March Newsletter

Inside This Issue:

FUN FACT

Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning!

Word of the Month:

Studies have shown that your income and wealth is directly related to the depth of your Vocabulary. Here is this month’s word so you can impress your friends.

Thaumaturgy• \THAW-muh-ter-jee\ • noun

1 the performance of miracles; specifically: magic

Ex. After reading all seven Harry Potter novels in a span of two weeks, Audrey was hungry for more thrilling tales of mysticism and thaumaturgy.

Quotes to Live by:

"The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen."

–Frank Loyd Wright

Say What?

Queer the Pitch:
To destroy or ruin a plan.

Economy at a Glance

Information from http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.us.htm

US Population Clock
308,938,309

World Population Clock
6,810,757,179

Food Fact

-The Pineapple is a sign of hospitality.

-A yellow banana with brown speckles is at its peak for flavor and nutrition.

Weird Laws

Colorado- It is illegal to ride a horse while under the influence

New York- A fine of $25 can be levied for flirting.

Montana- It is a felony for a wife to open her husband’s mail.

Rhode Island- Ropes may not be strung across a highway.

U.S.A. Facts

-America eats approximately 100 acres of pizza every day!

- The only time you may fly the US flag upside down is when you are signaling for distress.

Spring decorating: five savvy home decorating tips eco-style

As spring rounds the corner, so does the desire to lighten the mood in life and home. Whether you choose to de-clutter or add a splash of spring color, simple eco-friendly changes to home decor set the tone for a much lighter, and brighter, season.  Follow these five tips to affordable eco-friendly home decorating:

Let color lift the mood
Color has long been credited for its mood-changing qualities. Color really makes things more upbeat and changes the energy in a space.

Lighten the landscape, lighten the mood
Lighting is another simple, affordable and eco-friendly way of sprucing up the home convert all task lighting to compact fluorescent bulbs.
Furniture placement plays a major role in the ergonomic quality of your living space. Developing a more flexible floor plan by angling and shifting pieces can often help give the area the appearance of more space.
Another easy way to update the overall look of a room is by replacing curtains/tapestries, slipcovers and bedding with organic sheets and materials, giving the space an updated look that is both affordable and eco-friendly.

Delight in de-cluttering
With the new season comes the inspiration to cleanse and purge items that you no longer need. Replace heavier accent objects, such as ceramics, with lighter pieces, like baskets. Reposition artwork and add mirrors whenever possible as they open up a room and give the illusion of more space.

Shop and Swap
As the focus on sustainability becomes more widespread, so do your options for eco-friendly products that do not deplete the earth or your pocketbook. Some options include swapping with a group of friends to changing out items that no longer fit your space, or shopping in thrift stores and consignment shops. Of course, when those options won't do purchasing eco-friendly, simple selections such as bamboo rugs, organic cotton sheets or recycled glass.

Bring the outside in
With spring comes the urge to open windows and breathe in the fresh air. Bring the natural goodness of the outside into your home with the addition of potted flowers and plants or window boxes.  Visit the local farmers market to find your favorite plants or flowers and place them in locations where you spend time daily. Vegetation not only adds oxygen, but also brightens the backdrop.

The key to savvy decorating is not overpowering the existing elements. "Small changes can make a dramatic difference.

-Courtesy of ARA Content-

Customizable Shutters Make a Magical Difference!

When it comes to curb appeal, a home's unique features are what make an eye-catching, lasting impression. But homeowners don't need to go over the top to stand out. Accents of vibrant color and uncommon dimension create character.

A value-enhancing way to deliver this appeal is with shutters. Many homeowners know that common shutters can do the job of adding a contrasting color. But high-quality, customizable shutters can make a complete difference, animating a home with elegant texture and depth. Atlantic Premium Shutters literally offers more than a thousand ways for a homeowner to create a home exterior look that is entirely unique.   Virtually every home exterior can be complemented with bold colors, and updated with design options to add extra distinction or a modern touch.

For example:

Raised Panel Shutters. They can be refined with custom rail locations and other options. A single-panel option with a vertical-cut profile accentuates crisp lines with distinctive sophistication. Rabbeted edges with beading deliver a perfectly-matched fit when shutters are closed together. For a cozy cottage or stately Georgian, this style provides beautiful versatility.

For added functionality, the Louvered Colonial Shutters allow diffused sunlight in though architecturally correct louvers, while keeping the elements out. This style encompasses looks from Colonial to eclectic with options like horns and faux tilt rods to enhance vertical dimension.

To the satisfaction of imaginative homeowners, creative limits go out the window with Combination Shutters. They allow mixing and matching of Raised Panel and Louvered Colonial design elements for true one-of-a-kind style.

More capabilities maximize individuality, including custom cut-outs or color-matching. Atlantic can take virtually any template to craft shutters reflecting a homeowner's desired theme. Standard cut-outs range from anchors and sailboats to hearts and crescent moons.

Classic Collection Board and Batten Shutters are another popular choice, enhancing rustic or Southwestern styles. Options include Z-bars, extra battens and arch tops.

For more information, visit www.atlanticpremiumshutters.com

-Courtesy of ARAcontent-

Time to sell? Your outdoor spaces can be the bonus buyers want

Many would-be home sellers are concerned about reduced housing prices, and those who are highly motivated are pulling out all the stops to make their homes more appealing than the competition.

If you're preparing to sell this spring but aren't in a position to invest in ambitious renovations, such as a kitchen remodel or new hardwood floors, the best advice is to look to the "bonus" spaces in and around your home and maximize their appeal.

Decks, patios, sunrooms and porches have always been popular with home buyers, but real estate agents say that too often those spaces are neglected or not used to their best advantage. A great deck can set your home apart from others with the same interior floor plan or square footage, and a deck typically adds value when it comes time to sell.

A bonus space - for example, a tiny deck or rarely used balcony off a master bedroom - can be transformed into a romantic getaway by staging it with cozy, cushioned seating and a raised fire pit.
More than ever before, people look at their decks as outdoor rooms. Decks can be party spaces or quiet retreats.

With so many different types of deck materials, lighting, rail systems and decorative accents, it is possible to turn a nondescript deck into a great outdoor space. Whether working with an old deck or a brand-new one, details count when it comes to staging. Outdoor lighting on a deck or patio provides ambiance and adds versatility to the space, showing buyers endless possibilities for evening entertainment.

If you want to open up the view on a bonus space, consider replacing wooden deck balusters with contoured glass balusters or update the rails with distinctive aluminum balusters. New rails will add a dramatic difference to your deck.

Buyers always react positively to nice decks that look like a great place to hang out," says Harrison. "From a buyer's perspective, if all else is equal, it's true that the home with the best deck wins."

Ways to Give without Dipping into your Wallet

More and more people are resolving to be more giving, and to share what they have with the less fortunate. The current economic climate, however, presents something of a challenge to people who want to give, but lack the budget to do so.

Americans are known for their generous and giving spirits, as well as for their ingenuity, so it's no surprise that they have worked out ways to satisfy the desire to help others without having to sacrifice. If you look in your community, you'll surely find a host of meaningful ways to help others. You can also expand your generosity to act globally, too. Here are some creative ways to give that won't cost you cash.

* Find nonprofits that offer unique ways to make a difference. The more technology develops, the more we're able to connect with others around the world and help alleviate global poverty. The Web site JoinMyVillage.com, presented by the humanitarian organization CARE and the food company General Mills, invites people to help fight poverty in Africa. Simply log on to JoinMyVillage.com and join a village team. With that simple act, you'll unlock $1 to help people in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world. You can keep unlocking dollars by answering fun quiz questions or by inviting friends to participate (up to $5 per person per day, $150,000 in total). In just one week, you can unlock enough to buy a new secondary school uniform for a girl in Malawi, which will enable her to attend school. (Just one additional year of education will increase her earning potential by nearly 20 percent over her lifetime and open new doors to the future.) If you're in a position to make a personal donation - even as little as $10 - your contributions will go doubly far because General Mills will match them dollar-for-dollar (up to $500 per donor, another $150,000 in total). JoinMyVillage.com also has rich stories, and regular progress reports on the women and children you are helping in Malawi. It's a great way to teach children about international development and how to be good global citizens.

* Use your talents. Do you have a way with words and a passion for language? You might just be a great volunteer to help adult and child immigrants improve their English skills. Maybe you've got a green thumb - there are charitable organizations that need help with grounds-keeping projects. And if you're a real authority on the ins-and-outs of your city, you could serve as a guide for new immigrants struggling to learn about how to get around, where to go shopping, and the details of everyday life that make a big difference in adjusting to a new society. If you love the arts, you could serve as a docent at your local art museum and introduce people to the treasures that are on display there. Whatever your hobby or passion, you can almost certainly find a way to translate it into volunteerism.

-Courtesy of ARAcontent-