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Top 10 Ways to Repurpose Old Flowers
We hope you had a lovely Mother’s Day on Sunday and you were showered with love and flowers. Unless you received paper ones, those flowers won’t last forever. Here are some creative tips to keep old flowers around forever.
1. Preserve flowers by pressing. You can press old flower petals in a book.
2. Scrapbooking. Once that flower has been preserved in a book, you can use it to scrapbook.
3. Framing. Glue that preserved flower to a piece of fabric, and hang it in a frame.
4. Take a photo. You can always preserve them by taking their photo.
5. Make potpourri. You can combine dried flowers with a jar of fragrant oil. Allow them to dry and place them on a sheet of wax paper. Once dry, your home will smell wonderful!
6. Make Candles. Add the dried flowers to candle wax when making your own candles.
7. Make a wreath. Utilize the dried flowers to make a wreath for your front door. You can find supplies at your local craft store.
8. Decorate the edges of a picture frame. Use the dried flowers to decorate and spruce up a photo frame.
9. Hang dry and use as decorating baskets. Instead of pressing them, you can hang dry your flowers. Once they are dry, you can use them to decorate baskets around your home.
10. Add to your bath water for a touch of romance. Light candles and throw in the petals from your old flowers to make for a romantic evening.
This article was inspired by another blog post from Financial Interactive
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Nothing Tastes Better Than Home Cookin’
Who has a mother, grandmother, husband, aunt, sister, or brother (the list could go on) that makes the “best” (insert soul food word here)?! I venture to say that everyone has someone that makes the BEST something…right? I thought so.
Well I have a hankering for some comfort food and want to include the whole nation of Gables Residents to help me out. Send in your BEST known recipe for something that goes in a cast iron SKILLET! Post it, just tell us what it is, post a picture and hide the recipe to make me jealous…whatever you want!
While you are at it, check out these skillets in the shape of each state! FeLion Designs was on today’s Thrillist for the Nation, and well, it prompted this blog. Plus I thought it could be a cool gift idea for somebody. There is a state for everyone!
Made in America cast iron skillets and photo : http://felionstudios.com/
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“The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports”
What do you get more excited for…Mint Juleps or Fun Hats? Both or neither are also acceptable answers, but if you say neither, you have to tell us what is your FAVE at the Kentucky Derby!
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“Apartmentites” Living Happy
Apartment Living = Happiness! I know what you are thinking, there are a lot of other things that make you happy, but given that we specialize in apartments, we thought we would share! The benefits of living as an “apartmentite” as they put it, are six fold in this particular article, but we know there are more and would love to hear what you think!
Tell us what makes you happy living at your property!!
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Apartment-Living-Is-Your-Recipe-For-Happiness&id=800720
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It’s So Easy!
When it comes to making eco-friendly changes, it’s the little ones that really add up to make a difference! Doing just a few things, a tiny contribution if you will, on this giant planet can actually help! It’s painless, really. Plus it’s just courteous – I mean, depending on how long earth stays in business, you might have some family members living on it. So, let’s help make it a little bit easier…for family! Cheers!
Pledge Here – it only takes a second. Well, maybe 20 seconds if I’m honest.
Did you know?
- Over 50 years, a single tree can generate $31,250 worth of air pollution control, recycle $37,500 worth of water, and control $31,500 worth of soil erosion.
- 4 Trillion…the number of non-degradable plastic bags used worldwide annually.
- 60 Minutes…every hour Americans throw out 2.5 million plastic bottles. (I go through like 5 a day! Time to buy a CUP!)
- 1 Light Bulb…if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR rated light bulb, we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for a year, save about $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year… equivalent to the emissions of 800,000 cars.
- 5% Wasted…the small amount of energy that electronics use when they are off can add up! It’s estimated that 5% of electricity in the U.S. is wasted on products that are turned off.
Just sayin’…pledge with us! Pick one from the link above, but you can do all four if you want!
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B.C.B.C…Short for Breast Cancer Buddy Check
Call your buddy this weekend! It’s Buddy Check time!
Today I am including a link from Caring.Com written by Melanie Haiken for you to read. It’s short, yet powerful, and gets right to the point. This particular article was actually written a few years ago, but the message is still the same – catch it early. It could save your life.
And just as we said last time:
Besides sending this to everyone you know as part of the obvious “Buddy System”, we encourage those of you who have personal stories to send them to us so that we can add them to OUR monthly blog. One instance shared could end up saving another person’s life. If you wish to tell your experience or the experience of someone close to you, email marketing@gables.com.
Source: http://www.caring.com/blogs/caring-currents/the-keys-to-catching-breast-cancer-early
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Time To Get Healthy!
National Public Health Week is still going on! Never too late to start. Take the weekend and make a change!
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It’s Not Always About the Finish Time
All over the world, local road races are taking place! Sure, they are typical with regard to distance and general activity; however, some of these races are quite… how shall I say it… unique? Location, weather, clothing, and other obscure dynamics all play a part in making some of these local races “the thing to do” because they are just that wacky! Run It Fast found 15 of the most unique and interesting races worldwide! Undoubtedly the list goes on, including The Color Run that yours truly just participated in. It is known as the Happiest 5K in the World! Who would NOT want to run through rainbows of paint!? Anywho, enjoy the snippets below from Run It Fast, and comment on ones not listed that everyone should know about!
15. Kona Underpants Run, Kona, HI - Started because three triathletes got a little fed up with visiting athletes parading around town in their Speedos all week, well before the event necessitated stripping down.
14. Freeze Yer Gizzard, International Falls, MN - A “celebration of winter running” The average low in International Falls in January is -8 degrees, but it can get much colder, with a record low of -55.
13. Crystal City Cave Run, Crystal Springs, MO - The Crystal City Cave Run is held in a particularly unique location – an abandoned sand mine. The course website also promises that you’ll also run “under an air shaft and probably through a couple ankle-deep puddles and quicksand-like areas.”
12. Santa Speedo Run, Boston, MA- The Santa Speedo Run (now officially SSRun) is held every December in Boston and requires participants to dress in a Speedo like garment and not much else (although holiday flair is encouraged).
11. Night of the Running Dead, Salt Lake City, UT - Every runner decides pre-race if they are a zombie or a human, and humans are then given a two minute head start upon which the zombies proceed to try to run them all down.
10. Filthy 5k Mud Run, Fargo, ND - The Filthy 5k makes sure participants get down and dirty by running participants through a course of mud and water that includes areas where runners have to crawl.
9. Beer Belly Run, Green Bay, WI - The Beer Belly Run luckily doesn’t require an actual beer belly to enter, but it’s a particularly awesome two mile race because every half mile means a beer station.
8. Big Man Run, Worcester, MA - The Big Man Run started as a race that required a starting weight of at least 190 pounds and included stops for hot dogs and beer.
7. Runyon 5k, New York, NY - The course winds its way entirely within Yankee Stadium, winding its way through concourses, up and down ramps and stairs, and of course features a long stretch around the actual playing field.
6. Krispy Kreme Challenge, Raleigh, NC - The Krispy Kreme Challenge sounds like a drunken dare, and it actually started that way. In the Krispy Kreme Challenge runners have one hour to run 2 miles, eat a box of a dozen glazed Krispy Kreme Donuts, before running back the two miles they came.
5. Warrior Dash/Tough Mudder - The Warrior Dash and Tough Mudder are both national events with multiple locations. The Warrior Dash is a 3-4 mile event with milder obstacles (walls, mud, fire pit, etc.) Tough Mudder courses vary in length from seven-twelve miles and feature 17-20 obstacles that encompass everything from running up a hill while being sprayed by high pressure fire hoses to running through live electrical wires.
4. Midnight Run, Laugardalur, Reykjavik, Iceland - The race is part of the week of solstice celebrations and takes place in a time in Iceland where there’s no darkness at all.
3. Impossible 5k, Woodstock, GA - The race takes place LATE NIGHT 1:50am. The kicker is this race takes place when Daylight Savings Time kicks in, so you can finish up in 25:00 and be done at 1:15 AM, making this the only race in the world where you can have a “negative” finishing time.
2. Ice Marathon, Antarctica - The Ice Marathon takes place in the most desolate and remote spot on earth – Antarctica. The Ice Marathon is the southernmost race in the world, and takes place just a few hundred miles from the South Pole.
1. Man vs Horse Marathon, Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales - The Man vs. Horse Marathon is one of the most interesting races in the world. The race started in 1980 as the result of a bar bet where one man posited that over a significant distance a human being would be the equal of any horse.
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Cheers to the Mom and Pop Stores!
Today is National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day! Ergo, today we shall recognize small business owners, particularly husband and wife business owner teams! To celebrate the important contribution these special businesses make to our community, find one in your neighborhood and pay them a visit!
These are just a few reasons Mom and Pop stores are great:
- Little more interesting
- Local fare and goods
- Nicer customer service (most of the time)
- Shorter lines
- The shopping is fun and makes you happy
- Better advice and knowledge of products
- Create unique cities and neighborhoods
- Fun looking signage
- Products you can’t find just anywhere
If you know of a great mom and pop store near you, let us know! And get there today!
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Go Away Allergies
Check out some of these tips from Best Self Magazine for making allergy season a bit more tolerable. Obviously some of these can only be done if you own and are able to renovate, but you never know who is reading!
Enjoy!
Tips for an Allergy-Free Home
- Clean regularly with the right tools. Choose cleaning solutions with minimal or no chemical scents, odors or VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which can trigger asthma symptoms, depending on their ingredients.
- Vacuum rugs and carpeting frequently. Choose a vacuum cleaner that can effectively pick up allergens, has a HEPA filter and is tightly sealed so particles do not escape.
- Remove shoes and brush off clothes before coming indoors. This will help cut down on pollen and other allergens.
- Wash pillows and bedding often. Use pillows that can withstand frequent washing, and ensure your washing machine is able to reach a water temperature of 130°F to kill dust mites and their eggs. Consider purchasing dust mite resistant mattress and pillowcases.
- Use vinyl or wood blinds and simple shades for windows. These window treatments do not promote as much allergen accumulation as drapes and curtains.They can also be more easily cleaned on a regular basis.
- Keep indoor plants that are less likely to trigger allergic reactions. Plants that are less likely to trigger symptoms include begonia, cactus, orchids, peace lilies or even herbs like bay, parsley or thyme.
- Seal your windows and doors. For drafty doors, buy door strips or weather stripping to close the gaps or consider replacing with a proper-fitting door if gaps are significant. For drafty windows, re-caulk any exterior or interior cracks with a low-chemical, latex-free caulk.
- Choose hard surface flooring, such as wood, linoleum or vinyl. Avoid plywood or pressed wood wall paneling, particleboard, frames, fiberboard and insulation, as many of these items release high levels of VOCs.
- Invest in a good central heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. If you have an HVAC system, be sure it has a replaceable or washable high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and be sure to clean or change the filter. In addition, ducts throughout the house should be unobstructed and large enough to circulate air throughout.
-Courtesy of HGTV’s Carter Oosterhouse
-Source - www.bestselfconnect.com Atlanta Best Self Magazine
