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“HOT OFF THE PRESS” Dry Cleaning News
(248) 543-0340 | www.janetdaviscleaners.com 27607 Woodward Ave., Berkley, MI 48072
DECEMBER 2024
Cheers to Holiday Chaos
with nearly 90 teeth. It’s not extra sharky there; there’s just something about the current that carries the teeth to the beach. We never have a set schedule while there, visiting whichever museums, aquariums, or attractions call to us. There’s so much going on in December, but the most important aspects of this time of year are spending time with family and being thoughtful about each other. It’s fun teaching the kids that it’s not all about getting presents, though we would never take the enjoyment of that away. We just like to focus on coming up with considerate gifts for others rather than our wish lists. We have enjoyed going around the table sharing what we are grateful for during Thanksgiving so much, it’s a tradition that’s carried over to Christmas Eve. Our children love sharing what they are thankful for, and more often than not, they come up with something so thoughtful and sweet you wouldn’t have necessarily thought of it as an adult. It’s a busy, slightly chaotic time of year between school events, holiday parties, and activities in December. While it can be a bit of a whirlwind, it’s also a nice reminder of the season’s true spirit of togetherness. After all the holiday fun, it feels so bittersweet to take down the decorations, but we always have next year to look forward to. As I reflect on the holiday, I’m reminded of the cherished traditions we’ve created as a family, a blend of the beloved celebrations from our childhoods and others uniquely our own. Here’s wishing you and your family a happy holiday and New Year! –Kyle Matthews 1 (248) 543-0340
Blending Old and New Holiday Traditions
As soon as it’s socially acceptable to decorate the house for Christmas, we’ll be hanging up ornaments on the tree. Once Thanksgiving passes, my family goes all in with the holiday spirit. We pack the turkey leftovers and throw on our favorite Christmas tunes — a playlist we’ve curated and added to over the years — to decorate the tree. Our kids are responsible for hanging the ornaments, and we’ve taught them to use ladders and ask for help so we don’t end up with all of them three feet off the ground at once. Along with decorating, I love my family’s other Christmas traditions. My girls always bake cookies with my mom and make gingerbread houses with my mother-in-law. All the women in our family get in on the cookie-baking action, which becomes a delightful chaos filled with laughter, flour, and a sprinkle of holiday spirit. When I was a kid, we alternated the holidays between my grandparents’ houses and adopted something similar to
the celebrations we share now. We’ll do Christmas Eve with my family, and then my parents hop on a plane on Christmas Day to head to Florida to see my sister and my dad’s mom that night. They do back- to-back Christmases in different states. Of course, we always go to church on Christmas Eve as well. We usually spend Christmas with my wife’s family, rotating whose home will play host for the big day. Christmas morning is always just me, my wife, and my girls. One of the newer things we’ve started doing is joining my parents in Florida for New Year’s. This will be our third year traveling to the state for the holiday. We have many relatives there, so it’s a chance to reconnect with everyone and explore the beach. One of our favorite spots is Venice’s shark- tooth capital of the world, Caspersen Beach. It’s one of the best places to find shark teeth, including fossil specimens and chompers from prehistoric Megalodons. The first time we went, we came home
A Guide to the Perfect Reading Paradise Keys to a Cozy Book Nook
HOLIDAY HOSTING MADE EASY
The Secret to Immaculate Bedding
Is your home where the hectic is? Crave a place in your house where you or your loved one can find peace with a great paperback and a comfy couch? Well, it may be time to build a book nook! Book nooks can range from cozy, modest spots to mini in-house libraries complete with shelving and large furniture. Whichever direction you take to create
As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to prepare your home for those long-awaited visits from family and friends. Nothing sets the tone for a warm welcome to your holiday guests like freshly cleaned linens, cozy comforters, and crisp sheets. By freshening up your guest room, you can create an inviting stay for your loved ones that rivals a luxury hotel. If you’re busy preparing for the festivities, try this time-saving hack to get your space ready to host. Start by separating your sheets, comforters, and linens by color and fabric so nothing gets damaged. If you notice any stains, pre- treat them before adding them to the wash. Check the care label to determine if your linens need special care. Generally, using a gentle cycle for your washing machine and cold water is the best way to handle these items. Hot water can make colors less vibrant and cause certain fabrics, like linen, to shrink. The ultimate comforter cleaning hack this holiday season is contacting Janet Davis Cleaners! From sheets and duvets to linens and pillowcases, we provide laundry services for all the household items your guests will need during their stay. Let us treat, clean, steam, and press your bedding to perfection so your guests enjoy a fresh night’s rest, and you can focus on the holiday fun. Our machines are designed for even your most oversized comforters, ensuring they get a complete clean.
your special place for reading and relaxation, a few tried-and- true tips will help transform your corner into a tranquil sanctuary.
PERK UP YOUR PAGE-TURNING. Although the sight of someone going cover to cover in a dingy dungeon may work in a horror film, it’s the wrong way to keep your eyes open and your senses alert. A book nook should be a place for rejuvenation, so keep your space illuminated and lively. Natural light will always work best, but a strategically placed lamp will also do the trick. The goal is to give your eyes a break — not another way to strain them. SHAPE WHERE YOU SIT. Remember those tiny — and hard — wooden seats we endured most of the day when we were kids at school? Well, there’s a good chance your kids still spend plenty of time on them in school! To build the perfect book nook for younger readers, furnish it with softness: a cozy chair with an ottoman or couch with lots of pillows and a blanket nearby. Naturally, adults shouldn’t skimp on comfort, either — your body deserves a break after all those hours spent in the car, behind a desk, or on your feet. LET YOUR CREATIVITY FLAG FLY! In addition to providing children with a place to read for pleasure, book nooks can open the door to their creative sides. Encourage them to be little art directors and personalize their spaces with their favorite colors and images. Who knows? Maybe the walls could be the perfect gallery for their drawings! Helping to make your child’s nook a pleasant destination will help them find joy in reading. Of course, the same philosophy should also apply to adults who need a good nook. Like the act of reading itself, creating a literary safe space presents endless possibilities for fun and fulfillment.
Customers like Ruth have grown to rely on our household services when preparing for overnight guests. “Great, reliable cleaners for my best clothes and comforters,” she said.
This holiday season, make your home the cozy getaway retreat your loved ones will love by
trusting us to get your linens looking their best. Experience the joys of holiday hosting with peace of mind, knowing your comforters and sheets are in expert hands. Contact us today so we can get you set for the season!
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FROM PILLING SWEATERS TO SNAGGED THREADS High-Tech Gadgets to Keep Clothes Looking New
The hanger shortage is still an issue, and we will continue collecting your hangers! Instead of sending them to the landfill, let us put them to use. We offer a cardboard hanger recycling tote you can request to fill with the hangers you no longer need. It can also help you organize your closet. Thank you for all your help. THE HANGER SHORTAGE CONTINUES
Does your favorite sweater look like it’s been through a shredder? From annoying pilling to stubborn loose threads, many wardrobe woes can make our favorite garments feel out of style. Thankfully, you can use high-quality clothing gadgets at home that utilize some of the same technologies as our professional-grade equipment at Janet Davis Cleaners. Tools like fabric shavers or wool balls make a great holiday gift or a treat to yourself for handling even the most challenging clothing problems like a pro. FABRIC SHAVERS Fabric shavers are a great tool to use when your sweater is pilling. They work by sucking up the fibers and shaving them off, eliminating the pilling. They are safe to use on your
clothes, and several brands like the Electrolux Rechargeable Fabric shaver and Lint Remover use blades similar to our professional equipment. Most offer different settings so that you can use them on various materials. Just make sure to lay the garment completely flat when you use a fabric shaver so you don’t damage the fabric. WOOL BALLS Fabric softeners and sheets aren’t the best for your clothes because their fragrances and chemicals can irritate your skin. They can even coat your clothes, locking in sweat and other odor-causing bacteria. If you want your clothes to leave the machine fresh, dry, and lint- free, try adding three or four wool balls to the dryer. These balls made of tightly woven
wool help the dryer circulate better, improving the drying time, reducing wrinkles, and softening your clothes. KNIT PICKERS A knit picker or thread puller is a small, handheld device with a tiny latch hook. It can repair snags and pulled threads on knitted items like sweaters. To use it, you hook snags with the tool and pull them through to the inside of the garment, where they can’t be seen. Though it can take a little practice to master, this handy tool is a great way to repair loose threads without causing further damage. So, this holiday season, turn wardrobe woes into brand new-looking clothes with these crafty clothing tools!
Inspired by GoodHousekeeping.com
SUDOKU
Korean Steak Slaw
INGREDIENTS • 2 tbsp gochujang or sriracha hot sauce • 2 tbsp soy sauce • 3 tbsp sesame oil, divided • 2 sirloin steaks, about 1 lb total • 1 daikon radish
• 1 large carrot • 1/2 red cabbage • 5 green onions, divided • 2 tbsp rice vinegar • 2 tsp sesame seeds, toasted
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large bowl, mix gochujang, soy sauce, and 2 tbsp sesame oil. Set aside 1 tbsp of mixture to use for dressing. Place steaks in bowl with the remaining marinade and coat. 2. Julienne radish and carrot into strips. Shred red cabbage and slice 3 green onions. Mix the reserved marinade with the remaining sesame oil and rice vinegar, then toss with vegetables in a large bowl to coat. 3. Heat a frying pan until very hot. Fry steaks for 2 minutes on each side for medium rare, brushing with the marinade as they cook. Set aside to rest for 5 minutes, then slice into thin strips. Slice the remaining green onions and add to the slaw. 4. Serve sliced steak over the slaw and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
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(248) 543-0340 www.janetdaviscleaners.com INSIDE THIS ISSUE
27607 Woodward Ave. Berkley, MI 48072
1 Finding Joy and Shark Teeth This Season 2 Literary Lounges for Family Relaxation
Leave the Laundry to Us!
3 Laundry Tools You Didn’t Know You Needed
Korean Steak Slaw
4 Mix, Measure, and Make Memories
FESTIVE KITCHEN ADVENTURES — KID EDITION
KEEP FAMILY FLAVORS FLOWING. Want to give your elderly mom or dad a holiday surprise they’ll never forget? Present them with a meal based on one of their famous recipes that their grandkid(s) helped prepare! Holiday
Could your child be a future celebrity chef? Could your baby be a world-class baker in waiting? Help transform your toddlers or school-age kids into tiny tastemakers by following these three simple tips. USE YOUR SPACE AS A SKILL ZONE. It takes more than just a love of food to make delicious meals and treats, as cooking and baking put all five senses to the test. Helping in the kitchen enables small children to heighten their awareness of smells, tastes, sounds, and textures while learning new words. Having them measure ingredients and pour them into bowls is an easy way to refine their motor skills, and your guidance behind the counter will encourage them to follow directions. If your kitchen companion is a baby, you can still involve them
by describing the sights, sounds, and smells surrounding them and letting them touch some of the food — all great tools to assist in developing their connection to the world.
KID-PROOF YOUR MEAL PREP. Before taking your child on a culinary journey, check that
gatherings are great for sharing the details and delicacies that shaped your family’s
their countertop travels won’t endanger them. It’s obviously a big no-no to rest a sharp knife on a cutting board that small hands can reach,
history — and a wonderful opportunity to pass down those special traditions to the next generation.
but little things like toothpicks can also pose a risk. If your small assistant is old enough to cut up ingredients, a plastic utensil will be less painful than steel if the blade misses its mark.
With the holidays upon us, now is a perfect time to introduce little ones to the joys of baking and cooking by turning your kitchen into a safe space for learning and bonding.
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