In The Bag Cleaners December 2018

In The Bag Cleaners' online newsletter for December 2018

WICHITA’S HANGER December 2018

WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT Celebrating the Special People in Our Lives

offer and the job we’re doing at In the Bag Cleaners. I didn’t focus on the people on the other end of our services. Then one year, around Christmas, I had a realization about who, not what, is truly important: our clients. This time of year tends to do that to you, doesn’t it? It shifted my perspective. Instead of being hyperfocused on our services, I turned my attention to the people we’re serving. I became passionate about our clients, and that turned our services into offerings they can fall in love with. It made a huge difference in my personal outlook and in contributing to what we do. When it comes down to it, that’s our driving force. It’s about the people we interact with, from those within our homes and at work to the person who helps us bag our groceries. At our stores, we’re excited to be part of a few local efforts that recognize the people in our community. Operation Holiday and the Warm Hearts Campaign are two causes we feel very honored to be a part of. They are meeting needs in our community during this festive season. Around Wichita, there are plenty of ways to get into the holiday spirit. A lot of the neighborhoods here in town go all-out, decorating their homes with lights and festive decorations. It’s so cool to drive around and see what people come up with. A few years ago, Aram and I enjoyed a light tour from a whole new perspective — the night sky! We went on a helicopter ride with a local company that created an amazing experience. Given the spectacular views from under the comfort of blankets while drinking hot cocoa, it was very romantic. We both loved it.

We are full-swing into the holiday season! What do you most look forward to this time of year? Christmas is one of my favorite holidays because it’s a celebration of family, love, and reflection at the end of the year. Christmas is just such a festive time! People cherish their relationships by making time for their loved ones, traveling, and preparing home-cooked meals for one another. Plus, spending time with the people I love is what life is all about. Around the holiday season at home, we all take a few days just to “clock out” of everything and enjoy our time together. I already make it a rule to do this on the weekends so I can be totally present with Aram and our kids, and I make extra time for it around the holidays. Unless there’s relationship-building involved, it’s not as important as whatever I’m doing with the family.

In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we are doing a helicopter light tour giveaway. Look for more information on that inside the newsletter.

I hope you enjoy the special time with your loved ones this season. From all of us at In the Bag Cleaners, happy holidays!

Relationships are what I prioritize in all aspects of my life now, but I didn’t always have this outlook. For a long time, I was in love with the services we

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Ways to Use Leftover Candy

During the Oh-So-Sweet Holiday Season

BAKE WITH IT. Whether you have an excess of candy corn or candy bars, you can bake with your sweet leftovers. The next time you make chocolate chip cookies, swap out the chocolate chips for candy corn. Or the next time you make brownies, chop up leftover candy bars and add them to the batter. From peanut butter cups to mint patties, there are so many different types of candies that can take traditional baked goods to the next level. STORE IT. Although not great for you, candy is fine to eat in moderation. A good way to moderate your holiday treat intake is to store your leftover sweets in the freezer. That way, you can pull a little from your supply each month to make sure you aren’t overdoing it. That said, be sure to check the expiration dates on all candy you save.

Sometimes, we get a little too much of the sweet stuff. Between Halloween and New Year’s Day, candy is everywhere. It’s at home, at work, and on store shelves. Then, as the year comes to an end, many people start thinking about eating right and losing weight. When those are your New Year’s resolutions, you have to do something about all the leftover candy so it’s not around come Jan. 1.

Here are a few ways to get rid of your leftover candy ASAP.

DONATE IT. While you may have an abundance of sweets, not everyone does. Consider donating wrapped and packaged candy to your local food bank or other

nonprofits, including local homeless or women’s shelters. You can also look into donating candy to nearby schools. Many teachers will gladly take candy off your hands to reward students (or themselves) with treats throughout the rest of the school year.

What Makes Fabi Excited to Come to Work

Fabi Frayre is the manager of one of our busiest stores, and it’s no mystery why

me to guide her in that process,” Fabi says. “We always focus on working together so we feel like one team. At the end of the night, we’re always on the same page. All around, this is a great company. The people I work with have been great. I don’t view it as a job; it’s something I get to do.” This month marks 12 years since Fabi joined In the Bag Cleaners, and in addition to her coworkers, she credits her clients for making this a place she wants to come into each day. “It’s definitely my clients,” Fabi says. “They make my experience well worth coming back.” When she’s not at work, Fabi plays a different role. “As soon as I get out of work, I clock into my mom shift,” she says. She and her husband are parents of two adorable kids, Roscoe, who’s 8, and Esme, who’s 4. With two dogs as part of the family, the Frayres keep busy. “There’s always something to do,” Fabi says of their home life.

people keep coming back. Fabi leads with a positive perspective that is passed on to her team. They make sure each client feels taken care of and is

greeted by name. That way, clients are treated like people, not numbers. “I don’t view them as people who are spending money,” Fabi

says of our clients. “I view them as people who are visiting us. There’s a reason why they come to you. They are coming back because they want to visit you.” Despite playing a big role, Fabi credits her team for their store’s success. “Wendy, who works here in the afternoon, and I are like one person. I trust her to do what she needs to do, and she trusts

Thank you for 12 amazing years with In the Bag Cleaners, Fabi! Happy workiversary!

2 • In The Bag Cleaners • inthebagcleaners.com • (316) 267-3407

The Top 3 Places to See Christmas Lights in Wichita

Holiday Roast Prime Rib

Wichita residents go all-out for the holiday season. Many of our neighborhoods become winter wonderlands full of glowing lights, fantastic decorations, and Christmas cheer. Here are a few of our favorites. 3. THE ARC’S LIGHTS Come see this beautiful display for a heartwarming cause. The Arc’s Lights is a spectacular drive-thru light display that also serves as an annual fundraiser for The Arc, an organization that serves children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. All coordinated and decorated by volunteers, proceeds from the event go to help fund programming for The Arc’s participants. It’s $10 to get in, and the display opens Thanksgiving night and runs through Christmas Eve. The entrance is at Douglas Avenue and St. Paul Street. 2. CANDY CANE LANE Candy Cane Lane is an annual tradition that kicks off on Thanksgiving night and runs through Christmas Eve. It begins at dark each evening. Head to West Wichita for festive decorations and colorful light displays put on by the area’s own residents. Homes around the area of 119 Street and Central Avenue will be decorated, and there is no cost to view the display. Start at 1021 N. Azure Circle to view the magic. 1. HOLIDAY LIGHT TOUR The best place to see Christmas lights in Wichita is from the sky! See the sparkling lights from the air for a whole new perspective. As you lift off in the helicopter, you’ll be cozy and warm with blankets, cookies, and warm cider. The 30-minute flight takes you around different neighborhoods and up to 250 feet in the sky, where you can really see all the different lights in our town. It’s an amazing way to see the holiday magic. This holiday season, In the Bag Cleaners is giving away a Helicopter Light Tour to one lucky couple! To enter to win, like our Facebook page! A winner will be randomly selected. Good luck!

Inspired by Food Network

Ingredients

1 bone-in prime rib (6-7 pounds)

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4 cups beef stock

1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped

8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 2 cups red wine

Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions

1. 30 minutes before cooking, remove roast from fridge and let sit until it reaches room temperature. 2. Heat oven to 350 F. 3. Make small slits in prime rib and stuff with slices of garlic. Liberally season with salt and pepper. 4. Place a rack inside a roasting pan and roast prime rib for 2 hours, until medium-rare. 5. To make au jus, place roasting pan with drippings from roast over 2 burners on high. Add wine and scrape pan as liquid reduces. Add beef stock and cook until reduced by half. Finally, sprinkle in thyme. 6. Slice roast and serve topped with au jus.

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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

1951 N. Ohio Ave., Wichita, KS 67214 (316) 267-3407 | www.inthebagcleaners.com

INSIDE This ISSUE

Happy Holidays

The Best Ways to Use Leftover Candy Meet Our Stellar Team

Christmas Light Tour Giveaway! Holiday Roast Prime Rib

Holiday Decoration Tours

Christmas Tours Get Away and Be Festive This Holiday Season

YEARLY YULETIDE IN SANTA CLAUS, INDIANA This one’s for the Christmas lover. If you can’t make it out to Santa Claus, Indiana, this holiday season, you can still celebrate Christmas in this tiny Midwestern town in January, June, or even October. Embracing its unique name, the town boasts a museum, holiday shopping center, and a Christmas theme park. In a moving tribute, the town’s residents also write responses to children’s letters to Kris Kringle himself. It’s impossible to avoid holiday cheer in this town. DISNEY WORLD’S CHRISTMAS MAGIC What better place to celebrate the most magical time of the year than in the most magical place on Earth? Walt Disney World’s halls are decked to the max with a parade, gingerbread homes, strings of lights, and festive parties. Plus, costs to visit Disney World can be cheaper during the Christmas season, so keep an eye out for a vacation steal.

There’s nothing quite like the magical lights of the holiday season, and some destinations in the U.S. have perfected the craft of holiday decoration. If you’re looking to get away this December and still engage in seasonal festivities, add one of these places to your must-visit list. NEW YORK CITY’S ROCKEFELLER CENTER New York City is an iconic location for Christmastime. The scene is like a Hallmark card: Ice-skating lovers whiz past miles of twinkling lights underneath an exceptionally tall and amply decorated tree. The tree is specially selected by Rockefeller Center’s landscaping crews, who scout out trees years in advance. It remains lit from November to early January, so you have plenty of time to check it out. RANCH CHRISTMAS IN JACKSON, WYOMING Jackson, Wyoming, takes its frontier culture to the next level during the Christmas season. All year, the city proudly displays four elk antler arches, but around the holidays, they are lit up with white string lights and flanked by snow. The Christmas decorations and lights surrounding the archway make for a Western-themed holiday pulled right out of a John Wayne classic. For holiday admirers looking for a unique spin, Jackson has you covered.

4 • In The Bag Cleaners • inthebagcleaners.com • (316) 267-3407

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