Home & Family Digest Sample

101-10620 178 St. Edmonton, AB T5S 2E3 1 2 3 REALTY

IT JUST GOT EASIER!

Maya Norton REALTOR ®

780.489.2969 780.486.1421 consult@dmsmarketing.ca www.dmsmarketing.ca

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Volume 33 Number 9

HOW TO BRING OUTDOOR DECOR INDOORS

The time of year when we begin shifting our living space back indoors is fast approaching. But that doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to all the stylish outdoor items. Whether you shine up your pre-existing outdoor decor or head to the stores and shop the sales on outgoing items, incorporating patio furniture, rugs and accessories helps your home feel light and bright year-round. Plus, because outdoor products are meant to withstand the elements, they are highly durable and easy to clean. Outdoor sofas and chairs with removable cushions are a breeze to wipe

off and repel spills. They’re also lighter than regular indoor furniture and easy to move around. Outdoor rugs are usually colourfast and waterproof, meaning they can withstand high-traffic hallways or homes with kids and pets. Lastly, accessories such as outdoor dishes and tablecloths have come a long way from their plastic predecessors. Many of these items appear high-end, but are break-proof, fade-resistant and – most important – affordable.

FUN AND EASY LUNCHBOX IDEAS

Courtesy of www.ehow.com

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Container with multiple compartments Sandwich mold Vegetable cutters Wooden skewers and toothpicks Stock your fridge and pantry with these items and you'll be able to mix and match lots of delicious lunch combinations every week. LUNCH COMBINATIONS: 1. Sandwiches don’t have to be boring! • Use shaped sandwich molds • Cut them up and put them on a skewer • You can even roll them up! Just flatten out regular bread with a rolling pin, apply toppings, roll up, cut and serve like sushi. • Skip the bread altogether and use whole-wheat rolls instead. Serve with a salami and cheese stick or a cucumber and tomato stick. 2.

Mini veggies (tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers) Fresh fruit (raspberries, pineapple, blueberries) Crackers and pretzels Whole-wheat rolls or pita bread Dried fruit (apricots, cranberries, raisins) Nuts (Check to see if nuts are allowed due to allergies) Pickles Two kinds of deli meat (turkey, salami or ham) Two kinds of cheese (cheddar, mozza, gouda)

One of the easiest ways to entice any kid to eat a good lunch is by using colour. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a great choice but even pickles and dried fruit work too. 3. Don't forget cheese and crackers. Use veggie cutters to cut out fun shapes and throw the salami on a stick. 4. Keep dried fruit and nuts on hand. They keep for months and they're easy to grab. Try: edamame, trail mix, banana chips, prunes, raisins, plain peanuts and more.

SCHOOLDAZE Luke comes home from his first day of school, and his mother asks, “What did you learn today?” “Not enough,” Luke replies. “They said I have to go back tomorrow.” Why was school easier for cave people? Because there was no history to study! What kind of school do you go to if you’re… …an ice cream man? Sundae school. …a giant? High school. Why did the broom get a poor grade in school? Because it was always sweeping during class! Why did the M&M go to school? Because he really wanted to be a Smartie! Courtesy of www.boyslife.org …a surfer? Boarding school. …King Arthur? Knight school.

FALL FACTS Fall is just around the corner! And whether you’re a sun- lovin’ summer fiend or a fan of all things ice and snow, it’s hard to argue fall leaves and pumpkins have a certain charm. Here are three facts about the time of year also referred to as autumn and – long ago – harvest. Fall is known as “harvest” because of the harvest moon. Before man-made light, the moon was integral in reaping a prosperous harvest. Pumpkins are the most craved food during the fall. The colours yellow and orange always exist in leaves, but they’re overpowered by the abundance of chlorophyll that makes leaves green during spring and summer. Courtesy of www.taskeasy.com

HOWOURANCESTORSBEATTHE HEAT On a scorching hot day, it may seem like air-conditioning is the only answer. Yet, our ancestors survived for thousands of years with nothing but open windows. How did they do it? Today’s standard eight or nine foot ceilings may save on construction costs, but they don’t allow heat to rise. Homes of the past often had higher or vaulted ceilings to allow the heat to move above the living space. Placement of windows and doors also played an important role in keeping homes cool. Openings located directly across from each other allowed for maximum air flow and created a cross-breeze. Furthermore, homes of the past were built according to the climate they were located in. Today, houses are often built with cost in mind or according to trends – forgoing what is best for the home’s specific location.

GREENYOUROFFICE Looking for ways to make your office space a little more eco- friendly? Whether you work for a company or for yourself, there are many ways to green your office. Here are three ideas! 1. Print on both sides of the paper. This will cut your paper consumption by fifty percent – which will also cut costs in half. 2. Change all the lightbulbs in your office space to LED. Or, if you work in a very large office, start by changing just a few at a time. LEDs not only cut energy consumption, but they also save money as they last up to five times longer than comparable bulbs. 3. Replace disposable items in your office’s kitchen and washroom. Replace disposable plates, cups and cutlery with reusable ones. And don’t forget to replace any paper towels with hand towels.

INCLUSIVEFASHION The fashion industry isn’t particularly known for its inclusivity. But that’s all changing thanks to designers such as Roxy Earle. While the former reality-TV star doesn’t have a formal fashion education, she was inspired by fans who constantly expressed their frustrations to her over the lack of stylish, plus-sized clothing available. In a partnership with Canadian clothing store Le Château , Earle is on a mission to revive plus-size clothing by ensuring it is actually designed with plus-sized women in mind. In the past, many clothing brands have simply enlarged items without considering how they would actually fit, but Earle plans to change the broken system – all while empowering women to love themselves just as they are.

- SYLLACROSTIC PUZZLE BRAIN TEASERS

Fill in the answers to the clues by selecting the correct syllables from the list below. Each syllable can only be used once and the number of syllables to be used is shown in brackets. When the correct words are filled in, the first and last letters reading down will reveal a proverb. CO, CONDS, DEN, EN, IN, NA, NO, NUR, O, RI, RING, SAL, SE, TER, TICED, TO, TU, VAGE, VIEW, WI. 1. Fostering __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (3) 2. South American river __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (4) 3. International organization __ __ __ __ (2) 4. Lured __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (2) 5. Broaden __ __ __ __ __ (2)

6. Save from destruction __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (2) 7. Consultation __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (3) 8. Units of time __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (2) Proverb:

Courtesy of www.puzzlechoice.com SOLUTION:

HOWTOREDUCEBACKTO SCHOOL STRESS

Maya Norton REALTOR ®

Back to school is one of those times of year that’s both exciting and stressful for everyone involved. As a parent, minimizing your own stress as well as the stress of your children will smooth out the transition and make for a happy September – and beyond! Here are five ways to help reduce back to school stress. 1. Turn downtime into learning time. Screen time isn’t just for movies and games – it’s also for learning. Fun e-books, math games, spelling apps and educational TV shows will all help re- sharpen your child’s mind after the carefree days of summer. 2. Stay on top of bedtime routines. Most families relax into a more laidback bedtime routine over the summer, but it’s important to get kids to bed on time when they have school the next day as children need anywhere from nine to eleven hours of sleep a night to function properly. 3. Encourage your kids to dress in a way that makes them feel happy. Letting your child pick their own outfits each day helps them to feel both comfortable and confident at school. Plus, it’s a great way for them to express their personality! 4. Simplify school-related shopping. Shopping for clothes and required school supplies can be stressful during an already overwhelming time of year. Simplify your shopping experience by simplifying your list. Buy only what you and your family truly need and forgo the extra bells and whistles. 5. Encourage your kids to feel excited about the year ahead. Instead of letting yours or your child’s apprehension take hold, share positive memories of your own school days and ask your child to talk about their favourite school-related things.

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ROBOTREPORTER One of Sweden’s most efficient news reporters is actually a robot. Since 2016, Swedish local news publisher MittMedia has used an artificial intelligence program called Homeowners Bot. The bot writes short stories about every home sale in small Northern Sweden communities where MittMedia owns several newspapers. Before the Homeowners Bot began writing articles, MittMedia simply published tables of recently bought and sold properties. However, now the bot analyzes the tables and writes about the sales using an interesting angle. By employing an AI program, the publisher can save their flesh and blood reporters for larger stories and their readers are offered a compelling read instead of a spreadsheet. MittMedia isn’t the only news source experimenting with AI. The Washington Post has a bot called Heliograf that publishes briefs about a variety of topics, while the BBC has a chatbot that suggests further content to readers.

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