The Gratitude Jar

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There are many reasons as well as things each day to be grateful for.
A few years ago, I adopted a daily process of reflection on small things to be grateful for that occurred throughout the day. I really enjoy looking for the good. I find that it is a positive reminder for me to search for the good things in everyday life.

I recently found an article that I will attach here that talks about creating a Gratitude Jar.

There are many ways to look for the good!

Here is another way that you can choose. It may also be fun to do with kids. You could print this out and place it on the fridge. As a family write down the things you are grateful for as you feel them.

T- Think about what you're grateful for.
H - Have an open mind.
A - Allow yourself to feel gratitude.
N - Note your gratitude.
K - Keep it in a jar, or other special place.
S - Share it with someone else.

I hope that you can enjoy this practice as much as I do.
-Michelle

Sun Safety

Despite all the wonderful things the sun can do for us, it does not come without any risks. One of the most important ways we can stay safe in the sun is to wear sunscreen, making it important to choose wisely.

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How to be Safe in the Sun

Our bodies love and flourish in the sunlight. Getting enough Vitamin D through sun exposure plays an important role in our health and happiness.  Despite all the wonderful things the sun can do for us, it does not come without any risks. One of the most important ways we can stay safe in the sun is to wear sunscreen, making it important to choose wisely.

What Exactly Does Sunscreen Do?

The purpose of sunscreen is to block the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation from entering the body.

The sun emits both UVA and UVB rays. Most sunscreens only block UVB rays and allow UVA rays to enter the skin. UVA are the rays that cause tanning, prematurely age your skin which leads to wrinkles and age spots while UVB burns the skin. Too much exposure to both UVA and UVB rays can cause skin cancer.

There are two broad categories of sunscreen ingredients: chemical and mineral/physical filters.

The most common sunscreens contain chemical filters (ex. Oxybenzone, avobenzone) which are easily absorbed into the body and lead to hormone disruption. Mineral filters include: titanium oxide and zinc oxide which block both UVA and UVB rays and form a shield on top of the skin to prevent deep absorption.

What is SPF?

Sun protective factor (SPF) measures how well sunscreen protects against UVB rays. It is calculated based on how long it takes to sunburn skin that is treated with sunscreen.  There is no way to report UVA absorption. So always pick a broad spectrum sunscreen as this can protect against both UVA and UVB radiation.

What Are Some Pros/Cons of Sunscreen Use?

PROS:

Regular and proper sunscreen use drastically decreases rate of skin cancer

Sunscreen can combat aging and decrease the appearance of wrinkles and age spots

CONS:

Since sunscreens are applied over large areas of the skin, the ingredients are quickly absorbed and can find their way into blood, urine and breast milk.

** Important to note that these cons only pertain to chemical sunscreens and not mineral ones like zinc oxide

What to Avoid in Your Sunscreen?

Try to avoid these chemicals-

Oxybenzone - Most often found in sunscreen

Avobenzone

Homosalate 

Octinoxate

Octocrylene

Cinoxate

Dioxybenzone

Padimate

Sulisobenzone

PABA

Trolamine salicylate

Bigger isn’t better - Avoid SPF > 50:

Avoid sunscreen sprays and powders

Avoid sunscreen with Vitamin A, also known as retinyl palmitate

 What to Look For When Shopping For Sunscreen?

Pick a broad spectrum sunscreen that offers long-lasting protection and one with ingredients that does not cause long term health damage.

Look for sunscreens that are mineral-based to minimize absorption into the skin

Chose safe/mineral ingredients like:

​Titanium dioxide

Zinc oxide

Avobenzone at 3%

Pick a sunscreen with an SPF between 15-50

 How to Properly Apply Your Sunscreen:

The most common mistake that people make when using sunscreen is improper application. Sunscreen needs to be applied 20 minutes before sun exposure as this is the amount of time it takes for the sunscreen to be absorbed into the skin. In terms of how much to apply, it should form a thin protective film on the skin’s surface, about 1 ounce. Always remember to reapply sunscreen after going in the water or after sweating.

 Other Important Tips for Staying Safe in The Sun:

The best protection against too much harmful UV rays is a combination of clothing, shade, good timing and sunscreen. Keep in mind that sunscreen ALONE does not prevent skin cancer. It is important to combine safe sunscreen with time spent in the shade, with hat and clothes. Here is a checklist to follow:

Cover up-This includes, t-shirts for adults, sun suits for kids, hats and shorts.  There are  lines of light clothing that provide SPF to protect against UVA and UVB

Drink water-Hydration while spending time in the sun can prevent heat strokes

Look for Shade-Make an effort to find these spots whether it is under a tree or umbrella

Sunglasses - can protect your eyes from UVB radiation that may cause cataracts 

Timing-Ideal time to be safe in the sun and to get your Vitamin D is early in the morning or late afternoon. UV radiation peaks mid-day.  It is estimated that 15-20 minutes of exposure is recommended to get your daily dose of Vitamin D but also avoids burning.  Avoid the sun from 10 am-4 pm

Wear Sunscreen

 Sun Safety Tips for Kids

Did you know that sunburns in children can actually double the risk of developing skin cancer? Research is clear that intermittent, intense sun exposure in childhood is linked to melanoma which is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It is important to prevent sunburns in children. Children who have light coloured skin, eyes and play in the sun for long periods are at a higher risk. The best sun safe tip for kids is to always make sure they are wearing sun protecting gear like hats and t shirts.

Children’s skin is more sensitive than adults. Apply a little bit of sunscreen on their hands before lathering it all over to make sure no reactions occur.

Make sure to reapply sunscreen often if they are in the water or sweating.

 Sun Safety Tips for Infants

Infants < 6 months should be kept out of the sun as much as possible. At this age there is very little melanin production. When you take your baby outside make sure to:

Protective clothing and a hat

Always make shade for them: ex. Stroller canopy or umbrella

AVOID going out in the sun during peak hours mid day (10 am - 4 pm)

 How to Speed Up Recovery from Sunburns

A sunburn is a burn to the skin that is caused by exposure to UV rays of the sun - specifically UVB radiation. It can appear as a red, painful skin lesion that is also hot to touch. Sun burns will usually set in 2-6 hours after exposure, peaks at 12-36 hours and fades after about 72 hours.

It is helpful to use products that will help to cool and soothe the burn. You want to avoid lotions and creams, which can lock in the heat. Try the following tips post sunburn:

Hydrate - Drinking a lot of water post burn can help the body to recover quicker

Aloe Vera Gel - This is a soothing plant which can help to cool the burn

Avoid any perfumes from soaps, bath bombs, as this will be more painful and slow down healing

Apply some witch hazel

To reduce inflammation and relieve sunburns -Shea butter, apply to affected areas as this can help to restore moisture in the area

 Overall, enjoy your time outside, just be safe! Spending too much time in the sun increases your risk for skin cancer and early skin aging. To decrease this risk regularly use sunscreen, limit time in the sun, wear hats, light clothing and reapply often. Use these tips for picking out your safe sunscreen!

Bonnie

Update on Office Protocols & Summer Hours

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Our Office is opening for Client Appointments as of July 7th

Safety Measures to keep in mind:

1) All Clients will be pre-screened prior to arrival. All Clients will be required to sign an Acknowledgement of this screening.

2) Jodi’s desk is equipped with a sneeze guard.

3) Masks are not mandatory to visit us; however, we encourage you to wear one depending on your comfort level.

If you require a Mask to visit us and do not have your own, please let us know and we will meet you prior to you entering the building.

4) Our Front Foyer and Jodi’s Office are equipped with Hand Sanitizer

5) Jodi’s office will be cleaned/sanitized prior to each appointment. This extra cleaning time does leave less time for client appointments each day. Please bear with us as we take the proper precautions.

6) If you want to drop something off for us, please let us know in advance. Currently, the front doors are locked to limit the number of people entering the front foyer.

**We are looking forward to seeing all your smiling faces😊**

SUMMER IS HERE!!!

This means that our Summer Hours are in effect,  so we can all enjoy some time with our families.

Our Summer hours for the months of July and August are:

• Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

• Friday: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm

Remember:

1) Kailey, our receptionist, is here daily from 8:30-5 pm.

2) If you call on a Friday afternoon after 1:00 pm, we will return your call on Monday.

Enjoy the summer and be safe!

-Jodi, Bonnie and Michelle

For the Love of Camping

My husband David and I have always been campers. When I was little my family always camped as a family and I have some amazing memories from those annual camping trips. We slept in a trailer, ate too much food, but it was amazing.

When David and I first dated, we used to hike more and so we tented. We enjoyed it for years. We continued to tent until our son was 5 and we were expecting our daughter. David felt guilty that I was 8 months pregnant and was sleeping on the ground so we got he purchased a tent trailer. We camped with our tent trailer for 10 years.

We recently purchased a larger trailer, as our kids enjoy it and as they grow, we needed a bit more room. We also decided that we might as well continue to camp while the kids enjoy it, and while they still like us 😊

Each year we plan about 5 camping trips a year. Our longest trip over the years has been when we went to Halifax and back 2 years ago. Thankfully the kids do love it because even though it’s a bit bigger than our tent trailer, it is still close quarters 😊

What is my favourite part of camping?

My favourite part is the family time. Whether it is just our family of four, or when we camp with our extended family and the number gets closer to 20. The campfires, the food, the walks, the bike rides, the card-playing and conversations are the best.

It feels like everyone unplugs more than usual. It’s easy to relax and enjoy it all!

Some of our favourite Campfire Snacks:

Birthday Cake Smore’s

1 marshmallow

1 JerseyMilk Chocolate bar section

1 Birthday Cake Oreo

😊I bet you can’t have just one

Reece’s Pieces Smore’s

1 marshmallow

1 Reece’s Pieces Cup

2 Graham Crackers

Camper Pizza’s- (Camper Pies)

Pie Iron- We use a Double because it’s easier to keep everything in 😊

Make a nice sized fire and let it burn down to hot coals

Spray Pam on the inside of the Pie Iron

Heat the Pie Iron in the fire, spray the pam on both the top and the bottom of the Pie Iron and wipe clean.

Butter 2 pieces of bread (as you would for Grilled Cheese)

Start your pizza on a paper plate (because the Pie Iron will be hot)

Place the buttered side of one piece of bread down on the plate.

Add Pizza Sauce and all your favourite pizza toppings

Place the second slice of bread on top, buttered side up

Use a fork or Kitchen utensil to pick up the pizza and place it in the opened Pie Iron

Now close the Pie Iron

Place in the campfire (You will need a flashlight, and need to carefully open to check each side to be sure that the bread is nice and browned the same as grilled cheese)

Once it’s cooked, remove from Pie Iron with a fork or cooking utensil, place on a paper plate. You may want to cut it in half because usually, they are pretty hot, so best to let it cool before you taste your master pizza 😊

Camper Pie’s

Same ideas with Camper Pizzas-

The difference is, they are sweet treats

We have tried many varieties of the years. Some of the favourites are Apple pie filling, Cherry pie filling, Blueberry pie filling, Nutella, Smores’, adding Marshmallow’s, cream cheese or chocolate in with the fruit filings. 

Each year my kids invent something new, and we all test it to see if it makes the to keep list.

What’s my least favourite part of camping?

Unpacking—It’s the worst

I don’t mind packing because I have a packing list that I have perfected over the years. Yes, I do share it with family and friends when asked.

Coming home, and having to unpack and do all the laundry is not my favourite part. However, we’ve trained the kids that everyone helps unpack until everything is in the house, and we start laundry when we walk in the door.

-Michelle

How to take control of your finances

Now’s a good time to look at your household expenses. Many people have had their income reduced through a cut back in hours at work or because of home isolation and lay offs.

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How to Take Control when things feel out of control when it comes to your finances.

Now’s a good time to look at your household expenses. Many people have had their income reduced through a cut back in hours at work or because of home isolation and lay offs.

What I’d like you to do, even if it seems impossibly scary right now, is to look at your monthly expenses.

If you know things are going to be tight or extremely stressful in your budget, now is the time to get that figured out instead of waiting for it to happen and being shocked by the reality of it.

Over the next few months cash flow is King!

First and foremost is to know what you have coming in to your account over the next few months.

Now look at your expenses. Figure out what things are an absolute priority to pay, food heat, water – are any of these companies allowing delay or deferral of payments. What expenses, if you could negotiate a deferral, would help your cash flow. Have you talked to your bank about deferring mortgage and loan payments, lines of credit. Have you called your credit card companies to see if deferral is an option. What things can be put on hold, things like gym membership, investment contributions, subscriptions? Make the calls and get informed so you know what is headed your way.

If you are blessed and still have income coming in and your finances have not been dramatically impacted are there impactful ways to help others? Can you shop local to help support your community? Can you reach out to your hair stylist, salon owner, massage therapist to see if they offer gift certificates. Most of these service providers are unable to work at all and will be severely impacted by physical distancing. Prepay for a few months of your regular service. How about your favourite restaurant, could you mange take out once a week or buy gift certificates that you can use in the future?

Regardless of our financial circumstances each one of us can lift someone up in this time and make positive a difference. Make a phone call to someone who is isolated. Facetime your kids or grandkids.  If you can get out to the grocery store, is there a neighbor who needs some items picked up as well? Think about your regular destinations pre pandemic. Is there someone who needs to hear from you or is there a local business that needs your support or a kind word or suggestion from you? In a time where everyone is physically distancing, you can still make a positive social connection.

Fit in some Fitness...why it matters

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Exercise has many health benefits and can help enhance quality of life. It can improve your metabolism, boost your energy, kick-start your brain and even reduce anxiety and stress to promote relaxation for bedtime. Why not invest in yourself and make a regular exercise routine an important part of your day? Here are some easy tips to help you reach your fitness goals and achieve a more active lifestyle.

Make sure your workout is efficient

With gyms closed at this time, consider what you can do at home. There are many free apps available that can be done in under 30 minutes requiring no equipment, just body weight exercises. How about a morning walk, run or bike ride?

Do something you enjoy

To build healthier habits, you need to be consistent. The best way to develop better exercise habits is to do something that you enjoy. Whether it’s a yoga practice, cross-fit training, or a jog, if you look forward to the activity, it will be that much easier to stick with it.

Keep a calendar and track your accomplishments

Track each workout by marking it on a calendar, or if you have any of the new smart watch tracking products-they help to set goals, track progress and get a more complete picture of your health and fitness. Seeing what you’ve accomplished will help motivate you to keep going and stay on track with your fitness goals.

Make an appointment

Carve out 30 minutes everyday in your daily schedule to dedicate to exercise. Even if you’re not planning to do an intense workout every day, keep that time for anything active, whether you go for a walk, jog or do yoga. This way you’ll always devote a set time to your health.

Do something, anything

If your day is extra busy, instead of spending 10 minutes scrolling on your phone, use that time to fit in a short workout – try a quick stretching break at your desk or do a stationary jog in between work tasks. There are some great YouTube videos demonstrating brief workout ideas. Short bursts of exercise throughout the day can still add up to a significant workout. Take the stairs, this may seem like a no-brainer, but the little choices can make the biggest impact in adding up to a more active lifestyle. These small changes can help you burn more calories throughout the day and stay active. Exercising should never feel like a chore. By scheduling time to do something you enjoy and sticking with it, you can build good habits for a happier and healthier you.

Stay healthy,

Bonnie

Electronic Signature

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Digital / Electronic Signature is NOW an Option for you.

We are excited to be sharing some amazing news.

We can now accept Digital Signatures😊

How can I set this up?

If you are interested in this option the next time you need to complete a transaction, please let us know.

If you have registered online for Client Portal, you are already over halfway there.

Do I have to register for Client Portal?

No, you do not. This process can be done through your email.

What is a Digital Signature? Do I sign my name with my finger or my mouse?

Your digital signature is simply a secure stamped document. It contains details such as your name, the date and time. Once a document is digitally signed it can not be altered. SO, there is no signing with your mouse or finger needed.

Is the process difficult?

No, the process is quite simple. You will receive an email that you have a secure document to sign. You may choose to sign it via email or by logging into your Client Portal. You will be walked through each step and will have a chance to review the entire document prior to “Clicking” to digitally sign/ accept the document.

Is it secure?

Yes, the document can not be opened to view it with out either a 4-6-digit Verification Code that you may choose to have text to you

OR

The other option instead of a text, is to have a secret question and answer (we will set that up together prior).

Does the Digital Signature process take a long time?

No. For a first-time user I would give yourself 10 mins, but if you are familiar with similar processes it simply takes a few mins.

What if I find an error and don’t want to sign the document because it or the data within it is incorrect?

You have the option to decline and give an explanation as to why you are not able to sign the document the way that it is.

Can I sign everything Digitally from now on?

We like to see you at least once a year.

However, the answer is Yes if we have previously met with you, identified you and have obtained an original signature to start with, most everything can be signed digitally. However, we want to see you a minimum of once a year😊

I forget what I signed; how can I see it again to review it?

The digitally signed documents are always available to you. When you log in to your Client Portal, the documents will be available for you to see forever. We can email you the completed form to keep on file if you like.

We keep everything on file here for you to see them anytime.

If this option seems of interest to you. Let us know! We are always here to help.

-         Michelle

Take advantage of a Budgeting App

One of the more well-known budgeting apps is EveryDollar.

EveryDollar is a free budgeting app built by Ramsey Solutions - the organization behind Dave Ramsey, the personal finance media personality/book author.
EveryDollar relies on his money principles, known as the Dave Ramsey Baby Steps, and the debt snowball repayment technique.
How Does It Work?
EveryDollar uses the budgeting system known as zero-based budgeting. In zero-based budgeting, you assigned every dollar to a category. It's very similar to envelope budgeting.
This is where you input your monthly income and plan your entire month's spending ahead of time. You set up budgeting categories and then allocate your income to those categories.
Then you use the app to track your spending daily. If you have the free app, you manually enter your transactions. If you pay for EveryDollar Plus, you can link accounts and it'll automatically pull in transaction data.
If you're a fan of Dave Ramsey and his approach to money management, EveryDollar is an easy to use tool to help you manage your money.
The free version doesn't give you transaction downloads, which forces you to manually enter each transaction, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing because it gets you closer to your spending. It's free and quick to set up so you can check it out for yourself.
I use this app myself and found this you tube tutorial helpful in getting started.

Enjoy managing your spending,

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Take Advantage of Market Volatility

Take advantage of market volatility with this approach.

Investors watching the markets lately are likely dizzy with the crazy fluctuations.  It can be hard to stay focused on long term goals and investment strategies.   When markets go down it can be difficult to fight the temptation to sell and when they go back up it can be just as hard to know when to get back in.  The result for many investors is selling when things are down and buying when things are up. (Exactly the opposite of what we are taught to do)

A simple investing strategy can help investors ride out the volatility and achieve better long-term results. Creating a systematic investing plan is a fool proof way to go.  This plan consists of investing the same amount of money in a regularly scheduled way, no matter what markets are doing.  When prices are high it means buying less units of an investment and when prices are low it means buying more units.  This averages out to typically a lower cost per unit, usually referred to as dollar cost averaging.

How it works

Here’s a simple example that shows how a systematic investing plan can benefit an investor. Let’s say Janice commits to investing $100 in an equity mutual fund every week. As it happens, the equity markets are especially volatile over the next two months:

Over the eight weeks, she invests a total of $800 and buys a total of 86.4 units. Her average cost per unit is $9.26. Had Janice invested her entire amount of $800 during week 1, her average unit cost would have been $10.00 versus the weekly investment strategy where her average unit cost was $9.26, a savings of 0.74 cents per unit.

In hindsight, she could have done even better if she had somehow known that week 3, when the cost per unit was at its lowest, would be the best time to buy. In that case, her $800 investment would have bought 114.3 units, worth $1,028.70 in week 8. However, she could also have done much worse if she had wrongly guessed that week 6, when the cost per unit was at its highest, would be the best time to buy. In that case, her $800 investment would have bought just 66.7 units worth $600.30 in week 8.

Not even the most skilled professional investors can say with certainty when markets have bottomed out or peaked, so a systematic investing plan is a disciplined approach than attempting to time the markets. By averaging out the cost per unit over time, and ensuring fewer units are purchased at high prices, systematic investing may help investors achieve greater returns, which aligns with the saying “buy low, sell high”.  It also takes the emotion out of it.

Investors who are systematically investing may be better able to take the long view through volatility. The best thing about a systematic investing plan is that it’s automatic and unemotional, helping investors avoid the emotions that affect us all and can lead to costly investment decisions. Instead of selling when prices are low, or “on sale,” investors with a systematic plan keep buying in all market conditions. Just as important, instead of missing the best days of a recovery because they’re out of the markets, those investors remain invested, leading to a potentially better outcome. 

-Jodi

Source: Manulife- My Solutions-

Electronic Funds Transfer

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EFT- Yes this is Available!!!

First of all what is an EFT.

Electronic funds transfer (EFT) represents the process of money transfer from one bank account to another usually through an electronic system (computer with access to internet) without any involvement of bank managers. You can use abbreviation EFT when you speak about several payment systems:

• Debit/credit card payments for a product/service

• Direct deposit payment from the payer

• Direct debit transaction

• International bank payment using wire transfer or any other form of electronic transfers

• Electronic bill payment, issued by the bank via online banking

• Any financial transaction performed by bank or electronic money (e-Wallets) issuer where no cash is involved

How can You get Started?

The process is simple.

1)             Contact Michelle or Bonnie to let them know you are interested in this option

2)             We will Send you an email with A EFT PDF to help guide you through the process, as well as provide you with your Personal Account #. Once you receive your personal account # from us you are all set.

3)              Login in to your online bank access and set up a New Payee.

4)              Choose Investia Financial Services Inc.

(If this is not available for you there are 2 options

i) Contact your Branch ii) Search for HollisWealth

5)              Indicate your Account # provided by us

6)              Send the $ to your Investia account, as per the Account # provided by our office

Things to remember

1)             Let us know when your sending the $, and the amount.

2)              Let us know if you will be coming into sign a form for the deposit or if you would like us to send you a form so you may digitally sign it!!! (Yes, this is a NEW option too)

3) Remember it takes 24-48 hours for the $ to appear at our Head office Investia

These Tips are also available in a Video on Facebook or Instagram

Be sure to reach out to us if your interested or have more questions!

-         Michelle

Spread some kindness today

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Pizza lunch to say thank you…

Administrative Professionals Day

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A Gift of Kindness

Quarantine Easter

Easter this year, make it more about spending time together and the things you can still do.

A Quarantine Easter

Easter is certainly going to be different this year, here are some ideas for things we can still do together.

It’s not just for the kids. It’s also the time we spend together with our family and friends. The visits and the special meals together.

Here are a few idea’s to help keep the kids busy and a few suggestions on how to spend Easter with your family during the Social Distancing /Quarantine for COVID-19 .

1) Easter Egg Games with your Kids

•         Be Creative- have a Contest to see who can colour the best Easter Egg. You can draw your own or find a free Template online.

•         Use a Package or two of Peeps. See who can stack the most peeps in under a minute.

•         Break apart all your plastic Easter eggs, and see who can put together the most matched eggs in under a minute.

•         Create a race course, see who can complete the course the fastest while balancing a plastic egg on a spoon.

•         Stacking Eggs- Use plastic Easter eggs to see who can stack the bottom or top half the highest in a minute.

•         Bunny Tails- Stand on a chair or a stool. Place a cotton ball on your nose. Carefully let the cotton balls fall into a bowl, the winner is whomever has the most bunny tails collected in a minute.

•         Have an Easter Egg Hunt in your backyard. First, parents hide eggs for the kids, once they are all found, start over. This time have the kids hide eggs for the parents (trust me it’s fun).

2) Bake- a Special Treat

•         Bake and decorate Cookies.

•         Keep some for your family and then you could deliver some to family or friend.

3) Have a Special Meal

•         If you enjoy cooking then make that Big Special Meal. Then share the extras with a family or friend by delivering to them.

•         If you want to treat yourself- Order Take Out from a Local Restaurant (you could order something special for you and your special someone. Keep in mind if you have little ones, you could do take out from 2 separate places, so everyone enjoys:)

•         If you have the funds you could order a Take Out Meal for a friend or someone in need. Call them in advance and let them know and ask if you can deliver it for them as well.

4) Movie /TV show Date

•         Setup a date to watch a Movie with a Friend or Family. It could be a Movie you both own or one that is on the TV.

Schedule a phone call, Face-time, Skype, Zoom, Google Meeting or Online Hangout of your choice. This way even though you are not together physically you are still enjoying time together.

5) Spa @ home

•         Set a time where you treat a loved one with a foot or back massage, even if it’s just for a few mins.

•         If you have daughters, they would enjoy a Spa day, treat them to a Mani + Pedi.  Get creative and enjoy the time.

•         Afterwards you may need to enjoy a nice relaxing bath with a glass of your favorite beverage to spoil yourself.

7) Phone a Friend

•         Use this time to call a friend or loved one and have a nice catch up. This is the safest way to visit and keep everyone safe and healthy.

8) Go for a Drive

•         Make a schedule and plan a route, then go for a drive. When you leave your house call the first person and let them know you’re on your way to drive by.  Make signs or have the kids make signs. When you are leaving for the next house call or text them to let them know to watch for you:)

9) A Book

•         Wrap up a book you’ve read and want to share with a friend or family member.

•         If you like you could order a new book or a Gift Card, online and have it delivered to their house.

•         Include a new bookmark- be creative and make one, or have your children make some bookmarks as a craft.

10) Decorate outside

·         Use sidewalk chalk to write Easter messages on your driveway or sidewalk

·         Decorate with plastic eggs or homemade chicks and bunnies in your windows

Stay Home, Stay Healthy and Safe!

Michelle

Financial Terms you may be hearing and what they mean...

Recession: a period of time in which a country’s economic activity declines for 2 or more quarters (6months) in a row. 

This is determined by looking at these 5 things:

GDP (the final output of all goods and services produced), income, employment, manufacturing, and retail sales.

Obviously with what is happening in the world right now this looks like a real possibility depending on how we manage the flattening of the curve.

Usually by the time the reports are published and analyzed we are already in a recession. 

Once people are back to work and the income, employment and manufacturing etc. return we will be out of a recession which is called:

Economic recovery - a business cycle following a recession that is determined by a period of improving business activity. This is when economic recovery, gross domestic product (GDP) growth remains positive as the economy rebounds.

What happens in between – this is where all those letters come in

L shaped Recovery – an economy that declines steeply and stays that way for an extended period.  This happened in Japan in the early 1990s

W shaped Recovery (Double Dip) – two economic recessions and recoveries that are back to back.  This happened in the US in the early 80’s.

U shaped Recovery – decline is gradual then a recovery starts slowly and picks up speed

V shaped Recovery - the economy experiences a sharp decline that is brief followed by a strong recovery

Sometimes when you know the meaning it’s not so scary!

Jodi

Non-Toxic Spring Cleaning

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Emily Rodrigues is a Friend of Financial by Design and she wrote this post for us.  She has experienced dermatitis from harsh chemicals and now tries to live a toxic free life.  She enjoys researching chemical free products to keep the world a healthier place to be.

She’s also given us some recipes for homemade cleaning supplies that are natural and they work!

It just feels like it’s a great time for cleaning!

 If you have questions or want to follow her on social here is her information.

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Hey Everyone,

To say the last few weeks has been a whirlwind would be a massive understatement. I think it’s safe to say this is unchartered territory for the entire world! And amidst the chaos, we are all being advised to stay home.

So, now that we are all at home and last week we saw the first day of spring, I guess it’s time to do some Spring Cleaning! I know a lot of grocery stores have been sold out of chemical cleaners that we have historically used to get that “deep clean” going in our homes. But I’m here to tell you that YOU DON’T NEED IT! Actually, you are better off NOT having it at this point! Many chemical cleaners contain harmful ingredients that can have a range of health effects from decreasing your immune system function, decreased respiratory function, endocrine and reproductive disruption, as well as skin irritants and allergies. So let’s talk about some chemicals to stay away from:

Fragrance: According to the Environmental Working Group, the average fragrant contains about 14 secret chemicals that aren’t listed on the label, many of which are linked to hormone disruption and allergic reactions, as well as about 80 percent of them not being tested for human safety in personal care products

Ammonium Hydroxide (AH): This is a common chemical found in drain cleaners, toilet cleaners, oven cleaners, glass and metal cleaners, and general surface cleaners. AH is a known allergen, asthmagen, and can cause respiratory and skin irritation. Some “well known” household products that contain AH are- Lysol Disinfecting Spray and Windex

Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether: This is found in a few heavy-duty cleaners and degreasers. The European Union suspects this chemical of damaging fertility or the developing fetus (ECHA 2011) and has essentially banned it in cleaners (EU 2008). These solvents are readily absorbed through the skin or via inhalation and can reach toxic levels in the body

There are literally hundreds of other chemicals I could go on about all day, but I want to get back to our SPRING CLEANING, and talk about what we can use to clean our houses safely using products that are #nontoxic! If you do want more information on the dangers of some products and the effects they can have on your family’s health, you can find it at: https://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/content/cleaners_and_health/

So here are some natural, inexpensive, and #nontoxic cleaners you can make at home:

Multipurpose Cleaner:

·         1 part water

1 part white vinegar

·         Essential Oils of your choice- you can use as many drops as you want, making it as weak or strong smelling as you would like (if you don’t have essential oils on hand, you can use lemon rind as well)

Mix everything together in a spray bottle and get cleaning (if you use lemon rind, you may not begin to smell a strong lemon scent for a few days as it saturates in the vinegar/ water solution)

I use this concoction to clean virtually every surface of my house, including my floors! I think a jug of vinegar costs $3 and lemons are $.50, so by making the switch to non-toxic you are not only helping your family to be healthier, you’re saving $$ along the way!

Glass Cleaner:

·         2 cups water

·         1/2 cup white vinegar

·         1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70% concentration)

·         1 to 2 drops of essential oil

You can skip the essential oil; it’s only used to add a fresh scent. Again, mix everything in a spray bottle and label it

Kitchen Degreaser & Stainless Steel Cleaner:

4 Tablespoons Baking Soda

·         4 Cups of warm water

Mix together to create a paste and apply with a damp cloth. Rinse off and dry with a dry cloth.

You can clean out old bottles of your traditional chemical cleaners and refill them with your natural and #nontoxic ones, saving another plastic bottle from entering the landfill. I hope this helps everyone in jump starting their spring-cleaning and making some positive, healthy changes for your family and your home.

Things you can do to set yourself up for success when self-isolation ends

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Things you can do to set yourself up for success when self-isolation ends.

These are certainly scary times. It’s easy to stay living in fear but my suggestion is to don’t let it consume you. If you need to, allow yourself to be fearful for a set time period everyday – say 10 minutes, and then get on with living!

Remember the days you were begging for more time to complete tasks. Now’s your chance.

Things to Do:

Look at your finances. Now is a great time to look at what comes out and what will be coming in each month. What are your monthly expenses? If your income was or is going to change over the next months is there anything that can be cut back on now? No use waiting and having it all happen as a big surprise. Preparation is key.

Do you have a budget? How much are you spending on debt and interest payments? It’s a great time to be open with your partner and take a real look at any debt that has accumulated. Work as a team to figure out a plan to knock this down once your income returns to normal. Your monthly cash flow will thank you for it.

Set up a strategy to start saving for a 3-month emergency fund. Money isn’t everything but it gives you choices. Imagine if you were living through this event with no financial worries because you had a safety net for the monthly expenses you figured out above. Start planning for how you can set that up for the future.

Now that you are having to do without some everyday things, discuss what habits/expenses you can and can’t live without when things get back to a normal routine. (think Starbucks, Tim Hortons, gym memberships, lunch out every day)

Develop new healthy habits. Now that you have time, you can prepare healthy meals as a family. Teach your kids how to cook and measure things.

Eat as a family at the table. Use your good china (Is that still a thing?) Set up a picnic on the family room floor.

Is there an area of your house you’ve been meaning to de-clutter, rearrange or thoroughly clean? Or flip your mattress and clean your windows, change your smoke detector batteries.

Have a sleep over with your family in the living room in sleeping bags. Make s’mores.

Visit a virtual museum or zoo – here’s the links

https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams

https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour

Remember to stay safe and keep your mind positive by keeping it active. You can drown in fear or you can make progress. Your choice!

-Jodi