By Dave Olson, Realtor®, SRES TM  RE/MAX EXCEL April is almost here once again, the peak of Spring and the dawn of new green life springs forth, early flowers and warm sunshine, along with those cool Spring rains that bring renewing life and growth to all that they refresh. For me, April is one of those precious months that seem so long in arriving, then passes all too quickly. Each year, April begins with “April Fools Day” for the young at heart, with a fun day of pranks and

Ingredients:  • 2 cups rolled oats  • 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon  • 1 teaspoon baking powder  • ½ teaspoon salt     • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice  • 2 cups reduced-fat milk  • ¾ cup low-fat plain yogurt   • 2 tablespoons canola oil  • ¼ cup packed light brown sugar  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract   • 1 large banana, halved lengthwise and sliced   • 1/3 cup raisins   Directions:  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Coat an 8-inch square baking dish wit

By Dave Olson, Realtor®, SRES TM  RE/MAX EXCEL “It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold, when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade.” Charles Dickens, Great Expectations  These words describe the paradox of March wonderfully in a quote from one of the greatest writers of all time. I cannot think of a better description for the dawn of Spring that we know as March.  Warm, yet cold. Sunny and warm inspiring the anticipation of

By Heidi Toy -  Functional Medicine/Educated Nutrition Memory changes, brain fog, and cognitive slowing are often dismissed as “just aging.” From a functional medicine perspective, that assumption misses a critical piece: many commonly prescribed medications directly affect brain chemistry, blood flow, nutrient status, and mitochondrial energy. Medications can be necessary and lifesaving—but they are not biologically neutral. Below are several major medication categories know

Get ready to play! Games offer seniors a powerful combination of relaxation, social connection, and cognitive stimulation. Whether enjoyed alone or with others, they can reduce stress, ease boredom, and support mood, memory, and concentration—especially when learning something new. Many games can be adapted with large print, simplified rules, or shorter play times, making them accessible across a wide range of abilities. Puzzle, Tile, and Board Games Tabletop games are ideal

There is no doubt that a healthy diet contributes to a healthy body, but eating nutritious foods can also lower the risk of cognitive decline as we age.  Recent research has found that elderly people who consumed the most nutritious food lowered their risk of cognitive decline by almost 25 percent, when compared to those with the least healthy diets.  Researchers believe that it is likely that a healthy diet has effects on cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular diseas