Brought to you by
April 2025
Cassy West
Optimizing Fresh Air in Your Home
The Essentials of HRV and ERV Systems
Tips to Revitalize a Garden This Spring
Compliments of
Cassy West
Cassy West
Holistic REALTOR® & Wellness Real Estate Expert
Your Home Environment Matters
772-643-4460
Spring Into Wellness—A Fresh Start This April!
Spring is in full swing, and it’s the perfect time to give your home and lifestyle a fresh start. This month, we’re diving into everything from deep spring cleaning tips to creating toxin-free home offices and revitalizing your garden. Plus, discover how to style your space with lighting, fresh air systems to optimize indoor quality, and even explore the wellness-centered community of The Farm in Poway.
Whether you're looking to refresh your space, or find new ways to connect with family this season, this issue is packed with inspiration to help you live well.
Recipe of the Month
Lemongrass Chicken Salad
Heather Christo, Deliciously Allergen Free Recipes
The star of it is most definitely the insanely tasty Lemongrass Chicken. The robust flavor of lemongrass really comes through and whether you fry or grill the chicken, the lemongrass kind of caramelizes and gets a crispy coating on the chicken which is extra delicious. I also think that if you just got obsessed with the chicken you could serve it with steamed rice and broccoli or other veggies- I know my kids would love that.
Photo Credit: Heather Christo
Organization
Deep Spring Cleaning: Refresh Your Space & Mind
By Jolene Nannette
As the days grow longer and the air turns warmer, spring beckons us to emerge from the hibernation of winter. You can open your windows, not wear so many layers, and freshen up your space. It's not just a change in the season; it’s an invitation to rejuvenate our living spaces through deep spring cleaning. Deep spring cleaning is an opportunity to purge not only physical clutter but also mental and emotional disorganization. A clean, organized home can have a profound impact on your overall well-being. Studies have shown that a decluttered environment can reduce stress, improve focus, and foster creativity. This spring, consider the benefits of a thorough clean, which can set a positive tone for the months ahead. And, it always feels great to have a thoroughly clean space. Here are some suggestions to get you started.
Feng Shui Essentials
Styling Your Space with Feng Shui:
The Lighting Edition
By Dee Oujiri
Greetings from Minnesota, where spring has gracefully arrived, snow has given way to fresh blooms, days feel luxuriously longer, and warm sunlight fills our homes, nudging us toward renewal. It's the perfect moment to talk about lighting, a beautifully subtle yet transformative element of Feng Shui.
Featured Article
Living Well
Staff Writer
When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, we often focus on diet and exercise. While these are certainly important factors, they're not the only ones that contribute to our overall well-being. The truth is, the environment in which we live can also have a significant impact on our health and well-being.
Research has shown that the home environment can affect everything from our mood and energy levels to our immune system and sleep patterns. Factors such as air quality, natural lighting, and green spaces can all have a positive impact on our health. On the other hand, exposure to environmental hazards such as chemicals and mold can have negative effects.
Creating a healthy home environment can involve a range of actions, from choosing homes with healthy features to making modifications to existing homes. This might include investing in energy-efficient appliances, improving air quality with proper ventilation, and minimizing exposure to environmental toxins.
By taking steps to create a healthy home environment, we can improve our overall well-being and lead happier, healthier lives. After all, our homes are where we spend the majority of our time, and the environment we live in can have a significant impact on our health and happiness.
Family
Spring into FUN: Family Activities to Celebrate the Season
By Lucy Chatman
Spring is one of the most popular seasons of the year. After several months of chilly temperatures in many regions, spring provides a welcome reprieve from the cold.
Garden
Tips to Revitalize a Garden This Spring
By Lucy Chatman
Gardening is a rewarding hobby that pays a host of significant dividends. Many people love gardening because it allows them to spend time outdoors, and that simple pleasure is indeed a notable benefit of working in a garden. But the National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture notes that gardening provides a host of additional benefits, including helping people get sufficient levels of exercise, reduce stress, and improve mood.
Real Estate
The Farm in Poway
A Wellness-Centered Community Inspiring Residential Development Across the US
By Sabrina Aguilar
As the wellness real estate industry continues to boom into a billion-dollar movement, more and more developments are emerging to meet the growing demand for healthy, sustainable living. Developers are recognizing that people are no longer willing to settle for homes that compromise their well-being. Instead, they’re actively seeking out communities designed with health and harmony in mind. One such development that embodies this new standard of living is The Farm in Poway—a master-planned community in Poway, California, that beautifully blends luxury, wellness, and nature.
Healthy Home
Creating a Non Toxic Home Office Effortlessly
By Amanda Klecker
Do you work from a home office? Have you thought about how much time you spend there? Spoiler alert: It’s probably a lot more than you’d like to admit…..am I right? If you were to quickly assess your home office, what do you see? Furniture made of medium density fiberboard and particle board and plywood?
Interior Design
Mindfull Color Drenching
By Cassy West
Color Drenching a room is the new trend. But is it right for every space? What is Color Drenching? Color drenching is a design technique that involves utilizing a single color or a closely related palette of shades throughout
Wellness Architecture
Optimizing Fresh Air in Your Home:
The Essentials of HRV and ERV Systems
By Kate Hamblet
These systems continuously bring in fresh air while exhausting stale air, creating a comfortable and healthy home environment. However, not all installers are well-versed in the proper setup of HRV and ERV systems. As a homeowner, understanding the basics will help you ensure your system is installed correctly, whether you're incorporating one into a new build or retrofitting it into an existing home.
