In The Bag October 2018

WICHITA’S HANGER

SEASONAL MAGIC From Caterpillars to Butterflies

October 2018

We recently bought our 3-year-old a caterpillar kit. Have you ever had one? You get to watch and nurture the caterpillars, observe them building a cocoon, and then one day, the cocoon starts to break open, and a butterfly emerges. The caterpillar has transformed. I often have a feeling of transformation at the beginning of fall.

The feeling of renewal and change also inspires me to take stock of what’s around me. Last month, I shared with you my goal setting strategy, and a big part of making those goals successful involves what you spend your time doing and who you spend time with. People and circumstances can be battery chargers or battery drainers. I make a conscious choice to spend more time with the people who are chargers, and in the fall, I find myself extra charged by the season itself. Maybe it’s the cooler weather or the sense of hitting the refresh button — I find that there’s very little happening this season that drains me. I’m enjoying my time with the people who contribute to that — my family, coworkers, and friends. I hope you’re doing the same. Inside the newsletter, you can read about one of our employees who went through their own kind of transformation — from business owner to manager. Paulette runs one of our busiest stores with ease, and in addition to her incredible character, there’s something else unique about her: She and her husband used to be my competitors. When I bought their company, I liked her philosophy so much that one of the deals in the contract was that she would stay on and work for us. She’s been with us ever since. Read Paulette’s version of the story on Page 2.

That feeling is ushered in with the brisk, cooler weather. It’s invigorating. We made it through the hot summer and had a wonderful time outside. In the fall, the change of season brings about a kind of renewal. There’s this noticeable feeling, and it’s not only back to school. There’s something about the transitions during this time of year — pulling out the sweaters and jackets, staying warm as the weather turns colder, lighting the fireplace again and roasting marshmallows, bundling up and heading out to the football game, sitting on the back porch just breathing in the cooler weather — it’s so energizing. I love it. Colorado is one of my favorite places because of the beautiful scenery, and they have spectacular autumns. The trees take on such vibrant shades across the backdrop of the Rockies. There’s something magical about leaves changing color. You look outside, and the trees have turned from greens to yellows, on to reds and oranges, seemingly overnight.

I hope you enjoy fall as much as I do. Soak in the cooler evenings with your loved ones, and enjoy the views from your own back porch.

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Best in Show or Halloween Hazard?

For many kids, picking out a costume is the best part of Halloween. Will they be a spooky witch, a wildcat, or their favorite superhero? There are so many options! But in all the fun, it can be easy for parents to overlook certain risks that

longer to burn and can be put out quickly, it can still catch fire and cause serious injuries. Remind your child to use caution around open flames and avoid costumes with flimsy, hanging components, like flowing sleeves, long skirts, and capes. TEST MAKEUP FIRST. Halloween is a great time to have fun with face paint, and makeup is a good alternative to masks, which can obscure a child’s vision. However, a lot of costume makeup isn’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Before letting your child cover their face in makeup from the Halloween store, test their skin for allergic reactions by putting just a little bit on the back of their hand first. PRACTICE PROP SAFETY. What’s a Jedi Knight without her lightsaber or a wizard without his magic wand? The right accessories can really bring a costume together, but it’s important that props — especially weapon props, like swords, knives, or guns — are not mistaken for the real thing. Choose props that are obviously fake, with round edges made from soft, flexible material. And if your child wants to wear their Halloween costume to school or some other event, check the rules on props beforehand to avoid any trouble.

Halloween costumes can pose. Here are important safety tips to remember when choosing the best Halloween costume.

LOOK FOR FIRE-RESISTANT COSTUMES.

Candles inside jack-o’-lanterns and other open flames are everywhere on Halloween night, so make sure your child’s costume isn’t a fire hazard. Most store-bought costumes are made from fire-

resistant materials, but you should still check the labels on all costumes, wigs, and accessories. The same goes when you’re buying fabric for homemade costumes. And remember, fire-resistant is not the same as fireproof. While fire-resistant material takes

Halloween is a night for ghosts and goblins to come out to play, and with these tips, your kids can safely dress up and join in the fun.

Paulette’s Take on a Blessed Life

Words to Live by

With her incredibly positive outlook on life, it’s no wonder why clients and employees alike love working with Paulette, who is a manager at one of our busiest stores. Before joining our team, Paulette was a business owner. “I owned my own cleaners,” Paulette explains. “Then my husband became disabled, and I tried to manage it all on my own, but it became too much.” A mutual friend put her in contact with Dave, and as she was

knew right away she would enjoy working with him, and that held true long after their contract was up. “I just loved working for him,” Paulette says. “We’re each other’s blessings.” Today, Paulette keeps one of our busiest stores running smoothly and says she’s grateful for the new faces and challenges each day brings. “It’s enabled me to not only grow relationships with people in my community, but to help serve them as well. I love every minute of it,” Paulette says. Of her positive outlook on life, she defers to her motto: “‘It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.’ I’ve always tried to maintain my attitude and conduct to that one little motto.” Outside of work, it’s all about family. Paulette has four grandchildren, and says, “I like to do anything and everything with them. I find it a privilege just to be around them. I’m so blessed to have them, I truly am.” Paulette is also an active member of her church, and with other members, sews quilts that are sent to Africa. “Sewing is my No. 1 passion, when I find time for hobbies,” she admits. “It’s really cool to play such a small part in the grand scheme of things. I like to think of it as not just sending a blanket, but sending a hug.”

looking to downsize, Dave was looking to expand his business, so the acquaintance was mutually beneficial. “Customers were all important to us and to him as well,” Paulette recalls. “That’s why I liked him so well — he has the same attitude about business that we do.” Paulette and her husband sold their company to Dave, with one caveat (at Dave’s insistence): that Paulette would continue to work for him for three months after the transfer to make the change easier for customers. For Paulette, it was the perfect solution. “I wanted to get smaller, but to keep going in the same profession. It had been my only career. Dave helped me do that,” Paulette says. After meeting, she

With a perspective like that, it’s no wonder we all feel blessed to have Paulette on our team.

2 • In The Bag Cleaners • inthebagcleaners.com • (316) 267-3407

Homemade Marshmallows

We have some exciting news to share with you! This month, we’re opening our newest Wichita location at 11414 East Central, Suite 114, just east of Greenwich Road. Close to some great neighborhoods and part of a shopping center, this location has a few unique benefits that made it the right choice in becoming part of our In the Bag family. We constantly ask ourselves how we can provide you with the best in dry cleaning and laundry service, and it became clear that this location would allow us to provide another efficient, convenient, and friendly place for you to save time and let someone else do the heavy lifting. Here are a few of the features we loved about this location. IN AND OUT One feature that we think you’ll find very convenient is the drive-thru. When you’re running errands with a car full of kids, the dog, and groceries, you won’t even have to come into the store. We’ll make it super easy on you. You can just open the door, give us your laundry, and we’ll give it back to you clean! The drive-thru also eliminates the need for parking, saving space and making it easier to get in and out without spending time looking for a parking spot. BE MY NEIGHBOR? With its proximity to communities, we know this location will allow our clients who live in nearby neighborhoods to make their errands even quicker and easier. We wanted to make it possible for you to run errands closer to your home, saving you time and giving you peace of mind, so you don’t have to worry about how you’ll get from one activity to the next. FITNESS FOLDED IN Another convenient aspect of this location is the large workout facility right next to our store. So, if you’re someone who likes to fit your workouts in whenever you can, this will be a great option for you. Just drop off your laundry, get a workout in, and come pick up your clean clothes. Unique Perks of Our Newest Store The Ultimate Convenience

Ingredients

Inspired by Food Network

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1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract Powdered sugar, to coat

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3 packages unflavored gelatin 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup light corn syrup

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Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water. Let sit while you make the syrup. 2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water until the sugar dissolves. 3. Raise heat to high and bring syrup up to 240 F, using a candy thermometer to check for temperature. 4. With an electric whisk on low speed, slowly whisk syrup into gelatin mixture. Switch speed to high and whip for 15 minutes, until very thick. Fold in vanilla after whipping. 5. Dust a nonmetal baking dish with powdered sugar and spoon mixture into dish. Smooth mixture, top with more powdered sugar, and let stand uncovered overnight. 6. Cut into squares, decorate, and serve.

If you’re in the neighborhood, come on over and say hi! We’d love to see you.

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1951 N. Ohio Ave., Wichita, KS 67214 (316) 267-3407 | www.inthebagcleaners.com

INSIDE This ISSUE

Autumn Thoughts

What Parents Need to Know About Halloween Costumes Meet Paulette Come See Our Newest Location! Homemade Marshmallows

The Birthplace of Halloween

The Real Halloween Town County Meath, Ireland, Where Hal loween Began

Fans of Halloween don’t need to look far to find somewhere to celebrate their favorite holiday. There are festive parties all over the world, from New Orleans to London, but if you really want to embrace the spirit of Halloween, there’s no better destination than the birthplace of the holiday: County Meath, Ireland. Every year in Boyne Valley, the residents of County Meath throw a month-long Halloween celebration. The Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival attracts thousands of guests from all over the world, and while this festival has only been celebrated since 2009, many of the traditions observed here date back to ancient times. The ancient Irish weren’t trick-or-treating or visiting haunted houses on Oct. 31, but they were celebrating the pagan holiday Samhain. Over 3,000 years ago, this Celtic festival was born in Meath and marked the end of the harvest. Samhain was celebrated with bonfires, offerings to fairies, and other rituals meant to keep evil spirits away. Many of these customs carried through the centuries and inspired Halloween traditions that are still practiced today.

Festival starts with the lighting of the first torch fire of Samhain in Athboy, which kicks off a month of fun activities. If you like your Halloween extra spooky, the scream park, Farmaphobia, is waiting for you. And if you’re not a fan of screaming your head off, you can check out the Halloween-themed Spookling Afternoon Tea for fresh-baked

treats and spirited conversation. The motto of this all-ages festival is “Fun by Day; Frights by Night,” meaning all the really scary ghosts wait until after sunset to come out.

There are plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween, from carving jack-o’-

lanterns and eating chocolate to running for your life through a haunted corn maze. And in County Meath, you can celebrate Halloween in every possible way. For more info, visit www.Discoverboynevalley.ie/whats- on/spirits-meath-halloween-festival-2018.

Today, Meath celebrates Oct. 31 with a blend of spooky thrills and traditional Samhain practices. The Spirits of Meath Halloween

4 • In The Bag Cleaners • inthebagcleaners.com • (316) 267-3407