Possibly the closest thing to a suburban Utopia, Fayette Farms in North Fayette Township is the perfect place to call home. Offering so much privacy with gorgeous wooded views, you are sure to fall in love with this neighborhood.  At Fayette Farms, even your children will love this charming community.  With just-about level and more than fun-size backyards to play in, plus one of Pennsylvania’s top school districts, Fayette Farms is a piece of paradise.  Still need convincing? How does a brand new community pool and clubhouse sound? And what if we told that this charming neighborhood, with incredible privacy, a fantastic school district, and an affordable price point is on the edge of Robinson Township?

Imagine an endless world of possibilities within a few miles from your driveway. North Fayette Township is currently building all new soccer and baseball fields, plus an amphitheater!  Talk about a great place to live,  North Fayette Township offers amazing events to its residents with Summer Movie Nights, Fireworks, an Annual Easter Egg Hunt, and so much more. And it’s all with in walking distance from your home! 

A Shopaholic’s dream! Did you know there are nearly 200 shops within 10 miles? Spend a couple hours at The Mall at Robinson, which offers almost 150 stores including names like Charlotte Russe, Eddie Bauer, Gap, Anne Taylor Loft, and Victoria’s Secret just to name a few.

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The Sky is Falling, The Sky is Falling

The sun is setting sooner, and the evening air is feeling a little crisp, and whether we are ready or not, fall is here…well almost here.  The leaves are starting to lose their green, and over the next couple of weeks you might be trading in those flip flops and tank tops for a nice fuzzy sweater. 

Although no one is ever quite ready to give up on the summer, fall is one of the most beautiful seasons, offering a stunning display of color and warmth.  However, nothing is more charming than walking through your neighborhood on a nice Autumn day and seeing every home decorated with cornstalks and hay bails or pumpkins and fall wreaths.  There is something truly mesmerizing about the fall that really reveals the character of a home.  And we would like to help you stage your home for the coming Fall. 

Get Started by Going Out

Cornstalks, Wreaths, and Scarecrows are staples for fall decorating and can be found almost everywhere! But why not enjoy yourself by visiting a fall festival, fall craft show, or local famer’s market? Spend a weekend at a local festival and support real local businesses while making your home Autumn-adorned. The links below take you to some of the most popular fall festivals in the area. Enjoy a weekend and get inspired as you make your way through a corn maze, drink warm apple cider, and find that perfect pumpkin at the local patch. Don’t forget! Check out some of the amazing craftwork and items for sale by local craftsman. Some of these items might go great in your living space. 

PittsburghMom.com – Fall Activities Blog

Washington County Covered Bridge Festival – 40^th Anniversary

Hickory Apple Festival

Autumn Fest at Seven Springs

Shenot Farms

Trax Farms

For Interior Inspiration, Look Outside

Vibrant golds, rich reds, deep chocolate browns, and toasty oranges surround your home, so mimic some of nature’s cues when deciding which hues to decorate in your home.  Bring the warmth of nature indoors when picking slip covers, throw pillows, and seasonal centerpieces.

Attack the Senses

When decorating your home, entertaining all of your senses will create the ultimate fall experience for you and your family.  Making your home visually appealing is a great first step for preparing your home for the fall, but do not forget about your other four senses. Texture, Scent, Sound and even Taste are very important elements that should be considered when designing the perfect Fall living space.     

Make your home visually appealing with items that nostalgically remind us of Autumn.  Pumpkins, gourds, leaves, and straw are very simple items, real or faux, that can be used to decorate any room. In addition to adding an organic element to your home, each of these items offer great texture to a decorating piece, the bumps of a gourd and smoothness of a pumpkin help add to the entire living experience. 

Once you have made your living space appealing to your eyes, it’s time to entertain that nose! Lighting a pumpkin, apple, or fall scented candle can connect every element of your room together. Be bold, try something new and try to stay away from scents that are associated with other seasons. If the weather is favorable open the windows and enjoy the crisp scent of fall as the fresh breeze and seasonal aroma of Mother Nature invades your living space giving you that nostalgic, Autumn feeling.

Another great reason to open your windows is to enjoy the music of fall.  With the light breeze whistling through the trees and stirring up the rustling leaves, fall offers a fantastic orchestra right outside your home. Combined with the cheers of some Steelers football on the TV, that fall feeling is almost complete.

Nothing says Fall is here like a warm pie in the oven or a dish of candy corn on the side table.  So attack those taste buds with foods associated with the season.  A warm pumpkin or apple pie can really warm up a room. Make sure you visit local famer’s markets and festivals for great treats like apple cider, apple butter, kettle corn and so much more.

Nostalgia, Nostalgia

The very most important thing to remember when preparing for your Fall experience is nostalgia.  Bring out your favorite afghan, cook up grandma’s old-fashioned apple pie, and be sure to dust off all of your favorite fall items.  Nothing warms the home or the soul more than your favorite things.

Heartland Homes presents the Ultimate Steelers Experience!

Prizes include:

Chalk Talk Breakfast – Tuesday, September 28 – Heinz Field North Club Lounge (20 winners)

You and a guest will gain exclusive access to Heinz field for a private tour and breakfast “chalk talk” with a Steelers player. You’ll be talking about this experience with your office buddies for a long time. Autographs/photos permitted.

Hines Ward Radio Show – Tuesday, October 19 – Sonoma Grill (4 winners)

You and a guest will enjoy a Private dinner at Sonoma Grill while watching the Hines Ward Radio Show broadcasting LIVE with Tunch Ilkin. Autographs/photos permitted.

You and a guest will gain exclusive access to Heinz field for a private tour and breakfast “chalk talk” with a Steelers player. You’ll be talking about this experience with your friends at the game. Autographs/photos permitted.

Monday Night at the Southside – Monday, December 6 – UPMC Sports Performance Complex (20 winners)

Gain exclusive access to the Steelers’ Southside practice facility with a guest for a private tour, time on-field, and dinner on-site with Steelers player while watching a Monday night football game. They play at Heinz field on Sundays, but THIS is the true day to day home of the Steelers. Autographs/photos permitted.

Grand Prize: The Ultimate Steelers Experience – Sunday December 12th – Heinz Field (3 winners)

You and a friend will be treated a VIP pre-game tailgate, receive pre-game on-field passes, and spectacular seats to the game. Who knows, you may even score some personal time with a player or two! This is the ultimate fan experience that you will never forget!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

Click here for the official rules.

You can also enter to win by texting HEARTLAND9 to 94253.

Click here to read the contest rules for text messaging.
Text messaging powered by SongWhale.

Last week at a small social gathering I was making small talk and conversing with some very nice people.  And after exchanging some “Where are you from’s” and “What do you do for Heartland Homes” I was asked what I write about on the blog.  I gave a very quick and safe answer. I said, “I write about Pittsburgh, I write about the housing market, and I write about Heartland Homes.”  But after giving it some serious thought, I realized it is not only what I write about that is very important to my role at Heartland Homes, but what I read as well.  Anyone who writes a blog either professionally or for fun, can appreciate the road block called “writers block”.  And when I get writer’s block I look for inspiration from some great local blogs to sprout creativity.  So it hit me, why not share some of the blogs that I look to when I am trying to find a new topic to write about?

A Soft Place to Land

This is a great blog from a local Pittsburgh gal.  Her tagline is “Real Home, Real Family, Real Life” and that is exactly what you get with Kimba’s website. This is a great DIY (Do It Yourself) Blog about being real.  From DIY projects and adventures to local garage sales, to real life stories about her family and home.  This is a very insightful look into the life of a real person from a real life perspective.

Voice of Color Cafe

Some of you might recognize Pittsburgh Paints’ Dee Schlotter from the very popular Voice of Color Presentations that we put on every year, but I like to follow Dee and her helpful interior design tips on her blog titled Voice of Color Cafe. With a very colorful insight from fuchsia to feng shui, nature to neutrals, Dee’s insight is very refreshing and always up to date with the latest trends in color and design.

Twitter

Yes, it is just a micro-blogging site and considered to be more of a social media site than actual blogging, but there are a ton of fun articles and conversations that are shared on Twitter every minute.  With the ability to follow your favorite celebrities, your best friends, or your neighborhood home builder, Twitter is the closest thing to being real time.  Log in and you will have instant access to the latest articles, contests, and updates from your fellow tweeps.

Pittsburgh Magazine

Not a blog per say, but Pittsburgh Magazine is a great resource for the local Pittsburgher, or for those who are just visiting.  With the best calendar of events for the ‘burgh as well as all the best articles about Pittsburgh by Pittsburgh people, Pittsburgh Magazine is a must read.

Happy Friday and welcome back to another TGIF edition of Heartland Today! 

It’s Friday, and that can only mean one thing…you have been working hard all week long and it is time for a break. I mean even the president is taking a vacation to Martha’s Vineyard, so you can at least take a breather this weekend, right? 

Not to bring you down, but it is August 20^th, and I don’t even want to tell you what year it is, that might scare you even more. Time is flying by and there is only one more weekend left to this summer.  So put down that laptop (well finish reading this blog first) and go have some fun.

What to do? What to do?

How about some shopping? Heartland Homes is holding a model furniture sale this Saturday from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm at our Foxchase Model in Canonsburg. (Click Here for Directions)  So stop by while you visit all of our open houses, which are open this and every weekend from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Enjoy shopping through the items that we showcase in our model homes. For a list of all the items on sale Click Here

Take me out to the ball game! Or just pass me a terrible towel.

We have the Mets taking on our beloved Pirates on both Friday and Saturday so visit the Major League’s most beautiful ball park with the best view of America’s most beautiful skyline.  Or kick your legs up in that leather recliner that you bought at our furniture sale and watch the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the New York Giants this Saturday at 7PM for some preseason football action.

Get Up and Get Out!

Beautiful weekend ahead of us and what better way then a Duck Tour!  Take a fun and informative tour of Pittsburgh on a Boat, in a Truck, On a Duck! http://www.justduckytours.com/index.php

Enjoy Pittsburgh’s favorite amusement park Kennywood!  Enjoy all of the classics that we all remember riding as a kid, and take on the newest addition at Kennywood, The Sky Rocket.  http://www.kennywood.com/

The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium is always a great way to spend the day.  With more than 400 different species of animals in 7 exhibits that showcase animals from all corners of the globe, the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium is one of the very best local attractions that Pittsburgh offers. http://www.pittsburghzoo.com/

Friday Thoughts: “You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely” So let your hair out, throw on a pair of sneakers and let the summer breeze guide you this weekend. Now inhale deeply and say these 9 words: I do not have to be me until Monday. Exhale

Model Home Furniture Sale

Have you ever walked through a Heartland Homes model and think to yourself “Wow this couch would go great in my family room” or “Isn’t this artwork just beautiful“  Well NOW is your chance to purchase some of the great items that you see showcased in our model homes!

WHEN: This Saturday (8-21-10) from 7:30 am to 3 pm

WHERE: Heartland Homes’ Foxchase Model (Click Here for Directions)

WHAT:  Artwork, Lamps, Bar Chairs, Leather Sofas, Chairs & Ottomans, Credenza for Flat Screen TV, End and Coffee Tables, Lamps, Three Piece Wall Unit, Decorator Items, Glass Top 1/2 Table, Matching Upholstered Chairs, Round Table, Glass Top Table & 4 Chairs, Artificial Plants, Dining Room Set, Mirrors, Plant Stands, Overstuffed Chairs, Floral Print Sofa, Server, Marble Top Tables, Armoire, Dresser with Mirror, Boys Bedroom Set with Racing Motif, Hall Piece with Mirror, Girls Bedroom Set , Two Pink Chairs, Twin Bedroom Set, Chaise, Floor Lamps, Wall Unit, 1/2 Table, Bistro Table & 2 Chairs, Leather Chairs and so much more!!

For any questions please visit the Golden Estate Sales website  or contact Patricia Golden at

Patricia A. Golden
Golden Estate Sales
224 Maplewood Drive
McMurray, PA 15314
pat@goldenestatesales.com
724-941-8373

Do not miss out on your final opportunity to live in Stonecrest!  With only 6 lots remaining, this amazing, new home community in Pine-Township will not last very long.   

Our Stonecrest community offers beautiful homesites that no other neighborhood can match.  Stonecrest homesites feature upgraded landscaping packages, walking trails to the nearby schools, sidewalks on both sides of the street, old-world mailboxes and stone address markers, luxurious brick fronts, concrete driveways, and private wooded homesites with ¾ acre of land or more.

Stonecrest is near everything you want to be!  Just minutes away from school, work, retail, and recreation.  Pine Richland Schools are less than a mile away, so close you can take a walking trail to get there!  The morning commute can be stress free when you live this close to I-79, the PA Turnpike, and a PAT Bus Stop! Whether you love to shop or simply enjoy convenience, you can appreciate all of the shopping you can do at the Ross Park Mall. Featuring names like Ann Taylor, Burberry, Nordstrom’s, and Macy’s to name a few.  Take pleasure in the sweet convenience of being surrounded by several grocery stores and restaurants on your way home from the mall, or from one of the nearby parks or golf courses that border the beautiful Stonecrest community! 

To learn more about the extravagant homesites still available at the luxurious Stonecrest community, Contact Sara-Your New Home Specialist.

Pittsburgh’s Best Home Builder

The reader’s of Pittsburgh Magazine were asked who the best home builder in Pittsburgh is, and they answered with Heartland Homes.  Notoriously known as Pittsburgh’s #1 Custom Home Builder and now voted as the 2010 Best of the Burgh Best Home Builder.

We are very much honored to be named the Best of the Burgh. It is one thing to be recognized by other builders and the construction community but to be recognized as the best by our customers and real Pittsburghers is a true honor. We humbly accept this award and would like to thank everyone who voted for Heartland Homes!

We all know the children’s story about the infamous egg that sat on a wall, had a great fall and couldn’t be put back together again, despite the work of all the king’s horses and all the king’s men.  But at Heartland Homes we have always been told a different version.  It is a little bit darker than the children’s story. Reader Beware:

Depending whose side of the story you hear, some say he fell, others say he jumped, but we know the true story. Humpty Dumpty didn’t fall. No, he didn’t jump. Humpty was pushed!! It was an “Eggs-ecution” (Come on, you had to expect at least one tacky joke from this story)

See, Humpty wasn’t sure if he wanted to buy a house or not.  He wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted, but Humpty knew that purchasing a home is a very important decision. So Humpty decided one fall day (pun intended) to sit on the fence and think about his options.  As he sat there thinking, a real estate agent and a sales rep from one of the local builders both came walking by.

Humpty Dumpty acknowledged the two sharp-dressed real-estate specialists on opposite sides of the fence from each other, and was immediately bombarded with commands. Before he could even finish saying Hello, he was cut off by the real estate agent. (more…)

You’re Invited!

Join us this Saturday in Morgantown (8/14) for a Special Community Open House and Celebration of The Summit at Cheat Lake, Heartland Homes’ premiere community in the Mountain State, and we’re selling homes like crazy! In the past few months we have sold 40% of our single family home sites at the Summit. And that is why are celebrating!  Morgantown is on fire (and it’s not even Mountaineer Football Season yet). 

Join us for a day of food and drinks, games and prizes, and take a tour of our beautiful community and decorated model home while your kids play on our bounce castle and inflatable slide!   

When:  Saturday August 14, 2010

Time:  10:00am – 2:00pm. 

Where: The Summit at Cheat Lake, Pinehurst Model Home

For Directions: CLICK HERE

So come out and see what all of the excitement is about. The Summit at Cheat Lake will feature some amazing amenities like a beach area on Cheat Lake, pool and clubhouse plus side walks throughout the entire community.   The community clubhouse is currently under construction and expected to be finished later this year.

Join us for the Community Open House at the Summit and find out why everyone is building their dream home at The Summit.

For more information about The Summit at Cheat Lake , the Open House or Celebration, please email Eileen McCleary at exm@LoveHeartland.com or call (304) 841-1655 anytime between 10 am and 7 pm