It’s hard to believe we’re more than half way through the year. With July 4th in the rearview, it’s time to start planning for the upcoming fall. I’m confident the heat has you spent and ready for a respite—I know I am ready for a little cooler weather.
Despite the heat, I hope you’re enjoying the amazing sunsets we’ve been experiencing and the ease of traveling around town. The beauty of each evening reminds me how much I love Arizona regardless of the temperature.
This month as your completing projects around your house, don’t forget our advertising partners in The Grand Season are locally owned and can help you complete your projects on time and on budget—and you can support the local economy at the same time.
I hope you enjoy the second-half of summer and create some amazing memories.
Live each day to the fullest!
Melissa Whitton Editor/Associate Publisher
KITCHENS
MAYBE
Maybe we are supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.
Maybe it is true that we don’t know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we don’t know what we have been missing until it arrives.
Maybe the happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.
Maybe the best kind of love is the kind you can sit on a sofa together and never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had.
Maybe you shouldn’t go for looks; they can deceive. Don’t go wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.
Maybe you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trails to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy.
Maybe love is not about finding the perfect person, maybe it’s about learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.
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LOVE
Let’s face it— communication in marriage can sometimes feel tricky. We all want to be heard, right?
But between health concerns, emotions, and misunderstandings, it’s easy for the lines to get crossed.
The good news? It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be genuine. Small efforts can make a big difference! Ready to reconnect and communicate more smoothly?
Here are some simple tips to help you and your partner get back on the same page:
1. Get in face time every day
Though it may seem like a chore at first, you must set aside just a few minutes to talk face-toface with one another. You will soon come to love and appreciate this time, which gives you a great way to reconnect.
2. Make time for just you two (such as date night)
Having that time helps you remember what you love about each other. This inevitably leads to the need for having more time dedicated to just the two of you.
3. Be a genuine and modest listener
To be a good listener, you can try to follow the following steps:
• Remove any distractions, such as your phones or laptops.
• Watch for non-verbal cues and gestures.
• Show interest, sympathize, or empathize where necessary.
• Don’t interrupt too often, but do ask probing questions.
• Most importantly, think before you speak.
4. Look to each other for support
You want to support each other and be the one person your spouse can turn to. The only way to do this is through effective communication in a marriage, so you may need to revisit what it means to support each other.
5. Do not expect them to read your mind
This is one of the most common mistakes in relationships. Expecting your partner to read your mind, which is just not possible. Irrespective of how long and how well someone has known you, they just cannot read your mind. Expecting that from them can lead to poor communication.
Now streaming!
Squid Game: Season 3 (TV-MA) After two unbelievably entertaining and heartbreaking seasons, the South Korean survival-thriller series “Squid Game” is coming to an end with its third season. Viewers were dragged along for Gi-hun’s insane ride through the first round of the deadly games, then another time for a second round of even deadlier games. We’ve seen how close Junho has gotten to finding his brother and the island, and we’ve seen the Front Man become even more sinister than we could have imagined. Season three kicks off with the remaining players from season two and the Front Man back in his position of power, and you can bet that this final round of games will be unforgettable. Premieres (Netflix)
ESCAPE THE HEAT
It’s no surprise summer in Phoenix is hot. While some people have the opportunity to escape the heat and travel to cooler climates, others of us get to bake in the blazing heat. If you’re looking for activities to do at home, so you don’t have to venture out onto the asphalt, check out some of these ideas:
By yourself:
• Play an online game
• Turn your bathroom into a cozy spa
• Try out new hairstyles
• Dance to your favorite music
• Make jewelry
• Take an ice-bath
• Do a craft
• Redecorate a room
• Declutter your home
• Read a book
• Learn a new language
• Learn a musical instrument
With your spouse:
• Look at old photographs together
• Do a home workout together
• Have a paint and sip wine lunch
• Take an online dance class
• Plan a vacation together
• Rearrange a room together
• Cook a new recipe together
• Play the question game
• Write a legacy book together
• Record stories from your life on your phone
• Pretend your mixologists and create new drinks
With friends:
• Host an at-home karaoke night
• Host a dinner party
• Host a board game party
• Write and perform a comedy skit
• Start a podcast
• Host a baking competition
• Create a online trivia group
• Host an indoor picnic
• Host a book club
With grandkids:
• Build a cushion fort and watch movies
• Make an obstacle course with things inside the house
• Have and arts and craft show
• Have a costume party and take pictures
• Host a family talent show
• Bake a cake and decorate it together
• Create a racetrack on the floor with tape, and race cars
• Create new stories together
• Host a pajama party
• Host a disco party
• Learn to play a video game
• Bring yard games indoors
ACRYLIC DECKING of ARIZONA
•Want to finish “The Look” of your landscaping?
•Want to protect yourself and your pet’s feet from burning cement?
ACRYLIC DECKING of ARIZONA has the answers to all of these problems!
1. Is the Book of Jonah (KJV) in the Old or New Testament or neither?
2. In Genesis 15, who was told to “look now toward Heaven and tell the stars”? Noah, Adam, Abram, Moses
3. Who succeeded Belshazzar as King of the Chaldeans? David, Darius, Daniel, Saul
4. Who sold his brother, Joseph, to a camel caravan? Cain, Judah, Silas, Joshua
5. Where did Jacob and his family settle in Egypt? Goshen, Damascus, Bethlehem, Beersheba
6. What was the name of Naomi’s husband? Ephriam, Elijah, Elimelech, Elisha
FAMILY-RUN BUSINESS
DINING GUIDE
Frozen Watermelon Mules
Ingredients
4 c. cubed
1/2 c. vodka
1/4 c. lime juice
Ice, for blending
Mint leaves, for garnish
Lime slices, for garnish
Frozen Pimm’s Cup
Sour Watermelon Slushies
Directions In a blender, combine frozen watermelon, ginger beer, vodka, and lime juice. Blend until smooth. (If it’s not slushy enough, add ice and blend again.) Pour into glasses (or copper mugs!) and garnish with mint leaves and lime slices.
Ingredients
4 c. ice
1 1/4 c. Pimm’s No. 1
3/4 c. ginger ale
1/2 c. lemonade
1 tbsp. freshly chopped ginger
Directions
In a large blender, combine ice, Pimm’s, ginger ale, lemonade, and ginger and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and garnish with mint and fruit.
Ingredients
1/4 c. Sour Patch watermelons
1 c. vodka
1 c. sprite
1 c. lemonade
1 c. ice
Pink food coloring (optional)
Directions Add Sour Patch Watermelon gummies to vodka and soak overnight. In a blender, add 2 ounces flavored vodka, Sprite, lemonade, pink food coloring (if using) and ice. Blend to combine. Garnish with Sour Patch candies and serve.
DINING GUIDE
FOOD
Ingredients
1 Tbsp. granulated sugar
2 tsp. finely grated lemon zest, plus more for serving
1 cup fresh blueberries, halved
Cooking spray
All-purpose flour, for dusting
1 (8-oz.) tube crescent dough
8 oz. brie
1/3 cup roasted salted almonds, finely chopped
Honey, for serving
Directions
In a small bowl, using your fingertips, rub sugar and lemon zest together until sugar is fragrant. Add blueberries and toss to coat. Let sit, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Meanwhile, arrange a rack in center of oven; preheat to 375°. Grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin with cooking spray.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out crescent dough to a 12” x 8” square and pinch together seams. Cut into a 6” x 4” grid for a total of 24 squares. Place squares into prepared cups, pressing dough into bottom and up sides of cups.
Cut brie into small pieces and place inside each cup. Spoon blueberries and any accumulated juices over brie. Top with almonds.
Bake brie bites until dough is golden brown, about 14 minutes.
Finely grate more lemon zest over bites. Drizzle with honey.
Lemon Blueberry Brie Bites
FLASHBACK
Answers on pg. 33
1. Name the group that released “Up Around the Bend.”
2. Which band released “I Don’t Want to Live Without You”?
3. Name the female artist who released “The Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known).”
4. Who released “Every Woman in the World”?
5. Name the song that contains this lyric: “Beneath this snowy mantle cold and clean, The unborn grass lies waiting for its coat to turn to green.”
Dinner and a Movie!
YOU BE KIND
Motivational speaker Tony Robbins’ core message is, “The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships” – and that includes your relationship with yourself. Learning how to fall in love with yourself is essential to your own happiness, to your success in relationships and to the way you interact with the world. Here are some ideas on how to love yourself:
1. BE KIND TO YOURSELF
It seems simple, but it can be one of the hardest acts of self-love to master. If you’re wondering how to fall in love with yourself, the first step is to give yourself permission to be human. You don’t have to be a super-mom, a fitness model or a billionaire to be worthy of love.
2. CHANGE YOUR SELF-TALK
“Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy,” says Robbins. The way you talk to yourself affects your mood and your behavior – and negative inner thoughts become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
3. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE
It’s true that your most important relationship is with yourself, but that doesn’t mean allowing negativity into your life. Surround yourself with people who care about you and think the best of you.
4. ADOPT AN ABUNDANCE MINDSET
When you practice gratitude and adopt an abundance mindset in everything you do, that will naturally bubble over into falling in love with yourself. Find the good in every situation, and stop reading too much into the negative.
5. HAVE FUN
Stress and negativity are enemies of self-love. They can cause you to feel burnt out and alone, and they won’t leave any room in your life for learning how to love yourself. That’s why it’s so important to take the time to create joyful habits and do things that you love. Put on your favorite music and dance around the kitchen. Play a game with your grandkids. Immerse yourself in a good book. Go for a hike and get out in nature.
1. Walking on the road without a goal or destination can improve your mood by up to 80 percent.
2. Looking at the sea for just 5 minutes has a calming effect equivalent to a week of therapy.
3. We are naturally hesitant to act when we feel others won’t agree with us.
4. Psychologists say you need five positive experiences to balance out one negative one.
5. The brain can’t distinguish between reality and imagination, which is why visualization is so powerful.
6. People with high emotional intelligence often talk to themselves to process their thoughts more clearly.
1. What ice sport, popular in Russia and Scandinavia, is played with a ball instead of a puck and has rules similar to soccer?
2. Name the sisters who played basketball for the Stanford Cardinal and were the No. 1 overall picks in the WNBA Draft in 2012 and 2014
3. On the TV sitcom “Seinfeld,” what member of the New York Mets did Newman (Wayne Knight) heckle outside Shea Stadium after a June 14, 1987, loss to the Philadelphia Phillies?
4. American athlete Valarie Allman won gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Summer Olympics competing in what track and field event?
Nneka (2012) and Chiney (2014) Ogwumike.
Fine Fittings Fine Fittings
Bandy.
Keith Hernandez. 4) Discus throw.
THE POWER OF BLUE
CLEAN
Have you ever wondered why Dawn Dishwashing Liquid is the wildlife cleaner of choice after an oil spill? According to the International Bird Rescue Research Center, Dawn effectively removes grease but does not cause harm to the skin of the birds. It’s also biodegradable and contains no phosphates. Here are some other things you can do with your bottle of Dawn.
Repel Houseplant Insects
Put a drop of Dawn in a spray bottle, fill the rest of the bottle with water, shake well, and mist your household plants with the soapy water.
Clean Your Windows
Try this recipe from Merry Maids: mix 3 drops Dawn with a gallon of water and fill a spray bottle with the solution. Spritz and wipe as you would with any window cleaner.
Pets and Pests
Use it to bathe the dogs. It kills fleas on contact and is much cheaper than expensive dog shampoos.
Poison Ivy
Washing the affected area with Dawn, especially on children who keep scratching the blister’s open, helps dry up the fluid, and keeps it from spreading.
Tools
After you have finished your automotive repair project, soak your dirty tools in Dawn before you put them away to remove all the oil and grime.
Ice Pack
Fill a strong zip-type sandwich bag with Dawn, close and freeze. The liquid soap stays cold longer and it can be re-frozen many times.
G & A ROOFING
FLASHBACK
Answers from pg. 22
1. Creedence Clearwater Revival, in 1970. In the U.S. the song climbed as high as No. 4 on the charts but other countries — such as Netherlands, Canada and Australia — pushed it all the way to No. 1.
2. Foreigner, in 1987. Written by the group’s guitar player, Mick Jones, the song topped the Adult Contemporary chart. Jones also penned the widely popular “I Want to Know What Love Is.”
3. Juice Newton, in 1981. The song climbed the Adult Contemporary, Hot Country and Hot 100 charts all at the same time.
4. Air Supply, in 1980.
5. “Snowbird,” by Anne Murray in 1969. The song went gold in the U.S., a first for any Canadian female artist. The song’s writer, Gene MacLellan, wrote the song in 20 minutes while walking along the beach.
The best way to
a bloodstain out of clothing is by dousing the stain with hydrogen peroxide and washing as usual. For clay stains, you absolutely must have a Fels-Naptha bar. It looks like a bar of soap, and you wet the material and rub in the soap. It’s magical.
To save money on electricity costs, hang jeans and other heavy clothing to dry first. White or light towels and garments especially love the sun. When it is mostly dry, pop it in the dryer to fluff.
BOOK CLUB
HOT READS FOR THE SUMMER
Madoff: The Final Word by
Richard Behar
Bernie Madoff was the mastermind behind the most notorious Ponzi scheme, resulting in investors losing some $20 billion. Behar interviewed Madoff over the years following his conviction, access that allowed the author to paint a nuanced portrait of this charismatic, compulsive criminal who, Behar makes clear, had plenty of accomplices who helped keep the elaborate scam afloat.
The Bright Sword: A Novel of King Arthur by
Lev Grossman
The latest from Grossman, 54, known for the Magicians trilogy, has been hotly anticipated by epic fantasy fans. It’s the story of young Collum, who sets off for Camelot aiming to serve King Arthur as a knight of the Round Table, but soon discovers that the king has died in battle, and Excalibur is gone.
Long Island Compromise by
Taffy Brodesser-Akner
The author of the bestselling Fleishman Is in Trouble focused her new decades-spanning, humor-infused novel on a Long Island family traumatized 40 years after the patriarch is kidnapped, beat up and returned soon after, the worse for wear.
The Heart in Winter by Kevin
Barry
Barry sets his latest tale in 1890s Montana, where Irish immigrant Tom Rourke runs off with a married woman. They head west with a gun-toting search party on their tail.
Tell It to Me Singing
by Tita Ramirez
A Cuban-American family is stunned after their matriarch reveals some shocking secrets before undergoing heart surgery.
Tiger, Tiger: His Life, as It’s Never Been Told Before by
James Patterson
This biography details the rise, fall and rise again of the golf legend Tiger Woods, billed by the publisher as “a hole-in-one thriller.”
The Widow’s Guide to Dead Bastards: A Memoir by
Jessica Waite
While grieving the death of her beloved husband, Sean, Waite discovered some dark secrets (affairs, drug use and more) that upended everything she thought she knew about her marriage.
HOLLYWOOD HAPPENINGS
Tom Cruise was the original “Jack Reacher” in 2012, followed by Alan Ritchson. Ritchson, the star of Amazon Prime Video’s new “Reacher,” has completed three seasons (24 episodes) and is poised to shoot season four. But Ritchson hasn’t rested on his laurels during his hiatus; he’ll explode in five major upcoming projects:
The first is Amazon Prime’s holiday/actioncomedy film “The Man with the Bag,” co-starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (as Santa), Awkwafina, Jane Krakowski, and Ken Jeong. The second is the comedy “Playdate,” with Kevin James and Isla Fisher. The third is the thriller “Motor City,” opposite Shailane Woodley and Ben Foster The fourth is Netflix’s sci-fi/action film “War Machine,” with Dennis Quaid and Esai Morales Finally, his fifth project will be the action/thriller “Runner,” opposite Owen Wilson. Ritchson is very versatile!
Our patio structures will not warp, twist or rot! These products look like real wood and are durable and solid. They’re maintenance free, are available in 7 baked enamel colors and come with a lifetime limited warranty We install various sizes of interior faux beams to add custom touches in your home. The beams are available in various stains, patterns, and can be painted. We offer K-6 seamless and half round raingutter in 30 baked on enamel colors. We also supply and install custom radiused gutter for rounded entryways.
AAA SENIOR PLACEMENT AZ
A Message from Sue Royer
“I was born and raised in inner city Chicago, the sixth of eighteen children with fifteen brothers. Being the oldest daughter, I was always a caregiver which I believe influenced me to pursue work in the healthcare industry. Today, I have three daughters and five grandchildren.
Years ago, I volunteered for hospice and knew immediately that helping seniors was my calling. I was soon employed by hospice but I felt something was missing. I realized it was the limited time I was able to spend with my clients. Having my own business allows me to provide the intimate hands on service needed in our community. I am committed to our seniors throughout their lives and I thank the community for the opportunity to serve.”
Sue RoyerDirector
About Us
Since 2002, AAA Senior Placement AZ has been offering FREE services helping seniors find safe, affordable and loving assisted living.
When it becomes too difficult for you or your loved ones to safely manage daily living and/or manage medical needs, call Sue Royer for help navigating the many options available.
We are specialists in all levels of assisted living care resources with referrals to Arizona’s best:
• Group Homes
• Assisted Living Communities
• In-Home Primary Care Physicians
• Home Health Care Therapy
• Transportation
• Private Duty In-Home Care
• Respite Care
• Alzheimer’s Care
• Memory Care
• Hospice
• Support Groups
Assisted living resources accepting:
• Private pay
• Arizona Long Term Care-ALTCS
• Medicaid
• VA Benefits
6 Reasons You Should Call
AAA Senior Placement AZ
• We are well known and respected in the medical community.
• All clients are given a thorough assessment to determine proper placement needs.
• There is never a fee charged to the senior or their family for our service.
• We are NOT contractually bound to any outside business. This allows us to serve our clients with only their interests in mind.
• Years of knowledge and experience in the field of senior care.
• AAA Senior Placement AZ is family owned, allowing us to give you quality, personalized service.
