Janet Davis Cleaners May 2018

“HOT OFF THE PRESS” Dry Cleaning News

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

MAY 2018

I enjoy our family tradition because everyone has a chance to honor their moms. I feel very fortunate that our families get along so well. People tend to joke that they don’t get along with their in-laws, but I can honestly say that we all enjoy one another’s company. It’s an aspect of our family dynamic that I love. Although our family gathering is large, we give every mom a small gift to take home. Laura and I buy all the moms a potted flower to give their gardens a head start. We used to give bouquets, but potted flowers last a lot longer, and the gifts are more sentimental that way. After brunch, we all go home and celebrate with our immediate families. I try to plan something different for Laura each year. However, she will be out of town for a school trip this time A FAMILY TRADITION Our Annual Mother’s Day Brunch

This year, we celebrate Mother’s Day on May 13. This holiday is big for the entire family because we all look forward to getting together to celebrate our moms.

Normally, the family reserves a huge table at a local golf course for Mother’s Day brunch. My wife and kids attend, as well as all the moms on Laura’s side of the family and most of the moms on my side. The only family members who don’t attend brunch are my sister and my aunt, since they live out of state. It’s funny and also kind of embarrassing that the staff at the golf course knows our family pretty well by now. After all, we take up half the restaurant!

around, so we’ll have to celebrate another day. The girls will most likely make something for Laura at school, and I’ve been busy brainstorming what I want to get her. Laura reads the newsletter, so I can’t tell you my ideas yet, but I promise she’s going to love it.

“Mother’s Day brunch has been a family tradition for as long as I’ve been a part of the family.”

Mom, thank you for being an inspiration in my life and for encouraging me to always do my best. You are a fantastic mom and grandmother. Laura, thank you for all that you do for our family. Because of you, I know that our girls will blossom into wonderful people. I love you!

Mother’s Day brunch has been a family tradition for as long as I’ve been a part of the family. Laura’s side used to go to a restaurant and have family dinner, but since my family joined, we had to find something that could accommodate everyone. I still remember our first brunch when Laura’s nephew was just a baby. It’s been amazing to watch the family evolve over the years. Now there are just as many kids as adults.

I hope you all have a wonderful Mother’s Day. We look forward to seeing you soon.

–Kyle Matthews

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In this digital age, having a family board-game night every few weeks is a novelty. Putting away the electronics and having fun face-to-face with your kids is reason enough to make this a family tradition. But did you know that board games can also teach your kids valuable life skills? Here’s the best way to facilitate this learning as a parent. USE BOARD GAMES AS A TEACHING TOOL Get More out of Game Night

FIND THE RIGHT GAME FOR THE RIGHT AGE

It’s important to find games that fit your children’s abilities. Complex rules, small pieces, or mature content can make some games inappropriate for young kids. The first thing you should do is check the recommended age range on the packaging. This will help you find the best match for your kids.

CONSULT THE RULES

When we put our dry-cleaning system together, we had one goal in mind: to provide our customers with the best product and best service possible. In order to do this, we took the best washers in the industry and put them together with the best shirt soaps, the most qualified people, and the best shirt-press system to give our customers’ garments the best cleaning and finishing possible. Thanks to our new Double Buck Shirt Press LP-190U, our shirts come out of the process practically floating on their hangers. The Double Buck Shirt Press LP-190U is specifically designed to provide the best possible press for dress shirts. The steam injection system covers the entire body of the shirt, and processing time is reduced, since the entire shirt can be steamed in an instant. In addition, sleeves are blown dry while the entire shirt is pressed, which is the gentlest and kindest way to dry your dress shirts. Though many other dry-cleaning businesses boast this technology, one thing sets our shirts apart: the people we have trained to use this incredible machine. We truly have the best employees at Janet Davis Cleaners, and because of their dedication to perfection and willingness to learn, no other business can touch our ability to finish shirts. To see a video of this amazing machine in action, visit youtube. com/watch?v=3M8jYK29TCA or search “Double Buck Shirt Press LP-190U” on YouTube.com. THE DOUBLE BUCK SHIRT PRESS THE BEST POSSIBLE PRESS FOR DRESS SHIRTS

Whether you’re new to a game or an old pro, it’s worth spending some time going over how the game is played. Not only will this help you teach your kids how to play a new game, but these rules also provide valuable insight into the skills the game teaches. Even games of pure chance, like Chutes and Ladders, can teach young kids motor skills, a sense of fair play, and what good sportsmanship looks like for both winning and losing.

Does the game have rules for trading among players, like Monopoly or Settlers of Catan? These sorts of games are a great way to teach social skills. Does it offer multiple paths to victory, like Chess or Tokido? These games teach strategy and critical reasoning. Games like Pandemic require players to work together, teaching valuable teamwork and leadership skills.

TEACH BY EXAMPLE

While gameplay itself can be a great teacher, being a role model for your children during game night is the most important thing you can bring to the table. No matter their age, showing your kids how to lose gracefully, win magnanimously, and have fun no matter what are skills they will carry with them the rest of their lives.

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Janet Davis Cleaners’ NEW REFERRAL PROGRAM!

At Janet Davis Cleaners, we are honored that so many customers love our service enough to recommend us to friends and family. We can’t possibly express how much these referrals mean to us, but with our new referral program, we’re coming close. Now, each time you refer a new customer to Janet Davis Cleaners, both parties will receive a $10 dry cleaning certificate, and you will be entered into the grand prize drawing, which takes place at the beginning of July. In order to qualify for the referral program, the referred customer must be new and sign up for route service. Customers entered into the grand prize drawing will have a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to Joe Muer Seafood as well as a five-hour limo service! You have from now until the end of June to refer friends and family. Each new referred customer qualifies you for one entry into the grand prize drawing. If you have questions about the referral program, please give us a call. SUDOKU

Grilled Ranch POTATOES

If you want to be the hit of this year’s Memorial Day cookout, don’t overlook the star power of a well-made side dish. These smoky, tangy grilled potatoes will be the talk of the party. The best part is how easy they are to prep and make!

INGREDIENTS • 2 pounds baby potatoes, halved • 1/4 tablespoon

• Ranch dressing for drizzling • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives • Bacon bits (optional) • Salt and pepper to taste

extra-virgin olive oil • Juice of 1/2 lemon • 1/2 packet ranch seasoning

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat grill to medium. In a large pan, toss potatoes with olive oil, lemon juice, and ranch seasoning. Season generously with salt and pepper. 2. Skewer potatoes. (If using wood skewers, be sure to soak in water an hour before grilling.) Grill until tender and lightly charred, about 15 minutes. 3. Drizzle with ranch and garnish with chives and bacon bits. 3 (248) 543-0340

Inspired by delish.com

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

27607Woodward Ave. Berkley, MI 48072

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Our Mother’s Day Tradition

What Board Games Can Teach Your Kids

All About the Double Buck Shirt Press

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Have You Heard About Our Referral Program?

Grilled Ranch Potatoes

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How to Make Your Road Trip a Breeze

TRY GAMES, AUDIOBOOKS, AND PODCASTS TO PASS THE TIME Road Trips Don’t Have to Be Painful

Summer is right around the corner, which means you’ll soon pile the whole family into the car, ready to brave the road for a vacation. Everyone knows that riding in the car for hours can be torture. But with a little creativity, you can turn the worst part of a long trip into a fun event. PACK A TRAVEL GAME When the excitement of the family vacation starts to wear off, keep the peace and entertain your kids with a travel game. Many board game manufacturers offer travel-sized versions that are easy to pack and play in the car. Before your next road trip, consider purchasing digital Yahtzee, which packs all the fun of the classic game without the dice, or IQ Fit, a logic game with over 100 challenges. Both games cost around $10 and can provide hours of entertainment. INCLUDE THE WHOLE FAMILY Once the travel games no longer pique anyone’s interest, try an activity that can be fun for the whole family: a traditional road trip game. If you have a car full of storytellers, try “Fortunately, Unfortunately.” The rules are simple. The first person starts by saying, “fortunately,” and mentioning something good about the

road trip or the destination. The next person (moving clockwise) then follows by saying something “unfortunate” about the previous person’s statement. Take turns with every passenger in the car. If someone stumbles, they get a strike; three strikes and you’re out. The last passenger standing wins.

PLAY AN AUDIOBOOK OR PODCAST We get it. Sometimes passengers don’t want to play games. Occasionally, they’d rather relax or take a nap. However, your listening material doesn’t have to be limited to Dad’s favorite music. Instead, consider listening to a family-friendly audiobook or podcast, which can make the longest and most boring parts of your trip an entertaining or educational experience. Almost any popular book is available in audio form, but it can be hard to find an enjoyable podcast. “Transistor” is a science-focused podcast that explores subjects kids and adults will find fascinating. Or if you’re looking for something fictional, try “Storynory,” in which the narrator tells fairy tales and legends from all over the globe.

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