Now that you received a new iPad or Android tablet for the holidays, what hot new apps can help you search for your new home, decorate your new home or design your new home in Wake Forest? With so many choices, how do you choose the best app for you? Heritage Wake Forest has sorted through the new iPad and tablet apps and picked the best ones. Here is a list of 5 apps to help you find, decorate and personalize your new home at Heritage Wake Forest. Share your favorite iPad or tablet apps with us on Facebook.

1. Pinterest allows users to pin articles, photos, etc. to their pinboards. You can also browse other users’ pinboards for more ideas. This is especially helpful for design ideas for your new home in Wake Forest. Pin things you like so you don’t forget about them later. This free app is available for Apple iPad and iPhone users.

2. Dream Home HD for Apple users allows you to search by style, room, or color for your new home’s design options. You can browse photos or articles about interior design and bookmark them for comparison later. The HD app is $4.99, but the non-HD version is only $0.99.  Android tablet users can also download the non-HD Dream Home app for $1.99.

3. Houzz Interior Design Ideas offers more than 150,000 idea books and more than 70,000 pictures to help you find the perfect look for your new home in Wake Forest. The app can also help you find information for local architects, contractors, designers, and more. This Apple app is free and available for both iPads and iPhones.

4. Remodelista app for iPads and Android tablets allows you to search article and posts based on categories and photos to find ideas for your new home. Users can find helpful posts like “10 Easy Pieces” and “Steal This Look.”

5. Color Capture or Color Snap for Apple or Android users will help you find the perfect color palette for your new home in Wake Forest. Color Capture will find the right paint color based on any photo, pattern, etc. that you capture on the app. Color Snap will find the perfect hue for your new space based on any photo image you capture with the app. Both tablet apps are free.

For the third year in a row, residents of Heritage Wake Forest came out in force to support this year’s Toys for Tots toy drive.  Hundreds of new toys were collected at the community’s Sales Center and Golf Club.

The objectives of the Toys for Tots are to help needy children throughout the US experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable natural resources – our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause each year in the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.

“The homeowners and club members at Heritage are a special group of people,” said Andy Ammons, President of Ammons Development Group.  “The warmth and camaraderie they share is evident throughout the year. It shines even brighter at Christmas.”

Heritage is comprised of 26 neighborhoods ranging from starter townhomes in the $150s – $400s to single family homes from the low $200s – $600s.  The vast array of recreational amenities includes golf, tennis, two swim complexes, miles of walking and biking trails, greenways, playgrounds, soccer fields, amphitheater and a fully stocked fishing pond.   Heritage was three times named Master Planned Community of the Year for the NC Home Builder’s Association, 18^th Best Master Planned Community in the Country, and the golf course was given an outstanding 4-1/2 Star rating by Golf Digest Magazine.

Find out more about Heritage Wake Forest by visiting www.HeritageLiving.com or following us on Facebook or Twitter.  If you prefer, call us at 919-453-2000.

Directions: From I-540, take US 1/Capital Blvd. North. Bear right onto US 1-A (Main St.) Turn right on Rogers Rd. and then left onto Heritage Lake Rd. The Sales & Information Center is on the left just past Heritage Lake Pool.

About Heritage Wake Forest:

Heritage is located near the historic downtown district of Wake Forest NC. This master- planned community is comprised of 26 individual neighborhoods and offers townhomes and single-family homes priced from the $150s to the $600s. Heritage offers a variety of recreational amenities including golf, tennis, two swim complexes, miles of walking and biking trails, greenways, playgrounds, soccer fields, amphitheater and a fully stocked fishing pond.

This exceptional community was three times named Master Planned Community of the Year for the NC Home Builder’s Association, 18^th Best Master Planned Community in the Country and the golf course was given an outstanding 4-1/2 Star rating by Golf Digest Magazine.

For more information on the community, please call 919-453-2000 or visit us online at www.HeritageLiving.com.  Become a fan on Facebook.

Sales by Coldwell Banker Howard Perry & Walston Builder Services. Marketing by Stone Builder and Developer Marketing Group.

As the holiday season winds down and everyone gears up for New Year’s Resolutions, who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too? These two simple healthy desserts are great for those last minute holiday parties, neighborhood get-togethers, New Year’s Celebrations and weekend cookie exchanges. Armed with these dark chocolate bark and cranberry cookie recipes, you are sure to wow all your friends and family at your new home in Wake Forest. Share your best healthy dessert recipes with Heritage Wake Forest on Facebook!

1.      Dark Chocolate Bark

Ingredients

1 lb. dark chocolate (60-70 percent works best)

1 ¼ cup almonds (whole roasted work best)

¾ cup fun ingredient (try roasted pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, dried fruit, etc.)

First, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Then finely chop your chocolate. If using dark chocolate chips, you do not have to chop the chocolate. Using a double boiler, or a bowl set over a saucepan with simmering water, melt the chocolate. When the chocolate is 2/3 melted, remove it from the heat and stir until all of the chocolate is melted. Then, stir in the almonds and fun ingredients. Coat all of the nuts and other fun ingredients with chocolate. Pour the mixture onto the baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a spatula to spread the chocolate mixture evenly over the baking sheet. Cool the chocolate mixture in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes, or until cool and hardened. Then invert the hardened chocolate onto your counter and remove the parchment paper. Break up the bark and serve at your new home in Wake Forest.

2.      Cranberry cookies

Ingredients

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup sugar

1 egg (warm to room temperature)

1 egg yolk (warm to room temperature)

1 tbsp. vanilla extract

2 cups flour (all-purpose works best)

2 ½ sticks butter (warm to room temperature)

1 cup rolled oats (quick-cooking or old fashioned work best)

1 ½ cup dried cranberries

1 ½ cup semisweet or white chocolate (chips work best)

First preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Then, in a medium bowl, mix together the flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, mix the butter, brown and regular sugar together with an electric mixer. When the butter and sugar is creamy, add the egg, egg yolk and vanilla one at a time to the mixture. Next, add the mixed dry ingredients from the medium bowl. Then, add the cranberries and chocolate chips until a dough forms.  Next, scoop out spoonfuls of the dough onto the baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between the cookies. Bake the cookie dough for 12-15 minutes, or until the cookies are brown on the edges. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets before transferring them to a cooling rack. Serve up your tasty cookies at your new home in Wake Forest. The smell of freshly baked cookies is irresistible.

Looking for new ways to connect digitally with the fast approaching holidays? There’s definitely and app for that! Try one or two or six to brighten your days of holiday cheer. Here are a few app recommendations from Heritage Wake Forest for tracking Santa’s gift route to spinning the dreidel, and everything in between. Share your favorite holiday apps with us on Facebook.

1. Santa Claus Tracker – This app by NORAD tracks Jolly Saint Nick and his tiny reindeer with a countdown to Christmas. Read and write letters to Santa and look for sightings with your kids too at your new home in Wake Forest. This app costs $0.99 and is available for both Apple and Droid smartphones.

2. Talking Santa – Do you remember Talking Tom, the cat that repeated everything you said? Well, now there is a Talking Santa too. Record fun holiday messages and send them to your friends and family. You can also feed Santa cookies and milk as well as run over him with a giant snowball. This $0.99 app for iPhones and Droids is great for a bit of holiday cheer.

3. Christmas Radio – Can’t get enough holiday music on the radio? No problem. Download the Christmas Radio app for your Apple or Droid smartphone. Listen to all of your favorite holiday tunes while you shop, wrap and bake holiday goodies. You can even hook up your phone to play the Christmas Radio for holiday guests at your new home in Wake Forest. Enjoy all the sounds of the season for only $0.99.

4. Dreidel HD – Not all holiday apps are Santa related. Enjoy spinning the dreidel with up to four of your friends. This iPhone social app is $1.99. The Droid friendly version is called Droidel. This free app for Droid phones and tablets also counts down the days to Chanuka with a Menorah.

5. Christmas Advent Calendar – Count down the days to Christmas at your new home in Wake Forest with an interactive Advent Calendar available for both Apple and Droid smartphones and tablets. Nothing adds to holiday cheer like a little music, video and more from your interactive calendar.

6. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer – If you love all of the Rudolph holiday classics with the Isle of Misfits, then download the interactive app for Apple and Droid products. Listen to audio clips from the 1964 films, read the books, browse the original artwork and more for $2.99. If you love other holiday classics, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is also available for $3.99. Create new interactive holiday traditions for you and your kids with old holiday classics.

Ammons Development Group reports that Heritage Wake Forest has set a new record for November Sales.  The community sold 17 homes in November, the strongest November in the community’s 11-year history.

Sales were spread across multiple price points and styles of homes.  Heritage’s success is a result of a strong builder team, variety of home style and prices, the reputation of the community and the lifestyle it offers.

“Heritage has definitely become a destination neighborhood for those looking to purchase a home,” said Andy Ammons, President of Ammons Development Group.  “It is amazing to still be selling at these levels after 11 years.”

Heritage Wake Forest is comprised of 26 neighborhoods ranging from starter townhomes in the $140s – $400s to single family homes from the low $200s – $600s.  The vast array of recreational amenities includes golf, tennis, two swim complexes, miles of walking and biking trails, greenways, playgrounds, soccer fields, amphitheater and a fully stocked fishing pond.   Heritage was three times named Master Planned Community of the Year for the NC Home Builder’s Association, 18^th Best Master Planned Community in the Country, and the golf course was given an outstanding 4-1/2 Star rating by Golf Digest Magazine.

Find out more about Heritage Wake Forest by visiting www.HeritageLiving.com or following us on Facebook or Twitter.  If you prefer, call us at 919-453-2000.

Directions: From I-540, take US 1/Capital Blvd. North. Bear right onto US 1-A (Main St.) Turn right on Rogers Rd. and then left onto Heritage Lake Rd. The Sales & Information Center is on the left just past Heritage Lake Pool.

About Heritage Wake Forest:

Heritage is located near the historic downtown district of Wake Forest NC. This master- planned community is comprised of 26 individual neighborhoods and offers townhomes and single-family homes priced from the $140s to the $600s. Heritage offers a variety of recreational amenities including golf, tennis, two swim complexes, miles of walking and biking trails, greenways, playgrounds, soccer fields, amphitheater and a fully stocked fishing pond.

This exceptional community was three times named Master Planned Community of the Year for the NC Home Builder’s Association, 18^th Best Master Planned Community in the Country and the golf course was given an outstanding 4-1/2 Star rating by Golf Digest Magazine.

For more information on the community, please call 919-453-2000 or visit us online at www.HeritageLiving.com.  Become a fan on Facebook.

Sales by Coldwell Banker Howard Perry & Walston Builder Services. Marketing by Stone Builder and Developer Marketing Group.

Still unsure what to buy that hard-to-shop for person on your holiday gift list? No worries. Handmade gifts are not only perfect for the difficult to shop for, but anyone on your list. Handmade gifts allow you to personalize each gift and truly show how much you really thought about them. Here are a few do it yourself projects you can throw together at your new home in Wake Forest in less than an hour.

Be sure to share your great DIY gift ideas and pictures with us on Facebook! You can find plenty of great handmade gifts and crafty items for your DIY gifts at local shops in Downtown Wake Forest. You can search for local craft stores and specialty shops online at local.triangle411.com, Yelp.com, YP.com and local.yahoo.com.

1. Wine stoppers – Create your own wine stoppers for the oenophile in your life. Pick up a few replacement corks at a kitchen or home store, a 1 inch expansion plug at an auto store, and a ¼ inch dowel at a craft store. Cut the dowel to 1 inch long. Drill a ¼ inch hole in the cork and expansion plug and then place the dowel in the hole. Use superglue or epoxy to glue a personalized topper to the cork. You can use anything as a topper from a door knob to stamps to pretty stones. Look for inspiration around your new home in Wake Forest. Pair your personalized wine stopper with a great bottle of wine and you’ve got a perfect gift for Heritage neighborhood parties.

2. Soup or Cookie Kit – Everyone could use a hot bowl of soup or a fresh batch of cookies on a cold winter day. Gather canning jars and a few cookie cutters or mini soup ladles at a home goods store. Then find all the dry ingredients for your soup or cookies at a grocery store. Layer the ingredients in the jar to create a beautiful looking gift. Print off the soup or cookie recipe on a fun index card and tie it to the canning jar with festive string and the soup spoon or cookie cutter. These festive kits are great for the cooks on your list or holiday hostess gifts.

3. Gardening Kit – For anyone who’s not afraid to get their hands dirty, give a handmade gardening kit.  Find several small pots at a gardening or home store, a small amount of potting soil, seeds, canning jars and an old tool caddy. If you can find a small trowel, that would be great too. Place the soil in a few canning jars and the seeds in separate small jars or the canning jars. Don’t forget to label which seeds are which in your jars. You can use seeds for pretty spring flowers or herbs for a small herb garden in the spring. You also can find great North Carolina hardy plant ideas from the Heritage Wake Forest Xeriscape Garden. Place all of your elements in the tool caddy with a recipe for gardening success. Any new home in Wake Forest can benefit from a little extra beauty this spring.

The Holiday Season is in full swing now that December has arrived. Catch all of your favorite holiday events near your new home in Wake Forest. Heritage Wake Forest recommends this short list of great holiday celebrations. Share your favorite holiday events or activities with us on Facebook! We’d love to see your holiday photos too!

1. Calls From Santa – Register by December 7 at 5 p.m. for a Call From Santa on December 8 between 6 and 8 p.m. Calls From Santa is sponsored by the Wake Forest Parks and Recreation Department for kids from 3 to 7 years old. Call 919-435-9560 for more information or email cfergeson@wakeforestnc.gov.

2. Wake Forest Christmas Parade – See all the creative works of Wake Forest groups and businesses on display starting at 1 pm on December 10. Look for floats, elves, and more! Don’t forget to see Santa too! You can take your picture with Jolly Ole St. Nick from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and after the parade until 3 p.m. at the Depot parking lot.

3. Candlelight Tours – On December 10-11 visit downtown Raleigh’s 19^th Century homes by candlelight on the Oakwood Candlelight Tour. Enjoy the season’s beauty and décor in a different light. Mordecai House in downtown Raleigh is also offering a candlelight tour of the house and grounds on December 10 from 5-10 p.m. with all the season’s trimmings.

4. A Christmas Carol – David Ira Wood reprises his role as Scrooge again in this year’s “A Christmas Carol” by the Theatre in the Park crew. Don’t miss this ongoing 37-year Triangle tradition of Dickens’ beloved work. The show runs December 8-14 at DPAC and the Progress Energy Center

5. Raleigh Ringers Holiday Concert – If you love a Carol of the Bells, then don’t miss the Raleigh Ringers on December 11 at Meymandi Concert Hall. The hand-bell choir is always a real holiday crowd pleaser for the whole family.

6. The Nutcracker – Catch sugar plum fairies, music, magic and more at the Carolina Ballet’s performance of the classic “Nutcracker.” This year’s production features a live orchestra and new illusions and magic. The show runs December 16-24 at Memorial Auditorium.

7. Sledding – Go sledding at the AT&T Raleigh Winterfest Ice Rink on December 18. Take the whole family for an enjoyable afternoon of outdoor winter fun.

8. Jewish Cultural Festival – The Jewish Federation of Raleigh-Cary and Beth Shalom will host their first festival on December 20 from 3-9 p.m. Eat traditional Jewish foods, browse crafts, and enjoy family friendly activities, music, entertainment. Don’t forget the lighting of the 9-foot tall Menorah is a must see for this Festival of the Lights celebration.

9. T’was the Night Before Christmas – Catch a holiday classic performed by the North Carolina Symphony, Capital City Girls’ Choir, and WRAL anchor David Crabtree. Sing along to your holiday favorites on December 22 at Meymandi Concert Hall in downtown Raleigh.

10. Kwanzaa Celebration – This year’s Kwanzaa Celebration is all about “The Golden Years: Paying Tribute and Honoring Our Elders” on December 29 starting at 2 p.m. The celebration features the Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble, Dr. Louise Toppin, Dr. Michael Gordon, and Ghanaian drummer Kwabena Osei Appiagyei.

The holiday season is upon us! There are still plenty of shopping days left with great deals still available, even after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. If you are still wondering which holiday gifts are selling fast, here are a few suggestions from Heritage Wake Forest. There are also plenty of local Wake Forest shops with great holiday sales. Share your hottest holiday gifts or shops with us on Facebook.

1. Ereaders are still very popular. Read books or magazines, surf the web, download apps, play games, etc. The most popular eReaders this year are the Kindle and the Nook, however Samsung, Sony, Kobo and Pandigital also sell similar eReaders. These digital libraries are perfect for the avid readers in your family.

2. Stay connected to all your family members whether they live with you at your new home in Wake Forest, or across the country with new smartphones for both Droid and Apple fans. Look for hot new phones like the iPhone 4S, HTC Wildfire S, LG Enlighten, Samsung Replenish, or the Blackberry Bold.

3. The hottest tech gifts this year will be tablets. If you are part of the Apple family, then check out the new ipad2. If you are an Android user or Amazon fan, then try the new Kindle Fire. Barnes and Noble Nook users can also find the new Nook Tablet available for holiday shopping.

4. For the gamers at your new home in Wake Forest, track down popular new video games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Batman: Arkham City, Madden NFL 12, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, and Assassin’s Creed: Revelations.

5. The movie buffs at your new home will love movie sets like Harry Potter and Twilight. Other anticipated movie releases this year for the holidays include The Kings Speech, Captain America, The Help and Bridesmaids.

6. Not all holiday gifts include electronics. Books are also great holiday gifts this year. Check out best sellers like the Steve jobs biography by Walter Isaacson, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

7. Enjoy family bonding time at your new home in Wake Forest with a few popular board games this year. Try the new Angry Birds board game, Lexigo or Awkward Family Photos for a night of laughs with your kids.

Heritage Wake Forest is pleased to announce that for the third year, they are teaming up with the United States Marine Corps as an official drop off location for Toys for Tots.

The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.  Donations of new, unwrapped toys may be dropped off at the Heritage Sales Center at 804 Heritage Lake Road or at Heritage Golf Club, 1250 Heritage Club Avenue through December 15.

“This is the third year Heritage has been involved with this worthy cause,” shares Andy Ammons, President of Ammons Development Group.  “The homeowners, golf members and friends of Heritage overwhelmingly have been great supporters of this program.  It is wonderful when a group of people come together and have such a positive effect on a child’s life.  A huge THANK YOU to everyone who donates.”

Heritage Wake Forest offers a variety of recreational amenities including golf, tennis, two swim complexes, miles of walking and biking trails, greenways, playgrounds, soccer fields, amphitheater and a fully stocked fishing pond.   This outstanding community was three times named Master Planned Community of the Home Builder’s Association and the golf course was given an outstanding 4-1/2 Star rating by Golf Digest Magazine.

Find out more about Heritage Wake Forest by visiting www.HeritageLiving.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.  If you prefer, call us at 919-453-2000.

Directions: From I-540, take US 1/Capital Blvd. North. Bear right onto US 1-A (Main St.) Turn right on Rogers Rd. and then left onto Heritage Lake Rd. The Sales & Information Center is on the left just past Heritage Lake Pool.

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About Heritage Wake Forest

Heritage is located near the historic downtown district of Wake Forest NC. This master- planned community is comprised of 26 individual neighborhoods and offers townhomes and single-family homes priced from the $140s to the $600s. Heritage offers a variety of recreational amenities including golf, tennis, two swim complexes, miles of walking and biking trails, greenways, playgrounds, soccer fields, amphitheater and a fully stocked fishing pond.

This exceptional community was twice named Master Planned Community of the Home Builder’s Association and the golf course was given an outstanding 4-1/2 Star rating by Golf Digest Magazine.

For more information on the community, please call 919-453-2000 or visit us online at www.HeritageLiving.com.  Become a fan at Facebook.com/HeritageWakeForest .

Sales by Coldwell Banker Howard Perry & Walston Builder Services. Marketing by Stone Builder and Developer Marketing Group.

During this holiday season, Heritage Wake Forest wants to help you stay in shape. Even though Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and enjoying life’s indulgences, you can still find time to stay fit and healthy. Here are a few ideas to get the whole family up and moving around your new home in Wake Forest. Share your favorite ideas for staying in shape during the holidays with us on Facebook!

1. Participate in the 6th Annual Gobbler’s Run 5K Family Event on Thanksgiving Day, starting at 8 a.m. This 3.1 mile walk/run through historic downtown Wake Forest is a great way for the whole family to work up a large turkey appetite. Registration fees for the event all go to help the Boys & Girls Club of Wake Forest. Bring your stroller, your dog and your family for a morning of giving back to the community and genuine fun!

2. Start a workout routine at a local gym. Heritage Club members can begin a fitness routine at Anytime Fitness with a joint membership. Anytime Fitness is open 24 hours a day and has plenty of workout equipment including treadmills, recumbent bikes, elliptical cross trainers, weights, personal trainers, group classes and more. Anytime Fitness is located near your new home in Wake Forest at 3309 Rogers Rd. Suite 205. Call or email Tami Bright about Heritage joint memberships, 919-453-2029 or tbright@theHeritageClub.net.

3. Plan an outing with your family for the Get Fit NC Road Race and Fitness Walk on December 3, starting at 9 a.m. at the Wake Forest Elementary School. Train for the 10K or 5K race and the 1 mile fun run for kids.

4. Between tasty holiday courses, take a walk with the family. Heritage Wake Forest has more than 4 miles of beautiful greenway trails near your new home in Wake Forest. Enjoy a leisurely stroll with your family and guests for a lovely view of the seasonal trees, Xeriscape Garden and Forgotten Pond.

5. Organize a game of touch or flag football. Why just watch football on TV when you can play a few rounds with family, guests and neighbors? Stir up your competitive spirit for a game that can get the whole family moving and enjoying an afternoon together.