Home & Garden 2017

Home & Garden

How to Spruce Up Your Garden with Bird Safety in Mind

Tackle Spring Cleaning Room-by-Room Like a Pro

Creative Gardening Tips for the Spring Season

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SPECIAL: A Publication of the Queen Anne & Magnolia News, City Living Seattle, Capital Hill Times and Madison Park Times

SPRING 2017

Home & Garden

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WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE REPLACING HOME FLOORING

Whether you are building a new house or making upgrades on a current home, there is a lot to consider when it comes to flooring. It’s important to keep in mind that the choices available have changed in recent years.

Here are some things to know.

ers to get the same elegant style engineered to withstand the wear and tear to which wood is susceptible. For example, Mohawk SolidTech, a luxury vinyl tile, has a thick, rigid construction and planks that look and feel just like real hardwood, but are designed to resist scratches, scuffs and indentation, and maintain stability under heat and temperature change. The planks also fit together to create an impenetrable lock so that the floors remain waterproof and odor-free.

l Choose Style l

l Consider Maintenance l

When people choose flooring products, they may be ruling out a large swath of options because of the associations they have with specific materials. For example, you may not associate vinyl with luxury but new products on the market are redefining vinyl flooring, offering fashion-forward high-quality products in striking elegant designs.

l Ensure Durability l

If you love the look of traditional hardwood floors, consider all of your options. New vinyl technologies are allowing homeown-

Make sure the flooring you opt for is easy to clean and requires very little maintenance. If you have pets, you may want to consider getting extra protection with a special warranty designed for pet owners, such as Mohawk’s All Pet Protection and Warranty, which covers all pets and all accidents. More information can be found at MohawkFlooring.com.

Before making flooring decisions, get savvy and weigh all your current options.

These days, it is possible to find flooring products that combine style, durability and low maintenance. StatePoint

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How to Spruce Up Your Garden with Bird Safety in Mind You may not realize it, but the average residential property can be hazardous to local wildlife without proper precautions taken.

A

n estimated 98 million birds are killed annually in the U.S. when colliding with windows, according to Western Ecosystems Technology, making your home a potential death trap during migratory season. However, there are steps you can take to not only protect the birds whose flight path traverses your yard and garden, but also offer them a safe place to rest and feed – adding natural beauty for your garden.

Start by making glass visible to birds by applying safety decals to window exteriors every few feet. Remember sliding glass doors as well.

To maintain the look of your home and your own view out the window, use decals that are unobtrusive to the human eye, but contain a component that reflects ultraviolet sunlight. Those from WindowAlert have proven in studies to be an effective visual barrier

that only birds can see, particularly when combined with WindowAlert UV Liquid, a gel which can be applied between decals for greater protection.

“Everyone can help contribute toward making migration safer for birds,” says Spencer Schock, founder

Because the UV reflectivity may fade over time based on exposure, replace the decals every four months and reapply the liquid every three months.

Schock also points out that if you want migratory birds to stay awhile, you may want to consider avoiding the use of pesticides that kill insects which are their natural food source. A strategicallyplaced bird feeder -

of WindowAlert.

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in order to prevent bird strikes -- can provide nourishment and energy to hungry birds. Ideally, bird feeders will be placed well away from where prey may be lurking, such as bushes and trees.

If you own cats, you should also be mindful of their danger to birds and monitor your cats’ time spent outdoors to ensure they are not hunting feathered friends.

More tips for turning your yard into a safe haven for birds can be found at

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“Birds play a valuable role in our ecosystem,” says Schock.

“Protecting them from the hazards humans have created will not only save lives, but will improve your local environment, too.” StatePoint

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Tackle Spring Cleaning Room-by-Room Like a Pro Spring is a sensible time to refresh and restore your home after heavy indoor use during winter. It’s also an opportunity to conduct overdue home maintenance and achieve a sense of accomplishment.

Tackle the project room by room with these tips from the experts at Office Depot to make the work feel more manageable and ensure you complete a thoroughly satisfying job.

Kitchen Because it’s likely the most used room in the house, the kitchen sees a fair bit of cleaning year-round. However, in any busy household it’s easy to let deeper cleaning slide. While you’re tackling the rest of the house, take time to give the kitchen its due.

Mop the floors, disinfect all surfaces and remove clutter that has accumulated, including old and out-of-date food from the refrigerator and pantry.

Because consumables are such an integral part of this space, it’s a good idea to use green cleaning products that won’t leave harmful residues on your cooking surfaces or distribute contaminants into the air.

Home office If there’s any room that comes close to the clutter of the entryway, it’s the home office. A major difference is that generally, office messes come in the form of paperwork, and paper can actually be organized quite easily.

Sorting is the best first step, so you know exactly what you’re up against. Create piles

for all the different types of paper you’re likely to encounter, from bills and to-do lists to the kids’ school work. Separate other items by category, such medical records and financial documents or art supplies and books, into piles of their own. An option such as the 3M Weighted Desktop Dispenser and Organizer can help keep supplies like pens, tape, paper clips and sticky notes neat and tidy. ➧ SPRING CLEANING, Page 5

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Refresh and Restore your home ➧ SPRING CLEANING, from Page 7

There are dozens of options when it comes to home filing systems. For archival materials, such as tax returns and insurance policies that you’re likely to consult infrequently, a secure but separate storage solution makes more sense. Drawer labels and colored hanging file pockets paired with a categorical or alphabetical organization system can make it easy to dispose of unwanted clutter without tossing important papers.

Once you’ve dealt with all the paperwork, don’t overlook important details like dusting the computer desk and screen to make your freshly cleaned office extra inviting.

Adding a stylish, functional centerpiece like the See Jane Work Kate Writing Desk can also help you stay organized now and in the future.

Bedrooms When warm spring weather arrives,

throwing open the windows to circulate fresh air can be one of the most welcoming ways to wake up the bedroom after long winter months. Freshly washed linens and a flipped or rotated mattress can also give the room a freshness you can see and feel.

Another way to make a big difference is organizing items that exceed the storage capacity of your bedroom furniture.

In the closet, you can repurpose common office supplies and organizers to make the most of limited space. For example, adhesive hooks are perfect for handbags, necklaces and scarves. Lightweight shelving or cubbies make it easy to confine shoes, and for an assortment of accessories and knick-knacks, try stacking plastic bins.

Another idea to maximize drawer space in your dresser: move undergarments and socks into a portable storage cart with trays or drawers that fits neatly in the closet.

Find more storage and organization solutions at Office Depot and OfficeMax stores or online at OfficeDepot.com.

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Home & Garden

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RECIPES BELOW ARE A FEW EASY MICROWAVE RECIPES FOR BUSY MORNINGS: 1. Toasty banana bread oatmeal: In a microwaveable mug, combine 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats, 1 egg, 1/2 cup milk, 1/3 smashed banana and a little flax seed, cinnamon and/or honey. Microwave for 2 to 3 minutes, stir and eat.

2. Savory French toast in a mug: Just cube a slice of white bread and soak it for 5 minutes (press it down) in a mug holding a whisked egg, 5 tablespoons milk, 3 tablespoons grated cheddar, 3 tablespoons cooked ham and salt and pepper. Microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, then eat warm.

3. Warm apple muffin: Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a microwaveable mug. Mix in a beaten egg, 3 tablespoons flour (almond or coconut works well), 1/8 teaspoon baking powder and a little maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Top with finely chopped apple and walnuts and butter.

Microwave for a minute. Grab and go.

4. Tasty breakfast sandwich: Add to a mug 1 teaspoon melted butter, 1 tablespoon milk, an egg and some chopped onion, green pepper ham and hot sauce to taste. Microwave about 30 seconds, then scoop out and add to a toasted English muffin topped with a slice of your favorite cheese. Grab, then enjoy the savory goodness.

5. Roll-ups to go: Slather the inside of a 6 inch tortilla with peanut butter, jam, half a smashed banana and dried unsweetened coconut. Roll it up like a burrito, wrap it in a loose paper towel and microwave it for half a minute before appreciating how the flavors melt in your mouth.

Panasonic’s two Microwaves with Inverter Technology (NN-SD372S and NNSN686S) optimize a patented technique that cooks food quickly and evenly every time to ensure a yummy breakfast on-the-go.

GO FOR THE GARLIC Garlic lovers rejoice! A variety of pork cuts are the perfect pairing to those cloves you adore so much. Add garlic to rubs, marinades, side dishes and more for a flavorful dish even the most discerning chef will enjoy. In fact, try this easy roast recipe to see just how well garlic and mustard mingle with moist pork loin: Garlic-Mustard Pork Roast by PorkTeInspira. com Serves 5-6 Ingredients: 3 to 4 pound boneless pork loin 2 tablespoons garlic, minced 1 tablespoon oregano leaves, crushed 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon coarse grind black pepper

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine garlic, oregano, olive oil, mustard, salt and pepper.

Mix until blended into a paste. Using a spatula or hands, rub garlic mixture all over pork loin, massaging into meat. Place pork roast on baking pan and roast uncovered in preheated oven. Roast one hour until internal temperature reaches between 145 F to 160 F using a digital thermometer. Remove from oven. Cover loosely with foil and let stand 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with oven roasted potato wedges.

There is no better time than now to enjoy some delicious and flavorful pork recipes.Visit PorkTeInspira.com for recipe ideas and visit your nearest retailer for many budget-friendly pork cuts.

LEFTOVER HAMBACON HASH 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons olive oil 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 pounds yellow potatoes, diced 8 ounces button mushrooms, quartered 1 1/2 cups Smithfield Anytime Favorites Cubed Ham or Smithfield Hickory Smoked Spiral Sliced Ham, cooked 4 slices Smithfield Hometown Original Bacon, cooked and cut into 1-inch pieces 2/3 cup jarred roasted red pepper, drained and roughly chopped 3/4 cup fresh mozzarella cheese, cubed 2-3 eggs, fried or poached to preference (optional) 1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced Heat oven to 425 F. In large bowl, whisk together mustard, oil, salt and pepper until combined.

Add potatoes and mushrooms, and toss to coat.

Spread potato mixture evenly onto two lightly oiled or nonstick, rimmed baking pans and roast in oven 35-40 minutes, or until potatoes and mushrooms have started to brown, stirring halfway through cooking. Add any leftover bacon or ham to mixture and stir.

Add in roasted peppers to oven-safe serving casserole (if desired) and top with cheese. Bake additional 10-15 minutes, or until cheese has softened and begun to melt. Top hash with eggs, if desired, and sliced basil.

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Creative Gardening

Tips for the Spring Season (StatePoint) Gardeners often focus on the science of their hobby: how much water and sunlight their plants need and how to improve soil quality and keep pests at bay.

But there can be a lot of artistry behind the craft as well -- from how you harvest and enjoy flowers to how you convert unused spaces of your home into a viable indoor edible garden.

Put your creativity to good use this spring season by gardening with style.

Indoor Gardening

For those who don’t have an outdoor garden or yard, the dream of enjoying your own freshly picked fruits and vegetables may seem out of reach. However, the nooks and crannies of your home can be creatively rendered into

productive growing zones. And experts say that nearly all homes can support indoor gardening.

“Whatever the size of your home, there will be a selection of edible plants you can grow indoors, as long as you have some natural daylight filtering in,” says Zia Allaway, author of “Indoor Edible Garden: Creative Ways to Grow Herbs, Fruit and Vegetables in Your Home.” “The areas where plants will grow can be windowsills, beneath a skylight or even in a dark, unlit area if you install grow lights.”

In “Indoor Edible Garden,” a highly visual guide full of practical tips and stylish ideas, Allaway offers step-by-step directions for everything from creating suspended shelves and hanging jars for growing herbs to mounting

edible orchids onto bark and displaying them on walls. She points out that those embarking on indoor gardening should first evaluate the level of time they can commit.

“Just remember that unlike other projects in the home, such as decorating and cooking, all gardening projects require some aftercare. So, if you have a busy schedule, choose crops that will tolerate less watering and feeding.”

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Flower Arranging

While your flower garden is likely a beautiful work of art in and of itself, you can spread the joy by harvesting your flora and bringing the beauty indoors. Floral ➧ CREATIVE GARDENING, Page 8

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8 ➧ CREATIVE GARDENING, from Page 7

arrangements add vitality to any interior space.

Put your creativity to good use this spring season by gardening

“For me, every arrangement starts with the container. Think about what mood or style you want to evoke, and remember, anything can be a container as long as it can be made watertight,”

says Rachel Siegfried,” author of “The Flower Book: Natural Flower Arrangements for Your Home,” which explores 60 flowers, bloom-by-bloom in portraiture, including quick-reference profiles and tips.

Siegfried recommends that, when selecting flowers for your arrangement, pay attention to shapes, textures and colors to achieve good balance. Start with a primary focal flower and build out with a couple of secondary focals, a final flourish, and foliage.

For her part, she relies on instinct. “I get a ‘buzz’ when I find a good combination,” she says.

From flowering bouquets to spicy pepper plants, apply creativity to your gardening this spring.

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