Blog

Six Secrets to ‘Clean’ Eating

Eating ‘clean’ isn’t always practical or feasible because of a fast-paced lifestyle and limited food availability, but it’s possible to stay on track if you know the secrets to success. Making healthier choices is not as challenging as most may think, according to lifestyle fitness chef Jen Arricale.

“It’s really no secret at all,” Arricale reveals. “With the right information, you can make the most of what you put on your plate. Master the basics, and you’ll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle, even if you do get sidetracked once in a while.”

Arricale recommends these six not-so-secret tips for eating clean:

Organic is best; natural is great; but healthy is a lie. ‘Organic’ describes natural foods grown without chemicals. Sometimes organic foods cost more and aren’t always available. ‘Natural’ foods (canned, for example) are not highly processed. But foods labeled as ‘healthy’ may not be healthy at all. Don’t be fooled by labels. Read them.

Clean foods can come from a box. Even with pre-packaged foods, read the nutrition labels and make your own judgments. Don’t be swayed by billboard-life hype on the front of food packages – the fewer ingredients, the better.

Processed isn’t always bad. Highly processed foods may contain dangerous chemicals, especially those that are shelf-stable for years. But minimally processed foods can still be organic, natural and clean. Compare highly processed foods, such as lunch meat, to less processed ones, like canned tomatoes.

GMO isn’t always bad, either. Genetically modified foods, or GMOs, aren’t always Frankenfoods to be avoided. Some seeds have been crossbred to withstand drought or grow in harsh conditions, and it may be a natural mix of plants to yield something stronger. Ideally, we would avoid anything modified just to be safe, but in today’s industrialized world, most produce and grains have been modified at some level from their original heirloom seed.

Even clean eaters do dirt once in a while. What’s important is to acknowledge that one plan doesn’t fit all. Do what is best for your health and happiness.

The definition of ‘clean’ eating ultimately depends on you. We’re not cavemen. We don’t hunt and gather. And most adults rarely make meals from scratch anymore. A smart definition of eating clean is to choose ingredients you can pronounce and buy in the store.

3 Time Management Tips – Multitasking Included!

Time management can be a challenge—in fact, 60 percent of Americans recently surveyed by Moen wish they had a better handle on their daily to-dos. To rein in your schedule:

Prioritize. Never underestimate the power of a list. Listing out your tasks helps you visually separate what’s important from what’s not, as well as group similar items (e.g., chores, computer work), which streamlines your schedule. Rank your tasks with numbers in order of priority, and cross them off as you complete them—you’ll be amazed at what you accomplish!
 
Multitask—the right way. Seventy-one percent of Americans in the survey reported multitasking while watching television, and 67 percent multitask while cleaning. Multitasking can be effective—if you multitask one mental and one physical activity, like chatting on the phone while loading the dishwasher. Juggling too many mental activities at once can kill your concentration, and doing too many physically activities is, well, physically impossible!

Unplug. Your iCloud calendar can be a lifesaver when it comes to staying on schedule—but for all its benefits, technology can be a time-suck. Make an appointment for a weekend of R&R or a vacation (and avoid logging on during it!), or catch up on other activities you normally wouldn’t have time for, like quality time with family or volunteer work.
 
Source: Moen
 
Buying or selling a home is a time-sensitive process. I can help! Contact me today for more information.

5 Tips to Protect Finished Home Furnishings

Furnishing your home can be expensive—especially when you have a lot of square footage to cover. But the truth is, no matter how much you spend, no furniture is immune to damage. Protect your investment with these tips, courtesy of Gina Moss, manager of technical training at Furniture Medic.

• If you incorporate scented candles or oils into your home’s décor, be sure that each candle or oil product is kept on a tray or in a holder. This not only protects your finished surfaces from spills, but also prevents any dye discoloration or damage to the finish.

• When arranging décor in the kitchen or dining room, avoid using plastic or vinyl placements in your tablescape. The chemicals from the mats can leave an imprint or “ghost image” on the finish.

• If you often purpose non-food-safe furniture as a buffet table or serving station, use trivets, thick oven mitts or dish towels underneath hot casserole dishes to protect your finished surfaces from white-spotting

• Drink coasters aren’t just for the ultra-paranoid. Use coasters of all shapes and sizes around your home to protect finished surfaces from dreaded water rings.

• When cleaning your home, be careful not to leave damp towels, wash cloths or paper products soaked in cleaning fluid on finished wood surfaces. If they are left too long, it can lead to permanent white spots and discoloration.

Source: Furniture Medic

Helpful Tips for Moving With Pets

People move for all sorts of reasons, and while some moves can boast exciting opportunities, even a move under the best circumstances can be unbearably stressful. Transitioning to a new home can be hard on the furry members of your household, as well. Thankfully, there are measures you can put in place to make your next move as smooth as possible for your pets.

Board Your Pet on Moving Day
Ideally, you will not keep your pet around on moving day. The chaos can be stressful for your pet and you likely won’t give your pet the attention it will want or need. Movers can also let out your pet unintentionally. Avoid this by boarding your pet or asking a trusted friend or family member to pet sit.

Keep an Essentials Box
Just as you should keep essentials with you during a move so that you have vital items, if your moving truck is lost or delayed, it can be helpful to create the same essentials box for your pet. Include any prescriptions, favorite toys, familiar items and their bed. 

Make it Familiar
You may not be able to explain to Fido why you left your old house, but you can make their new home feel familiar right away. Set up a small area with your pet’s toys, food and bed. Keep daily rituals as similar as possible. Particularly for outdoor cats, allow them to get acclimated to a bedroom or smaller space before letting them rule the roost.

Fill Out the Paperwork
Moving comes with a lot of paperwork, but don’t forget to add your pet’s files to the mix. Update their tags or microchip information to the new address and phone number and request that your previous vet transfer records to a local clinic.

Why You Shouldn’t Drain Your Savings Account to Cover a Down Payment

If you want to buy a home, you’ll probably need to make a substantial down payment. Putting down 20 percent can help you avoid paying hundreds of dollars each month for private mortgage insurance. You may be thinking about using all the money in your savings account for a down payment, but that could be a big mistake.

Emergencies and Repairs
You could lose your job or become unable to work because of an illness or injury at any time, or a family member could be unable to work or have unexpected medical bills. That’s why you should always have an emergency fund with enough money to cover at least three months’ worth of living expenses.

When you rent an apartment, you can call the landlord or maintenance department to fix any problem. When you own a house, the responsibility for repairs and maintenance falls squarely on you. Many people are unprepared for the total cost of homeownership. Having money set aside in a savings account for repairs and maintenance is much better than paying bills with a high-interest credit card.

The house you bought might need renovations to make it a comfortable or safe place to live. Upgrades could easily cost tens of thousands of dollars. You wouldn’t be able to fund these projects with savings if you emptied your account to pay for a down payment. Using a high-interest credit card could leave you overwhelmed with debt and unable to afford your mortgage.

Liquidity
A savings account can be accessed at any time. When money is tied up in a house, it can be harder to utilize. If you suddenly encountered a financial problem, it would be much easier to withdraw money from your savings account than to get a home equity loan or line of credit, especially if you just recently bought your house and didn’t have much equity.

Other Priorities
You probably have other financial goals that are as important, if not more important, than buying a house. High-interest credit card debt could take up a huge chunk of your monthly earnings, and high balances could make it difficult or impossible to buy a house or car with a favorable interest rate. The sooner you pay off your credit cards, the better off you’ll be in the long run. Retirement savings grow over time through compounded interest. If you haven’t started investing for retirement, you should before you buy a house.

Take a Balanced Approach
Buying a house is a major investment. It can be tempting to put all your savings toward a down payment, but you should also focus on other priorities and be prepared for the unexpected. Make sure you are building an emergency fund, paying down debt, and saving for retirement, and consider delaying a home purchase, if necessary, to keep your priorities in balance.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or legal advice.

How to Keep Pets Safe during a Remodel

Your pets may not be top of mind when you’re starting a new remodeling project, but if your dog gets out or your cat runs away – it can add a whole lot of stress to the job. Here are some easy tips to think about when remodeling a home with pets.

1. Plug any holes in the wall or floor. A curious animal can squeeze into a tiny space and quickly become scared or trapped.

2. Make sure your pet has a current ID or a microchip, in case they do get out.

3. Consider boarding your pet somewhere safe during a remodeling project.

4. Create a pet-safe room. Put them in your bedroom with food, water, a litter box and some new toys. It’s worth the additional cries or paws at the door to ensure their safety.

5. Make sure that any workers coming into your home are aware that you have pets.

Remember to make sure your pets have plenty of water, especially if you have dogs because when they are stressed, they tend to drink more. With many remodeling jobs there can be more dust in the air, so it’s important to make sure the water bowl is full and continually fresh.