Maria's Space: July 2023

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Why Community Center Should Be Your One-Stop Fitness Destination

Community centers are a great way to keep residents active and connected. They provide a variety of fitness classes and social activities for all ages and can help improve overall well-being.

Convenience

Community centers are necessary for towns and cities, providing residents a place to stay active, engage with one another, and feel connected to their homes. They have been proven to improve mental well-being, decrease the risk of disease and injury, and boost economic development through sports tournaments and conventions.

Accessibility

Having safe spaces where people can meet their physical activity goals helps everyone. However, some groups, like those from racial/ethnic minorities and rural areas, are less likely to have access to these facilities due to historical land use and housing policies. Designing communities to provide these safe spaces can help them meet the recommended physical activity levels.

Since the '90s, there have been many examples of efforts not only to improve the accessibility of buildings and facilities but also of services provided by those businesses. For example, department stores and supermarkets are working to draw up service manuals that instruct clerks on serving customers who are blind or visually impaired or have hearing loss and train them to communicate using sign language.

Personalized Training

If you're looking for personalized training, Denver community center has personal trainers to help you develop a workout routine that suits your needs. Standard one-on-one instruction is offered as a la carte sessions or packages. Partner training also is available for people who want to save on the cost of personal training while still working with a trainer to meet their goals.

Recreation centers are a hub of healthy fitness culture, offering facilities for people to work out how they choose and hosting specialized training programs like Zumba and yoga classes. They are also important cultural centers, hosting events like Diwali, Eid, and Lunar New Year celebrations. And they are significant contributors to local economies, providing jobs ranging from administration and leadership to fitness leadership. Many personal trainers get their start in community centers. They put the "personal" in personal training by keeping their clients accountable, motivating them, and giving them workouts they'll look forward to doing.

Community

As fitness and health become increasingly important to communities, community centers provide a space for social interaction, recreation, and education. Whether offering classes or a safe place to hang out, these centers allow people of all ages and ethnicities to connect while supporting the local economy and boosting civic pride.

Many of these facilities also serve as focal points for other organizations, such as businesses and non-profits, providing an additional avenue for reaching out to the community. This provides more opportunities for the public to get involved and make a difference in their town.

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Wacky Fun At Dr. Seuss Wacky Week @randomhousekids On Instagram



This week is the second annual Wacky Week with Dr. Seuss on @randomhousekids Instagram. This week they will be sharing quizzes, activities, and fun facts that show how kids can be imaginative, wacky, and adventurous with Dr. Seuss! 

Here are a few of the books they will be highlighting:

Understanding the Different Types of Debt Consolidation Loans Available

Consolidating debt involves combining multiple liabilities into one payment, which can help pay off debt more quickly. But not all loan products are created equal, so be sure to shop around and compare terms when selecting a lender.

Remember that a debt consolidation loan may lengthen your repayment term, meaning you'll pay more interest over the life of the loan. That could offset any potential savings.

Unsecured Personal Loan

An unsecured personal loan is a loan that does not require collateral such as a car or home. Instead, lenders evaluate borrowers based on their financial profile, including credit history and income. Loan amounts, rates, terms, and permitted uses vary by lenders like Symple Lending. Borrowers should compare rates, terms, and fees to find the best options. Personal loans are usually paid back monthly and can help borrowers improve their credit scores when used wisely. Credit unions and banks offer unsecured personal loans that help members boost their credit scores while lowering their debt burden.

A personal loan can be used to pay for various expenses, including home improvement projects and existing debt. 

Line of Credit

A line of credit is a pre-approved loan amount you can access as required. You pay interest only on what you use, and as soon as you repay the amount borrowed, it becomes available for you to borrow again.

Like other debt consolidation loan options, a line of credit can reduce your monthly payments and simplify the payment process by combining multiple debts into one monthly payment. However, a line of credit has several differences from other debt consolidation loan methods that make it unique. You can talk to experts at Symple Lending to learn more. 

While a line of credit offers flexibility and convenience, it can also be expensive if you carry a high debt-to-income ratio. To help mitigate this risk, lenders typically evaluate your debt-to-income ratio and credit score when assessing whether or not to offer you a line of credit. They also verify your income to ensure you earn enough to cover debt repayment expenses comfortably.

Home Equity Loan

A home equity loan (or second mortgage) allows homeowners to borrow against the equity they've built in their homes. It can be used for various purposes, including paying off high-interest credit card debt. Homeowners can typically qualify for a home equity loan based on the combined debt-to-value (CLTV) ratio, credit score, and payment history. Home equity loans typically offer a fixed interest rate, which may benefit some people who want predictable monthly payments.

Unlike other types of debt, home equity loans are secured by your property, meaning the lender can foreclose on your house if you fail to repay the loan. This is a significant risk, so many people only use home equity loans for significant expenses they can afford to repay. Home renovations and remodeling are also popular uses for this type of debt, which can increase your home's value while potentially making it more energy-efficient.

Secured Personal Loan

Unlike an unsecured loan, a secured personal loan is backed by something you own -- such as money in your savings account, a certificate of deposit, or the title to your car. Banks and credit unions typically offer these types of loans. Many lenders offer perks for existing customers, such as waived origination fees or interest rate discounts on secured loans.

Like unsecured loans, secured loans require financial statements and credit checks to qualify, but they are often easier to get if you have assets to offer up as collateral. Because of this, secured loans have lower rates and more flexible terms.

Remember that if you miss payments on a secured loan, your lender might repossess the asset you used to secure it. This negative mark can appear on your credit report for seven years and damage your credit score. For this reason, it's essential to assess whether a secured loan makes sense for your circumstances before applying.


Monday, July 10, 2023

Summer Mall Trips = Money Spent

Last week my son asked if we could go to the mall on my first day off. I took him of course because I took Mondays and Fridays off to spend time with my kids so if he wants to go. We will go!

We went on Friday. He wanted to play some arcade games and bowl. When we got there, the first shop we passed he went in and bought himself three t-shirts, a letter jacket and a pair of socks. Then wanted to go into another store where he bought himself some plush Mario thingy. He did eventually bowl but ended up spending about $200. I bought myself a skirt, took the kids to lunch and eventually back home. I figured the mall was good for him because this was the first time he had his own debit cart with his own money. He didn't have to ask if he could have anything and just got whatever he wanted because it is his money.

Today we again went our separate ways at the mall.  I sadly had to return the skirt I bought because it was too small and finally met up with him where he again had a bag full of stuff again. I didn't ask what he got, it is none of my business. He has showed me more plushies. He wants to collect them. That's fine, like I said it is his money but NOW I took them to lunch again. That has to stop. I told them we cannot go to lunch every time we go out because I am only working 3 days a week this summer. My daughter, Goddess asked if she could kick in and I told her not this time. We will probably split the next lunch. I love going out and being with them but hate spending money especially when I am working less days and we are planning vacation, need work done on the house, need to put both kids in college this year and Christmas is only a few short months away. Come on PowerBall let me win this year so that I can quit my job and take my kids to lunch if we go out. 

I can see a future budgeting talking with him in the future but for now we will let it go so he can experience not always being able to afford what he wants as his bank balance gets lower. 

Thursday, July 06, 2023

Wild Berry Makes My Home Smell Like My Childhood



Do you guys burn incense? I love the smell so much that I wear an oil called Moon Goddess that smells like I walked into an incense shop and everyone compliments me on it. It is delicious and reminds me of my childhood. Incense can alter my mood and I love the ritual of lighting a wooden match to start an incense stick or cone but I am here to tell you that not all incense are created equal and that’s why I am bringing up the ones I just got. Wild Berry Incense are America's best incense. There not are only 100 fragrances of hand-dipped incense sticks but they are the only ones that have stopped my husband from complaining about the cat smell in my house. He is nose sensitive and no matter what we do he is the only one who can smell the cats.


I burned 3 over the weekend and my husband came in saying “I don’t smell any cat.” He asked that when I come home from work I start one so that the house smells like incense by the time he gets home. This is huge because usually he complained when I burned incense because he then smelled smoke. UGH! I can’t win with this guy but I think Wild Berry has helped us reach a compromise and one that I am extremely happy about.



My favorite so far has been Cherry Vanilla and Pachouli and Cherry Vanilla while my husband loves “Dragon’s Breath” even though my daughter kept telling him it was “Dragon’s Blood which is btw their best selling incense. We just ordered a bunch on Amazon


Get 10% off your order by entering your email on the Wild Berry Home Page.

  • Dragon's Blood ($3.75/15 stick pack) - An exotic earthy fragrance with subtle notes of pine needles, Arabian sandalwood, musk, and amber. Inspired by the aromatic, bright red sap, the dracaena draco tree produces.
  • Ocean Wind Biggies - ($5.50/five pack) - An invigorating citrus scent bursting with notes of fresh lime, tart grapefruit, warm jasmine, amber, and musk. (19" long)
  • Champa Flower Backflow Cones ($5/10 cone pack) - The smoke flows downwards in a backflow burner!  An exotic floral with notes of rose, sweet herbs, and fresh berries. Deeper notes include patchouli, sandalwood, and vanilla - the brand’s version of the popular classic Nag Champa.
  • Lavender Citronella ($3.75/15 stick pack) - Great for summer!  For outdoor use. An intense citronella blend balanced with notes of lavender.
  • Samplers  ($15)- Include 15 sticks each of 4 fragrances for 60 sticks total. All fragrances are separated into individually labeled bags, and the sampler pack comes with one wood burner.
If you order let me know which one is your favorite.

Wednesday, July 05, 2023

Summer Has Started But It Doesn’t Feel Like It

 Life is interesting. Sometimes I feel like a hamster on a wheel just going through my life without really living. Work, chores, home life, appointments and trying to get a little time to do what I enjoy which for the past few years has been memory keeping. 

I use to take the summer off to be with my kids but now they are older and money is necessary in this life so I only take 2 days a week until back to the grind in September. 

Hopefully I can do some of the day trips I’ve saved on my phone to feel like I have done something with my life. Nothing big just a few things that are fairly close and my daughter would probably enjoy. 

My son works weekends and one day a week for now and since he doesn’t drive we need to bring him there. I am in no rush for him to be on the road so that we have to worry more about him but for his future we have been pushing him to get his permit plus we aren’t here forever. He needs to be self sufficient before our time ends. No one is getting any younger. 

Hopefully I can get both kids driving this summer and know that they are working on becoming the amazing adults I know they will be. 

What are your plans for the summer? How do you make sure you are not just living but really LIVING?