Each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. Let us all join the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Let’s help to fight stigma, provide support, learn to take time for ourselves, seek professional help when needed and check in on family, friends and neighbors. This past year presented so many different challenges and obstacles that tested our strength and resiliency. The global pandemic forced us to cope with situations we never … [Read more...] about Improving Your Mental Health
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Caring for Pets in the Dog (and Cat) Days of Summer
Summer in Arizona is extremely hot, and heat can be a canine killer. As our temperatures rise, we need to take extra precautions to keep our four-legged family members safe. If it’s 77 degrees outside, the temperature of the pavement is 125 degrees and at 87 degrees, the temperature of the pavement is a whopping 143 degrees! An egg can fry at 131 degrees in just five minutes, so just imagine how your dog’s paws feel walking on the hot cement, rocks or even dirt. Before you take your pets … [Read more...] about Caring for Pets in the Dog (and Cat) Days of Summer
Enjoying Pretty Plants with Daisy Flowers
A favorite flower of days gone by would have to be a daisy, Bellis perennis. This happy-face flower with radiating white petals around a yellow center is still identifiable even to non-gardeners. Daisies are so tough in the mountain garden, but too much white is boring and plain. We developed many daisy-like bloomers that offer far more color, and that are brighter and even easier to grow than their daisy cousin. Each of the following companion flowers thrives like a wild daisy. Each has a … [Read more...] about Enjoying Pretty Plants with Daisy Flowers
Experts Offer Overview of Real Estate Market
Google reported last week that the search question, “When is the housing market going to crash?” spiked 2,450% in the past month. We have a classic supply and demand issue, coupled with some of the lowest mortgage rates on record and a national reshuffling of population groups that has sent prices soaring higher in 2020 than any year since the Great Financial Crisis. Realtor.com reports the national median list price at $375,000, up 17% from the year before. Listings are down nationwide 53% … [Read more...] about Experts Offer Overview of Real Estate Market
Are Target Date Funds Right for You?
Target Date Funds are all the rage! Do you have your investments in them? They can be used for retirement funds, HSAs and 529s. Is this the smart direction for your investing? Will you maximize your returns? Let’s take a look at them and then you can decide if this is your best course of action. What are Target Date Funds? Target Date Funds are sometimes referred to as Life Cycle Funds. These funds take an approach based on one’s potential life cycle. For example, if you plan on … [Read more...] about Are Target Date Funds Right for You?
Using Summertime Herbs
'Tis the season to create the culinary celebration of summertime herbs. Enjoy the season of all your favorite herbs while you are out shopping at the Prescott Farmer’s Market, Watters Garden Center and local markets. Herbs bring a delightful flavor as well as medicinal properties. Some of my favorites include dill, tarragon and thyme. Please do not disregard mint, basil and cilantro. I have spoken to those in the past. Dill A unique herb that loves the summer sun, dill has a similar … [Read more...] about Using Summertime Herbs
Benefits of Obtaining Help in Day-to-Day Life
For some reason, it is extremely hard for many of us to ask for help, or even to recognize when we need help. Part of our nature is to be independent and to be helpful to others, but it is extremely difficult for some of us to recognize the fact that we might need help ourselves. I am not talking only about the group of people in their agedness or with a physical condition that prevents them from completing most day-to-day tasks. I am talking about overwhelmed parents and overworked … [Read more...] about Benefits of Obtaining Help in Day-to-Day Life
Home Buying: How Much Can You Afford?
Many people want to live the dream of owning their own home. Paying rent is a waste of money, they say. What you don’t want to happen is to overbuy or overextend and turn that dream into a nightmare. How much can you afford? Owning a home is special, and you must prepare accordingly. We will discuss the safeguards you need to put into place to eliminate a nightmare scenario. Often, the concept is, “I am paying rent now so if I pay the same amount for a mortgage then I will be all right.” … [Read more...] about Home Buying: How Much Can You Afford?
Practicing Powerful Daily Routines for Success
Most Americans wake up feeling tired and sluggish. Many of us wake up with a mood that is neutral or slightly negative and we spend most of the morning trying to get caught up. This article does not promise to makeover your entire life or guarantee that you’ll become a morning person ready to run five miles before the sun rises – unless that’s your goal, and if so, rise and grind! This article will, I hope, provide some opportunities for a shift in perspective. With small, incremental … [Read more...] about Practicing Powerful Daily Routines for Success
How to Help Pets Burn Energy in Summer
One challenge we all experience during the summer is how to burn enough energy as the temperature rises. Walks are more spread out and many canines become destructive, as they’re bored and have pent up energy. Here are some ideas on ways to challenge our furry friends mentally and physically when it’s too hot to be outside. One question I often ask clients is how they feed their dog. This is a great opportunity to burn energy, for there are many tools that provide enrichment during mealtime. … [Read more...] about How to Help Pets Burn Energy in Summer