Baking during the holidays is a favorite tradition, something you pass along to your children with the hopes of bringing together friends and family for years to come. Whether it is decorating sugar cookies or making gingerbread houses, baking is as timeless as the holidays. So, dust off those aprons and get those sprinkles shaking because it’s time for some fun!
The first treat on our list of classic confections has become an all-time favorite family tradition. Biscochitos are a shortbread-
Next, we have a classic: The Gingerbread House. The gingerbread mix is diverse in that you can make a beautiful gingerbread home or a fun-filled gingerbread family! Decorating both is equally as fun but we got to say, it’s much easier to eat the cookies than an architectural masterpiece.
Have you ever made your own fudge before? If so, you know how good it feels to eat homemade fudge. If you haven’t, that’s because the chef eats it before you can because it’s that good. We’re joking, of course, because not only is fudge fun to make but it also makes a perfect holiday gift! Pack it in a decorative tin, and it’ll stay fresh for at least a week.
Last but certainly not least, the festive and elegant linzer cookie. You can fill these little beauties with a wide variety of fruit fillings, but this particular recipe calls for that festive red raspberry jam. There’s nothing elegant about eating the entire batch of cookies in 2 days, but here we are making one of our favorite holiday treats.
We could honestly go on and on with different fun treats like sugar cookies, apple pies, candy-cane brownies, cinnamon rolls, truffles – but we don’t have all day. We’ve got the perfect
It’s officially time to usher in the holiday season! It’s time to get the tree out of storage, bring out the Christmas lights and get to decorating. It’s not easy turning your home into a winter wonderland, but that’s what family is for! Part of the fun is putting it all up with the people you love the most. Add a personal touch to your décor this year with these trendy and elegant DIY tips and tricks:
This winter, white is in! It sounds simple, but white snow and fake furs complement a home’s white walls and make for a wonderful winter wonderland. But no white décor is complete without bold pops of red – like cranberries, red plaid and pomegranates! Fruit and berries add a rustic yet elegant touch to your home’s modern décor.
Red fruits aren’t the only options this holiday season. Go natural with a modern twist on holiday décor. Interior designer Tobi Fairley suggests, “Use fresh evergreen boughs, garlands
String lighting has come a long way over the past couple of years. A trip to your local craft store can yield some incredible finds! Most decorative wire and micro lighting come accompanied with a battery pack, which opens the door to countless new lighting opportunities. From the fireplace mantle to the kitchen centerpiece, add a little sparkle to any area of the home!
Gold is always in when it comes to Christmas décor and as it turns out, gilding is much easier and more fun than you’d expect. Take any fruit, pinecone, Christmas ornament, etc. and give it a golden touch with this fun and
How will you make your home the perfect home for the holidays?
For Vanbrooke residents, the city of Fulshear is their home for the holidays. The city limits stretch across approximately 10 square miles of beautiful landscape ranging from rolling terrain dotted with grassy prairie land and serene low lands along the banks of the Brazos River.
The city of Fulshear is home to many annual traditions, including the ever festive Fulshear Festival of Lights. Gather your friends and family for this community-sponsored event featuring live music, vendor booths, fun activities for the whole family and a parade. At the end of the night, a stunning display of fireworks will light up the sky to welcome in the holidays and close out the night’s festivities. The event will begin at 5 p.m. Dec. 1 in the heart of Downtown Fulshear. Come out and celebrate the holidays with the warm and loving community of Fulshear.
Other annual Fulshear events include the St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Shindig, the 4thof July Freedom Fest and two Keep Fulshear Beautiful Days throughout the year. Occupying a prime location along Highway 359 near Interstate 10, Vanbrooke is 3 miles north of charming downtown Fulshear and just a short drive away from the unique dining, shopping and entertainment opportunities to be found in Katy, Sugar Land and Houston. Be sure to keep an eye on the Vanbrooke Facebook page for upcoming news and events from the spectacular surrounding areas!
The holidays are here and as we all know, ‘tis the season to be spending time with the family and the people we cherish most. And while we may tell ourselves that we’ll never forget this Thanksgiving, it’s still a good idea to pull out the handy smartphone to record happy moments and take photos of loved ones.
While tapping the photo button is easy, sometimes taking a good video or picture isn’t. Here are just a couple of tips for making the most of our technology this holiday season.
First and foremost, it’s a good rule of thumb to never use the phone’s digital zoom. Most smartphone cameras are not zooming optically like a real camera would and are instead enlarging the picture digitally. This can cause pixelation and a blurrier picture or video.
Lighting can make or break a picture or video. When shooting indoors always try to position your subject facing a light source and never in front of one. This will cause the subject to be cast in a shadow and the picture will come out much too dark. Sometimes there’s just too much light facing your subject — that’s where your smartphone can really come in handy. Tapping your subject will set the focus and exposure to an optimal level given the light provided. Tapping the subject and holding the screen until “AE/AF LOCK” appears will lock the exposure in place so you don’t have to worry about shifting exposure during a video if you move around.
While not essential, tripods will always yield a better-looking photo and video and allow the whole family to be in a picture with your phone’s self-timer function. The one linked is inexpensive and widely versatile with its flexible legs.
This holiday season, come see what it means to make Vanbrooke your home for the holidays and practice taking photos in one of Vanbrooke’s many beautiful model homes. The natural light and open floor plans are sure to make a stunning backdrop for any family occasion this holiday season.