Community is right in the heart of Downtown Fishers! Enjoy living walking distance to the Nickel Plate District! 116 Towns showcase an urban design where Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Home Designs come with upgraded design features included in the home. Really! Everything’s Included! 116 Towns offers grand three-story townhomes near the hear of Downtown Fishers. Find yourself with walkability to the developing hub of Fishers.

If you’re still waiting for Cupid’s arrow, save the date to join us for the Grand Opening Celebration of 116 Towns on February 15th & 16th from 11 AM to 6 PM.

Lennar 116 Towns in Downtown Fishers Indiana

116 Towns is NOW PRE-SELLING! This is a limited opportunity with pricing from $350,000! Offering only 31 Townhomes, this location won’t last long!.Now is the time to buy your dream home at 116 Towns in Fishers.

116 Towns is located on 116th Street, just West of the I-69/SR-37 split. Find yourself close to excellent dining, shopping and recreation. Super Target, Top Golf and Ikea are just down the road. The Yard at Fishers has just arrived with more coming soon. Enjoy delicious eats at new places like 1933 Lounge, Rize, Kincaid’s Meat Market, and much more! With Fishers’ plethora of local dining and unique boutiques, there’s never been a better time to put down your roots at 116 Towns.

116 Towns residents benefit from our Everything’s Included package. Here’s what you get:

Enjoy the daily benefits, conveniences, and savings of smart home technology with Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ home designs including an Echo Dot, a Ring Pro video doorbell, a Honeywell Pro thermostat and a Schlage Encode Wi-Fi smart lock with keypad and deadbolt. 

When you buy a brand new home, you have an opportunity to make it your own while also benefiting from warranties, new technology, and more sustainable solutions. Don’t miss your chance to invest in a future at 116 Towns. Join the VIP List here to receive email updates or contact our Internet Sales Consultants to ensure you’re at the forefront of new information regarding the grand opening:

Tamywa Thurman or Greg Randolph

317-659-3230

LennarIND@Lennar.com

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Home Buying Process for 116 Towns

Finding the right Active Adult community is as important as finding the right new home. 

That’s why Lennar is proud to offer new low maintenance Active Adult ranch homes exclusively to those 55-years of age and better in many of Chicago’s popular suburbs. Lennar currently has four Andaré communities conveniently located in Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Huntley and Volo.

Gorgeously designed new homes within these low-maintenance Andaré communities won’t last for long. Especially considering the luxurious amenities provided, such as clubhouses, fitness centers, picnic pavilions and sport courts.

Lennar Sable Chicago homes

If you’re inspired to make a change and live the lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of, then Andaré’s Active Adult communities are for you. Here’s a closer look at what each unique community has to offer:

Andaré at Glenloch in Algonquin features exciting amenities such as a stunning clubhouse, fitness center, fire pit, patio, and a walking path. Glenloch even has bocce ball and pickle ball courts. The landscaping within the Glenloch community is exquisite – here you can enjoy strolling along walking paths past ponds, and gorgeous scenery. Residents will enjoy even more parks at nearby Lake Braewood and the Fox River. There are also plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options in downtown Algonquin and in nearby Barrington at the Arboretum

Andaré at Remington Pointe North in Volo features a beautiful clubhouse with a fitness center and recreational sports courts amongst many other amenities. It’s the surrounding areas that make this community especially appealing to those with an adventurous spirit. Just outside Remington Pointe North residents can enjoy fishing at Wooster Lakes, hiking at the Marl Flat Forest Preserve and wildlife viewing at the Volo Bog State Natural Area. The Millennium trail system is also close by offering 30-miles of trail ideal for biking, horseback riding, walking, and cross-country skiing. You can also spend time enjoying classic cars at the Volo Auto Museum or shopping for antiques at the Antique Mall featuring over 300 antique dealers.

Lennar Sable Chicago homes

Andaré at Talamore in Huntley is a scenic, tranquil neighborhood featuring an 8,000 square foot clubhouse with fitness center, game room, furnished living area with a stone fireplace, pools, and meeting room. Residents here will also enjoy acres of parks, and nearby recreational. There are also numerous of shopping, dining, and entertainment options in downtown Huntley and along Route 47 and Randall Road. The Huntley Park District offers many sport options, day trips and music events throughout the year.

Andaré at Woodlore Estates in Crystal Lake offers plenty of unique amenities for outdoor enthusiasts whether you enjoy bocce ball, pickle ball, hiking or relaxing around a warm fire with friends at the community clubhouse. There’s something for everyone within this beautifully manicured community, and plenty just outside it as well including numerous shopping, dining, and entertainment options throughout Crystal Lake. Nearby Three Oaks Recreation Area features pristine lakes and spectacular views, and offers many amenities, including a beach, boat rentals, fishing, hiking/biking trails, concessions, pavilions, and picnic sites with grills.  

Lennar Sable Chicago tennis court

Lennar’s “Everything’s Included®” approach reimagines the home-buying experience The new homes in Remington Pointe North, Woodlore Estates, Talamore, and Glenloch are part of Lennar’s Everything’s Included® program. Our fully appointed kitchens include; kitchen islands with pendant lights, quartz countertops, spacious single-bowl under mount sinks, Aristokraft® cabinets and stainless steel GE® appliances. Our homes also feature; LED surface mounted lighting in the hallways and bedrooms, modern two panel interior doors and colonist trim, vinyl plank flooring in the kitchen, foyer, bathrooms and laundry room , 30 year architectural shingles and so much more, all of which are included with your new home at no extra cost. Plus, the new homes within these communities are among the world’s first homes to receive the internationally-recognized Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ designation and will be built with superior smart home automation technology

If you’ve binge-watched your fair share of HGTV over the years, it’s easy to think you’re pretty much an expert on interior design. While we love watching our favorite fixer-upper teams turn drab, dated rooms into perfectly styled dream homes, there’s often a lot left unsaid in these 30-minute episodes.

Feel free to devour some Home Town and Love It, Or List It for inspiration and how-tos, then apply these rules for everything not to do when it comes to execution.

Here are eight things NOT to do when designing a space:

  1. Rush – Whether you’re redesigning or starting from scratch – take your time when decorating your home. Live in the space, get a feel for it, and let the design evolve. Curate items that fit and match your vision and don’t settle for something just because it’s “close enough.” Get it right, and you’ll be happier with the outcome in the long run.
  2. Randomly place small rugs– Rugs are tricky. They need to match, they need to be the right size, and they need to pull all other elements together while still feeling comfortable under your feet. One of the most common mistakes we see are rugs that are too small, which makes the space feel small and awkward. The right size rug will have space to accommodate at least the front two legs of each sofa or chair in a living room. The rug should define the area, not float.
  3. Hang dark, short window furnishings – This is a big no-no in the world of interior design. Dark, heavy fabrics block natural light and poorly sized, and positioned window treatments make windows appear awkward and small. Ideally, your window treatments should be light-colored, and just hit the floor or pool a couple of inches. As for positioning the curtain rod, it depends on the window, but it should be placed approximately 4-10 inches above the window frame.
  4. Display clutter, trinkets, and excessive photos – Many of us tend to collect things over the years, display them around our home, and forget to stop and ask ourselves, “do I even like this anymore?” The result? Shelves filled, clutter everywhere, and mismatched frames on shelves displaying an overwhelming amount of old photographs. This clutter and excess is a major design faux pas. Clear the clutter, select just a few of your favorite items to display on bookshelves, and swap your collection of framed family photos for a classy gallery wall.
  5. Paint without testing – Tell an interior designer you painted a room without testing the paint colors, and they’ll likely gasp in horror. Always purchase a small, sample of a few colors and test them on the walls before committing. You’ll be shocked at how different the colors look in your home compared to the harsh lights of your local Home Depot. Painting can be expensive and time-consuming, so do it right and test your paint colors. 
  6. Mix a bunch of colors and patterns – We know maximism is in, but there’s a fine line between trendy and bold, and confused and cringe-worthy. Seek inspiration from sources like Pinterest and design magazines if you like a lot of bold, bright colors and patterns – there’s a right way to achieve this challenging design style. There’s also a wrong way, and while it’s important to express yourself, you’ll likely find that if it isn’t done just right, too many colors and patterns feel more chaotic than creative.
  7. Display fake plants and flowers – The fake, unnaturally colored, plastic-looking plants and flowers must go. They collect dust, and most times, are easy to detect as frauds. Instead, opt for live plants. If you don’t have a green thumb, there are plenty of houseplants that are easy to care for and require little care. As for flowers, try swapping fake floral centerpieces for a bowl of lemons or limes.
  8. Furnish rooms out of scale – Always choose furniture that’s to scale with the room. Big furniture in a little room looks cramped, and little furniture in a big room looks sparse. Take your measurements and choose your furniture accordingly. A sales representative at your favorite furniture store will likely be able to help if you’re unsure.

Designing your home should be fun, and the outcome should make you feel proud. These eight simple principles for good design will help elevate your creative ideas and ensure they come together artistically. Happy decorating!

Interior design and decorating come naturally to some. These creative unicorns can walk into a space, and moments later, walk out with a vision. They intuitively know how to layout a room, pair colors, and mix patterns. The rest of us need a bit more guidance.  

If interior design doesn’t come naturally to you, use this how-to-guide of best practices to get you started on your next decor project.

Function:

One thing many people lose sight of when planning their space or decorating their home is the most apparent design principle – function. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in trying to create a space that mirrors our favorite design magazines and Pinterest images that we forget that our home’s design needs to work for how WE live. Sofas should be welcoming and cozy, dining chairs and stools should be comfortable, and countertops and backsplashes should be easy to clean. No matter what your vision is for your home, be sure it works with how you and your family live.

Vision:

Which brings us to our next point – vision, the second most important step in space planning. Look at your space and try to visualize what will go where. Draw it out, create a vision board or a Pinterest board for each room, gather samples and color swatches, and have a plan before you begin. Creating a plan for the color scheme, layout, look, feel, and design category such as contemporary, modern, bohemian, or industrial from the beginning will help create a cohesive look and feel. 

Details:

The details matter in interior design and space planning. While sometimes it’s hard to detect what makes a space so appealing, texture, layers, and color patterns are often the undetectable elements that take a room to the next level. It’s the little details that help give a space interesting depth and bring it to life. When it comes to layering elements such as fabrics, professionals utilize color, scale, shape, and texture. The idea is to make it exciting and cohesive while still adding contrast. Experts suggest using three patterns in a room with colors of the same intensity. The colors can be different shades of the same, or complementary. It’s the intensity that’s key. When it comes to the scale of the patterns, we recommend varying. Try to find and match patterns from the large, medium, and small scale. Too many patterns from the same size category will look busy and cluttered.

Balance:

Some places and items require symmetry, and others do not. Some pieces look best when the “rule of thirds” is applied, and others do not. Balance is specific to each space’s architectural features. Professionals advise that you survey and observe the area from different angles to get a feel for what will work and where. Utilizing sketches, apps, and online interior design programs can help. We also recommend considering feng shui when designing a space. These basic design principles not only help with the flow of energy, but they help with the aesthetic as well. When it comes to designing a feng shui bedroom, for instance, it’s fundamental that the foot of the bed isn’t facing the door, and the head of the bed isn’t under a window. These two rules will create a clear option for the position of your bed – a great place to start in space planning a bedroom.

Color:

Choosing a color for a room can be incredibly overwhelming. There are thousands of options for shade – then you need to consider the sheen – matte, glossy, semi-gloss, eggshell, oh my. To begin, we suggest finding a patterned piece of furniture or rug that you love and pulling colors from there. If you’re starting from scratch, utilize the color wheel. Colors next to each other on the color wheel, such as green and yellow, are more casual, while colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel, such as blue and orange, are complimentary. When using complementary colors in the home, be sure to make them pop. Pops of color come from smaller items like lampshades or pillows rather than full painted walls and large furniture. Balance out these more vibrant color pairings with neutrals.

Decorating a new home can feel overwhelming – just remember to take it slow and focus on one room at a time. Creating a cohesive, flowing, and aesthetically appealing home won’t happen overnight. Have fun with it, curate items you love, and you’ll end up with a home you can be proud.

When you’re searching for the next place you and your family will call home, you understandably have a long list of “must haves.” You want to live in a good neighborhood, you want to have local shopping and entertainment options, you want to be close to work and if you have children, you want to be near their school. And most importantly, you want a beautiful, comfortable, move-in ready home with modern finishes and design.

If this sounds like you and you haven’t explored the townhomes of St. Charles, then get excited because this community could be exactly what you’re looking for!

Related – Learn more about St. Charles Townhomes

Getting to Know St. Charles

There’s a reason St. Charles is the best-selling new home community in southern Maryland! This peaceful, sprawling White Plains neighborhood offers its residents luxury townhome living, resort-style amenities and fun local attractions, all in a scenic suburban setting. And while St. Charles is a relaxing county retreat, it is conveniently located just minutes from the Capital Beltway and northern Virginia. So whether you work in next door Waldorf or nearby Washington, DC, you won’t have to worry about your commute.

Related – Tips to make Your Move as Smooth as Possible

Modern Townhomes, Designed with You in Mind

You’re going to be spending a lot of time in your new home, so it’s important that you love it. And you are sure to love the floorplans and design elements of these stunning, luxury townhomes. Both The Arcadia and The Ellicott feature a gorgeous, chef’s kitchen with an oversized island, an opulent owner’s suite with walk-in closet and private en-suite, a bedroom-level laundry space, a first-floor recreation space and an optional fourth-floor loft with rooftop terrace. (The townhomes of St. Charles are so popular in fact, that a new phase just opened for sale this past September, and one floorplan – The Valencia – is already sold out!)

When you decide to purchase a Lennar home, you don’t just get an intuitively-designed floorplan, you also get the Everything’s Included® package. With this innovative program, homeowners get high-end home finishes, such as granite countertops, brand name appliances, wide-plank flooring on the main level and much more, all included in the price of your new home at no extra cost to you.

Lennar St. Charles Townhomes
A Neighborhood to Brag About

When you’re not enjoying the comforts of your beautiful new townhome, you should absolutely take advantage of the numerous amenities exclusive to St. Charles homeowners. You could host a get-together in one of the party rooms at the community clubhouse, take a morning walk or bike ride on the hiking trails, bring your younger children to one of the tot lots, or simply enjoy the afternoon lounging by the outdoor swimming pool, which also has a separate children’s kiddie pool area. If you’re a runner, then you will also love the annual St. Charles Running Festival, which takes place right in the neighborhood!

Related – Where to Live: City, Suburbs or Beyond?

What to Do Around Town

A home is more than walls. The local businesses, restaurants and recreation spots that make up the area around you are all part of your home, as well. And St. Charles has some fantastic local attractions! For starters, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs stadium is right around the corner, and the White Plains Golf Course, Laurel Springs Regional Park, Sky Zone Trampoline Park are all close by. You can also enjoy dining, shopping and entertainment at the Smallwood Village Center, St. Charles Town Center and the Shops at Waldorf Center, all under 10 minutes away.

Related – 5 Ways to Help Your Child Adjust to a New School

Schedule a Tour of St. Charles Today

Are you interested in learning more about the townhomes of St. Charles? We’re here to help! You can call 888-214-2073 or email us at LennarMaryland@Lennar.com to schedule your tour today. Or if you’re in the neighborhood, feel free to stop by our Welcome Home Center located at 11225 St. Luke Drive, White Plains, MD 20695. Our talented New Home Consultants are always happy to assist you!