Auto Maintenance Myths

Hit the brakes! You may be spending unnecessarily on car maintenance. Here’s how you can save money: For starters...make sure you read your owner’s manual! Most newer cars require a lot less maintenance than your family’s first car. Here are 6 more tips… 1. Oil Change. Some newer cars call for oil changes every 10,000 miles; the industry recommends every 7,500 miles. If you follow the factory schedule, your car will be in good shape well past the warranty period. 2. Lubricating The Chassis. Cars built in the past 10 years don’t require lubrication. Adding grease may end up costing you $$$. 3. Standard Tune-up. New cars have computer-controlled engines making the standard tune-up unnecessary. (No points and rotors...and some don’t have the standard distributor caps). 4. Flushing The Automatic Transmission System. Check your owner’s manual, but most manufacturers say it’s not needed until 60,000 miles. 5. Draining The Radiator. Most cars have closed systems and no longer need the radiator flushed twice a year. A new car’s coolant can last up to two years before it needs changing. 6. Changing Filters. Filters need replacing, but not at every oil change. Check your owner’s manual for recommended replacement intervals For more information, or to find a mechanic in your area, check the Car Talk section of http://www.cars.com.

Stay Safe Around Bees

Being attacked by bees, wasps, and hornets is not common, but they are responsible for 58 deaths every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Though the average adult (if not allergic) can theoretically tolerate more than 1,000 stings, it’s best to avoid being stung altogether. A swarm of bees can happen quickly and without provocation, but there are things you can do to minimize potential harm.  Maintain diligence when doing yardwork. Keep kids and animals inside when using lawn mowers, hedge clippers, and other similar tools in case you accidentally disturb a nest.  Check for bee nests regularly in water meter boxes, flower pots, trees, and shrubs. If you find one, call a pest control company to remove it.  If you encounter bees and they are undisturbed, do not move excessively. Back out of the situation slowly.  If you are swarmed, run as fast as possible in a straight line. Cover your head. Do not flail your arms or swing at the bees, and do not jump into water. Ideally, you should seek shelter in something that closes completely, like a building or car.

Thank You

Thanks to all of my clients and friends who support my practice and graciously referred me to your friends and neighbors! Rather than pester people with unwanted calls and visits, I build my business based on the positive comments and referrals from people just like you. I couldn't do it without you! Your trust in myself and Coldwell Banker will never be taken for granted and anyone you send my way will get nothing but the best in quality and personal representation. Outstanding service is how a good agent builds their business and from my first days in the business in 2000 I strive to become an agent you are proud to recommend to others. Thanks again!!

How To Keep Your Healthy Habits “Healthy”

Sometimes overdoing a healthy habit can have the opposite of the intended effect. Here are 5 ways to keep healthy. • Working out. U.S. Health and Human Services recommends that the average adult get at least 150 minutes/week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes/week of vigorous aerobic activity. Generally, that’s 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Too much exercise can result in exhaustion, muscle fatigue and injury. Average adults should aim to break a sweat – if you’re completely exhausted after the gym, you might be going too hard. • Walking. It’s great exercise but if you do it too much, you may end up with chronic foot pain. The repetitive motion can cause plantar fasciitis (also common in women who wear high heels). Your best bet is to get good orthotic inserts with sturdy arch support for your walks. Walking daily is a great New Year’s resolution! • Getting consistent sleep. Aim for 7-9 hours (for adults) per night. Oversleeping on weekends builds up carbon dioxide and doesn’t make up for lack of sleep during the week. Think daily, not weekly cumulative hours. • Dieting. People who try different “fad” diets often gain back more weight than they’ve lost. If you want to lose weight, talk to a nutritionist or your doctor for a long-term diet that’s right for you. • Taking supplements. Many adults take one or more vitamins or supplements every day. However, too many supplements (without your doctor’s approval) can interact with other medications and have serious side effects. Vitamin K, for example, can reduce the effectiveness of blood thinner medication. For more info, go to: https://ods.od.nih.gov

Time To Organize Your Home

Need quick tips for organizing your home? Let’s focus on the living room for now:  Remove everything on the floor that doesn’t belong there. Kids’ toys go back to their rooms.  Return food items (half-eaten snacks?) to the kitchen.  De-clutter the coffee table and other flat surfaces.  Group your framed photos. Consider a creative wall display.  Put similar objects (like TV remotes) in one place.  Purge the magazines and assorted papers. Place relevant items on a rack or in a bin.  Add an attractive wastebasket.  Cut your favorite collectible collection by at least half. Put the rest in storage and rotate the items to keep it fresh.

Ways To Live Well

We all want to feel better, look better, and live as if we are a finely tuned instrument, or well-maintained vehicle. Here are some tips I’ll share to get you started on the road to feeling, looking, and living better and increasing your chances for enjoying life. Your age is just a number fight, fight, fight!! 1. Smile. Researchers at Harvard found that people with positive attitudes are more likely to have fewer heart ailments. 2. Take Monday Off. Researchers in New York found that missing a few days of work lowers your risk for stroke by 30 percent…not to mention most heart attacks occur on Monday morning! 3. Eat Oatmeal Cookies. University of Connecticut researchers found that eating oat-bran cookies daily can lower your LDL cholesterol by 20 percent. 4. Go To Bed Early. People who are fatigued have high levels of fibrinogen, a blood-clotting protein that reduces blood flow to your heart and brain. 5. Wash Your Hands. German scientists found people with high levels of antibodies from fighting infections also had more clogging of their arteries. 6. Read A Good Book. Need I say more? 7. Meditate 30 Minutes A Day. Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found meditation may reduce depression and anxiety by up to 25 percent. 8. Drink Cranberry Juice. People who drink 8 ounces of cranberry juice a day increase their HDL cholesterol levels by 10 percent…reducing heart risk by 40 percent, according a New Jersey study. 9. Bike Your Blues Away. Biking was found to be as effective at relieving depression as antidepressants reported Duke University researchers. 10. Join A Group. People who have a circle of friends handle stress better and have less heart disease, according to University of Chicago researchers.

Getaway to Suncadia Resort!

Suncadia Resort was huge gamble that has paid off! Suncadia is a 6300 acre planned resort community backing up to 2.2 million acres of National Forest land. It’s right off I90, just 90 minutes from Seattle, yet worlds away. It was begun in 2002 and is now living up to expectations with 3 top rated golf courses, winter activities, hundreds of homes, water parks, amazing winery, spa, amphitheater, beautiful lodge and much more. I have played all of the courses including the new Rope Ryder and just love being up there and the I’m on vacation feeling you get. Some of my friends are talking about a vacation place which I would sell them and then get to use, so I got that going for me, which is nice The restaurant in the lodge is high quality and has sweeping views of the valley and the private Tumble Creek course, everything is first class! Suncadia is worth checking out if you want a really nice family vacation spot!

Detecting “Unwanted” Visitors

Could you be sharing your home with uninvited visitors – like mice, squirrels, birds, or even termites? Pests are a common problem for everyone, so here are a few tips to spot them and what to do: Where you might find them. Look for animal droppings, signs of chewing, and odor in your kitchen, basement, closets, and attic. Check any moist areas like around air conditioning units. In the case of termites, look for “dirt tubes” around your home’s perimeter. What to do. You know how to trap mice in the kitchen. After you trap them, be sure to clean up crumbs and keep food sealed up. When it comes to larger animals, like squirrels, birds, or snakes, don’t try to remove them yourself. They can be dangerous when cornered. If you suspect you have the larger visitors or tiny bugs like termites, hire a professional animal catcher or pest control company.

Learn How To Organize And Get Things Done

Do you feel like you’re always working to keep up, but don’t really get anything done, especially around holidays? In his best-selling book Getting Things Done, David Allen gives you an effective time management system to help you organize your stuff, your work activities and your personal life. Allen’s key idea is to start with a “mind sweep” ─ get everything out of your head and down on paper (or other written form). Once your mind is cleared, your productivity goes up and you can focus on creative action. His five basic stages of mastering your personal or professional “workflow” are: 1) Collect. Capture anything and everything that is on your mind. 2) Process. Decide what each thing means. Is it something you should do? Do it now or later? Can you delegate it (and track on a “Waiting For” list)? 3) Organize. Place the items in categories, such as Projects, Calendar, Next Actions and Waiting For, and sub-categories of your choice. (To help you visualize this, he includes a diagram for navigating through the processing and organizing phases of your workflow.) 4) Review. Go over Calendar and Action lists daily and do a weekly customized review to get clean and current. 5) Do. Make choices about your actions based on what you can do, how much time and energy you have and your priorities. Another one of his most popular methods is the “two minute rule.” If any task can be completed in less than two minutes (for example, a quick email response), do it immediately. Stop putting those little things off. Allen says Getting Things Done is “just advanced common sense.” But once you learn how to get everything under control, real change begins. Millions of people around the world have found that his methods work. To order the book, search for “Getting Things Done” at www.amazon.com.

Who Was Fred Hutchinson?

We know Fred Hutch as one of the world’s top cancer research centers with a $435 million dollar annual budget but who was Fred anyway? Born and raised in Seattle he went to Franklin HS and the UW. He was an All-Star pitcher for the Detroit Tigers and Managed the Cincinnati Reds who retired his number after his death. He died in 1964 at the age of 45 from lung cancer. The end plates for the rows of seats at Safeco Field are all embossed with a likeness of Fred Hutchinson.

“ICE” Campaign

Save Lives In Case of Emergency A campaign encouraging people to enter an emergency contact number into their cellular phone’s address book under the heading “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) is spreading throughout the world. Originally established in the UK, ICE allows paramedics or police to be able to contact a designated relative or next-of-kin in an emergency situation – which could be vital in a life or death situation. Almost everyone carries a cell phone, and with ICE, paramedics or emergency workers will quickly know who to contact. In many cases, the friend or relative may even know the medical history or other important information of the injured person. Setting up your “ICE” is easy. Simply select a person to contact in case of emergency, then enter their phone number in your phone’s address book under the description “ICE.” That’s all there is to it!

Your Challenge: Get Fit

Do you start every new year by resolving to exercise more? You need a program like the President’s Challenge, which will help you and your family commit to daily physical activity, set realistic goals and track your progress during the year – plus it’s free! Here’s what you can do to make your resolution a reality. Study the program. Go to www.presidentschallenge.org. Talk to your doctor to see if it’s right for you and your family. Sign up as an individual, start a group (a school class) or join one (it’s a worldwide program). Know the goals. Adults (over 18) need to be active 30 minutes/day at least five days a week for six out of eight weeks. Or, achieve 8,500 steps/day on a pedometer. Kids need to be active 60 minutes/day in the same time frame. Choose your challenge. Take the Adult Fitness Test (on the website) to estimate your level of aerobic fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and body composition. Kids and teens take the Physical Fitness Test, which includes curl-ups, shuttle run and endurance run/walk. You’ll take these tests over again to see how your fitness changes during the program. Improve your fitness. You’ll add exercises according to the FITT principle: F (Frequency); I (Intensity); T (Time) and T (Type). Choose from 100 activities, from biking or swimming to walking, dancing, yoga or skating. You can even choose the interactive video game, Wii Sports. Move on to the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Challenge or the President’s Champions Challenge. These activities will help make physical fitness an integral part of your everyday life. Enjoy the benefits. You’ll know you’re helping your heart, building stronger bones, maintaining a healthy weight and having fun with your family.

House Plants For Every Room

House plants can do far more than simply spruce up the way a home looks. Certain plants wield certain benefits – and many thrive better in some rooms than in others. Put your green thumb to work and get these plants growing where they serve you best! In the living room:  The peace lily removes mold spores in the air and is relatively low maintenance. Though it can adapt to low light, placing it in a well-lit area will keep it flowering almost nonstop.  Colorful or striking-looking plants like cacti or bird of paradise can add a fun touch to this lively space. In the bedroom:  Weeping figs remove airborne toxins and increase oxygen levels, allowing for better sleeping conditions.  French lavender promotes calm and serenity.  If you have ample sunlight, add aloe, which purifies the air. In the bathroom:  Chinese evergreen is durable and the soil should be kept moist – perfect for a humid room!  Ferns thrive in environments with low light and high humidity. In the kitchen and dining room:  Golden pothos are good hanging plants, so they don’t take up precious counter space.  Bamboo is simple to care for and makes for an interesting table centerpiece.  From rosemary to mint, any sort of herb is welcome in the kitchen.

One-minute Immunity Boost

Researchers have found that taking a cold shower that lasts about one minute (if you can stand it!) actually helps to boost your immunity. Your body will try to warm itself quickly, and the immune system is kicked into high gear. No word about how your heart will handle it, though…

What Is Awe?

Experiencing a sense of awe occurs when people encounter things that are large and vast – such as walking among tall trees – transcending their current understanding of the world. These experiences have been shown to lead people to be more altruistic, less entitled, humbler, and more aware of others.

Great Websites For Fun

You’re probably familiar with theonion.com, but consider these other sites for interesting tidbits and laughs: www.mentalfloss.com – Articles cover unusual topics from “performing the Star Wars theme on a calculator” to “how to kill bed bugs.” www.howstuffworks.com – Do you wonder how airbags really work? Find out here. www.maps.google.com – Click on the “Pegman” in the right-hand corner and browse Street View images. Search locations around the world and you’ll see amazing things.

How to Make an Emergency File

If something happened to you today, would your loved ones know where to find all your important information and documents? Setting up an ICE file – an “in case of emergency” file – gives everyone peace of mind in the event of the unexpected. What goes in your ICE file:  Legal and financial documents – Including your will, power of attorney, medical directive, health records, social security card, marriage certificate, military records, home and car titles, mortgage, insurance policies, credit cards and investment records.  Copies of identification documents – Such as your passport, driver’s license, and birth certificate.  Emergency contact information – Including your lawyer, accountant, investment manager, insurance agent, and doctors. Storing and sharing your ICE file:  A small, fire-proof safe is an inexpensive option for storing all your documents at home. For added security, ask your bank about a safety deposit box. (Remember to make a copy of any keys for your loved ones to access the file.)  Though some information can be stored online for ease of access with solutions like Google Drive or Dropbox, it’s probably best to store less sensitive documents there, such as contact information.  Talk to your loved ones about the ICE file – where it is, what’s in it, and who has access.  Make sure your lawyer, accountant, and insurance agent all know to whom they’re allowed to divulge personal information. What about passwords? Password security is on everyone’s minds lately. Keep yours safe, even with your ICE file, by storing them in a password manager (like 1password.com or LastPass.com) and giving emergency access to a trusted person. You can also export passwords securely into an encrypted file, which can then be shared safely.

Motivate Yourself To Spring Clean

Spring 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.

Sleep On it: Dreams May Help You Solve Problems

Did you know Paul McCartney composed “Yesterday” in a dream? Studies show that when you dream, you’re more open-minded and may see things from a different perspective. Here are two different approaches you might try to solve a problem or increase your creativity: 1. Clear your mind before you go to sleep. Read a book, talk about something else, go to sleep, and trust your subconscious. 2. Focus on the problem you want to resolve. Form it into a question (for example, “What should I say to have a successful meeting?”), write it down, and visualize a positive outcome. With either method, write down what you remember about your dreams when you wake up. They may be illogical, but the imagery or events could be a metaphor for a solution that relates to your problem. These techniques require a positive attitude and lots of practice, but they can help you! For further information, look up the work of dream psychologists, such as author Deirdre Barrett.

Help Kids Build Healthy Habits

From choosing healthy meals to creating positive relationships, there are lots of little things adults can do every day to instill good habits in kids. Physical • Exercise regularly as a family, and make it fun! Go for evening walks in the park, and ride bikes together. • Eat a healthy diet. Start early with introducing a rainbow of produce and minimizing sugary snacks. Mental • Maintain – and reflect – a positive outlook. Kids mirror what they hear and see, so use positive reinforcement and praise appropriately. Celebrate your successes as well as theirs. • Keep screen time to a minimum. Sedentary behavior is known to increases risks for obesity and cardiovascular disease, and it’s not conducive to positive social or mental growth either. Set a daily limit for TV viewing, video games, and smartphone usage and stick to it. • Read every day. Incorporate this habit into playtime or bedtime routines to help build self-esteem and success later in life. Get involved in their school work. Take time to go over their work and ask questions. Try and draw out how they solved the problems. Be patient with them. Social • Encourage kids to explore a myriad of activities to find one (or more!) they really enjoy. • Eat dinner as a family, and use this opportunity to maintain open lines of communication with everyone around the table.

Make Your Emails More Effective

Estimates are that 269 billion emails are sent every day worldwide, many by professionals in a working environment. While you may know proper email etiquette, follow these tips to make sure your business emails aren’t deleted.  Use a concise, compelling subject line. “More information” and “new program” only ask the recipient to say “about what?” Better to say “Action Items On Project XYZ.” Say “urgent” if necessary.  Don’t use long lists of email addresses if the subject only pertains to some of them. Type the relevant addresses into the address line ("To" line) and use the BCC line for the others.  Keep your message to the point. Say why you’re writing within the first two lines and try to limit yourself to one topic. Using bullet points helps you organize your thoughts. Re-read or print your email out (if you have time) before you send it.  Be careful with humor and irony. Emails aren’t good at conveying emotions, and humor, inside jokes or over-used phrases don’t really build a dynamic business relationship. Avoid phrases like “can I pick your brain” (what are you offering in return?); or “please advise” (better to say “can we discuss this further?”).  Respect confidentiality. Should everyone read this?  As a recipient, do not “reply all” unless everyone needs to know. You know this but people still do it, sometimes accidentally.  Respond promptly. Don’t leave people hanging. Include your signature and phone number for follow-up.