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October/November 2024
Find Joy in Everyday Moments THERE’S ALWAYS A REASON TO SMILE
If you’re familiar with “Forrest Gump,” you likely remember the scene where Forrest inadvertently creates the iconic smiley face T-shirt after wiping mud from his face using a yellow shirt. Since Forrest is a fictional character, he couldn’t have possibly created the smiley face in real life; that honor goes to artist Harvey Ball. He made the well-known design after an insurance company hired him to create a smiley face they could use around their offices to improve employee morale. Within a few minutes, Ball made the instantly recognizable smiley face we’ve seen on T-shirts, buttons, and more over the past 61 years. In honor of Ball’s creation and all the good he tried to do in the world, the first Friday in October is World Smile Day. This day allows us to focus on the things that make us smile while bringing happiness to those around us. When I think about the things that make me smile, my children are the first thing that pops into my mind. Kyzlee and Zade are the most special people in my life, and they never fail to make me smile. How they greet me after I haven’t seen them in a couple of days warms my heart. Zade will charge at me and jump right into my arms, showing how excited he is to see me. Kyzlee takes a gentler approach by
There’s never a dull moment when I spend time with my kids. We go to church weekly, and the kids are starting to learn the hymns and sing the songs. We do taekwondo together and have a great time hanging out. Kyzlee does gymnastics, and it’s always amazing to watch her perform. I don’t do any backflips alongside her, but watching her do them and have fun always makes me smile. In addition to spending time with my kids, I also enjoy quality time with friends and other family members. It’s wonderful having a group of friends I can be around and laugh with about almost anything. My team at work also gives me reasons to smile when they’re doing their best. I’m truly surrounded by people who make me smile. If you’re finding it difficult to maintain a smile, take a step back and think. We’re always on the go, which prevents us from critically thinking about our actions and lives. Thinking can flip your perspective and improve your mood almost instantly. If everything in your life seems negative, stop and think about the good things in your life. We focus too much on the negatives without considering the positives, and positives exist in every situation. Often, the things we view as negatives are actually blessings in disguise. I had a friend who recently lost their job because their former employer was downsizing. They were worked up about the situation, but it allowed them to spend the next six weeks with their kids. They made memories they will cherish forever, all because they didn’t let a negative experience bring them down. There’s a silver lining behind every situation. We have plenty to smile about in our lives, but sometimes, recognizing the good takes a little extra effort. And if nothing else is working, eat a smiley face cookie. That always makes me smile!
hugging me and telling me not to leave again! It doesn’t matter if I’ve had a challenging day; seeing my kids and their smiles changes my mood and outlook for the better immediately.
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ople to Thank
SUPERCHARGE YOUR MEMORY Neuroscience-Backed Tips for a Sharper Mind
In today’s fast-paced world, having a sharp and reliable memory has become more critical than ever. Fortunately, recent advancements in neuroscience have revealed new techniques to help us improve
Lost Your Home to Foreclosure? How Surplus Funds Could Be Your Silver Lining Nobody expects to go through a foreclosure when buying a home, but when things happen outside our control, we can do little to prevent it. You may have lost your job or experienced a divorce that left you without the necessary funds to pay your monthly mortgage. Within a few months, the house you made so many memories with your loved ones and worked diligently to decorate and make your own is no longer yours. It can be devastating but understand that all hope is not lost. Surplus funds may be
our cognitive abilities and retain information more effectively. Here are four scientifically backed tips to transform your memory and unlock your full potential.
Exercise your brain and body. Numerous studies have shown that regular physical exercise can profoundly impact cognitive function. When you engage in aerobic activities such as running, cycling, or swimming, you improve your cardiovascular health and stimulate the growth of the hippocampus — the area of the brain responsible for learning and memory formation.
available to you after the house is auctioned.
Meditate for a sharper mind. Did you know mindfulness and meditation can improve your memory? Researchers have discovered that individuals who practice meditation regularly, even just a few minutes a day, exhibit increased brain volume in the hippocampus, resulting in enhanced memory performance. Nourish your brain with the right fuel. The saying “you are what you eat” is true for brain health. A diet rich in low-sugar, low-refined carbs and healthy protein and fat sources can support optimal cognitive function. These foods provide the building blocks your brain needs to keep your memory sharp and thinking clear. Practice improves memory. Practicing regularly is one of the most effective ways to improve your memory. Whether memorizing song lyrics, reciting poetry, or even just trying to recall your daily tasks, the more you challenge your brain to store and retrieve information, the better it will become.
Surplus funds are any money left over after your foreclosed house has been officially sold and all lenders or lienholders have been paid off. Let’s say you lived in that house for 10 years and only had $50,000 left on your mortgage before you paid the house off. When your home goes to auction, it sells for $200,000. Money you’re entitled to will be left on the table, but you might be completely unaware it is waiting for you. In many cases, after leaving their foreclosed home, the individual does not inform the court or post office of their new residence. Since surplus funds notices are sent out via mail, the court cannot notify the previous homeowner(s) that they have surplus funds. In other situations, a distraught homeowner, trying to figure out what to do next, ignores everything sent to them related to their former home. When surplus funds go unclaimed, the court holds onto the money until someone claims it for the homeowner. If you have heard horror stories about foreclosures from people who experienced them during the housing market crash years ago, remember that foreclosure in the current market is a different experience. Your house is likely not turned upside down and irreparably damaged. Your home will likely have surplus funds, even a small amount. Please contact our office if you need help claiming those funds or want to learn more.
So, what are you waiting for? Start exercising, meditating, fueling your brain, and practicing today — your future self will thank you.
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Why a Living Trust Is the Smart Way to Transfer Your Home to Your Kids When creating your estate plan, you’re likely doing everything you can to ensure your loved ones have everything they need after you’re gone. You have specific assets you want going to your children, spouse, siblings, and more. One particular asset you may consider gifting to your kids is your home. However, you should never deed your home to your children; instead, you should put it in a living trust. For several reasons, a living trust is the best place to put your home if you want your children to claim it. Keep the creditors away. It’s possible that your children have built up some debt and haven’t been making their minimum payments. If so, they may have creditors coming after them to reclaim the money your child owes them. If you deed the house to your children instead of placing it in a living trust, the creditors could take it. Prevent your house from becoming a marital asset. Divorce is fairly common in our country and could become an obstacle if you deed your home to your children. If your child gets divorced, the house is subject to divorce proceedings. This means your home could easily become the property of your ex-son-in-law or daughter-in-law.
Avoid capital gains tax. If you’re leaving your children the house, you don’t want them to have to pay high taxes if they decide to sell it in the future. If you deed the house to your child and they sell, they will face capital gains tax, which is the difference between what you paid for it and what they sell it for. Prevent probate. Probate can be a nightmare for families, but a trust enables you to avoid it. By creating a living trust and placing the house within it, your children and loved ones skip the hassle that often accompanies probate.
TAKE A BREAK
Ultimate Baked Ziti
INGREDIENTS •
1 (16 oz) package of dried ziti pasta
• • •
1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 cup ricotta cheese
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1 onion, diced
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese Salt and pepper, to taste
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
•
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. 2. Cook ziti according to package instructions. 3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the onion and garlic until softened. 4. Add marinara sauce and diced tomatoes, stirring to combine. 5. Stir in the cooked ziti and season with salt and pepper. 6. Transfer mixture to baking dish. 7. Top with ricotta and mozzarella cheese and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. DIRECTIONS
AUTUMN BOO CANDY COFFEE
FOLIAGE GHOST GOURD MOON
SPOOKY SOUP TAILGATE TOUCHDOWN
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INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
1 2
The Impact of a Smile
Neuroscience-Inspired Strategies for a Sharper Mind
Surplus Funds 101
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Why Your Home Should Go Into a Living Trust
Ultimate Baked Ziti
Take a Break
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Your Guide to Wildlife Tracking Fun
Become a Nature Detective UNLOCK THE SECRETS OF ANIMAL FOOTPRINTS
Have you ever discovered a mysterious set of animal tracks? Reading those footprints can be your ticket to uncovering the hidden world of wildlife right under your nose. Whether you’re on a camping trip hoping to spot one of your favorite critters or simply curious about the pawprints you stumbled on at home, we’re here to show you how to become a nature detective. Prepare and Observe You’ll have the best luck spotting tracks or other signs of animal life in places where wildlife is known to frequent. Find watering holes or other areas where animals may feed or gather. Tracks need a suitable medium, like snow, mud, sand, or soft dirt, for them to show. Regardless of where you’re heading, bring a field guide, a map of the area, hiking supplies, and tools for tracking, like a ruler, magnifying glass, and a camera. Count the Toes Your main clues to the owner of these natural calling cards are the number of toe and claw marks on the print. Canines, like wolves, and
felines, like cougars, all have four toes, but you can see a significant difference between their claws. Cats have retractable claws, so their pawprints won’t always have claws. In contrast, birds have distinctive tracks with three long, skinny, forward-facing toes. Identify Your Prey When you have identified what animal family left the print behind, you can begin to home in on its exact species. Use a small ruler to measure the size of the track to give you clues. A wolf, for example, has similar prints to a dog, but they are about 2 inches wider. Context is also a crucial factor when you’re tracking. Think about the animals that live in the area. Would there be any domesticated dogs in the woods where you are hiking? Document your tracks with photos and notes in a nature journal. If you’re still unsure, go online and look at various animal tracks. You may find what you’re looking for!
So, next time you stumble upon animal tracks, get out your ruler and camera! Those prints could lead you on a great adventure!
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