Drive the North Cascades Hwy this Summer

Beautiful summer days are a great excuse to take road trips. If you have time and find a sunny day jump in the car and go for it! SR 20 closes every winter sometime in November depending on snow depth and does not generally reopen until May. The pass is 5,477 ft. above sea level! It is one of the state’s oldest highways; it was roughed out in 1897. Before that is was a well-used Native American trading route. It is the states northernmost route across the mountains and was the 1st designated National Scenic Highway in the United States. From Marblemount to Winthrop you will want to stop several times to take pictures. The most scenic drive starts in the North Cascades National Park and is absolutely spectacular past a turquoise Lake Diablo and crystal blue Ross Lake. I have taken the drive once and will not forget it! You will want to consider staying the night or plan on a full day. Winthrop offers many great restaurant and lodging options. Enjoy the trip!

What advantages does using a REALTOR® provide me in buying a home?

A skilled REALTOR® can save you thousands of dollars by serving as your “Buyer’s Representative,” who will help you write your offer and negotiate your deal. Here are four ways I can help you save time and money: 1. Help you analyze your needs and find the home you want at the right price. Coldwell Banker has been serving our community since 1906 and has a 24 point buyer service guarantee. 2. Give you direction and contacts to get pre-approved for a home loan. I suggest calling John Porter at Mortgage Masters. 206-954-8736 or email him at john@mortgagemasterwa.com 3. Help you avoid traps and pitfalls in negotiating the best deal with the sellers. I will share the recently sold comparable properties before suggesting an offer price. 4. Coordinate inspections, appraisals, escrow and title services with the best companies, ones I know and trust. Hiring the right inspection company is so important. You want to know what you are buying so there are no hidden surprises after you move in. I have been a full time agent at Coldwell Banker since 2000 and would love to go to work for you today!

How Good Posture Can Make You Happier

Have you noticed that you slump or hunch over when you’re feeling down and do just the opposite – stand up straight and tall – when you’re feeling good? Studies show that your mind (or mood) influences your body (posture) and vice versa – your body language influences your confidence and energy. Once you realize this, you can make it work to your advantage. Here’s what you should know:  How good posture looks and feels, and what you can do to improve yours this New Year. • Go to a site such as www.acatoday.org and search for “tips to maintain good posture.” • Exercise (stretching, walking, running, yoga) to improve your mobility and flexibility. Get away from “couch slouching.” • Watch Amy Cuddy’s popular 2012 TED Talk. Just search for “Amy Cuddy Ted Talk” on Youtube.com. She explains how doing certain “power poses” every day will actually change your hormone levels and relieve stress.  The benefits of avoiding “computer hunch.” Sitting at a computer or looking down at a phone causes a natural slump and ultimately fatigue. If you learn to sit properly, move your eyes away from the screen and take breaks from the computer and phone, you’re bound to clear your mind, and feel refreshed and more energetic.  “Fake it ‘til you make it” might just work. It sounds funny, but even if you’re not in a good mood, try adjusting your posture, holding your head up and projecting confidence. People will react to you accordingly, sending positive feelings to your brain.

Don’t Be Vitamin D-ficient

Do you get an “F” in vitamin D? Most of us don’t get enough of this nutrient that’s needed by all the tissues in the body. Studies show a vitamin D deficiency can raise your risk of developing cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease and osteoarthritis. Here’s how you can raise your grade: The main source of vitamin D is the sun’s ultraviolet rays. So, baking in the sun is bad, but a little sun is good. Try 15 minutes of sun exposure on sunscreen-free arms/legs a few times a week. Eat D-rich foods. Fatty fish, eggs and orange juice naturally contain it but many other food items are fortified with it. Read the labels. Ask your doctor for a vitamin D (blood) test. It’s particularly important if you are obese, elderly or have fair or dark skin and purposefully stay out of the sun. You also may be low if you live north of 35 degrees latitude (above Atlanta, GA) in winter, where the sun’s rays are less strong. Take D supplements (with your largest meal of the day). Aim for 1,000 IU a day; 1,200 if you’re over 60. Some people need more than 2,000 a day. Talk to your doctor for specific supplement doses.

Help Someone With Depression

Depression isn’t talked about often, but about 7% of adults in the United States (nearly 16 million people) have shown signs of being depressed in the past year. If you know someone who shows signs of depression, here are four tips to help your friend or loved one: 1. Recognize symptoms. Common signs include lack of interest in things the person used to enjoy, problems with sleeping, showing feelings of hopelessness, and withdrawal from daily activities and conversations. 2. Listen. Do not deny what the person has to say. Instead, validate their feelings. Keep in mind that speech may be slow and less coherent, so be patient. 3. Encourage them to find help. You can provide support and listen to their concerns, but a trained professional should assist with long-term care. Offer to help find information for mental health resources or make an appointment, if necessary. 4. Enlist help from others. If they are resistant, talk to other important people in their lives (such as family, clergy, or healthcare professionals) to ensure they get the help they need. If your loved one may be suicidal, don’t assume the situation will simply pass. Let them know you take their feelings seriously, and offer to accompany them to the hospital. Call their doctor or your own for advice if you need help deciding what to do. If it’s an emergency, call 911; responders are trained to deal with mental health crises. You can call the National Suicide Prevention hotline 24 hours a day for help and information at 800-273-TALK. You can also chat online with someone at: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Support Girls In Sports

Do you have a young, impressionable girl in your life — perhaps a daughter, niece, or cousin? Encouraging her to participate in sports is physically healthy, helps develop teamwork and goal-setting skills, and builds self-confidence. Show your support by:  Accommodating her interest and participation in a sport. Buy her decent equipment, drive her to practices, and watch her when she plays.  Carving time out of your schedule for one-on-one practice so she can improve her running, throwing, and kicking skills.  Proudly framing and displaying a photo of her playing her sport.  Participating in a sport or being active yourself. Active role models in a girl’s life increase the likelihood that she will also be active.  Focusing on fun. Let her try new sports until she finds one she enjoys.  Keeping an eye on confidence by avoiding comments about her body size or shape.  Encouraging her to seek out active female role models. Watch live sporting events and read books about female athletes.

Avoid Over-Eating

A paper published by the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that participants eating with their non-dominant hand ate up to 30% less food.

Easy Ways To Add Curb Appeal

The first impression of your house is from the street. If you want to sell or just add some new style, try these ideas: Focus on your front door with a new color, updated light fixtures and easy-to-read house numbers. For more charm, add window flower boxes or shutters around the windows. Learn to build a window box on YouTube.com. Clean out the clutter, and trim the overgrown bushes and trees (this also makes your home safer). For quick color, add container gardens. You can buy them pre-planted. Add lighting accents to trees or to illuminate the pathway (another safety feature). You can go solar to eliminate wires. Pressure-wash the exterior. If it doesn’t look better, consider new paint or siding. Don’t forget the garage door. Repair it, paint it or replace it to make your house look like new.

Are You Prepared To Help Your Aging Parents?

Have you thought about how you would handle an emergency if your parent became injured or ill? Here are four ways to prepare: 1. Get access to important medical records and contacts. Your parents will rest easier knowing you have information on their medical history, doctors, pharmacies, medications, and insurance policies. 2. Automate deposits. Set up social security and any other retirement income to be automatically deposited into the bank. 3. Automate bills. Set up utilities to be automatically withdrawn each month, and keep a list of recurring charges to avoid late fees. 4. Assemble a care team. Enlist a team of people (including their friends and neighbors) who are willing to call you if anything happens. Talk to your parents’ health care providers to let them know you want to be involved in their care. 5. Ask for a list of passwords so you can access important information online or in their phone.