Happy New Year!
Ben Feingold | Fabricare Center Owner
This holiday season we spent lots of time entertaining family and friends. We enjoyed festive dinners, lazy days in our pajamas, and family game nights. Now as we usher in the new year, we are greeted with much more frigid temperatures and also a lot of rain. With this less than ideal weather, my family has been hibernating indoors…cozying up in front of the fire, watching movies, enjoying wintertime favorites like soup and chili.
With all this extra time inside, our house has quickly become a mess, especially in part due to our two-year-old son and puppy. Between entertaining over the holidays, school being out for what seems like ages, and spending lots more time inside this chilly winter, our area rugs are certainly starting to show wear.
If your holiday season was similar to ours, your area rugs may have also seen lots of muddy little feet and dirty paws, holiday spills, and some extra wear and tear from all the additional foot traffic.
A good rug is for more than just walking on. Make sure your rugs are as clean as the rest of your house, especially if you’re planning to be cooped inside all season long. Of course, rugs in the highest traffic areas like dining rooms and dens come to mind, but don’t forget about the ones in your kids’ bedrooms, the playroom, or the ones in the formal living room and dining room. If you’re like us, you only use those two rooms for more special occasions.
Our master cleaners specialize in all types of rugs, including wool rug cleaning and oriental rug cleaning. Fabricare Center also provides free pick up and delivery on area rugs within our delivery radius. Rugs are meticulously inspected and cleaned to remove all ground-in dirt and surface stains. From pet dander to dirt and mud, most area rugs need more than just vacuuming to really be clean. Plus, we offer an odor removal service.
Let us get your favorite rugs looking like new. Schedule your free pickup and delivery today. Stay warm this winter and start your new year on a fresh note!
Kind regards,
6 Tips to Keep Pets Safe and Warm This Winter
Just as people prepare their homes, cars and families for extreme temperatures and weather events of winter, it’s important to remember pets’ needs this time of year. As cold weather sets in,use these tips to prepare and ensure your pets are warm and happy throughout winter.
Take Caution When Outdoors
When temperatures reach levels of extreme cold, limit outdoor walks and monitoring your pet’s behavior for discomfort. Letting your dog outside to use the bathroom or go for a quick walk is OK, but never leave a pet outside for a long period of time, especially during a winter storm.
Add Extra Layers
Pets who are small, short-haired, old or have any health issues or illnesses may be more sensitive to cold weather. Pet sweaters can help keep your pet warm.
Watch out for Hazardous Chemicals
Products like deicers, antifreeze and salt, which can cause skin irritation and be fatal if ingested by your pet. After a walk, thoroughly rinse your pet’s paws and stomach.
Keep Skin Protected
Just like humans, many pets get dry skin during the winter. Try using a pet-friendly moisturizing shampoo to help keep skin healthy and hydrated. If your pet’s skin seems extra dry, supplements like fish oil can be added to your pets’ food to help the skin and coat.
Have an Emergency Plan
While creating emergency kits in case of a storm or power outage, don’t forget about your pet’s needs.Gather any other care items your pet may require such as medications, puppy pads, waste bags, litter box supplies and calming spray.
Ensure Identification Information is Current
While winter emergencies may add to the importance, it’s crucial your pet wears a tag displaying your phone number year-round. Microchip and register your pet with current contact information.
Mediterranean Rice Bowls with Zucchini Fritters
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
1 bag Success Brown Rice
2 medium zucchinis, grated
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
3 green onions, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup canola oil
2 cups diced cucumber
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup feta, crumbled
1/2 cup garlic hummus
Prepare rice according to package directions.
In medium bowl, toss zucchinis with salt; let sit at least 10 minutes. Transfer to colander and squeeze out excess moisture. Return to bowl and stir in eggs, green onions, dill and garlic.
In another bowl, stir flour, Parmesan, baking powder, cumin and pepper. Stir dry mixture into zucchini mixture and combine to form thick batter.
In large skillet over medium heat, heat 1/4 cup oil. Working in batches, drop 2 tablespoons batter into pan for each fritter. Cook 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown, adding remaining oil as needed. Drain on paper towel-lined tray.
Divide rice between four bowls. Top each with cucumbers, tomatoes, feta and fritters. Garnish each bowl with scoop of hummus.
Substitution: Hummus may be replaced with prepared Greek tzatziki sauce, if desired.
5 Color Trends for a Stylish Home in 2022
A new year brings new opportunities to refresh your living space and add new colors into your life. These five trends are all about incorporating more of yourself and your lifestyle into your home.
Bring in Nature
Soothing earthy tones help bring a sense of calm and balance indoors. When designing with nature in mind, use gray-green tones to connect your aesthetic with the serene elements of the outdoors. Incorporate nature’s palette with greens in fabrics, accessories and even on the walls.
Stylish Sophistication
If you’re aiming to infuse some sophistication with an update to a favorite space, opt for a monochromatic look in a dark (almost black) hue. The approach is simultaneously bold and classic, but the secret to this trend is finding a shade that’s rich and deep, but not quite black, then complementing it with fabrics and furnishings that let the hint of color shine.
Connect with Your Inner Self
Creating a living space that is uniquely yours requires understanding your inner motivations, traits and talents. One source of personal inspiration may be your zodiac sign, a reflection of the earth’s orientation to the sun on your birthday.
Add Comfort and Warmth
Treating your home like a sanctuary never goes out of style, and one way to create a soothing, inviting space is through the use of cozy neutrals. Whether it’s applied to a bedroom retreat or a more bustling space like the living room, a neutral palette can add to the allure of comfort and warmth. Keep the visual interest strong by incorporating subtle patterns, textures and layers of complementary neutral colors.
Go Retro
It may seem counter intuitive, but vibrant retro shades like orange and yellow, and even warmer neutrals, can help establish a calming vibe within your home. The throwback hues can help your mind connect to moments from the past.
Brush on the Color
Using quality brushes can provide you with a smooth, professional finish, but depending on the surface you’re painting, different sizes and types of brushes can help you achieve the desired look.
How Small Businesses Can Attract and Retain Employees
Small business administrators are typically among the most competent multi-taskers, but even the most talented jugglers occasionally end up with too many balls in the air. Attracting and retaining employees doesn’t have to be part of your juggling act; in fact, having the right team can make the rest of your business run smoother. Make employee retention a priority for your business with these practices:
Create a positive work culture
When employees enjoy coming to work each day, it shows. Your customers recognize it, and your internal team can feel it, too. A positive work culture encourages excellence, forgives mistakes, and leaves plenty of room for having fun. You can create a positive culture by making sure expectations are clearly defined and giving feedback that is consistent and fair.
Provide an appealing salary and benefits package
A competitive salary that aligns with expertise is an obvious edge in hiring top talent. You can become a more attractive employer by offering a benefits package that includes paid time off, insurance and other extras.
Allow for flexible schedules
In large part due to the pandemic, employees have learned to juggle their work and home lives like never before. The businesses who recognize this need have an edge, particularly for employees who need flexibility to care for family members. The degree of flexibility you can offer may vary depending on the business model. Communicating with your employees and working to make reasonable accommodations can go a long way toward attracting strong candidates and retaining current employees.
Provide opportunities for growth
Employees typically look for opportunities to learn and grow through additional responsibility, compensation and rewards for performance that encourage long-term commitment. Working with employees to understand their career goals is an important step on a path for growth that is mutually beneficial.
SERVICE SPOTLIGHT – Table Linens
A good rug is for more than just walking on. Whether it’s playing with your children or pets. Make sure your rugs are as clean as the rest of your house. Our master cleaners specialize in all types of rugs, including wool rug cleaning and oriental rug cleaning. Fabricare Center also provides free pick up and delivery on area rugs within our delivery radius.
Rugs are meticulously inspected and cleaned to remove all ground-in dirt and surface stains. From pet dander to dirt and mud, most area rugs need more than just vacuuming to be really clean. Plus we offer a odor removal service.
