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www.HuskeysPaint.com | (828) 214-7100 | August 2024
Sylva, NC · Buncombe County, NC · Jackson County, NC · Swain County, NC · Haywood County, NC · Macon County, NC · Transylvania, NC HIT THE ROAD! Plan Your Family Road Trip With These Creative Ideas
As the end of summer approaches and the promise of cooler days beckons, there’s no better time to squeeze in one last adventure with a family road trip. Having traveled extensively with my lively crew, I’ve picked up several hacks to make the journey smoother and more enjoyable for everyone. Let me share some of my favorites, from keeping the kids entertained to ensuring everything stays organized. First, keeping the car organized can be a game-changer, especially when dealing with limited space and multiple people. One of my favorite hacks is using a shoe organizer over the back of the front seats. It’s perfect for holding snacks, water bottles, small toys, coloring books, and electronics. Every pocket is easily accessible, which means less time searching for items and more time enjoying the journey. Keeping the kids entertained is arguably one of the biggest challenges on long road trips. One simple and inexpensive solution is to use whiteboard markers on the car windows. Yes, you read that right! Kids can draw, write, and create their masterpieces right on the glass, and it all wipes off easily. It’s a fantastic way for them to express their creativity and keep the “Are we there yet?” questions at bay. Another lifesaver can be creating surprise bags for the kids to open at various intervals. You can prepare these bags to be opened every 30 minutes or so, each containing something new, like a small toy, a book, or their favorite candy. This helps pass the time and keeps the excitement going throughout the trip. For snacks, I can’t stress enough the importance of variety and accessibility. Pre-pack healthy snacks in individual portions to avoid arguments and keep everyone’s energy up
without the sugar crashes. Think granola bars, pre-cut fruit, or string cheese — easy to distribute and less messy.
Equip everyone with a reusable water bottle for hydration. This is
environmentally friendly and minimizes spills and mix-ups. Plus, it’s easier to track how much everyone is drinking and ensure hydration stays a priority. A little planning can also go a long way in keeping the peace. Before you set out, have a family meeting to discuss the route, schedule, and exciting things you’ll see. Including the kids in the planning process can make them feel more involved and excited about the upcoming trip. Lastly, remember to plan for breaks. Everyone needs to stretch their legs, use the restroom, and get fresh air. Stop at scenic points, exciting landmarks, or a nice rest area. They break up the drive and help everyone reset their energy levels. As you prepare for your end-of-summer road trip, remember that the journey is as important as the destination. With a bit of preparation and a few tricks up your sleeve, you can ensure your family road trip is filled with happy memories rather than stressful moments. Here’s to one last summer adventure on the open road — may it be one for the books!
— Trent Huskey
(828) 214-7100
www.HuskeysPaint.com
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Top Tips to Tackle Your Relocation MOVE LIKE A PRO
the packing process as you don’t have to assemble or tape anything. Since you are renting, you might save money going this route. Once you’re done with these sturdy containers, you simply return them. BAG YOUR CLOTHES Take all your clothes on hangers and put them together in a pile so the hangers face the same direction. Then, simply pull a trash bag over them. This gives you a straightforward way to pack, transport, and unpack your clothes. Once you arrive at your new place, hang the bag in the closet with all the hangers and pull the bag off. This saves tons of time and makes unpacking easy. PACK NON-ESSENTIALS EARLY Save yourself some stress by getting an early start on packing. Start by packing off-season or non-essential items weeks or months before moving. This could include clothes or items like art and books. By getting a head start and boxing up things over time, you won’t have to scramble down the wire to get everything done. Even better, before you pack anything, purge your home of items you don’t use or need anymore and donate them. The less you have to pack, the quicker you can kick your feet up in your new living room. As you embark on this new chapter, remember that preparation is the key to a smooth move. So, don’t let moving madness get the best of you. With these hacks and a little planning, you’ll quickly settle into your new home.
Moving can be one of life’s most exciting and stressful experiences. The journey to your new home has challenges and puzzles, from packing woes to furniture fiascos. Don’t stress the suitcases and moving companies! With these moving hacks, you’ll be ready to tackle your relocation adventure and save money! So, grab your boxes and packing tape; we’re about to get a move on! RENT BOXES You can rent reusable boxes from companies like U-Haul instead of buying or collecting cardboard boxes over time. This can speed up
Are you ready to embrace the dark side — not of the force but of bedroom decor? Creating a bold, moody space involves enveloping the room in a dark aesthetic from floor to ceiling. Designers love this vibe — which can even feature all-black walls — and transform rooms into comfy sanctuaries. This shadowy style focuses on darker hues, interesting textures, monochromatic walls, and cozy touches like plush blankets and eloquent candles. DARE TO DARKEN Turn Your Bedroom Into a Shadowy Escape
If “bright and breezy” isn’t your thing, you can transform your room into a dark, romantic retreat. Hallmarks of this style include unique lighting like crystal chandeliers, luxurious curtains, woven baskets, and minimalist design. Add wooden elements or a vintage bench to bring in shape and texture. Moody doesn’t have to mean creating a gothic paradise. This design motif is for anyone who wants to keep their room simple, well-lit, and full of playful touches.
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Laundry can be a load of work. Sorting, ironing, folding, and looking for the odd, misplaced sock is enough work for a weekend. And when you’re hampered by a small laundry room, it can be enough to make you want to hang it up for good. Luckily, there are fantastic accessories to wash away your worries. Here are four ideas to help turn a chore into a cinch. DOOR STORAGE While it might not seem like it, laundry room doors can do more than get in your way. The space behind your door is ideal for hanging brooms, dustbins, and ironing boards. You can also hang posters on the door itself detailing the various symbols found on clothing to help avoid washing your favorite dry-clean-only shirt or put up hooks for extra storage! LINT COLLECTOR Ever get frustrated with the amount of lint build-up in your washer and dryer? Why not hang a lint bin on the wall or grab an empty tissue box and repurpose it into an ideal lint-collection receptacle? This saves you a trip to the trash can and helps you store a chore until later, allowing you to focus on washing and drying! DRYER BALLS Who needs dryer sheets when you have dryer balls? Dryer sheets are limited in function and usability, and some are permeated with chemicals, whereas dryer balls last longer and are more effective. Many varieties exist, like wool, that are all-natural. Just throw a few into your load of laundry and watch as they do wonders! Best of all? You can get dryer balls that look like little animals. Imagine a herd of little dryer ball sheep going to work keeping your clothes soft and static-free. LOST SOCK AND FOUND The sock gremlins, those invisible creatures that make off with every fifth sock for their private machinations, have preyed on everyone. That’s why having a lost sock jar in your laundry room is a great idea. You can fill the jar with solo socks as they await reunification with their missing partner — hopefully. TINY SPACE, HUGE POTENTIAL Unleash the Power of Laundry Room Accessories
Backpack Bees
Mustard Olympics Peach Sandcastle
School Twins
Melon Moon
Vacation Zucchini
Inspired by AllRecipes.com Summer Pizza
INGREDIENTS
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1 lb pizza dough 1/4 cup pesto 1/3 cup shredded quesadilla cheese
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1 thin slice of red onion, diced 1 strip cooked bacon, chopped
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10 thin slices of zucchini
10 thin slices of summer squash
Butter Glaze (optional) • 1 tbsp butter •
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2 mini bell peppers, thinly sliced
1 tsp steak seasoning
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat grill to high heat on one side. 2. Reduce the flame on half of the grill burners to low. 3. Roll out pizza dough into a circle. Place dough on the grill over high heat. 4. Close the cover and let dough grill for 1–3 minutes until bottom is slightly cooked and shows char marks. 5. Use tongs to flip crust over and move it to the low-heat side. 6. Brush dough with pesto, sprinkle with cheese, and evenly distribute veggies and bacon. 7. Grill for about 3 minutes until cheese is melted; then carefully remove. 8. Optional: Combine butter and seasoning. Brush crust edges with butter glaze and place pizza in broiler until golden.
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
P.O. Box 261, Whittier, NC 28789
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INSIDE THIS EDITION
Go on a Road Trip With These Family- Friendly Tips Simplify Your Move With These Ingenious Hacks Moody Designs for Dreamy Downtimes 4 Ideas to Transform Your Laundry Room Summer Pizza
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Eco-Friendly Cleaning Hacks You Need to Try
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SAY GOODBYE TO GRIME We’ve all been there before, scrubbing away at the bathroom and kitchen to no avail! It’s time to say goodbye to grime and hello to shine because the ultimate cleaning superstar is probably already sitting in your cabinet. Baking soda has the ideal texture and chemical properties for many household cleaning tasks. This inexpensive product is an environmentally friendly and effective alternative to traditional cleaning methods, from deodorizing smells to removing tricky stain agents. Get ready to shine with these surprising baking soda cleaning hacks! UNCLOG STUBBORN SINK DRAINS. Unleash the Power of Baking Soda
So, if your trash can needs a refresher, just sprinkle a little baking soda inside it. Alternatively, you can mix baking soda and water into a spray bottle to deodorize the outside of your garbage can or other items like coolers. CLEAN BUILD-UP ON SHOWER DOORS.
Shower doors are prone to limescale and mineral deposit buildup, which can be challenging to clean. Once again, the powerful combination of baking soda and vinegar is here to save the day. Start by dipping paper towels in hot white vinegar and attaching them to the shower door and track. Let the vinegar sit for 30–60 minutes, allowing the acid to loosen mineral deposits. Next, sprinkle baking soda on a damp rag, gently wipe down the doors, and rinse. Next time you’re wrestling with household messes, remember the solution is simpler than you think. With baking soda in your washing arsenal, you can easily tackle the toughest grime.
When your sink gets clogged, don’t reach for the Drano. Instead, sprinkle 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1/2 cup of white vinegar, and cover the drain. Let this mixture sit for 30 minutes, and the two products will mix and create bubbles. Those bubbles can help break down mineral deposits and gunk to reduce blockages. Finish by running hot water down the drain to flush out debris. DEODORIZE STINKY TRASH CANS. Baking soda can absorb foul odors thanks to a chemical reaction that changes the pH of a smelly compound, eliminating the smell.
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