Grand View Builders

With the kids safely shipped back to school you might find yourself with some more time on your hands. Even if you’re swamped with housework, cooking and cleaning, redecorating is fun and good for the soul! One trend that we love this fall is chevron. It’s popping up everywhere on our Pinterest boards and we just had to share. Try incorporating the items below into your decorating scheme this fall!

This beautiful chevron rug will bring a contemporary look to a traditional decor.

Update your space with some color – like this chevron pillow and curtains.

If all of those options are too ricky for your decor, a nice chevron design in your flooring is a subtle way to incorporate the pattern. Experts at our Design Center can help you with the process!

If you’re doing some chevron redecorating, let us know on our Facebook or Twitter!

Looking for some healthy snacks for the kiddos to come home to? Food Network has some really yummy things for you to try – all pretty healthy too!

Sweet Bagel chips made at home are better for you than the ones at the store!

Salami Snails are a snap to make!

Edamame Hummus is sure to be a hit – even with picky eaters!

Apples and peanut butter are a tried and true snack. Make yours more fun by slicing up these Apple Moons.

We’re sure your kiddos will enjoy these treats! Stop by in the comments below and tell us which one they liked best!

While many go off on fun adventures during Labor Day weekend, we know that we’ll be staying put in our lovely Grand View Builders homes. While we’d love to sit back and relax, we know that our families will still need some meals to get them through this long weekend. Why not try some of these delicious crock pot recipes that will keep your brood full while keeping it low maintenance – the best of both worlds!

Chicken Curry in the Crockpot will be easy and delicious!

This CrockPot Cobbler will make a good dessert or brunch!

Fresh Corn Salad is the perfect accompaniment to your Labor Day picnic!

Remember that we’re still promoting our Red, Like and You campaign on our Facebook page. Like ust to donate $1 to Operation Homefront Texas!

The days of summer are drawing to a close and it’s almost time to send the kiddos back to school on that familiar yellow bus. Before they’re sent packing however, let us help  you out with a few tips that have helped us ease our children back into the school routine.

Get ready in advance – If you pre-plan what your children will wear each day of the week on Sunday night, they’ll have that much longer in the mornings to get ready. Especially on Mondays, we could all use as much extra time as we can get!

Start the bedtime schedule early – A week before the first day of school, have your children begin having their bedtime.

Let your kids meet your teachers – If your school does not do a meet and greet with teachers, call your child’s to see if you can schedule some pre-classroom face time.

If your child knows how to tell time – Sit down with them and show them what times they’ll be going to and coming home from school.

Have a routine when they come home - Create a special place for your child to do their homework so that they get in the habit of accomplishing it before they play.

Have fun buying supplies – While back to school shopping may seem like a chore, let your child be involved in choosing their backpack, lunchkit and accessories. They’ll be so excited to use them that they’ll be raring to go!

If this is your child’s first time – Or if your child is merely anxious, talk with them and assure them that school is a fun place!

Do you have any tips for easing the transition from summer vacation to the school year? Share on our Facebook and Twitter.

One of the hardest things about eating meals as a family is the fact that kids do not like eating vegetables. Creative parents can employee different methods in order to ensure that their children get the nutrition that they need. Take some of these tips with you to the table tonight and see if you can get your little ones to enjoy their greens.

A veggie soup with a tomato base is a great way to sneak some loads of different on your child’s plate (or bowl!).

Vegetable juices are a great way to make eating veggies yummy AND fun!

Playing with fruits and vegetables will make your children more likely to sample their art supplies

If all else fails, you can always adopt the tried and true methods of allowing your kids to cook with you – they’re more likely to eat what they’ve helped to makes – or hiding veggies in other foods – try cauliflower in their mashed potatoes!

While activities such as allowing your children to play with their food may not seem conducive to table manners, a little bit of cajoling in order to show your children how yummy vegetables are is never a bad thing. Eventually, they will understand how it’s great to eat “good for you foods” and their plates will disappear in the blink of an eye! All above ideas adapted from Squidoo.

If you’ve ever wanted to connect with the Grand View Builders Team, come to Katy Mills Mall this Saturday, August 4th for Roula’s Baby Shower! We’ll have a table set up on the left hand side of the mall if you’re facing Katy Mills Circle. We’d love to see you there!

Summer suns in Texas don’t mess around and the added expense of running your air conditioning can have your bills rocketing sky-high. If you’re just looking for free ways to conserve energy in your own home, there are lots of simple tricks that cost little to no money. Here are a few of our favorites

Use safety plugs in unused outlets, which can let outside air in when left open.

Replace old glaze on your window panes with putty to keep air inside your home.

Plug your chimney with fiberglass insulation when not in use and make sure the dampers are sealed tight.

Use rags or hand towels instead of paper towels.

Check the seal on your refrigerato
Clean out the lint screen each time you use your dryer.r by placing a dollar bill in the door, if it can be easily pulled out, it’s time to replace the gaskets.

Drive the speed limit!

Dust your light fixtures.

Save wire coat hangers by returning them to your dry cleaner.

Remember to turn off the lights when you leave a room!

Aside from all of these options, Grand View Builders save energy every day by using the products that are already placed in their homes. ENERGY STAR qualified homes like ours use reliable building technologies that are proven to save homeowners money. If you’re saving money with energy saving ideas, make sure to post them to our Facebook and

Twitter.

While you’re busy with all of your summertime activities, don’t forget to make a good home cooked meal. One of the best times to gather the family is around the dinner table and these meals are both a snap to prepare as well as delicious to enjoy.

This Garlic Prime Rib from AllRecipes.com has a great marinade that you can use on lots of other meats throughout the summer!

For those of you who require something more veggie – friendly, this California Grilled Sandwich also from AllRecipes.com hits the mark and incorporates some of summer’s freshest produce!

Even though the every day rush of work can leave you feeling as if you have no time, make it a priority at least once a week to share a meal with your family. You can use the time to catch up, relax and just enjoy one another’s company. If you and your family are gathering around a summer meal, make sure to post pictures to our Facebook and Twitter.

Our last social media campaign, the Summer of Love Giveaways, was such a hit that we’re going to start another campaign via our Facebook page! Introducing our new Red, Like and You Campaign – for every new like that we receive on our page between the 4th of July and Labor Day, we have committed to give $1 to Operation Homefront Texas.

Operation Homefront Texas assists service people and their families with a multitude of financial costs that may incur while they are on active tour. Programs include food assistance, auto repair, moving assistance, vision care, homefront celebrations, essential home items, morale items, travel and transportation and many others in order to ensure that we are helping our service men and women as much as they are helping us. Although Operation Homefront is a national organization, Grand View Builders will be working with their Texas chapter in order to especially support their efforts in our great state!

If you have any other questions or would like to get involved – besides liking our page! – please don’t hesitate to contact us below or at pr@gvbtexas.com.

The fact that 4th of July is on a Wednesday this year doesn’t mean you can’t still have some fun! Check out some fun things to do in the Houston area to celebrate!

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens will be having an Americana-themed festival with music, performers and costumed actors reliving 1776.

The annual Freedom Over Texas celebration at Eleanor Tinsley Park will feature Billy Currington and Sara Evans.

Burgers, Bourbon & Brews Bus Crawl will feature delicious food and cocktails around the midtown Houston area.

The City of Sugarland will be holding their own celebration – the Red, White and Bluefest over Oyster Creek Park.

Tomball’s July 4th Celebration will be a street party!

Friendswood’s celebration The Sounds of Freedom will be an all day event with food, fun and fireworks!

While you’re celebrating don’t forget to thank our military personnel who have preserved the freedom that we are celebrating today. Happy 236th America!