May 11, 2013

Chris Stranahan, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited on Howe Avenue in Cuyahoga Falls, says hummingbirds are here and they're pretty hungry. Feed them with their favorite mixture of sugar and water, and decorate their feeder with brightly colored artificial flowers to make sure they are attracted to it. Keep the bees away by applying a few drops of almond extract around the feeder opening. Also, buy a feeder with an ant moat or add a moat to your current feeder. Hummingbirds don't like bees or ants interrupting their meal. Wild Birds Unlimited is located at 597 Howe Ave., Cuyahoga Falls, OH. For more information: 330.922.4990 or Wild Birds Unlimited

Jacob Grimm, owner of Brothers Grimm Landscape & Design Co., offers this No. 1 tip for the budget-conscious homeowner who wants a nice-looking yard: Do some maintenance every week, and that includes weeding and watering, and make sure that you mulch once a year and stir the mulch several times a summer. Brothers Grimm is available for everything from $50 lawn mowing to creating $150,000 backyard outdoor-living extravaganzas. In business for 17 years, Brothers Grimm is located in Clinton, Ohio, at 6408 South Main St.; 330.882.4639. Visit Brothers Grimm Landscape & Design.

Beverly Biehl, owner of The Inuitive Interior, says that the principles of feng shui can help you sleep better. Feng shui is all about the placement of objects and the way that energy moves around your home. Small improvements to your bedroom can make a big difference. Even keeping the closet door closed and removing the miscellaneous items stored under your bed will create a more peaceful and sleep-enhancing atmosphere. Beverly will present a workshop on feng shui at The Art of Cloth, 16695 W. Park Circle Drive, Chagrin Falls, OH, on May 18 from 10 a.m. to noon. There are still spots available. Tickets are $39 per person. Contact Art of Cloth; 440.708.1116. Also, Beverly, who is based in Texas, is available for long-distance consultations. Just mention "My Beautiful Home," and you'll be eligible for a "feng shui quickie." This entails a long-distance consultation about up to two rooms in your home for only $50. You will provide the photos and a floor plan of your home; Beverly will provide the feng shui expertise. To sign up or for more information: Beverly Biehl at The Intuitive Interior, 12000 Paducah Dr., Frisco, TX; 214.679.3498 or Beverly Biehl.

May 4, 2013

Julie Difeo and Dick Rouser reminded our listeners that Donzell's Flower and Garden Center has hanging baskets that are great gifts for Mother's Day. Donzell's goes one step further than just putting a beautiful arrangement of plants in a pot. Their hanging baskets group plants together that like the same growing conditions. If your mom's patio is on the north side of the house, you would want to get a basket that requires shade. All the hanging baskets and pots are marked as to where they would live best. Julie says that for best results with potted plants and hanging baskets, be sure to water and don't forget the fertilzer. Dick adds that if you buy something that needs to be planted, you should take the time to get it in the ground for Mom. Donzell's Flower and Garden Center, 937 E. Waterloo Rd., Akron, 44306; 330.724.0505 or Donzell's.

Linda Coleman, owner of Olive My Heart, sells an array of heart-healthy extra virgin olive oils and flavored balsamic vinegars. Linda says that there are big differences in the flavor of extra virgin olive oils. The variety of olive, the crush date, and how ripe it was at the time of the crush, like fine wine, determines the aromatic flavors of the oil. The week of May 5 is the one-year anniversary of Olive My Heart. Be sure to stop in and check out the celebration that is going on all week. While you are there, enjoy an olive oil tasting. Olive My Heart is located at the south end of Hudson, next to Stow, at 5108 Darrow Rd. For more information, call 330.655.0022 or visit Olive My Heart.

Dr. Anna M. van Heeckeren is the founder, president and CEO of One Health Organization, which helps maintain the good health of pets belonging to seniors on fixed or reduced incomes. Many of these seniors are faced with choosing between their health or the health of their pets. One Health Organization created Vets on Wheels to visit pets in the home of seniors citizens to perform a variety of services at reduced costs based on financial need. The One Health Organization is holding the 5th annual benefit for Vets on Wheels on May 16 at Executive Caters at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights. For ticket or more information, call 216.920.3051 or visit One Health.

There is something new and gently used at the Junior League Designer ShowHouse this year. Heather Hydel, store manager of the Goodwill Industries store in Medina, has made over the first-floor master bedroom with furniture supplied entirely from Goodwill Industries' used furniture showrooms. The bedroom has a Miami, Florida and Caribbean theme. Pictured below is the before pictures of the bedroom. Goodwill Industries has 13 stores in the area, and all take drop-off donations. There are other locations that have drive-through drop-off points as well. For more information, call 330.724.6995 or visit Goodwill Industries. 

The Junior League Designer ShowHouse continues through May 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m on weekends. For a complete schedule of when the ShowHouse is open or to buy tickets, call 330.836.4905 or the Junior League Designer ShowHouse.

 

April 27, 2013

 

Margie and Ray Toombs, owners of Northeast Ohio Maid Brigade, want to help you find a special gift for your mom. A gift certificate for a cleaning by Maid Brigade is a great Mother's Day gift. It's also a great gift for Father's Day, because a lot of men are the ones in charge of keeping their homes clean. A thorough housecleaning by Maid Brigade, which uses no toxic chemicals, is not only great for your home environment, it gives you the gift of time. And that's priceless. Call 330.453.6000 or for more information: Maid Brigade

Justin Caithaml, who just finished his junior year at the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music, is the co-founder of the SMART program, which is designed to improve reading skills through music. It also teaches second- and third-graders about different cultures. Students from the Buchtel cluster in the Akron school district can participate in the summer program. Parents should contact the secretaries at their children's schools to learn more. For anyone interested in supporting the mission of SMART, please send  an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit SMART, Conservatory of Music, Baldwin-Wallace College. For more information: SMART, 275 Eastland Rd., Berea; 440.826.8555.

Cynthia Whitford, owner of Cynthia Whitford Interiors, has transformed the former second-floor master bedroom of the Junior League ShowHouse into a full-scale media room. In addition to the requisite large-screen TV, surround sound and electric fireplace, this media room has comfortable and inviting furniture to lounge in. The room is both family friendly and perfect for sophisticated gatherings. To reach Cynthia, call 330.606.7979. 

The ShowHouse opens on May 4 and continues through May 19. For more information: 330.836.4905 or the Junior League Designer ShowHouse.

The "before" look of the media room. The pictures above show a traditional bedroom. Visit the Junior League Designer ShowHouse May 4 through 19 to see the transformation into a contemporary and inviting media room.

 

 

 

 

April 20, 2013

Tallmadge Asphalt is a major sponsor of the Tallmadge Community 2013 Expo taking place today until 3 p.m. Tallmadge Asphalt has been in business 66 years. Owner Mike Sekulich says that great customer service is the secret to the company's longevity. The Tallmadge Community 2013 Expo is at the Tallmadge Recreation Center on the Corner of N. Monroe and East Ave in Tallmadge. For more information about the event: Tallmadge Community 2013 Expo To learn about the company, call 330.677.0000 or visit the Tallmadge Asphalt website. 

Nick Roth, owner of Nick's Landscaping of Ohio LLC, does everything from basic maintenance to design projects such as outdoor features, additions, walkways and steps, water features, drainage, fencing, gazebos and playgrounds. He's in the midst of a fun project right now: building an artificial tree that appears to be growing from the kitchen floor all the way to the ceiling, complete with leaves and vines. Nick's Landscaping is located at 1273 Mina Ave., Copley 44321. For more information: 330.666.7000 or Nick's Landscaping.

Liz Lenke is the co-owner with her husband Ron of Initially Yours, a company that offers monogramming services. Liz says that they will put initials, names, even sayings on almost anything made of fabric, from blankets and baby items to clothing, handkerchiefs and graduation gifts. Initially Yours is located behind CVS at 1947 W. Market St. in Akron, across from Frank Boulevard. For more information: 330.867.9819.