Volume 107
5 Interior Design Trends to Step Up Your Style Game
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Equity Real Estate
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As the temperatures continue to warm up outside, you may be ready to embrace the adage "out
with the old and in with the new" when it comes to your home's interior design. Whether you're a
first time homebuyer looking for ways to upgrade your starter home or a seasoned homeowner
seeking a refresh, these tips will give you ideas to work with on any budget.
1. Design for social connection. Given the pace of today's technology driven life, more and more
people are turning to their home as a haven, a place where they can unplug from screens and
reconnect with family and friends. "An easy way to accomplish this is to design your home to
encourage personal interaction," recommends interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn. "Group
comfortable furniture in 'conversation zones' and banish TVs to smaller rooms, freeing up larger
living spaces for screen-free entertaining and relaxing."
2. Get outside. As lines are continually blurring between indoor and outdoor living areas, it's just
as important to consider your outdoor oasis as it is your standard living room. Adding an outdoor
project like a wood deck or pergola can add resale value to your home. There are many options to
accessorize your outdoor space with furniture, lighting and rugs. Build a comfortable spot that
bridges the gap between inside and out, and you're certain to spend more time outside creating
memorable experiences.
3. Go natural. Many residential designers today are embracing a classic, modern style that is
characterized by white, neutral tones and light wood in its natural state. This look is DIY-friendly,
since the only skills required involve a light sanding and a quick coat of clear sealant. "What I like
most about this trend is how tranquil unstained wood can feel when used in an all white space,"
says Flynn. There's a reason for that tranquility—studies show people have reduced signs of stress
and increased relaxation in rooms with natural elements like wood.
4. Less is more. If you own a home with strong architectural features, it often works best to
Inside This Issue
1.
2.
3.
4.
5 Interior Design Trends to
Step Up Your Style Game
5 Ways Americans Unite to
Help One Another
Enjoy Classic Milk Pairings
While Helping Families in
Need
Why Your Employer Wants
You to Volunteer – and Why
You Should
“To the man who only
has a hammer,
everything he
encounters begins to
look like a nail.”
-Abraham Maslow
Commentary: Thanks, Brexit! WellQualified U.D. Buyers Reap a
Windfall
1
decorate with practical pieces that keep the overall space comfortable and sparse, allowing the
unique aspects of your home to shine through. If you have soaring ceilings or large windows that
allow for an abundance of natural light, try incorporating low-slung, minimalistic furniture with
comfortable upholstery. The best part? If you're purchasing fewer pieces, that means you're likely
to save more money in the long run.
5. Don't play it safe. It can be tempting to stick with what you know, but when it comes to interior
design, that's a recipe for lackluster beige walls. When it comes to paint, try new neutrals like
grey-green, brown-grey, olive or muted blue-grey. Feel like a bigger project? It's easy to give a
room its focal point with a wood feature wall. "I like playing with lines through wall and ceiling
cladding," Flynn says. "While the look of horizontal shiplap continues to grow in popularity, I also
like more of an unexpected look, such as installing planks vertically on walls."
From adding an accent wall to rearranging furniture, these are just some of the easy changes you
can make to give your home a whole new look. For more interior design inspiration, visit
woodnaturally.com.
The surprise victory in Britain of the
campaign to leave the European Union
may be spurring panic across the
Continent (and among some regretful
British voters), but “Brexit” has left U.S.
homebuyers with a very definable
windfall: mortgage rates that are now
the lowest they’ve been in more than
three years. The average 30-year
conforming rate on Monday was 3.46
percent, very near the lowest average
rates recorded in late 2012. Lower rates
produce lower monthly payments and
greater buying power…
Consumer Spending Jumps the Most
in Nearly Seven Years
Consumers pulled their wallets out of
winter hibernation in April, increasing
their spending at the fastest pace in
nearly seven years in a sign that the
economy is growing solidly again this
spring. Personal consumption
expenditures grew by 1 percent after
being flat in March and posting small
gains the precious two months, the
Commerce Department said Tuesday. A
jump in purchases of motor vehicles
and long-lasting durable goods helped
fuel the rise. The last time consumer
spending increased at a faster pace was
in August 2009, just after the official
end of the Great Recession…
5 Ways to Test Your Retirement
Readiness
Just These days, planning retirement is
more complicated than ever and
involves countless decisions.
“Retirement looks very different for
people today than it did 50 years ago,”
says Aaron Hatch, a financial planner
and co-founder of financial services
firm Woven Capital. “People are living
longer, and their families sometimes
live across the country, or even across
the globe.” Some people want to travel
the world when they retire, whereas
others are content to plant a garden or
work on their golf game.
http://rismedia.com
The Lazy Homeowner’s Guide to
Living Well
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5 Ways American Unite to Help One Another
It seems as though there's a lot of disagreement in our country these days. Political parties not
only argue with each other, but they also fight within their ranks. Turn on the news and bickering
is everywhere. Click on any internet story and you'll read through pages of angry comments.
Despite all the noise, however, Americans truly are more united than divided. And one of the
issues that unites all kinds of Americans is supporting our veterans. In fact, it's part of a long
tradition that goes back to the founding fathers, and there are plenty of ways you can reach out
and show your appreciation as well.
Small Keeping your home looking and
functioning great isn’t easy. We all have
less and less time to do the things we
want to do today. Sometimes the ‘havetos” can seem overwhelming. But high
style and great function don’t have to
be high maintenance. These products
and features can help you to have a
great home and minimize the time
required to take care of it.
Tips 7 Smart Renovations Under
$500
If you’re thinking about selling your
home, you may be stressed out about
all the things you need to do to get it
market ready, and all the costs
associated with those update.
Renovations don’t have to cost you a
fortune. By thinking smart about some
of the updates that will have the
greatest impact, you can minimize your
spend and maximize your investment.
http://realtytimes.com/consumeradvice
/homeownersadvice1
1. A tradition of honoring heroism. In 1782, George Washington issued orders to honor soldiers
who showed exceptional distinction by awarding them the Badge of Military Merit. Now called the
Purple Heart, it's given to men and women in uniform who have been injured or killed in combat
or captivity. As the oldest medal currently in use, over 1.7 million have received the honor.
2. Ordinary people giving. Millions of Americans have shown their support for veterans by
donating their time and financial support to organizations such as the Purple Heart Foundation.
This organization supports veterans and their families with many nationwide programs. They rely
on ordinary Americans to volunteer and provide financial assistance to continue these important
services.
3. Investing in veterans. After the unemployment rate for veterans peaked at over 15 percent in
2011, Americans responded. Major companies like Walmart, Amazon and Uber have all pledged
to hire thousands of veterans. Voters put pressure on their representatives to enact The Returning
Hero's Tax Credit, which gives companies incentives to hire vets. As a result, the unemployment
rate among veterans has been halved.
4. Helping vets tell their story. A highly effective way to help vets reconnect with people and get a
hold of the confusing emotions they experience when coming home is to allow them to tell their
story. Many organizations, colleges and community groups have set up programs that teach
veterans the skills they need to find their voice and tell their story.
5. Professionals volunteering their time. All wondering how they can help, thousands of
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professionals such as lawyers, accountants and career coaches have reached out to volunteer their
time. Because free legal and financial advice is invaluable to help veterans navigate the world they
return to, this kind of assistance is incredibly important. Inspired by the outpouring of support,
many Americans wonder what they can do to help. Veterans’ organizations like the Purple Heart
Foundation provide emotional, physical, educational and financial support for veterans and their
families. In addition, the Purple Heart Foundation gives people the opportunity to volunteer,
donate their vehicles or household items, or make cash contributions as a way of thanking
veterans for the sacrifice they made. To learn more, visit purpleheartfoundation.org.
Finding Nemo Movie Trivia
Marlin and Nemo are what kind of
Fish?
a.
Clown Fish
b.
Flounder
c.
Salmon
What do the children call the boat?
a.
The “Butt”
b.
The “Goat”
c.
The “Float”
What does Nemo have?
a.
A lucky number
b.
A lucky fin
c.
A lucky tail
What caused Marlin to have blurry
vision when Nemo got taken away?
a.
Toxic chemicals
b.
A camera flash
c.
Food poisoning
Which celebrity plays the voice of
Dory?
a.
Jennifer Aniston
b.
Wanda Sykes
c.
Ellen DeGeneres
What does Dory remember that
makes her happy?
a.
Her mother’s birthday
b.
Her name
c.
An address
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Enjoy Classic Milk Pairings While Helping Families In
Need
Salami-Mozzarella
Calzone
Recipe Courtesy of foodnetwork.com
Instead of ordering in pizza, make these
easy calzones using refrigerated pizza
dough.
Ingredients
Though many trends have come and gone, there's one food that's been long loved by young and
old alike: that's milk.
With B vitamins for energy, high-quality protein to help build lean muscle, Vitamin A to help
support a healthy immune system and calcium and Vitamin D for strong bones, milk is both a goto and good for you to drink!
Plus, milk is a drink that has countless classic pairings. To up your family's milk intake, consider
some of these scrumptious ideas:





Blend milk with fresh fruit and a few ice cubes to create a creamy smoothie.
Enjoy a cold glass of milk and a delicious Entenmann's donut for breakfast, as a snack or
dessert.
Beyond breakfast, cereal and milk are a great snack for after school or before bed.
Join the kids for a PB&J and glass of milk.
Try dipping your sandwich in the milk for a treat.
Milk can be a delicious and nutritious part of your family's day, but for some food-insecure
families, drinking milk can be a rare indulgence.
Fortunately, you can help make a difference to ensure families in need have access to milk simply
by participating in Entenmann's Donuts & Milk: Perfect Together Sweepstakes. Entenmann's is
joining The Great American Milk Drive for the Facebook sweepstakes from Aug. 7 to Oct. 31. Each
entry will trigger a donation to The Great American Milk Drive to help deliver nutrient-rich milk to
families in need across the country. It's Entenmann's Bakery's goal to donate 100,000 servings of
milk by the end of the sweepstakes. To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/entenmanns.
The Great American Milk Drive also accepts donations directly at milklife.com/give so you can

2 large eggs

¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

1 teaspoon grated lemon
zest

¼ pound shredded reducedfat mozzarella cheese

Extra-virgin olive oil, for
brushing

1 13.8-ounce tube
refrigerated pizza dough

¼ pound deli-sliced salami,
cut into thin strips

1 ½ cups giardiniera (pickled
mixed vegetable), drained

¼ pound sliced provolone
cheese
Directions
Place a baking sheet upside down
in the oven and preheat to 400
degrees F. Beat the eggs, parsley
and lemon zest in a small bowl.
Pour half of the egg mixture into a
medium bowl and stir in the
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help families in your local community. To date, more than 800,000 gallons - that's over 12 million
servings - of milk have been delivered to families across the country.
mozzarella. Reserve the remaining
egg mixture for brushing on the
crust.
Turn another baking sheet upside
down; line with parchment paper
and brush with olive oil. Unroll the
dough on the parchment paper
and pat into a 9-by-12-inch
rectangle. Spread the mozzarella
mixture over one half of the
dough, living a 1-inch border
along the edge. Top with the
salami, followed by the pickled
vegetables and provolone. Fold
the other half of the dough over to
cover the filling. Crimp and roll the
edges to seal, then pierce the top
of the dough in a few places with a
knife.
Slide the calzone with the
parchment paper onto the hot
baking sheet; bake 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven and brush
with the remaining egg mixture,
then continue to bake until the
crust in golden, 5 to 10 more
minutes. Let rest 5 minutes, then
cut into wedges.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/reci
pes/food-networkkitchens/salami-mozzarellacalzone-recipe.html
6
Why Your Employer Wants You to Volunteer – and Why
You Should
Does your employer consider community service part of a job well done? If you're wondering
whether you should take advantage of your employer's offer to pay you for volunteer time, keep
in mind employee volunteerism benefits everyone involved - your company, the organization
you'll help and you!
Approximately 21 percent of employers now give workers paid time off for volunteering,
according to the Society for Human Resource Management. Sponsoring volunteerism can help a
company boost employee morale, enhance recruitment efforts and even improve the business'
standing in the community. Volunteering can also benefit you emotionally and in your career.
For example, through the Investing in America's Health initiative, employees of Blue Cross Blue
Shield's 36 community-based and locally operated companies (BCBS) volunteered nearly 400,000
hours and provided more than $10 million in donations in 2015. BCBS workers volunteered and
provided financial support to programs and organizations involved in improving public health.
Workers involved in the BCBS initiative reported experiencing many of the benefits commonly
associated with volunteerism, including:

Emotional Rewards - Multiple studies have shown that volunteering makes people feel
more socially connected and emotionally fulfilled, and can reduce feelings of loneliness
and depression.

Enhanced Camaraderie with Coworkers - Employees who volunteer together consistently
report feeling more connected to their co-workers and their communities. Volunteering
together can be a fulfilling and effective team-building activity.

Improving Their Community - Because employer-sponsored volunteer programs take
place at a local level, when you participate you're directly improving your own
community.
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
Add Depth to Professional Credentials - Current and future employers don't just want
people with job skills, they want to know they're hiring compassionate, caring and wellrounded individuals. Participation in employee-sponsored volunteer programs enhances
your overall appeal as a professional.
If you would like to become involved in volunteering through an employer-sponsored program,
here are some ways to get started:

Talk to your human resources department about your company's program to better
understand how it works. For example, does the company have an established volunteer
relationship with a charitable or community organization? Or will your employer support
your volunteerism with any qualifying organization? Will you receive paid-time-off for
volunteering, and if so, how many hours per month? Does your employer also offer cash
donations or a donation matching program to support charitable contributions?

If your employer has a policy that allows you to volunteer anywhere, identify the group
you want to volunteer with. Be aware of any standards your employer may have
established for qualifying organizations. Look for a volunteer opportunity that allows you
to do something you're passionate about and that supports your local community.

Gather information from the volunteer organization on what you need to do in order to
take part as a volunteer. For example, will you need to participate in any specialized
training? Will you need to agree to a background check if you'll be working with
children?
If your employer doesn't yet have a program, take the initiative and suggest they start one. This
can be as simple as identifying your worthy cause and asking your employer for support in
volunteering.
To learn more about how BCBS companies are improving the health and wellness of members and
their communities, view the report at http://www.bcbs.com.
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