Stickman Leather at The Pike Place Market

Shawn Bettinger has been hand crafting high quality leather goods since 1995. Each item is designed, cut, and sewn in his Renton studio utilizing the finest #1 grade American leather. They offer a wide selection of bags, belts, cases, backpacks and totes. It feels so good to support our local artisans! shawn@stickmanleather.com / www.stickmanleather.com

Don’t Put This Down The Drain

Plumbers will tell you to avoid putting these items down your kitchen sink drain – they’re the biggest causes of drain blockages that can cost you hundreds of dollars (or more) per professional visit to remedy: 1. Coffee grounds. Granular waste combines with other items to form a clog. 2. Grease/oils will stick to the inside of drains and pipes and can contribute to sewer overflows (yuck!) 3. Fibrous materials like onion skins or corn husks. These can get snarled in your disposal blades.

5 Important 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.

Tip Like A Pro

It’s common knowledge that service industry workers are supposed to be tipped, as that’s the majority of their wages. But how much?  Restaurant service – 15% of pre-tax total. Adjust to 10-30% for service quality.  Food delivery – 10-15% of bill, depending on delivery difficulty.  Bartenders – $1-$2 per drink, or 15-20% of the tab.  Valet – $2-$5. Tip $2-$3 beforehand to be extra sure your car is cared for.  Transportation – 15-20% of fare charge, with a $1 minimum. This includes taxis, and charter busses- Uber and Lyft rides tip is optional.

Jack Block Park

Check out a hidden gem in West Seattle. Jack Block Park features 15 acres with a public beach, children’s play area, spectacular views of downtown Seattle and a 45-foot tall observation tower. You can see the working waterfront from behind the scenes. The site of the park was previously occupied by a wood treatment plant and a shipbuilding facility. Next time you drive down to Alki stop for a few minutes and enjoy one of Seattle’s most unique parks

Night Driving

When the sun goes down, it’s harder to spot obstacles on the road and the likelihood of encountering a drunk or tired driver increases. It’s little surprise, then, that fatal car crashes are three times more likely to happen at night than during the day, according to the National Safety Council. Luckily, there are several night driving strategies that can help keep you safe.  Increase the distance between your car and the car in front of you. A three-second lead is suggested during the day; at night, you should double this number.  Use lights to your advantage. Turn on blinkers long before you need them and tap brakes as you slow down to alert drivers behind you.  Maintain your headlights. Change headlight bulbs when they are getting dim or have burnt out. Use low beams during fog, and keep headlights on from an hour before dusk to an hour after dawn.  Avoid glare. If a car with bright beams is blinding you, shift your gaze to the right side of the road until the car has passed.

Non-Motorized Sno-Parks

I’d like to share my love of snowshoeing. Seattle winters can be tough but we are within a reasonable drive of 40 designated sno-park locations. These parks are designed for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and believe it or not even dog sledding. Washington State manages this program in seven national forests along with state and private forest lands. Cleared parking areas are provided along with grooming of the most popular trials. Extra safety measures need to be considered since you are up in the mountains where weather can change quickly. A sno-park permit is required and can be purchased online. Winter recreation can add a lot to your lifestyle and make our winters pass more quickly and more enjoyably. www.parks.wa.gov

Why do a walk-through before closing?

You need to do a walk-through with your REALTOR® typically within 48 hours of your closing to make sure the home is in the condition specified in the contract. You’ll want to look at each room (which now should be empty and clean), examine the hardwood floors, check the ceilings for leaks (in case there has been a recent storm), test the windows, turn on the appliances etc. to ensure there aren’t any surprises. You also want to check on the completion of any negotiated repairs or replacements that you and the seller agreed upon. If you find any problems, your REALTOR® will help you determine what you should pursue (such as possible new leak under the sink) with the seller or what you can handle yourself. If you’re buying a new home, you need to visit the property with the builder’s representative and create a “punch list” of items that are not completed to discuss at closing. You should get a written confirmation on when the builder will complete those items.

The Good Rain: Book By Timothy Egan

Maybe you’re like me and have lived your whole life in Seattle but are still learning and exploring the Pacific Northwest. My dad sent me this book and I really enjoyed it! Egan takes you around and teaches you about the region and makes you appreciate the unique place we call home. Enjoy!

Likeability

Being liked puts you on the fast track to success in everything you do. You are naturally likable by being genuine and sincere, but here are some simple tips that can give you a psychological advantage and result in people liking you even more: • Like yourself first. Be confident in your strengths. Your likability increases as you increase your ability to like yourself. Smiling and sharing your positivity will bring out the same in others. • Maintain eye contact during conversations but keep it in balance (about 60 percent of the time). Nod your head when you’re speaking and people will be inclined to agree with you. • Demonstrate that you like people. Remember their names and use them. (One trick to remembering names is to say the name to someone else.) If you ask a question, give the person time to respond. Remaining silent and waiting for an answer can be especially useful in negotiations. • Learn active listening. Do this by a) paying attention; b) using body language to show you’re interested; c) giving feedback, such as rephrasing what a person says to you to show that you understood them; d) asking questions, but not interrupting; and e) giving your opinion respectfully. If you disagree with someone, look for ways to find common ground. • Don’t overdo it. You don’t need everyone to like you to be successful. Aim to increase your likability factor to the people who matter to you (and your success) most.

Snoqualmie Falls

This is a wonderful time to visit one of Washington State’s most popular scenic attractions. Big storms with some snowmelt will get this 268-foot waterfall raging! This time of year you will basically have the place to yourself. More than 1.5 million visitors come to the falls every year to enjoy the park, observation decks, and the gift shop. If you have time enjoy a meal in the Salish Lodge. You will appreciate the history boards talking about the hydroelectric plant that began operation in 1899 at the base of the falls. Plant 2 was the world’s first completely underground facility that opened in 1910 and was further expanded in 1957. PSE still produces electricity at the plants today. Hope you can plan a day trip up there soon! Enjoy

Lower Your Cell Phone Bill

As the cost of living continues to rise a lot of us are searching for ways to save money on our monthly bills, including the cell phone bill. Here are a few things to try that might help you lower your cell phone bill for months and years to come: • 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.

Pete Carroll Quotes To Live By

“In 1999 I got fired from New England. We actually did better than most people think. We were 27-21 and went to the playoffs twice.” –Pete Carroll “My mom was really cool. She just pumped me up, you know?” –Pete Carroll “I am an example of a person who got zeroed into a philosophy early.” –Pete Carroll

Paint Like A Pro

Whether you’re inspired to splash a new hue across a room’s walls or they’re just due for a fresh coat of the same ol’ color, make sure you DIY with these tips in mind. Choose your paint wisely. It’s important to choose indoor paint for indoor paint jobs. Water-based paint is easy to use and clean up, while oil-based paint is more appropriate for specialty jobs. Check with an expert at the paint store to choose the right type of paint for your situation. Prep like a pro. This may take more time than the actual painting itself, but take your time here to avoid mistakes. Prep work includes:  Laying down drop cloths.  Cleaning off dirty areas.  Filling in holes in the walls with spackle.  Sanding any uneven surfaces.  Priming the walls, if needed.  Taping off non-paint zones like outlets and molding. Do detail work. Use a thin brush to paint around window and door frames, baseboards, and trim. Use a roller brush. Roll the full height of the wall and keep a wet edge. Start near a corner, and move over slightly with each stroke of paint. Don’t let the roller become dry, and paint so the open side of the roller frame faces the area that is already painted. Let it dry. Once your entire paint job is dry, make sure everything is evenly coated. Add a second coat as needed. Wait at least 24 hours before removing the tape between the painted walls and unpainted places. Use a sharp utility knife or box cutter to slice the tape; do not just pull it off.

Fight Inflammation

Inflammation, swelling of body tissue, has been shown to cause asthma, allergies, and autoimmune diseases. Here are foods that increase inflammation (BAD), and some that help fight it (GOOD): • BAD – Baked goods made with white flour have starches that turn to sugar, which spikes insulin and brings on inflammation. Gluten, a protein found in wheat, causes inflammation in many people. • BAD – Cola has high amounts of sugar, and the caramel coloring contains a chemical (4-MI) shown to cause cancer in animals. • BAD – Candy sometimes has artificial “dyes” that disrupt body chemistry. Look for “no artificial colors” on the label. • GOOD – Fruits and vegetables. Berries contain flavonoids; zucchini contains salicylates; and red grapes are ripe with quercetin. All of these are natural phytonutrients that fight tissue inflammation. • GOOD – Orange juice is loaded with vitamin C and flavonoids that help prevent blood vessel damage.

In Over Your Head!

Most of us carry some type of debt: mortgage, car payments, credit cards, or educational loans. How do you know when you’re carrying too much debt? Most people fall into debt trouble with impulse buying. Here are five warning signs that you may be in dangerous debt trouble, and what you can do about it: 1. You’re unable to pay more than the minimum payments on your credit cards. 2. You have more than three major credit cards and they’re near the credit limit. 3. You use your credit cards to pay other bills. 4. You hide your bills from your spouse. 5. You don’t have a savings account. If you answered “yes” to any of the above warning signs you may want examine your debt load and set up a realistic budget. If you are carrying credit card debt, begin by paying down the highest interest credit cards bills first. Resolve to not use credit cards unless you have the cash to pay your bill off when the bill arrives; otherwise, the first step to financial health is to remove the temptation and cut up your credit cards.

Finders Keepers

Can’t find your keys (or another small object)?  Stay calm. Look for the object where it’s supposed to be and in close proximity to that location.  Be systematic. Thoroughly search a select area and then move on. Don’t re-search areas.  Search areas with clutter. Prevent lost time by looking in areas where an item is easy to overlook among other items.  Retrace your steps. Vividly try to walk through the actions, feelings, and context of when you last had the item.  Avoid creating a false memory. If searching with someone else, ask open-ended questions – not questions like “Remember, we saw it in the hallway?”

Outpatient Surgery

Simply by its nature, outpatient surgery sounds like it would be less invasive and safer than procedures that require overnight care in the hospital. However, unintended consequences can happen. Here are tips for keeping yourself safe and healthy during outpatient surgery. 1. Select your surgeon carefully. Even if your procedure seems minor, your doctor should be board certified in the field that is relevant to your condition, and his or her certifications should be up-to-date. Also, ask how many similar operations he or she has performed in the past year, and see how this compares to peers. Check a surgeon rating website such as www.checkbook.org/surgeonratings/ to find out how your surgeon ranks. 2. Disclose all current medications and supplements. Your surgeon and anesthesiologist need to know about every prescription and OTC medication and supplement you are taking, as some can cause complications during and after surgery. Have this conversation well in advance of your procedure, because you may need to stop taking certain meds two weeks or more before the operation. 3. Prepare in advance. Put your body in the best possible condition by eating well, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly. Stop smoking and drinking prior to your surgery. And don’t let anxiety get the best of you. Deep breathing (greatist.com/happiness/breathing-exercises-relax), positive thinking, and meditation help put you in the right state of mind. 4. Ask all questions. Make sure you fully understand your procedure and what you can expect afterward. Have a plan for your recovery, and make arrangements ahead of time if you need to hire human help or implement mobility and dietary changes in your life.

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.

Causes and Cures of Pain

From aching joints to general fatigue, sometimes we’re plagued by symptoms, but we don’t know what the medical problem could be at the root of our pain. Here are a few health issues that could be causing your problems, and a few “quick tips” that may help. 1. Backaches – An old mattress can cause back pain, but you may want to have your doctor check your vitamin D levels – a deficiency can cause back and joint pain. A daily supplement can help if that’s the culprit. Weakened vertebrae, muscle fatigue, and back spasms may be eased with daily stretching, yoga, and hot and cold therapy applied via heating pads and ice packs (see your doctor for help with how to use this correctly). 2. Aching joints – Pain sensitivity is particularly acute for women who have gone through menopause. If you eat tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, dairy, and/or gluten, keep a food diary to see if food sensitivity is a culprit of your pain. 3. Lethargy and fatigue – Remaining alert and awake ensures you’re working at your highest levels of productivity. If you’re also suffering from sensitivity to cold and unexplained weight gain, hypothyroidism could be to blame. Of course, poor sleep could be at fault; get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day to increase levels of deep sleep. 4. Foot pain – Though gout affects joints throughout the body, the most common place for this painful condition to occur is the base of the big toe. Pain concentrated in the heel or arch of the foot may result from plantar fasciitis. Ditch the high heels and tight-fitting shoes, and lose excess weight to help decrease pain. Alcohol and stress can increase gout flare-ups.

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 a lot of sites that make a guess based on tax records and neighborhood sales. What they miss is condition and the actual neighborhood. These sites have no idea what improvements you have made to your home. Every home is unique. Many sites collect sales information based on how many miles the recent sales are from your home but guess what!?! There is a huge difference between neighborhoods that can not be measured in miles. For example Normandy Park which is not a direct comparable to neighborhoods just across the street. If you are wondering how much your home is worth today I am happy to schedule a time to come over and put together a free report so you will have better information than you can get by looking up values on line. Request this “no charge” in-depth home value analysis by calling me at: 206-226-0565 or email me at davidfrasch@msn.com.

Exercise in the New Year

It’s common wisdom that regular exercise is good for our health, but what constitutes “regular?” And what kind of exercise is most beneficial? Experts often recommend at least 150 minutes of moderately intense activity each week, which they also say is best broken up into shorter sessions you can do daily. Exercising for just 20 minutes per day can help improve your physical and mental health as well as help you live longer. Recent studies, however, indicate that longevity is even more closely linked to higher-intensity workouts and between 150–270 minutes per week, which translates to 20–40 minutes per day. There is also evidence that team sports are even better than solo activities. But it’s crucial to not turn potential roadblocks into a reason not to exercise at all—even if you don’t have a gym membership or you don’t like team sports, there are plenty of ways to work out at home that you’ll enjoy enough to keep up with. Here are a few ideas to get your body moving daily: • Walk: A ten-minute brisk walk is a great way to increase your heart rate, and it’s short enough that you’ll probably be able to squeeze in a walk on most days. • Try a HIIT routine: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions are designed to be short (typically under 20 minutes) and, as the name suggests, intense. They’re an efficient way to get your heart rate up quickly while building strength and flexibility. • Use a standing desk: Shift from sitting to standing throughout the workday with an adjustable desk and, for an added bonus, put a small treadmill under the desk so you can walk while you work. It’s important to remember that doing something is always better than doing nothing, so even if you aren’t up for a 20-minute HIIT routine every day that doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel. There’s ample evidence that even a little bit of exercising on a regular basis can increase longevity. And if you don’t have one already, consider getting a steps tracker. You might be surprised how much activity you do already, like mowing the lawn, vacuuming the house, shopping for groceries, and walking from meeting to meeting. Seeing the numbers go up is a great motivator.