Surprise Living

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 day 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. 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. Neither this publication nor Estrella Publishing is an agent of or in any way affiliated with the associated Developer nor Homeowners Association, or any of their respective affiliates. This publication has not been approved by, sponsored by, or endorsed by the associated Developer nor Homeowners Association in any way.

From Me To You...

I have been watching our robotic vacuum cleaner a lot recently, we named him Gary after the snail in SpongeBob SquarePants. Now that the kids are away at college I moved him upstairs to give my carpets a regular cleaning without worrying about it. (Also there is much less chance that he will get caught on the detritus of teenage life now that the kids are away.)

The vacuum is supposed to clean on a somewhat random pattern and send himself home when he needs to recharge or empty his bin. The thing is, Gary seems to spend most of his time trying to get home, circling the same area over and over, bumping into walls and furniture. The more he circles, the more I am tempted to pick Gary up and place him on his base to cut out the hours of mindless meandering. It wont help though, if I return Gary to his base without letting him find his own way there then he will not learn how to get home next time.

The parallels to raising children are remarkable. You watch them grow and make mistakes, trying to find their way in life, turning on the same

axis over and over again. As tempting as it is to just tell them how to achieve their goals, or even worse, find the solution for them, that teaches them nothing. I take that back, it teaches them that someone will always be there to pick up the slack and solve their problems. The trick to successful parenting, in my mind, is to allow your children to find their own solutions. I am not saying that you can’t help them or guide them, but the value lies in learning that things can be done by yourself, and the pride in knowing you can do things for yourself is immeasurable.

Having said that, I just found my vacuum in the master closet, he ran out of power trying to get back to his base by himself. Just like kids, if they really fail, we will always place them gently back on their base with a reassuring pat and some encouraging words. “You’ll get it next time, kid.”

Catherine Uretsky Editor, Surprise Living Magazine info@estrellapublishing.com 623.398.5541

Reading Readiness

When parents instill a love of reading in their children from an early age, it increases their oral language skills and vocabulary knowledge, which helps to build a solid foundation for later reading ability. In addition, focusing on key early literacy skills during the preschool years can help parents and teachers identify potential indicators of learning challenges so early intervention can be provided. Beyond developing early language and literacy skills, reading may also increase a child’s ability to understand the emotions of others - a critical life skill that leads to empathy and compassion.

Dr. Maria Shaheen, senior director of early childhood education at Primrose Schools, provides five tips to help parents encourage a lasting love of reading in their children:

1) Introduce language as early as possible - even before birth. Speaking and reading to your baby during pregnancy establishes voice recognition and promotes cognitive development.

2) Make reading a regular part of bedtime

routine. Reading books should be a favorite bedtime activity. With daily “tuck-in” stories and snuggling together at bedtime, infants and young children begin to associate reading with comfort, warmth and security.

3) Offer a wide variety of stories. This can include nursery rhymes, poetry, nonfiction and fiction from many genres, as well as books that celebrate a wide range of cultures and diverse characters.

4) Help children discover the magic of books for themselves. Books can help young children understand their own feelings when characters face similar life events, so parents should pick topics their children may be curious about.

5) Make reading a fun learning experience. Preschool children can create books with their own stories about things they do with their families. Parents can also play silly word games that help children play with sounds, such as rhyming games or tongue twisters.

Starting a reading routine throughout daily life models for children the importance of reading as a way to gain information and valuable life skills, explore new worlds, encourage imagination and have fun.

Legal Advice

NON-STRESS PAY ON DEATH DESIGNATIONS

To avoid probate, beneficiary designations work well for accounts and real estate, if you are leaving assets to a few people or charities.

Without a beneficiary designation or trust, you can avoid probate only if the assets do not exceed $100,000 of real property, $75,000 in personal property (cash, accounts and tangible personal property), or you do not expect more than $5,000 in wages in the year after your death.

For accounts, there several terms used: pay on death pay on death (or “POD”) or transfer on death (or “TOD”). For IRAs and 401ks, the terms “designated beneficiary” is used.

Financial institutions do not use the terms POD and TOD interchangeably. If you use one of the terms and are told that the bank does not have that type of designation, then ask for the other type of designation, or even ask whether any beneficiary designation is available.

Remember never to list a minor on a designation for POD, TOD or IRA type account. A minor cannot receive more than $10,000 in a year without a court conservatorship; which is more costly than a probate and distributes the funds when the child reaches 18. In such cases, a revocable trust and Will are more effective and less expensive.

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

Home Reno

Balancing beauty with practicality is a common challenge when renovating and upgrading a home. This desire to marry personal style with purpose was evident at the 2023 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. Popular trends especially cater to tech-savvy homeowners looking for innovative products that can make their home lives more convenient. If you want to create a home that combines personal style with practicality, check out five top home trends for 2023 and beyond.

1. Wide open spaces

Homeowners are looking for ways to create more space in their homes to increase their square footage and functionality. According to the NKBA, 74 percent of homeowners want to tear down walls to open up the kitchen to other areas of the home.

2. Design and function

There’s no need to choose between beauty and practicality. Today’s modern appliance brands are finding the intersection of design and function for homeowners who want the best of both worlds. The latest counter depth refrigerators

are great examples of how you don’t have to sacrifice space for design or vice versa.

3. Sustainability matters

Like many other industries, sustainability is a popular trend for kitchens. From LED lights to water-efficient fixtures and Energy Star certified appliances, homeowners are looking for ways to make more environmentally friendly choices in their homes.

4. Steam power

Many appliances showcased at KBIS 2023 harness the power of steam. From steam ovens to steam closets, companies are innovating appliances to make a homeowner’s day-to-day life cleaner and tidier with minimal fuss.

5. Space and versatility

Space and versatility are top of mind to homeowners. According to a recent survey, homeowners 50 percent of respondents saying they were specifically looking for an extra-large refrigerator.

Are you ready to start on your kitchen upgrades?

You’ll be ahead of the curve in style and functionality by incorporating a couple of these trends into your home renovations.

Combatting Depressive Feelings

As promised in last month’s article, Blessed AND Depressed, I’m back with 6 ways to combat depressive feelings:

1. Start a gratitude journal by writing down 3 things each day for which you are grateful. It’s all about perspective! If you want a more structured approach, visit ThePsychoeducationAcademy. Thinkific.com for a free GLAD exercise.

2. When negativity comes in, redirect your attention to the positives in your life. Look back at your gratitude journal for reminders. Take some deep breaths and picture the positives in your life or some other scene that makes you happy.

3. If you’re a person of faith, you can pray for positive thoughts, redirection or some other relief and tell the devil to get behind you.

4. Ensure that you’re physically doing what you can to fight depression. Make sure you’re getting the right number and type of calories, drinking

plenty of water, exercising and getting adequate sleep.

5. Talk to someone about how you’re feeling. Maybe a different perspective or a more objective look at the situation can help you reframe things in a more positive–or at least less negative–way.

6. Get out of yourself by helping someone else, like going on a mission trip or volunteering at a soup kitchen, disabled veterans’ association, homeless shelter or other agency that helps people who are struggling. This can also serve as a reality check, reminding you of the good in your own life.

For more ideas, search “depression antidotes” on www.doctorbellingrodt.com. If you’re depression has you thinking you don’t want to be alive anymore, seek immediate medical attention by dialing 911 or dial 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 24/7/365.

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.

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

Yum Yum

To help ring in spring and celebrate the possibilities of citrus, try this standout Lemon Loaf starring Sunkist lemon juice and zest, ideal for brunch, dessert or an afternoon treat.

Ingredients

Loaf

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 eggs, room temperature

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups cake flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup sour cream

2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Zest from 2 Sunkist lemons

Glaze

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Zest from 1 Sunkist lemon

Directions

* Preheat oven to 350F and line your 8 x 4” loaf pan with parchment paper.

* Cream butter and sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add in your eggs one at a time and vanilla extract. Into a smaller bowl mix together your flour, salt and baking soda. Alternate adding your dry ingredients with your sour cream. Fold in fresh lemon juice and zest and mix until well combined. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.

* Bake in oven about 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Meanwhile, prepare glaze by mixing powdered sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest together until smooth.

* Remove loaf from oven and let cool completely before topping with glaze.

Teen Lifeline

Staff and volunteers at suicide prevention nonprofit Teen Lifeline are urging anyone who knows a teen to Connect with Care on National Telephone Day, Tuesday, April 25. Research indicates that suicides by people of all ages, including teens, tend to increase during the spring months.

“Connection, family support and community support are all preventive factors that decrease the risk of suicide for our youth,” says Nikki Kontz, clinical director at Teen Lifeline. “There’s no better way to celebrate National Telephone Day than to use your phone for its best possible purpose – to connect with the teens you know and possibly save a life. Any teen death by suicide is one too many. The reality is that the entire community needs to get involved if we’re going to stop teen suicide in Arizona.”

According to Kontz, reaching out on National Telephone Day can be as simple as sending a message like this:

•Just checking in. How are you doing?

•Thinking about you today – how’s it going?

•Doing OK at school? Feeling good about finals or do you need some support?

•Haven’t talked in a while and wanted to say hi!

•I hope you’re having a great week!

Adults who suspect a teen may be considering suicide should ask the teen about it directly. Asking the question will not plant the idea of suicide in a teenager’s head and can give them permission to open up, says Kontz. If a teen replies that they have been thinking about suicide, Kontz recommends thanking them for their honesty and then asking questions about how they’ve been feeling and why. Experts recommend validating the teen’s feelings while being careful not to be dismissive, pass judgement or act like the teen is being dramatic. If a teen is in immediate danger of self-inflicted harm or of acting on suicidal thoughts, call 911 or take the child to an emergency room. If the teen is not in immediate danger, create a plan to get help by calling Teen Lifeline or seeking a referral to mental health services or counseling. While waiting for services, be sure to minimize suicide risks by locking up all medications, sharp objects and poisonous chemicals and securing all firearms, including storing ammunition separately.

For more information, visit TeenLifeline.org.

Spring Cleaning

As you’re doing your spring cleaning, how about taking inventory of your family’s prescription medications: Do you have expired prescriptions you no longer need? Many fire and police stations will accept medications for safe disposal. It’s also a good time to organize a list of the medications in your family’s medicine cabinet, in case there’s a medical emergency, according to Danelle Readinger, Emergency Services Director at Abrazo West Campus in Goodyear.

“What if you or a family member were rushed to the hospital, would a loved one be able to provide a current list of your medications to first responders or the Emergency Department? What if it was your child or parent? Would you know the names and dosages of their prescriptions? How about any non-prescription medications?” she asks. “It’s important to know, because not having this information may cause a delay in care, as paramedics or hospital staff try to confirm current medications before providing that information to the physician.”

Health care professionals from Abrazo hospitals throughout the Valley say that keeping your list of medications and health history up to date can help patients avoid adverse effects from dosing errors, omissions, duplications and drug interactions. Some of the important things to keep track of include:

• Medications, including name, dosage and whether it was completed or is ongoing.

• Medical history. This may include chronic conditions or recent illnesses.

• Allergies to medications and foods and the type of reaction.

• Vitamins, supplements, and other over-thecounter items, and dosage.

• Other pertinent health information, including immunizations.

There are some common sense ways to help keep this information: Each time you make a change, note the date. Ask your pharmacy (or pharmacies) to print out a list of medications filled in the last year. And make sure someone in your family or circle of friends knows where you keep your medications list.

Submitted by Abrazo Health

Stress!

High cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity and obesity. Most of us are familiar with these as major risk factors for heart disease. But what about stress? Is there a connection between stress and heart disease? Not all stress is bad but chronic stress associated with a medical condition or feeling pressured over a long period of time can be, explains Dr. Mark Callesen, Chief Medical Officer for Jewish Family & Children’s Service.

“Chronic stress can lead to impaired cognitive function, increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. It can also impair the body’s immune system and exacerbate any existing illnesses,” says Callesen

Research shows that chronic stress can increase inflammation, and inflammation is linked to high blood pressure and lower HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) which can harm the heart. Chronic stress can also increase the risk for heart disease in more subtle ways. “When you’re constantly stressed, you tend to not sleep well,” adds Dr. Callesen. “You’re also more likely to

eat high-fat, high-cholesterol foods or engage in other heart-damaging behaviors such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol or using drugs. By both defusing stress and managing the unhealthy behaviors it triggers, we can help minimize our body’s heart-damaging reactions.”

Want to turn your chronic stress around and help protect your heart in the process? Dr. Callesen recommends these five simple tips:

• Focus on the things you can control: This helps us to stay positive and laugh more. Laughter has been found to help reduce artery inflammation and increase “good” HDL cholesterol.

• Exercise: One of the best ways to melt away stress and lower your blood pressure is through regular physical activity.

• Practice mind-body techniques: Meditation, yoga and tai chi activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms the brain and body.

• Strengthen and maintain relationships: Having a strong support network can reduce your stress level and help you take better care of yourself.

• Take a break from electronics: You can’t escape from stress when it follows you everywhere. Unplug from your phone, computer and TV, even if it’s just for 15 minutes.

If you’re struggling with stress, Dr. Callesen suggests talking to your primary care provider to discuss treatment options for treating high blood pressure or sleep issues or getting a referral to a mental health professional. Most importantly, realize that stress is a normal human reaction that happens to everyone, even the experts.

“I absolutely get stressed, but doing something active helps me to relax,” says Dr. Callesen. “I find walking my two dogs, Emmett and Stella, helps me to decompress. It forces me to get outdoors and all three of us sleep better at night.”

For more information, visit https://www.jfcsaz. org/

This article was submitted by Jewish Family & Children’s Service.

Trouble Sleeping?

The transition to spring means warmer and longer days, and the emergence of spring allergies while we begin the annual ritual of spring cleaning. This variable weather and increasing daylight can be disruptive to your daily routine and nighttime slumber. This spring, try these tips to refresh your sleep routine.

1. Get consistent with when you go to sleep and wake up.

Sleep experts agree that children and adults benefit from consistent bedtimes and wakeup times, including over the weekends. If your routine is irregular, start by establishing target bedtime and wake-up windows and try sticking to them for a full week. Eventually, they will become routine.

2. Use transitional bedding that works with fluctuating temps.

Warming temps mean it’s time to put away your heavy bedding in favor of more breathable, cooling options like bamboo sheets and waffle blankets. Moisture-wicking, they help to naturally regulate body temperature so you won’t wake up

too hot or cold, even when the outside temperatures are unpredictable.

3. Wash bedding to avoid allergens.

Planet warming trends are making spring allergy season longer and more intense, and more adults are starting to suffer from allergy symptoms as a result. Allergens like pollen and dander love to collect in plush surfaces like your bedding and could be causing conditions like itchy nose, scratchy throat and congestion that are disruptive to sleep quality. Washing your bedding weekly in hot water can help to prevent a buildup of sleep-stealing allergens.

4. Manage your light intake.

Between the season’s increasingly early sunrise and digital screen overload, we are constantly exposed to light sources that may impact our brain’s perception of daytime, making it more difficult to fall asleep. Try tools like blackout curtains and sleep eye masks to block out excessive light sources and update the blue light or dark mode features on your screens and mobile devices to limit your intake of blue light before bed.

5. Refresh your bedroom style.

Make sure your bedroom is an inviting place for sleeping. Minimize clutter and look for bedding that incorporates soothing patterns and calming colors like neutral tones, grays, greens and blues.

Don’t let the arrival of spring get in the way of quality sleep. With the right bedding and a few tweaks to your daily routine, you’ll be waking up with a proverbial spring in your step in no time, ready to conquer the

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!