Seattle Tap Water

You probably don’t even think about or consider the source of the water that comes out of our taps every day. We take for granted that we have stable clean and nearly contaminate free water. Seattle area customers are totally spoiled! When you travel to other parts of the country and drink tap water you realize how good we actually have it. Quality drinking water for a major metropolitan like Seattle is not something that just happens. City planners were thinking ahead, and we benefit from their foresight. Humans can last up to 21 days without food, but you can barely make it to day 3 without water. How many acres of untouched forest does it take to keep our water clean and desirable to drink? The Cedar River Watershed supplies most of our tap water and has 90,638 acres of land protected for our supply. Owned by the City of Seattle and topping out at 5,414-foot-tall Meadow Mountain this land has a rich diversity of plants, animals and first growth forests. Coming from the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains the water is so clean it requires no filtration! The geology of the upper watershed acts as its own filtration with surface water seeping through a region of deep and porous glacial outwash before it gathers into an underground aquifer. This water then resurfaces in springs and creeks along the Cedar River. From the city’s founding a stable water source was a top priority. Before 1880 water was provided by several different private companies from local streams. The Cedar River was first proposed in the 1870’s but the question was how to bring this much water into the rapidly growing city. The original pipeline was made of reinforced wooden pipe “big enough so a small boy could stand upright in it”. By 1950 the wooden pipe was gone and three large mains carried over 162,000,000 gallons of Cascade Mountain water into Seattle every single day!

7 Ways to Reduce Stress

Don’t let daily stress get the best of you. Here are seven steps you can take right now to reduce your stress level, and get back to feeling more balanced and energized in your daily life... 1. Master Your Thoughts. Stress and anxiety are actually a choice. You have the power to choose how you feel at any given moment. When you are feeling stressed out, take a moment to pause and close your eyes. Ask yourself, “Is there another choice I can make that will make me feel more at peace with myself or this situation?” 2. Breathe. It sounds so simple, but breathing has a tremendous affect on your mind, body, and your mood. Focus on your breathing when you find yourself feeling stress. If you put your finger on your bellybutton, you’ll begin to breathe from your belly and relax. 3. Exercise. Regular exercise can release stress and make you feel more in control of your life. Try a 30-minute brisk walk, bike ride, or play a game of tennis or pickleball. 4. Take Up A Hobby. Hobbies give our body and mind a place to relax. Whether it’s painting, woodworking, gardening, or playing a musical instrument, hobbies can give us that feeling of a vacation without having to go anywhere to get away. 5. Pace Yourself. Many of us have a tendency to over schedule ourselves or our family, and then become stressed when we can’t meet the demands. Prioritize your workload and concentrate on one task at a time. 6. Lighten Up And Take The Long View. If you’re feeling anxious and tense...take a moment and ask yourself, “will this really matter tomorrow, next week, or even five years from now?” 7. Strive For Peace of Mind. You can get more out of your life by actually doing less. Happiness comes not from the number of activities things we collect, but from the opportunity to enjoy our experiences. Doing less may actually make you happier...it’s your choice.

3 Steps to Ease Computer Pain

If you spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer, you may be experiencing fatigue, as well as aches and pains in your neck, back, shoulders, eyes, wrists, and legs. Relieve the discomfort by following these tips: STEP #1: Give your body support to avoid aches and pains: • Invest in a good lumbar chair and adjust it so your feet rest comfortably on the floor. Press your bottom against the back of the chair and use a lumbar cushion that causes your lower back to arch slightly. Keep your knees in line with your hips or raised slightly above them. Never slump or slouch forward. • Sit close to the desk so your upper arms are parallel to your spine and your elbows are at a 90-degree angle to the keyboard. Put the mouse close to the keyboard to keep your arm from being fully extended. Give your wrists proper support so they rest in a neutral position. • Place the monitor so your gaze is aimed at the center of the screen, which should be 15 to 25 inches away from your eyes. STEP #2: Move regularly to avoid stiffness and eye strain: • Stand, stretch, and walk at least a minute or two every half hour. To stretch, reach both arms above your head. Grasp each elbow and lean gently to each side and feel the side of your body release tension. • Avoid “computer vision syndrome” (headaches and eye strain are symptoms) by using the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. STEP #3: Stay hydrated and nourished to avoid fatigue: • Drink water (or other fluids) to flush out some of the mineral build-up that occurs in inactive muscles. • Eat healthy snacks like fruit and nuts at your desk to maintain your energy and productivity.

Smart Grocery Shopping Tips

You can read plenty of articles on the internet about how to save money on groceries, but do you really have a grocery shopping strategy? 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).

3 Minute Meditation - Yes Just Three Minutes!

One extremely refreshing getaway is meditation – and best of all, you don't have to pack for it. Research from the University of California, Davis, suggests that regular mindfulness meditation may slow the rate of cellular aging – potentially giving you more precious time than you ever dreamed of. Here’s how to mediate in 3-minutes: 1. Find a peaceful place where you won’t be interrupted. 2. Gently rest your palm over your heart. Concentrate on a person, place, song, or memory you cherish. The idea is to feel love and to concentrate it as energy in your mid-chest. 3. Visualize any thoughts as clouds drifting in the sky. Let them float by and out of your awareness. 4. Observe the sensations in your heart area: heat, coolness, bliss, compassion, release of pressure, vibration. Over time and with practice, you’ll feel the positive energy in your chest that will flow into your body.