Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
February 2022
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Published by Estrella Publishing LLC, PO Box 6962, Goodyear AZ 85338.
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Catherine Uretsky, Publisher and Editor 623.398.5541 info@EstrellaPublishing.com Al Uretsky, Publisher and Sales Executive 623.398.5541 info@EstrellaPublishing.com All contents © 2010-present Estrella Publishing LLC. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or part, without written permission from Estrella Publishing LLC is prohibited. Estrella Publishing accepts freelance contributions, there is no guarantee that materials will be used or returned. Some content is provided by Brandpointe and Family Features. Estrella Publishing is not responsible for the views of contributing writers and assumes no responsibility for errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Publisher or Advertisers. Estrella Publishing reserves the right to restrict all advertisement to their proper classification and to edit or reject any copy at its sole discretion.
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Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
February 2022
From Me To You... Have you ever sat in the space between? That moment you know your world is going to change. Perhaps you are waiting for news of a loved one, or anticipating a test result. I know many of you recognize that grey space. I sit here now. Nothing to be done. Everything I can do has been accomplished and the world turns on the actions of others. Others who will change my future for good or ill. This is the space where mothers of sick children pray for mercy. Children of ailing parents count the blessings of a life well lived. Those waiting for news of family and friends, or loved ones far away in known danger, pace a well-worn track in the floor. This space is one many of us know and reluctantly return to time after time. It is a place to sit in. A place to remember the good and accept what will come. No matter what that voice on the phone may tell us come morning. This is the place we come to after we have done
all the things available to us. Accepted that there is nothing more to be done but wait and pray. This is the longest night, and I have a sense of time rushing ahead and yet, at the same time, crawling at a snail’s pace. The future whizzing towards me, fizzing with possibility and dread, and yet turning to molasses, as time seems to gum up and halt in its tracks. I want to plan, to prepare, but for what? Until I have answers I am stuck, unsure of which direction to plant my foot, which path to follow. There will be a busy time soon enough. Tasks to complete and processes to follow. Accepted paths I will take, depending on the news to come. Either way the fates choose, I will be able to move forward again. Until then I pause and try to be serene, calm, until I know for sure. I feel the fellowship of this space. It calms me, holds me safe and cradles my raw nerves. The knowledge that multitudes have been here before me is comforting. I am not alone, no matter how lonely the situation feels. I am taking a well worn path and I sense others who bide their time nearby, traveling on their own journey and yet standing sentinel beside me. I gather strength from their presence, knowing we share this burden, melded together by our mutual desire for relief. We all carry hope, we all cherish a life, we all pause together in the space between.
Catherine Uretsky Editor, Estrella Publishing info@estrellapublishing.com 623-398-5541
Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
February 2022
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The Dr. Is In!
• Nasal Saline drops/spray to help clear the nose • Have your kids blow their nose often (booger sucker for kids who can’t) • ½- 1 teaspoon of honey (only for children over one year old) can be mixed in warm tea/water. Hi, I’m Dr. Gabe, your friendly neighborhood Pediatrician. One of the most common questions • See a pediatrician for fevers over 101 lasting for 5 days I am asked by parents is “What’s the best way Don’ts to take care of my child with cough and cold?” • Do not use Aspirin for sick children Whether it’s COVID-19, Influenza, or any one • Do not use regular strength VapoRub in kids of the 200 different viruses that cause fever, younger than 3 years old cough, and congestion, the answer I give is very straightforward: Rest/hydration/symptom control. • Do not use decongestants/allergy medications in children younger than 12 years old Unfortunately, as much as we parents may wish, there is no magic medicine to cure the symptoms • Do not use any medications with Codeine or Dextromethorphan for cough and many can cause harm as children do not • Do not hesitate to call your doctor for always metabolize medicine the same as adults. any concerns you have (there are no stupid The following guidelines are for children one questions) year old and over. See your pediatrician for • Do not hesitate to take your child to the specific guidance for children under one year Emergency Room for difficulty breathing or children with chronic health conditions. Keep in mind that all children with trouble breathing, chest pain, or concerns of dehydration should be These are general guidelines and no situation is the same. Any questions or concerns you have seen by a medical provider immediately. for your child should always be discussed with your pediatrician. No parent likes to see their kid Here are the do’s and don’ts of home care: suffering with a cold but the majority of these Do (children 1 year old and older) mild illnesses can be treated at home with the • Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (Ibuprofen) proper guidance and a lot of TLC. as needed for fever or pain • Cool mist humidifier (water only), clean daily
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Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
February 2022
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Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
February 2022
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Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
February 2022
Cookies!
applying hand sanitizer in between purchases. The goal is to provide a safe experience for Girl Scout Cookie customers, sellers, and create a successful sale for local girl members.
For six weeks each year, Girl Scouts in Arizona participate in the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world: The Girl Scout Cookie Program. This year, the cookie season for the Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) will take place Jan. 17 to Feb. 27, 2022. As in year’s past, all the Girl Scout Cookies’ proceeds stay local to help girls fund impactful projects to benefit the community; embark on amazing girl-led troop adventures; provide programs in STEM, the outdoors, life skills and entrepreneurship; maintain and improve four camp properties; and provide financial assistance that keeps Girl Scouting available and affordable for all girls. “As we continue to find our new normal and navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, many girl entrepreneurs will utilize digital sales in the upcoming cookie program. Cookie entrepreneurs are planning on a safe and fun season by opting into in-person and/or digital sales through Digital Cookies, Girl Scout’s e-commerce platform available for each girl to build and manager her own website,” says Mary Mitchell, interim Co-CEO for GSACPC. Girls will also provide socially distant and contactless options inperson and apply CDCrecommend precautions like wearing a face mask, advising customers to pay with card, and Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
“The Girl Scout Cookie Program is more than a sale. It provides girls the skills they need to become successful women. Girl Scouts learn to invest in themselves, their troops, and their community. Encouraging girls’ interest in entrepreneurship prepares them for any future career pathway,” says Christina Spicer, interim Co-CEO for GSACPC. “The qualities that lead to successful entrepreneurship, like curiosity, confidence, and innovation, are essential for all types of academic and career success. There aren’t many organizations that help girls learn key entrepreneurship skills - Girl Scouting does!” Bigger and better than ever, here is a snapshot of everything you need to know for the 2022 cookie season: GSACPC Cookie Lineup • NEW!! Adventurefuls: Brownie-inspired cookie with caramel-flavored crème and a hint of sea salt. $5 • Lemon-Ups: Crispy lemon cookies baked with inspiring messages. $5 • Thin Mints: Mint flavored with a delicious chocolaty coating. Vegan. $5 • Tagalongs: Layers of peanut butter with a rich, chocolaty coating. $5 Samoas: Caramel and toasted coconut-covered cookies. $5 • Trefoils: Iconic and delicious shortbread cookies. $5 • Do-si-dos: Crisp and crunchy oatmeal outside and creamy peanut butter inside. $5 • Girl Scout S’mores: Crunchy graham sandwich cookies with creamy chocolate and marshmallowy filling. $6 ª• Toffee-tastics: Buttery (and gluten-free) cookies with sweet, crunchy golden toffee bits. $6 To order your cookies visit www.girlscouts.org and find a girl scout near you!
February 2022
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Winter Fires According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), home fires occur more in the winter than during any other season. It’s important that you take the proper steps to ensure your family and home are protected from the unexpected. Test, maintain and replace. If you can’t think of when you last installed your smoke alarms, chances are, it’s time to replace them. Smoke alarms need to be replaced at least every 10 years. When it’s time to replace your alarms, install alarms with a 10-year sealed battery that eliminates battery replacements for a decade. Plan and practice your escape plan. Involve everybody in your household when developing an emergency escape plan. Identify two exits out of each room, including windows and doors, and set a dedicated meeting spot outside. Once outside, stay outside and call 911. Be sure to practice your escape plan with your entire family at least twice a year.
and be ready to shut it quickly if heavy smoke or fire is present. If you can’t get out, cover vents and cracks around the door with clothing, towels or newspapers to keep smoke out. Call 911, stay where you are and signal for help at the window with a light-colored cloth or flashlight. Stay low. Heavy smoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling, so if you must escape through smoke, drop to the floor, crawl on your hands and knees and keep your head 12 to 24 inches above the floor. Close windows and doors. Before bed or when leaving home, you should always close windows and doors as a preventative measure. This is important because oxygen will allow fires to continue to grow if a fire does start. If a fire breaks out when you are home, focus on your escape plan rather than closing windows and doors. This allows you a better chance to escape.
Identify your exit. Before opening a door, feel the doorknob or higher on the door with the back of your hand. If it is hot, or if there is smoke coming around the door, leave it closed and use your second way out. If you decide to open a door, do it slowly
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Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
February 2022
Furry Friends If you’re one of the more than 90 million American households with a pet congratulations! No matter which breed you’ve adopted or rescued, it’s likely your furry friend is an important member of the family. In fact, studies have shown that pets can help keep you healthy because they offer companionship, unconditional love and a motivation to exercise. If you’ve already added a pet to the family or are considering adopting one, the rewards of pet parenthood are many, but it’s also important to understand the realistic costs of lifelong pet care and be financially prepared. Just like human members of the family, pets need routine wellness checks to stay healthy and can also get sick or injured unexpectedly. And that can impact your budget. Rather than be surprised by the cost of your pet’s care, you can prepare for potential health care expenses before they become a reality. Two budget-friendly solutions for both routine and unexpected costs are pet financing solutions, like CareCredit, and pet health insurance, like Pets Best. The two solutions work independently or together as a comprehensive safety net. Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
Being proactive about your pet’s routine and preventative care not only keeps them healthy, but it can also help keep costs down. Dr. Chris Roth, DVM recommends: * Scheduling yearly veterinary examinations. * Keeping your pet current on recommended vaccinations to avoid preventable disease. * Ensuring proper use of preventive medications to avoid Heartworm, intestinal parasites, Tick-borne disease, and flea infestation. * Neutering or spaying your pet to avoid unwanted, and expensive, pregnancies. * Feeding your pet the right nutritional mix with a side of exercise to maintain a healthy weight. * Offering affection and play with your pet to help protect its physical and emotional health. * Outfitting your dog or cat with an ID tag or microchip with its name, address and phone number in case it gets lost. As you embark on pet parenthood, take some simple steps to ensure that you can cover pet costs through every stage of life. Start an emergency fund just in case the unthinkable happens. It’s all about having peace of mind that you’re prepared to care for the family member you love.
February 2022
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Life was meant for great adventures and close friends. At Robson Reserve at PebbleCreek, you can have both. With planned outings and adventures, there is always something new to enjoy and someone new to enjoy it with.
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Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
February 2022
Photographs courtesy of L Kopis and Hollywood Company Productions All residences must be occupied by at least one resident 55 years or older. Services provided are limited to those described in the Lease or Residency Agreement. The community is not a hospital or nursing home. All dimensions and measurements, including without limitation square footages, ceiling heights and window sizes, styles and locations, are approximate and may vary per floorplan. Measurements in model residences may vary slightly without incurring any obligation or liability. Actual residence measurements will vary. Terms are subject to change without notice. 19RC150 10//20
Money Matters With prices on the rise, nearly everyone is looking for ways to make their money go further. In fact, the latest Google Search data shows that individual searches for “monthly budget template” increased a whopping 350 percent in the last five years in the U.S. alone. While there’s no silver bullet when it comes to managing your money, you can build healthier financial habits that help you move toward your goals. Here are four tips for taking more control of your money: 1. Know where your money is going The first step toward any goal is starting with a clear-eyed view of where you are. Digital personal finance apps like Google Pay and others make it easy to see exactly how much money you have, what you’ve spent and where you’ve spent it - all from your mobile phone. You can quickly see how much you’ve spent by category or by business. The detailed view can help you identify which expenses you can cut back on without feeling it too much.
2. Try the 50/30/20 rule of thumb The general idea is that about 50 percent of your money should go toward essentials (housing, transportation, medical costs, groceries, etc.), 30 percent toward wants (dining out, new clothes, entertainment, etc.) and about 20 percent toward paying off debt or saving for the future. 3. Take advantage of special deals and offers Online offers and deals are the modern-day coupons without all the clipping and sorting. With personal finance apps like Google Pay, all of the deals available to you are accessible and searchable through your mobile app. 4. Aim for progress, not perfection Just as overly restrictive diets don’t usually work for long, the same is true for restrictive budgets. Both fail because they aren’t sustainable and can lead to counterproductive splurging. Rather than aiming for perfection, small, consistent steps can make a real difference. The goal of taking control of your finances is not to deprive yourself of living an enjoyable life - it’s to create better habits, one step at a time, to set yourself up for a more secure and prosperous future.
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Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
February 2022
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Yum Yum
Are you looking for a delicious recipe to help fuel your body throughout the day? Check out this recipe that packs a nutritious and filling punch. Chicken Vegetable Bowl Ingredients Chicken 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or tenders 1/4 cup olive oil 4 cloves garlic, minced or grated 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika Rice and peppers 4 hard boiled eggs, sliced 1 1/2 cups brown rice
3 cups chicken broth 2 peppers, sliced in strips 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced Salt and pepper Instructions 1. In large bowl, combine olive oil, garlic, onion powder, pepper and smoked paprika. Add chicken and toss well. Cover and place in fridge. 2. Add chicken broth to medium-size pot, bring to boil, then add the rice. Stir and place lid on pot and turn heat down to low. Allow rice to cook until all the water is gone and rice is no longer hard, about 30 minutes. 3. While rice is cooking, heat two skillets to medium-high heat. 4. Place peppers in zip-top bag and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Seal and shake well to coat. 5. In skillet, saute chicken for 3-4 minutes per side, flipping a couple of times until cooked through. 6. While chicken is cooking, cook peppers for about 5 minutes, flipping once or twice in another skillet. 7. Remove everything and let cool for 5 minutes. Once cool, dice chicken into cubes. 8. To assemble, divide rice among four bowls. Top each with equal amounts of chicken, pepper and eggs slices. 9. Garnish with shredded cheese and enjoy!
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Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
February 2022
Sweet Dreams Do you get enough sleep each night? Or are you a “short sleeper,” someone who routinely sleeps less than seven hours per 24-hour period. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society both recommend that adults aged 18 to 60 sleep at least seven hours each night to promote optimal health and well-being. Increasingly, researchers are finding that poor sleep quality and duration is associated with a slew of negative health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, stroke and Alzheimer’s. So, how can you improve sleep in the face of daily stresses and work-life demands? 1) Establish a sleep routine including wind-down rituals and a consistent bedtime. These could include bathing at night, turning down lights, setting your devices to nighttime mode or Do Not Disturb, relaxing with a weighted blanket, and cutting off eating and drinking several hours before your established bedtime.
Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
2) Incorporate small, realistic changes, like adjusting your immediate environment with cooler nighttime temperatures, new bedding or limiting evening screen time, versus more drastic changes that may be hard to maintain, like cutting out coffee cold turkey. 3) Tie your new routine to existing habits. Behavioral scientists say we are more successful adopting new healthy habits when they are tethered to existing ones. If you watch TV or read to unwind before bed, adding a weighted blanket that elicits a calming sensation through the application of deep touch pressure can compound the relaxing effect. If you work out in the evenings, adding a few minutes of gentle yoga, breathwork or meditation to the end of your session can help prep your mind and body for sleep.
4) Give yourself time to settle into your new routine. There will be days where family, social or work obligations disrupt your new pattern, and cutting off screen time or eating and drinking well in advance of bedtime is an impossibility. This is where a meditation routine or weighted blanket can come in handy, helping to quickly quiet a busy mind or body close to bedtime. Eventually, you’ll be reaping the health benefits of consistent, quality sleep.
February 2022
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Fill In The Words
3 Letters hug 4 Letters poem gift only like 5 Letters heart
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6 Letters plants deeply letter 7 Letters ribbons adoring sharing admirer forever
8 Letters exciting precious faithful I Love You quantity 9 Letters carnation celebrate ravishing
Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
lovebirds wonderful
12 Letters appreciative
10 Letters passionate fourteenth fall in love 11 Letters St. Valentine considerate
February 2022
Samurai Sudoku for February This samurai sudoku puzzle is a great way to engage the brain and help develop logic skills. There are 5 overlapping grids with one unique solution. Each of 4 corners are shaded. To solve this Samurai puzzle use standard sudoku rules for every 9x9 grid: each digit from 1 to 9 can only appear once in Samurai Sudoku Puzzle #25 every row, column and 3x3 box. Good Luck! Solutions are on our website www.EstrellaPublishing.com This samurai sudoku puzzle is a great way to engage the brain and help develop logic skills. There are 5 overlapping grids with one unique solution. Each of 4 corners are shaded. 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.
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Samurai sudoku grid, symmetric, beginner No 25 Created: https://www.sudoku-puzzles-online.com
Estrella Publishing - The Park magazine
February 2022
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