Geno Ross | Ross Lifestyle | February 2023 Digital Newsletter

VALLEY OF THE SUN

JANUARY | FEBRUARY

presented by Geno Ross

EVENT CALENDAR

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2023

Disney on Ice: Road Trip Adventures Phoenix | Jan. 15 disneyonice.com/road-trip-adventures

Take a road trip with your favorite Disney characters! This interactive Disney on Ice show will take on a journey through the worlds of Aladdin, The Lion King, Toy Story 4, Frozen, and more! While you’re there, you can also enjoy carnival games and a dance party with your favorite Disney princesses.

Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction Scottsdale | Jan 21 - 22 barrett-jackson.com

America’s number one collector car auction for over 50 years, the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction draws car enthusiasts from around the world. Barrett-Jackson produces The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions in Scottsdale, Arizona; Palm Beach, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada and Houston, Texas. These events draw over a half-million people each and are watched by millions on television and via livestreams!

An American in Paris Phoenix | Feb. 5 phoenixtheatre.com/the-season/american-paris

This hit musical inspired by the 1951 film is set to the music of George and Ira Gershwin and features many timeless classics, such as I Got Rhythm and You Can’t Take That Away From Me. In the story, a French girl and young American soldier dream of a new start in the most romantic city in the world. Prepare to be amazed by decadence and grandeur in this modern theatrical telling.

Waste Management Phoenix Open Scottsdale | Feb. 11 – Feb. 12 wmphoenixopen.com

The WM Phoenix Open has hosted some of the greatest golfers to play the game for almost a century. The list of participants reads like the Golf Hall of Fame and scores of spectators gather each year to see each of these great athletes make their own mark on history year after year. The lush grass and majestic desert backdrop provide a remarkable stage for the game loved and played around the world!

Super Bowl LVII Glendale | Feb. 12 azsuperbowl.com

Arizona is set to host one of the largest spectacles on earth for the fourth time!

The NFL Championship game known as Super Bowl. The game has served as the final game of the season for the National Football League since 1966 when it replaced the NFL Championship Game. The winning team will be awarded the Vince Lombardi Trophy, named after the Hall of Fame coach who won the first two Super Bowl games. The Super Bowl is among the world’s most-watch single sporting events and frequently commands the largest audience among all American Broadcasts throughout the year.

Patio Makeover

With the holidays still visible in our rearview, budgeting for a patio update can feel a bit daunting. Here are some tips on bringing your indoors – outdoors, without breaking the bank.

Let’s start with rugs – if your patio flooring is a simple cement slab, an area rug can drastically enhance the look and feel. If you have tile needing a little TLC, your local hardware store will have a cleaner specific to your patio stone. If your goal is to make the tile pop, try a solid colored rug. The key here is to match your home’s decorative integrity so you’ll want to stick with a similar color palette for a more cohesive look. You can even pull some small pieces from indoors for continuity, just make sure they are all-weather items that can withstand the elements. The rug itself should be a polypropylene material which can be designed in many different textures and colors/ patterns and works well in the sunlight. Polypropylene is also budget friendly and easy to maintain.

Next, let’s talk seating – depending on the size and shape of your patio, a fire pit is always a nice centerpiece. Natural or gas powered fire pits can add a romantic ambience while also keeping your guests comfortable well into the evening. Be sure to place your furniture around the fire pit strategically, with the shape of your entire space in mind. Adding some updated cushions is another way to spruce up the space without inflating your budget. Top it off with some accent pillows alongside freshly potted flowers and your guests will feel right at home.

If you still have some room in the budget, switching out your dated hardware can completely transform a space. Modernize your lighting or update the handles on your outdoor kitchen cabinets. Its simple touches like solid black sconces or marble cabinet knobs that can really unite a vibe. One way to “update” the lighting is to use the natural light to your advantage. If your patio is uncovered, add some shrubbery overhead to control the amount of direct sunlight, this will also help minimize the chaos caused by dust storms and rain. If your patio is fully covered, perhaps adding some hanging lights will give that finishing touch? Consider the lighting inside your home and let that spill out onto your patio. Without having to dig into savings, these small changes will have you entertaining on your patio all year long, with the look and feel of a new addition!

REAL ESTATE corner

Notice the Good

The old adage “count your blessings” is one bit of advice we should all take to heart. After all, in a world that can sometimes seem mean and negative, it can be easy to overlook the positive. The truth is, good things are all around us if we just slow down and look. Practicing mindfulness—being aware of our thoughts and learning to focus on the good little moments of everyday life—is the key to gratitude. And studies show that tracking your gratitude can help increase energy, improve sleep, lower blood pressure, and help people feel less lonely. Who doesn’t want more of that?

To practice mindfulness, try starting a gratitude journal. If that seems overwhelming, begin by simply jotting down a few things you’re grateful for a few days a week. Keep a list on your phone or on a notepad on your nightstand. After a few weeks, start writing in a journal and look back at your previous notes. Reliving all these positive moments can truly promote happiness. Stuck on things to jot down? Turns out, the littlest things can make a big difference. Maybe it’s your morning cappuccino, the way your puppy greets you in the morning with a kiss, a new warm fuzzy sweater, or a bird chirping outside your door. Whatever it is, savor it and be grateful for it. Even better are communal moments that brought joy …a stranger that holds a door open, a partner who brings you a cup of tea, or a driver who lets you out into traffic. Returning these simple acts of kindness can also generate gratitude for others.

Looking back to happy moments or people in your life can also generate gratitude. Hang photos of family members and friends who make you smile. Find images the stir up good memories—a vacation, a wedding, or the birth of a baby—and hang them in your home to remind you of life’s greatest gifts. Of course, looking back can also recall painful times, like when you or a loved one was very sick or getting divorced. Recalling these difficult passages and recognizing that you have come through the experience and are now in a better place will help gratitude grow. We all must deal with life’s problems, but by practicing gratitude you may be calm in the tough spots that we will all eventually have to face.

Benevolent Bacon Potato Skins

INGREDIENTS

5 yukon or red potatoes

1 tbsp vegetable oil 2 avocados 1/2 small onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 lime, juiced to taste sea salt & ground black pepper 3 slices SWEET EARTH Enlightened Foods Hickory & Sage Benevolent Bacon 2 tbsp canned corn 2 tbsp canned black beans 2 tbsp seeded and diced Roma tomato 1 tbsp minced green onion 1 tbsp minced cilantro optional shredded cheddar cheese GoodNes.com

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350° F. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise. Scoop out the inside, leaving .5 inch left. Toss potato skins in oil; place onto a cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.

Peel and mash 2 avocados in a medium serving bowl. Stir in onion, garlic, lime juice, salt and pepper.

Lightly oil a skillet and bring to medium heat. Cook Benevolent Bacon for 2-3 minutes per side, turning only once. Remove from skillet and set aside to cool. Dice bacon when cooled.

In a bowl, mix together corn, black beans, tomato, benevolent bacon, green onion, cilantro. Set aside.

Place 1 tablespoon of guacamole in the half baked potato skin and top with filling. Makes 10 servings.

Sprinkle with sea salt, pepper or cheese if desired. Serve immediately.