Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from all of us here at Galloway Family Homes!

2012 has been a terrific year and we look forward to all that 2013 has to offer.

We're providing some Christmas Trivia for you to use as an icebreaker at all your different holiday gatherings over the next few days. Hope it helps!

See you in 2013!

Galloway Family Homes

Christmas Holiday Trivia  

Source: http://www.christmas-celebrations.com/trivia.htm

The word Christmas is Old English, a contraction of Christ's Mass.

The first president to decorate the white house Christmas tree in the United States was Franklin Pierce.

Germany made the first artificial Christmas trees. They were made of goose feathers and dyed green.

Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895.

The first Christmas cards were vintage and invented in 1843, the Victorian Era. (You can read more about the history of Christmas Cards here.)

"It's a Wonderful Life" appears on TV more often than any other holiday movie.

Rudolph" was actually created by Montgomery Ward in the late 1930's for a holiday promotion. The rest is history.

The Nutcracker" is the most famous Christmas ballet.

Jingle Bells" was first written for Thanksgiving and then became one of the most popular Christmas songs.

If you received all of the gifts in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas," you would receive 364 gifts.

The poinsettia plant was brought into the United States from Mexico by Joel Poinsett in the early 1800's.

Holly berries are poisonous.

Contrary to common belief, poinsettia plants are non-toxic.

Mistletoe was chosen as Oklahoma's state flower in 1893 and later changed to the state floral emblem.

In 1843, "A Christmas Carol" was written by Charles Dickens in just six weeks.

The first state to recognize the Christmas holiday officially was Alabama.

Christmas became a national holiday in America on June, 26, 1870.

Christmas Baking!

It's that time of year - decorating, shopping, baking, and eating!

Here's a classic southern Christmas cookie recipe brought to us from Southern Living magazine.

Pecan Sandies

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Parchment paper

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 6 to 8 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through.
2. Beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Gradually add flour, beating just until blended. Stir in pecans and vanilla.
3. Divide dough in half, and shape each portion into 2 (1 1/4-inch-thick) logs (about 12 inches long). Wrap in parchment paper, and cover and chill 1 hour or until firm.
4. Preheat oven to 325°. Cut logs into 1/4-inch-thick rounds, and place 1/2 inch apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
5. Bake at 325° for 18 to 20 minutes or until lightly golden. Let cool on baking sheets 5 minutes. Transfer to wire racks, and let cool completely (about 20 minutes).

Porch Decor for Christmas

At Galloway Family Homes we love our porches....this classic Southern staple provides shade, extra living space and plenty of room to decorate!

Now that we're heading into the Christmas season we'd like to share some ideas we've found for decorating those porches for the Holidays.

Take a look and share your ideas!

Simple Green and White

Subtle Rustic

Garland and Bows

Thanksgiving Tablescapes

It's almost time!

Planning for the big Thanksgiving meal? From side dishes to seating arrangements there are many things to think about.  We've provided some inspiration for table settings. Take a look!

Rustic

Bold

Simple

 Elegant

What are your Thanksgiving tablescape ideas?

Tips for New Homeowners

There is so much excitement during the process of buying a new home - looking at floorplans, picking out colors, watching the construction process, moving in, decorating!  However in the  midst of that excitement there are a few simple things you can do that will help with home maintenance in the future.  Take a moment to go through the follow steps and know that you're a little more knowledgeable about your new home!

- File all warranty booklets and instruction books for new home appliances and systems in one secure space. Label and date each package.

- Know where your breaker box is. Make sure each switch is labeled correctly.

- Find your water and electrical shut-offs. In case of an emergency, you'll want to know how to locate these quickly.

Your new home is a wonderful responsibility. Take small steps now to ensure it stays that way long after move in.

Boo at the Zoo

Looking for some frightful family fun this weekend?

Don't miss out on "Boo at the Zoo",  the annual Halloween festival at Riverbanks Zoo.

Every night through October 30th enjoy the fun from 6-9pm.

Activities include:

- Trick or treat trail
- Nightly costume parade
- Marshmallow roast
- Frankenstein's Foam Zone
- Mysterious Maze
- Mummy Dance Party

And much more!

Most nights sell out so by your tickets online HERE!

Neighborhood Spotlight - Tanner Hall

Tanner Hall is located outside of metro Charleston in Hanahan. 

This beautiful neighborhood features wooded and spacious homesites, a community pool and clubhouse, boat landing and dock and tennis courts.

Residents have easy access to I-526 and I-26.

Galloway Family homes start in the $400's.

Directions:
From I-526, take exit 19/North Rhett Avenue and then turn left onto North Rhett Avenue. Continue to Follow N. Rhett for 2.8 Miles and make a left onto Tanner Ford Blvd. turn left onto Tanner Hall Blvd.  

Sales Information:

Contact: Chris Eller
Carolina One New Homes
(843) 343-3359
CEller@CarolinaOnePlus.com