Job Hunting & Social Media

When competition for jobs is steep, there are ways to get a leg up on other applicants by using social media in smart ways. LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) is a great business networking platform that can help you make connections, Twitter (www.twitter.com) and Facebook (www.facebook.com) are great to keep up-to-date with industry news, and all are sites which allow you to find employment opportunities. Think of it as a virtual networking breakfast or lunch but from the comfort of your own home. For job searching, experts recommend: • Signing up for LinkedIn Premium. Not only will it avoid leaving footprint marks of profiles you check (so profile owners can see you visited them), but it also shows that you mean business. • Utilizing the search function, research the profiles of people who have the kind of role you are looking for (you can do this on LinkedIn and Facebook). Then look at their connections within the organization. This will give you a great insight into what that organization is looking for skills-wise, and how they like career information presented. • Sending connection requests to and following industry peers, potential recruiters, and organizations that you’re interested in working for. Follow up with a note asking if they have ten minutes to hop on a networking call, where you can sell your skills and experience to fill any potential vacancies. • Sharing industry news on Twitter. As you grow your connections you’ll be seen as someone who has a finger on the pulse in your industry.

Summer Concert Series

Hosting live performances since 1984 Chateau Ste Michelle is one of the very best places to enjoy a concert! They are known for their general admission festival style seating on the amphitheater lawn but if you prefer an assigned seat they have VIP seating close to the stage. Ste Michelle wines and a variety of fresh foods are available for purchase. If you are looking for a special and unique concert experience this is not to be missed! www.ste-michelle.com • James Taylor – May 25th • Ringo Starr – June 4th • Elvis Costello – June 9th • Taj Mahal – June 23rd • Diana Krall – July 9th • Lyle Lovett – July 16th • Sheryl Crow – July 20th • Tori Amos – July 28th • Regina Spektor – Aug 5th • Gipsy Kings – Aug 20th • Steve Miller Band – Sept 15th • Counting Crows – Sept 16th • Natalie Merchant – Sept 22nd

Get a Money Buddy

That’s what Trent from “The Simple Dollar” blog calls someone close to you who seems to be facing similar financial challenges as you are. While a spouse is certainly a “money buddy,” it’s helpful to choose someone else (with a spouse’s okay) who can lend a different perspective. By linking up with that person (or a couple), you can support each other and benefit financially and psychologically. Here are 5 things you can do for each other: Relieve tension and talk it out. Most of us keep our financial problems to ourselves. You’ll ease your stress if you have someone you trust to talk to. How much information you share is up to you. Give and get advice from fresh eyes. When you’ve reached a point of financial indecision (“Which debt do I pay off first?” “What bank should I use?”), a money buddy is a second set of eyeballs to look at the situation. Hold each other accountable for goals. If you set a goal for yourself, share it with your buddy and remind each other of your goals regularly. Knowing your buddy knows your goal can be a great motivator. Share knowledge and resources. Split the cost of a warehouse shopping club membership or divide the items you buy in bulk. Celebrate each other’s progress and successes. It’s even more gratifying when you take the journey together.

Fitness Fatigue

Love it or hate it, working out is one of those things everyone should make a regular part of their lives. What might start out as a sense of fun and excitement when tying up new running shoes or jumping on a new carbon fiber road bike can eventually turn into a sense of boredom and downright drudgery? It doesn’t have to, though - when you incorporate these elements: Try something new. Variety is the spice of life, and this definitely holds true for working out. Try an online workout class that is worth spending a few bucks to be a part of. There is a virtual class out there for us all no matter your age or budget! Now’s the time! The Peloton - Signing up for something with a proven track record like Peloton is great. They advertise unlimited motivation, delivered daily. A membership is your pass to classes that range in length and intensity level. You’ll ride, run, flex and tone, and keep come back for more. Mirror - Working out with other people is good for motivation – and it’s more fun! With a small footprint and elegant design The Mirror blends seamlessly into any home. Turn less than two feet of wall space into a personal fitness studio. Instructors are fun, engaging, and keep you on your toes. You will feel like you are back in the gym class you always loved to attend! Black Box VR - They turn a 30 minute workout into a video game! The game adjusts the difficulty as you play more, making it more challenging each time. The Black Box app tracks your reps, muscle groups worked out and moves the weight limits to help you meet your goals. You don’t need to be a fitness expert, just come and play the game.

Best Reasons for Playing Golf…

• Beats mowing the lawn. • Having a ball is par for the course. • You can play without risk of scandal (most of the time!). • There’s always a doctor nearby. • The worse your game, the better the exercise. • Carrying clubs is socially acceptable. • More fun than doing business at the office. • Putting is such sweet sorrow. • Great excuse to take a walk. • Rather sink a bird than hook a fish. • Old golfers never die. They just putter out. • There’s no par at the 19th hole. • It’s educational. You learn the meanings of such words as slice, shank, divot, bogey, mulligan, hacker, worm burner, and duffer.

Surviving A Long Commute

The average commute to work is around 25 minutes long. Get the most out of yours.  Experiment with the route. Leave 10 minutes earlier or later to see if the traffic patterns change.  Get the most bang for your buck. Do the math and find out if it makes sense to drive or take public transportation – or even a combination of the two.  Make it fun. Listen to an audiobook or podcast, or find a friend to share the ride.

Help Kids Save Money

All adults know that money doesn’t grow on trees, but that’s not necessarily true for kids. Help your kids, grandkids, or other children in your life tuck away their extra nickels and dimes for a rainy day. 1. Bank it. Encourage kids to decorate four separate piggy banks – one each for Saving, Spending, Investing, and Giving – to help teach about setting money-related goals. Investing money will be used for future investments and Giving money can be donated to a charity of the kids’ choice. 2. Offer an allowance. Assuming you are helping your own children save money, provide a small allowance so there is something to put into the piggy banks. Give the allowance in small bills or coins so kids can physically hold and drop equal amounts of cash into each piggy bank. 3. Make goals. If there are certain things kids want to buy, or if they are expected to save a certain amount of money toward larger items such as bikes, explain that they’ll need to use the Saving piggy bank to collect the needed money. And, if they choose not to spend money out of the Spending piggy bank right away, they’ll be able to buy the items they’re saving for faster. 4. Go shopping. When you go to the store, let the kids take their Spending money with them. If they want to buy something, count out change in the store. Feel free to remind them that, if there is something more expensive they’d like to buy, they’ll have to continue to save for it – and they’ll reach their goals faster by moving Spending money into the Saving piggy bank. However, if they want to buy something, that is their choice as this is their money.

Spring Curb Appeal

First impressions are important! A well-groomed exterior tells a buyer that the inside of your home is also well-maintained. Here are some easy ways to make your home look more inviting.  Spruce up your landscaping. Mow the lawn, trim the trees and bushes, and add some new plants and flowers.  Inspect your exterior paint. Paint the front door and do some touching up. If touching up isn’t enough, consider spending some money for a complete paint job.  Wash wood, aluminum and vinyl sided homes. A pressure wash can do a world of good.  Make sure the garage door works; while you’re at it, clean out the inside of the garage.  Check out your roof and gutters. Your roof will be subject to inspection but at least make sure it looks good from the curb. Don’t forget your back yard! It’s part of your overall curb appeal and can be a key selling point for potential buyers.

Websites For Breathtaking Travel Photography

• www.nationalgeographic.com – Click on “Photography” to view spectacular images. Look for photo of the day or best of each month. • www.sidetracked.com – View this online magazine featuring stories and photos of adventure travel. • www.nasa.gov – Select “Galleries” for the ultimate travel images from space.

Make Your Home More Attractive to Buyers

When selling your home, look at your home through a potential buyer’s eyes, and follow these steps to make it show well and receive a good offer: • Clean and repair. Your buyer’s first impression is from the street. Clean up the yard, the landscaping and check your exterior paint job. On the inside, shampoo the carpets, scrub the floors and clear off all the counters. Remove old wallpaper and paint the walls a neutral color. Fix things that need fixing, like squeaky doors, broken tiles etc. • De-Clutter. Get rid of all that “stuff” you’ve accumulated in the garage, the backyard and the basement. And don’t forget the closets! • “Stage” it to look like a model home. Put away your personal items and remove large pieces of furniture. Ask your REALTOR® for ways to “dress up” your home (candles, new linens etc.) to maximize your selling potential.

Sue Bird – First Citizen Award

When Sue Bird retired after 19 seasons with the Seattle Storm her accomplishments included more than just her career statistics. As a number one draft pick in 2002 the iconic playmaker brought four championships to our city. Sue Bird will be receiving the 85th annual Seattle-King County First Citizen Award on Thursday May 18th at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in downtown Seattle. Sue has always valued what she can give back to the community by volunteering her time and has had made a strong and lasting commitment to philanthropy. “We are brimming with pride to honor our local champion, Sue Bird to this prestigious list of honorees” said Sharon O’Mahony, 2023 President of King County Realtors. The Realtors have been presenting this award since 1939 and includes such names as – Royal Brougham, Dr. Wm. B Hutchinson, Mary Gates, Jamie Moyer, Lenny Wilkens, Dale Chihuly, Paul G. Allen and the 2022 honoree Mary’s Place. As a 13-time WMBA All-Star Bird is adept at using her notoriety as a platform for advocacy. Congratulations and Thank you to Sue Bird! Tickets to the celebration and banquet are available at seattlefirstcitizen.org

Dangerous Cleaning Products

• Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner. This cleaner is one of the worst because the manufacturer advertises it as “non-toxic.” Some of its ingredients are banned in Europe! A solvent it contains can also damage your blood cells. Try: Make a solution of one part white distilled vinegar/nine parts water for a cheap and safe cleaner. • Scrubbing Bubbles (Antibacterial Bathroom Cleaner and Extend-a-Clean Mega Shower Foamer). Both of these products contain another substance banned at high concentrations in Europe: the solvent DEGBE, which can irritate your lungs. Try: Baking soda works amazingly well when scrubbing the bathroom, tub, and shower. It also won’t inflame your lungs. Try mixing it with a little salt and water to make a paste. • Mop and Glo Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner. This also contains the chemical DEGBE at a concentration (15%) far beyond what’s allowed in Europe (3%). Try: Make your own floor cleaner with a mixture of 50/50 vinegar and water, or 1/2 cup vinegar and 1 tsp. vegetable oil for wood floors. Also try Branch Basics at branchbasics.com or Mrs. Meyers Clean Day products at mrsmeyers.com. • Drano Professional Strength Kitchen Crystals Clog Remover. This product can cause blindness or even death if ingested. It can stay in the drain after use, and become even more hazardous when mixed with other chemicals. Try: Use a toilet plunger or drain snake when faced with clogs and skip the chemicals. You can check other products you have in your home at: ewg.org

For Pet Owners

Four-legged friends are part of the family, but wouldn’t it be nice if they also did their part in keeping the house clean? Luckily, there’s plenty you can do to keep fur, fluff, and dander at bay. Contain the fur. Encourage pets to lay on old towels or sheets placed on the floor or furniture. Thoroughly and frequently vacuum. Use lint rollers to pick up stray hair at a moment’s notice. Keep paws clean. Before pets come in from outside, dip paws in room temperature water and dry them off. Stay stain free. If a pet throws up or urinates on the floor, clean it up quickly. Blot stains, absorbing as much liquid as possible; do not rub. Apply a solution of 1/4 teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid mixed with one cup of tepid water. Rinse by blotting as well.

Tips For an Easy Move

Moving out of a home can be undeniably stressful. Make things as easy as possible on yourself.  Schedule a donation pickup. Don’t waste time driving to a donation center. Contact local nonprofits (or use a service like donationtown.org) for pickup so you never have to leave home.  Pick a quiet moving day. Weekends are the busiest days to move. Choosing another day of the week may save money with a moving company.  Double down with cloth items. Wrap breakables in clothing and linen. Pack glasses and stemware in clean socks.  Label the sides of boxes. That way you don’t have to move the boxes to read what’s written on them.  Use dresser drawers as boxes. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and they’re ready to go!  Photograph electronics before dismantling. It will be easier to reattach all the cords and wires in your new home.

T-Mobile Park Renovations

Take me out to the ballgame! The Seattle Mariners are spending $55 million to upgrade T-Mobile Park for the 2023 All-Star Game. They have completed the first major improvement to the Diamond Club since it opened in 1999. The press box will be gutted and turned into a premium space with seating for 200 guests directly behind home plate. Formerly the Pyramid Brewing building will be completely renovated and transformed into more modern restaurant, outdoor dining space, and community gathering spot.

Multipurpose Garage

A garage may seem like the space to dump miscellaneous items, tools, and garbage/recycling. “It’s not cluttering up the house, so why does it matter?!” you might think to yourself. Here’s the thing, though: you could be losing an opportunity to use it for storage and a new functional space. Some good ways to make it a dual-purpose room include: • Install an attic lift to gain additional storage for items you only use one season a year, like camping stuff. • Store bikes on hanging racks that are flush with the wall. • Consider installing a livable floor coating, like epoxy or polished concrete. Then you could portion off a part of the garage to use as a media room, den, or creative space. • Speak to your electrician about adding outlets and lighting so that the space can be used at all times of day. • Add drywall and insulation to keep the space warm in winter time and give it a more home-like feeling. • Use storage systems like shelving racks and give each rack a job. For example, store similar items together like tools, which you can keep separate from gardening stuff, or use a rack for overflow storage for the kitchen.

Procrastinating

Procrastinating is a learned behavior. The good news is that it can be combated, as long as you’re focused on how to prevent it. Here are 5 steps to help you stop procrastinating and get in gear this New Year. 1. Get Rid of Distractions – Turn off the phone, shut the door, put on headphones, whatever it takes to drown out tempting diversions. 2. Break Tasks Into Chunks – Things like “wash dishes, do laundry, and vacuum” are more specific, and chances are you’ll be more apt to tackle those tasks than the gargantuan-sounding “clean the house.” 3. Do Your Hardest Task First – The sense of accomplishment when you complete the biggest item on your list first will help propel you forward toward crossing off more things on your list. 4. Perfect is the Enemy of Done – Keep in mind that if you’re only striving for perfection, you’re less likely to even start a project. 5. Reward Yourself – Give yourself a pat on the back for getting stuff done, whether the reward is a night out or simply a favorite treat.

Seattle CityPASS

It is hard to find fun family outings this time of year. Seattle has a lot to offer and CityPASS makes it easy and will save you money. www.citypass.com  Space Needle – Day / Night admission, including two visits to the top within 24 hours.  Seattle Aquarium – General admission to all major exhibits, plus interpretative shows.  Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour- A one-hour narrated harbor tour.  Museum of Pop Culture – General admission experience including Sound Lab.  Woodland Park Zoo – General admission to all of the exhibits.  Chihuly Garden and Glass – General admission, plus a complimentary audio tour.

Email Tips To Get More Done

These email tips will get more people to respond to your emails and help you get work done faster: 1. State the content and purpose in the subject line. This gives the recipient a chance to sort and prioritize their email. Be specific and if you need a response quickly, add “Action Required” or “Response Needed” to the subject line. 2. Know when to use CC and BCC. Use CC to copy people who are directly involved. This keeps them involved in the email conversation. Use BCC when you want to notify someone that an email was sent but you don’t want the main recipient to see who you are notifying. 3. Use “Forward” effectively. When someone responds and you want to notify another person, simply Forward the email with a message that says, “FYI.” If someone has not responded to your email after several days or weeks, go to your Sent Messages and Forward them your email but change the subject line to say, “FWD: Did you get this?”