Overcoming Retirement Fears

You’ve worked tirelessly your entire life, and retirement is your time to finally and fully enjoy that hard-earned rest and relaxation. Unfortunately, not being able to afford retirement is a fear many people have. Get ahead of the game so you can rest easy.  Start saving now, at your current age. Establish a monthly budget that includes tucking money away for retirement.  Stick to the retirement plan. Do not withdraw money early for expenses if you have any other options.  Avoid borrowing money, and keep debt to a minimum.  Use a 401(k) plan to boost retirement savings. These plans allow funds to be invested directly from a paycheck before they’re subject to taxes.  Take advantage of company matching opportunities for retirement contributions.

Find More Free Time

Where does the time go? Even if you work a normal schedule and get a full night’s sleep, you still have about 50 free hours during the week – but most people say they still can’t find free time for hobbies and passions. Take these steps to find more time for YOU this fall: 1. Map your current time use. First track how you use your time. Keep a log for a week or two to get a good representation of how you spend your time now. Try the app Chronos for Android and iPhone for an easy-to-use and comprehensive time log. 2. Create a list of things you really want to do. Try to come up with a list of 50-75 things. Make some of them easy one-day things (visit a museum) that you can quickly accomplish and others things you tend to put off (practicing guitar). 3. Cut out unnecessary time-wasters and replace with something from your list. Cut out the time spent watching TV, surfing the internet, or attending too many functions. Start a new schedule and prioritize things that make you happy instead of time-wasters.

Ultimate Spices

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 2007 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.

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.

Reading Bingo For Kids

Create a checklist of fun reading “assignments” on a bingo card and offer rewards for completing it. Here are a few ideas for the boxes: • Read something written the year you were born. • Read a poem. • Read every article in one magazine. • Read a few pages to your parents from your favorite book. • Read while wearing a swimsuit. • Read on the floor of your local library. • Read something a favorite teacher read when he/she was your age.

It’s Time to Visit Iconic Kerry Park

The 1.26 acre park on the south slope of Queen Anne was donated to the city in 1927 “so that all who stop here may enjoy this view” Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Kerry! On a nice day Downtown Seattle, Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier come to life right before your eyes!

Victor Steinbrueck Park

Summer is the time to hit local parks and enjoy the best weather in the country! Victor Steinbrueck is known for saving the Pike Place Market when it was in disrepair and underutilized. Lesser known he was instrumental in the preservation of Pioneer Square Historic District. Steinbrueck also left his mark on .8 acres of waterfront that housed a National Guard Armory at the foot of the Market. The land was given to the city in 1968 and was turned over to the Seattle Parks Dept in 1970 making Market Park. It was named for him after his death in 1985.

Cleaning Your Oven Door

Even with a self-cleaning oven, the glass in the oven door never sparkles. It’s easy to clean with baking soda and water. Simply spread baking soda over the inside of the glass with the door lying flat open and spray all over the baking soda with water. Let it sit for a minute or two (longer if the glass is really dirty) and wipe away with a damp cloth. Easy and chemical-free!

Outdoor Adventure Websites

Why sit inside when a world of adventure waits out your front door? www.rei.com – In addition to selling gear, REI offers an array of classes (many of them free) to help prepare you for everything from cycling and hiking to camping and climbing. www.geartrade.com – Gear can be pricey, but you can buy it used for a fraction of the price at this site. www.nps.gov – Find a U.S. National Park near you to begin exploring today.

Trailhead Direct Shuttle

Direct transit to trails service began June 5th and runs until Sept 26th. The popular shuttle service takes riders to the Issaquah Alps and Mount Si. King County Metro is taking stress off of popular trailhead parking lots as man are located in residential neighborhoods which can become bottlenecks on sunny weekends. Service began in 2017 andword quickly spread and additional resources were allocated. You can pick up the shuttle service in several locations including; Broadway, Denny Way, Capitol Hill Link Light Rail Station, Eastgate Transit Center and Issaquah Transit Center. A few of the trails are Squak Mountain, High School Trail, Poo Poo Point, Mount Teneriffe and Easy Sunset Way. This is such an amazing place to be in the summer and if you have not ventured out for a day hike this could be a great opportunity to get friends to join you for a fun day out of the city. trailheaddirect.org

Coffee Is Good For You

Studies show that black coffee – in moderation (no more than 5 cups a day) – can be good for your health. Here are four benefits you probably haven’t considered: 1. Coffee contains nutrients and antioxidants such as riboflavin, pantothenic acid, manganese, potassium, magnesium and niacin. These are all things your body needs to function well. 2. It also contains caffeine. Caffeine speeds up your metabolism and aids in fat burning. Health.com says it may protect brain cells from damage that contributes to the development of Parkinson’s, dementia, and Alzheimer’s. Avoid it, however, at least four hours before bedtime, or if you have caffeine sensitivity. 3. Drinking one or two cups per day can reduce your risk of cardiovascular and liver disease, as well as lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. 4. Coffee may fight depression and make you happier. But, seriously, try to hold off on the venti white chocolate mocha lattes.

Kindness is Good for Your Health

When was that last time you noticed you were grumpy, then, out of the blue, someone does or says something nice to you? Didn’t it make you feel better…even a lot better? When you are kind to other people, it also makes you feel good about yourself. And it’s good for your health. Researchers have found positive people have fewer health problems. In his book, It’s a Meaningful Life, it Just Takes Practice, author Bo Lozoff writes about the importance of being kind and building a better community. That community encompasses family, friends, co-workers, and the people you meet in your daily life (the bank teller, cashier, the parking lot attendant). So as you go about your day, be kinder to your spouse, your kids, your co-workers, and wherever your travels take you. Then see if adding a little more kindness to your daily diet makes a difference in how you feel, how other people respond to you, and how others feel when you are kind to them. It’s a worthwhile experiment!

Summer Weather in Seattle

Did you know we have the best summer weather in the whole country? I think the word is getting out; we are a fast growing city and experiencing a boom time for tourism. As the northern most big city in America (farther north than Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal) we have 16hrs of daylight at the summer solstice. You can tee off before 5:00am and play until almost 10:00pm! While most of the country is baking or sweltering we enjoy an average summer high of only 74 degrees and average low of 54 degrees. Open those windows at night and close them in the day and you will not need air-conditioning! We get above 90 degrees only 3 times a year on average and have hit 100 degrees or above only three times. 103 degrees is our all-time record high temperature - 7/29/2009. How about all the Seattle rain?!? We get on average only 3.15 inches of rain in the summer months while most of the country gets afternoon thunderstorms and seasonal monsoon weather. ENJOY!!!

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.

Tips For Travelers

If you travel frequently these tips will save you time and make traveling much more enjoyable: 1. Don’t check your luggage. (You probably already knew that!) 2. Select two complementary color outfits that you can mix and match. You’ll get more mileage from your wardrobe. 3. Take 1-2 pairs of shoes (including what you’re wearing). Make sure one is well-made and comfortable for walking. 4. Bring ear plugs and eye shades if you want to sleep on the plane. 5. Dress well...you never know you might get bumped to 1st class. 6. Focus on eating well when you’re traveling, and bring along a few healthy snacks like nuts, carrots, fruits, and healthy granola bars.