Janet Davis Cleaners - June 2019

Janet Davis Cleaners - June 2019

“HOT OFF THE PRESS” Dry Cleaning News

(248) 543-0340 | www.janetdaviscleaners.com 27607Woodward Ave., Berkley, MI 48072 | 3645 Maple Rd., Bloomfield, MI 48301

JUNE 2019

A DAY ON THEWATER How I Celebrate the Summer Solstice

As people across the country start planning their epic summer vacations, many forget to take the summer solstice into consideration. Known colloquially as midsummer, the summer solstice occurs when one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt toward the sun and reaches its highest point in the sky, and we get to enjoy the sunshine for a little bit longer. While the solstice isn’t necessarily a widely celebrated holiday, it was always one of my favorites growing up because it meant my family got to spend more time doing what we loved most: playing in the water!

While we supported and encouraged each other, we were also secretly trying to be the best. To this day, I think that family competition is what drove us all to try slalom skiing with only one ski. It was a kind of badge of honor for everyone who could successfully do it. Even now, we all do fairly well out there — with the exception of an incident a couple years ago where I tried skiing in a swimsuit that was too baggy. The wind caught the swim trunks like a parachute, but I managed to keep from flashing all the other lake-goers! In my opinion, the best way to spend summer solstice is out on a boat. Since the sun stays in the sky for longer, you don’t have to leave as soon as you would otherwise. This year, on June 21, my wife and I are aiming to make the most out of the gift of extra sunshine by taking our girls to play in the water. Since I had a pool to play in as a kid and Laura had a club pool in her neighborhood, we’ve tried to impart the same love for water we had as kids to our girls. Laura and I often take them to the lake near my parents’ place to go tubing and to a cool local pool in our community. Since the pool is so close and has grills, we will pack up a delicious lunch and, after a couple hours of splashing around, have a barbecue.

“Even now, we all do fairly well out there — with the exception of an incident a couple years ago where I tried skiing in a swimsuit that was too baggy. The wind caught the swim trunks like a parachute, but I managed to keep from flashing all the other lake-goers!”

I enjoy the summer solstice because it adds more sunshine to the day and reminds me of all the great options we have to enjoy the outdoors right here close to home. It’s easy to get caught up in making big vacation plans and forget about the lakes, rivers, mountains, and pools you have at your back door. If you don’t have anything planned for the solstice, I encourage you to do some research and figure out how you want to spend the longest (and most fun) day of the year!

From a young age we spent all our free time out on the water getting pulled behind the boat on tubes. As soon as we graduated from tubing, we tried our hands at water skiing. Every single person in the family loved (and still loves) it so much that it became a competition of one-upmanship.

–Kyle Matthews 1 (248) 543-0340

Enjoy Your Family Time BY TAKING A BREAK FROM YOUR PHONE

A SUITABLE SUIT FOR DAD!

The Most Expensive Suits in the World

If you’ve caught any episodes of the hit CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother,” then you’re probably familiar with Barney Stinson, one of the main characters, who is known for his foolproof (albeit often awful) ways to meet women and for his penchant for suits. It isn’t until the show’s final episode (SPOILER) that Barney finds someone who encourages him to leave behind his bachelor lifestyle and settle down: his daughter. In honor of Father’s Day and this sitcom’s emphasis on both fatherhood and suits, the team at Janet Davis Cleaners figured what better time to look at some of the world’s most expensive suits, ones that even Barney might find himself drooling over. 3. CAVALIER ROCKEFELLER VANQUISH II — PRICED AT $70,000 Known around the world for their wedding attire, sparkling accessories, and even roasty cigars, Cavalier also sells some of the most expensive men’s suits, their priciest one being the Rockefeller Vanquish limited edition line, which features 4-carat diamond buttons! 2. ALEXANDER AMOSU VANQUISH II BESPOKE — PRICED AT $101,860 Made with the same legendary fabric as the Cavalier suit, this Alexander Amosu suit boasts its rare qiviut fabric and buttons made of both gold and diamonds. It is the only one of its kind in the entire world! 1. STUART HUGHES DIAMOND EDITION — PRICED AT $892,000 Speaking of diamonds, this suit — the world’s most expensive — was a joint collaboration between designer Stuart Hughes and tailor Richard Jewels. Made of a distinct mixture of high- quality wool, cashmere, and silk, there are only three suits currently in existence. What makes this suit so luxurious? As its name suggests, this masterpiece is embellished with over 480 diamonds! As you hit the stores in search of a gift for Dad this June, you might be thinking that a nice, new suit would a perfect option. Even if your dad could effortlessly pull off the “diamond suit” look, there’s no need to for you to take out a loan to buy a nice-looking suit. No matter the age or price, our team can make any suit look like a million bucks!

Setting some time aside to be with family is important, but it can be difficult when everyone is always on their cellphones. Constant cellphone use has become a global problem, and the habit is hard to break because we rely on mobile devices heavily for work, school, and keeping in contact with friends and family. Luckily, there are plenty of apps that can reduce how often you’re on your phone and minimize distractions. SIEMPO After you install Siempo on your phone, it will ask which apps are likely to distract you. Once you select them, the app will move those apps away from the home screen and place the important ones, such as the messaging, contacts, email, and calendar apps, on the first screen. You can also designate times for specific apps to be used throughout the day. STAY FOCUSED Stay Focused is like Siempo, but there are some significant differences. You can set times to access certain apps and put the most distracting ones on lock. Stay Focused also has a “strict mode” that prevents you from uninstalling it, so be sure to think carefully before activating the lockdown because you won’t have access to those specific apps until the timer runs out. FOREST In the time that Forest takes control of your device for a set time limit, the app starts growing a tree. Once the tree is fully grown, your time is up, and it joins the other trees that were grown during other breaks. If you pick up your phone and try to access an app, Forest will send you a notification asking you if you want to kill your baby tree by giving up. Who says guilt isn’t a good motivator? BESIDES APPS Aside from using these apps, silencing your phone and putting it in another room, leaving it in your car if you’re out at dinner, or keeping it in your purse or back pocket during a social event can also reduce your screen time. Having your phone out of sight and out of reach will keep the temptation of pulling it out at bay. Spending time with your family is crucial, and with these apps and tips, you’ll enjoy each other’s company without too many screen distractions.

Know someone whose suit needs help? Have them give us a call!

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LOOK COOL AND FEEL COOL

Tips for Ironing Your Linens This Summer

1. A GOOD SPRITZ Approximately five minutes prior to ironing, we recommend you lightly spray plain, cool water over your linens. While you’ll only be misting them, make sure you pay close attention to the thicker parts of the garment like the pocket flaps, the collar, and the cuff areas. 2. BRING THE HEAT Since you’ll be working with thicker material, you’ll need the set the iron to a higher heat. But make sure you keep the iron moving in a constant, smooth manner to avoid scorching. 3. DON’T SKIMP ON CLEANLINESS It’s important that the garment is cleaned before it is ironed, but you want to ensure that all the soap has been washed out before you put heat to it. Additionally, before you start warming the iron, clean the faceplate and water tank.

Warmer temperatures have everyone packing away their winter coats and digging out their summer clothes from the back of the closet. While most people know that lighter colored, breathable fabric keeps the body’s core temperature cooler, few are aware that the natural flax fibers found in linen shirts, pants, and dresses help wick moisture away from the skin, making linen the best clothing choice when you’re dealing with hot and/ or humid weather. Here at the office, linen makes up the majority of our orders during the summer months, which is why we want to offer some tips to help you make the most of your at-home ironing. If you prefer a relaxed aesthetic, you can opt for a clothes steamer or skip the dryer and let your clothes air-dry. However, if you prefer a crisp look, you’ll want to know how to iron your linens properly.

4. ORDER OF OPERATIONS After giving your linens a good spritz, we recommend that you start with the heavier areas first and then gently stretch the garment to square corners as you iron. Once you’ve finished, hang the garment in an uncrowded place for approximately 10 minutes before putting it on. If you’re worried about ruining your favorite dress shirt and would rather we take care of the ironing for you, don’t hesitate to let us know! We want to keep you looking and feeling as cool as possible!

Grilled

SUDOKU

BEEF RIBS

Nothing feels more paleo-appropriate than digging into a giant rack of beef ribs. This largely hands-off recipe requires plenty of hands-on eating, making you feel like one of our cave-dwelling ancestors.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 5-lb. rack of beef ribs • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat a charcoal, wood-burning, or gas grill to medium-high. Once heated, move heat source to one side or turn off half of the burners to create an indirect heat zone. 2. Season ribs with salt and pepper and char on the hotter side of the grill, turning occasionally, for 12–15 minutes. Once charred, transfer to the other side of grill and cook until the thickest part of the rib reaches 130 F, about 2 1/2–3 hours.

3. Let meat rest for 15 minutes. If desired, serve alongside grilled veggies.

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(248) 543-0340 www.janetdaviscleaners.com INSIDE THIS ISSUE

27607Woodward Ave. Berkley, MI 48072

1 A Day on the Water Is Better Than Any Other Day! 2 Take a Break From Your Smartphone

The World’s Most Expensive Suits

3 Handy Tips for Ironing Your Linens This Summer

Grilled Beef Ribs 4 Tips for Capturing the Best Outdoor Photo!

Tips for Capturing the Best Outdoor Photo! CELEBRATE NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY DAY

Nature Photography Day is June 15, and it continues to garner enthusiasm with each passing year. It’s been designated by the North America Nature Photography Association as a day to promote the enjoyment of outdoor photography and to explain how nature photography can advance conservation efforts locally and worldwide. Almost everyone has access to a sufficient camera with smartphones, but not everyone knows how to best capture a beautiful nature scene. Here are some tips to help! FIND THE ANGLES Landscape photography isn’t about appealing to someone else’s sense of style; it’s about shooting what makes you happy. Take some time to study the work of other nature photographers you enjoy. What angles do they use? What colors do they coordinate within the frame? How close do they get to their subject? Try something different. Go against the grain, use a different angle, shoot a close-up where others would shoot wide angle. Find a good starting place and experiment a little. HARNESS THE LIGHT Nature photos often look great in the morning or evening light, but the type of lighting you use is often dictated by the scene you are trying to capture. It’s generally

accepted that side-lighting, where the sun is coming from either side of the camera, is the most desirable for landscapes because the contrasts between light and shadow can add depth to your photos. However, front- and back-lighting — where you shoot away from or into the sun — can also produce nice photos. Similar to angles, try experimenting until you find something that looks good to you. CROP FOR TEXTURE Sometimes the difference between an amazing shot and a mediocre one is distance. When photographing nature, try zooming in or moving geographically closer and cropping close on your subject. This could be tree bark, a leaf, the forest floor, or a lizard’s skin. The fine details of your subject can often create stunning images. In your quest to snap the most Instagram-worthy shots, the most important thing to remember is to respect the animals and the environment. Be sure to bring bags with you to take any garbage or other waste with you, and stay on designated trails while exploring. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be taking incredible nature photos in no time.

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