Be Ready In An Emergency

It’s always a good idea to have an emergency preparedness kit ready to grab at a moment’s notice. Some items are standard, regardless of who you are or where you live, such as a flashlight, first aid kit, and multi-purpose tool. Consider the specific needs of those in your family and geographical location as well. Find pre-made lists and help in building an emergency kit at ready.gov/kit and redcross.org.

Get Ready For Exercise or Sports

Here are tips to avoid getting hurt when exercising or playing sports: • • Have A Fitness Test: A visit to your doctor is important if you are starting a new exercise program. Your doctor may find an undiagnosed heart condition or other disease that will require workout modifications. • Know Your Body: It sounds basic, but many fail to make adjustments to account for known body weaknesses. For example, if you have knee problems you may want to try a stationary bike instead of a treadmill. • Wear Proper Attire: Wear proper shoes that fit and grip the ground to avoid slipping or tripping. Workout clothes that keep you warm but not hot are best to avoid getting overheated and passing out. • Act Your Age: When you get excited about a new workout or sport, you can do too much, too quickly and push yourself too long. Work with a trainer, and make sure you’re using the correct technique. • Feed Your Muscles And Hydrate Your Body: A high protein meal one hour before your workout will give you the fuel you need to keep going. Thirty minutes before you exercise, drink about 16 ounces of water. Drink more water during your workout to replace the fluids you’re losing. • Know The Injury Warning Signs: If you have any of the following for more than 48 hours, see a physician: joint pain (including swelling, redness and heat), reduced range of motion, or numbness, and tingling.

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.

West Seattle Golf Course

I first played West Seattle in 1984 when I was a freshman at Nathan Hale HS. Back when I was young, they still had concrete pads with cutup tires for tee boxes. Back then condition at any of the city courses were suspect. If you go for a round today you will be very impressed! They keep the course in outstanding condition all year but by late spring it is ready to host a major tournament! The greens and fairways are super lush and healthy. The layout is one of my favorites because you rarely get a flat lie so you need to be able to hit a wide variety of shots so you never get bored. You better keep the ball below the hole too; they have some of the steepest greens that will test your skills and patience. It is even possible to putt off a couple of the greens when they have front pins…like 16 which I have done before. Golf season is finally here, so go play WSGC!! 206-935-5187

Adult Siblings

If you have siblings, count yourself lucky. These relationships are the longest-lasting family ties you’ll have. This can be tough for those who had rough sibling relationships growing up, but a recent study found two-thirds of people said a brother or sister was one of their best friends. It’s never too late to turn that special family relationship into one of your most treasured, especially around the holidays. People spend lots of effort improving friendships and romantic relationships, but a brother or sister may outlast all of those relationships. Don’t take a sibling relationship for granted. Research by West Virginia University shows people are more verbally aggressive with siblings than anyone else. Being aware of this and actively offering affectionate support goes a long way to strengthen familial ties. Also, don’t compare your sibling relationships with those of other people. These are your unique relationships, so shake off expectations. Siblings may not unconditionally confide in or spend every holiday with you, and that’s okay. Instead, enjoy the time spent together and conversations you do have. Focus on the good instead of what could be!

Life Skills

Teaching kids how to approach and solve life’s challenges is one of the biggest jobs parents face. Here are a few tips to help your children (or grandchildren) grow into self-sufficient and responsible adults: • Teach Kids To Look For Solutions. When kids are faced with a problem, have them identify several options and solutions. Then you can help them choose which solution works best. • Teach Kids Responsibility: Let kids know they are responsible for their actions. They have to do their homework, but you can offer them two “positive choice” options: Do you want to do it in 15 minutes or 30 minutes? Teach them how to organize, and give them the tools to stay organized (calendar, palm pilot, notebook). • Teach Kids How To Make Good Choices. Giving kids choices empowers them to make their own decisions. Have them weigh the pros and cons of their choice, and let them make the decisions. • Teach Kids How To Deal with Failure. Teach your children that failure is not personal, permanent, or pervasive (i.e. losing a soccer game doesn’t mean you’re bad at other things as well). Developing a positive explanatory style early in life will help your children live a happier, healthier and more successful adult life.

Keeping The Kitchen Organized

From that first bowl of cereal to the final midnight snack, kitchens are among the most used rooms in the house. Organize it now to make it easy to get around and find what you need later.  Separate dedicated areas. Keep areas for prepping, cooking, and storing food, and then keep similar items – such as baking equipment – together within each of these places.  Store items in clear containers. Small items like tea bags and gravy mixes should be stored with like items in a storage unit that can be easily identified with a quick peek.  Invest in risers and drawer dividers. It’s much easier to access cookware and dishes in cabinets if they’re sorted and stacked on risers. Ditto for small items separated using drawer dividers.  Think seasonally. If you don’t use that crock pot in the summer or the ice tea container in the winter, tuck them out of sight and out of mind until the proper season rolls back around.  Look for a lazy Susan. On countertops, they can be used for oils, spices, and other ingredients you might need at a moment’s notice. And in the pantry, use them to store cans, jars, and condiments.