November Newsletter Archive

Email Newsletter Archive - November 2006

Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones. Before you know it Thanksgiving will be here in a few weeks. Holiday Decorating can be fun to most people, but too others it is a challenge, especially for those special gatherings for entertaining. If you need assistance please don't hesitate to call me. Also keep in mind just because the holidays are coming doesn't mean your interior decorating projects have to stop. The cooler months are the best time of year to work on an indoor project. Let me know if I can help.

What's New at ALT?

Who is Absolute Living Today?
Artwork Available on Website
Absolutely Appetizing, LLC
Proper Way to Measure Windows for Window Treatments
Mom's Turkey & Stuffing
Very Important Legal Documents
Our Colorado Trip

Artwork Available on Website

Please visit my "Accessories" page on my website, by clicking on the link below. I am now offering artwork for sale. The current pieces advertised on my website are from a New Jersey artist by the name of Michael C. Gabriele. Micheal's art is of still life and landscape in watercolor and pastel on paper. He has done many one-man shows throughout New Jersey. He has been accepted into many juried exhibitions and received numerous awards. Please take a look at his work and if you are interested and would like to place an order please email me at teresa@absolutelivingtoday.com. Please include your phone number and mailing address. I will call you to take your order. I am confident you will love his work. If you are an artist and would like to offer your artwork on my website, please contact me and we can discuss the details.

Accessories....

Absolutely Appetizing, LLC

I am so excited with the launching of my food service business. With some help from my family, I was able to make my first batch of stuffed olives to sell. We made 63 dozen stuffed olives in one weekend. I have many more to make. I am currently in negotiations with some restaurants and caterers, so once the details are finalized I will send out a second addition of my Novermber Newsletter so you will know where you can go to try them for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Read on...

Proper Way to Measure Windows for Window Treatments

One of the many projects I enjoy is determining the window treatment design and selecting fabric for custom made window treatments. However, not everyone is in a position to have custom treatments made so therefore they proceed to purchase ready- made treatments or make their own, but if you don't measure the windows properly you will have some challenges. If you choose to purchase ready made treatments I would like to guide you on how to properly measure your windows. You first need to decide if you will be mounting inside the frame or outside mounting on the frame or on the wall. But keep in mind inside mounting you should have at least a 2" depth, you might get away with a 1.5" depth depending on the treatment. Then you need to determine how much wall space you have on each side of the window so there is enough room for a rod and finial to extend beyond the window frame if outside mounting. If you look at the diagram on the left and follow the bullet points below you will have the basic measurements you need, unless you have a bay window then you need to measure the angle between the windows.

Measure window width including frame
Length from top of frame to top of sill
Inside width
Inside length
Distance from top of frame to ceiling
Distance from right side of frame to wall
Distance from left side of frame to wall
Length from top of frame to floor
Width of frame
Inside Depth
I hope you find this helpful. If you have any challenges please don't hesitate to contact me.

Mom's Turkey & Stuffing

With Thanksgiving approaching I would like to share with you my mother's turkey & stuffing recipe. I have enjoyed it all my life and continue to use it as a family tradition in honor of my deceased mother. Process: Thaw the turkey. Remove guts, but keep liver. Soak liver in cup with salt for about .5 hr. Soak turkey inside with vinegar and salt, this kills any germs. I do this a few times to thoroughly clean the inside of the turkey. Put turkey back in refrigerator until ready to stuff. Stuffing: In flarge rying pan, melt 3 sticks of margarine. Add 2 cups of chopped up celery and leaves. Add 1/2 cup of diced onion or more. Rinse liver and chop into small pieces. Brown the above ingredients on low until the celery gets soft. In a separate pot or bowl add: 2 bags soft bread cubes. Sprinkle as much salt & pepper as you like. Add lots of poultry seasoning. Throw frying pan mix in with bread cubes until soaked. Add 4-5 eggs - throw in 4 eggs first, then mix with hands if not sticking together use 5th egg. Taste to see if it has a salty taste and make sure the poultry seasoning is not overbearing, if so add more salt and pepper to balance it out. You need to be good with judging food and not depend on exact measurements. Then store in refrigerator in oil greased bowl. Thanksgiving morning take out, check to see if moist, if not wet your hands with oil and remix slightly then stuff the turkey on both ends. Pin the skin using turkey pin hooks. Put string in roasting pan and spread rope (comes with turkey). Add vegetable oil to bottom of roasting pan with 4 bay leaves and 4 garlic cloves. After turkey is stuffed rub soft margarine all over the turkey (even if it is a butterball), sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic powder and oregano all over turkey. Cook for the number of hours on turkey packaging using their suggested temperature. Cover turkey. Every half hour take cover off and baste turkey using existing oils at bottom of pan. I look forward to this meal every year, it just melts in your mouth. I hope you and your family enjoy it as much as mine does.

More recipes...

Very Important Legal Documents

Sometimes we forget the important details that may arise if we are no longer around. Please read these tips and seek legal advice when considering any of these documents.

Wills: A Last Will and Testament specifies how your assets will be distributed upon your death. A Will saves your relatives a great deal of trouble and keeps the government out of the distribution process. Keep your will current and stored safely.
Living Will: Specifies the medical treatment you want or don't want should you become terminally ill. If there is no Living Will, hospital staffs may make these important decisions.
Durable Power of Attorney: Authorizes a named person to do anything on your behalf if you are incapacitated. Seek legal advice before signing this document which can survive the death of the principle.
Health Care Proxy: Names a person who can make health care decisions for you if you cannot do so yourself.
Stay safe.

Our Colorado Trip

I just wanted to share with you some highlights of our trip to Colorado. I have been there a few times, but each time I see something new. George, my boyfriend, took me on the Million Dollar Highway in Southwest Colorado. This was a magnificent ride up through the mountains ranging as high as 14,000 ft or more. Sometimes we forget how beautiful our own country is and learning the history of the small mining towns in the mountains has been an education. I recommend this ride to everyone. You cannot be afraid of heights because you will be riding on winding roads and driving around cliffs. But it is very exciting. I was also able to show George those sights I saw as a kid but vaguely remembered. Such as Pikes Peak, Royal Gorge, and Garden of the Gods. All so beautiful. If you want to take your family on a nice exploration trip, Colorado is one of those states you would want to explore.

Who is Absolute Living Today?

To learn more about Teresa Tocco, the Founder and President of Absolute Living Today, LLC and Absolutely Appetizing, LLC click on the link below.

About Teresa....

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