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.

Buying a House as a Rental Investment.

What should we know before taking the plunge? A. Buying right is the “secret.” Your first step is to make sure the property is in an area desirable to tenants and suited for appreciation. Next, you want to purchase the property at a price and financing that will allow you to make a profit (and positive cash flow) while renting it out. Don’t forget to include any fix-up expenditures for getting the home in rental shape. You’ll need to create a budget of your expected rental revenue and all costs associated with owning the home – and be sure to allow for contingencies such as vacancies, unexpected repairs and maintenance, and tax and insurance increases. Seek out the assistance of a competent real estate attorney to create a rock-solid lease document that protects you from problem tenants. You can use the document for future leases and tenants. Determine whether you’re going to manage the property yourself, or pay a management company – and don’t forget to include management fees into your budget estimates. If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home and need competent and caring representation, please call me at 206-226-0565.

Five Spices To Boost Your Brain

By “spicing up” your life, you can be helping your brain. Recent studies have shown that spicy food can preserve brain function and help prevent disease. Add these five tasty spices to your diet to reap the benefits: Turmeric. Called the “ultimate health spice,” turmeric contains curcumin and is an ingredient in curry. Studies have shown that it may help prevent Alzheimer’s and lessen the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. Sprinkle it on your broccoli or mix a spoonful in a warm glass of water and drink it down. Ginger. This spice may make you smarter if combined with ginkgo biloba. It also may help treat Parkinson’s disease and migraine headaches. Try drinking it as a hot tea. Garlic. You already love this one, but did you know it increases blood flow to the brain? In a 2017 study, garlic helped fight brain cancer cells. Saffron. A saffron extract has been found to be effective in treating people with depression. Cinnamon. Eating it helps with blood sugar control, but just smelling it boosts brain activity. It also speeds the way your brain processes visual cues. Chew some cinnamon gum before your next bike ride.

Comfortable Outdoor Living

Making the most of your outdoor living space gives you more space for relaxing and entertaining. Here are some ideas to create your own welcoming areas for outdoor living this spring and summer.  Add visual interest to an outdoor space with brightly-painted planters or colorful throw pillows. They’re easy to update when your favorite color changes, and small enough to add more whenever you like.  Dual-purpose furniture is useful in a small outdoor space. For instance, bench seating that’s also storage and a table that has a planter underneath reduce the furniture footprint without sacrificing utility.  Walkways invite exploration into a larger yard, and keep guests from accidentally stepping on seedlings. Curving walkways through trees or bushes can also create more intimate spaces for entertaining without overcrowding in one spot.  Your indoor fireplace is probably a focal point, so why not give your backyard a similar treatment? Digging a fire pit into your lawn is an inexpensive option. If you don’t want to give up that space in your yard permanently, there are also movable fire pit units you can buy, allowing you to store them when they’re not in use.  Creative outdoor lighting not only provides a warm glow, it also means you can use your outdoor space into the night. Simple DIY solutions include strings of outdoor globe string lights around the porch, small white fairy lights wrapped around tree trunks, or candles in Mason jars twinkling on tables. For an even bigger “wow” factor, wire a chandelier over an outdoor dining table.  Combine outdoor lighting and pest control in one. Fill mason jars with fresh rosemary sprigs, slices of limes or lemons, and about 10 drops of lavender essential oil. Add water and a floating candle to the top. Mosquitos don’t like the smell, but you will.

Many Uses for Lemons

Lemons might be the most useful – and inexpensive – ingredient you have at home! Here are just a few of the ways to use lemons that you might not know.  Get rid of garbage disposal odors by adding a couple of lemon chunks.  Polish stainless steel or banish ants with lemon juice.  Drink a little lemon juice to bump up your metabolism or relieve throat pain.  Keep apples and guacamole from turning brown with lemon juice.  Remove stains on fingernails by sticking your fingers in a lemon.

Twilight Fan or looking for a good drive? Head to Forks!!

I took my niece Kierra a huge twilight fan (ok I am too) out to Forks for the day, we really enjoyed the drive and the local tourist attractions. We went out to the coast via Aberdeen and headed up hwy 101 thru the Olympic National Forest, past beautiful Lake Quinault and the Hoh Rainforest. It was a typical rainy day but we stopped in Kalaloch to stretch and enjoy the pounding surf off the ocean. The local chamber of commerce received 180,000 visitors last year and hands out maps with Twilight attractions and shares information about the books and movies. Once in Forks there are numerous Twilight themed stores to shop in and all of the local restaurants feature Twilight menu items. Before Twilight, Forks was known as the logging capitol of the world. There is a Loggers Museum and huge monument dedicated to the loggers who have lots their lives in the pursuit of the giant trees that grow there. It was sad and surprising just how many loggers are still dying in that industry. Forks is also a very popular sport fishing destination with several major rivers flowing out of the Olympics. They are known for giant King Salmon and winter Steelhead. If you stay overnight you would be close to La Push and Port Angeles which were also featured in the books and movies. I plan on a return trip sometime this summer.

What’s My Home Worth?

If you want to know your home’s current value, I will gladly conduct a Maximum Value Home Audit. There are many sites that try and guess the value of your home. We take into account condition, the street you are on, updates / remodeling and obsolescence. There is no substitute for a real market analysis when finding value. We look at more than recent sales, we look at active listings to see where your house would fit into a buyer search. Request this “no charge” in-depth home value analysis by calling me at: 206-226-0565.

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Credit Card Rewards

These days most credit cards offer some kind of rewards to entice you to use them. Here’s how to use them to your best advantage:  Get the right card for you, and use it for most of your purchases. Do you want airline or hotel points, merchandise points, or cash back? Do your research and choose what meets your needs. Be sure to compare potential annual fees, interest rates, limited time offers, etc.  Keep track if and when your points expire. Redeem the points as soon as you can, or you may forget you even have them.  Check out the card’s other perks. You may be focused on earning points, but the card may offer other things like purchase protection.  Read the terms and conditions. Credit card companies may change their terms and notify you by a letter you might not pay attention to. Read it, and if you don’t like the changes, get a different card.  Pay off your balance on time every month. The rewards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees on your purchases.  Make sure you understand the rewards program. If you get confused (you aren’t alone!), call the company’s Customer Service Department for clarification. Ask for help to make sure you are getting the benefits you are entitled to.  Go to the card company’s web site and follow them on social media. You may get tips on special promotions or points for participating in surveys.

How to Stop Procrastinating

Procrastinating is a learned behavior. The good news is that it can be combated, as long as you’re focused on how to prevent it. Here are 5 steps to help you stop procrastinating and get in gear this New Year. 1. Get Rid of Distractions – Turn off the phone, shut the door, put on headphones, whatever it takes to drown out tempting diversions. 2. Break Tasks Into Chunks – Things like “wash dishes, do laundry, and vacuum” are more specific, and chances are you’ll be more apt to tackle those tasks than the gargantuan-sounding “clean the house.” 3. Do Your Hardest Task First – The sense of accomplishment when you complete the biggest item on your list first will help propel you forward toward crossing off more things on your list. 4. Perfect is the Enemy of Done – Keep in mind that if you’re only striving for perfection, you’re less likely to even start a project. 5. Reward Yourself – Give yourself a pat on the back for getting stuff done, whether the reward is a night out or simply a favorite treat.

Combine Foods To Boost Your Health

Some foods, like ham and eggs, just go together, but did you know that if you intentionally combine certain nutrients, you can help protect your body from disease? Check out these examples of foods that work together to bring out the best in each other.  Yogurt + granola. Yogurt contains probiotics, and whole grains act as prebiotics. Eating both together helps your digestion.  Tomatoes + olive oil. The olive oil improves absorption of the tomato’s lycopene, which helps lower risk of breast cancer and heart disease. Cook the tomatoes with the peel on, add some broccoli and you’ll be a synergy superstar.  Salmon + garlic or turmeric. Garlic (which prevents the release of “bad cholesterol”) or turmeric (which contains the antioxidant curcumin) are perfect pairings with salmon, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids. The result could lower your total cholesterol.  Kale + almonds. Vitamins K and E in kale need a source of fat to improve absorption. Add almonds, which are full of unsaturated fat.  Dark chocolate + unpeeled apples. Dip apple slices, which contain quercetin (an anti-inflammatory) in dark chocolate (whose cocoa is rich in antioxidants) to improve your cardiovascular health.  Beans + greens. Beans are a plant-based source of iron. Adding vitamin C in the form of dark greens will amp up iron absorption.  Green tea and (yes) black pepper. Green tea boosts metabolism but the piperine in black pepper makes it work more efficiently.

Alternatives to Bottled Water

You’ve likely heard that bottled water has major environmental consequences, but how bad is the problem? Here are a few facts from thewaterproject.org that illustrate the severity of the situation: • Approximately 80% of single-use water bottles in the U.S. become “litter,” and one bottle takes more than 1,000 years to bio-degrade. • U.S. landfills have two million tons of discarded water bottles in them. • It takes three liters of water to package one liter of bottled water. In response to the bottled water problem, some cities and businesses have banned it, but what can you do? • Skip the single-use water bottle, and invest in a reusable water bottle. If you forget it, buy multiples to keep in vehicles, the office, and your gym bag. • Drink tap water. Several studies have been done to show municipal tap water is usually just as safe as bottled water. • Refrigerate water. Cooling tap water helps remove the chlorine taste many people feel is in tap water. • Boil water if you are concerned water might be contaminated.

Resolving Money Conflicts

When couples disagree about money, you can bet there’s going to be trouble. The good news is most money problems can be solved by simply talking. You may want to begin by asking yourself, “What’s Your Money Personality”? According to Olivia Mellan, author of Money Harmony: Resolving Money Conflicts in Your Life and Relationship, most people fall into one or more loosely defined money personalities: • Spenders are the shop until-you-drop consumers who gain pleasure from buying. They don’t budget, prioritize or save. • Hoarders like strict budgets and prioritize everything. They see spending money on entertainment, vacations, and any extras as frivolous. • Avoiders put off money management because it overwhelms them. Since they don’t like budgets or keeping records, they often forget to pay their bills. • Amassers like to stockpile their money to feel safe and happy. The bigger the pile, the more secure they feel. So what’s your money personality, and what’s your spouses? This may help you understand your partner’s relationship to money. When it comes to talking about money with your partner, here are four strategies to help you on the road to better communication: 1. Timing is everything. When it comes to talking about money, choose a time when people are feeling good. 2. Stay positive. Don’t accuse your partner. Focus on how the behavior is making you feel, and look for solutions. 3. Be specific. For example, “I’m feeling concerned about the money we’re spending on this vacation.” 4. Assume win-win situations are possible! Find your common ground where both of you can agree and each get most of what you want. Once you and your spouse have identified your individual styles, set-aside time to define common objectives and find strategies that work around your differences, so you can meet those goals. If your tempers begin to heat-up, agree to meet at another time when both of you are calmer.

Favorite Burien Restaurant is Primos!!

Looking to try a new restaurant? Our first choice for a special occasion is Osteria Da Primos located at 631 SW 156th St - 206-246-5561 - They are a small family owned Italian restaurant where every dish is amazing. We have never been disappointed and want to share our find with you.

Washington Trail Recommendations

Like many day hikers I am always looking for good reliable trail recommendations. 1. Hamilton Mountain Loop Trail – Columbia River Gorge, 7.5 mile loop with easy access and parking. Two beautiful waterfalls and lots of wildflowers. 2. Coyote Wall Loop Trail – Located off highway 14 near White Salmon, 7 mile loop is for experienced hikers but worth the effort. 3. Mailbox Peak – Located near North Bend, tough 4,200ft ascent but you can sign the registry and enjoy sweeping views. 4. Summit Lake Trail – Just north of the Mt. Rainier National Park in the Clearwater Wilderness, 6 mile loop with views of the mountain that are unreal. 5. Wallace Falls Trail – Located near Gold Bar, this 4.6 mile trail leads to an amazing waterfall with the spring melts. I hope you are able to enjoy one or more of these great day trips this spring!!

Reduce Your Diabetes Risk

You may not be able to totally prevent type 2 diabetes, but there are steps you can take to lower your chances of getting the disease. • Talk to your doctor about your personal risk factors, such as age, weight, cholesterol level, blood pressure and family history. Make a personal lifestyle plan. • Choose healthier foods. Add these foods to your diet: broccoli, fish, blueberries, olive oil, spinach, walnuts, and dairy. For details, search for “Top 10 Super-foods For Type 2 Diabetes” at www.webmd.com. • Avoid sugary beverages, including soda and energy drinks. One 12-ounce can of regular soda has 150 calories and 40 grams of carbs. That’s the same amount of carbs in 10 teaspoons of sugar! • Exercise every day. Everything counts: walking, swimming, gardening. Just keep moving.

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.

Mt. Saint Helens Eruption 40th Anniversary

It might be the perfect time to make plans to visit one of the visitor centers and see how nature has been transformed in just 40yrs. I will never forget going with my Dad and Grandparents in 1993 but have not returned. I will be sure to make it down sometime in the next couple of months!! The original visitor center at Seaquest opened a few years after the eruption and offers educational exhibits that focus on history, geology and re-growth. Johnston Ridge offers a close-up view overlooking the crater, lava dome, and has tremendous views of the blast zone. Forest Learning Center showcases remarkable volcano and forestry exhibits allowing you to walk through a life-like forest and experience the eruption chamber. Consider taking a special 40th anniversary hike on May 16th from Johnston Ridge hosted by Adventures Around the NW – Cost is $89. You will hike with scientists and get first-hand accounts. The 8.2 mile hike rated moderate traverses the ridgeline that separates the blast zones then goes up to Harry’s Ridge. info@mshinsitute.org -- visitmtsthelens.com

Disc Golf Season Is Here

Frisbee golf has been around since the 1960’s but has gained significant popularity in the past few years and the numbers of courses have doubled since 2000. There are now over 3000 courses in the U.S. and there are courses in over 40 countries around the world. Most courses do not charge a fee to play and you can buy a new disk for around $15, which is nice. The object is much like normal golf where you traverse the course in the fewest throws and finish the hole at a target / basket. I was introduced and play mostly with Josh at Lakewood Park in Burien but we have played a few other courses around the state. We always play a match to see who will buy a beer Disk Golf is great exercise and lots of fun! You don’t have to be good to enjoy the game and it’s great for kids. The season is just now kicking off! You can play all year of course but with all of the rain you will have mud up to your knees and will be tossing shoes because they are so caked with mud they are destroyed. Go Disc!!

Protect Yourself From Hospital Infections

People check into hospitals to overcome illness, but these supposedly sterile environments can also expose you to many germs. Luckily, there are several things you can do to protect your health if you happen to land in the hospital: 1. Research your chosen hospital. Educate yourself about laws in your state designed to create safer, healthier hospitals (hospitalinfectionrates.org), then find out what your hospital has done to control infections. Your state’s health department can advise where you can find specific hospital statistics. 2. Practice appropriate hand washing. Ask that your doctors, nurses, and visitors wash their hands before touching you or items in your room. Gloves offer a false sense of security and can be contaminated if put on by germ-infested hands. 3. Eat from clean plates. Consume food that has only touched the clean plate on which it is delivered. Don’t set food on a meal tray or any other surface. 4. Avoid contact with sick people. This includes not just other patients but also family and friends who may be ill. 5. Keep tubes to a minimum. Catheters, IVs, and other tubes offer a direct line into your body. If possible, skip them; but also ask to have all tubes removed as soon as possible after surgery. 6. Go home. The longer you stay in the hospital after surgery, the more likely you are to develop an infection. Before being admitted, work with your doctor to create a recovery plan you can tackle right away in order to get out of the hospital as soon as possible. Find more information about staying safe at safepatientproject.org.

Perfect Timing to Visit Kubota Gardens

Kubota Garden was started by Japanese emigrant Fujitaro Kubota in 1927. He was awarded the Order of Sacred Treasure in 1972 by the Japanese government and tended the garden until his death in 1973. Kubota Garden was protected and integrated into the park system in 1987. Located in the Rainier Beach neighborhood it is an exceptionally rich collection of unique and mature plantings, waterfalls, ponds, rock formations, and artworks. The 20-acre park is fun to visit any time of year but is especially beautiful in the spring. Enjoy!!

5 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.

Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum

Located at Paine Field Paul Allen has focused the collection of important aircraft, tanks, and other military treasures from WWII in two working hangers. In 1998 he began acquiring and preserving vintage aircraft and opened to the public in 2004. This year they break ground on a 3rd hanger adding 30,000 ft. of exhibit space. Open 10:00am to 5:00pm Tue-Sun - $14. Adults – www.flyingheritage.com

Thinking Positively Can Make You Healthier

How you approach life can affect your health, according to several studies by medical professionals. Positive people tend to have fewer health problems and live longer lives than pessimists. The good news is if you’re not typically the bubbly type, you can learn an optimist’s skills to help improve your health and how you feel. How to do it: 1. First, determine the things that make you feel the happiest. It might be spending time with positive friends or favorite family members, walking the dog, or watching a funny TV show. Helping others tends to help you feel better too. 2. Next, schedule one of those things in every day’s agenda. Make it a necessary part of your day. 3. Focus on positive thoughts. When a negative thought arises, pause and find a way to spin it to the positive. Even if you don’t believe it at first, just thinking it or saying it aloud can affect your outlook. For example, change “No one wants to talk to me” to “I’ll find a way to talk to others at least once today.” 4. Make being healthier a priority. Exercise boosts your mood and has been proven to reduce stress, which can increase negativity in your life. A healthy diet makes your body and mind feel better, making it easier to be positive. 5. Avoid negative people. Nothing sidetracks a positive day like someone who always has something negative to say. It won’t happen overnight, but after practicing positivity for a few weeks you’re sure to have a better outlook.

Be Ready In An Emergency

It’s always a good idea to have an emergency preparedness kit ready to grab at a moment’s notice. Some items are standard, regardless of who you are or where you live, such as a flashlight, first aid kit, and multi-purpose tool. Three days supply of food and water. Consider the specific needs of those in your family and geographical location as well. Find pre-made lists and help in building an emergency kit at ready.gov/kit and redcross.org.