Happy House Guests

With the cost of travel offering a comfortable place to stay can make such a difference. 1. Once you’ve shown your guests where they’ll be staying, take some time to walk them through the space. Point out where they can store their luggage and hang clothes, which bathroom they’ll be using, which light switches do what in the room, how to operate any window coverings, and power outlets for charging phones and laptop computers. 2. A tray or basket of toiletry necessities left out provides guests with items they may have forgotten–and will be grateful to have. Think toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, shaving cream, a comb, and aspirin or pain relief. Be sure that the bathroom your guests will be using is stocked with toilet paper and facial tissue, too. 3. Additional in-room niceties to consider are an alarm clock, bedside lamp, nightlight, extra blanket, and a pen and notepad in case of in-the-night inspiration. To that end, also make note of the Wi-Fi password so they can do some late-night browsing without having to disturb you. 4. Make your guests feel even more at home by showing them where they can find everything they would need in the kitchen, from glasses and coffee mugs, to bowls and plates, and silverware. Who knows, maybe they’ll feel so much at home they’ll put the coffee on for you in the morning.

Sky View Observatory Columbia Center

The Sky View Observatory recently opened for public viewing on the 73rd floor of the Columbia Center building. At nearly 1,000 feet above Puget Sound it offers the tallest viewing area in the Pacific NW. It features 360 degree panoramic views. My mom worked in the building and took me up to the old viewing area that was in just one little corner of the floor; this is a completely different experience! Summer hours are 10:00am to 10:00pm and tickets are purchased on site. They have a café with a full bar and deserts. General admission to the floor is $22 Do not ask for senior discounts. I went up a couple of weeks ago and highly recommend it! Enjoy!! 700 4th Ave / 206-386-5564 / www.skyviewobservatory.com

Seattle Aquarium New Ocean Pavilion - Coming Soon!

The Seattle Aquarium opened in 1977 on Pier 59 and Pier 60. Plans for a city aquarium were in the works from the early 1960’s. Voters approved funding for the $5.4 million dollar project in 1968 to replace an existing private aquarium. The Seattle Aquarium is one of our top tourist attractions welcoming over one million visitors annually. After years of construction following the demolition of the Alaskan Way Viaduct in 2019 the Seattle Waterfront Project is finally entering the home stretch! The City of Seattle has invested over $800 million to transform the waterfront. The crown jewel is the Overlook Walk and the Ocean Pavilion. Next year the projects will be complete, and we can thoroughly enjoy the reconnected waterfront to the downtown core and the Pike Place Market. On August 29th the Seattle Aquarium will veiled the $170 million dollar expansion of its campus. “Part of what we want to do with the Ocean Pavilion is inspire people to care, inspire people to think about their connections, build empathy for these incredibly unique animals they will get a chance to see here. And hopefully, it’ll inspire them to take action as they’re walking out the door,” says Dr. Erin Meyer – Chief Conservation Officer. The Ocean Pavilion will be the centerpiece of the revitalized waterfront! The expansion will bring a variety of no-cost experiences to the estimated 15 million people who visit Seattle each year. A viewing window will provide a look into the Pavilions largest habitat. Public spaces around the Pavilion feature installations by local artists. A public rooftop terrace will have incredible and unparalleled views we can all enjoy for free! The major exhibits include The Reef, an underwater canyon that arcs overhead. The Archipelago is a two-level portrait of reef builders. One Ocean Hall is filled with interactive displays that spotlight marine ecosystems. At Home in the Ocean gets you up-close to habitats and younger guests enter the reef with a crawl-through space where they come face to face with inhabitants.

Build Healthy Habits for Your Family

Physical • Exercise regularly as a family and make it fun! Go for evening walks in the park, take advantage of open swim days at the gym, and ride bikes together. • Eat a healthy diet. Start early with introducing a rainbow of produce and minimizing sugary snacks. Mental • Maintain – and reflect – a positive outlook. Kids mirror what they hear and see, so use positive reinforcement and praise appropriately. Celebrate your successes as well as theirs. • Keep screen time to a minimum. Sedentary behavior is known to increases risks for obesity and cardiovascular disease, and it’s not conducive to positive social or mental growth either. Set a daily limit for smartphone usage and stick to it. • Read every day. Incorporate this habit into playtime or bedtime routines to help build self-esteem and success later in life. Social • Encourage kids to explore a myriad of activities to find one (or more!) they really enjoy. Whether singing in a choir, playing soccer, taking language lessons, or volunteering with a youth group, kids will meet others with similar interests while also developing their self-identity. • Eat dinner as a family and use this opportunity to maintain open lines of communication with everyone around the table.

Improve Outpatient Surgery Outcomes

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.

Summer is Painting Season - Good Tips!

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.

Rent instead of Buying

People accumulate a lot of stuff throughout their lives, but they may only need certain things periodically. When that’s the case, rent instead of buying to save money and help the environment!  Lawn and power equipment: Rent tillers, concrete saws, carpet cleaners, and more at your local home supply store. Most rentals are for a minimum of four hours.  Formal clothing: If you need to dress up for one black-tie event, check out renttherunway.com or lendingluxury.com. Choose the perfect outfit for the night and return it once it’s over. Rental prices are about one-third the retail price.  Party supplies: Throw the event of the year, but don’t stress too much over all the things you need to purchase. Party equipment vendors can supply dishes, décor, and furniture, all delivered right to your door.  Recreational equipment: Thinking of taking up golf or skiing or mountain biking or going camping? If you only participate in an activity occasionally, rent from local sports outfitters like REI and save hundreds of dollars on gear that would otherwise collect dust in your garage.

Don’t Pass The Salt!

Americans consume almost two times the recommended amount of salt everyday! Most salt is hidden inside common foods...spaghetti, soup, pizza, and especially frozen dinners. Too much salt can increase your blood pressure...and high blood pressure can wreak havoc on your heart, brain, and kidneys. The average person should eat no more than 2,400 mg. of sodium daily, which is the equivalent of one heaping teaspoon a day. The average American eats over 4,000 mg. a day, and 75 percent of it from processed food and restaurant meals, according to Dr. Stephen Havas, a researcher at the University of Maryland. So before you buy food at the store, check the nutrition labels. Ask yourself, how much sodium is in one serving. Remember restaurant food can have even more sodium, so watch what you order. Ask for low-sodium entrees, or select fresh salads, and avoid those French fries. Cutting salt could save your life!