Offered by: Janine Lechleitner, CPNP – Premier Pediatrics
“I want to protect my child from mosquito bites, but I’m worried about health problems that DEET may cause.”
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, no evidence has been found that DEET causes cancer in animals or humans. DEET is classified by the US Environmental Protection Agency as “not classifiable as a human carcinogen.”
Many believe DEET repels insects and ticks better than other products. Why worry about mosquito and tick bites? Ticks can transmit Lyme Disease, and mosquitoes can transmit West Nile, Zika virus, Chikungunya virus and other viruses.
Some studies suggest non-DEET repellents have a similar efficacy as DEET and are considered safe when used as directed. However no studies are available looking at their long term safety. Their efficacy against ticks is unknown.
DEET repellents are considered safe when used as directed. Rarely, DEET may cause skin rashes. The American Academy of Pediatrics and Center for Disease Control recommend 10-30% DEET for children 2 months and older. DEET repellents at 10-30% have similar effectiveness. Ten percent DEET provides approximately 2 hours of protection whereas 30% provides about 5 hours.
Other ways to protect against insect and tick bites include:
Avoiding scented soaps, perfumes, hair spray, lotions, etc.
Avoid areas of stagnant water; eliminate stagnant water from around your house.
Avoid area where flowers are in bloom.
Ensure window screens fit snugly and repair holes as needed.
Avoid clothing with bright colors or flowery prints.
Use clothing (pants, long sleeve shirts, socks) during peak insect/tick times.
In 2017, Keller Williams became the #1 real estate franchise in agent count and closed sales in the United States. Keller Williams cares about their client and their agents. Gary Keller’s vision of a world class culture has created an environment that agents don’t want to leave. When you have content and happy agents, that results in content and happy clients.
Keller Williams implemented the belief system called the WI4C2TS that guides how they treat each other and do business. You can find the entire Belief System and core values at www.kw.com/kw/mvvbp.html
WI4C2TS stands for:
Win-Win: or no deal
Integrity: do the right thing
Customers: always come first
Commitment: in all things
Communication: seek first to understand
Creativity: ideas before results
Teamwork: together everyone achieves more
Trust: starts with honesty
Success:results through people
Keller Williams is also on the forefront of technology. “World-class technology companies need to own their product vision; they can’t rent it. We can’t outsource our road map and vision because no one cares more about what you need to be successful, than we do,” said Josh Team, former chief innovation officer turned president in 2018. Technologies like The Keller Cloud, The Keller Kelle app, and Keller Mortgage all work together to help buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals.
To learn how The Haven Team and Keller Williams technologies can help you buy or sell your next home, please visit us on-line at:
www.thehaventeam.kwrealty.com or call Dan Cochran at: 303.709.3501
There’s a new Personal Cook in town. She’s Beth Swift, AKA “Bethy Crocker.” Beth has always had a passion for cooking since she was able to reach a stove. Her choice was to read magazines with recipes in them or cookbooks instead of novels when growing up. She changed her lifestyle to eat healthier and get moving several years ago. Now she eats and cooks seasonal fruits and vegetables and consumes a minimal amount of processed foods. This experience has opened a new world for her and she’s excited to share it with others!
With Bethy Crocker cooking for you, you can make better choices and eat ‘home cooked foods” on a regular basis. Regardless of whether you want to eat healthier, would like a change from your “go to” recipes, or want some good ‘ol comfort food to come home to, Bethy Crocker can reduce the stress of mealtime by having Bethy Crocker do the menu prep, grocery shopping and then cooking predictable meals, so they’re right at your fingertips when you get home from work. Having delicious meals just waiting for you frees up your time to go to the gym, take your kids to practice sports, have leisure time in the evening instead of worrying about what to fix for dinner. Lunches as well as breakfast and snacks can be prepared for you as well!
Bethy Crocker’s goal is to create lasting relationships with her clients and be an important part of their lives. Bethy Crocker’s fees are based on the amount of food she prepares on each visit and if you want her to do the grocery shopping (or not). Call Bethy Crocker today at 512-934-2985 to begin saving time and eating more delicious foods right away!
Tips and tricks for showcasing your home in the best possible light.
Offered by: Jan Hepp-Struck, Hepp Realty
In parts one and two of this series about getting your home ready for market, we covered disassociating, decluttering, and getting a head start on the packing up process as part of staging your home to invite potential buyers to picture themselves and their belongings in the space. The next step is taking care of minor repairs and cosmetic touch-ups.
In a full seller’s market, little details might be overlooked by potential buyers. While still slightly skewed towards a seller’s market, we are inching closer to a balanced market because of more available inventory. That means fewer qualified buyers per property, more days on the market, and scenarios where the little details like minor repairs can make or break your sale.
That said, it’s advisable to take care of the little things like repairing or replacing cracked tiles, leaky faucets, doors and drawers that jam or don’t quite sit right, and most definitely patch any holes in walls, and repair cracks in caulking and grouting, etc. Depending upon the condition of the paint on your walls, or the existing colors, it may also be a good idea to go ahead and repaint in nice neutral colors.
And of course, you’ll want to make sure to do a deep clean, perhaps even hiring a professional cleaner, so your home is sparkling clean. If your vents haven’t been cleaned in a while, or the filter changed on your A/C, this would be a good time to get that done so the air in your home smells fresh. You may also want to consider switching out the light bulbs for brighter ones in some of your light fixtures so your home appears bright and open.
For proven expertise in establishing your home value and/or searching for a new or existing home, please call Jan at (303) 520-4340.
With summer break right around the corner, life seems to speed up, not slow down. Parents typically get the worst of it. Waking up sick in the middle of the night, or the day before the big family trip is not convenient. Without fail, life continues while we are making plans.
Minor adjustments for a healthier spring and summer season: • Sleep – There are little things we can do to help prevent ongoing illnesses. Rest is one of the most important factors that help our bodies, to keep us healthy and strong. By finding ways to go to bed earlier, limiting phone or electronic use before bed and aiming for seven or more hours of sleep each night, you can help prevent last minute illnesses. • Diet – Managing a healthy diet can be the key to a healthy spring and summer season. Monitoring the vitamins you take, the nutrients absorbed, and the amount of water you consume daily is key. • Exercise – Our bodies are machines, what we put into our bodies and how we treat them will either benefit us or have a negative impact. Find ways to make your exercise more enjoyable. Go for a walk, try a new activity, or maybe join a sport. Any way you can add exercise into your lifestyle will benefit you in the long run!
When you or your family are sick, it is always at the most convenient time, right? Wrong! Typically we get sick when we are busy; busy with work, busy with life, or busy making plans.
How can you make your healthcare needs fit around your busy schedule?
Advanced Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine is now making healthcare more convenient by offering telemedicine virtual appointments, remote treatment and on the go services. You can now see an online doctor or provider while you are traveling (within the United States), while you are working, or in the middle of the night. AUCOM is working hard to help our local families by offering this telemedicine service at a low cost, available 24/7. Enjoy this anytime, anywhere service via your mobile phone.
Download our Virtual Visit Healthcare App today and enjoy the convenience of a remote virtual visit. The application is free to download, easy to use and just $50 for a virtual visit. Prescriptions can be prescribed on a case-by-case basis. For more information about our virtual healthcare services, visit our website at advurgent.com. To download the app, please visit: https://spruce.care/auc
The gender wage gap, longer life expectancies, and potential retirement funding shortfalls are just a few of the factors that underscore women’s need to plan ahead.
Financial planning is more than just a good idea. Research has consistently shown that people who have financial plans — and who work with financial advisors — save and invest far more and are nearly twice as likely to feel on track or ahead of schedule in preparing for major financial goals, such as retirement.¹
While having a financial plan is important for everyone, it is especially so for women. The gender wage gap, longer life expectancies, and potential retirement funding shortfalls are just a few of the factors that underscore women’s need to plan ahead.
Defining Priorities
The first and most important step in the planning process is defining your life priorities — and then setting financial goals to support them. Once goals are set, you’ll need to evaluate your current financial situation in terms of cash flow and budgeting, assets and debts, and then develop a realistic investment strategy for meeting your goals. This strategy should be based on your personal circumstances, including your risk tolerance and investment time horizon.
Asset Allocation Is Key²
Your asset allocation — or the way you divide your investments among stocks, fixed-income securities, and cash — plays a pivotal role in your financial plan, because the investment decisions you make over time will have a direct effect on your ability to meet your goals.
If, for instance, your primary goal is retirement, a significant portion of your portfolio should be in investments with the potential to grow over time, such as stocks or diversified stock mutual funds, ideally through tax-sheltered retirement accounts.³,⁴ If buying a vacation home is a shorter-term goal, consider including taxable — but more liquid — growth-oriented elements in your investment mix.
Financial planning is an ongoing process. That’s why you’ll need to monitor your investments regularly and adjust as needed to reflect changes in your life, the economy, or the stock market.
Other Planning Considerations
In addition to managing your investments, consider other financial needs, such as insurance. Life insurance, which helps provide financial security in the event of a spouse’s death,5 and long-term care insurance, which protects individuals with disabilities or chronic health conditions from the high cost of long-term care, are both important considerations for women.
Finally, no financial plan is complete without an estate plan. Estate planning helps ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes after your death. At a minimum, your estate plan should include an up-to-date will, a durable power of attorney, a living will and possibly trusts, which may help minimize your estate’s tax liability.
If you are ready to start planning for your financial future, contact a financial advisor. Together you can evaluate your current situation, create a plan, and keep it on track as circumstances in your life change.
T. Lloyd Worth may be reached at (303) 558-0214 or email: Lloyd.Worth@LPL.com WorthWealthManagement.com
Offered by: Michael A. Dolan – Dolan & Associates, P.C.
When you think about estate planning, you often think about the documents you have, or will need. You rely on Wills, Trusts, and Powers of Attorney to provide direction upon your disability or death. But you should not rely on standard documentation alone. The type of documents you have will not ensure an effective transition upon your disability or death. Even the best attorney prepared legal documents can fail to accomplish your goals and objectives if you fail to do these four key things:
The documents must be designed through personalized counseling. Your family is different than every other family. You have goals, dreams, aspirations, and relationships that cannot be properly addressed through standardized forms. They must be designed specifically for you.
You must properly title your assets so they can be captured by your estate plan. If your assets bypass the instructions you prepared, your documents are worthless and you can end up in probate or worse.
You must update your documentation on a regular basis. Changes in your personal situation, and in the tax and legal environment, can have a drastic detrimental effect on your plan and what it can accomplish.
You must prepare your family. Your family should control the process on your disability or death. Not only should you be organized so that they are not scrambling to put your affairs in order, but they should know what to do, how to do it, and how they should pay for the assistance they will need. Preparing your family for the inevitable ensures things will go more smoothly.
If you would like to learn more about an effective estate planning process that is producing great results for families, visit: www.EstatePlansThatWork.com to sign up for a complimentary educational workshop.
This spring will be yet another great selling season for homeowners in Colorado. Selling will most likely continue into summer, with the spring being the best time to sell. A couple factors are the reason for this “season of selling.” The first is lower inventory levels in spring versus summer. This is usually the case due to more homeowners putting their homes on the market in the summer after the kids are out on summer break, instead of disrupting them during the school year. This leads to more homes on the market before supply and demand functions kick-in and things level out a little. Therefore, if you want to sell a home valued approximately under $400,000, listing by the end of May would be the best time to do so. Higher value ranges and acreage properties will fair better later in the season.
Last year, we had another factor that really slowed sales down even more: rising interest rates. Interest rates started rising in February and continued to rise for the rest of the year, almost a full percentage point. As this was happening, hundreds of buyers left the market as they were forced to rent for another year. Interest rates have fallen in 2019, so I believe these same folks will be back in the market looking for homes to buy. This will affect the lower price ranges first and continue through the higher priced homes.
If you’re considering a move or cashing-out, right now may be the last time to do so before interest rates rise once again. The home selling process can be complicated and you may be seeking advice on how to best proceed. I know this market back to front, and you’ll never feel pressure from me. I look forward to speaking with you soon.
For more information on how you can get top dollar for your home this spring season, call your “Brighton Real Estate Bulldog”– Greg Portlock today at: 303.521.7325
Offered by: John Wilson, B.S., BC-HIS – Blue Ribbon Hearing & Tinnitus Center
Hearing is so important there is a month dedicated to making it better. Hearing loss is very prevalent as 65 million people in the U.S. have some form of hearing loss. Better hearing is achieved by first preventing hearing loss, and second, treating it when it occurs.
Better hearing starts with prevention. While hearing loss from certain causes, such as certain genetic conditions is unpreventable, other causes can be potentially prevented by lifestyle changes and noise exposure prevention. Lifestyle related health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes can contribute to hearing loss. Controlling blood sugars, eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking, and treating blood pressure can reduce the risk of suffering from hearing loss. Living a healthy lifestyle can also decrease the likelihood of having to take medications that are ototoxic and can potentially damage hearing.
Noise induced hearing loss is common for those who work in loud vocations or have loud hobbies. Avoiding loud, noisy environments, and using hearing protection helps prevent noise induced hearing loss. Muffs or earplugs should be worn when operating noisy equipment such as power tools and lawn mowers and when using firearms. Custom hearing protection increases the comfort and effectiveness of hearing protection. Listening to music loudly with buds or headphones has contributed to a significant number of cases of permanent hearing loss in young people. Earphones and musician plugs that are custom made for an individual’s ear can make music listening much more comfortable.
Monitoring hearing is important. A baseline hearing test will give you a way to track changes in hearing. Most cases of hearing loss progress gradually, and individuals may suffer from hearing loss for years without being fully aware of what is happening. A complete audiometric evaluation can also help detect other health issues. Having regular follow up hearing tests will allow you to monitor your hearing loss and track changes over time.
Better hearing is most commonly achieved by properly using hearing aids, other assistive listening devices, and through modified communication techniques. Some patients may require surgery or implants to improve hearing. Modern technology has eliminated many of the reasons patients cite for avoiding the use of hearing aids. Using amplification to stimulate the auditory system helps keep the brain working effectively.
Treating hearing loss sooner rather than later has been shown to improve overall mental and physical health. Hearing loss is one of the greatest contributing factors to dementia other than Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have shown a correlation between lack of auditory stimulation and brain shrinkage, and hearing loss is closely linked to diseases such as dementia and often contributes to depression. Those with hearing loss are also at increased risk of injury due to falls.
Thollot Diamonds Announces Colorado’s Largest Bridal Event!
Offered by: Thollot Jewelers
Thornton, CO – When you say “Thollot,” they’ll say “I do!” Thollot Diamonds and Fine Jewelry offers Coloradans the finest jewelry shopping experience in the area. With one of the largest selections of engagement rings and wedding bands in the state, you are sure to find the perfect ring and symbol of your love. From May 23rd to May 25th, Colorado couples will not only enjoy the same great experience and selection from Thollot, but will also find the same stunning engagement rings for up to 40% off.
During the Thollot Bridal Event, customers can shop engagement rings from Forevermark, Fana, Gabriel, Ritani and more, while enjoying a shopping experience that is truly unique to Colorado, craft beer and all! For those looking to get a “yes” this year, look no further than the expert jewelers and family at Thollot Diamonds and Fine Jewelry. No one matches customers with the perfect ring for their partner like Thollot and, for three days only, you can save a little extra money for an amazing summer weekend trip up to the mountains.
Thollot will also be offering customizable ring options for select Forevermark, Fana, and Gabriel newly purchased rings during the Bridal Event for customers interested in an even more unique engagement ring for their proposal.
Get ready for a “Yes” and “I Do”! There’s never been a better time to purchase the perfect ring for your one-and-only.
For more information or any questions, please contact: Thollot Jewelers at (303) 280-3374 or visit: thollotjewelers.com
Wonderful! Well written! Informative! Susan is Superb!
Michael Angelo DaveyJuly 19, 2015
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