June Newsletter 2022 - Fabricare Center

June Newsletter 2022

Fabricare Center Blog

June Newsletter Fabricare Center Cleaners

Summer is here!

Ben Feingold | Fabricare Center Owner

My family has been spending a lot of time outdoors this spring…and boy has it been a hot one! Now school is out and summer is just around the corner. Knowing Atlanta weather, those temperatures will just continue to rise. The last several weekends, we’ve been taking our son to the pool as a refreshing way to cool off.  Last year we had fun visiting splash pads in the area, we’re excited to check some more out this summer too! When we’re at home, he also loves running through the sprinkler or playing with his water table in our backyard. And of course, gotta end things with a cold treat, popsicles and ice cream are in heavy rotation in this house now that the warmer months are here. Anything to help beat the heat!

As the temperature cranks up during these summer months, we tend to shed layers and wear light-weight clothes and more breathable fabrics to help stay comfortable. I know in the summer I trade in my long sleeve button-down shirts for much more seasonably appropriate polo shirts or golf shirts. Whether I opt for quick-dry fabric, linen, pique, or even a light-weight cotton – these types of shirts tend to be my uniform of the summer. 

Do you shed some layers this time of year too? Even in breezier clothing, in this heat, we still tend to perspire a lot during these especially hot, few months. Send your polo shirts, golf shirts, and other summer attire into Fabricare Center so we can knock out those deodorant marks, sweat stains, caked on sunscreen or insect repellent, and pesky odors before they set in and become a lingering issue. Though not many people think to dry clean or wet clean their golf shirts or athleisure attire, it has become increasingly popular in recent years, due to delicate fabrics and the high price of many of these garments.

Whether it’s at the pool, on the golf course, on a neighborhood stroll, or at an outdoor yoga class, enjoy your time outside with family and friends, and be sure and let us keep you looking and smelling so fresh and so clean all summer long!

Warm regards,


3 Fun, Easy Ways to Keep Kids Learning During Summer

With school out, summertime brings long, carefree days of play and fun. It can be easy to forget how much children learn through play, but they have a natural sense of curiosity. With a little thought and a few supplies, summer is a perfect opportunity to revitalize their innate love of learning that may be a bit squashed after a year of academic pressures, tests and schedules.

“At this time of year, we often hear families express concern about children losing academic skills during summer break,” said Sue-Ann Lively from KinderCare’s education team. “The pressure to add academic learning to summer can lead to increased anxiety, which isn’t helpful for parents or children. Children retain what they learned best when they’re engaged and interested in what they’re doing. As we head into summer, think about the skills your child learned during the school year and how you could incorporate those skills into activities your child enjoys doing.”

Consider these three tips to help your family incorporate learning classroom concepts in summer fun and nurture your children’s love of learning through real-life applications.

Build on classroom skills
Practicing writing may not be at the top of your children’s summer activities lists. However, writing might be more appealing if it led to something fun, like a card or letter from a relative or friend. By encouraging your children to write to pen pals, like friends or family members, they will not only practice their literacy skills by writing letters and reading replies, but also work on important executive function skills by learning to manage anticipation while waiting for a response. Even children who are too young to write can participate by drawing pictures and dictating the captions to family members.

Go outside
A walk around the neighborhood can turn into an opportunity to build STEM skills by observing changes over time. As you and your children walk, ask questions, make predictions and discuss what you see. This way, you’ll be forming hypotheses and analyzing your results, just like scientists.
     

Find learning opportunities in regular activities
Cooking provides a variety of opportunities to work on math skills. For younger children, that could mean getting two carrots and one apple for a recipe. For children who are learning fractions and multiplication, that might mean figuring out how much of an ingredient to add, such as “If the recipe calls for 1/2 cup of flour and we’re doubling the recipe, how much flour do we need?”

Board games are another opportunity to build academic skills, like math and literacy; executive function skills, like waiting for their turn; and social skills, such as being a gracious winner.

Additionally, read with your children daily and help them find opportunities to practice reading skills, such as reading signs aloud at the park or reading books out loud to other family members.


Tuna Romesco Salad Board

Servings: 4-6

Romesco:

  • 3          large Roma tomatoes
  • 1          roasted red pepper, skin removed and seeded (or from jar), coarsely chopped
  • 1/3       cup roasted salted almonds
  • 1          garlic clove, chopped
  • 2          tablespoons sherry vinegar
  • 1/4       teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
  • 1/4       teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1          teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4       teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4       cup extra-virgin olive oil

Tuna Board:

  • 2          cans Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil
  • 1          tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1          bunch scallions
  • kosher salt, divided
  • freshly ground black pepper, divided
  • 1          zucchini, sliced 1/2-inch thick on bias
  • 1          red bell pepper, sliced lengthwise into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/2       cup roasted salted almonds
  • 1/2       cup marinated artichokes, drained, patted dry and halved
  • 1          bunch radishes, halved
  • 1/2       cup green olives
  • 1/2       cup black olives
  • 4          ounces manchego cheese, sliced into triangles
  • 2          tablespoons flat leaf parsley, chopped
  1. To make romesco: Preheat broiler. Cover sheet pan with parchment paper or foil. Place tomatoes on sheet pan and broil until well charred on both sides, 2-4 minutes per side. Transfer tomatoes to bowl; cool slightly then remove skin, core, seed and coarsely chop.
  2. In blender, combine tomatoes; roasted red pepper; almonds; garlic; vinegar; paprika; red pepper flakes, if using; salt; and pepper until chunky paste forms. With blender on high speed, slowly drizzle in oil, scraping down sides of blender as needed until mixture creates rustic texture. Transfer romesco to bowl and taste for seasoning. Let romesco sit covered at room temperature 1 hour.
  3. To prepare board: In bowl, drain tuna; set aside. Set grill on medium-high heat and brush grates with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Grill scallions until charred and tender, about 4 minutes per side. Remove to large plate and season with salt and pepper. Toss zucchini and red pepper in olive oil then season with salt and pepper. Grill until charred and tender, about 3 minutes per side. Remove to same plate to cool slightly.

To assemble: With large spoon, scoop generous amount of romesco into center of board. Using back of spoon, spread romesco into circle with well in center. Gently pile tuna into well. Arrange zucchini, pepper, roasted almonds, artichokes, radishes, olives and cheese around romesco and tuna. Sprinkle tuna with chopped parsley before serving.


How to Care for Fresh Flowers

The beauty of having a garden is buds continually blooming on one plant or another throughout most of the year. While this provides lovely views from your windows, it can also be nice to bring some beauty indoors.

Don’t be afraid to snip off a few blossoms each week. Many plants thrive after trimming and may reward you with even more flowers. Once you’ve gathered a bouquet from your garden, consider these tips to help keep fresh flowers at their best for a week or more:

  • Bacteria can quickly destroy fresh flowers, which is why it’s important to use a clean vase. Any floral foam, wires or frogs used in your arrangement must also be washed in warm, soapy water.
  • Remove any lower leaves that may come in contact with water inside the vase.
  • Carefully trim each flower stem at a 90-degree angle. It may also be helpful to cut flowers while they are underwater to keep moisture flowing into the stems.
  • Keep your arrangement out of direct sunlight. The darker and cooler the room, the longer your blossoms will bloom.
  • Adding a crushed aspirin, bleach, vinegar, sugar or penny to the vase are age-old tricks. However, you can keep bacteria at bay and help flowers thrive by adding a packet of flower food to the water. It can be found at your local florist or home improvement store.

Flowers are living things that still require water, food and care after they are cut. Every 2-3 days, be sure to change the water, replenish the flower food and re-cut the stems for additional days of glorious color.


8 Family-Friendly Travel Destinations

From the sunny beaches of Florida to the mountains of Montana, there are many ideal locations across the country for families and friends to visit together. When traveling with a group, booking a vacation home in these popular destinations allows families to stay under one roof and provides privacy and other family-friendly amenities like kitchens, private pools, backyards and more.

To help inspire families to travel and stay together, Vrbo announced its first ever Vacation Homes of the Year. The vacation homes meet a combination of selection criteria – including 5-star ratings, guest reviews, number of bookings and family-friendly amenities available – and represent a variety of price points, destinations, types of properties and designs to meet the different tastes and vacation preferences for families.

Big Sky, Montana: This remote mountain lodge is located on 20 acres in the mountains near Yellowstone National Park. Outdoor enthusiasts can appreciate the hiking, cross-country skiing, mountain biking and fishing, but the scenic views can be enjoyed by all kinds of travelers.

Broken Bow, Oklahoma: This pet-friendly modern cabin is perfect for extended families, multi-generational groups and those traveling with kids. It sleeps 18 people and comes with a spacious outdoor patio for grilling and a game room with 12 bunk beds.

East Hampton, New York: A short walk from Georgica Beach, this contemporary farmhouse features a gourmet kitchen, private pool and 15-foot screen in the home theater.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee: This cozy chalet is located near Dollywood and Smoky Mountain National Park and provides outdoor lawn games, indoor arcade games and a pool table.

Hilton Head, South Carolina: Featuring panoramic views of the ocean, this luxury beachfront house also has a heated pool, fully stocked chef’s kitchen and 24/7 concierge services.

Santa Rosa Beach, Florida: This oceanfront beach house sleeps 16 guests and has its own private pool and balconies overlooking the waves.

Sawyer, Michigan: A modern property near Lake Michigan, this getaway is a short walk or bike ride to Warren Dunes State Park and boasts multiple outdoor gathering spaces by the hot tub and firepit.

Telluride, Colorado: A perfect place for adventurous travelers and nature lovers, this mountain lodge is situated between Telluride ski resort and Mountain Village. It’s called “Overlook Haus” because of the breathtaking mountain views from almost every room.


SERVICE SPOTLIGHT – Golf Shirt Cleaning

Are you looking your best on the course?

Have your shirts cleaned to remove stains and perspiration. We’ll have you looking and feeling fresh for your next tee time. 

Includes free pickup & delivery.

fcdrycleaners.com/golf