Courtesy of Colleen Devoe

VOLUME 347 ISSUE 46 YOUR HOUSE

UPSCALE BATHROOM UPGRADES

Are you dreaming of a bathroom remodel to create a luxury spa escape where after a long, busy day you could take an hour (or two) to reset and relax? From a lush living wall to bold tiles and vibrant colours, there are numerous upgrades you can make to your bathroom to elevate it to the next level. Many homeowners start with the installation of a doorless, walk-in shower with multiple shower heads. This allows everyone using the bathroom the ability to customize the type of shower they want. It also makes showering more accessible for those with mobility issues. Freestanding soaker bathtubs are also popular additions to luxury bathrooms especially those in marble, cast iron or stone. Statement tiles, unique sinks, bold colours and plenty of lighting along with gold, brass or nickel fixtures finish off the luxury look.

REALTOR ®

GIFT BASKETS Gift baskets make great gifts for any occasion and they can be as small or as extravagant as you want. Usually themed, a great gift basket includes practical and non practical items alike. Here are some basket ideas if you’re looking to find a unique gift for a special someone. Housewarming gift - create a cleaning basket - in a large mop bucket include essentials like microfiber cloths, vinegar, a feather duster, mop heads and rubber gloves. Add a touch of whimsy with a QR code to a cleaning playlist that is sure to motivate! Birthday present - create a self-care basket - in a large wicker basket include treats like lotions, candles, bubble bath, fidgets, pens and a journal, a bottle of wine, a cozy blanket, face masks, etc. Father’s Day gift - or a just because gift for a loved one - fill a vintage-style toolbox with jerky, nuts (the edible kind), beer steins, beard balm, whiskey flavoured coffee, a multi-tool and a new fishing lure. The best way to put together a basket is to hit the dollar store, use your imagination and have as much fun putting the basket together as the recipient will have using it!

John Rockefeller (1839 - 1937) was one of the wealthiest Americans of all time. After retiring from Standard Oil Company which he founded in 1870, he spent the later part of his life focused on philanthropic efforts toward education, medicine and modernizing the American South.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO GIVE UP THE GOOD TO GO FOR THE GREAT. - John D. Rockefeller

COLD GREEK TORTELLINI SALAD Preparation time: 20 minutes | Cooking time: 15 minutes Chill time: 2 hours | Serves: 8

INGREDIENTS: 1 (16 ounce) package fresh cheese tortellini 1 ½ cups chopped grape tomatoes 1 ½ cups chopped cucumbers 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped ⅓ cup chopped red onion ⅓ cup Kalamata olives 1 (4 ounce) package crumbled feta cheese 1 cup Greek salad dressing

DIRECTIONS: 1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook tortellini in the boiling water until tender yet firm to the bite, 6 to 7 minutes. Drain well and transfer to a large bowl. peppers, red onion, Kalamata olives, and feta cheese. Add salad dressing and mix thoroughly. 3. Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours before serving. 2. Add tomatoes, cucumbers, bell

Courtesy of allrecipes.com

LANDSCAPING MISTAKES TO AVOID Having a magazine worthy yard is something many strive for, but due to a number of circumstances many fall short. There are a few simple things that anyone can do to start on the path to a picture-perfect yard. First, use lawn ornaments sparingly. While those toads, gnomes or mushrooms are cute and add colour where you may not be able to plant a colourful flower, too many can become a distraction. Aim for a few bigger and bolder pieces or groupings of three to five similar smaller items as they will be a lot more appealing than an abundance of mis-matched pieces. Next, ensure you’re mowing the lawn correctly. Lowering the blade on your lawn mower won’t necessarily cut down on your lawn maintenance in the long run. By cutting the grass too low, you may actually cause it undue stress which could lead to weaker blades that are more susceptible to weeds, diseases and pests. The ideal length for most grasses is two to four inches. Finally, if you’re planting anything, be sure to read the tag which tells you what conditions (sun, shade, drainage, etc.) are ideal for that particular plant. Trees, shrubs, plants, flowers and vegetables all have different needs and you’ll be able to find something that will fit in the spaces in your yard. If you don’t want to commit to planting something in the ground, containers, baskets and the like are all options as well and can help you determine whether a certain plant would thrive in a particular area or not. MICROWAVE CLEANING HACK Avoiding turning the oven or stove on during the hottest days of the year often means cooking and reheating leftovers in a microwave. And unfortunately, that can lead to spills, splatters and other messes. A quick and easy way to clean the interior of your microwave is to place a cup of water in the center of the turntable (in a microwave safe dish) and heat it for two to five minutes. The steam will loosen bits of grease and debris which can easily be wiped away with a microfiber cloth. For harder to remove debris, add a tablespoon of vinegar, lemon juice or baking soda to the water before you microwave it.

WORKPLACE JOKES

Why did the employee get fired from the calendar factory? He took a day off.

Phil walks into his boss's office one day and says, "Sir, I'll be honest with you. I know the economy isn't great, but I've got three companies after me, and I'd like to ask for a raise, respectfully." After a few minutes of haggling, the boss finally agrees to give him a 5 percent raise, and he happily gets up to leave. "By the way," the boss asks as Phil leaves his office, "which three companies are after you?" Phil replies, "The electric company, water company, and phone company."

Why did the scarecrow win a Nobel prize? He was out standing in his field.

HOME MADE WEED KILLER

Aside from pulling by hand, another natural way to treat weeds is by spraying a combination of vinegar, salt and liquid dish soap onto them. To make this solution, take two liters of white vinegar, add 250 grams of salt and about half a tablespoon of liquid dish soap. The vinegar and salt kill the plant while the dish soap ensures it sticks to the plant. Spray the mixture onto your weeds at the hottest time of day and focus on the center of the weed for maximum effect. Within a few hours the weed should start to shrivel up and die. A few applications might be needed for a larger weed. Finally, remember, this home made solution won’t differentiate between weeds and plants that you want to keep, so be careful where you apply it.

SQUARE ARITHMAGONS

The aim of an arithmagon is to work out which numbers go in the empty circles. The numbers in the square boxes are made by adding together the numbers in the circles either side. For example, if the number in the square box was 10 you could try 6 and 4, but the numbers must also add up on the other edges, making this more difficult than it first appears.

Square Arithmagons

© 2015 freeprintablepuzzles.co.uk

Answer sheet

Solution:

Courtesy of: www.freeprintablepuzzles.co.uk

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