Courtesy of the SOLD Sisters

2025 | ISSUE 5

DESIGN TRENDS – OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW

Home decor trends are constantly changing. If you want to keep up with the trends as you renovate or redecorate your home this year, here are some that are on the way out and what’s coming instead. • All white kitchens or bathrooms - while white does make a space look brighter and larger, the new trend is bringing in colour on cabinets, walls and accessories. • Open shelving - despite being a great way to showcase antique cookware and beautiful dishware, the maintenance of keeping everything organized and dust free is causing designers to turn to enclosed cabinets with glass doors instead.

• Accent walls - where bold colours, patterns or textures were often featured on one wall in a room, they’re now being spread across the entire room. • Distressed wood - the rustic look of unfinished wood or distressed wood is on the way out making room for more polished finishes that create a more sophisticated, yet still rustic vibe. • Meticulous design - rooms that are very obviously styled in a minimalistic manner are slowly transitioning into rooms that are a little more cluttered and curated to showcase the homeowner’s personality.

Savory Waffles ASPARAGUS, GRUYERE AND ONION

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 bunch green onions, finely chopped • 16 fresh asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into ¼-inch pieces • 9 large eggs, room temperature • 2 cups all-purpose flour • 1 tablespoon baking powder

• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper • 1½ cups 2% milk • 6 tablespoons butter, melted • 1 cup Gruyere cheese, shredded • 1 fully cooked boneless ham steak (12 ounces), cubed • salt and pepper (to taste)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven 350° F. Arrange onions and asparagus in a single layer on greased baking pan; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast until asparagus turns bright green (crunchy) or lightly browned (softer), approximately 6 -12 minutes. Cool slightly; reserve ¼ cup vegetable mixture for topping. 2. Preheat greased waffle iron. Separate 3 eggs. Whisk flour, baking powder, cayenne pepper and remaining salt. Add milk, 3 egg yolks and melted butter; mix gently but thoroughly. Stir in remaining onion and asparagus mixture and ¾ cup shredded cheese. 3. In another bowl, beat 3 egg whites on high until soft peaks form. Fold into waffle batter. Bake waffles according to manufacturer’s directions until golden brown. 4. Meanwhile, in a large skillet coated with cooking spray, cook ham until heated through; keep warm. In same skillet, fry remaining eggs until yolks are set. To serve, top waffle with ham and 1 egg. Sprinkle with reserved onion and asparagus, and remaining ¼ cup cheese.

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU LOOK AT THAT MATTERS, IT’S WHAT YOU SEE”

ANONYMOUS

RIDDLES

Cryptogram

What falls, but never needs a bandage? The rain. What kind of bow looks best when it’s wet? A rainbow. How does the sun

Can you use the clues below to unscramble this quote from Jean Hersey? In this cryptogram, each letter in the original quote has been substituted with a different letter. Use the table below to decode it.

listen to music? On the ray-dio. What is a cow’s

favourite holiday? Moo-ther’s Day . What do you call a snowman in May? A puddle. (hopefully)

THE GATEWAY TO SUMMER.”

ANSWER: “THE MONTH OF MAY IS

Pets can become important family members and making sure they have a comfortable and safe space in your home, while at the same time not completely distracting from the décor, is important. Here are some tips and tricks to make your home pet friendly yet still stylish. • Slipcovers on furniture can help save delicate fabric from pet paws, hair and other damage. They can also be easily washed and replaced if needed. • Consider removing carpet and replacing with a waterproof vinyl flooring or ceramic tiles as they’re both easy to clean and are typically more durable. • Gates can help keep some pets confined into certain areas while you’re away or while guests are over. Look for a pressure mounted version or a free standing one depending on the size and agility of your pet. • A crate can be very functional and thankfully there are options available on the market where the crate is incorporated into a coffee table or end table which is more functional and stylish. The same goes for aquariums and terrariums as they can be incorporated into a table, dresser or similar furniture piece. • Water and food dishes come in a multitude of styles, finding one that matches the decor of your home is relatively easy. • Rubber brushes and lint rollers can be your best friend if your pet sheds. Keep them by the door so you can give yourself a quick brush off before leaving the house. KEEPING YOUR HOME PET FRIENDLY AND STILL STYLISH

FIVE QUICK WAYS TO UPGRADE YOUR HOME

Home maintenance is a never ending task when you’re a homeowner. Making sure your appliances, systems and things in your home are clean and in good repair takes a lot of work and can be rewarding in and of itself. But aside from the “must-do’s” sometimes doing something a little extra that you’ve been putting off for a while is the perk you need to find renewed motivation in your routine chores. The following is a list of five minor upgrades you can do to enhance your home and lifestyle. 1. Update your outdoor (and indoor) hardware. New door knobs or cabinet pulls are easy to change and can make a big difference. 2. Add slip covers or throw pillows to your furniture or an area rug to bring new colour, patterns and life to a room you want to refresh. 3. Add a plant. Even if it’s fresh cut flowers, adding plants and blooms to your rooms creates a welcoming environment. 4. Upgrade your showerheads to something more luxurious like a rain showerhead, one with various pressure settings, or a hand held option. 5. Enhance your lighting by replacing old bulbs with energy-efficient LED lights, replace light fixtures (or thoroughly clean the ones you have) or even add ceiling fans if desired.

Before you get too involved in gardening this season, be sure you take a few moments to clean your tools. From shovels to pruning shears every tool you plan to use in your garden should undergo a good clean. Not only will it allow you to inspect each tool to ensure it’s in good condition, but it will also help remove any soil that might have a disease or fungus embedded in it. Proper cleaning will also ensure tools last longer. Theoretically, you should be cleaning your tools after each use and especially before and after storing them for the winter. After washing away large chunks of soil with a garden hose, scrape off any stuck-on bits and then place the tool in a bucket full of water and dishwashing soap. After soaking for a bit, residual dirt and debris should be easy to wash away. Then, rinse with cold water and dry with a cloth so lingering moisture doesn’t lead to rust. If you do find rust on your tools, use a wire brush or steel wool to remove it before using the tool again. You may also want to disinfect tools if they’ve been used to prune a plant with fungus or insect infestation. Soak the tools in a mixture of bleach and water for about 10 minutes and then rinse and dry. CLEANING GARDENING TOOLS

WALKING PAD FOR YOUR DESK In an effort to stay active and move throughout the day, many people are utilizing walking pads or under-desk treadmills. Combined with a standing desk, walking pads offer a variety of features meant to boost your activity while working but are quiet and compact enough to not interrupt meetings or take up too much space. Some factors to consider when purchasing a walking pad include: price, size, stability, portability, noise level, storage options, weight capacity and what additional features they offer. Remember, walking pads often need to be plugged into a power outlet (some are battery powered though), which shouldn’t be an issue if you’re using one under a desk, but if you want to also use it while folding laundry or another otherwise stationary activity, keep that in mind. You can walk on the pad whenever the mood strikes, and experts suggest starting with 15 – 20 minutes of walking, three times a day and gradually increase from there. Note that walking pads aren’t generally made for running on as they only accommodate slow speeds so if running is something you want to do, look for one that has more features and specifically says it can be used for running.

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