Possibility for Summer Dishes

By Forschler's Home Center

During the summer, folks have a tendency to lean toward lighter meals in the evening. In fact, they like to toss something relatively simple together. Summertime offers a myriad of local fresh produce and the opportunity to fire up the grill. A quick and easy meal will help you save the fuss of lengthy preparation and leave plenty of time to have fun in the sun. Here are a few quick and savory possibilities for summer dishes:

Grilled Shrimp Souvlaki

Ingredients:

1lb of large shrimp, peeled & deveined

6 tbsp fresh lemon juice (divided)

2 tsp olive (divided)

3 tbsp fresh dill (divided)

1 tbsp fresh oregano

¾ cup Greek yogurt (divided)

2 minced garlic cloves (divided)

2 cucumbers

Black pepper

1 pint of cherry tomatoes

1 red onion

4 whole-wheat flatbreads

8 romaine lettuce leaves

Directions:

1)     Preheat grill pan

2)    Rinse the shrimp well and make sure they are well cleaned. Then stir together 2 tbsp of lemon juice, 1 tsp of olive oil, and 1tbsp of dill and oregano into a bowl. Add the shrimp and toss them in the mixture. Let them marinate for about 10 minutes.

3)    Mix ¼ cup of Greek yogurt with one minced clove of garlic, 2 tbsp of lemon juice and 1 tbsp of dill in another bowl. Then, with a vegetable peeler, cut the cucumbers into lengthwise ribbons and discard the largely seeded area. Add the ribbons into the yogurt mixture and pepper to taste.

4)    Mix the remaining ½ cup of yogurt with 2 tbsp of lemon juice, 1 tbsp of dill and the other half of the minced garlic into another bowl for raita sauce. Add pepper to taste.

5)   Combine cherry tomatoes and 1/3 inch rings of onions in remaining olive oil into a bowl. Grill the shrimp with tomatoes and onion in a lightly oiled cast iron skillet or grill pan. Cook for about 5 minutes or until shrimps are bright red, tomatoes are soft and onions are golden and tender.

6)   Grill flatbread until slightly crisp. Then top flatbread evenly with cucumber salad, shrimp, onions, tomatoes and romaine. Add raita sauce if desired. 

 Now you can sit outdoors and soak in the beautiful warm sunset. Enjoy!

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For the perfect Staycation

By Forschler's Home Center

Is money tight and you’re wracking your brain for vacation ideas this summer? Then don’t fret! We’ll help you think outside the box with creative ways to vacation on a budget. According to BuzzFeed, there are affordable spots where many budget travelers like to vacation. Some of them include Croatia, Macedonia, Istanbul and Vietnam! It seems that the food and accommodations will not break the bank! Obviously some places are further away than others, therefore budgeting your plane ticket as the bulk of your expenses will be necessary.

For some of us this is only but a dream. After a reality check, you can start planning your vacation close to home. Take it as an opportunity to enjoy the good outdoors, and go up north for a long weekend or create your very own retreat right in your backyard. Here are some options you can do at home:

      1)      Create a campground

Who said camping in your backyard is no fun? Although you will not achieve a complete wilderness atmosphere, you may actually appreciate that you can run to the washroom at any given time or grab something you need inside your home. In fact, it will be especially convenient if you have small children!

First and foremost, begin by setting up your tents to accommodate the right number of people. Then, be sure to nestle the inside with comfortable bedding and pillows! Also, you can go the extra mile to create a realistic outdoorsy atmosphere by creating a campfire surrounded with benches – time for smores!

      2)      Your very own resort by the pool

For those of you with a pool, take advantage of being by the poolside to refresh yourself on hot days! Create a little haven either in the shade or below a gazebo. Use a collection of poufs to sit on, or some comfortable decorative pillows to maximize comfort on your outdoor furniture. That way you can have fun in the sun, or enjoy a refreshing drink in the shade. The choice is yours!

It’s a win-win. You save money, all while having fun. All in favor say “aye”!

Content provided by: @tailbase

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Throw An Outdoor Party

By Forschler's Home Center

We are entering the perfect season to spend the most of our time outdoors! Going for walks, relaxing in parks, enjoying time with friends and family while picnicking or simply barbecuing in your backyard- so many tremendous outdoor activities to keep us busy this coming summer! Let’s focus on today’s theme- How to throw your outdoor party? What are the much needed things to consider when throwing out an outdoor party?  

Place, decorations, and food are definitely the main elements to have in mind.

First, spot the perfect place. Then, get the furniture right!

Feel like making your bash in a park? Bring out your throw or blanket with you. Any colors will do, but we suggest you match it with your color theme if you have one!

Feel like staying close to home? Throw a party in your backyard without worrying about moving and shifting your furniture too far. If you don’t have any outdoor furniture: bring your dinette out!  This is a great alternative from 3 pieces to 7 pieces; our Ashley Furniture dinettes can accommodate most of your guests when eating on a table.Benches are also a good option for gathering lots of people around your table.

Smart decorating with simplicity

If you are a foodie, we have no doubt that your table will be full of unthinkable dishes, so forget about using any decorations on your table. Plenty is no plague! What about lighting?  You can set up a lively atmosphere with candles!  Lemongrass candles are so efficient - it will repulse mosquitos and give a great lemony fresh scent! The Kadeem candle holder is one of our “coup de Coeur”. This stylish holder can help set the mood with your party theme as you can incorporate stones, sand, pebbles or topiary touches thanks to its removable tray.

        

Food, food always!

The best part of outdoor parties is that you don’t need to make a complicated menu to please your guests. A BBQ is more than enough to satisfy meat or vegan lovers! Give yourself some time for preparation the night before or a few hours prior to ensure that you marinate your elements, so that you can relax and spend time with your guests. BBQ has always been a great woman’s cooking “runaway” as man loves being in control of the grill!

Let’s make the month of June the most outdoorsy partying time ever!

Content provided by: @tailbase

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Ideas for Memorial Day Weekend

By Forschler's Home Center

Watching city parades, visiting military cemeteries and memorials, commemorating the fallen with the US flag … there are so many ways to pay tribute and honor to the soldiers who fought in the war. How about you make some slight changes to your Memorial weekend routine and spend it differently for once?

Memorial Day weekend is a great time to remember our US soldiers, but also to spend time with family and friends. As Memorial Day also marks the beginning of summer and all outdoor events:

- many people go away for a short vacation or visit family and friends,

- others plan outdoor sport events

- visit a national museum of American history

All these outdoor activities can be so inspirational and influence your home style too!  The cottage style is the latest trend. Here are a few creative ideas on how to change your home and adopt the cottage style at least for this coming season:

Start by picking the right pastel colors- green, yellow, pink, cream or white! Now, you can play with your available home square footage. In doing so, you will make your home more inviting and optimize your home living space, while creating comfort at the same time!

Then get the right materials- wood, stone and all natural materials that will bring texture and emphasize your home coziness!

  

From the dining room to the bedroom ….it looks easy to set the perfect cottage tone and enjoy all the unique lived-in comfort a home can offer.

If the weather permits, then you should definitely set foot outside. Picnicking can be great during this season: all you need is a throw and to decide where to place it - in a park or in your backyard. You could also take your dinette furniture outside on your patio for a unique friends and family gathering!

Ensure that you make the most of your long weekend! Happy Memorial Day!

                                                   Content provided by: @tailbase

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Add Candles All Around The Pool!

by Forschler's Home Center

When summer is around the corner, hot weather is not far behind! And who says hot weather, says… pool time! There is nothing like swimming in fresh water when the sun honors us with its presence, but there is another moment when it’s nice to swim quietly; at midnight!

When the kids are asleep and the neighborhood is quiet, go to the backyard and take time for yourself or as a couple. A good way to create a silent and soft ambiance is to put some candles all around the pool to accompany the moonlight.

White wood and rattan cords are good materials for a soothing mood. You can also add some lanterns on the patio to light the way to the pool.

For more security, to avoid all the little fires around the backyard, you can use tea lights that are battery operated instead of real fire.

Content provided by: +Tailbase 

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Add Green Color To Your Home

by Forschler's Home Center

During the summer, there are a few colors that we like to have in our home. Vivid colors happen to be part of them and some are more popular than others; aqua marine, yellow, tangerine and… green! Green is a peaceful tint and it helps to relax oneself. That’s why we must have a shade from this palette somewhere in our house. Here are some good ideas on how to add green to your home decor:

Content provided by: +Tailbase 

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4 Fun Independence Day Activities!

by Forschler's Home Center

Celebrate with friends!

Pack a lunch, your joy and bring a couple of friends to a place where you all feel free and love for the sake of the peace that it gives you inside.

Make a patriotic picnic with your family!

Prepare sandwiches, veggies, chips, dips and all the things you like. Add a touch of America to it; make little American flags on toothpicks for the cupcakes, give your sandwiches American President names to distinguish them, buy some American flag napkins, etc. Ask your children to give a hand, they will love it! Then find a green place to eat and have fun together.

Decorate your home originally with the American flag!

If you receive guests for this special day and want to add a touch of America in your home, there are a couple of things you can do to be in tune with the theme of the day: Paint Mason jars with the American colors and then use them to add flowers or candles to the table center; fix your utensils and napkins together with blue, white and red ribbons; make American flag place mats, etc.

Go to an Independence Day parade!

In most cities and/or states, there will be a big parade to celebrate the dedicated day of America. Go see your city’s website to know which activities or special events will be close to home and choose the one that seems the most interesting to you. Don’t miss the fireworks!

Content provided by: @Tailbase

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5 Fun Backyard Camping Activities

by Forschler's Home Center

Put on some sunscreen, fill up that bottle of water and prepare to stay outside for a while, because we’re going camping. Don’t worry about putting gas in the car or reserving a campsite… simply step outside and pitch the tent right there in the backyard. Best of all, the comforts of home (air conditioning and a clean bathroom, anyone?) are just a few feet away when you need them. So what should you do on your backyard camping excursion? We’ve listed some of our favorite family fun activities below.

Go for a “hike.”

Pay special attention to nature while you walk around the block. Make a game out of finding leaves from different types of trees, and count the number of birds you see. The same old scenery will suddenly seem new and exciting. ​

Get crafty.

Collect small rocks from around the yard and paint them like ladybugs, or make friendship bracelets while you sit around the fire. Create something that will serve as a memento of your special time together.

Make s’mores.

You can’t go wrong with the traditional recipe—two graham cracker squares, a jumbo marshmallow and a piece of milk chocolate. For extra fun, concoct your own recipe! How about chocolate chip cookies instead of graham crackers? Or maybe a Kit Kat instead of plain milk chocolate?

Explore the sky.

There are dozens of cool astronomy apps you can download on your smartphone or tablet. One of our favorites is Star Walk™, an inexpensive app that helps you identify stars and planets in the sky.

Play a game.

How about a round of “Go Fish?" Or, kick things up a notch and play glow-in-the-dark ring toss with glow stick necklaces!

Content provided by: +Tailbase & +Ashley Furniture HomeStore 

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