Be Kind To Your Teeth

Do you want to spend more time at the dentist’s office? Change these bad “teeth habits.” And see your dentist for regular checkups. Avoid: Chewing on ice. Ice cubes can chip or crack teeth. Fix: Drink ice-less beverages or drink through a straw. Chew sugarless gum instead if you need an alternate “chewing” activity. Avoid: Using teeth as tools. They’re meant for chewing, not opening small packages. Fix: Find the right tool to get the job done. Avoid: Nail-biting. It causes stress on your jaw from holding it in an unnatural position. Fix: Use bitter-tasting nail polishes and keep your hands busy. Avoid: Grinding or clenching teeth, which wears them down. Fix: Wear a mouth-guard to bed. Need a referral for an outstanding dentist?

7 Easy Ways to Discover Your Family History

Would you like to know more about your ancestry, but don’t know where to start? Now you can learn about your family’s history and discover interesting facts in a matter of minutes – all from the internet. Here are seven easy tips you can follow to help research your ancestry on the web: 1. What Does Your Name Mean? A fun way to begin to search your ancestry is to find out what your surname means. You can go to a number of sites on the web including www.Ancestry.com/learn and www.Geneology.com. 2. Where Do Most People With Your Surname Originate? You can continue your search to find out where most people with your last name came from. You can also learn immigration information, headlines from that period, war records, and the current population distribution. 3. When Did They Arrive At Ellis Island (if you live in the U.S.)? Go to www.EllisIsland.org to search passenger arrival records, which are fascinating to view. 4. What Type Of Work Did Your Ancestors Do? You can find the occupations of your ancestors, which can tell you about their socioeconomic class and dominant family trades. 5. Access a Variety of Interesting Family Information and Trivia. You can access obituary data, prison records (for that “black sheep” of the family), bible records transcriptions and more at www.AncestorHunt.com. 6. How to Access Military Records? You can search military records including Civil War records, WWI, draft records, and other records using the above links on the web. 7. Connect And Share With Your Family. You can begin to build your family tree using computer software, or you can create your own family tree using many free resources available on the websites mentioned here. Searching family records is fun, interesting and rewarding. Hop on the internet today, and discover amazing facts about your family. Was your great uncle an outlaw? Here is your chance to find out and have fun with it!

Pet Adoption Websites

Find the perfect pet to add to your family! www.petfinder.com – Search the extensive database for dogs, cats, and other pets available for adoption in the U.S, Canada and Mexico. www.adoptapet.com – Detailed search criteria to narrow down pets in more than 17,000 animal shelters and rescue organizations in the U.S. and Canada. www.petango.com – Real-time updates on adoptable pets in the U.S. www.seattlehumane.org - Seattle no kill adoption- by appointment currently.

Efficient House Cleaning

Get yourself in the right mindset and clean your home more efficiently. 1. Schedule cleaning as a job. 2. Wear comfortable, washable clothing. Have aprons, goggles, and cleaning gloves handy, if needed. 3. Invest in well-made cleaning tools. 4. Pick up clutter before cleaning.

North Cascades Hwy

Holiday weekends are a great excuse to take road trips. The North Cascades Highway closes every winter sometime in November depending on snow depth and does not generally reopen until May. This year wsdot cleared the pass on May12th. 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 United States northernmost route across the Cascade 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! The town of Winthrop was established in 1886 along the banks of Methow River. Gold was discovered in 1868 which began a mini gold rush in the valley. Winthrop offers a pleasant old western town theme with dining takeout options. From Seattle you will put over 500 miles on your car and it will be a full day adventure. Enjoy the trip!

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.

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.

5 Things to Remove from your Wallet or Purse

Do you even know all the things that are in your wallet or purse right now? Here are five items to look for and remove to limit your risk of identity theft if your wallet is lost or stolen: • Multiple credit cards. Carry just one card or possibly a debit card. Don’t carry specific credit cards (like a department store) or gift cards unless you’re going on a shopping trip. Thieves often use them without having to show identification. Good idea: Do a wallet inventory and photocopy all the cards you own so you can report their loss and replace them if necessary. • Your social security number. With this most important key to your identity and your name, thieves can do everything from opening new accounts to filing false tax returns. Good idea: Memorize your number. If you have a Medicare card, copy your card and black out the numbers except for the final four. • Your passport. If you’re going overseas you must travel with it, but that doesn’t mean you have to keep carrying it around. Good idea: Carry a photocopy and leave the original in your hotel lockbox. • Checks. Your checks show your bank routing and account numbers, and thieves often sign them and get away with it. Good idea: If you must carry checks, take just what you might need for that day. Also try online banking to pay your bills. • Password list. No one can remember all of them, I know. Good idea: Use an encrypted tool to store your password like the SplashID mobile app or LastPass.com for your computer.

What’s My Home Worth?

If you want to know your home’s current value, I will gladly conduct a Maximum Value Home Audit. Request this “no charge” in-depth analysis by calling me at: 206-226-0565.

Composting 101

According to recent reports, almost 30-40% of the food supply is wasted, which is more than 20 pounds per person each month. Composting waste from your kitchen and yard is good way to help reduce this waste—and your garden plants will thank you. • Choose an outside compost container. Buy a plastic, metal, or wooden container for your yard (about 80 gallons is good). Check Lowes (Lowes.com) or Home Depot (HomeDepot.com) for options. • Collect kitchen scraps. Use a small, lidded container to collect organic matter such as eggshells, coffee grounds, leftover vegetables, and fruit peels as you prepare food. You’ll need to empty this frequently into the outside container. Additionally, twigs, dead leaves, paper plates, and torn-up newspaper can be added into the compost bin. • Turn the compost material. Mix it up a few times a month with a pitchfork or shovel to keep moisture and oxygen circulating. Keep it damp but not soggy (you shouldn’t see pools of water). In a few months, expect your compost to produce a healthy, dark soil, which can then be used for plants in your yard.

Bargaining Tips

Whether at a yard sale or visiting a local market, it pays to know how to bargain. Follow these tips so both you and the seller are satisfied: Don’t rush. Visit with the seller. Express interest, let him or her know you like the item and ask for the price. Be willing to walk away if you don’t like the price. Don’t make the first offer. When the price has been named, wait before you say anything. After a few moments of silence, repeat the price so the seller knows you are listening. Slowly and deliberately give a reason why you are not willing to pay the asking price. Ask for their best price first. Don’t be combative. Place the item so both you and the seller can be looking at it, not each other. Show you are open to being fair. If the seller likes you, he or she is more likely to give you their best price. Don’t give ultimatums. Think of creative ways to make your lower offer agreeable. For example, suggest you might purchase multiple items if the price is right.

Great Uses For Pickle Juice?

Who Knew About all of the great uses for pickle juice. There are so many great pickles on the market! Try and get some homemade ones at a farmers market this summer. • Drink if after your workout to stop muscle cramps. • Use it to clean copper pans as well as charred grills. • Dump it on dandelions to kill weeds. • Marinate your meat to tenderize it.

Is this the right time to put your home on the market?

I am often asked by home owners if it is prudent to put their home on the market during the pandemic, or if they should wait until after the vaccine and the worst has past us. My answer is that they should definitely consider putting their home on the market, because we now offer a higher exposure ratio. New on the market homes are selling very quickly!! The key to this analysis is understanding the real estate definition for “new on the market”. New on the market refers only to the first thirty days that a home is on the market. It is commonly known that this period of time is the most crucial for any home sale. The reason for this is that new properties receive the most exposure during this strange time, so there is a greater chance of making a sale. A large part of what contributes to those high rates of exposure is that there are fewer homes listed right now, resulting in fewer “new on the market” properties. In other words, there is not as much competition for sales, so homes have the potential to receive much more exposure than it would during more normal times when there are significantly more homes on the market, further increasing the exposure and potential sale for current listings. I’m encouraging owners to consider selling due the very advantageous conditions, including low home inventory and very low interest rates. When you combine high exposure ratios for homes and the serge of buyers that continue to come into the market, this is an advantageous time to consider selling. Selling your home is a big job and should not be left to chance. Expect nothing but the highest level of service when selecting professionals to represent your interests in the sale of your property. While there are many agents to choose from, it is important to recognize that there are varying degrees of knowledge, experience and commitment to meeting your real estate needs.

5 Healthy Habits

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

Will Seattle Home Prices Fall?

Experts speculate about future home prices. Unlike the housing crisis of 2008 homeowners are in a very strong equity position. No down, low down, first and second mortgages, negative amortization loans, no doc investment loans are not in play. Buyers for the last 10yrs have been making down large down payments and have actually qualified for their mortgage. Experts agree if prices fall it would be healthy based on the dire economic conditions we are facing but there will not be a collapse like we previously witnessed. Owning real estate is the most solid long-term investment Americans can make now and forever!

Seattle Housing Market Proves Resilient

Seattle was hit hard by the Coronavirus but we responded quickly and aggressively. Real estate services were deemed an essential service because there is always a need for housing and there are always reasons a homeowner needs to sell. Expectations for a very cautious and slow market did not bear out. Buyers who were getting frustrated with multiple offers early in the year ventured out and found a more favorable market. Selection varied by neighborhood but generally there was a reasonable number of homes to show and buyers who made solid offers were able to move to close. Special times called for special measures so the NWMLS created strict rules and developed additional contract addendums to protect buyers and sellers safety.

The City of Burien is Up-and-Coming

I grew up in North Seattle and was living in Kirkland before moving to Normandy Park in 1995. Burien was in need of revitalizing with a failing downtown core. Incorporated in 1993 Burien has been busy redesigning itself. I am very proud of how much it has changed and am very excited to see where it goes in the next few years. I love the new PCC Market, Bakery Nouveau, Vinces, Burien Pizza, Angelo’s Italian Restaurant and of course historic Olde Burien. We are lucky to have Seahurst Beach so close to downtown and don’t forget The Burien Farmers Market on Thursdays. - Highline Heritage Museum 819 SW 152nd St. – Enjoy!