Viva

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...

“Love is in the air” - the song has been running amok in my brain all day. With the February editions front and center on my computer I keep thinking of Valentine’s Day and love. Not that the two are combined in my head, I get really annoyed at the commercialization of the holiday, and the price gouging that goes along with it. You can’t go to a restaurant or buy flowers or chocolate, without seeing dramatic price hikes just for the occasion.

In the spirit of the upcoming celebration I googled ‘Most romantic movies’ and I was surprised to see that I have not watched that many on the list. Don’t tell anyone but I have yet to watch, or even read, The Notebook. I know, sacrilege! What it boils down to is that I don’t like to cry and these love stories are real tearjerkers. I am sure the plots and characters are great, they must be to make it to the top of all these lists, but I can’t bring myself to watch them because of the crying that will inevitably follow.

I have been binging the TV show Bones recently, and I love the kitschy drama with a side of

schmaltz, but there is one episode I have been dreading. (Warning - Spoiler Alert ahead!) If you have not seen season 10 there is a chance I am about to ruin your day. Just kidding, everyone knows that Sweets is murdered. I hated that episode, not because of his death, but because of the way the writers wrung every sad emotion and angry tear from me. And it continued for the next few weeks! Not content with killing off the character, they also went on to investigate his murder (understandable, it is a crime drama) and then mope around for his funeral. Even worse than that, his girlfriend was heavily pregnant and we had to talk about ‘Lance’ for every moment of the birth. Ruined a perfectly good season.

Don’t get me wrong, crying has its place but why do we need it in a love story? Does every couple have to face adversity to prove their love? Can’t we all just get along? I think for this Valentine’s Day I will be watching a classic, like Mission Impossible, that sounds more appropriate to me.

Catherine Uretsky Editor, Viva magazine catherine@estrellapublishing.com 623-398-5541

Truth Vs Transparency

In my office, when it comes to truth, I always say that there are at least 3 sides to every story: yours, mine and the truth (which is generally somewhere in the middle). Over the years, I’ve come to see truth as largely an intellectual pursuit. Your truth comes out of your perception, which is based on thoughts you have in your mind about a particular situation. It’s a head thing.

Transparency, on the other hand, is the word I use to describe an element of a more evolved or psychologically mature relationship. Transparency involves full disclosure of not just the selfperceived truth but also the emotions that come along with it. It’s a heart thing.

Let’s say you and your spouse have a disagreement regarding parenting. In an effort to resolve it, you each share your perception of events based on the facts as you see them. Your perceptions are quite different, and you become gridlocked in your discussion because you just don’t agree on how things went. You talk more about what each of your realities is, and, not

seeing a mutually acceptable resolution, you agree to disagree. That’s not a bad thing, per se, but it’s not really a solution that is positive for or grows the relationship. To get that, you should also include transparency in your discussion.

Transparency involves stating your truth but also sharing the deeper emotional impact: you state how you see things and then how you feel as a result. That can help you get down to intent, and that’s part of what really matters in relationships. Continuing our example, let’s say you share with your spouse what you thought she was saying to you with her statements (head). Then, you share that her words offended you because they made you feel like you weren’t doing enough as a parent (heart). That gives her an opportunity to state that her intent was not to insult but rather open a discussion about how the two of you can form a better partnership in parenting, demonstrating a more united front.

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.

Resolution Redo

It’s an experience shared by many: You make an ambitious health resolution at the start of the year and a few months - or weeks - later, you lose steam and throw in the towel. This year break the cycle of broken resolutions by focusing on simple, yet effective ways you can impact your wellness long term. The key? Small daily habits.

Nicholas Frye, MS, LCPC, CHES, shares how you can create lasting healthy habits, break those unhealthy ones and create positive changes to your wellbeing:

Forming new habits

As an example, to develop a new, healthy walking habit, first select a specific healthpromoting behavior such as “go for a 10-minute walk.” Then identify a stable cue which occurs daily in your life such as “after breakfast.” Then repeatedly perform the walking behavior in response to the after-breakfast cue which will, over time, result in a habit. It takes 66 days - on average - to develop a new habit, however, the exact timeframe is different for everyone. As the behavior is repeated in response to the

cue, the association between them becomes stronger, more efficient, and automatic until the cue alone is enough to trigger the associated behavior without conscious thought.

Breaking old habits

For example, to break a habit of drinking sugary sodas while watching television, replace the soft drink with sparkling water every time you sit down to binge your favorite show. Eventually, you’ll associate watching TV with this new, healthier behavior.

MicroHabits

Frye recommends instead of committing to a big, audacious goal, try incorporating small daily habits into one’s life. These small behaviors are called microHabits and they can compound to have big results like parking at the back of a parking lot to get your steps in.

“By developing these habits, one small step at a time, we can overcome the intention-behavior gap - in other words, when what you do doesn’t live up to your previous intentions - and it is all the less daunting,” said Frye. “This sets one up for success as opposed to overly ambitious resolutions that don’t guide you from A to B.”

Celebrate Valentine's Day with Helping Others Together (HOT) Community Foundation!

When: February 14, 2023 from 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Where: Tuscany Falls Ballroom @ PebbleCreek, Goodyear, AZ

The Party with a Purpose is HOT's primary fundraising event and supports our Sugar Plum Fairies program. Sugar Plum Fairies creates a magical Christmas for struggling children in the West Valley by bringing much needed clothing, hygiene essentials, and food to them and their families. The event’s Master of Ceremonies, actor and philanthropic-minded celebrity, RJ Mitte, who played the son of Walter White in Breaking Bad, will emcee guests through a reception and sit-down dinner, followed by a fun evening filled with casino games, a silent and live auction, and dancing.

HOT and RJ share philanthropic ideals. Growing up, RJ saved money each year to purchase Christmas gifts for needy children. Currently, he is a spokesman for people with disabilities. RJ educates and inspires others with cerebral palsy to see the disease not as a weakness but as a place of strength. When RJ heard about HOT's mission to provide help and hope for struggling children, he gratefully volunteered to emcee HOT's Party with a Purpose!

What an exciting opportunity to spend an evening with a like-minded celebrity and share time together while having the chance to improve life in the West Valley.

Scan the QR code to register today for the 2023 Valentine's Day Party with a Purpose! We look forward to seeing you there, Helping Others Together (HOT) Community Foundation

https://hotcommunityfoundation.org/events/valentines-2023/tickets/

Just In Case

Whether you’re racking up the miles for work or planning a relaxing getaway, look for luggage that can keep up with the journey. To uncover what luggage will last and still be easy to use, look to the advice of those who are always traveling for work and leisure - like Ofelia Silva and Ken Sosko, executives of Travelpro, the pilot-founded luggage brand used by airline professionals from more than 90 airlines globally. Silva and Sosko share their top four tips and tricks that every traveler should know.

1. Quality over trend

Before buying take the time to research the quality of the item. Look at the materials and check it has reinforced stitching, resilient zippers that stay on track and closed, and handles sturdy enough to not bend or buckle.

2. Softside vs. hardside luggage

Looking for a little extra packing space? Softside luggage easily expands, allowing travelers a bit more packing flexibility. Searching for a suitcase that is incredibly sleek in its design yet ultra-

resilient to damage? A hardside suitcase with its clean lines and strong polycarbonate shell is the go-to option.

3. The art of packing

Even if you have lightweight luggage, overpacking is a common pitfall for travelers. Plan a capsule wardrobe you can bring, meaning interchangeable clothes that complement each other. Shoes are often heavy and take up space, so either wear your heavy shoes on the plane or replace them with something lighter. As for the act of packing itself, some travelers opt to roll clothing to save space and eliminate wrinkles, while others swear by packing cubes, allowing you to divide your suitcase into specific compartments. No matter the strategy, consider doing a practice run in the week leading up to your trip to see how everything fits.

4. Luggage set advantages

Since you’ll probably need both a checked bag and a carry-on suitcase at some point, why not buy both as part of a set? Not only will your luggage match, but the price is usually less than buying two single bags. This also gives you the flexibility to choose the right-sized suitcase depending on your packing needs and destination.

Yum Yum

Marry Me Chicken

Marry Me (or Engagement) Chicken has been around since the 80’s, but whatever you call it this dish is so good it will have people falling in love with your cooking.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast

halves

2 tablespoons butter

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon dried

oregano

1/4 teaspoon ground

thyme

1/2 cup chicken broth, divided

1/2 pound bacon

1 (16-ounce) package angel hair pasta

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup whipping cream

1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes

1 pinch red pepper flakes

Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS

∞ Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

∞ To butterfly the chicken, place it on a chopping board. Put your palm on top of the chicken and slice it horizontally through the middle, leaving a small section on the other side uncut. Open out

the breast to look like a butterfly.

∞ Melt butter in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Saute garlic, oregano, and thyme for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add the chicken and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. It doesn’t need to be cooked throughout at this point. Add in 1/4 cup of chicken broth.

∞ Bake for 15 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and the juices run clear.

∞ While the chicken is baking, brown bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat, about 10 minutes. Let it cool on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess grease, then cut into small pieces.

∞ Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook angel hair pasta, stirring occasionally until al dente, about 4 minutes. Drain and keep warm.

∞ Once the chicken is cooked, transfer it onto a plate and keep warm.

∞ To make the pasta sauce, place the used skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Whisk flour with remaining chicken broth, Parmesan cheese, and whipping cream until combined. Mix in sundried tomatoes, red pepper flakes, and salt.

∞ Toss together the sauce and pasta until evenly coated. Top with chicken and bacon. Enjoy!

Sniffles

Do you suffer from itchy eyes, a runny nose or a scratchy throat during winter? Chances are you may have indoor allergies. Indoor allergies are a year-round problem, but you’ll notice them more during the winter because you spend more time at home. Also, because of the colder weather, you’re likely keeping doors and windows shut to keep the cold out. By doing that, you’re also sealing allergens indoors with you, and your heating system will recirculate the indoor air and any allergy triggers. You don’t have to accept indoor allergies as an inevitable fact of the winter season. Using these five tips from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, you can be proactive and manage your winter allergies.

1. Clean regularly

Cleaning house is one of the easiest ways to deal with indoor winter allergies. Dust, mold, pet dander and dust mite and cockroach droppings can hide anywhere and cause sneezing, coughing and congestion.

2. Reduce pet allergy triggers

While you may enjoy snuggling with your pets

before bed, keeping them out of the bedroom will help with any allergies you experience at night that can disrupt your sleep. During the day, keep the door to your bedroom closed, so your furry family members aren’t tempted to go in. When petting your cat or dog, make sure to wash your hands afterward, so you don’t accidentally touch your face and provoke an allergic reaction.

3. Protect your bedding from dust mites

Even if your home is visibly clean, dust mite allergen particles are too small to be seen. Use mite-proof zippered cases for your mattress and pillows to limit your exposure to dust mites. Every week, wash and change your sheets, blankets and other bedding in hot water.

4. Find and prevent indoor mold

Many molds aren’t visible to the naked eye, and mold spores can cause allergic reactions when they become airborne. If you suspect you have indoor mold, it’s best to contact a professional who can find and clean up existing mold in your home.

5. Find an allergist

Your allergist may perform tests to diagnose your allergies and identify potential causes. An allergist can also prescribe a variety of treatments to give you relief from your allergic symptoms. Visit ACAAI.org for more information.

Legal Advice

NON-STRESS IRA DESIGNATION

For 401ks, IRAs and other qualified retirement accounts, the designated beneficiary form directs how the funds will be paid on your death.

Common problems that arise with beneficiary designations are:

a. The “Estate” or no beneficiary is listed, so a probate is needed and the IRA will lose the ability to be stretched beyond 5 years, increasing the income tax.

b. A beneficiary dies before you, and if the trust was not the IRA’s designee, then the financial company rules apply to who gets the deceased beneficiary’s share.

c. The designated beneficiary is a minor, not a trust for the minor, and so a costly court conservatorship is need and much of the deferred tax benefit is lost.

d. Your spouse, who is not your children’s parent, did not sign a spousal waiver, so your spouse is entitled to at least if not all of funds, not your children.

Remember, currently, an inherited IRA must be paid in 10 years, if the beneficiary is not a spouse. Leaving a portion or all of your qualified retirement account to charity makes sense. The charity does not pay income taxes and will receive more funds than a family member. Other assets which are not taxable then can be left to family or friends.

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 visit www.sharonravenscroft.com.

Car Show

13th Annual Trilogy Roadrunners Car Show

If you have a special car that you would like to show or you are a spectator that enjoys walking among an eclectic gathering of Custom, Antique, Hot Rod, and Exotic cars, trucks and motor cycles, then the Trilogy Roadrunners Car Show is right for you. The show is planned for Saturday March 4, 2023 from 10am to 1pm in the Trilogy at Vistancia community, 27980 N. Trilogy Boulevard, Peoria. This event is one of the many fundraising events put on by the Trilogy Roadrunners Car Club. This year all proceeds will be donated to Mayo Clinic Cancer Research.

If you want to show your car, pre-registration is now open to the public and is accessed through the “Click Here to Register …” button on the home page of our website at www.

trilogyroadrunners.org A $25 donation for pre-registering your car is payable by check or Zelle. Day of event registration is $35 if space is available. This outdoor event has space for 110 vehicles. The spaces always fill up quickly, so do not hesitate if you are interested in showing your car.

Spectator participation is open to the public and it is FREE. The show will have music and an outdoor café with food and beverages available. Door prize tickets are for sale to all at the show, with door prize drawings periodically throughout the event. Car judging is done by participant and spectator ballots with 1st and 2nd place trophies given in two categories. The first category is for cars entered by Trilogy Roadrunner Club Members. The second category is for the cars of Guests from outside Trilogy.

Set the date on your calendar and bring your car, your family and your friends to enjoy a March day outside in the beautiful Arizona weather.

That’s Showbiz!

The Vista Center for the Arts is the cornerstone of arts and entertainment in Surprise, AZ serving the greater West Valley. Conveniently located near Loop 303, The Vista is an unmatched regional asset, and a prestigious arts and cultural destination. The state-of-the-art facility features 1,300 plush seats, theatrical sound and lighting, and boasts an impressive and expansive lobby for artist exhibitions and community gatherings throughout the year.

Now in its second full season of programming, the Vista draws audiences of all ages, enhancing the lives of residents and visitors alike. The 2022/2023 lineup features a variety of diverse performances including symphonic, theatrical, musical, international and educational shows!

Upcoming Performances

• Feb 5 - West Valley Symphony

• Feb 26 - West Valley Symphony

• Mar 3 - LP and the Vinyl

• Mar 4 - Amy Grant

• Mar 11 - Rodney Marsalis

Philadelphia Big Brass

• Mar 19 - West Valley Symphony

• Apr 29 - The Doo Wop

Project

Art Gallery Featuring Local Artists

The Vista is proud to present a juried art exhibit depicting “Another Place, Another Time” by talented artists from the WHAM Art Center in Surprise. The exhibit is sure to evoke memories in each viewer, taking them to past memories or inviting them to imagine places where dreams reside. The gallery is open to the public now through March 9 during regular Box Office hours.

Visit

15660 N Parkview Place Surprise, AZ

MOWW

What is a MOC? And what does it stand for?

The full name of this patriotic ceremony is the “Massing of Colors and Service of Remembrance Ceremony”. This year’s MOC, will be performed on 21 February at the Palm Ridge Recreation Center (13800 Deer Valley Drive in SC West.) The program will start at 11:15 AM with the music of the local renowned Desert Brass Band. Readers of this article are welcome and encouraged to attend . . . since we normally draw 300 attendees, please come early. Thank you.

The purpose of this ceremony is to honor the memory of those who served our nation in times of peace and war, and to recognize the deceased members of the many veterans’ organizations throughout our greater Phoenix area. Our guest speakers offer messages addressing the leadership roles and responsibilities of today’s youth, as they assume leadership roles in their communities.

A past speaker who represents the quality of our speakers is Col Tom Kirk, USAF (Ret). During the Vietnam era, Tom was a POW for five years in

Hanoi Hilton with others, such as John McCain. This year’s speaker is LTC Scott Nelson, who will address both Patriotism and today’s Military Life.

The 35-37 flags that will be massed are from other MOWW Chapters, as well as the many JROTC (Junior ROTC) units from the 17 High Schools we support, as well as other flag units such as “Rosie the Riveters” or the “Navy Seabee Veterans of America.”

This year’s program will be closed with a powerful “Echo Taps” that impresses all.

Readers may contact the author of this article, via jerryojenson@hotmail.com to discuss questions you may have.

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!

Solutions are on our website www.EstrellaPublishing.com

Business Directory

J&H

JBS

FINANCIAL

Cavanagh

Facepoint

Fairway

Ganyo

Biltmore

Goodnight

LANDSCAPING

West

PET CARE

Gentle

REAL ESTATE

Homesmart - Sheri Spirek

Realty One Group - Burkhardt Team

Realty One Group - Mary Couzens Team

Realty One Group - Sophie Shrum

Realty One Group - Donna Strand

Realty One Group - B Tissell

Realty One Group - B Wilson/M Castillo

West USA Realty - Judy Coventry

West USA Realty - Annette Midboe

West USA Realty - Todd Young

RETAIL

Arie Layne Boutique Off The Hook Meat Shop

2 bed/2 bath Augusta model with fantastic large, private backyard Tile on the diagonal throughout the home except for the 2 bedrooms 2 solar tubes in kitchen area. Dining room with bay window. Vaulted ceilings in great room, kitchen and den. Gorgeous guest bath has been updated!

Den/hobby room All appliances are included Fun outdoor living w/ extended, covered patio w/pergola, remote blinds and BBQ grill island! 2 car attached garage.