| March
2009 November 2008 |
The Design Diva Dishes!
Design Trends and Lifestyle Tips |
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Greetings!
I don't know about you, but I sure am ready to welcome spring. This was such a cold, gray winter. If I had wanted dreary winters, I would have stayed in the northeast! Thankfully, March is upon us, the forsythia are blooming, and the daffodils are brightening up the garden as well. Nature is gearing up for spring, and so should we!
This month we will focus on all things spring. I will share tips to brighten your home for spring. Our trend report will share what's new in decorating this spring. The color of the month is the St. Patrick's Day favorite: Green. Since spring is also associated with cleaning, our green report focuses on green options for cleaning your home. In another nod to St. Patrick's Day, our recipe of the month is slow cooker corned beef and cabbage.
Since spring is a time of new beginnings, I have decided to add a new feature, "Community Outreach" to my E-zine this month. It steps outside of my "theme" that I like to follow, but I hope you don't mind. Each month I'd like to share with you worthwhile opportunities to give back to the community. Lyndon Johnson once said "In a nation of millions, and a world of billions, the individual is still the first and basic agent of change." Please send me an email at sensiblychic4u@aol.com to tell me what you think about the new feature, or if you have a charity event you would like to promote.
Barbara Green
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Spring Decorating |
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Winter is coming to a close and we are all ready for the warmth and sunshine of spring. It is time to lighten up and brighten up after the long, gray winter. Pack away your heavy drapes and replace them with gauzy white sheers that will float in the breeze when we finally get to open the windows. Roll up the wool rug and replace it with an organic sisal or cotton rug. You also have the option to keep the floors and windows bare.
My favorite way to freshen existing furniture is to cover sofas and chairs with white cotton slipcovers. It gives a totally new look to the room, and is easy to clean with a quick toss in the washing machine. If this is beyond your budget, pick your favorite springtime color and buy some pillows to give new life to your old sofa. Spring and summer are times for simplicity, so I recommend packing away most of your accessories and display only a few brightly colored pieces and some fresh cut flowers. Notice in the room below how brilliantly the sun beams through the windows and how the brightly colored accessories are evenly disbursed throughout the room.
Next we can work on the bedroom. Take your heavy bedding to the cleaners so it will be ready when you need it next fall. Now make your bed using clean, white sheets and a lightweight coverlet in a bright white or pale pastel. Adding some pillows and accessories with a tropical flair will make you feel like you are on an island vacation all spring and summer long. and summer long.
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Trend Report |
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The hot look for spring is bold color! People are staying in their homes instead of selling, and that gives them the freedom to personalize it without the worry of what potential buyers will think. Often in times of an economic downturn, people will want to rebel against the gloomy financial forecasts and paint their rooms a bright shade. Imagine a bowl of rainbow sherbet. Is it the lemon yellow that appeals to you, the lime green, or the raspberry pink? Paint is cheap. Pick out your favorite flavor and be fearless!
Along with bold color, bold pattern is also a hot new trend. Particularly popular are graphic depictions of garden staples: lattice, birds, trees and flowers. These designs can be found woven into a rug, painted on the walls, and printed on fabrics. The key to using a bold pattern is to use that as the focal point, and have the rest of the decor serve a supporting role. If you bring in too much pattern you will overpower the room and keep it from being a restful place to unwind.
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Color of the Month |
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In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I have chosen this month's color to be green. Kelly green is nice enough, but just one look outside during spring and you can see that there are hundreds more shades of green to choose from. It is now considered to be a neutral, since it looks terrific paired with just about any other color. Its complementary shade is red, and you can see how the little punches of red serve as great accents in the room below.
The dining nook, below, features wide stripes of sage green and white. The horizontal pattern expands the room to feel much larger than its meager dimensions.
Each month I turn to Dewey Sadka, world renowned color expert, for his knowledge on the psychological impact of each color. His research shows that green shades give you a stronger understanding of yourself. This will help you access your inner power, which enables you to create a more nurturing, supportive world. Those of you who have attended my presentations of Dewey's seminar "Six Steps to Success" will recall that those who are attracted to green are good listeners. | |
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Green Design |
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A lot of dirt and grime accumulates during our months of hibernation, so before you add your new spring decor, make sure you schedule time for spring cleaning. But before you get started , here is a startling fact: the average American home has 63 synthetic chemicals in cleaning products, translating to roughly 10 gallons of harmful chemicals per household! According to US EPA estimates, interior air pollution can be 100 times higher than outdoor air pollution. This year, as the outside is greening, how about giving your inside a break and go green with cleaning supplies? Here are 5 you need to know:
1. Steam - A steam cleaner kills germs, pathogens, and bacteria while cleaning away all dirt and grime while not using a single hazardous chemical. My steamer is one of my favorite purchases. I have three large dogs and they can make a mess, but my steamer cleans it all quickly and easily.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide - This is not only for cuts. You can use it to remove stains from carpet, kill mold and mildew in the bathroom, disinfect cutting boards in the kitchen, remove stains from white porcelain, and as a laundry bleach.
3. Baking Soda - This versatile household product can clean cookware, remove scratches from counter tops, deodorize carpets, remove carpet stains, buff out furniture stains, remove crayon marks from walls, and unclog a drain. You can also use it as a fabric softener, soft scrub cleaner, and toilet bowl cleaner.
4. White Vinegar - There are so many uses for white vinegar, entire books have been dedicated to the subject. Some of the uses include: Remove mildew in the bathroom, clean chrome and stainless steel surfaces in the kitchen, shine silver, remove carpet stains, remove water rings on furniture, disinfect kitchen cutting boards, and clean glass and mirrors.
5. Lemon Juice - With its naturally appealing scent, lemon juice makes the perfect room deodorizer. It is also a chemical free way to remove tarnish from brass and copper. Also use it to remove refrigerator odors, and as a gentle laundry bleach.
In addition to replacing harmful chemicals with organic cleaners, don't forget to replace your disposable wipes and paper towels with washable, reusable sponges microfiber clothes and rags. |
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Quote of the Month |
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If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. ~Anne Bradstreet |
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Recipe of the Month |
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My last name might suggest otherwise, but I am not Irish. My family ancestors hailed from Switzerland and Germany, but every year on St. Patrick's Day we all wore green and my mom would make Corned Beef and Cabbage. It is a tradition that I still continue decades later, but with a modern twist. As a working mom, I don't have the hours to spend cooking the meal on top of the stove. This recipe is an easy adaptation so even on the most hectic of days you and your family can still sit down and share a hearty meal and hopefully a little Irish luck to last throughout the year!
SLOW COOKER CORNED BEED AND CABBAGE
2 stalks celery, halved
4 carrots
1 medium onion, cut in 4 wedges
4 to 6 red potatoes, quartered
1 4-pound corned beef brisket
14-ounce can beef broth (can use stout or dark ale if desired)
1 tablespoon pickling spices (or spices that come with the brisket)
1 medium head cabbage, cut into 6 wedges
Directions
1. Place celery, carrots, onion and potatoes in the bottom of a large slow-cooker or crock pot. Rinse the corned beef brisket and place over vegetables. Add the can of broth, spices and enough water to just cover the meat. Cover and cook on LOW for eight to nine hours.
2. Remove the meat and vegetables from the pot and cover with foil to keep warm.
3. Increase heat to high, cook cabbage until softened but still crispy, 20 to 30 minutes.
4. Slice brisket across the grain, serve with vegetables and grainy mustard. |
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Community Outreach |
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Most people say there are only two things guaranteed in life: death and taxes. Well I would like to submit to you a third guarantee: No matter how bad your life is, there is always someone worse off than you. I believe that it is more important to give than to receive. Additionally, it has been my personal experience that when I give generously, whether it be of time or money, the rewards I get are exponentially greater than anything I might have given. In this spirit, I am going to share with you each month opportunities available for us all to give back, for we are all greatly blessed, even in these times of struggle.
Big Day at the Lake 4
This event is a joint effort between Big Brothers Big Sisters of Charlotte and the Big Day at the Lake committee, headed by Dave Yochum, publisher of Business Today and Cornelius Today. Last year, over 130 little brothers and sisters were able to enjoy a day of fun at the lake. Many of these children were experiencing Lake Norman for the very first time. This year's goal is to have 150 children participate in the magic of this event. Currently needed are: Corporate Sponsors, Cash Donations, Auction Donations, and Boat Owners. Please email me at sensiblychic4u@aol.com if you would like to be a sponsor or make a donation. Boat owners can register at www.BigDayAtTheLake.com For more information you can call Dave Yochum at 704-895-1335.
House of Mercy Charity Cookout
House of Mercy is an organization that provides a home and 24 hour care for persons living with AIDS who face homelessness and can no longer care for themselves. House of Mercy is the only residence of its type in the greater Charlotte area, with most of its residents coming from Mecklenburg and Gaston County. A cookout is scheduled for March 20th and 21st from 11:00 to 2:00 at Firefold Home Theater located at 2701 Derita Rd, Concord 28027. 100% of all proceeds will go to House of Mercy. You can help by attending the cookout, donating items for a raffle, food or paper goods for the cookout, or money. For more information contact Jennie Burns, Director of Business Development at Firefold jennie@firefold.com |
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| Save 15% |
Bright and Bold Sale!
Save 15% on all bright and bold fabrics and accessories.
Mention Promo Code: DDDM0915 at time of scheduling.
Forward this newsletter to friends and family so that they may benefit from the promotion, too.
*offer not applicable on orders placed before 3/1/09 |
| Offer Expires: March 31, 2009 | | |
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Thank you for reading "The Design Diva Dishes." See you next month!
Sensibly Chic Interior Design
Phone: (704) 987-0277
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