Happy Holiday Season
Ben Feingold | Fabricare Center Owner
I can’t believe December is already here and the holiday season is upon us! There’s always something fun and festive going on in Atlanta during December, from holiday markets to magical light displays, to ice skating and so much more. Whether it’s gathering around the table for a special meal, visiting with relatives from out of town, or picking out the perfect gift from someone you love, we hope you have many memorable moments surrounded by friends and family this holiday season. Amidst the flurry of gift giving in December, I’m always inspired to find ways to give to those less fortunate. As you may remember from last year, we sponsored a coat drive to benefit Wellspring Living. We are sponsoring the coat drive again this winter and would love it if you’re able to participate.
Wellspring Living is a nonprofit in Atlanta, GA. Over the last 20 years they have supported women and children that have been at risk or victimized by sexual exploitation. Wellspring Living needs help this holiday season. To aid those most vulnerable, Fabricare Center has partnered with Wellspring Living to provide warmth through our coat drive.
Wellspring Living programs include residential and community-based programs which provide therapeutic services, educational support, as well as personal and professional development. The hope is to safeguard and uplift as many women and children as they can. By collaborating with the generous community, Wellspring Living provides their participants the tools needed to flourish in life. Consider donating gently used or new coats in sizes small to 4X at either of our two retail locations. We are also collecting coats through our convenient pickup and delivery service, just remember to include a note to let us know what items you are donating.
Whether you donate with Fabricare Center’s partner Wellspring Living or are working with another organization this holiday season we hope you are inspired to give a little back this year and help those most in need.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season!
Kind regards,
6 Tips to Keep Some Jingle In Your Pocket This Holiday Season
Awe-inspiring decorations. Extravagant family meals. Gift wish lists that seem to go on forever. No wonder the holidays can be stressful for many Americans and their wallets.
However, “Food Network” personality and best-selling cookbook author Sunny Anderson has a few tips that can help you gear up for the festivities while still leaving some jingle in your pocket.
Shop Your Pantry First – You may be amazed by what might be sitting in your pantry that you could transform into an amazing holiday dish or treat. Most people have pancake or waffle mix, food coloring and sprinkles sitting in their pantries. Mix them together to create fun, holiday-themed tree waffles your kids, and even your most gourmet guests, may never forget. As an added bonus, you can get a head start on clearing out your pantry for the new year.
Add Some Holiday Glitz – Make simple holiday treats more enjoyable with festive but frugal flair. Simple candy canes can “heat up” your hot chocolate. Shave portions of the candy cane into the hot chocolate or use one as a stir stick for the holiday classic.
Bring the Outside In – Don’t hesitate to use elements from nature to add a little holiday cheer to your home. Simply place colorful leaves in different sized, shaped and colored glass jars along with pinecones and battery-powered tea lights. These timeless pieces can be added to your dining table, end tables or mantel.
Get Carded – Make the holiday cards you receive from friends and family even more special by making them centerpieces of your seasonal decorations. Use temporary, damage-free wall hooks and a string of white or colored indoor lights to outline a tree or your favorite holiday decoration. Then attach the cards to the tree as you receive them.
Regift Away – This doesn’t have to be taboo. These items are often new, unused things someone you love could use immediately. A simple way to feel better about regifting is to package it with another item you select or make to provide that personal touch.
Give the Gift of Time –Block a series of windows on your calendar throughout the month of December to call friends and family you haven’t connected with in a while. If you want to really give the gift of connection this season, look no further than a brand like Straight Talk Wireless, which offers a wide selection of plans and phones without contracts or mystery fees on America’s largest and most dependable networks. The brand is also embracing the season of giving, offering double data on its $35 plan, which now includes 10 gigabytes of high-speed data with up to 5 gigabytes of hotspot enabled, as well as unlimited talk and text included.
Chocolate Chunk Miso Brown Butter Blondies
Recipe courtesy of award-winning fashion designer and culinary creator Peter Som on behalf of Russell Stover
Yield: 16 squares
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 3/4 cups light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup white miso
- 1 1/2 cups roughly chopped Joy Bites chocolate bars, divided
- flaky sea salt
- reheat oven to 350 F.
- Line 9-inch square baking tin with parchment paper, leaving overhang.
- In saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, swirling occasionally, until it turns deep golden brown, approximately 5-7 minutes. Cool on countertop or transfer to sealed container and chill in fridge.
- In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt; whisk to combine. Set aside.
- In large bowl, use whisk or handheld electric blender to combine cooled butter still in liquid state with brown sugar, eggs, egg yolk, vanilla extract and miso until smooth.
- Fold in flour mixture until just combined. Fold in 1 cup chopped chocolate bars. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth top.
- Bake 30 minutes, or until top is golden brown and has few cracks. Center will set as it cools.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle remaining chocolate bar chunks on top in even layer. Cool completely on wire rack. Top with flaky sea salt. Cut into squares and serve.
Shifting Wellness Attitudes Shape 2022 Fitness Trends
Whether you’re a stylist with an eye for fashion who chooses each garment carefully or the laid-back type who can rock the first outfit you find each morning, the closet provides a location for inspiration. Turning bland closet space into a truly eye-catching room calls for a little planning and DIY creativity.
Plan it out
Creating the perfect closet space begins with your ideas. Think about the details such as how you want the space to look and the amount and type of storage you need. Envision everything from colors and finishes to the physical shape.
Focus on practicality
Once you’ve dreamed up your ideal closet, compare your ideas with the space you have available and adjust your plans to fit your footprint and budget. This step allows you to get creative with ways to maximize your space and use every available inch to create a closet that gives you the function and aesthetic you desire.
Keep it organized
A beautiful closet likely won’t mean as much for you if it isn’t functional, and organization is a key to true functionality. Keep your space organized in a stylish manner with an option like the ClosetMaid Revolution Storage Ottoman, a convenient, easy-to-assemble, multi-use piece designed for closets or any area of your home. Able to hold up to 12 pairs of shoes, its rotating design maximizes storage for functional appeal.
Remain detail-oriented
It’s not just the structure that can bring your dream closet to life; little touches can add up in a big way. Upgrade your light fixture, for example, and look for other ways to personalize the space for a look that’s all yours, such as shelving to display treasured photos or keepsakes, or a spot on the wall for a vision board to draw inspiration from as you begin each day.
Change up the color
Introduce light and personality into your closet with rich color and style. Add accent color on the walls behind your clothes or incorporate color with the structural elements. On-trend finishes can help make the space pop by complementing the colors of your wardrobe.
What to Expect in Travel in 2022
After a couple abnormal years, many families are eager and ready to travel together again, and there are indications some pandemic-influenced travel behaviors will persist in 2022.
Consider these 2022 trends spotted by the travel experts at Vrbo:
Up-and-Coming Destinations
Spots in Ohio, New York and Alaska saw double vacation rental demand over the past year. Within driving distance of major Midwest metros like Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville, Cincinnati was the year’s top emerging destination.
Other up-and-comers include Niagara Falls, a popular choice for those who wanted to experience life at the border. Yorktown, Virginia, the location of the last Revolutionary War battle, allows history buffs to witness a battle reenactment. Adventurous travelers trekked to Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, to enjoy the wilderness of Denali National Park and Preserve, breathtaking glaciers and surrounding mountains.
Chalet All Day
You may have heard of Cabincore and Cottagecore, but chalets are a trending aesthetic that inspires family travel. Chalets saw a nearly 85% increase in demand year over year. Located on lakefronts or nestled in the woods, these charming and idyllic properties are desirable lodging options for many families.
Kids Call the Shots
After being cooped up at home, it may be no surprise parents are letting their kids have a bigger say in vacation planning. Compared to pre-pandemic times, half of the families surveyed said they’re more likely to let their kids decide where they vacation and 43% of parents are more likely to let their kids skip school for vacation.
Traveling with the Pack
Many families adopted pandemic pets because they had more time at home to spend with their furry friends. Now more people are bringing Fido and Fluffy along on vacation; 68% of pet parents have traveled, plan to travel or would like to travel with their pets. What’s more, there has been a 40% increase in demand year-over-year for pet-friendly vacation homes.
Early Bird Bookers
If 2021 was any indication, families will continue booking their vacations further in advance. Booking activity occurred an average of 2-3 months earlier than usual for several major travel seasons. Families booked summer travel in February, holiday trips in July and snowbirds got a head start on booking warm weather stays for 2022. In fact, 60% of survey respondents said they plan to book their vacations earlier than they did in pre-pandemic times with nearly half making plans 3-5 months in advance.
SERVICE SPOTLIGHT – Table Linens
Fabricare Center Cleaners has partnered with Wellspring Living to make giving this holiday season, easier than ever.
Wellspring Living is a nonprofit in Atlanta, GA. Over the last 20 years they have supported women and children that have been at risk or victimized by sexual exploitation. Wellspring Living needs help this holiday season. Consider donating gently used or new coats in sizes small to 4X at either of our two retail locations. We are also collecting coats through our convenient pickup and delivery service, just remember to include a note to let us know what items you are donating.
