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| H.
Dawn Patrick-Wout |
This
season I ask you to embrace something
new! Each day,
we have the opportunity to make choices
about our lives; however, as creatures
of habit, we often settle for our usual
routine. We know the outcome so there’s
little reason to change. In this issue
of Design & Inspiration, I invite
you to join the About Interiors team
and embrace something new.
Here’s What’s
New at AI…
- We
are going green! In
order help take care of our environment,
we
have embraced green
design. Look for a new line of
sustainable, eco-friendly furniture
and accessories coming
soon and also discover
Green Design in July!
- We are offering new workshops! This
year we are introducing new workshops
(and bringing back old favorites)
that celebrate great design, good
health and nutrition, laughter, love,
learning and most of all living great
lives. Check out our
Art and Cooking Classes coming
in June!
- We are designing
a new home for Shepherd’s
Cove! Happy Places = Happy Faces
has been working with
community partners to revitalize
the Shepherd's
Cove Homeless Shelter for
the hundreds of women and
children who call it home
each year. Get
involved today!
- We are developing a new and improved
website! AboutInteriors.com will
be more interactive and dynamic.
It will feature quick and easy navigation
to all of the designs, furnishings
and tips that you love!
At About Interiors, we know that
variety is the spice of life. So
why not spice up your life today
and embrace something new?
“Throw
your dreams into space like a kite
and
you do
not know what it will bring back…
A new life, a new friend, a new love,
a new country.” - Anais Nin
H.
Dawn Patrick-Wout, Editor
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“Life is but a dream…” This may be a line from a favorite children’s
song, but it is absolutely true. Life, much like our nightly dreams, is full
of dramatic (often surreal) moments both good and bad; and when all is said and
done, it seems to have gone by in a flash. My personal mantra is, “life
is about the moments.” So why waste another moment living in a home that
does not inspire and rejuvenate you?
 Create a work of art in your home.
Make the commitment to clear your
home of clutter, letting go of
furnishings that have long ago
lost their sense of purpose. Resist
the temptation to let your home
become a catchall for hand-me-downs
and discount disasters. Honor your
space (and yourself) by vowing
to only buy pieces that you love.
Furnish your home in beautiful,
comfortable and functional pieces
that fit the way you live.
Surround
yourself with furnishings that
make you
smile and remember
the great moments that you’ve
shared with family and friends.
Good design is about creating spaces
that reflect the way you live.
Every piece in your home should
feel like a work of art --- a stroke
of color on canvas that can either
be appreciated alone or taken in
together with all of the other
pieces as a breathtaking expression
of the your life and vision.
Begin
With Laying The Foundation. Buy
quality sofas
that can stand
up to pet dander, pillow fights
and red wine. For durability, your
sofa should be constructed of a
solid hardwood frame with an eight-way
hand tied spring coil system. And
when it comes to fabric, ask your
furniture retailer for eco-, child-,
and pet-friendly options. There
is a wide variety of beautiful,
but durable fabrics available today.
Be sure to ask for heavy-duty fabrics
that are stain resistant and can
handle 15,000 “double rubs”.
(The term “Double Rub” refers
to the number of rub strokes the
fabric can withstand before becoming
noticeably worn.)
{Read
the rest of this article in Port
of Harlem
Magazine’s August ’07 Issue, available
for FREE at About Interiors.}
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With
Fitness Expert, Celeste
Chance
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| Celeste
Chance |
The
glow of healthy skin is
the ultimate reflection
of inner health.
True beauty
comes from being healthy
from the
inside out… There’s
no mistaking it when your
eyes, skin and hair have
that undeniably natural
glow. The beauty products
industry would have you
think that this healthy
glow can be found in a
bottle of some man-made
miracle cream, but the
truth is there’s
no substitute for a natural,
healthy diet.
Great skin is a reflection
of great inner health.
So make sure that your
diet includes a healthy
supply of proteins, carbohydrates,
fats, essential fatty acids,
vitamins and minerals.
And the best way to solve
the most common skin ailments
(i.e., dry skin, blackheads,
blemishes and even eczema)
is to make sure you have
a healthy dose of Vitamin
B, Vitamin C, protein and
iron in your diet.
Here’s a quick tip: ‘B’ Good
to Your Body! Our pick
for the best Vitamin B
supplement is Brewer’s
Yeast. Even a person with
great skin will notice
a healthier texture and
glow after just a week
of adding a couple tablespoons
of Brewer’s Yeast
each day. Even if you suffer
from eczema, one month
is all you need for an
absolute cure.
* These tips from www.1stholistic.com.
For more great tips, visit
our favorite fitness guru,
Celeste Chance at www.celbod.com.
Consult your physician
before beginning any nutrition
or exercise program.
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Happy
Places =
Happy Faces is
an NPO dedicated
to revitalizing
children’s
spaces. We are
looking
for volunteers and project sites. For more information on how you or your children’s
organization can get involved, email or
call Philippa
Stuart at 301.220.2838. |
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With AI
REWARDS,
you get 10% off your
favorite pieces. |
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| FCRP is
our way of saying thanks
for recommending us to
friends and family. |
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 The
About Interiors e-bookclub is looking
for
your pick for best contemporary classic.
Tell us about your favorite book
and if we feature it here, you'll
win a special prize. Check out this
month's selection and click here
for more information. |
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Celebrating
Home
Art
Class & Show
with Yolanda Prinsloo
World-renowned
South African artist,
Yolanda Prinsloo
has painted for
President Nelson
Mandela and
now she is here
to help you discover
the artist within.
Create and take
home
your own masterpiece
and witness the
exclusive unveiling
of her
latest work.
Cost $15. Space Limited.
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June
10th
2:00 - 4:00 pm
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Celebrating
Great Cooks & Great Books
Cooking
with Dawn/AI Book
Club Reception
While
Dawn fires up the
stove, a real-life
drama heats up the
screen… Join
us for the fun-filled class, Cooking with Dawn and stay for the viewing of In
The Time of the Butterflies, the true story of four rebel sisters who lead the
resistance to overthrow General Trujillo, the corrupt dictator of the Dominican
Republic.
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June
24th
2:00 – 4:30 pm
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Celebrating
Nature
Living
Green & Global
Warming
Hear local experts discuss pertinent issues and solutions for eco-friendly living.
FREE!!! Space Limited.
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July
9th
10:00 – 12:00 pm
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Celebrating
Home
Designing
a Beautiful Life
H. Dawn Patrick-Wout answers all of your design questions and gives insider tips
on how to transform your house into your home. Space Limited.
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July
15th
2:30 – 4:00 pm
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Celebrating
Cuisine
Cooking
with Dawn & Friends
Back
by popular demand,
Dawn will be dishing
out some of her favorite
recipes… Eat
great food that is both healthy and easy to make. Space is limited and seats
are filling fast so reserve your seat today!
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August
26th
2:30 – 4:00 pm
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| There
is a $5 attendance fee for all
workshops and events unless otherwise
noted. Event dates & times
are subject to change. To RSVP
or get early information on all
of our upcoming events & specials,
call, click or
visit us today! |
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Need
a Speaker?
Planning
a conference or gathering?
Find out how you can
have H. Dawn Patrick-Wout
give a dynamic speech,
tailored to meet your
needs.
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By Kim Harris
I
was first introduced
to Dawn at a friend’s
birthday party and although
I took her business card
that night, it wasn’t
until I read her feature
in Essence Magazine
that I decided to visit
the
showroom. I was so
mesmerized by all of
the wonderful
furnishings that I
decided to make [a
consultation]
appointment that day! Dawn was warm, down to
earth and made me feel
comfortable about the design
process. Her team came
out to my home and was
patient as I pondered over
the many [options] of furniture,
fabrics and paint colors.
The time and attention
they put forth in that
meeting [made me feel]
very special.
I
redesigned my living
room, dining
room and study;
and I also did minor renovations
in my kitchen and family
room. The final design
[has] exceeded my expectations!
The design team did such
a good job of capturing
our personalities. It feels
great to walk into my new
space and feel that it’s
a reflection of who I am!
What
I love most is the flow
between each room,
each with different but
complementary colors. I
love spending time in my
living room and now [my
family] even eats in the
dining room, which never
happened before. In fact,
I’m always looking
for reasons to have social
gatherings because I want
friends and family to enjoy
my new space with me.
As
homeowners, we spend
so much money
purchasing
our home, but we often
fail to take the time to
personalize our spaces.
I’m so glad I took
the time to make my space
one that I am excited to
be in and equally excited
to share with others. So
my advice to other homeowners
is take the time to personalize
your space and enjoy the
ride!
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My
husband and I were
out shopping for
a new dining set
and we finally found
a piece we both love,
but he thinks that
at 60 inches, the
table is too big
to fit in our 11x14
square foot room.
Is he right?
Typically
we advise clients to
allow 3 feet of space
between the edge of the
dining table and the
nearest wall (or sideboard).
This would allow enough
space for your guests
to sit comfortably without
affecting the travel
path. The 60-inch dining
table you love would
need a clearance of at
least 11 square feet.
It should fit beautifully
in your space. |
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By
Readers Like You
1. Cleaning your artificial
flowers is easy. Just
place them into a paper
bag and add some salt.
Shake vigorously. The
salt will absorb all
of the dust and dirt
and leave your flowers
looking like new.
2. Keep your Tupperware
looking great by spraying
them with nonstick cooking
spray before pouring
in any tomato-based sauces.
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Excite your taste buds
with the Tropical Paradise
Fruit Salad w/ Mango Sauce
Ingredients
3 small pineapples
1 passion fruit
1 papaw (also known as
papaya)
1 banana
Lime or lemon juice
4 oz (100 g) seedless (pitless)
black grapes
Mango Sauce:
2 ripe mangoes
2 tbsp (30ml) apple juice
Lime or Lemon Juice (to
taste)
Directions
- Cut each pineapple in
half lengthwise. (Leave
the green tops on.) Using
a serrated-edged knife,
cut out the flesh, leaving
a thin border all round.
- Cut
the flesh into small
pieces. Discard any
woody central core. Place
it in a bowl with a lid.
- Cut the passion fruit
in half. Scoop the seeds
into the bowl.
- Peel
and dice the papaw. Discard
the black seeds.
Add it to the bowl.
- Cut the banana into ½ inch
chunks. Toss in a little
lime or lemon juice. Add
to the bowl with the grapes.
Toss gently and cover with
the lid. Chill until ready
to serve.
- Peel the skin off the
mangoes. Now cut all the
mango flesh off the seed
(pits). Add it into a blender
or food processor. Add
the apple juice. Run the
machine until smooth. Add
lime or lemon juice to
taste. Pour into a small
container with a lid.
- To serve, pile the fruits
back into the pineapple
shells. Place on serving
plates. Pour the mango
sauce into six dishes.
Using a fork, remove a
piece of the fruit from
the pineapple shell. Dip
the fruit in the mango
sauce before eating.
Makes 6 Servings
* This recipe from www.1stholistic.com.
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By
Philippa S. Stuart
This summer as you search for
fun and fulfilling activities
for the kids, why not look into
volunteer opportunities in your
community. Volunteering is a
great
way for children to explore their interests and talents and if you join in the
fun, it can create wonderful memories for the whole family. We found some great
ideas at TheVolunteerFamily.org…
Discover the Benefits of Family
Volunteering
Family volunteering strengthens
families and communities. When
you decide to become a family volunteer,
you are not only contributing to
an important cause, but you are
also helping your family and children
in ways you never thought possible.
Here are just a few of the benefits
of family volunteering:
- Children develop compassion
and understanding for others. Involving
them in the decision-making process
will help them feel appreciated
and respected and the volunteer
activity will also help them acquire
new skills.
- Parents get to spend more quality
time with their kids; pass on important
values and share meaningful conversations.
If you are not sure where to start,
here are some great family volunteering
ideas for the summer from our friends
at TheVolunteerFamily.org:
Flag
Day (June 14th) – Make
bright, festive flags to decorate
rooms of a nursing home
Father’s Day (June 17th) – Interview
people in a nursing home about
their childhood and record their
memories for them and their families.
Independence
Day (July 4th) – Have
a fun outdoors barbeque with veterans,
people who have a disability, etc
and plan fun games and prizes!
Back
to School – In
August, hold a back-to-school
drive for
school supplies for children in
need, including backpacks, pencils,
paper, etc.
These
tips from: www.TheVolunteerFamily.org
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Listen
monthly to the