14 minute read
NEWS FEATURES
from Sunday Signal 091122
by Signal
NEWS FEATURE
In the world of design, what’s old inevitably becomes new again, and a similar pattern is inspiring today’s on-trend color palettes for home decor. The latest styles reflect reviving and comforting colors influenced by heritage and romance, lending to a look that is familiar in an individualistic way.
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With more people living their everyday, working lives at home, many homeowners are discovering the contentment that comes with slowing down. Often that means looking to the past to find comfort for moving forward.
Nostalgia serves as an emotional tool that delivers deep-rooted serenity and powerful healing properties. Looking to the past is often beneficial during times of uncertainty and can be an opportunity to bring styles and practices back to the present to create an appreciation of the past.
Whether living through the romance of rural lifestyles, the comfort of home or the nostalgia from far-off times, some of today’s most beloved design aesthetics celebrate the past, present and future while bringing balance, hope and comfort for you and your family to embrace.
Timeless Color
Using color to evoke feelings and emotions is hardly new but combining a carefully curated color palette with other design elements can allow you to create a look that pays homage to the past while breathing new life into your living space.
Reimagining classic, familiar tones allows you to achieve a design motif that is equal parts reminiscent and refreshing.
“The Vintage Homestead Color Collection offers an effortless look that reveals the importance of being hopeful to find stability and balance,” said Ashley Banbury, HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams senior color designer. “Our 2023 Color Collection of the Year revives elements from the past that are perfectly paired with vintage, comfortable and classic colors.”
Blending Past and Present
Striking a balance between old and new can take many forms, as these styles show: Heritage Revival An interest in reviving the past is evident in design trends like a remerging appreciation of antiques and vintage elements, such oversized furniture and traditional shapes. To capture this style, your design should focus on contrasting old and new for a mix-and-match look. Ultimately, the aesthetic is a look that feels simultaneously individualistic and curated.
A cohesive color scheme can allow the various elements to stand on their own while working in harmony for an intentional design. For example, the HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams 2023 Color Collection of the Year includes a combination of familiar tones that have been thoughtfully curated by design experts who borrow color and design concepts from the past for a hopeful future and a sense of belonging. Hues like Poetry Plum and Hot Cocoa evoke warmth and depth, while moderate shades like Restrained Gold and Glamour offer fresh ways to incorporate mid-range neutrals. Meanwhile, soft tones like Natural Linen and Cool Beige offer subtle color for lighter, brighter spaces. Mixing and Matching of Eras A new take on retro design is emerging in which eras are blended and new and old furnishing work side by side. To get this look, you’ll craft a space that marries historical and contemporary design, celebrating both the old and new. To design for longevity, incorporate pieces that are ambiguous in era and stand the test of time. Vintage Homestead Reviving design elements from the past with mixed patterns, classic shapes and vintage decor adds up to comfortable and comforting design. With this trend, prints and patterns encompass a range of styles, reinforcing how interiors connect to fashion. Mixing classic elegance with sleek vintage shapes is refining the concept of polished comfort. To achieve the look, curate pieces in heritage shapes and patterns, along with retro accents. Be sure to incorporate vintage lighting and glass, as well.
A versatile color choice like Darkroom, the 2023 Color of the Year from HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, is an alluring shade that is classic enough for heritage interiors but also modernly retro for a throwback-inspired aesthetic. It’s a neutral perfect for creating an eclectic yet modern look inside and out. Indoors, use it on the walls to offset more earthy brown and taupe tones in your furnishings and textiles.
Get inspired to combine the past with the present for a comforting design that’s all your own at hgtv homebysherwinwilliams.com. (Family Features)
A Savory Solution to NEWS FEATURE STRETCH YOUR Grocery Budget
In today’s world, grocery shopping can seem more like a burden than an opportunity to gather supplies for your family’s favorite meals. With prices of everyday ingredients fluctuating almost daily, it’s important for many families to make their dollars go further at the store.
Easy ways to stretch your grocery budget, like using versatile ingredients, can make the checkout experience a little less impactful on your household’s finances. Consider the benefits of mushrooms, which provide a delicious option to enhance flavor in favorite recipes while extending portions in an affordable way.
Save Money
Stretch your dollars by stretching your meals using a process called “The Blend.” Blending finely chopped mushrooms with ground meat can extend portion sizes of your favorite meaty recipes and help your bottom line. Chop your favorite mushroom variety to match the consistency of ground meat, blend the chopped mushrooms and meat together then cook to complete the recipe. For burgers, use a blend of 25% finely chopped mushrooms and 75% ground meat. For tacos or chili, use 50% mushrooms and 50% meat or an even higher mushroom-to-meat ratio.
Savor the Flavor
The savory umami taste of mushrooms means a flavorful experience in blended recipes like burgers, where the chopped mushrooms help hold in the juiciness. Or, you can chop, quarter, slice or enjoy them whole in recipes such as Garlic-Rosemary Butter Roasted Chicken Thighs and Veggies with Mushroom Orzo Risotto.
One Carton, Multiple Dishes
Thanks to mushrooms’ versatility, you can buy one large carton of mushrooms to chop up then bulk up multiple dishes, from a morning omelet to hearty soups to blended burgers.
Serve Up Nutrition
Low-calorie, low-sodium, fat-free and cholesterol-free, mushrooms are nutrient rich and can play a starring role in a variety of meals. With an array of fresh varieties and nearly endless ways to prepare them, they can be your powerhouse from the produce department.
Find more recipe ideas and ways to make the most of your grocery store dollars at MushroomCouncil.com. (Family Features)
Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 50 minutes Servings: 4
Chicken
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs salt, to taste pepper, to taste 6 tablespoons unsalted butter 16 ounces mushrooms, such as white button, crimini or portabella, quartered 3 zucchinis, sliced in half moons 3 large carrots, thinly sliced 4 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves removed and roughly chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced
Orzo
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 small yellow onion, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 16 ounces mushrooms, such as white button, crimini or portabella, finely chopped 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
1/8 teaspoon black pepper 1/3 cup white wine 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese To make chicken Preheat oven to 450 F. Pat chicken dry. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. In large skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter. Sear chicken until brown on both sides, 4-5 minutes on each side. In large bowl, toss mushrooms, zucchinis and carrots with rosemary and garlic. On large baking sheet, spread vegetables. Nestle chicken into vegetables. Drizzle with butter and juices from pan. Bake 20 minutes until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender. To make orzo In small pot over medium-low heat, warm broth. Using skillet from chicken over medium heat, add butter and olive oil. Add onion, garlic and mushrooms. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions soften, 3-4 minutes. Add orzo and black pepper. Stir and cook orzo 2 minutes. Add white wine and cook until evaporated, about 1 minute. Add broth to orzo, 2/3 cup at a time, stirring until liquid is absorbed. Repeat with remaining broth, waiting until last batch is absorbed before adding next. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan. Serve in individual bowls with chicken and roasted vegetables atop mushroom orzo risotto.
NEWS FEATURE
Reset Your Routine and Build a Healthier Lifestyle
Life is messy and full of distractions. How many of us planned to go to bed early only to stay up streaming our favorite shows? What about scheduling time to work out, then getting caught up in work and running out of energy?
Even when you’re highly motivated, it’s easy to get sidetracked. That’s OK. The key is finding ways to reset, bring yourself back into balance and set yourself up for lasting success.
Motivation is a driving force for change, but not all motivation is equal. Some motivation is controlled by outside forces like praise, while a powerful one comes from within and is tied to your values.
For example, you may choose to be active because you love a certain activity. When a habit is personally meaningful, you are more likely to sustain it.
“Building healthy habits takes time and dedication, but doesn’t have to be overwhelming,” says Alyssa Burnison, MS, RD, LN, and the director of pro-
gram and nutrition, lead registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist at Profile Plan.
“Incorporating just one of the following tips can make a world of difference.” Give yourself a break The first step in the reset process is to give yourself a break. Life is hard and we all slip up from time to time. Forgive yourself, approach your journey with compassion and don’t waste time on shame, frustration or guilt. You’re here now and ready to commit to yourself. Start the planning process Prior planning prevents poor performance. Take stock of what condition your habits are in. Have you slipped up on good habits and need to rebuild them, or do you need to start from scratch?
Do you have to eliminate bad habits before you can build new ones? Write down your good and bad habits so you can monitor them throughout your process.
Make motivation part of your
routine Be sure you’ve defined your “why” — the reasons you want to build new habits. Then, find ways to remind yourself of your why. Put notes on a mirror or a kitchen cabinet. Change your phone background to a photo or quote that motivates you. Find any way that reminds you why your efforts are worthwhile. Start small Setting a large goal can be intimidating and feel unachievable. Instead, break larger goals into smaller, specific steps that will work for you. You don’t need to hit the gym for an hour every day to see results. Start by finding ways to increase activity throughout the day. Take the stairs more often or park further away from the building. Small changes add up quickly.
Link a new habit to an existing one
The easiest way to make a new habit stick is to connect it with an ingrained one. Instead of just walking to get your mail, extend your trip and walk a few blocks as well. Cut comparison Comparison is your biggest enemy. No two people have the same journey, and you are sabotaging yourself by comparing your progress to others’. Focus on reminding yourself how far you’ve come. Make it exciting Whether you’re trying to eat better, exercise more or simply build healthy habits like better sleep hygiene, make it exciting for yourself by trying new things. Visit food blogs for recipe ideas. Try a new exercise like rock climbing. Build a relaxing bedtime routine you can look forward to. Don’t give up too soon It takes time to build a routine. You won’t create healthy habits by doing them once or twice. On average, it takes at least two months, and sometimes up to a year, for a new habit to become routine. Track your progress To make a new habit stick, you have to build accountability. Make a plan, then track your progress. Habit trackers will help you monitor your meals, build your self-care plan and track your progress toward your healthy habit goals. You can create your own or find one to download online. Profile’s can be found at profileplan.com/ profile-planner. Find support Create your own cheering section by asking friends and family to support you. Make healthy recipes together or go for group walks. If you need even more help, coaches can be an amazing resource for support and guidance.
“Embrace just a few of these ideas and you’ll be headed in a healthier direction,” says Burnison. “You can always add on as you make progress - that’s what our coaches tell Profile Plan members.” (BPT)
NEWS FEATURE Take the Ultimate Fall Trip to Lompoc
By Susan Bejackian
Signal Contributing Writer
With cooler temperatures hopefully on the way, fall is the ideal season for a road trip to Lompoc! Sip award-winning wines from Santa Rita Valley wineries, warm up with a pumpkin latte in one of their cozy coffee shops, take a lazy drive on the scenic country roads or relax at Jalama Beach, catch a rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base and stay at one of the areas comfy hotels.
Located on scenic Pacific Coast Highway 1, just 155 miles northwest of Los Angeles with close proximity to Santa Barbara and Solvang, Lompoc takes on a world of its own. Its valley setting, surrounded by spectacular rolling hills and vineyards, creates an invitation for visitors to detour off the main road, and explore what’s around the bend.
Lompoc is a destination for wine tasting, golf, cycling, hiking, skydiving, birding, and surfing at nearby Jalama Beach. It is home to La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, the most fully restored and furnished of the 21 California missions, and adjacent to Vandenberg Air Force Base, where rockets
Whether you visit for a week or a weekend, the comfortable weather conditions clear the way for outdoor activities like these:
Take a Self-Guided Art Tour
Info explorelompoc.com/lompoc-murals and explorelompoc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ Lompoc_Mural_Brochure_2022.pdf
Slip on your walking shoes and get ready to see larger-than-life murals. Lompoc’s historic Old Town is home to 40 plus murals that cover buildings, dot doorways, and liven up entire city blocks.
Before you go, download the mural map so you can plan a route. Many of the murals are located in Art Alley, just between W. Ocean Avenue and W. Cypress Avenue. Park your car at the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce, where more than 20 murals are located within a two block radius.
These picturesque murals showcase Lompoc’s history, with depictions of everything from mining and flower fields to pioneer families and the land’s Native American heritage.
La Purisima Mission
Info www.lapurisimamission.org/
Want to see what life was like in central California back in the 1800s? Visit La Purisima Mission. As the state’s most extensively restored mission, you can explore restored buildings, see livestock roaming in fields or hike one of the many trails located inside the 2,000-acre park.
Take a guided tour, offered Wednesday through Saturday, or consider visiting when La Purisima hosts a living history event where costumed docents show you how to shear a sheep, make bread, or weave a basket.
Sip And Tour the Popular Vineyards
Tour the crisp fall fields of Lompoc’s most renowned vineyards. Located in the rolling Santa Rita Hills, visitors are just a short drive away from sprawling vistas and award-winning wine. You can create your own wine tour, visiting spots like Foley Estates Vineyard where a 3,500-square-foot tasting room awaits, or Babcock Winery & Vineyard where you can sip Pinot in a retro rock-and-roll themed hangar.
Cozy Up in One of the Comfy Coffee Shops!
As cooler temps prevail, lose yourself in a good book and sip a pumpkin latte or munch a pumpkin treat (or two)! From the quaint to the eclectic, in the coffee shops are a great escape on your trip!
Watch a Rocket Launch!
Info www.spacelaunchschedule.com/category/ vandenberg-sfb
Vandenberg Space Force Base is the primary spaceport on the West Coast and just minutes from Lompoc. The valley is the best place to view rocket launches. Launches take place from several Space Launch Complex launch sites. Check out the list of several great launch sites where visitors are able to view the launch action.
PHOTO CREDIT CHERISE_MASUKAWA
Take a Scenic Drive on Country Roads
If dramatic coastline views of frothy oceans or winding paths flowing through gentle hillsides are your thing, explore the winding country roads in and around Lompoc to satisfy your travelust! Take a country drive.
Enjoy Quiet Time In Nature
Info bit.ly/3x57rw3
If travelers are seeking to escape the city and shed some stress, consider spending some quality time in nature. Lompoc has a variety of calm, soothing outdoor activities that can help you refuel. Consider these options: • Hike Bodger Trail a short, 1.5-mile hike just outside the city with stunning views of the Lompoc
Valley at the top. • Find the hidden Nojoqui Falls that are tucked inside a seemingly simple city park. • Wander the soothing shores along Jalama Beach, located just 30 minutes outside the city.
Where to Stay and Where to Play
Info www.explorelompoc.com
Lompoc has 12 hotels to welcome visitors and dozen of things to see and do, including the flower fields. So, take a beautiful drive up the coast and visit Lompoc.
