Janet Davis Cleaners - December 2023

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(248) 543-0340 | www.janetdaviscleaners.com 27607 Woodward Ave., Berkley, MI 48072 “HOT OFF THE PRESS” Dry Cleaning News Slide Into Winter Don’t Miss Metro Detroit’s Best Winter Activities!

DECEMBER 2023

It’s safe to say that we’re officially done with warm weather once December arrives. We’ve almost always had our first snow of the year already, and there will be plenty lining the streets and piling up on the sidewalks as the days pass. While many people use this opportunity to hide inside, keep warm by their fireplaces, and watch movies to stay entertained, my family and I get outside and enjoy the weather every day! One of the main reasons we’re outside so often during the winter is because we need to walk our Bernese mountain dog at least once a day, regardless of the weather. Usually, there’s nobody else walking outside with us during the winter, but our dog doesn’t let the cold bother him. I actually think he enjoys it! I can remember one winter day when it was actively snowing and below zero. I was so worried that the dog would get too cold, but he did something that took all the worry out of my mind. As soon as we returned home, he wanted to go right back outside and lay in the snow.

cold-weather activities to enjoy around metro Detroit. One of my favorite winter activities that most people don’t consider is going to the zoo. You would think the animals would get cold and stay indoors, but that’s not usually the case. They’re still roaming their habitats, and if the weather does become too extreme, they move the animals into indoor exhibits where you can get an up-close-and-personal encounter. Going in winter is a completely different experience than going in summer. You don’t have to worry about big crowds or the hot sun beating down on you. You can just enjoy the day, seeing the animals in a whole new light — as long as you dress warm enough! If you’re looking for something active to do this winter, there are many places to check out. This is the best time of year to go ice skating. Of course, there are indoor rinks and arenas in nearly every city in the area, but there are also some cool outdoor spots to check out. My family usually avoids the rinks altogether. My parents live on a lake outside the city where we like to skate when the conditions are right. However, you have to wait until it’s been below zero

for a few days before you’re sure that the ice is safe to skate on.

My family also loves to go skiing. I was part of the ski club in high school and regularly skied on Mount Holly, Nub's Nob, and Boyne Mountain, but once my kids were born, we started going to Pine Knob instead. That said, there are a lot of novices at Pine Knob, so it can get a little dangerous if people are skiing out of control. We haven’t gone skiing too often during the past few years, but we have really enjoyed sledding around Metro Detroit. Santa brought the girls snow tubes for Christmas one year, and they loved taking those down the hills throughout Oakland County. If you want to go sledding but are unsure where to go, just start driving through some of the communities, and you’re sure to spot some hills prime for sledding. Winter can be a fun time if you have the right perspective. Don’t let the cold and snow bring you down!

We get away from the house fairly often during winter, as there are so many amazing

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If your home has indoor stairs, what do you have underneath them? Is there a tiny door that opens to reveal an even tinier (and usually useless) space? Or is it just a flat wall with pictures, a mirror, or other decorations hanging on it? If you answered yes to either, we're here to unveil a wealth of untapped storage space underneath your stairs. Typically, indoor stairs that aren’t concrete are completely hollow underneath, which is why some homes have those tiny doors and spaces — a token effort to provide storage space. But the truth is that you can do much better than a waist-high door leading nowhere. So, if your home has indoor stairs with an awkward space underneath, here are some creative ideas to help maximize the space’s potential. NO. 1: INSTALL CABINETS Most walls on the sides of staircases hide completely hollow spaces behind them. By putting a few cabinets or shelves in that space, you can exponentially increase your home's storage without increasing its size. From Neglected Nook to Functional Space Reimagine Your Under- Stair Storage

A strong and dedicated team is crucial to the success of any business, and that's absolutely true here at Janet Davis Cleaners. As a family business, we put careful consideration into the people we hire because, ultimately, working with us means becoming part of our family, too. Thankfully, when Andrea, one of our customer service One of the Smiling Faces of Our Stellar Customer Service Team! MEET ANDREA

specialists, applied to work with us four years ago, that was

exactly what she was looking for.

Andrea grew up working in a family business, so when she started her job hunt in 2019, she wanted to work for a company that was family- owned and operated, too. So, when she found our job posting, did a

NO. 2: PLAYSPACE GALORE This is where that tiny door and tiny space can come in handy — because kids are tiny, too! To create a child-size playroom, add a child's cushioned chair, lamp, toys, a rug, and even some books.

little research and learned about our company and its history, and saw we were a family-owned business looking to hire someone with a smile on their face, she knew she had to apply. We asked Andrea to come in for an interview, and the next day, she came in to try out the job to see what she thought. That was four years ago, and Andrea has been here ever since! What we admire most about Andrea is that she embodies everything Janet Davis Cleaners is about. She's not afraid to roll up her sleeves and jump into the thick of it with anyone who needs help. Often, you find her filling in for someone, backing up another person, or lending a hand to some miscellaneous task. She's the true definition of a team player. Andrea is also one of our openers, so you can often find her here at 7 a.m. opening up shop. She takes care of all of our special customer requests and helps check people in and out, too. And she does it all with her signature smile and infectious laugh. Her positive attitude has a way of lighting up any room she walks into, and her goal is to always make our customers smile, too.

NO. 3: A WINE ‘CELLAR’ Wine lovers everywhere dream of one day having a space dedicated to their beloved reds and whites, but finding room in their home to build it may prove impossible. But not if you have stairs! You can fill that awkward under-the-stairs space with wine cabinets and finish with glass doors. NO. 4: A ROOM FOR YOUR DOG While your dog may share your space with you, they probably don't have a room they can call their own. Fill your area under the stairs with a fluffy dog bed, a water bowl, mood lighting, and a few toys, and your dog will be living large.

When she's not at work, you can often find Andrea on the golf course, skiing, or tending to her beautiful flower garden.

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THE OVERLOOKED ESSENTIALS Your Household Items Need to Be Cleaned Too!

Curtains are a great example. Once we put our curtains up on our windows, we never give them a second thought until we’re ready to replace them. They’re not stained, and nobody regularly touches them, so they don’t really need to go to the cleaners, right? Wrong! Over time, your curtains gather dust and cobwebs, especially if they hang low enough to touch the ground. If you have people over regularly, there may be stains on your curtains that you’re unaware of. If your drapes or curtains need cleaning, please contact us and we’ll connect you with a great resource to get them looking “as clean as new.” Rugs are another household item you might need cleaned without even realizing it. People may rub dirt off their shoes into rugs, causing them to get dirty relatively quickly

compared to other items. You could throw them in the washing machine, but that could damage the rugs. Instead, you can bring them to the cleaners.

When you think about taking some of your personal items to the dry cleaners, the first things that pop into your mind are probably pieces of clothing such as dress shirts, suits, formal dresses, and overcoats. However, many non-clothing items around your house could benefit from a trip to the dry cleaners! We put out a request last year asking you to return hangers and were amazed by your response! So many people returned hangers, but we still need more as the shortage continues. Thank you to all who have returned hangers recently! Please, keep up the good work! Thanks for Returning Them! THE HANGER SHORTAGE CONTINUES

We will work with one of our specialty cleaners who will take excellent care of them. Whether you’re dropping off clothing or household items with us, you can always expect

efficient and timely results.

“Absolutely a great business with great people. The turnaround for nine items was quick, and the texting feature is a game-changer. Also, before I forget, they also clean rugs … WOW.” –C.H., reviewer on Google

If you have items in need of cleaning, give us a call today!

SUDOKU

Tasty Holiday Chocolate Mousse

Add even more cheer to the holidays with this decadent chocolate mousse.

INGREDIENTS • 10 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped • 4 tbsp butter

• 4 large eggs, separated • 2 tbsp granulated sugar • 1/2 cup heavy cream

DIRECTIONS 1. In a medium heatproof bowl, add chocolate and butter. Set the bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water and stir until chocolate and butter are melted and blended, then remove from heat and let cool slightly. 2. In a medium bowl, beat egg yolks until thick. Then gradually add melted chocolate mixture, stirring until blended. 3. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Then gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. 4. In another bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form; fold egg whites and then cream into the chocolate mixture. 5. Pour into individual serving dishes and chill for 3 hours or until set.

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1 Skiing, Sledding, and Skating Across Metro Detroit 2 Transform the Space Below Your Stairs (248) 543-0340 www.janetdaviscleaners.com INSIDE THIS ISSUE

27607 Woodward Ave. Berkley, MI 48072

Get to Know Andrea, the Ultimate Team Player!

3 Give Your Household Items Some TLC

Tasty Holiday Chocolate Mousse

4 Discover the Most Enchanting Christmas Towns in the US

EXPLORE AMERICA'S MOST MAGICAL CHRISTMAS TOWNS From Snowy Villages to Year-Round Holiday Cheer

It may be too late for less spontaneous travelers to start planning a Christmas vacation. But that shouldn’t stop you from planning next year’s holiday journey! The good news is you don’t need to venture to another continent to find a Christmas wonderland. There are countless picture-perfect Christmas towns across the country. Make your next Christmas trip feel like a Hallmark movie at one of these festive towns! LEAVENWORTH, WASHINGTON Many have dubbed Leavenworth the most Christmas-centric in the U.S., and it’s easy to see why. This Bavarian-style village experiences nearly 96 inches of snowfall every year, and they certainly don’t hold back when it comes to the holidays. The town lights up and decorates almost 21 miles, where you can find reindeer farms, carolers, gingerbread competitions,

and Christmas markets. Every step of the way offers an Instagram-worthy photo opportunity! SOLVANG, CALIFORNIA A slice of Denmark right in sunny California, Solvang brings endless holiday cheer, especially with their annual Julefest. Pronounced “Yule-fest,” this month-long festival takes place every December and features picturesque events, including a ballerina-filled tree lighting ceremony, visits from Santa, culinary delights, traditional Danish celebrations, and much more! WOODSTOCK, VERMONT During Woodstock’s Wassail Weekend, you’ll find the town in peak Christmas mode, where you can experience parades, horse-drawn carriages, carolers, and the Billings Farm, a local favorite of the

season. Stroll down Main Street to witness an idyllic Christmas spot filled with cozy small-town shops and restaurants.

NORTH POLE, ALASKA If you ever feel like celebrating

Christmas in the middle of summer, we know the perfect destination. North Pole, Alaska, offers Christmas decor and festivities year-round! Here, you can get up close and personal with Santa’s reindeer, meet the man himself, and enjoy the snow that covers the entire town. Be sure to check out their ice sculpture competition, which features artists from all over the world! Ready for the Christmas celebration of your dreams? Start planning your next holiday vacation at any of these destinations, and we promise your dreams will most definitely come true!

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