Mountain View

Catherine Uretsky, Publisher and Editor

623.398.5541 info@EstrellaPublishing.com

Al Uretsky, Publisher and Sales Executive

623.398.5541 info@EstrellaPublishing.com

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From Me To You...

There are so many things to watch on TV nowadays. I hesitate to even use the word TV, as most people watch on their phones or tablets instead of using a traditional box in the corner of the living room. We switched from cable to streaming services a few years ago as a cost cutting measure, but with every new channel that has to be added to the subscription list and the unlimited wifi package we needed to handle all the extra data we are using, I am not sure how much money we are actually saving here.

I find myself scrolling and scrolling along, trying to pick the program or film I will commit my time to - and the amount of choice is baffling. As a child (I am going to date myself here) I had a whole three channels to choose from and those were only on for part of the day. Sunday afternoons were devoted to classic movies, Some Like It Hot, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers or The Pink Panther. I loved watching the stories unfold and the actors bumble towards a happy ending. That was the whole afternoon, family gathered together, concentrating on just the screen in front of us. Now family movie night consists of trying to find something that appeals to everyone, hunting across platforms for a free version. It is $25 on Amazon but Netflix has it for free this month! Then snacks have to be obtained, someone invariably puts popcorn in the microwave, and finally we settle down to

watch. By that I mean everyone whips out their cellphone and scrolls or plays games during the film.

I tried to introduce my kids to the classics but they didn’t enjoy them in the way I once did; let’s face it, their idea of a classic is Finding Nemo or The Princess Diaries. One movie we do all agree on is The Princess Bride, a wonderful combination of action, adventure, fantasy and romance. It has something for everyone and if you get a chance to bring your family together I highly recommend it. Just make sure they put their phones away first!

Catherine Uretsky Editor, Mountain View Magazine info@estrellapublishing.com 623.398.5541

Cutest Kid Competition

Who knew Vistancia and Trilogy had so many cute kids and grandkids? Our panel held a vote and the results were tied, so we have two winners - Zander and Mason. Congratulations, your parents have each won a $100 gift card to Carousel for an adult night out!

Carol & Michael Indicavitch and their three kids Zander, Torree and Isabella moved to Vistancia two years ago, and Zander loves to hang out with his friends and acting.

Zander is so kind and caring about others feelings that in kindergarten he would encourage the girls to run around the field by holding their hands and running with them and for the boys he would give kudos while they’re performing in music class. Everyone just loves Zander’s kindness, and warm heart!

Mason Doolittle has lived in Vistancia his whole life, along with big brother Jaxon, and his Mom & Dad Ryan and Brandi.

His favorite activities include going to the beach, swimming, playing with Jaxon, playing ball, playing (and inventing) games and cuddling with Mom.

Mason (who is 7 years old) was so excited for this year’s beach trip, literally counting down the days 2 months in advance. When they finally got to the resort, he told everyone, “We made it to the beach! It’s time to let the stress flow out… and the excitement flow in… and explode your heart!”

Get Over Yourself

Our thoughts are everything. They are always with us, and they drive our feelings and behaviors, NOT the other way around. Even when a feeling seems instantaneous, it’s always provoked by a thought. Always. The thought may occur in a nanosecond in the supercomputer that is our brain, but there’s some form of information processing that occurs before feelings and behaviors show up.

A self-limiting belief is a particular type of negative thought with painful emotion attached to it that we use against ourselves like a weapon to limit ourselves. Self-limiting beliefs are based on old scripts we’ve developed over time. They live in the subconscious. They are what I call the “Subconscious Bubble Gum” that serves as rules to live by in our minds. To add insult to injury, self-limiting beliefs drive the negative automatic thoughts (NATs) that live in the conscious mind, those pesky thoughts that pop into our heads and keep us from greatness or accomplishment.

Self-limiting beliefs come from our core beliefs, so it’s very important to discern what your core beliefs are. The purpose of core beliefs

is to make sense of our early experiences. Unfortunately, core beliefs are generally black-andwhite statements that are often not helpful.

So, why are these experiences so powerful? How do they have such a hold on us? Because they generally first occur during childhood, these experiences are some of the first ones we have, which means they set the standard for our view of the world and ourselves in it.

Early experiences are particularly powerful if they occur between the ages of 2 and 6 when we spend most of our time in a brainwave cycle known as Theta, which is the same state that a person is in when they are hypnotized or meditating. This is a state of hyper-learning, wherein we are very open to suggestion, which means we are easily influenced by information coming in from our environment. That information can turn into programming over time, especially if it’s reinforced by our experiences.

Submitted by Jennifer Bellingrodt, Psy.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist.

DISCLAIMER: Material is for informational purposes and not intended to be a substitute for evaluation or treatment by a licensed professional. Material is copyrighted and may only be reproduced with written permission of Dr. Bellingrodt.

Supporting Seniors

For many Americans, life today feels typical - we’re back in school, returning to the office and are enjoying our hobbies and social lives. Connecting in-person with friends and family is once again a regular part of our routine. Unfortunately, seniors (those aged 55+) have been more isolated than younger demographics during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Restricted visitation in assisted and long-term care facilities, lack of community events and lesser access to digital social networks has led to increased social isolation.

Luckily, there are tools caregivers can use to ease the physical and mental effects of social isolation among seniors. Finding safe ways to connect with the elderly and engage them in the latest happenings can do a world of good for those who might be feeling left behind. Here are some top tips for supporting your aging loved ones in

our ‘new normal.’

* Prioritize connecting consistently

Does the senior in your life know how to video chat? Conversations held face-to-face can make a huge difference in decreasing feelings of loneliness. Do they prefer to connect the old-fashioned way? Set up a weekly phone call or send friendly notes and gifts through the mail. Reminders that they are loved, appreciated and in your thoughts can help them feel a sense of inclusion.

* Create welcoming and safe social spaces

COVID-19 is still contagious and can be more dangerous for immunocompromised people like our senior population. Take proactive safety measures to make sure all guests, especially seniors, are comfortable when gathering socially. Just know that the more preparation you do, the more inclined a senior may be to join in on the socializing fun and ‘new normal’ we are learning to embrace.

Yum Yum

Father’s Day Bacon Kebabs

Ingredients

RELISH

6 scallions, thinly sliced

1 serrano chile, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

½ teaspoon finely grated peeled

ginger

½ teaspoon light brown sugar

Kosher salt

BACON AND ASSEMBLY

Vegetable oil (for grill)

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons tabasco

1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar

1 teaspoon Sriracha

½ pound thick-cut bacon

Lime wedges (for serving)

Directions

Step 1 - Toss scallions, chile, lime juice, oil, ginger, and brown sugar in a medium bowl to combine; season with salt.

Step 2 - Prepare a grill for medium-high, indirect heat (for a charcoal grill, bank coals on one side of grill; for a gas grill, leave one or two burners off). Oil grates. Combine honey, tabasco, vinegar, and Sriracha in a small bowl; set glaze aside.

Step 3 - Thread bacon onto 6–8 skewers, folding back and forth in accordion style, and grill over indirect heat, turning every minute or so, until browned and crisp, 10–12 minutes. Baste with reserved glaze, turning every 30 seconds or so, until lacquered and slightly sticky, about 3 minutes (move to an even cooler spot if needed to keep glaze from scorching). Serve bacon with relish and lime wedges.

Step 4 - Do Ahead: Glaze can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and chill.

Lock It Or Lose It

The 2022 Arizona Youth Survey (AYS) reports 80% of youth say one of their top reasons for not using drugs or alcohol is parental disapproval. Talking with your child about your expectations and verbalizing a no-use message regarding alcohol and drug use is one of the top protective factors that keep teens safe. However, AYS data shows in Peoria, almost half of our youth (48.1%) have never had a conversation about the risks of substance use with their parent or caregiver.

Another contributing factor to youth substance use is easy accessibility. 30% of our youth indicated they take substances right out of their home. At the top of the list are opioid prescription painkillers. Opioids are the most abused drugs, including synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and pain relievers such as oxycodone (Percocet®) and hydrocodone (Vicodin®).

Opioids are highly addictive. What You Can Do. Monitor Meds & Don’t Share. How aware are you of the quantities of medications currently in your home? Think about this: Would you know if some of your pills were missing? From this day forward, make sure you can honestly answer yes. If you need to refill your medicine more often than expected, that could indicate a problem.

If your teen is prescribed a medicine, be sure you control the medication. Be especially vigilant with medicines known to be addictive and commonly abused by teens, such as opioids, benzodiazepines, and stimulants.

Secure All Meds = Lock Them Up

If you’ve got kids or grandkids, treat Rx medications just like you treated the cabinet under the sink when you had toddlers. Lock them up. Take prescription medicine out of the medicine cabinet and lock/secure them in a place only you know about.

Dispose of Properly

Safely disposing of expired or unused medicine is a critical step in helping to protect your teens, your family, and your home and decrease the opportunity for your teens or their friends to abuse your medicine.

Submitted by The Peoria Primary Prevention Coalition (3PC), visit https://www.3PCoalition.org or scan the QR Code in our Lock It or Lose It ad in this issue.

Beauty Sleep

If you’re looking to improve your skin’s appearance, ask yourself: What are you doing for your skin while you’re asleep? Because about one-third of your day is spent sleeping, make the most of that valuable time by taking proactive steps so you can wake up with smoother, firmer, healthier-looking skin every morning.

“When you sleep, skin cell turnover rates increase, and your skin repairs itself from the day’s damage. But there’s more that you can do to help your skin while you’re sleeping,” says Dr. Joshua Zeichner, board-certified dermatologist. “By using a retinol serum at night, you can enhance the activities that are already naturally occurring. This can help your skin look its best when you wake up in the morning, and with continued use, improve radiance, texture and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”

Here are tips to revamp your nightly skincare routine so you’ll get the amazing results you want.

* Make sure to thoroughly remove dirt, grime and makeup

It’s vital to take time to cleanse your face before bedtime, removing all traces of makeup before applying serum and/or moisturizer. Otherwise, dirt, oils and makeup residue will be sitting on your skin all night long. After cleansing your face, use a retinol product that will refresh your skin overnight.

* Don’t neglect your pillowcases

If you’re going to press your face against a pillowcase for 6-8 hours every night, wouldn’t it be ideal to make sure yours are really clean? Wash your pillowcases frequently in hot water so you’ll be sleeping on a clean surface each night. Consider buying extra pillowcases so you can swap them out almost nightly. Your skin will thank you.

* Moisturize your bedroom, not just your face

If you have dry skin or live in an arid climate, it may benefit your skin to use a portable humidifier in your bedroom. Keeping your bedroom’s humidity levels between 40-60% will help your skin naturally absorb more hydration overnight, while you’re (literally) getting your beauty sleep.

Following these steps, you’ll soon see the results - a healthier, more youthful complexion that you’ll be happy to wake up to every morning.

Legal Advice

NON-STRESS PROBATE WITH A WILL

The Last Will and Testament is the document that allows courts to re-title accounts and assets which are in your name (not a trust) and which do not have a beneficiary designation.

If you are leaving assets to adults (not minors), then you can use beneficiary designations and avoid probate. A Will is still a good idea to have as a backup for any account without a beneficiary; either because a beneficiary was not listed or a financial company lost the beneficiary designation. If your spouse has children which are not also your children, the Will also can assure that your spouse’s half of the community property goes to you. Otherwise, intestate laws apply and your spouse’s children will be entitled to one-half of the community property and one-

half of your spouse’s sole and separate property.

Be sure to keep your Original Will, because using a copy requires a formal court probate hearing. Evidence proving the Will was not revoked is needed when the original cannot be located. Wills need two witnesses and a specially worded affidavit so the Will can be probated without a hearing. A handwritten Will does not need witnesses or a notary if all of the dispositive provisions are in your handwriting and all pages are originals.

Sharon Ravenscroft, Esq., The Cavanagh Law Firm, PA, Sun City and Phoenix offices, (623) 815-7451 or Sravenscroft@ CavanaghLaw.com. Sharon’s practice focuses on Wills, trusts, probate and trust administration. For more information www. sharonravenscroft.com.

Submitted by Sharon Ravenscroft, Esq.

Samurai Sudoku

This samurai sudoku puzzle is a great way to engage the brain and help develop logic skills. To solve this Samurai puzzle use standard sudoku rules for every 9x9 grid: each digit from 1 to 9 can only appear once in every row, column and 3x3 box. Good Luck!