Science-based methods for de-stressing quickly.

When we’re stressed, we’re less able to focus and we’re doing damage to our overall health. • Breathe – Stress makes us take short breaths. Concentrate on deep breaths through the nose, exhaling through the mouth, for several minutes to increase oxygen flow and reduce tension. • Pattern Reset – Forcing your brain to focus on something else, such as the repetitive task of doing dishes or knitting, can help get your mind off whatever’s bothering you. • Go for a Walk – Not only will a 10-minute walk physically remove you from any stressful situation, the exercise releases stress-relieving endorphins in your brain. Dancing to your favorite song works, too. • Take an e-Break – We love technology, but it can also cause a huge amount of stress. Turn off your phone or computer to increase your ability to relax, and don’t leave your email inbox open all day. • Have a Snack – It’s important to be mindful about snacking (stress eating is nobody’s friend), but some nibbles can be helpful. Potassium can help modulate blood pressure, which can in turn reduce stress levels, so have a banana. Something like a handful of nuts offers a satisfying crunch and the energy your brain needs to get past the stress.

Holiday Baggage Tips

Are you planning to drag your bag through various airports over the holidays? These tips could help ease the pain. Remember this is the busy time of year so plan on extra traffic coming and going from the airport and try and arrive at least two hours before your flight. Don’t travel with wrapped gifts in your carry-on or checked luggage. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents may have to unwrap them for inspection. Wrap the gifts when you get to your destination. If you want to lock your checked bag, buy a TSA-approved lock. You’ll find them at airports and travel stores or look online at sites such as www.safeskieslocks.com or www.travelsentry.org. Ship your bags ahead of time. On most airlines you have to pay to check them anyway (possibly $120 RT for two bags flying domestically including Canada). A company like www.theluggageclub.com offers door-to-door service that takes the hassle out of flying. Plus, it works for golf bags and skis, too. Before you commit, check out the prices offered by services such as Federal Express, DHL and UPS. It may cost less (but take more shipping time) to go directly to the source.

Ways To Strengthen Your Immunity Against Colds & Flu

Don’t let a COLD or FLU get to YOU this season. The human body has many ways to naturally fight infection, but you need to give it all the help you can. Here’s how to boost your immunity and fight off those nasty germs:  Eat healthy food. Load up on fresh fruits and veggies like leafy greens. Avoid sugar because it can interfere with the enzymes you need to boost your immune system.  Supercharge your body. Your body can naturally kill a virus. So spring into action during the first 24 hours to combat illness. Once you feel a few symptoms, start drinking filtered water, broths, and soups with lots of garlic, onions, and spices. Take supplements like echinacea, vitamin C, and elderberry.  Breathe clean air. Avoid smoking, air pollutants, indoor dust, and ash from fireplaces that can irritate the lining of your nose and throat.  Avoid sick people. It sounds obvious, right? But it’s easy to forget. Try not to be in the same room, breathing the same air as someone ill for long. Wash your hands frequently and disinfect everything they touch.  Get a flu shot. The Centers For Disease Control & Prevention recommends that everyone who is at least 6 months old get the seasonal flu vaccine. It protects against 3 flu viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season.

Great Time to Visit Wine Country in Woodinville

Wine country is a lot closer than you think. Woodinville has been on the map for a while with Ste. Michelle and Columbia but in the past few years it has exploded in popularity and is now a major tourist destination. Washington is the 2nd largest wine producer in the country with more than 800 wineries. Over 100 are represented in Woodinville! The Woodinville wineries have more 90+ rated vintages than any wine region in the world! When I was a kid my parents loved to take us to Ste. Michelle for the tour and we would have lunch on the lawns. As an adult I have enjoyed many concerts at the winery. This time of year the fall colors are beyond their peak but there are still some trees with foliage. Think about picking up a special bottle of wine for Thanksgiving dinner.

Could Owning a Pet Help You Live Longer?

What would you say if you could buy a medicine that lowered your blood pressure, improved your cardiovascular health, reduced your anxiety and stress, and made you happy...everyday. Would you buy it? We know how much love and affection pets can bring to our lives, but there’s more. Scientific studies have found that having a pet can significantly improve your health. Here are 5 ways a pet can help: 1. Heart Benefits. The American Journal of Cardiology reports pet owners are more likely to survive a heart attack than those who don’t own a pet. Another study found people who owned a dog were more likely to be alive one year after a heart attack. 2. Lower Blood Pressure. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that pets help lower blood pressure (and heart rates). An American study found men who owned a cat had a lower resting heart rate and lower blood pressure than men who didn’t own a cat. And after a stressful event, their blood pressure returned to normal more quickly. 3. Mood Elevator. People, particularly seniors, who own pets are less likely to be depressed and lonely. Pets can provide companionship, humor, and add playfulness to our daily lives. 4. Kids and Health. Research presented at the 10th International Conference on Human Animal Interaction 2014 found that children who have pets have fewer sick days. They also reported that children who had pets had higher levels of self-esteem and functioned better emotionally. Research studies also found that children with pets coped better with divorce. 5. An Exercise Buddy. Dogs need regular exercise, which also gets their owners walking. This can improve their overall health. As an added benefit people improve their social network as they socialize their pet.

Get Your Car Ready For Winter

This time of year it is good to remember we live in a climate that is generally mild but can turn nasty in a hurry. Seattle drivers and road crews are notoriously underprepared for majorweather events. In a major weather event you can not always count on road service and may be left to make your own way. Most of these items should be kept in your car year-round. •If you are planning to put new tires on your car in the next few months do it now so you have new tires this winter when you need them most. •A functional spare tire, make sure it is properly inflated. •A First Aid kit, flashlight and batteries, jumper cables, multi-purpose utility tool, cable ties, emergency whistle and duct tape. You can buy these separately or purchase an AAA Road Assistance Kit from Amazon.com for $25-$60. •Gloves, scarves, stocking cap, waterproof jacket, boots or sturdy shoes you could walk a couple of miles in a pinch. •Tire chains. Consider the Auto Sock which are light weight and don't take up much space in your trunk. •Fire extinguisher. Buy one specifically made for cars at a store like Home Depot or O'Reilly Auto Parts. •Blankets, non perishable snacks, and bottled water. •Emergency cash in small bills ($50). •At least a quarter tank of gas. •Foam tire sealant.

Motivate Yourself To Clean

Cleaning is one of those necessary evils that everyone has to tackle eventually. Don’t put this chore off for another day. Motivate yourself and get the job done! Spring is here, embrace it while it lasts. • Make a cleaning play list: Turn your dirty work into a dance party. Throw together tunes that encourage you to move and sing along to get your mind off the task at hand. Or, treat yourself to a TV show that you’re only allowed to watch while you clean. • Let the light in: Opening the blinds and curtains brightens up rooms – and your mood! In addition, it illuminates all the cruddy corners of your home, encouraging you to pull out that broom and dust rag. • Tackle a small job first: Make your bed or clear off the dining room table, then go from there. Both significantly help clean up a portion of a single room effectively and quickly, and once you’ve done these things, it’s easy to keep going. • Cash in: Use negative reinforcement to force yourself to clean. Using a website like www.stickk.com, set a goal to clean, and if the goal is not met, you’ll be forced to donate to a cause that is distasteful to you (such as to a political party you don’t align with). • Set aside time: Just as you would schedule a doctor’s appointment or haircut, specifically reserve time to clean. Treat this like any other important activity that deserves time in your day so there are no conflicts interfering with the chore.

Teaching Kids Life Skills

Teaching kids how to approach and solve life’s challenges is one of the biggest jobs parents face. Here are a few tips to help your children (or grandchildren) grow into self-sufficient and responsible adults: • Teach Kids To Look For Solutions. When kids are faced with a problem, have them identify several options and solutions. Then you can help them choose which solution works best. • Teach Kids Responsibility: Let kids know they are responsible for their actions. They have to do their homework, but you can offer them two “positive choice” options: Do you want to do it in 15 minutes or 30 minutes? Teach them how to organize, and give them the tools to stay organized (calendar, palm pilot, notebook). • Teach Kids How To Make Good Choices. Giving kids choices empowers them to make their own decisions. Have them weigh the pros and cons of their choice, and let them make the decisions. • Teach Kids How To Deal with Failure. Teach your children that failure is not personal, permanent, or pervasive (i.e. losing a soccer game doesn’t mean you’re bad at other things as well). Developing a positive explanatory style early in life will help your children live a happier, healthier and more successful adult life.

What Tree is Right for Your Yard?

Trees are a major landscaping feature for your home, and a major investment as well. Choosing the right tree for your yard is about much more than just what looks pretty in the garden center. Consider these factors before you start planting this fall. What is the tree’s job? You might want property border definition, a privacy screen, shade, brilliant fall colors, or fruit growing in your yard. Narrow your search to trees that fulfill your needs. What trees are best suited to your location? Don’t invest in a beautiful tree if it won’t thrive in your climate or the soil in your yard. Also keep in mind how much extra watering a tree will need, and when. Trees generally need more water in the first two years before they’re established. What kind of maintenance is involved? Leaves that turn bright colors every fall may be a vibrant focal point for your garden, but those leaves will also need to be raked up. Find out what a tree will need in each season, including any pruning and disease prevention. How much space can the tree occupy? Be aware of how large a tree will get when it’s mature, and plant accordingly. Even if you won’t be in your house 20 or 50 years in the future, careful planting today means future occupants won’t need to uproot the tree.

7 Ways To Get Your Child Excited About Reading

Does your child spend too much time watching TV or playing video games and not enough time reading? Here are 7 quick tips to make reading fun and exciting: 1. Let your child choose books they’re personally interested in. This way they won’t get bored right away. If they can’t decide, help them by matching a book topic with one of their interests. 2. Encourage them to act out the book as a play. Kids love to perform for others, and this will help them remember more. 3. Ask your child to draw pictures of the characters. This gets them to really think about the details, plus it’s fun! 4. Read chapter books. These have more surprises and character development, which will help your child visualize the words more. 5. Take turns reading and let them ask questions. Also, have them read aloud to their siblings or friends. 6. Work with other parents to start a book club for kids. Here’s a video: www.howdini.com/howdini-video-14452277.html 7. Get your child an eReader. If you can’t get them away from video games, at least make their time in front of a screen more productive. If you have an iPAD, go to www.progressbythepage.com to find a reading app. It comes with a list of free eBooks, and ways to monitor their time spent reading.