Ready for Fall?
Ben Feingold | Fabricare Center Owner
Labor Day has come and gone, which means Fall is upon us! This is my family’s favorite time of year. The start of football season is always a high note. We love to get up to Athens for a game or two each season. Go Dawgs! Heading up to North Georgia for a nice hike, a visit to the pumpkin patch, and a day of apple picking is always great too.
This time of year is chockful of fall festivals, chili cookoffs, and festive treats like pumpkin bread and apple cider. The start of Fall also helps signal that holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving are just around the corner. There are so many fun things to do to help usher in the new season, and personally I can’t wait!
Another exciting aspect of Fall is the changing leaves and crisp, cooler temperatures. This often inspires us to switch out our closets. For many of us, that means cleaning and storing our summer garments and getting our Fall wardrobe ready for the season ahead.
We also switch out our more light-weight summertime bedding for heavier quilts and duvets for the cooler months ahead. As we trade in our linen and cotton for flannel and corduroy or trade out our bedding, it’s important to prioritize cleaning last season’s wardrobe and household items before storing them.
There are a number of frustrating stains that can occur if your items aren’t properly treated before they are packed away. Many stains may appear invisible to the naked eye but they do oxidize over time, making them harder to remove. So the moral to the story is to be sure and send in your garments, bedding, etc. on a regular basis. The sooner we clean the garment and treat the stain, the better the odds are that we’ll be able to remove it.
So this fall when you pack up your spring and summer clothes and light-weight bedding for the season, don’t forget to send them in for one last cleaning. Then you can breathe easy knowing your items will look good as new when you pull them back out of storage next year.
Hope you have a festive Fall, full of fun, family, and friends – good food, and football too!
Kind regards,
5 Simple, Natural Ways to Boost Immunity
Your body’s immune system protects against illness and infection, fighting off threats before you even know there’s a problem. Even though your immune system usually does its job automatically, you can give it a boost with habits that promote wellness and support immunity.
Eat healthy fruits and vegetables. Although you may not be aware they contain flavonoids, these phytochemicals found in some fruits and veggies are a vital part of maintaining health. Flavonoids are found in colorful fruits and vegetables like cranberries and elderberries. When it comes to power foods, elderberries’ exceptional flavanol levels make them an immune system powerhouse. Especially important during cold and flu season, elderberries can also be enjoyed in a cup of warm tea for instant comfort.
Reduce stress with outdoor activity. Keeping physically fit provides numerous health benefits such as reducing stress by being one with nature through taking a walk outside. The sun’s UV rays help your body produce vitamin D, which is important for your bones, blood cells and immune system, as well as helping absorb and use certain nutrients. Yoga and massage can also be used to help stimulate the immune system and promote well-being.
Keep a regular sleep schedule. Sleep gives you an opportunity to recharge. This is when cellular regeneration and other healing is most efficient. Keeping a regular routine helps signal to your system that it’s time to rest so you can fall asleep easier and reap the whole-body benefits of a healthy sleep cycle.
Wash hands frequently. Especially during the school year, when germs are rampant and easily carried from school to home, you can give your immune system a hand, literally, by frequently scrubbing away germs before they have the chance to attack.
Rely on natural remedies. Modern, stressful lifestyles and exposure to environmental pollutants can put immune systems under pressure. However, some of your existing soothing rituals can actually support better health, too. One example is relaxing with a hot cup of tea. The natural and organic ingredients found in Buddha Teas provide numerous health benefits. Options like Mushroom Wellness, Divine Immunity, Elderberry Tea and Reiki Mushroom blends all contain immunity-boosting ingredients.
While they’re not an obvious ingredient, mushrooms have been incorporated into healing practices for thousands of years for their immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich properties. There are several powerful medicinal mushrooms but one stand-out is the reishi mushroom, known as the “mushroom of immortality” and “divine plant of longevity.” This anti-inflammatory powerhouse is known to promote healthy cell growth and healthy blood pressure, along with improving immune function.
Sweet and Savory School Day Snacks
As children head back to school and parents work to balance hectic schedules, it can be difficult to maintain a meal plan that doesn’t consume too much time. Make your morning meals, lunchbox packing and meal prepping easier by including time-saving hacks like easy-to-use ingredients and recipes.
Getting back into a routine can be stressful, but Cheesy Quinoa Bites oer a kid-friendly, parent-approved breakfast option that can be enjoyed at the kitchen counter, on the way to school or as a snack during the day. Try making them Sunday evening then simply reheating throughout the week for an appetizing way to encourage kiddos to eat their veggies and start the day strong.
Ready in just 10 minutes, Success Boil-in-Bag quinoa and rice are the keys to these quick and easy recipes with a no measure, no mess process that makes cooking simple. Enjoyed by kids and adults alike, they’re made using high-quality ingredients to help you and your loved ones enjoy hassle-free school days from start to finish.
Cheesy Quinoa Bites
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12
1 bag Success Tri-Color Quinoa
2 cups aged cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
2 eggs
3/4 cup broccoli florets, cooked and finely chopped
1/3 cup orange bell pepper, finely diced
3/4 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease 12 mun cups. Cook quinoa according to package directions; let cool slightly.
Stir together quinoa, 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, eggs, broccoli, bell pepper and salt. Spoon mixture into prepared mun cups. Sprinkle remaining cheese over top.
Bake 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown and set. Let cool slightly in pan on rack; invert onto rack and let cool completely or serve warm.
Substitution: Use finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes, black olives or pickled jalapeno peppers for orange bell pepper, if desired.
Navigating a Dynamic Work Environment with Children
Before the pandemic, the choice for most families looking for child care was relatively simple: they either found a center close to work or close to home. As employers share their return-to-work plans, many parents are re-evaluating their child care arrangements and trying to find solutions that support their family’s unique needs. Some are returning to the office full time while others have the flexibility of hybrid work schedules, splitting time between the office and remote work.
“Our Parent Confidence Report found 62% of working parents have or are considering taking a job that pays less but has more flexibility so they can be more available for their children,” said Tom Wyatt, CEO of KinderCare Education. “That’s why we’re increasing our part-time care offerings. We know how vital flexible schedules are to parents and how important consistency is to young children. By staying with the same provider, even if their time is split between two locations, children can still benefit from a consistent classroom routine and curriculum, which leaves them free to focus on learning and growing.”
Consider these tips to help choose a flexible child care solution for your family:
Know the research and advocate for yourself. According to Accenture and Forbes, more than 63% of high-growth companies already use a “work from anywhere” model and more than 83% of workers in the United States said they prefer the flexibility to work both from home and the oce, which means “hybrid work” is here to stay. Even if your job requires being onsite, it is still a good idea to explore your options to find out what level of support your employers can provide. As you advocate for yourself and your family, look at what similar businesses offer their employees in terms of flexible schedules and paid leave for child care needs.
Determine what kind of child care arrangement works for your family. As many families learned amid the pandemic, caring for children at home while also trying to work can be challenging. Even enrolling your children in part-time care could alleviate some stress and give them opportunities to spend time with their peers. If you’ll be working a hybrid schedule, splitting your time between two centers – one close to home and one close to work – could also be a solution that fits your family’s needs and schedule.
“The silver lining to the pandemic is it gave many working parents opportunities to spend more time with their children,” Wyatt said. “According to our research, 65% of working parents say they’re able to be more involved in their children’s lives because their work schedules are more flexible. Parents don’t want to return to their previous schedules and commutes and give up all that precious time with their families, so they’ll be looking for innovative ways to balance family time with work time.”
New Homeowner’s Moving Checklist
Now that you’ve closed on your first house, you’re officially a homeowner. However, before you can get comfy in your new place, you need to actually move in. If you’ve never moved into a new house, there are a few things you may not be aware of.
As you make plans to move into a house for the first time, consider these tips as you begin to get settled.
Have the House Cleaned
You have two options: either roll up your sleeves and do a complete top-to-bottom cleaning before moving in or hire a cleaning service. While both options work, one will save you money and the other will save you time.
Tackle Any Small Projects
If you already know you want to make some changes, it’s best to do that before you move your things in. Your home inspector can go over your entire house and suggest possible renovations and improvement projects.
Meet Your Neighbors
Even if you’ve never taken the time to introduce yourself to your neighbors before, you’ll likely want to get to know the folks who live next to or near your new home. Consider stopping by with a simple gift like cookies to break the ice, say hi and get things started on the right foot.
Check Out Community Activities
Every community has its own personality. That includes the local hotspots, activities, seasonal celebrations and recreational options. You may have looked into some of this while you were shopping for your new home, but now that you know where you’ll be living, this is a perfect opportunity to sign up for a recreational sports team or put the annual festival on your calendar.
Make Sure You Have Power
When you move into a new home, it’s up to you to contact the electric provider for the area to set up an account and ensure the power is on. Do not count on the former owner to leave the power on for you.
Replace the Locks
Rather than assuming you have complete control over who can get in your home, it’s best to go ahead and change all the locks. This simple step isn’t overly expensive and can give you peace of mind.
Consider Eco-friendly Appliances
Going green can reduce your energy costs as well as your carbon footprint. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune to make your house eco-friendly. There are energy-efficient appliances to suit every price range. Plus, simple changes, like LED bulbs and a smart thermostat, can further reduce your energy bill.
Make Your New Home Safe
At a minimum, you should check every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm to ensure they work. If not, replace them and purchase a fire extinguisher or two for added protection.
SERVICE SPOTLIGHT – Comforters
Routine cleaning has never been more important these days. We spend a third of our life in bed. So clean bed linens should always be top of mind. Think of the drool, sweat and dandruff you leave between the sheets.
You shed 500 million skin cells a day. Many slough off while you roll around in bed. All those dead cells pile up on your sheets in between washings. Tiny dust mites love to feed on the shed cells. The critters can trigger allergies, asthma, and cause your itchy eczema to flare.
Do you sleep with your fur baby? Rover or kitty’s hair and dander on your bedding become extra buffet fare for dust mites.
Fabricare Center delivers quality comforter cleaning ready to handle the toughest stains. Complementary storage bag included with each comforter.
fcdrycleaners.com/bed