Getting Active with The Courtyards at Brandywine

                                              

Looking to get active while living at The Courtyards at Brandywine 55+ community in Wilmington, Delaware. Check out the local YMCA, located at 3 Mount Lebanon Rd, in Wilmington. The Local Y is a great place to get fit and make some friends. Invite your neighbors to join you or bring your family! for more information, check out their website at www.ymcade.org.

Focus on Champions' Club: The Kipling

Champions' Club's beautiful Kipling model is a new option at the community. Offering a spacious
kitchen, front porch, two-car garage, and optional finished loft and basement. The Kipling is customizable and low maintenance, starting at $277,900 for 1,544 square feet of space.

For more information, check out our website here, or give us a call at 302-698-5601.

Check out the full photo gallery on our website!

KITCHEN
The Kipling comes with a state of the art kitchen, equipped with Maytag appliances, a spacious and beautiful center island, quality wood cabinets, and easy-to-clean and-care-for counter-tops and wood floors.

GREAT ROOM
The Kipling's great room is a beautiful expanse, with an optional fireplace. It's the perfect space to host parties, and relax with friends and family, thanks to its seamless flow into the dining area and kitchen.

MASTER SUITE
The Kipling's master suite offers a spacious layout, a beautiful en suite bathroom, attached laundry room, and a walk-in closet.

BATHROOMS
The Kipling's bathrooms are styled with furniture grade vanities in a variety of colors, cultured marble tops, large mirrors, and Hollywood strip lighting, so you can look and feel your best every day.

OPTIONAL FINISHED LOFT AND/OR BASEMENT
The Kipling is customizable, with an optional loft and/or basement. Use this extra space for bedrooms, office space, or extra storage. This extra space can be finished with an extra room and a full bathroom. 

...

AND MUCH, MUCH MORE

Champions' Club is a 55+ active adult community located in Magnolia, Delaware. Champions' Club offers a clubhouse with an outdoor heated pool, tennis court, bocce courts, a gym, billiards, community garden and horseshoe pits. Get Active, Get Moving, Get to Champions' Club.

Winter Weather Cocktails

Winter Weather Cocktails

Winter is upon us, and it’s time to start hibernating in your home. Well don’t worry, we’ve done some research and found a few beverages to help keep you warm. Many of these options can be made with or without alcohol. There’s something for everyone! Be sure to check out our website here for information on our developments and homes!

Mulled Wine

Click here for complete instructions from the creator of this recipe.

Ingredients: 

• 1 (750 ml) bottle red wine1 orange, sliced
• 1/4 cup brandy (optional)
• 1/4 cup honey or sugar
• 8 whole cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 star anise

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a non-aluminum saucepan, and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and let simmer for at least 15 minutes. Strain, and serve warm. You can also place the oranges, cloves, cinnamon, and star anise in a cheesecloth. Then simply strain and pull out the bundle when ready.

*For an alcohol-free option, try using apple cider instead of wine and brandy! If you do this you can skip adding the honey or sugar. Another alternative would be to use mulling spice in the apple cider, instead of the individual spices

Kahlua Hot Chocolate

Click here for complete instructions from the creator of this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Dutch-processed unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• Pinch of nutmeg
• 1 ounce Kahlúa coffee liqueur
• Mini marshmallows, for serving
• Salted caramel, for serving
• Chocolate syrup, for serving

Directions:

In a medium saucepan, combine milk, sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon and nutmeg over medium heat until heated through, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Kahlúa. 

Serve immediately, garnished with mini marshmallows, salted caramel and chocolate syrup, if desired.

*For an alcohol-free version, just skip the Kahlua!

Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria

Click here for complete instructions from the creator of this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup cognac
• 2 cups apple cider
• 750ml bottle cava (or other dry sparkling wine), chilled
• 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds

Directions:

Add the apples to a large pitcher reserving about 1/2 cup for garnishing. Add the cognac, apple cider, and chilled cava. Stir.

Fill the pitcher with ice. Pour the sangria into glasses filled with ice and top with sliced apple and pomegranate seeds.

*For an alcohol-free version, just skip the cognac and use seltzer water or sparkling cider instead of the sparkling wine!

We hope these beverages help bring some warmth and fun into your home this winter. Please comment below with how these drinks turned out for you! We would love to hear your favorite winter refreshments and share them with the rest of our followers as well!

For more fun drinks, check out the full list here!

DIY Outdoor Games

Are you looking for a way to enjoy your new back yard with your friends, family, and neighbors? Try out some of these Do-It-Yourself outdoor game ideas! They’re easy to make at home with your loved ones, and available in stores and online. So go ahead! Mix up your favorite cocktail from our previous post, and get outside and play! And kids, make sure you have a parent to help you be safe with all the appropriate safety tools while making these great games.

Cornhole/Bag-O

Materials:

• ½” chick plywood sheet, 4’x4’
• Four 2’x4’s, 8’ long
• Four 4”x3/8” carriage bolts
• Four 3/8” flat washers
• Four 3/8” wing nuts
• 1 box 2 ½ inch wood screws
• Chop saw
• Jigsaw
• Compass
• Drill and bits
• Clamps (or another person to help)
• Palm sander
• Safety Goggles
• Paint (optional)

Preparation/Directions:

1. Cut plywood sheet in half to make two 2’x4’ boards.
2. Take the four 8’ long 2’x4’s
1. Cut 4 pieces 21” long
2. Cut 4 pieces 4’ long (two boards in half)
3. Cut 4 pieces 11 ½” long (for legs)
3. For assembly instruction please follow the links here.

Bananagrams

Materials (for basic tiles):

• Big sheet masonite OR
• 100 x 15mm x 1.5m fence palings AND
• Dulux Weathershield Low Sheen in Black and Vivid White

For tile holders:

• 6 timber pegs
• 7mmx5m nylong rope or cord

Breakdown of letters:

• Paling (100 Tiles):

1: J, W, K, V, X, Z, W

2: Y, F, B, G

3: H, M, P

4: U, D

5: C, L, S

7: N, T, O, I, R

8: A

10: E

• Masonite (144 Tiles):
  2: J, K, Q, X, Z
  3: B, C, F, H, M, P, V, W, Y
  4: G
  5: L
  6: D, S, U
  8: N
  9: T, R
  11: O
  12: I
  13: A
  18: E

Preparation/Directions:

1. Cut palings or masonite into large squares
2. Paint letters large enough to fill up the entire tile
3. Allow to dry and have fun!
4. For detailed instructions for tiles and stands click links here for masonite or here for fence paling and stands

Don’t hesitate to mix and match these two methods of creating this fun word game! The Masonite tiles are a bit easier and make more; the palings seem a bit more durable or heavy-duty.

Ladder Golf

Materials:

• ¾” PVC Piping:
• Nine 2’ pieces
• Six 1’ pieces
• Six standard T fittings
• Six elbows (or standard 90 joints)
• 15 feet of nylon rope/cord
• 12 tennis balls
• Drill (with a 5/16″ bit) or box cutter/knife
• Paper clip
• Lighter
• Paint (optional)

Preparation/Directions:

1. Build stand by creating a rectangle using 6 of the 2’ pieces, 2 standard T fittings (for the long side) and 4 elbow
2. Build three ladders
1. Use 3 2’ pieces, attach elbows to both ends of one piece
2. Attach two 1’ pieces to each elbow
3. Repeat steps to make two more ladders, using T fittings instead of elbows
4. Attach all three ladders by the T fittings and insert into base
3. Create tennis-ball bolas
1. Drill holes all the way through tennis balls using a drill or box cutter
2. It may be helpful to indent ball with smaller drill bit or the knife before beginning to drill.
3. Cut six 25” pieces of cord and seal ends using a lighter
4. Use large paper clip as a needle to thread cord through tennis ball.
5. Tie a knot in the end of the rope, and on the long end on the other side of the ball
6. Repeat step, placing one ball on each end of the cord for 6 bolas.
4. That’s it! If you want to paint your ladders or bola you can do so with any colors you like! Pain ladders before assembly for clean lines. You can also glue pieces together for a sturdier game.
5. For complete instructions and step-by-step photos, click here

Urban Horseshoes

Materials:

• Four 16” 2x4s
• Four 13” 2x4s
• Two 16” squares of plywood, any thickness you want (3/8” suggested)
• Two 3” PVC couplings
• Eight ½” Washers (or whatever size you want)
• Wood Screws (6x3/4 for base, 2x8 for frame)
• Glue/wood putty (optional)
• Paint (optional)

Preparation/Directions:

1. It may be hard to believe but this game is a bit more difficult to make than the others due to its relatively small size
2. For instructions, please click here.
3. You are basically making two small boxes using four pieces of 2”x4”s and plywood with PVC in the middle to catch the washers
4. You can paint the washers and boxes to make them more fun and personal! 

Check out this link for all these games and more! Get creative and have fun with friends and family not only playing these games, but also building them with your own two hands and giving them your own personal touches using paint and other customizations. Let us know how they work out for you! We would love to see your pictures!

Preserving Vacation Memories

Creative Ways to Preserve Your Summer Vacation Memories:

Pictures and keepsakes from vacations are always fun for reminiscing.    If you are like me, you always have the best intention to organize, create and save those treasured memories.  Scrap books and photo albums are always a great way to keep memories alive, but I thought:  there has to be something I can create that could also act as an accent to my home or as artwork.   So, I perused a few websites and found some ideas I would like to share.  These are simple but creative and make a great conversation piece too!  

Shadow Boxes

Step1
Create your background using the Alphabet Frames templates. These are so perfect for shadow box displays since they allow you to use several photos while maintaining a simple and clean looking display. I also recommend thinking outside the box on the words you use.

Step2
Remove the label inside the shadow box and attach your 12×12 print using the double sided tape.

Step 3:
Begin creating simple displays for some of your items. I wanted to include airline ticket stubs from each of the members of my family. I used a small clothespin to hold them and hot glued that clothespin directly to my 12×12 print. We had just a bit of sand from two of our favorite beaches to include as well. I used old lab beakers (turned upside down) to hold my sand. I also included little flag labels made from paper and toothpicks to designate the origin of the sand. If you can’t find old beakers you could use spice containers for a similar look.

Step 4:
Tilt the shadowbox and begin placing your keepsakes inside. After putting in my sand beakers, I added shells and rocks. Once all your items are inside you can close the shadow box.

http://designaglow.com/blog/inspiration/photo-design-project-shadow-boxes-for-beautiful-keepsakes/

 

Display Multiple Photos in an Empty Frame:

Choose an empty frame, gather photos, and display using wire and baby clothespins!   The clothespins allow you to change the photos. 

http://goodwillionaire.blogspot.com/2012/01/pinspiration-phabulous-photo-phrame.html