Q. I want to redecorate our living space, but I don’t know where to begin. Do you have any decorating tips?
A. You can makeover your living space with these simple decorating tips:
1. Change your color palette. You can choose neutral and earth tones, such as whites, tans, beiges, and golds. A room of monotone decors appears more spacious. And you can dress up a room with white walls, a white sofa, and white or glass coffee tables with accented throw pillows, colorful table runners and placements, and decorative rugs.
2. Soften the lighting. Lighting adds warmth and drama to any room. A lamp or sconce lighting will provide more warmth and mood than overhead lighting. In your rooms, place your lamps and lighting arrangements so that they form a triangle of light in the room.
3. Rearrange the furniture. Try moving your sofas away from the wall. You can place two sofas in “V” formation with tables behind them. Or you can arrange the sofas so that they’re parallel to each other. Placing a rug between them creates a conversation area.
4. Create a focal point. Select a special focal point in your room: a piano, piece of art, picture, or floral arrangement. Make sure to hang your art and pictures at eye level. (Many people hang them too high.)
5. Create warmth. You can transform your dining room by adding lamps on each side of the buffet. Be sure to choose tall, sleek lamps to add drama to your dining area.
6. Experiment with ideas. Don’t be afraid to experiment with light, color, and furnishings. Use your own personality and charm to create the living space you’ll enjoy entertaining and spending time with your family.
If you are in the market for a buying or selling a home and need competent and caring representation, please call me at 206-226-0565.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Free Credit Reports Now Available!
Now you’ll be able to get your free credit report thanks to the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act. The three national credit bureaus: Equifax. Experian, and Transunion are required to provide consumers with their credit reports for free once per year. Your credit report and score can affect your ability to buy a home, the rate you can get on a car loan and the terms of these loans. The score is based on a formula that evaluates your credit file. The higher your score, the less your credit risk to lenders. To get your free credit report, go to www.AnnualCreditReport.com.
You also can order reports over the telephone at (877) 322-8228. For further information and tips, go to the Federal Trade Commission's Web site: www.ftc.gov/credit.
You also can order reports over the telephone at (877) 322-8228. For further information and tips, go to the Federal Trade Commission's Web site: www.ftc.gov/credit.
Friday, October 29, 2010
How To Create Healthy Money Habits In Your Children…
We all want our kids to do well in life...and not make some of the mistakes we might have made. Here are seven important money strategies to teach your kids that will serve them well throughout their lives:
1) Don’t carry debt. Avoid credit card debt. It’s expensive money! In fact, about 30% of college graduates will enter the workforce with $10,000 to $25,000 in credit card debt and other loans.
2) Pay yourself first. Have your children open an investment account and regularly have them put away money for goals and emergencies.
3) Set up a budget and track your expenses. Help your children set up their own budget, and teach them how to track their income (from allowances, gifts, money earned) and expenses.
4) Don’t compare yourself with others. A friend may drive a fancy car and wear expensive clothing, but they actually may be deeply in debt.
5) Don’t trust anyone with your money. No one cares as much about your money as you do.
6) Invest in a Roth IRA, and/or a market index when you start earning money. To reach long-term goals investing is a must.
7) Money doesn’t buy happiness. Money can make life easier when you don’t have to struggle financially to make ends meet. But money can’t buy love or happiness.
1) Don’t carry debt. Avoid credit card debt. It’s expensive money! In fact, about 30% of college graduates will enter the workforce with $10,000 to $25,000 in credit card debt and other loans.
2) Pay yourself first. Have your children open an investment account and regularly have them put away money for goals and emergencies.
3) Set up a budget and track your expenses. Help your children set up their own budget, and teach them how to track their income (from allowances, gifts, money earned) and expenses.
4) Don’t compare yourself with others. A friend may drive a fancy car and wear expensive clothing, but they actually may be deeply in debt.
5) Don’t trust anyone with your money. No one cares as much about your money as you do.
6) Invest in a Roth IRA, and/or a market index when you start earning money. To reach long-term goals investing is a must.
7) Money doesn’t buy happiness. Money can make life easier when you don’t have to struggle financially to make ends meet. But money can’t buy love or happiness.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
What Can You Learn From A Simple Blood Test?
How many episodes of ER have you watched and wondered...what exactly does the CBC tell these actors turned doctors? A CBC (complete blood count) can reveal a lot about your health. The CBC measures your hemoglobin (a protein that allows red blood cells to transport oxygen and gives blood its red color). Low hemoglobin indicates anemia.
A hematocrit measures the volume that red blood cells take up in the blood. Elevated numbers may indicate dehydration, or it may be an early sign of cancer or kidney disease. Low numbers indicate anemia. Your white blood cells (WBC) fight infection and promote healing. A high WBC count indicates a bacterial infection. Very low numbers may indicate exposure to toxic drugs or environmental toxins, or other diseases.
Your platelet count indicates your body’s ability to initiate blood clotting. A high number may indicate anemia, inflammation or a more serious condition. A low number may indicate an autoimmune disorder, allergic drug reaction, or an enlarged spleen. Your physician may order additional tests if your blood measurements don’t fall in the normal range.
If you any questions about your CBC, be sure to ask your physician to explain the ranges and results to you.
A hematocrit measures the volume that red blood cells take up in the blood. Elevated numbers may indicate dehydration, or it may be an early sign of cancer or kidney disease. Low numbers indicate anemia. Your white blood cells (WBC) fight infection and promote healing. A high WBC count indicates a bacterial infection. Very low numbers may indicate exposure to toxic drugs or environmental toxins, or other diseases.
Your platelet count indicates your body’s ability to initiate blood clotting. A high number may indicate anemia, inflammation or a more serious condition. A low number may indicate an autoimmune disorder, allergic drug reaction, or an enlarged spleen. Your physician may order additional tests if your blood measurements don’t fall in the normal range.
If you any questions about your CBC, be sure to ask your physician to explain the ranges and results to you.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Is Your PC at Risk?
Two Simple and Easy Tips For Protecting Your Computer
Is your PC at risk? Researchers at AvanteGarde found that it takes less than four minutes for your computer to be hijacked once connected to the Internet. In one instance one of the test computers was hacked is 30 seconds.
What should you do? First, make sure you’re running a personal firewall. Update your Windows regularly with Microsoft patches. (The Macintosh machine was not as vulnerable in this test.) Secondly, keep secure passwords, and use some type of antivirus and anti-spyware software. The study found that Linux and Windows based machines using an application firewall fared the best.
Is your PC at risk? Researchers at AvanteGarde found that it takes less than four minutes for your computer to be hijacked once connected to the Internet. In one instance one of the test computers was hacked is 30 seconds.
What should you do? First, make sure you’re running a personal firewall. Update your Windows regularly with Microsoft patches. (The Macintosh machine was not as vulnerable in this test.) Secondly, keep secure passwords, and use some type of antivirus and anti-spyware software. The study found that Linux and Windows based machines using an application firewall fared the best.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
How To Maintain Strong, Healthy Bones…For Life!
Nearly 10 million Americans suffer from Osteoporosis. By 2020, half of all citizens over 50 will be at high risk for developing the condition. In a recent report, “Bone Health and Osteoporosis,” U. S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona outlines important measures you can take to maintain strong, healthy and happy bones for life.
One of the most common myths, he says, is that only women need to worry about bone health. Osteoporosis affects men and women of all races. By age 75, osteoporosis is as common in men as it is in women!
Are you at risk? The first symptom of osteoporosis is a bone fracture. Other risk factors include: low calcium/vitamin D intake, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, body weight less than 125 lbs, long-term steroid medication like prednisone or cortisone, eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, and early menopause.
How to maintain strong bones? First, while bone weakness is evident in older Americans, strong bones begin in childhood. Here are four steps you can take today to prevent osteoporosis and maintain strong, healthy bones:
1. Get the recommended amount of daily calcium by drinking milk and eating green leafy vegetables, soybeans, yogurt, and cheese. (1,000 mg of calcium per day).
2. Exercise 30 minutes per day for adults; 60 minutes a day for children. This can be walking, running, or any weight-baring exercise.
3. Get Vitamin D (200 IU), which is produced in the skin by exposure to the sun. It’s also found in fortified milk and cereals
4. Your doctor can order a bone density test (DEXA), which measures bone density at the spine, hip, and wrist where most fractures occur.
For more information on osteoporosis, call 1-866-718-BONE, or go to www.surgeongeneral.gov.
One of the most common myths, he says, is that only women need to worry about bone health. Osteoporosis affects men and women of all races. By age 75, osteoporosis is as common in men as it is in women!
Are you at risk? The first symptom of osteoporosis is a bone fracture. Other risk factors include: low calcium/vitamin D intake, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, body weight less than 125 lbs, long-term steroid medication like prednisone or cortisone, eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, and early menopause.
How to maintain strong bones? First, while bone weakness is evident in older Americans, strong bones begin in childhood. Here are four steps you can take today to prevent osteoporosis and maintain strong, healthy bones:
1. Get the recommended amount of daily calcium by drinking milk and eating green leafy vegetables, soybeans, yogurt, and cheese. (1,000 mg of calcium per day).
2. Exercise 30 minutes per day for adults; 60 minutes a day for children. This can be walking, running, or any weight-baring exercise.
3. Get Vitamin D (200 IU), which is produced in the skin by exposure to the sun. It’s also found in fortified milk and cereals
4. Your doctor can order a bone density test (DEXA), which measures bone density at the spine, hip, and wrist where most fractures occur.
For more information on osteoporosis, call 1-866-718-BONE, or go to www.surgeongeneral.gov.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Learn how to Help Protect Your Home from Natural Disasters
Q. How can I protect my home (or a home I’m about to buy) from natural disasters?
A. Most parts of the country and Canada face at least one type of natural disaster, such as severe winter weather, high winds, hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes, wildfires and hailstorms.
According to the Institute for Business & Home Safety, the first thing you need to do is understand your risk. Is your house located near a woodland area? Is it within 50 miles of the coast? Is it within sight of a river or lake? Is it located in an earthquake zone?
You also need to consider the home’s history and how well it has been maintained. What year was it built and what was the building code then? Modern building codes can help homes stand up better to natural disasters.
In areas prone to wildfires or hurricanes, for example, your number one priority should be the roof. You can find specific actions to take to improve your home’s ability to withstand these disasters by going to a site like www.disastersafety.org.
If you have any questions, or need capable and trustworthy representation, please call me at 206-226-0565.
A. Most parts of the country and Canada face at least one type of natural disaster, such as severe winter weather, high winds, hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes, wildfires and hailstorms.
According to the Institute for Business & Home Safety, the first thing you need to do is understand your risk. Is your house located near a woodland area? Is it within 50 miles of the coast? Is it within sight of a river or lake? Is it located in an earthquake zone?
You also need to consider the home’s history and how well it has been maintained. What year was it built and what was the building code then? Modern building codes can help homes stand up better to natural disasters.
In areas prone to wildfires or hurricanes, for example, your number one priority should be the roof. You can find specific actions to take to improve your home’s ability to withstand these disasters by going to a site like www.disastersafety.org.
If you have any questions, or need capable and trustworthy representation, please call me at 206-226-0565.
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