Topgolf – Renton

As we enter the fall and winter golf season there is no better time to visit Topgolf in Renton. I had a blast and highly recommend it even for those who have never been to a course. They have climate-controlled hitting bays so you will be comfortable even on a nasty day. Every bay features a sectional sofa, coffee table, HDTV, and a bar to enjoy a meal. You don’t need to bring clubs unless you want to, every bay has a full set available to use. There are 3 floors including a rooftop terrace with fire pit, several suites for VIP service, private event space, free table games and an outdoor patio with games. I thought the food and service was very good and hitting at the targets was a lot of fun! I would definitely go back and recommend it for an enjoyable outing.

Secure a Low Interest Rate

Securing a low mortgage interest rate helps make your monthly payment more affordable and saves money over the life of your loan. Besides using a larger down payment, here are three things to do to secure a low mortgage interest rate: 1. Compare multiple lenders and meet with your top three. Review the application process and your credit report to start working on any issues you may have. The higher your credit score, the better prospect for a lender you will become. Lenders will review the various loan programs with you. 2. Your debt-to-income ratio should be below 36 percent before you apply for a mortgage. The lower it is, the greater your eligibility for a higher loan amount. 3. Don’t make any drastic changes such as changing jobs or making large purchases on credit cards. You want lenders to see you have a stable job history and ability to make the payments. John Porter 206-954-8736 or john@mortgagemasterwa.com

Shop-Small Websites

“Shop small” and “shop local” are phrases we hear a lot this time of year. These websites will allow you to do just that, without leaving the house. www.etsy.com – The original online marketplace for makers, crafters, and artisans. www.storenvy.com – A place for independent brands to sell their wares. www.amazon.com/Handmade – The power of Amazon backs independent makers on its Handmade platform.

Dog Gone Seattle

Maybe you want to add a pet to your family this holiday season. Consider one of the fastest growing pet shelters in the country. Seattle area foster-based rescue dedicated to saving homeless dogs. Foster, volunteer, adopt, and donate. It takes a village! doggoneseattle.org

Lower Your Cell Phone Bill

• Auto pay: A number of wireless carriers reward their customers who opt for automatic bill payment by offering discounts off of their monthly bills. For example, Auto Pay customers receive $10 off at Verizon, $5 off at T-Mobile, and between $5 and $100 at AT&T. • Make your plan work for you: Take some time to really look at what your plan covers and make sure it’s a right fit for you. For example, if you travel a lot and are crossing international borders, opt for a plan that includes international coverage. On the flip side, if you’re staying closer to home, make sure your plan reflects that. • Go with prepaid: If you own your phone, prepaid wireless plans may be a fit at a lower cost. Mint Mobile offers data plans ranging from $15 to $30 a month, and Verizon-owned Visible’s unlimited data plan goes for $30. Pay upfront and be done for the year with AT&T’s 12-month, 16GB prepaid plan at $300 for 12 months. • Just ask: Experts suggest simply asking for a discount. Call your carrier and ask, “What can you do to lower my monthly bill?” You may find that after looking at your plan and asking a few questions the customer service rep will have ways for you to save. Follow up with, “What else can you do to lower my bill?” and you could find yourself saving $30 to $80 monthly. • Bonus savings: Be sure and take advantage of the bonus savings available through wireless carriers. Verizon offers complimentary subscriptions to Hulu, Discovery Plus, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus for six months for customers on select plans, and T-Mobile includes Netflix, Apple TV Plus, and Paramount Plus streaming for free with select plans.

Wrap Gifts Like A Pro

You’ve found the perfect gift and now it’s time to wrap it, but how? In addition to taking your time, here are a few tips to giftwrap like a pro. • Place the gift in a box to avoid odd shapes to tackle. • Pre-cut tape to leave hands free for wrapping. For a real pro move, use double-sided tape. • Measure the gift with wrapping paper before cutting to avoid coming up short. Add an extra inch or so for overlap. • Fold the cut edges of wrapping paper for crisp lines. • Add a wow factor (or cover up any mishaps) with a decorative bow. • Tie on a gift tag and voila – your gift is ready to give!

Bring Serenity To Your Home

Our homes should be our sanctuaries year-round – a place in which to escape, recharge, and reenergize for whatever may come our way. Discover a few ways to bring serenity to your home, without breaking the bank: • “A place for everything, and everything in its place” isn’t just a saying, but a way of living. Reducing clutter in your home alleviates anxiety, helps you sleep better, and encourages a happier environment. • Carve out some space for a reading nook, whether it’s a comfy chair tucked into a corner, a window seat with fluffy pillows, or a chaise with a throw blanket for a warming embrace. Flip on a nearby lamp and you’re ready to dive into the latest novel for some quiet “you” time. • Bring the outdoors in with fresh flowers, potted plants, or an armful of tree limbs loosely arranged in a tall vase. Glimpsing these bits of nature within your home will boost your mood, reduce stress, and make for a healthier, happier you.

Winter Travel - Check Those Tires

Take some time this week to walk around your car, paying special attention to the tires, to stay safe on the road this fall and winter. If you are heading over the pass this winter, be sure to have chains you know how to install. Consider purchasing AutoSock which is a lightweight solution to conventional chains or cables. They are made of Kevlar and other woven fabrics that provide traction and grip on snow and ice. They install and remove in minutes. They weigh just over one pound and come in a flat package, so they are easy to store in your trunk. Have extra food, water, a full tank of gas, and a warm blanket just in case you get stuck. Tread: Take a penny with President Lincoln’s head facing down. If you can still see the top of his head, it’s time for new tires. If not, you’re good! Pressure: Check your tire pressure regularly. If your tires are losing more than one pound per square inch (PSI) a month, it may be time to have them checked out. Rotate: Be sure to have your tires rotated on a regular basis so your tires will have a longer life. Snow Tires: Snow tires have a tread compound that gets harder as the weather gets colder so they provide a better grip. Studded Tires: If you need the best traction available for long winter driving then it's worth the cost and inconvenience to change them for the season.

Smart Grocery Shopping

Here are some supermarket tips and secrets that will make you a savvy shopper.  Approach grocery shopping like a job. You need to have a plan (take a list) and a budget to make the best use of your time and money.  Stick to a time schedule. Shop for what you need and get out. It is said that if you’re in the store more than 30 minutes, you’ll spend an extra 50 cents to $1 per minute as you walk the aisles.  Shop alone. Real Simple Magazine says parents will spend 10-40 percent more if they take their kids along. It might be worth it to hire a babysitter!  Only buy “food” at a grocery store. Generally, you’re better off buying toiletries, cleaning supplies and pet food at a big-box discount store.  Know the floor plan. Shop the perimeter first for fresh fruits and vegetables, protein and milk. You’ll find some good buys in the center aisles, but you’ll also be tempted by items like frozen convenience foods.  Don’t assume everything on sale is a bargain. Stores often display “sale” items at the end of the aisles. Manufacturers pay to have their products put there so they aren’t necessarily a good deal.  Check “price per unit.” Sometimes it’s cheaper per unit to buy two smaller items than it is to buy one supersize package.  Look high and low. Stores often place higher-priced items at eye level (brands pay for the space). Check prices on the top and bottom shelves.  Pay attention at checkout. Shoppers lose up to $3 billion a year on scanner mistakes (current sale prices not reflected).

Franklin D. Roosevelt

The first inauguration of F.D.R was held on Saturday March the 4th 1933. Broadcast nationwide on several radio networks, the speech was heard by tens of millions of Americans and set the stage for Roosevelt’s urgent efforts to respond to the unprecedented crisis of the time. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is…fear itself – nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has been met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days. The money changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization. We may now restore that temple to the ancient truths. The measure of restoration lies in the extent to which we apply social values more noble than mere monetary profit. The withered leaves of industrial enterprise lie on every side; farmers find no market for their produce; the savings of many years in the thousands of families are gone. More important, a host of unemployed citizens face a grim problem of existence, an equally great number toil with little return. Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment. We face the arduous days that lie before us in the warm courage of the national unity; with the clear consciousness of old and precious moral values; with the clean satisfaction that comes from stern performance of duty by old and young alike. We aim at the assurance of a rounded and permanent national life. I will return the courage and devotion that benefit the time. I can do no less. In this dedication of a Nation we humbly ask the blessing of God. May He protect each and every one of us. May He guide me in the days to come.

Ditch Anger

Anger can be a tricky emotion to handle: it’s not particularly nice to witness or to feel. Experts say it’s not always just the anger itself we should be concerned about, though. Often anger can be a warning sign that we might need to look a little deeper. Anger might come from a sense that an injustice happened, someone has crossed a personal boundary, or an event has occurred in which a person felt threatened. Anger is often a response to something in life feeling not quite right, or unfair. Left unattended, anger can manifest as resentment and unhelpful feelings toward a person or event, or even lead to depression and anxiety. Processed and acknowledged, though, anger can help us to identify personal boundaries and assert those with others. If you are having difficulty with anger, try these expert tips to better manage your feelings: • Strike while the iron is cold. In other words, do not respond to someone when angry. You may say something you later regret. • Find a way for the body to release the stress hormones associated with anger. Go for a walk, head to the gym, or go for a swim. Get your body moving. • Ask for a timeout. If you’re feeling anger in a heated discussion with a loved one it’s perfectly OK to ask for a timeout. You can park the topic and circle back to it once you both have calmed down and have a different perspective. • Meditate. This may sound like the last thing you’d want to do when you’re angry, but meditation can actually help deescalate the stress your body is feeling and provide a sense of calm and relaxation. That’s just what the body needs when experiencing anger.

Donating Clothes And Accessories

Is it time for a wardrobe facelift? Before hauling your old clothes away to the same secondhand store or tossing them in the trash, consider these options. Blue jeans: Old blue jeans donated through bluejeansgogreen.org will be turned into insulation in communities that need it most. Shoes: Both soles4souls.org and oneworldrunning.com accept gently worn shoes to donate to people in need around the world. Wedding and formal dresses: Most people only wear formal clothing a few times, so if your wedding dress or formal gowns are still in great condition, pass them on! Soon-to-be-military brides are on the receiving end at bridesacrossamerica.com, and Project G.L.A.M. (wgirls.org) provides teenage girls with prom dresses. Eyeglasses: If you’ve updated your prescription lately, donate old frames and lenses to new-eyes.org, where they’ll be passed on to someone who can’t afford new eyeglasses.

Grateful

Learning to be grateful in your daily life is a surprisingly effective way to improve your health and overall happiness. The benefits of being grateful can be huge. Studies show that people who are more grateful sleep better, feel healthier, have higher self-esteem, have more energy, and experience less stress. Staying grateful isn’t always easy, but with all these physical and mental benefits it’s absolutely worth the investment of your time. Here are some easy ways to practice gratitude on a regular basis. Try out a few of them to see which suits you best. • Keep a “gratitude journal” to jot down 1-2 things you’re grateful for daily. • Actively work on cultivating positivity by looking for a bright side to negative situations. • Pay someone an unexpected complement each day. • Talk about 2-3 positive moments from the day during nightly dinner conversation. • Offer a heartfelt – not routine – “thank you” for a mundane task, such as someone holding a door open for you at the store. • Say out loud what you’re grateful for, even if you’re talking to yourself. • Put a picture of your family, or whatever you’re most thankful for, somewhere you’ll see it multiple times a day. • Donate your time to a favorite cause. Monetary donations are great, but donating your time is even more effective at making you feel grateful.

Magic Of Cinnamon

Did you know that cinnamon offers more than just a great scent and taste? It has important health benefits too. A USDA scientist, Dr. Richard Anderson, recently found that cinnamon imitates the effect of insulin in the body. A study of Type-2 diabetics found that people who were given between 1-6 grams of cinnamon per day reduced their blood sugar by up to 29% depending on the amount of cinnamon they were given. In two other scientific studies, one that was published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, rats were given cinnamon extract to see if it would improve how they metabolized glucose. These findings may help scientists understand the role of cinnamon on the body, and open the door to much needed research. Taken a step further, cinnamon may also help people reduce their chance of developing diabetes and improve the body’s ability to balance blood sugars.

Our Head Coach Pete Carroll

I am proud to be a Seahawks fan and proud to have Coach Carroll represents the Seahawks and our great city! He was born Sept 15th 1951 in San Francisco and began his coaching career in 1973. His playing days included multiple positions in high school and at Jr. College. After graduation he tried out for the World Football League but didn’t make the team. His only non-football job was selling roofing materials in the Bay Area; he decided that was not his calling. His smarts, energetic personality and positive outlook earned him his 1st coaching job and all these years later those attributes are his hallmark! He has been Head coach for 3 NFL teams and was Head coach for USC- winning 2 national championships. As Head coach he holds an impressive record of 251-136-1 including Super Bowl 48 win and Super Bowl 49 appearance. He recently signed a contract extension through 2025. I am thrilled to have him lead our Hawks!!

Design Simplicity

With home decor, the word “simplicity” may conjure images of starkly modern interiors with hard, polished surfaces and not much in the way of color. But simplicity can be a part of any design aesthetic—it’s just about the idea that “less is more.” First–clear the clutter. Clutter makes it difficult to focus, as your attention bounces around and can actually make you fell stressed. Next–ask yourself what the purpose of the room is. If it’s to relax in front the TV, start removing items that don’t add to that purpose. If it’s to sleep, maybe remove the TV and any other distracting items. Keep editing! Look at each item and remove any that don’t have a purpose. This clears floor space for ease of movement and helps you choose a few statement pieces that don’t compete with one another. So why choose simplicity? Rooms that incorporate simplicity feel more open, which can reduce stress and encourage relaxation. Spaces that are less cluttered are easier to clean, too, which means you spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying the room. An organized home also means sudden house guests don’t cause cleaning anxiety.