May Edition
Spring is here!
Inspirational Quote of the Month
“May the sun bring you new energy by day,
May the moon softly restore you by night,
May the rain wash away your worries,
May the breeze blow new strength into your being,
May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.”
May is one of SWELL’s top 12 favorite months! The sun is shining, the hope is palpable, and mothers of all kinds are being appreciated. There’s a lot of great things going on in the area and in this month’s edition of SWELL Living.
Don’t miss out, keep scrolling ; )
This month’s edition of SWELL Living has:
SWELL’s restaurant of the month
Hurricane Preparedness…are you ready?
Active Buyer: Meet Lauren!
Exciting Wilmington Events!
Indoor Gardening: Oxygenating Plants
Home-grown delicious cocktails recipes
A Fun Fact: It’s a doozy
Surf Dog Experience
Does your pooch love the water as much as you do?
If so, this is the perfect beginning of summer event for you and your four-legged pal!
You can join your dog and catch the swell together, or let one of the experienced, professional dog surfers (how do we get that job, right?) take your furry friend for a ride.
I mean, they’re even cuter when they’re all wet and happy!
Coming to Carolina Beach this May 8, 2021
Don’t miss out on this adorable opportunity!
Family Farm Day
Oink, bah, moo, neigh, and shout to get ready for Family Farm Day on May 15!
Children can meet chickens and bunnies and all their favorite farmyard animals thanks to the Children’s Museum of Wilmington.
There will be pony rides, storytime comes with milk and cookies, get your (or your child’s) face painted like a fairy tiger, and more!
Everclear
Have you been wondering how your Tamagotchi’s doing? Still can’t throw away that Blockbuster card? Thinking about getting frosted tips?
Have you consulted your magic 8 ball or Miss Cleo about these feelings of nostalgia?
She would surely say that this May 22 is the time to bring back a little bit of the ’90s for your sentimental soul and go see Everclear at Burnt Mill Creek!
May 17 ~ Wrightsville Beach Farmers’ Market
May 22 ~ Turtle Talks at Fort Fisher
Indoor pollution is just as much a concern as outdoor pollution.
However, these easy-to-care-for plants can help rid the air in your home of toxins, according to a NASA study.
Here are SWELL’s top 3 favorite indoor air purifying plants:
The Snake Plant
Sansevieria Trifasciata is known for its long, sword-like leaves, and can thrive in low light with minimal watering. It is native to Asia and Africa and famous for its ability to filter out formaldehyde in the air.
This plant is known by many names, including the mother-in-law's tongue…can you guess why?
Rubber Plant
Ficus elastica is a unique-looking plant native to the tropics of Southeast Asia. As a tropical plant, it requires lots of sunlight and water. This is worth it considering it filters out mold and bacteria better than any other plant.
This plant can get up to 100 feet tall in the wild, but will stay true to the size of the pot you keep it in.
Chrysanthemum
AKA Mums
You’ll never know what a wonderful mother’s day gift this flower can be till you also realize that it’s edible AND filters out ammonia and benzene from the air!
Asteraceae Chrysanthemum is a perennial, so it will continue to bloom year after year!
If you haven’t gotten your mother a present yet, then be sure to check out Mum’s….we promise she’ll love it!
Chrysanthemums are deliciously edible and have been used for medicinal purposes for many years.
One study found that some chemicals extracted from chrysanthemum flowers can reduce inflammation. Another found that chrysanthemum extract could help treat bone disorders like osteoporosis.
Mostly, it is enjoyed as a tea using the dried flowers, however, we’re going to show you how to benefit from this flower for your evening cocktail ;)
Pickled Chrysanthemum Flowers
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1/2 Cup dried Chrysanthemum Flowers
Bring water and vinegar to boil on the stovetop. Stir in the sugar slowly until completely dissolved. Add dried Chrysanthemum flowers. Let steep overnight.
Strain, and store for up to 2 weeks in the fridge!
Now for the really fun part!
You can use this syrup in teas, lemonades, and cocktails. Here are a few of SWELL’s favorite ways to enjoy Pickled Chrysanthemum!
The Mo Martini
Because who doesn’t come home from a long day at work and need something with a little extra kick?
1.5 oz. your favorite gin
.5 oz. Elderflower Liqueur
.5 oz pickled Chrysanthemum
Splash of lemon
Garnish with lemon, flowers, or a cherry!
2. Fionia Re-imagined
This is a classic Scandanavian cocktail that is typically served with pickled chamomile flowers, however, it works beautifully with pickled Chrysanthemum as well!
1.5 oz your favorite gin
1 oz blanc vermouth
3/4 oz Sherry
.5 oz Pickled Chrysanthemum Flowers
Garnish with a flower :)
Combine all ingredients in shaker and enjoy!
3. Flowery Lemonade
3 oz your favorite lemonade!
1 oz vodka
.5 oz Pickled Chrysanthemum liquid
Combine all ingredients in a Collins glass with ice.
Garnish with a lemon and a cherry!
Now it’s time to sip and enjoy!
Plants are so amazing that some of them even help our astronauts breathe fresher, cleaner air on the Space Station.
According to this study, indoor air pollution can be 30 times worse than outside!
Because plants are so wonderfully amazing, their root systems can help filter out allergens, pollutants, mold, and even ammonia from the air. Breathe better, sleep better, and live better by adding the plant's scientists and astronauts recommend.
Don’t let the brown thumb you may think you have stop you from trying out these houseplants…if they can survive in space, then they can surely survive your living room :)
Check out the full study here.
Anne Bonny’s Bar and Grill
The famous female Irish pirate, Anne Bonny, came to live in the Carolina’s when she was young. She met her future husband and they moved to the Bahamas where they pillaged and pilfered their way to infamy.
Though she was sentenced to death, there is no record of her actual execution...
The notorious pirate may have escaped, however, we like to celebrate her memory in Wilmington to this day!
Anne Bonny's Bar & Grill is located on a floating barge along the Riverwalk in downtown Wilmington, they specialize in Calabash-style seafood, shareable appetizers, and classic burgers and sandwiches.
Their blended and frozen cocktails will keep you floating all day as you watch the sunset over the Battleship N.C.
Just like Spring, hurricane season comes every year to Southeastern North Carolina.
As lovely as the sunniest days can be, storms are a brewing from June till November.
If you have never been in a hurricane, then it can be quite a shock, and if you have been through one, then I’ll bet there were things you wished you’d done differently…
Well, the team here at SWELL has been through our fair share of hurricanes, and here’s what advice our experience has taught us!
Helpful Hurricane Tips:
Have non-perishable food and bottled water.
Have cash on hand, in multiple denominations.
Fill cars and cans with gas.
First aid kit filled; medications, especially prescriptions should be filled and ready.
Insulin needs to be kept cold, invest in a cooling case.
Consider investing in a generator, even if it’s only powerful enough to keep your fridge running.
Charge all electronics and jump batteries.
•Keep them on airplane mode when not in use to conserve power.
Take pictures/video of your property before the storm hits.
•Review your insurance policy and make sure to have the number to contact handy.
Make an evacuation plan, just in case.
Flashlights with extra batteries…kids glow sticks can be hung around door knobs!
Finally, help your neighbor be as prepared as you are! (So the don’t ask to borrow your stuff)
Also, (from very personal experience), begin the storm with clean sheets, towels, and consider getting packages of baby wipes…
Take a look at this great article from saveonenergy.com
Don’t underestimate Mother Nature!
Only 23% of the hurricanes in any given year will come up the Atlantic coast. Most enter the Caribbean and continue into the Gulf of Mexico. Many times hurricanes can be an excuse to party, giving you an excellent reason to drink beer and eat all the ice cream in the freezer in order to ‘save’ it.
But sometimes they can be extremely dangerous, causing a lot of damage and shutting down everyday life for awhile.
It is never too early to prepare!
But it can be too late…
Meet Lauren
Lauren is looking for a single-family home, preferably with 3 bedrooms and 1+ bathrooms. She would like a home that’s move-in ready and doesn’t need repairs or TLC.
A newer kitchen would be a plus, with updated appliances and countertops.
Her puppies, Ari and Enzo who will need a backyard to roam in and claim as their own. Lauren prefers the yard to be fenced but would be willing to install a fence if needed.
Lauren is a lovely lady and is ready to find her home! Click here for more info.
