Dear Teresa,
Hello Everyone!
I don't have a lot to report this month since you had me very busy in April working on projects. thank you. So this month will be short. I hope you are enjoying the Spring regardless of how the weather has been.
Some Interesting News
Mom's Club of Mt. Laurel Presentation
Avian Wood Sculptures Available
Are You a Good Listener?
Allergy & Asthma Issues
Chicken & Dumpling Recipe
Who is Absolute Living Today?
Mom's Club of Mt. Laurel Presentation
I had the pleasure of presenting to the Mom's Club of Mount Laurel, NJ and really enjoyed myself. I shared with them knowledge on decorating with color and made it so there was audience involvement. I like to hear about how much everyone truly understands color. I want to thank everyone involved for inviting me to be their presenter this month. If you know of any other groups or organizations looking for presenters and want to learn about decorating, please have them contact me at 856-234-6115.
Avaian Wood Sculptures Available
I just added a new selection of artwork available for purchase on my Accessories page of my website. The collection is beautifully handmade by John and Dotty Berner who are professional Avian Wood Sculptors. Cick on the link below to learn more.
Artwork and Sculptures
Are you a Good Listener?
We all have a tendency to have our minds wander when someone is talking to us. However, it is our responsibility in all social and family settings to engage ourselves in listening tentatively to the other person speaking. Part of making a person feel important is showing you truly have an interest in what is going on in their life. It cannot be onesided, if it is then there is an imbalance and the relationship is headed for trouble.
When someone is speaking to you and sharing their feelings it is common courtesy that the person allow you to do the same as well. It is basic proper social skills. So take the time to show your friends and family you truly care about them and what is going on in there world. And always start the day and end the day telling those you care about that you love them. Everyone wins when this is done. I thank God everyday for the relationship I have with my boyfriend and father and best friends. We truly listen to one another and always say I love you every chance we get. It's never too late to implement these skills. You will truly see an impact when you do.
Allergy and Asthma Issues
As I get older my allergies appear to be returning. As a kid I had limited allergies, some disappeared as I grew up others lingered on. So I am more sensitive to keeping things clean and free of pollutants. I'm already done my Spring cleaning.
If you have children with allergies here are some steps to take to create an allergy free enviornment for their bedrooms.
1. Seal the mattress - cover it with an airtight, washable plastic, and only use a well fitting cover with a zipper for safety purposes.
2. Don't provide a home for dust - keep fabric accessories and plush toys to a bare minimum.
3. Choose a hard floor surface - carpet retains dust, mites, mold and fungus spores and debris and chemicals from the padding. Hardwood is easy to clean.
4. Condition the air - air conditioners and dehumidifiers are helpful.
5. Manage mold - check for leaky pipes, clean and dry drip pans in air conditioners, refrigerators and dehumidifiers.
6. Deal with pests - Droppings of rodents are a cause of asthma attacks, so store food in airtight containers, dispose of garbage and clean up immediately after meals.
7. Keep animals away - keep pets out of the nursery or kids bedroom, and off clean linens, sofas and rugs.
8. Banish smokers - don't smoke in the home or car when asthmatic children are present.
Chicken & Dumplings
Growing up this was my favorite recipe. Mom just had a way of making this that completed my appetite.
Cut 1 pound of chicken breasts into 1 inch cubes.
Roll the meat in flour.
Brown chicken in vegetable oil or butter.
Add 2 cups of hot water.
Cook slowly for 1 hr in a crock pot or large deep frying pan.
Add 1/2 cup of diced carrots, 1/2 cup of diced potatoes, 1/2 cup chopped celery, 1/4 cup of chopped onion, 1 bay leaf, 1/2 tsp of worcestershire sauce and 1/2 tsp of salt with a dash of pepper.
Continue cooking for 30 minutes. Drop dumplings from spoon (see dumpling recipe below). Cover tightly and steam without lifiting cover for 12 to 15 minutes.
Dumplings:
1 cup of sifted enriched flour
1/2 tsp of salt
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to make soft dough
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup milk
Mix together and drop over stew above.
(You can use bisquick in place of flour if you like)
Enjoy!
If you are entertaining in the next few months and need a specialty appetizer, why not order my Scilian Green Olives stuffed with veal and pork. Your guests will love the savory taste, even olive haters love these. So don't hestitate. Call or email me to place an order. I will make them especially for you without you having to order through a caterer.
Sincerely,
Teresa Tocco
Absolute Living Today
856-234-6115
teresa@absolutelivingtoday.com
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